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"I often ask students and audiences a quirky question: "What is the capital of Latin America?" Of course, it is a region of a couple dozen sovereign countries and the colonies of several empires, so there is no real capital. But if there were, I assert, it would be MIA: Miami International Airport. Specifically, the American Airlines hub at MIA is the nexus of most of the hemisphere, as illustrated in this 2002 route map." 
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Despite efforts to improve the quality of tap water, Mexico is the world’s largest per capita consumer of bottled water, using it even for bathing babies.
People buy bottle water for one of two primary reasons. First, they may feel that the bottled water is tastes better, is heathier or in some way superior to regular water. The second reason is more of a sinister reason: they fear the quality of the tap water is so bad that it will infect them with diseases. Although American tourists still joke about "Montezuma's Revenge," Mexico has greatly improved the quality of their tap water, but it is regionally contingent. It may be safe in one neighborhood but not another, so most Mexican avoid public water sources altogether. Public confidence in public utilities and an more uniform track record of healthy water is the only thing that can change this cultural/economic habit.
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Explore educational and professional development resources for teachers and classrooms on Annenberg Media's learner.org. Companion to the Annenberg Media series Power of Place.
Maquiladoras, outsourcing, migration and regional differences within Mexico are main themes in this video. This is a resource of videos that many are very familiar with, but this is worth repeating for those not familiar with the Annenberg Media's "Power of Place" video series. With 26 videos (roughly 30 minutes each) that are regionally organized, this be a great resource for teachers.
Jessica Rieman's curator insight,
February 4, 2014 12:59 PM
During this video you can distanctly see the differences between the outsourcing that Latin American had to do in order to surivive with their goverment the way it was and also how the mirgation came into play by which groups of people migrated to specific regions and what made them move there. Regional differences are also a major factor because of the regions and how they have progressed theought time and what will happen in the future. 
miya harris's curator insight,
September 10, 2014 9:46 AM
This video talks about the migration in Mexico and the reasons the people had for migrating. At the beginning of the video it talks about border patrol and people trying to illegally cross the border from Mexico to America. When border patrol wrote up the reports they had to record what city the people came from and that helped geographer Richard Jones with his research plan to find out what regions were driving people out of Mexico.
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Infrastructure demanded by the sporting world's most powerful corporate interests render families homeless in Brazil.
Nick Flanagan's curator insight,
December 12, 2012 9:34 PM
While I'm glad that they are dong something for their poor, it makes me wonder if they are only doing it for the upcoming world cup and olympics. I just wonder if they are trying to hide some of what really goes on there from tourists so they will think everything in brazil is all good. 
Erica Tommarello's curator insight,
October 2, 2013 12:52 PM
FIFA 2014 is being hosted in Brazil. This article details the completely flawed and inhumane plan that Brazil has to get ready for the madness of FIFA. They seem to be too caught up in artificial aesthetic and have lost focus on development, while displacing thousands of poor Brazilians on the way. 
Jacob Crowell's curator insight,
October 20, 2014 12:04 PM
With the world cup and summer Olympics being hosted in Brazil, the government are forcing people out of favelas to improve their image for tourists. What is frustrating about this is that bringing in a large sporting event like the Olympics and world cup actually looses money for the hosting country. So in their haste they are damaging the country twice over. First the government of Brazil is creating thousands of displaced and poor citizens, and on top of that they are spending valuable resources on preparing for a sporting event that will not turn a profit. What will happen after 2016, when you have a massive population of desperate homeless people migrating back to the favelas.
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After two hours' grueling drive southeast from the center of Mexico City, through paralyzing traffic jams and clouds of throat-burning smog, the bleached-white haze of air pollution gives way to pale-blue sky.
The ancient and the modern blend in some intriguing and sometimes awkward ways in today's world.
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The Central American nation is the most violent country in the world, according to the United Nations. A mix of drug trafficking, political instability and history adds up to a murder rate that is now four times that of Mexico.
Paige Therien's curator insight,
February 11, 2014 1:36 PM
Honduras' role in the drug trafficking industry has increased immensely which does not mix well with their already corrupt government and police force. However, a history of U.S. aid and security "support" is what rooted this country in violence. Honduras' situation is spiraling out of control because the drug trafficking industry has taken advantage of its already weak state. 
