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Ecuador Tour Guide:

In this tour guide you will learn about Ecuador's environment and climate, imperialism and government, human rights, and global interdependence.

MAP OF ECUADOR:



Environment and Climate:

The climate in Ecuador tends to vary because of the altitude of many regions, proximity to the equator, and the the Pacific Ocean on it's west side. For example, on the Pacific Coast, there is a wet season that ranges from December to May. The dry season ranges from June to November and the temperatures range from 23 to 26 degrees. In the Andes, the wet season is from November to April and the dry season is from May to December. Temperatures range from 13 to 18 degrees. In the Amazon, the temperature ranges from 23 to 26 degrees, and the wet and dry seasons are from January to September and from October to December.

Ecuador's climate has a lot of variances and this is all due to the altitude of different regions. The previous paragraph depicted the variances in each region, but this is about the altitude and the different factors that impact it. The altitude has a higher influence on the weather and climate than the time of year. Because of the altitude, e=Ecuador also has a very diverse environment. It has mountains (the Andes), valleys, forests, grasslands, glaciers, and volcanoes. Ecuador also has two air currents that tend to impact the mountain regions. It also has the Humboldt and El Nino currents that also tend to vary the climate, depending on which current is stronger. For example, if the El Nino current is stronger, the rains will increase and might cause floods on the Pacific Coast. If the Humboldt is stronger, the rains will decrease and cause a drought.

//Ecuador's Enviroment://





Imperialism and Government:

Ecuador's history of imperialism, also coincides with the imperialism of Latin America which began in 1492. Since then, it has experienced many things. Ecuador has given the U.S a military base in Manta which coincides with the drug wars in Latin America that America is leading against drug distribution, and also with Ecuador's petroleum industry. As this article stated:

" US imperialism operates through a network of client states, collaborator regimes, multinational corporations, NGOs and local political elites. It is a mistake to simply reduce the imperial threat to the White House, Pentagon, CIA or the Occidental Petroleum Company. They are important actors, but only a part of the imperial architecture, which threatens the process of change in Ecuador. " - Ecuador on the Cusp  This just proves how much of an influence the U.S has had in Ecuador. Not only is the U.S leaving their mark in Ecuador, but other Latin American countries are too. This is all in an effort for business collaboration over the oil field. But all of these changes have taken their toll, and workers are uprising because, politicians, military leaders, and those higher up in the government are sacrificing the working class for these business collaborations. These collaborations have led people to revolt and strike. The workers are especially mad over a new labor policy. Despite the fact that Ecuador is meant to be a democracy, it does not give its people much say in their government as the laws and movements that are being set forth are leaning more towards business agreements.

Human Rights Issues:

1) Because Ecuador is leaning more towards business agreements with the U.S and other countries, it is violating the rights of the indigenous people in the Amazon. They are drilling on their land and arresting those who protest. Those who have been jailed include. the elderly, men, and women. The people not only protest over a violation of their rights, unlawful drilling in their land, and unfair arrests, but they also believe that they are being taken advantage of because of their indigenous culture, and they don't agree with the brutal and commercial use of their land.

2) Ecuador is also under suspicion for unlawful killings. There have been statements made by people who feel victimized by the government, seeing as the murders are committed by police men who are active in the force and receive orders from officials such as the mayor. The government states that it is considered to be a "cleansing process" by ridding the towns and villages of juveniles, but many who have tried to avoid getting tracked down and killed, are still followed to their hideout locations. Ex:

" In 2008 the bodies of three men were found in a car in Manta. One of the victims was Yandry Velez, who had allegedly fled to Manta to hide from Diego Erazo, chief of the operational support unit of the Judicial Police in Pichincha Province. The family asserted that police killed Velez and his friends on orders from the mayor. "

-Human Rights Report

<span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">3) Not only are there reports of unlawful killings in Ecuador, but there are also reports of disappearances and kidnappings conducted by the police force. It is believed that these kidnappings are put forth mainly for profit, but many have complained about family members and friends disappearing without a trace. Because there have been investigations in police departments regarding the disappearance of people, there are also investigations regarding suspicions of torturing and killing those individuals.

