Section 3 The Andes and ‘@ Democracy has returned to nations throughout the region, Key Thebistory of the region» Countries inthe region are has produced great cultural struggling to expand thei Id g leas Giversity. economies while dealing with environmental issues. Key Terms + diversified economy * MERCOSUR « literacy © referendum * amend Take notes using the grap! ‘mar’s Potost is a town that has seen better days. Its poor narrow streets are a far cry from the wide elegant avenues of Buenos Aires, on the other side of the continent. If Omar traveled to that great city he would see a much wider range of wealth. However, he would still be able to speak the same language and recognize many of the city’s customs and traditions. ‘The region in which he lives isa land of extremes. ‘There is a wide range of income and a variety of climates and landforms. Great distances and obstacles divide communities. However, the nations of the Andes and the Pampas share a history and culture. Throughout the region, people struggle with similar problems and issues, (Omar leaving the mine A Rich Culture Much of the region’ culture is based on the legacy of two groups, the Europeans and the Native Americans. In some places these cultures have merged. In Chile, for example, much of the population is mixed race. In other places, such as Argentina and Uruguay, European culture is very strong. European influences in these two countries Produced new musical and dance forms, such as the tango Throughout the region there is a strong connection between land- Scape and culture, On the Pampas, the gaucho became the symbol of independent life. Meanwhile, in the distant Andes, a haunting 296music developed that combined Spanish stringed instruments with the ancient music of Native Americans. the Spanish Inheritance Despite the ethnic diversity of the region, Spanish language and culture still dominate. The Catholic religion, as well as Spanish-style architecture, art, and dance can be found through most of the region today, The Indigenous Revival A large population of mestizos and indigenous people influences culture in the Andes. Although native populations dropped dramatically over the centuries, today the textiles, music, and many languages ofindigenous cultures have survived. In Bolivia, Peru, Ecuador, Chile, and Paraguay, people continue to follow traditional ways of life, such as raising llamas and alpacas for their wool. In fact, native cultures in the Andes are reviving. Indigenous groups have also found new political power. ‘The 2006 elec- tion of Bolivias president, Evo Morales, Languages Peru Ni WH spanish fl vs SOURCE: wan Ethnologue com significant, adj, brought significant change to the region. important Morales is the first Native American to rule his country for 500 years. President Morales set about restoring indigenous peoples’ rights, He redistributed income from Bolivia's natural gas industry to the poor. His actions are opposed by many people in the eastern regions of Bolivia. However, political events in Bolivia have strengthened Native American move- ments throughout South America, Reading Check How would you describe the culture of the Andes and the Pampas? Pre yeT T} Y Spanish speaker V Quechua speaker Aydes6oo6p om (lat) Chart Skills Which country has the highest percentage of speakers of Native American languages? ‘ronosia evea ) wo"Environmental Problems Deforestation, the destruction of forests, is one of the major environmental prob: lems of this region. The region’ tropical rain forests include the Valdivian Forest {in Chile, This forest is bx destroyed at an alarming rate. In Peru, logging and gold mining are also damag- ing the tropical forest environment. In their search for gold, mining companies tise heavy machinery to remove riverbanks and cut down forests Projects intended to boost an areas economy often threaten the environment. In Perua road project is underway to connect the country's Pacific ports to a highway in Brazil The highway will ben- efit the economy because it will increase commerce, or trade. But environmental- ists argue that it will also attract more logging operations to the area. s Meanwhile, car exhaust in urban areas ia growing problem. Cities through, tion. In Santiago, Chile, sinog forms ay a steady upper layer of warm air traps cooler air close to the ground, Because of this, the exhaust from 600,000 vehicles cannot escape. These fumes are affect. ing health: hospitals report an increase inthe number of children with breathing problems. Several attempts to reduce air pollution in Santiago have failed. In Ecuador, oil pollution is damaging both rain forests and farmland. Waste from oil drilling seeps into water supplies and rivers, Cancer rates are unusually high in oil-polluted areas. Many suspec that there is a link between pollution and health problems. Reading Check What environmental problems affect the Andes and the Pampast Crees ied eared Nee a heea SA Or eee on Eo nett} ee een ee cue h are ay Corie_ general, the Southern Cone nations of argentina, Chile, and Uruguay are the richest nations in the region, Paraguay and the Andean nations of Ecuador, P. and Bolivia are the poorest. There are many obstacles to economic growth. For example, after