Amy Marques's curator insight,
February 12, 2014 10:55 PM
In the news we sometimes hear about violence taking place at the border of the US and Mexico, but you never hear of the violence in Honduras. With a mix of drug trafficking, corruption, political instability and history has led to a murder rate that is now four times that of Mexico., which is pretty hard to think of since there Mexico already has a high muder right. The situation has gotten so bad that the Peace Corps has withdrawn its volunteers. 
Mark Hathaway's curator insight,
September 24, 2015 6:53 AM
While Mexico gets all the bad press when it comes to violence and police corruption, Honduras is actually a more violent place to be. The murder rate in the nation is four times that of Mexico. Like Mexico, the rule of law in Honduras is quite questionable. Most of the nations police force is corrupt. Many police officers are on the payrolls of drug lords and gangs. Average citizens have no respect for law enforcement, which they view as an extension of the drug trade. A country without the rule of law, will descend into anarchy. This situation is playing out in Honduras, to the detriment of its people.
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Latin America has historical been a region with a powerful upper class and a large, landless lower class. In 2012, the burgeoning middle class is providing economic strength to the region as societies are becoming less bifurcated with more social equity in a time of political uncertainty.
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Experts and aid officials discuss ongoing challenges and lessons learnt on the ground in Haiti...
Development and humanitarian aid projects must always take local geographic factors into consideration when devising any plan for the future. Political uncertainty, poor transportation infrastructure, disease and not enough locally based programs are but a few of the issues that continue to plague the communities in Haiti.
Paige Therien's curator insight,
February 13, 2014 7:06 PM
Haiti is in a prime "natural disaster" zone and it is difficult for a country to recover fully after each "hit". Disaster after disaster begins to weigh heavily on an already struggling infrastructure, government, and hope. The earthquake that Haiti experienced in 2009 was particularly devastating. This article aims to shed some light on a few of the reasons why, two years later, Haiti was in pretty much the same condition. Haiti's government was basically non-existent before this earthquake, and anything that did exist was quite ineffective at making decisions. Bureaucratic procedures made incoming aid and their supplies move into Haiti extremely slow. Some of it stopped coming altogether when cholera began to make a huge presence within the population. As seen with this situation, as well as in other countries, uncoordinated aid and conflicting agendas of different organizations can do more harm than good. Also, urban settings are extremely complex and can be puzzling to an outsider, particularly in times of desperate need. When rebuilding, it is important to consider the future in terms of what else nature and location has in store for them. 
Kendra King's curator insight,
April 14, 2015 11:31 PM
There are a myriad of reasons for why “after almost two years…reconstruction has barely started,” but the lack of “local” help stood out to me the most. As the article mentions, the NGO’s have been responsible for taking care of Haiti’s relief efforts, most of whom are outside sources. On some level it isn’t surprising that the UN and NGO’s took the lead as their seemed to be no prominent leader in the country due to the lack of political stability mentioned in the article. However, for the outside efforts to “ignore” the actually population of the country just perpetuates the problem. As the people enforcing all the change, I consider the NGO’s to be more of a leader as they are trying to go about handeling the welfare of the nation (however misguided there attempts) as they are the ones calling the shots about what is done. Since they are doing work with no help, when they leave no one is around to lead once again because an atmosphere was never cultivated to encourage Haitian leadership.
Just throwing money at the problem without local support is also troubling because it doesn’t actually seem to be an effective met the needs of the population either. In the paragraph that discussed poor coordination, one sees a major concern is that groups are duplicating efforts of another group through the use of donations. We know this is happening without the “local community.” So one would think the people who actually live in the country would maybe know there country the best. Not the outside European relief efforts though despite the fact that they respond poorly to “urban settings” poorly. Time and time again, this has been a problem with the way developed countries respond to under-developed countries. I often think developed countries hold on to the success the IMF had with England after WWII, when throwing money at a situation actually worked. However, this isn’t the 1940’s anymore and there are many studies showing those methods just aren’t working (probably because the money isn’t being used correctly). As such, it should be time for a change in methods. Yet, it seems only the developed countries are capable of making that call and it’s not one they seem to be making anytime soon.
