Latin-American Studies

Religion has evolved a lot in Jamaica since the colonial era. The British colonialists considered the slave population inferior to understand or even be introduced to Christianity. This way, the Church of England displayed its hypocrisy and this prompted the establishment of a neo-African religion enhanced by the influx of African slaves who introduced various religious beliefs and practices in Jamaica (Morris, 2006). These religions later became structured around the indigenous Myal and Obeah priests and leading to the establishment of the Kumina cult. With time, Christianity got established in Jamaica through the non-conformist denominations such as the Moravians, Methodists, Baptists, and Presbyterian. At this particular time, there evolved a folk religion which was blend of these African religions. As a dominant ethnic group in Jamaica, the Ashanti impacted greatly on the Kumina cult. With respect to symbolism, these traditional religions had a number of ceremonies including marriages, deaths and births all of which were characterized by vigorous drumming, dancing, sacrifices, ancestral spirit possession and alcohol use. For instance, drums were regarded as Gods voice and a worship medium.

Between the emancipation and the Great Revival periods, there grew an infectious Christian enthusiasm in Jamaica. The Great Revival hence provided for the dynamism of the African religion (Nelson). Missionary expeditions to Jamaica commenced in 1754 and had the objective of eliminating the neo-African religions. However, the Great Revival led to the formation of three new cults Revival Zion Revivalism and Pukumina which provided an opportunity for the African religion to impose a Christian guise (Morris, 2006). This made the traditional religions more popular leading to their eventual fusion with Christianity. The Rastafarian religion based on the Old Testament, the Kebra Negast and Garveys philosophies developed much later. Religion had already been established before independence and played a great role in the same.

Born on May 24, 1925 in Aguilares (Texas, USA), Pedro Gonzalez is a renowned American actor who featured in many movies as early as 1950. He played several roles mostly in the Mexican comedies. In 1975, he was part of the film, Six Pack Annie. He also played a role in Down the Drain in 1989 and other television films (Hollywood para. 1).

Among other films he has featured include Uphill All The Way in 1986, Lust in the Dust in 1984, Support Your Local Gunfighter in 1971, Chisum in 1970 and Hook Line and Sinker in 1969. He also appeared in many John Wayne movies (Hollywood para. 1).

His mother was Spanish whereas the father was a Mexican-America. Their family was very talented. The father played trumpet whereas the mother was a dancer. Pedro left school and joined the family act known as Las Perlitas when he was 7 years old. While he was in this group, he toured Texas. Although he was illiterate, he used to memorize scripts with the help of the wife who read them to him. He was greatly talented and offered the audience the best kind of entertainment while working at the same time. He drew a lot of audience due to his comedy shows (The Internet Movie Database, para. 2). He worked with Wayne for a decade and featured in many films such as Wings of the Hawk in 1953. He had three children Pedro Gonzalez, Gonzalez Jr., who also featured in the movie The Young Land in 1959 and McLintoc in 1963 (The Internet Movie Database para. 4).

John Wayne cast Pedro in many of his movies such as Hell fighters, Rio Bravo, Gunsmoke, Jerry Lewis film, The High and the Mighty Wanted Dead or Alive. This was after he noticed him during You Bet Your Life quiz show hosted by Groucho Marx.  He was mainly involved in comic roles and was an inspiration to many Latino actors. He died on 6 February 2006 (The Internet Movie Database para. 6).

Pedro Gonzalez was in conflict with the authorities who claimed that he used his shows to protest on several issues like the forceful deportation of Latins who were citizens of the United States (Rangel para. 12). He was charged on accounts of rape and sentenced to serve 50 years in jail. His wife was in the forefront to see him being released. She appealed to two presidents from Mexico. He was later released after serving 6 years in jail. His release was as a result of several protest efforts in 1940 (Rangel para, 13).

It is widely noted that the United States has an embargo placed against Cuba. It meant that US companies may not trade with those of Cuba, plus any US citizen cannot travel to Cuba with the exception of special circumstances. The US Congress even fortifies the embargo with a bill that makes the embargo stronger and stricter, and imposes sanctions to any country that trades with Cuba. Countries that have been condemned by the international community because of misconduct can be put through an embargo. More clearly, an embargo is especially only in times of war. So why has the United States at war with Cuba- Cuba which can be classified to pose virtually no threat to the superpower that is the United States is put under the most drastic measure that any country can find.