<span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">Global Interdependence:

<span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">Ecuador's economy is highly based off of petroleum production and agriculture production for domestic use and exportation. 50-60% of Ecuador's export earnings are based off of petroleum exportation. The countries that have the petroleum imported are Peru, Chile, Brazil, Argentina, Venezuela, Costa Rica, Panama, Uruguay, Haiti, and Cuba, Spain, Italy, France, China, Iran, and Russia. These countries have all reached an agreement to economically cooperate. The U.S is Ecuador's most important trading partner, taking in about 1/3 of Ecuador's exports and becoming 1/4 of Ecuador's imports. They are both working together closely over petroleum consumption and production, and the war to prevent the production and distribution of drugs.

<span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #252525; font-family: 'Lucida Grande',Arial,Verdana,sans-serif; font-size: 12px;">WORKS CITED FOR INFORMATION:

" World InfoZone - Ecuador Information - Page 1 ." //World InfoZone//. N.p., n.d. Web. 15 Apr. 2012. <http://worldinfozone.com/country.php?country=Ecuador>

"2010 Human Rights Report: Ecuador." //U.S. Department of State//. N.p., n.d. Web. 15 Apr. 2012. <http://www.state.gov/j/drl/rls/hrrpt/2010/wha/154504.htm>

"Climate of Ecuador." //Home//. N.p., n.d. Web. 15 Apr. 2012. <http://www.languagecrossing.com/Destinations/Ecuador/Climate_of_Ecuador/>

"Ecuador." //U.S. Department of State//. N.p., n.d. Web. 15 Apr. 2012. <http://www.state.gov/r/pa/ei/bgn/35761.htm>

"Ecuador Weather - Ecuador Climate - Ecuador General Information :: Go Ecuador .com." //Ecuador Travel Ecuador Tours Galapagos Islands Cruises Ecuador Travel Information//. N.p., n.d. Web. 15 Apr. 2012. <http://www.goecuador.com/ecuador-general-info/ecuador-climate.html>

Nationalities, the Confederation of Indigenous, and Peoples of Ecuador. "Ecuador Needs a Workers, Peasants and Indian Government."//Internationalist Group -- Reforge the Fourth International!//. N.p., n.d. Web. 15 Apr. 2012. <http://www.internationalist.org/ecuadorworkersgovernment0712.html>

Petras, James. "Ecuador on the Cusp | Atlantic Free Press - Hard Truths for Hard Times." //Atlantic Free Press - Progressive Opinion, OP/ED | Atlantic Free Press - Hard Truths for Hard Times//. N.p., n.d. Web. 15 Apr. 2012. <http://atlanticfreepress.com/news/1/2350-ecuador-on-the-cusp.html>.

PICTURE CITATIONS:

Redirect Notice." //Google//. N.p., n.d. Web. 15 Apr. 2012. <http://www.google.com/imgres?um=1&hl=en&biw=1920&bih=989&tbm=isch&tbnid=WO1A0Mj9O_HqMM:&imgrefurl=http://www.cuencahighlife.com/post/2010/08/25/Ecuadors-75-year-old-mountain-man-is-still-climbing-teaching-children-the-love-of-nature.aspx&docid=ljT8v9KjBZ28tM&imgurl=http://www.cuencahighlife.com/image.axd%253Fpicture%253D2010%25252F8%25252Fchl%252Bsummit%252Bcotopaxi.jpg&w=464&h=261&ei=TlCLT57qKebW0QHDkbXUCQ&zoom=1&iact=hc&vpx=1524&vpy=328&dur=632&hovh=168&hovw=300&tx=139&ty=99&sig=104037222609764420061&page=1&tbnh=118&tbnw=209&start=0&ndsp=43&ved=1t:429,r:16,s:0,i:100>