I am in no way suggesting the world just let Haiti be. One positive aspect of globalization is that communities in need can actually get relief from other parts of the world. Yet, in that same hand is the negative aspect. For that money is typically misused. Instead I propose that as a means to rectify the downside of globalization other nations work with the Haitian people to create a country that the Haitians can actually claim as their own.
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The firing of the entire military high-command comes as violence escalates across the country.
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Haiti has lost its soil and the means to feed itself.
Economic poverty and ecological poverty...the roots of which for Haitians lie in their colonial legacy and today is evident in their difficulties to feed their population.
Stacey Jackson's curator insight,
February 22, 2013 1:03 AM
Building composting toilets to replenish soil with nutrients sounds like a start, but it's going to take tons of organic matter to fertilize the soil. This article doesn't mention any other steps to boost self-sufficiency in Haiti, but there must be more than composting toilets in the works....at least one would hope.
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Officials have embarked on an ambitious plan to wrest control of Rio de Janeiro’s most violent slums from ruthless drug gangs.
In an effort to have more effective governance, the police have radically changed their philosphical approach to combating crime in the 'favelas.' The video embedded "Taming the City of God is a fantastic clip to get a sense of favela life.
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Infrastructure demanded by the sporting world's most powerful corporate interests render families homeless in Brazil.
Urban restructuring, slums and global perception. Much like we saw Beijing "cleaning up" the city before the Olympics (with all the good and the bad associated with that), we are seeing that sad old pattern in Rio de Janeiro, perhaps the city most famous for it's slums.
Stacey Jackson's curator insight,
February 22, 2013 1:46 AM
All this to host some games? I'm not a fan of the World Cup or the Olympics, not only because I do not follow any sports, but also because it seems the planning of these events gets out of control and more harm is caused than good. Of course, that is just my opinion, but the fact that a country like Brazil, with one of the world's top economies, doesn't provide proper housing for its poorest citizens seems unfair. Furthermore, that they are willing to "spend billions of dollars in the name of creating a playground for international tourism and multi-national sponsors" while wiping out poor neighborhoods in the process is disgusting. If Brazil is embarrassed by their Favelas, they should be constructing appropriate housing for the population instead of displacing people and bulldozing their neighborhoods. I can't imagine a large homeless population will be any more pleasant for the tourists to see than favelas.
chris tobin's comment,
February 28, 2013 7:29 PM
The favelas are an area that the rich would like to see gone....How can the world keep allowing such activity
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Interactive Migrations Map: Where are migrants coming from? Where have migrants left?
A great resource for a population unit or in a regional class. What explains the patterns seen in Central America?
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An unfinished skyscraper occupied by squatters is a symbol of Venezuela’s financial crisis in the 1990s, state control of the economy and a housing shortage.
This skyscraper that was once a symbol of wealth, in an incredible paradigm shift, has now become is occupied by squatters. The lack of a vibrant formal economy and more formal housing leads to a lack of suitable options for many urban residents--especially with problems in the rural countryside. A complex web of geographic factors needs to be explained to understand this most fascinating situation. The video link "Squatters on the Skyline" embedded in the article is a must see. SD: This video never ceases to amaze me.
Maegan Connor's curator insight,
December 17, 2013 5:34 PM
The video we watched of the squatters living in an unfinished skyscraper was unlike anything I've ever seen before. In a country with such high population rates and a housing shortage, people have gotten creative and made homes in this 45 story building where they share what would have been office spaces and bathrooms. Over 2,500 people have moved into the dilapidated skyscraper and made a home out of it for their families. They have rigged electricity that the government does not provide for them and built small stores on almost every floor. The people have not been evicted because the government of Venezuela knows of the housing shortages, yet does not fix it. I feel ashamed that a country with so many oil resources has such high rates of poverty and no one is fixing it. It shows the corruption in the government through an extreme although innovative example. 
Elizabeth Bitgood's curator insight,
February 17, 2014 10:46 AM
The problems in Venezuela with housing and the lack of response to the problem by the government has led people to become squatters. The using of the abandoned buildings was a good idea by the original squatters. The vacant buildings can house many of the countries it is a shame that the government did not think of this solution to the housing problem and vacant building first, if they had, they could have made sure they were safer for the residence. The idea of a vertical city springing up in this building is also an interesting one. Not only are squatters living in these buildings but creating businesses and other services for the residence. 
