Foreign Policy: Latin America Presented by… Donovan, Amy, & Jacob

Democratic Socialism In 2000 several south American countries elected socialist presidents. This included Hugo Chávez in Venezuela (1998), Lula in Brazil (2002), Néstor Kirchner in Argentina (2003), Tabaré Vázquez in Uruguay (2004), Evo Morales in Bolivia (2005), Michelle Bachelet in Chile (2006), Daniel Ortega in Nicaragua (2006), Rafael Correa in Ecuador (2007) and most recently Fernando Lugo in Paraguay Although policies vary they have agreed on refusing ALCA (Free Trade Area of the Americas)

Free Trade Although the ALCA was abandoned in 2005 Free trade agreements weren’t abandoned Regional economic intergration continued reaching a total of 10 bilateral agreements. The CAFTA-DR free trade agreement (Dominican Republic– Central America Free Trade Agreement) was ratified by all countries except Costa Rica, although he has announced he is in favor of the agreement.

The ALBA Chavez initiated the Bolivarian Alternative for the Americas (ALBA). Venezuela, Cuba and Bolivia signed the TCP (or People's Trade Agreement), while Venezuela, a main productor of natural gas and of petroleum (it is member of the OPEC) has signed treaties with Argentina, Brazil and Nicaragua When Hurricane Katrina ravaged Florida and Louisiana, Chávez, who called the "North American Empire" a "paper tiger", even ironically proposed to provide "oil-for-the-poor" to North-Americans after Hurricane Katrina the same year, through Citgo, a subsidiary of PDVSA the state-owned Venezuelan petroleum company Another rift with the ALBA and the U.S. occurred when the former rejected claims of U.S. intervention in the December 9, 2008 Nicaraguan elections. They rejected the US intervention and assured the Nicaraguan citizens that their elections were in exclusive confidence of the Nicaraguan people.

Domestic Policy: Work and Poverty Presented by… Donovan, Amy, & Jacob Presented by… Donovan, Amy, & Jacob

Poverty  NO single definition  Scope  36 Million people are in poverty (12% of population)  Children-17% African Americans-25% American Indians-25% Hispanic Americans-20%  Cause  There are many causes for poverty (mental illness natural disasters ect…)  NO single definition  Scope  36 Million people are in poverty (12% of population)  Children-17% African Americans-25% American Indians-25% Hispanic Americans-20%  Cause  There are many causes for poverty (mental illness natural disasters ect…)

Background  million people in civilian workforce in 2008  Million(94.5%) had jobs and 5.5 Million (5.5%) were unemployed  Service Sectors now employ more workers than manufacturing and construction  million people in civilian workforce in 2008  Million(94.5%) had jobs and 5.5 Million (5.5%) were unemployed  Service Sectors now employ more workers than manufacturing and construction

Pay, Unions, Competition  Minimum wage for 2008 is $6.55  Working 40hours for 50 weeks would only make enough to be $2,600 above the poverty line for a single person  National organizations of workers called labor unions developed in the mid-1800s in America to fight for workers rights  Globalization is creating enormous prosperity for many U.S. businesses and workers but endangering others  Minimum wage for 2008 is $6.55  Working 40hours for 50 weeks would only make enough to be $2,600 above the poverty line for a single person  National organizations of workers called labor unions developed in the mid-1800s in America to fight for workers rights  Globalization is creating enormous prosperity for many U.S. businesses and workers but endangering others