"Redirect Notice." //Google//. N.p., n.d. Web. 15 Apr. 2012. <http://www.google.com/imgres?um=1&hl=en&biw=1920&bih=989&tbm=isch&tbnid=oiZcKZpRvwLaXM:&imgrefurl=http://www.millennium-energy.net/tag/ecuadors-glaciers&docid=9XnQaBe5AL4zFM&imgurl=http://www.millennium-energy.net/wp-content/uploads/2011/07/6a00d8341c60e553ef00e54f6f50fc8834-640wi.gif&w=640&h=404&ei=TlCLT57qKebW0QHDkbXUCQ&zoom=1&iact=hc&vpx=779&vpy=163&dur=558&hovh=178&hovw=283&tx=144&ty=87&sig=104037222609764420061&page=1&tbnh=117&tbnw=185&start=0&ndsp=43&ved=1t:429,r:3,s:0,i:73>.

"Redirect Notice." //Google//. N.p., n.d. Web. 15 Apr. 2012. <http://www.google.com/imgres?um=1&hl=en&biw=1920&bih=989&tbm=isch&tbnid=3Oe0vZ85lNJisM:&imgrefurl=http://www.treehugger.com/corporate-responsibility/world-bank-and-andean-countries-will-spend-32-million-to-study-glacial-retreat-and-create-adaptation-plan.html&docid=p9kMKArlBQ-lGM&imgurl=http://media.treehugger.com/assets/images/2011/10/peruvian-glacier-in-huaraz.jpg&w=468&h=351&ei=TlCLT57qKebW0QHDkbXUCQ&zoom=1&iact=hc&vpx=390&vpy=155&dur=740&hovh=194&hovw=259&tx=117&ty=59&sig=104037222609764420061&page=1&tbnh=145&tbnw=192&start=0&ndsp=43&ved=1t:429,r:1,s:0,i:69>

"Redirect Notice." //Google//. N.p., n.d. Web. 15 Apr. 2012. <http://www.google.com/imgres?um=1&hl=en&biw=1920&bih=989&tbm=isch&tbnid=ZlxA1iS3_Kn_lM:&imgrefurl=http://journals.worldnomads.com/safetyhub/story/66859/Ecuador/Extreme-adventures-in-Ecuador-Taking-the-plunge&docid=cueYcrPhrRX1YM&imgurl=http://aphs.worldnomads.com/safetyhub/12392/throatoffire.jpg&w=520&h=390&ei=FFCLT5_SLcjq0gGu3rTGCQ&zoom=1&iact=hc&vpx=820&vpy=208&dur=1040&hovh=194&hovw=259&tx=150&ty=130&sig=104037222609764420061&page=1&tbnh=130&tbnw=167&start=0&ndsp=47&ved=1t:429,r:4,s:0,i:78>

"Redirect Notice." //Google//. N.p., n.d. Web. 15 Apr. 2012. <http://www.google.com/imgres?um=1&hl=en&biw=1920&bih=989&tbm=isch&tbnid=-TpyzlGn4VQ6BM:&imgrefurl=http://www.cruisesingalapagos.com/pictures/tungurahua-volcano.htm&docid=lxP7Bpssy3I9SM&imgurl=http://www.cruisesingalapagos.com/pictures/ecuador/tungurahua-volcano.JPG&w=491&h=341&ei=FFCLT5_SLcjq0gGu3rTGCQ&zoom=1&iact=hc&vpx=1295&vpy=212&dur=236&hovh=187&hovw=269&tx=175&ty=121&sig=104037222609764420061&page=1&tbnh=130&tbnw=173&start=0&ndsp=47&ved=1t:429,r:7,s:0,i:84>

"Redirect Notice." //Google//. N.p., n.d. Web. 15 Apr. 2012. <http://www.google.com/imgres?um=1&hl=en&biw=1920&bih=989&tbm=isch&tbnid=3RxGyCdrf5rCJM:&imgrefurl=http://www.markhorrell.com/diaries/091224.html&docid=NKAoEugjLLvZKM&imgurl=http://www.markhorrell.com/travel/ecuador/volcanoes/images/cotopaxi2.jpg&w=600&h=450&ei=3U-LT5rOHMfA0AHwn9nZCQ&zoom=1&iact