Jess Deady's curator insight,
February 18, 2014 1:02 PM
In life, I constantly find myself comparing situations with what I read and what I know. Imagine this skyscraper is the Prudential in Boston. How could something meant to be so great fall to its death (and to peoples literal deaths)? One day there is a massive financial building occupied with bankers and lavishness. The next day there is a skyscraper in the form of a house. Housing shortages are happening everywhere and Venezuela is being hit hard in this situation. Imagine visiting this country and asking where someone lives? "Oh, I live in the Tower of David, which used to mean a whole lot more."
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Presidential candidate says Mexicans have voted for change of direction after exit polls project win for his PRI party.
For the first time in 12 years, Mexico's president will be from the PRI party (which dominated and led power from the 1920's to 2000). Enrique Peña Prieto won the election, in large part due to Mexico's dissatisfacation with the PAN's handling of the escalating drug violence. A few decades back, the PRI kept the violence out of the streets with some tacit agreements with the drug cartels to stay within particular territories.
Jessica Rieman's curator insight,
February 4, 2014 12:43 PM
This article is about the victory over the election and the vixctor coming in first was congradulated by President Obama and said that he is excited to be working together in the efforts of creating a better cause. Pena Priento is now the system ruler
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Gold fever is sweeping across South America and is at its most lethal in Colombia where it is fuelling the civil war.
Elizabeth Allen's comment,
December 6, 2012 10:30 PM
Colombia's gold mines are bringing out greed in all nations. Civilian wars are breaking out over the gold. Native people are scared and fleeing their homes. The Colombian government has to watch closely over who is working the mines. The government does not want miners without licenses in the mines, because the government will not be paid royalties on the gold.
Al Picozzi's curator insight,
September 29, 2013 4:58 PM
The war has now shifted from Cocaine to Gold. Seems that alot of the planters when from planting cocaine to mining for gold...illegally according to the Columbian government. The government is taking land from the native people and taking for themselves in order to get big business, especially foregin owned ones, to invest in their country. Does it south familar. It should. 1874, Black Hills in the then Dakota territory of the US. Seems gold was found on Native American land..an expedition led by George Armstrong Custer confirmed gold was there...which led to..native Americans being forefully moved from their land into the Montana territory..which eventully led to the 1876 Great Sioux War in which Custer was killed and eventaully the Sioux and the Lakota and the Cheyenne being defeated by 1877. Seems there is a parallel going on in South America. Looks like the old axiom of those that do not learn history are doomed to repeat it proves itself correct again.
Jacob Crowell's curator insight,
October 20, 2014 11:58 AM
In countries where the government is not as stable as most, the demand for gold makes people willing to literally go to war over mines in Colombia. In the 1990s there was a large outrage about "blood diamonds" out of Africa. This reminds me of that. In the developing world we are seeing horrible circumstances arising to gain wealth and provide a valuable commodity to the highest bidders.
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U.S. needs to help end the violence....
When I say "illegal goods trafficked across the U.S.-Mexico border," most of us immediately think about narcotics from Mexico coming into the United States. However, the border is more complicated than that--the violence on the border isn't only a problem with Mexican governance, but many of the deaths are directly attributable to guns coming form the United States. This is an op-ed piece arguing the the United States' gun laws are a part of the ongoing problems along the border.
Al Picozzi's curator insight,
September 23, 2013 10:41 AM
Illegal trade runs in both direction, drugs from Mexico north and guns and ammo south from the US. Some of the trade was a badly handled "sting operation" to trace where the gun eventually went, but the government lost track of where they went and were not able to find the bigger bosses in the cartels. Compared to gun laws in Mexico, yes ours are lax, however I think to state them as lax or weak in general might be an overstatement. Some countries are even more strict, like Great Britian and there are some areas of the world where a child can buy an AK-47 off the street in broad daylight. It is all taken in contex.
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The Obama administration has relaxed travel restrictions to Cuba, reinstating Bill Clinton's policy of allowing people-to-people travel.
Adam Deneault's curator insight,
December 6, 2015 8:21 PM
I think it is a good idea to have lifted restrictions on Cuba. We are talking about a restriction put on a country because of a Conflict called the Cold War, but the Cold War is long done now. It is also ridiculous that as a free country we are not allowed to travel there really without government approved sightseeing. Although the government approved sightseeing is informative for both culture and education, with less restrictions, people should be able to do stuff outside pre approved government tours. Being able to wander the country freely might even possibly boost economy from money being spent. 