The embargo of the United States against Cuba had been condemned by the United Nations General Assembly in 2003 but the government of U.S. is still continuing to impose it. This embargo has long been in force dating back to March 1960. It began during the time that armed dispute broke out between Batistas government and the rebels in Cuba. The import quote for the brown sugar was reduced by the United States in reaction the new revolutionary government of Cuba which captured or seized US properties.

The new government continuously made moves in confiscating the businesses and properties of the American so the Soviet Union responded to the Sugar Act and agreed to purchase the sugar as a substitute. As Cuba aligned with the Soviet Union in the midst of the Cold War, United States president John F. Kennedy extended the trade restrictions. Kennedy also enforced travel restrictions not long after. The Cuban Assets Control Regulations stated that the assets of the Cuban that were to be found in the United States were frozen and on hand limits and restraints were consolidated. Cuba got expelled from the OAS or Organization of American States in 1962. There were sanctions that were imposed to the Cuban government. The member suspension was lifted just last year, June 3, 2009.

In 1992, the 1963 embargo of the United States was reinforced through the Torricelli Law or the Cuban Democracy Act. The Cuban Liberty and Democracy Solidarity Act or Helms-Burton Act also reinforced the embargo as it reprimanded foreign corporations that had deals and made businesses in Cuba, by forbidding these companies to do business in the United States. The constraints placed on U.S. citizens when it came to traveling to Cuba lapsed in 1977. The directive was renewable but then U.S. president Carter opted not to renew and lifted the regulation concerning U.S. dollars spending in Cuba. President Reagan in 1982 reinstated the embargo and had been modified afterward until present with the current regulation. The Cuban Assets Control Regulation, which took effect June 30, 2004, does not restrain U.S. citizens from travelling to Cuba but they cannot be in any business or transaction in Cuba without an issued license from the United States government.

The U.S. embargo has had harmful economic as well as social effects. Sure enough, an embargo would trigger harmful economic effects, more pointed to the direction of Cuba. A source directly from Cuba estimates that the damages caused by the institution of the US embargo in Cuba would tally more than 70 Billion dollars. The damages mostly affect the development services and exportation of the country, but also include monetary and financial restrictions, limited growth on the national production of goods and services, loss of human resources and social damages to population, and many more. All the sectors of Cuba would be affected by the embargo and thus be the impediment that would limit or inhibit the Cuban economic recovery. Investors, who would not dare to gamble inside the Cuban economy in any possible industry, cancelled any of their supposed projects in Cuba. Not even the pharmaceutical and the biotechnology sector would feel the supposed projects of cooperation from US companies, they were all cancelled. Serious penalties would be implemented against any violator of these restrictions.

The U.S. embargo had an enormous effect on the social progress of the Cuban society. With the restrictions laid down, Cubas food security, as well as nutritional health and stability had been threatened constantly. The effects of the embargo reached out to the education, health, and cultural aspects of the Cuban society. The Cuban government made efforts to maintain the pillars of its society through continuous guarantee of staple food to everyone in hospitals, schools, and elderly homes. The pressures from the embargo concerned a wide variety of goods that are essential to the health sector of the Cuban community like laboratory products, pregnant women supplements and medicines, etc. Due to the tight monetary resources of the government, free supply of food to the new-born infants also stopped. The shortages of the trade heavily affected different treatments and procedures in the medical aspect of the Cuban community. The U.S. embargo aggravated an unjustified and baseless suffering to the Cuban people.

Presently, the embargo still restrains U.S. citizens from conducting deals with Cuban interests. The trade embargo is believed to be the most enduring one in contemporary history, and its still in effect. The United States remain to be in the top five largest exporters to the nation of Cuba, in spite of the implementation of the embargo.

Ana Castillos So Far From God had been regarded as a new masterpiece upon its publication in 1993. The book itself can be defined as brilliantly humorous and true to the Chicana experience. Coming from one of the women of the Chicana movement, the novel revolves around the lives of a family consisting of women  Sofi, a wife and a mother and her four daughters, Esperanza, Caridad, Fe and La Loca. Based from the story, these characters had discovered and portrayed what it means to be a woman in the face of the unknown. Castillo, through her social activism, had come up with a concrete example of a Mexican-American woman who faced struggles only to end up tougher than before.

So Far From God combines religion, family, supernatural and unexplained occurrences, humour, sex and despair in a novel that is not quite similar to anything that has ever been featured or encountered in the American Literature. It can be defined as a funny and entertaining novel which does not lead to a happy ending but rather reveals real scenarios behind the contemporary life of Mexican-Americans. It also depicts multiple tragedies followed by victories and survival. Castillo had been successful in provoking the readers thoughts about womens expectations, beliefs, religion and the extent of their courage. Furthermore, the novel opposes an omnipresent stereotype of Chicanas as dormant or static individuals exploited by coercion and subordinated by patriarchal church through presentation of female figures who attempt to reject dominion. This book presents to its readers characteristics of women that go beyond the ordinary.