the War of the Pacific in 1879, Bolivia lost its coastline andits access to overseas trade, Bolivia's economy has suffered ever since. Tariffs also are barriers to trade, However, today the nations of the region are overcoming these barriers. eru, Economic Growth Several countries now have more diversified economies— economies that depend on a range of exports or products. Today foreign corporations are investing in mining, petrochemicals, and transportation. For Globalizat * Globalization creates jobs. Oe tue et Poe eaesa i) Civica Tropical crops such as coffee, cacao, bananas, plantains (a kind of banana) and sugar cane are exported from Peru, Ecuador, and Bolivia. Countries with temperate climates such as Argentina, Chile, Paraguay, and Uruguay produce wheat, corn, grapes, apples, and pears. Countries in the region are also strengthening economic ties with each other, A free-trade agreement was signed in 1991 by Brazil, Argentina, Uruguay, and Paraguay to form MERCOSUR, a trad- ing bloc of South American countries. MERCOSUR is short for “Mercado Comtin del Sur? or Southern Common Market. Like the European Union, this trading bloc allows goods to be traded among its member countries without tariffs. Its goal is to allow goods, services, and people to move freely among its member states. The organization hopes te ‘AMERICA Je Cer eee testi) Crome ere ea CUNT TCC ety eee rite) CRC un ee att corporation, n., company SouTH ‘AMERICAeluehemunaeeut Coeuc kets uta South American Trade, 1999-2007 300 to one day expand its free-trade zone to include all of South America. The Andean Community of Nations isa similar trading agreement among Bolivia, Colombia, Ecuador, and Peru. It also recognizes members of MERCOSUR as associate members. In 2003, the US.-Chile Free Trade Agreement was signed, Within two years, trading obstacles were eliminated and Chile's productivity increased. Argentina's economy is stronger than many of the Andean nations’ economies. However, Argentina has suffered from the recent economic downturn. Nw rua Exports (billions of dollars) ean Comment haters Preparing for the Future Governments prepare for the economic future by investing in the education and health of their people. For example, Chile, where the government funds education, has high levels of literacy—the ability to read and write. In fact, most countries in the region have a literacy rate of more than 90 percent. The Andean nations of Peru and Bolivia have slightly lower rates, To help combat poverty in the region, anew regional bank has been set up. The Banco del Sur, or Southern Bank, will fund economic and social projects. It will also support scientific projects. Reading Check Which are the richer and the poorer nations in the Andes and the Pampas? 2001 2003 2005 2007 Year IE MERCOSUR fj Andean Community of Nations SOURCE: wwww.comunidadandina.org Chart Skills Which trading bloc exports more goods?the New Governments pemocracy has returned to the region today, and governments are working to yotect civil rights. In Argentina, the people are determined that the time of terror Will never return, In the words of Argentine writer Ernesto Sabato, 66 It is only democracy that can save a people from horror on this scale, 99 —Emesto Sabato In Peru, democracy was strength- ened when Alberto Fujimori, a former president, was charged with corruption and abuse of human rights, and sent to prison, ‘The nations of the Andes and the Pampas are once again democracies. Like the United States, they have consti- tutions and three branches of government (executive, legislative, and judicial). In some democracies, voters decide whether a new constitution is to be accepted. This is done by referendum— people voting to reject or accept a law. Chiles return to democracy in 1990 was triggered by the 1989 referendum when Section 3 Assessment Key Terms Key Ideas to describe life in the ®onomy, MERCOSUR, literacy, referendum, amend, 4, What form of military rule in ‘Argentina? 1.Use the following terms 2. What cultural features help unify the region? fegion today: diversified 3, yyhat slows economic growth in the region? government followed Chile's citizens voted to amend, or make changes to, the constitution. In Bolivia, the people have elected Evo Morales, President Morales is a Native American who champions social move- ments. However, the country remains divided—the poorer highland population supports the president while the richer lowland areas resist his policies. Although such political tensions and social inequalities persist, the nations of the region are continuing a process of economic integration. The strengthening of democracy and closer economic ties are good signs for the future. Reading Check What signs suggest that democracy is strengthening in the region? myWorld Activity Propaganda Poster Bolivia's President Evo Morales greets supporters at his inauguration. > eee ecu) What are the challenges of diversity? 7. In what ways have nations in the region tried to diversify their economies? Go to your Student Journal to record your answer. Think Critically 5, Synthesize What is the link between environmental problems and global consumer demand? 6. Draw Conclusions What factors might explain poverty in the region?