Benjamin Jackson's curator insight,
December 13, 2015 11:50 AM
with the relaxing of restrictions towards Cuba an increase in tourism can obviously be expected to rise massively, especially as Cuban repatriates gain the ability to go and visit family and ancestral homes. this new policy will prove to be good for Cuba. 
Katie Kershaw's curator insight,
February 7, 2018 7:04 PM
Cuba presents an interesting case regarding travel by Americans. After almost fifty years of Americans being banned from traveling to the island, it makes sense that many Americans would be so eager to travel once the restriction was lifted. It is interesting that both the American and Cuban governments have their own agenda in regards in terms of touring the country. Groups from the U.S. are typically placed with tour guides who attempt to paint a picture of the country that is pro-Castro and pro-government. The tourists in this article were aware of this and said that the key to understanding Cuba is to look past exactly what they are being told- they must analyze and make judgements based on their own experiences. Opposite the Cuban government's approach is the American government which is divided in how travel to Cuba should be handled. Some officials fear that sending American tourists contributes to a communist government which they believe should not be allowed. They believe that travel to Cuba should still be restricted and prohibit Americans from traveling through third party groups based out of other countries like Mexico- because these groups give American tourists too much freedom in what they are able to do while in Cuba. American tourists for the most part do not agree with either governments' ideas of how tourism in Cuba should work. They want to be free to decide what they do in Cuba and conceptualize the country through their own lenses. It is very interesting that a destination so close to the U.S. has been so restricted and a cause of conflict, even after regulations have been loosened. The real victims in this case seem to be the citizens of both Cuba and the U.S. As Americans are unable to experience what they want and Cubans aren't allowed to freely share how they view their country.
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A few Haitian officials and Donna Karan are plotting one earthquake-rattled city’s transformation.
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Al Jazeera's Sebastian Walker asks why a system that was designed to help Haitians ended up exacerbating their misery.
Why isn't more money the answer to the 'poverty problem?' What geographic factors make Haitian development such a difficult issue?
Tracy Galvin's comment,
January 30, 2014 2:41 PM
Once again, American's arrogant beliefs about how everyone else SHOULD live their lives has caused a bad situation to become worse. We rush in to help, with good intentions, but we fail to see what the Haitians really needed help with. Instead of asking them "What can we do for you?" and really listening to the answer, we rush in and help them the way WE want to. Ultimately our 'help' actually makes their situation worse.
Tracy Galvin's curator insight,
February 4, 2014 5:57 PM
Once again, American's arrogant beliefs about how everyone else SHOULD live their lives has caused a bad situation to become worse. We rush in to help, with good intentions, but we fail to see what the Haitians really needed help with. Instead of asking them "What can we do for you?" and really listening to the answer, we rush in and help them the way WE want to. Ultimately our 'help' actually makes their situation worse. 
Tanya Townsend's curator insight,
October 12, 2015 11:58 PM
I couldn't stop watching. I felt horror for those people who so desperately needed help and instead were treated like criminals. The mass injustices were ridiculous. The continuous tropical storms, earthquakes, and flooding create disastrous situations for Haitians in poverty. The way the government tried to desert them in a barren area was disgraceful if they were afraid those people would be angry they should be. They have a right to be angry. People were more busy guarding spilled milk then saving the lives that were still alive in that market!!! It absolutely was a massive failure!
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The financial crisis surrounding the Euro has lead many to feel that supranational organizations and regional coalitions are more trouble than they are worth. The OAS (Organization of American States-which the USA is a part of) may dissolve and the CELAC might be it's successor. The CELAC's (Community of Latin American and Carribbean States) emergence shows that the United States "is declining in a region it once called its 'backyard.'" Spain is also diminishing in influence among its former colonies are forging new economic and political ties while Mexico and Brazil are exerting more regional influence.
