Cocaine

Raymond Yan, Andrei Loghin Period 7

GROUPS INVOLVED AND THE CONLICT

Drug Cartels are a big problem in Central and South America and now even in the U.S. There have been many people killed throughout the border states such as Texas and Arizona. These cartels have illegally smuggling drugs and guns to the U.S. The Parties involved are mainly the U.S. and Mexico. Drug Cartel groups include La Familia Michoacna, which is the fastest growing and most dangerous cartel, and also the Sinaloa Cartel.
Joaquin Guzman is suspected to be the main leader of the Sinaloa Cartel.

ENVIRONMENTAL DEGRAGATION DUE TO DRUG CARTELS

There are definitely serious consequences on the environment because of these drug cartels. Many species of animals are predicted to go extinct if the razing of rain forests for space to grow the coca plant, which is the plant that produces cocaine, keeps going on. The animals that are at risk of extinction are the Gorgeted Puffleg, the harpy eagle, titi monkey, golden poison frog, tapir, spectacled bear and gorgona blue lizard. This has been. Because the biggest drug war that has happened in the last 50 or 100 years, the impact on the environment will be devastating.

The Coca Plant

THE SPATIAL EXTENT OF DRUG CARTELS

The South American rain forests are being being affected by this deforestation. The spatial extent of this issue is The geographical perspective from my point of view is that the rain forests in South America are major habitats for many species of animals and that if they are cut down then these animals will most likely become extinct. Also, Mexico is where most of the major drug cartels are located due to the interaction of the U.S.-Mexico border.

The Spatial Extent of Drug Cartels

DISAGREEMENTS AND CONTRARY OPINIONS

President Obama and Mexicos President Felipe Calderon are currently trying to find a solution for the civil drug war in mexico that is spilling into the U.S. More troops and reinforcements seem to be only increasing the problem due to violence against the armed forces.

Mexicos President Felipe Calderon

PARTIES PROMOTING THE STOP OF DRUG CARTELS

The Green Ecological Party of Mexico is against drug cartels due to the fact that the coca plant is being grown in excessive quantities which in turn causes deforestation due to the fact large amounts of land are needed. Also, The National Action Party (PAN)of Felipe Calderon and the Democratic Party are very much against drug cartels and the civil drug war in Mexico.

The National Action Party (PAN)

The Democratic Party

MOTIVATION OF THE DEGRAGATION OF DRUG CARTELS

The motivation for the environmental degradation that is caused by drug cartels is that they need more space in order to grow the coca plant for the maximum profits of cocaine. The U.S. is the source of the drug cartels gunssome 2,000 daily make their way across our border into Mexico dailyand we also are the source of their revenue from those here who buy drugs. In Mexico, drugs are produced with a cheap price and cartels sell it to citizens of the U.S. for a high cost, therefore making profit. Drug Cartels make money from the commercial selling and buying of weapons and narcotics through various countries. And the U.S. is encouraging this trend.

HOW LONG DRUG CARTELS HAVE BEEN PRESENT

The degradation of forests due to production of the coca plant and the illegal sale and trade of drugs and weapons has been present ever since the Mexican drug cartels rose to power in the early 1990s.

DISPUTE UPON DRUG CARTELS Because the Mexican president, Felipe Calderon, who took
office in December of 2006 declared war on the drug cartels and ended the earlier governments passiveness, many have been kidnapped and even killed. Gun battles and fights between rival cartels have also been a big problem in Mexico. There have been almost 15,000 deaths since the end of 2006. President Obama also designated some Mexican cartels as targeted for special U.S. restrictions. The designation was made under the Foreign Narcotics Kingpin Designation Act, which allows the U.S. government to target the activities of major drug traffickers and their organizations. The plan is to deny the cartels and their members access to the U.S. trade and financial systems.

President Obama and President Felipe Calderon working together to solve the drug cartel problem.

EFFECTS OF DRUG CARTELS The people of Mexico and also of the U.S. are
both affected, although not exactly equally. Since the U.S. is further away from these problems, they dont experience as much of the drug violence as Mexico itself, but there are still enough deaths along the border states of the U.S. that forces us to get involved. In Mexico, many innocent people are being kidnapped and killed so the drug cartels can get what the want. The extent of the issue in Mexico is a good deal more than that of the U.S.

U.S. troops working against drug cartels.

THE SCALE OF THE IMPACT OF DRUG CARTELS

The scale of the degradation for national development imense. Having these drug cartels means that Mexico will need extra money to strengthen the amount of federal agents that are working to stop these drug cartels. The U..S. is also forced to use more border patrol agents and send some federal police officers over to Mexico in order to help.

THE WORLD RESPONSE TO DRUG CARTELS

As America wages its war on drugs and terror, organized criminal gangs in the U.S. have merged with the Mexican drug cartels, the threat to U.S. interests from an emerging international crime cartel grows more serious every day. Groups like the Sinaloa, Juarez, Tijuana, and La Familia, have virtually taken over law enforcement and high ranking Mexican government officials in their country and are dangerous and significant terrorists, carrying out their criminal activities across borders and threatening the stability and interests of the United States and Mexico. In other words they are a big security threat to both nations.

MAPS

-Capitol - City

BIBLIOGRAPHY

http://www.boston.com/bigpicture/2009/03/mexicos_drug_wa r.html http://www.treehugger.com/files/2009/07/drug-cartelsmarijuana-environment.php http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mexican_Drug_War http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/2009/oct/25/colombia -endangered-species-cocaine http://www.nationalterroralert.com/updates/2009/08/20/usindicts-ten-alleged-mexican-drug-cartel-leaders/ http://www.homelandsecurityresponse.com/group/allvetsand americanlegionaires/forum/topics/mexican-drug-cartels-with http://www.huffingtonpost.com/ryan-grim/nafta-and-the-drugcartel_b_223705.html http://www.lagunajournal.com/mexican_drug_cartels_threate ns_t.htm