Dripping rainforests echoing with the calls of howler monkeys

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Dripping rainforests echoing with the calls of
howler monkeys Vibrant Maya markets alive with
brilliant woven tapestries and fresh produce
Endless opportunities to experience and
explore Quotes are courtesy of Lets Go Trave
l Guide
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• Central America's seven countries are only about
  a quarter the size of Mexico
  
• Belize
• Costa Rica
• El Salvador
• Guatemala
• Honduras
• Nicaragua
• Panama

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• Nations emerged from decades of violent political
  instability
  
• All have established democratic governments
• scars left by civil wars are healing
• Once the domain only of bold (or foolhardy)
  adventurers, today's Central America---inexpensive
  and compact---eagerly welcomes the budget
  traveler.

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• Question to think about
• Why does the U.S. have such an interest in the
  affairs of Central America?

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http//www.worldatlas.com/webimage/countrys/na.htm
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• Natural resources
• Drug trafficking
• Vulnerable to socialism
• Vulnerable to terrorist cells?

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• Poverty
• Nicaragua
• Honduras

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Honduras

• The Original Banana Republic
• What does that mean?

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A Banana Republic

• Usually means a poor developing country that
  relies on one cash crop (bananas)
  
• Why is the term banana republic negative?

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• High standard of living
• Costa Rica
• Stable democracy
• Wealthy country of central America
• Tourism

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Resources

• Agricultural Exports
• Sugarcane
• Coffee
• Bananas

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Resources

• Subsistence Food
• Manioc
• Rice
• Corn
• Beans

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Minerals

• Lead
• Zinc
• Copper
• Iron
• Forestry

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Limited Energy Resources

• Oil
• G. only
• Disrupted by civil war
• Controlled by French company
• But C.A. vast consumers of oil
• So where are they getting it from?

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Limited Energy Resources

• Oil
• G. only
• Disrupted by civil war
• Controlled by French company
• But C.A. vast consumers of oil
• So where are they getting it from?
• Venezuela and Mexico

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Poverty Exploitation

• Large areas of forest cut down
• Firewood
• Paper companies
• Oil exploration
• What environmental problems does this cause?

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• Erosion
• Flash floods
• Mudslides

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Natural Disasters

• Active volcanic activity
• 14 active volcanoes
• Earthquakes
• Hurricanes
• 1998 Hurricane Mitch killed 11,000 people

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Limited Energy Resources

• Oil
• G. only
• Disrupted by civil war
• Controlled by French company
• But C.A. vast consumers of oil
• So where are they getting it from?
• Natural gas
• Coal

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• Drug Trafficking
• Human Trafficking

• There are three ways into the U.S. market
• one is directly through the Caribbean
• one is through the Central American corridor and
  adjacent waters
  
• and the third route goes deep into the Pacific.
• The trend has been for smugglers to use the path
  running along the Central American corridor,
  since it is the one of least resistance.
  

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• Lets Go Central America
• http//www.letsgo.com/CEAM/00-Discover-1

http//www.eia.doe.gov/emeu/cabs/centam.html