Chapter 11 Today’s Issues

Rain Forest Resources Rain Forest & its Land uses: It’s vegetation helps clean the earth’s atmosphere, regulate climate, & protect several million species of plants, insects, & other wildlife. Scientist have just started to understand its biodiversity, but it is being destroyed at a rapid rate. Over 50 million of acres a year. Clearing the rain forests: The rain forest is being clear because of its hard woods, such a mahogany & cedar, farming, & livestock. Population Pressures: ½ of the rain forest is located in Brazil. Population growth is affecting the rain forest. Population is now at 173 million and is expected to jump to 200 million in 2020.

The Price of Destruction Deforestation: the short term benefit are offset by the damage to the environment. Environmental Concerns: Rain forest help regulate the earth’s climate. Slash-and-burn produces carbon dioxide & other harmful gases. Plants and Animals in Danger: Rain forest covers about 6% of the earth’s surface, it is home to an estimated 50% of the world plants & animal species. Medical researchers are using plants for medicines and its still hold secrets of undetected medicines.

Moving Toward Solutions Saving the rain forest affect everyone, but what about economic development? A juggling act: Central problem on how to balance completing interest for economic development & preservation of the rain forest. Grassroots organizations, their mission is to educate people about the value of the rain forest. Fighting economics with economics: Government should paid to preserve the rain forest, because it affect its economy. Debt-for-nature-swap is a plan where government debts are paid in exchange for preserving the forests. It will usually be an environmental organization. It was successful in Bolivia & Costal Rica, where they use an economic system called ecotourism.

Section 2: Giving a Citizens a Voice

A Struggle to be Heard Latin Americans today seek more democratic government, but until recently has shown little support for it. The Legacy of Colonialism: After the Spanish conquest of the region, Native Americans took their orders from governors who took their orders from the king or queen of Spain. Even when they had won independence in the 1800s, they continue to be governed by small groups of Spanish colonists known as an oligarchy. It was not democratic. Discriminated against all who were not of the Spanish ruling class. Election where held, but they already knew who was going to win. If the government was unable to control the people, the military would step in & sized power & form a hash government known as a junta, which was run by the generals.

The rule of the Caudillo Throughout the 20 th century, many Latin American countries were ruled by a caudillo, a military dictator or political boss. Example: Juan Peron of Argentina & Mexico (PRI) in power for 71 years. His support came from the military and the wealthy. There are elections, but usually same party wins.

Establishing Stable Democracies Creating democracies in Latin America requires political, economic, & land reforms. The goals of Reform: Establish constitutional government. A freely-elected government & public participation of citizen. People need to be well educated & economic stable. A lack of prosperity is usually follow by social & political unrest. Argentina is an example of a country that had political unrest & then in 1980s change to democracy & the effects of making those changes. Most countries in Latin America when through this change. Another goal of reform is to recognize & increase the role of women in politics.

Land Reform Latin America has been rule by a wealthy elite. Economic power, as well as land was/and is in the hand of the few. Governments are breaking up large landholding and giving portions of land to land poor peasant farmers. Benito Juarez started in 1858 and it was continue again after the Mexican Revolution. The idea behind this is to create economic stability with a sound foundation. Democracy has a better chance of taking root.