2 1 Comparing Costa Rica and Nicaragua Costa

2. 1 Comparing Costa Rica and Nicaragua

Costa Rica • 60 years of peace (1949 last army) • Stable government and economy • Tourism employs more than 50% of the working population • Economy has grown significantly in the past 20 years

Costa Rica’s Challenges

Costa Rica’s Challenges • Poverty rate is 15 -20 % • High taxes • Lack of social services( cut funding to help economy recover) • Trade partners are very few ( 2009 signed a free trade agreement with United States)

Nicaragua • Unstable government since its independence from Spain in 1821 – Dictatorships – Civil wars through 1990 s • 1998 major hurricane destroyed infrastructure(bridges, roads, and electrical system) – 1000 s left homeless, jobless, and had little or no medical care

Nicaragua’s Challenges • Poverty- 2005 almost ½ of the population lived below the poverty line • Weak economy and high unemployment • Lack of social services to help the poor • 2005 received funds from U. S. to: – Address rural poverty – Buy farm equipment – Market, advertise and promote rural businesses’ – Build roads and repair the infrastructure

Haiti’s challenges

2. 2 Challenges of Haiti • Poverty- 80% of the people live in poverty • Historic Causes: – After independence, slaves had no money or means of income – European nations didn’t want to invest in a country with so much violence

Haiti’s challenges • 20 th Century – Political instability- struggle for control of government – Out breaks of diseases, kept tourists away • 21 st Century – Violence between political groups – Corruption – Security- U. S. sent troops but not sucessful

Haiti’s Challenges • 2010 earthquake – 1. 5 million people displaced – 200, 000 dead – Damaged airports, roads, and bridges- made it difficult to receive help and move aid to the people – Billions of dollars in damage

Feeding Central America

2. 3 Feeding Central America • Food shortages are caused by natural disasters and human activities – Natural disasters: – Hurricanes- Mitch 1998 – struck the countries of El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras and Nicaragua – Drought – rainy season isn't long enough – 2008 flooding • Disasters destroyed main crops: bananas, beans, corn, avocados, mangoes, plantains, oranges and rice • Can also effect drinking water supply

Human activities • Mismanagement of resources – Declining soil quality from growing same crop year after year – Lack of irrigation – deforestation • Climate change – Global warming is causing extreme weather patterns • More floods, hurricanes, and droughts

Childhood hunger is main effect of food shortages • Starts at birth- pregnant women don’t get nutrients needed, as a result women have very small babies • Poor nutrition throughout childhood, can slow down growth • Guatemala – 23% of children under 5 are under weight & ½ are small for their age because of diet • Many families spend their whole day trying to grow or buy enough food to get to the next day – No time for school – No time to tend to health issues

Solutions • Increase each countries crop production – Food supply increases- surplus – Food cost will lower because of surplus- trade develops – More jobs with better wages • Improve land quality: fertilizers, crop rotation and irrigation • Improve education: rural farmers won’t destroy land(slash and burn) and people will be able to get better jobs

2. 4 Migration and the Caribbean Push Factors • • • Subsistence farming Collapse of sugar industry Unemployment Overpopulation Drought and floods Pull Factors • Tourism- need many workers • Freedom- Cubans and Haitians • Remittances- better paying jobs allow money to be sent home

2. 5 Conserving the Rainforest • New farming methods – Rotating crops – Reusing the land(fertilizers) – Educating rural farmers( stop slash and burn) • Ecotourism – Experience the environment in its natural form • Guided hikes • Bird watching and wildlife tours • Canopy walks and zip lines • Stop deforestation and soil destruction – Provide alternative jobs for poor farmers( tour guides, rangers, and hotel, resort workers)