OAS

1. OAS Deforestation Latin America Today! Social/Economic Problems Other Issues

2. The Organization of American States (OAS) brings together the countries of the Western Hemisphere to strengthen cooperation and advance common interests. It is the region’s premier forum for multilateral dialogue and concerted action. At the core of the OAS mission is an unequivocal commitment to democracy, as expressed in the Inter-American Democratic Charter: “The peoples of the Americas have a right to democracy and their governments have an obligation to promote and defend it.” Building on this foundation, the OAS works to promote good governance, strengthen human rights, foster peace and security, expand trade, and address the complex problems caused by poverty, drugs and corruption. Through decisions made by its political bodies and programs carried out by its General Secretariat, the OAS promotes greater inter-American cooperation and understanding. The OAS member states have intensified their cooperation since the end of the Cold War, taking on new and important challenges. In 1994 the region’s 34 democratically elected presidents and prime ministers met in Miami for the First Summit of the Americas, where they established broad political, economic and social development goals. They have continued to meet periodically since then to examine common interests and priorities. Through the ongoing Summits of the Americas process, the region’s leaders have entrusted the OAS with a growing number of responsibilities to help advance the countries’ shared vision. OAS OAS goals: Fight Corruption, Combat Illegal Drugs, Fostering Free Trade, Strengthening Security, Protecting Human Rights, Defending democracy.

3. The lush amazon rain forest stretches about 2.7 million square miles. Brightly colored parrots, swift jaguars and fierce piranhas make their home in the tropical forest and its many rivers. Monkeys swing among high branches and vines. The Amazon holds one-fifth of the planet's freshwater supply and the world's widest variety of life. For decades, this wildlife wonderland has been shrinking as farmers and others clear the land. Last week Brazil's government confirmed what environmentalists have feared: the 1990s were a terrible decade for the rain forest. According to newly released information, the destruction of the forest in Brazil reached record levels in 1995. In that year alone, 11,200 square miles were burned or cleared. That's nearly twice what was lost in 1994. Overall, one-eighth of the giant rain forest has been destroyed. The bad news from Brazil was followed by a ray of hope. Brazil promised last week to do a better job enforcing laws that protect its natural treasure. Who's Killing The Forest?Loggers, miners and farmers from Brazil and nearby countries have been rapidly moving into the Amazon since the 1960s. Some cut down trees for wood and paper. Others simply burn the forest to clear the land. Construction of roads and airplane runways has also damaged the region. The loss of trees is called deforestation. Space satellites regularly take pictures of the Amazon. The information released by Brazil last week was based on these pictures. Deforestation slowed down in 1996 and 1997. But that's not necessarily because people were protecting the forest. It's because heavy rainfall made it harder to burn trees. "These numbers are no reason to celebrate," admits Brazil's Environment Minister, Gustavo Krause. Stephan Schwartzman of the Environmental Defense Fund calls the pace of destruction "alarming." He and other scientists are worried that they will run out of time to study the plants and animals of the rich forest. "The great tragedy is how much isn't known," he says. Cracking Down On CriminalsTo slow down deforestation, Brazil decided last week to get tougher on people who abuse the Amazon. In 1996 Brazil placed limits on clearing land in the region. But officials did not always enforce the laws. Now those who damage the rain forest will be punished with big fines and ordered to repair the damage. "This can make a big difference," says Schwartzman. "There is hope." Amazon: Deforestation

4. In the 1980s Latin America led the world in following the so-called Washington consensus, by which governments were encouraged to liberalise and privatise their economies. Many governments went much further down that path than in other parts of world, but the results have been disappointing. Out of a population of around 550 million, 220 million are still poor and 100 million are extremely so, living on less than $1 a day. GDP per capita has remained constant over the last 20 years, or at least has grown very slowly compared with East Asia for example. Income is static at around $4,000 per capita. Income inequality is either stagnant or only slightly better, in a region that is already very bad. The 2005 UN development report showed that Latin America was the worst in the world for inequality, along with sub-Saharan Africa. Brazil is infamous for being a very unequal society - second only to Sierra Leone in the world, according to some measurements. Sao Paulo has the highest number of helicopters per capita, as the wealthy commute to avoid the slum areas, or favelas. But many other Latin American societies are also very unequal. Mexico boasts the fourth richest man in the world, according to Forbes - Carlos Slim with an estimated fortune of $46bn - and several billionaires. One of the reasons for this is Mexico's low tax intake, which is less than Senegal's as a percentage of GDP. It is probably true that left-wing parties and governments are currently stronger in Latin America than anywhere else in the world. There are diverse reasons for this depending on the country, but there are also some common threads. Left-wing parties have tended to do well by offering something different from the dominant free market policies which previous governments followed, promising more to the poor, playing the anti-Bush card - the war in Iraq is deeply unpopular in the region - and speaking of Latin American integration Social and Economic Problems

5. However, there is also what many observers call the democratic deficit, which has taken two forms. • One is related to the growing disillusionment with politicians and, in some countries, with the democratic system. • The other has to do with social, cultural and human rights which are lagging behind, despite the strengthening of political rights. For example: • Social violence and kidnappings are on the rise in many countries or still prevalent. In Brazil, for example, there are about 100 gun-related deaths a day, more than in many war zones • The situation in jails is highly volatile, not least because 50% of prisoners are held in pre-trial detention • Drugs traffickers hold sway over big chunks of the region, and particularly along parts of the US-Mexican border • The problem of child pornography is one of the worst in the world • Women's rights have not improved much - there are disappointingly few women in the region's parliaments • There is little accountability over the region's law-makers and authorities. Impunity is prevalent, and Latin American countries appear high up on Transparency International's corruption lists. Other Issues