Meagan Harpin's curator insight,
September 21, 2013 10:04 PM
The United States influence is delining in an area it called "its back yard". Along the financial crisis causing this, it has also begun to declin Spains influence in there former colonies as well. I think this could be a good thing as far these areas finally getting out from under other countires control even though they have been free for so long. But it could be bad because know that they are doing things on their own what will they do
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Learn about My Wonderful World, a National Geographic-led campaign to increase geographic learning, and meet coalition members.
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Gold fever is sweeping across South America and is at its most lethal in Colombia where it is fuelling the civil war.
A long (25 minutes) video, but very engaging. This connects the environmental degradation related to illegal gold mining and the political situation as drug cartels as swooping in and controling Colombia's newest illegal harvest. But what of the lives of the rural workers and those those families have mined these hills for generations?
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An unfinished skyscraper occupied by squatters is a symbol of Venezuela’s financial crisis in the 1990s, state control of the economy and a housing shortage.
Incredible paradigm shift as a skyscraper is converted from a symbol of wealth is occupied by squatters. The lack of a vibrant formal economy and more formal housing leads to a lack of suitable options for many urban residents--especially with problems in the rural countryside. A complex web of geographic factors need to this most fascinating situation. The video link "Squatters on the Skyline" embedded in the article is a must see.
Stacey Jackson's curator insight,
February 22, 2013 12:35 AM
The fact that one resident featured in the video said she has "nothing to complain about" says a lot about the housing situation in Caracas. She didn't seem to think she deserved to live in a better environment- instead she accepts the unfinished skyscraper with rudimentary services and no sewage removal. It is a shame that Caracas hasn't been able to meet the housing demands of their growing population. I'm sure the issue is more complex, but it seems like this oil-rich nation should be able to build proper housing for its citizens. Also, 2,500 squatters is an astounding figure. Just to put it into perspective, my neighborhood (in Providence) has a total population of 2,669. I can't imagine all of us being crammed into one building without electricity, air conditioning, or proper plumbing.
Lauren Stahowiak's curator insight,
February 11, 2014 12:23 PM
Squatters occupy a building that was constructed to symbolize great wealth in Venezuela including a landing pad on the roof and floors to occupy office buildings. Due to a financial crisis, the building was never finished and squatters have taken advantage of this empty building. There is no windows, plumbing or an elevator to reach the higher levels of this skyscraper. Because of this, many safety issues have risen, including deaths. There is no other place for these squatters to live, it has become their home and they are temporarily making the best of it.
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Tens of thousands of well-off Mexicans have moved north of the border in a quiet exodus over the past few years, according to local officials, border experts and demographers.
The migration from Mexico to the USA has slowed tremendously in the 21st century, but due to the drug violence, the demographic profile of the migrants has changed significantly.
Amy Marques's curator insight,
February 12, 2014 1:22 PM
Despite Mexico making improvements to make Mexicans want to stay below the border. The drug trafficking violence does make people want to leave. Tens of thousands of well-off Mexicans, wealthy businessmen and average Mexicans are fleeing Mexico and have moved north of the border in a quiet exodus, and they're being warmly welcomed, unlike the much larger population of illegal immigrants. Mexicans are fleeing cartel wars that have left more than 37,000 Mexicans dead in just 4 years, 
Amanda Morgan's curator insight,
September 29, 2014 2:12 PM
This article is interesting because we were used to seeing poorer immigrants from Mexico looking for work and a new way of life. However, the more affluent communities are migrating North to the U.S. and legally because of the turmoil of the drug wars in their country. It is disappointing to see that drugs, violence and murder are pushing away people from their own country
Jacob Crowell's curator insight,
December 3, 2014 1:23 PM
For more affluent Mexicans the ability to migrate north is much easier than for the poor. They have the money and the skills to move into the United States. Also with the open lines of communication and ease of flux with business over the border make moving to the U.S. an excellent way to avoid being caught in the cross fire among drug cartels. For the poor however they are either forced to find work with the cartel or risk being an innocent bystander. It also makes you think about the terminology we use to describe Mexican immigrants, are they not refugees of this drug war? |
Miami being the "capital of Latin America", is something that I never, at all would have ever thought of, because, well, it isn't really in Latin America. But, seeing this chart of the MIA really makes me think, and Miami being the "capital" now makes a lot of sense. There are so many more flights from MIA connecting to places in Latin America than to other parts of the US, and even other parts of the world. It's a little crazy to think that this airport is the "hub" of Latin America.