The main character, Sofi, and her daughters are living at an intersection point between Mexican, Chicano, Spanish and First Nations cultures. Sofi also comes up against technological modernization and enduring traditions for comfort while she juggles her time in order to attend to her business and motherly duties at the same time. She portrayed in the novel the role of a typical mother living in a typical world inflicted with supernatural occurrences. Divine intervention, in varying extent, had been manifested in her four daughters starting with the youngest, La Loca who died due to a scary epileptic fit but then resurrected during her funeral and then levitated claiming later on that she had been to hell, purgatory and heaven the modern and young professional Esperanza who happened to be the only one to achieve high professional degree Caridad whose life led to mysticism and Fe who happens to be the most ordinary one until she suffered from a screaming convulsion when her fianc decided to call off their marriage. Their lives depict magic and supernatural forces in a small town (Tome, New Mexico) whose community directly encounters current social issues including the unstable political situation in the Middle East, AIDS and the newfound interest in alternate spirituality and natural cures for certain illnesses.

Sofis sentiment that they are poor and forgotten individuals reflects the sentiments of the Chicano movement. However, Sofi and her comadre (female friend) came to a specific realization that they can become closer to God by way of their own actions. And so they exerted their own efforts in initiating the improvement of the economic independence of their community for the benefit of their fellow inhabitants and they had been successful in doing so. They were able to restore mutual social relations, pride and dignity.

Castillo also allows her readers to see the multiple interests in Chicana subjectivity which at times can either be competing or converging. This is reflected in her female characters that fought hard to avow and lead their complex and intricate selves as opposed to the societies that persistently attempt to classify them with one-dimensional or superficial labels like slut, unloved, devil, Catholic, single mother etc.

One good thing about this novel is that each chapter can stand on its own. However, the reader still cannot satisfy himself without reading the entire book. From a readers point of view, Castillos novel can be defined as similar to a telenovela. It is a skilfully constructed book that provokes a lot of thoughts to the point of being confused or alarmed with the occurrences. It is like reading something that is based on reality but infused with magic and supernatural forces. It can give its readers the impression that there is indeed a cruel world out there and how you live your life is not always based on the choices that you make but also by the forces that occur to peoples lives. The novel also depicts the cruelty of men and the struggles of women in dealing with that culture. This certainly happens in real life and thus remains to be relevant  there are actual occurrences that can prove how men have a natural tendency and power to overrule women and ruin their disposition in life in this process. In the novel, the cruelty of men had been manifested in the transformation of ordinary women, who had been touched by divine intervention, into the supernatural.

So Far From God can take its readers to a journey towards the supernatural. However, it is still separated from the truth regardless of how current the situations in the story may be. In the story, readers are given the impression that death is not absolute. This is a far cry from the reality. While there are instances wherein a person who has been declared dead can come back to the world no such case will ever come close to La Locas resurrection and levitation. Furthermore, prayers are powerful indeed and faith can truly work wonders in ones life. However, this clearly separates the reality from the supernatural. Prayers are answered and miracles can therefore happen however, miracles are not comparable to magic or supernatural occurrences. The novel, regardless of how thought provoking it is, will not be enough to change ones concept of reality, generally speaking. It is simply a relevant, humorous and fine fiction that skilfully combines realistic events with magical, paranormal and bizarre happenings.

Castillos novel, regardless of the supernatural aspects, also imparts to its readers a multitude of thoughts and ideas. Among these are the cruelty of men and their power and effect over women, the weakness of womens choices and their strength of character. She had given concrete examples of what a mother is capable of doing and enduring in order to protect, support and save her children. Moreover, Castillo had also established the relationship between siblings  how they help each other in overcoming their struggles and rejection, how they strive to make their lives better despite other peoples judgements and criticisms and how they protect each other from the consequences of their actions and decisions. Although there are parts of the book that reveal the immorality issues affecting women, it also emphasized the female emotion, lust, strength and weakness altogether.

The strength of a woman had been clearly defined in this novel through Sofi. She was able to raise four daughters on her own while dealing with their individual personal issues, her own concerns as a mother and the external environment affecting their lives. Her daughters downfalls had been her downfalls as well. This condition of single motherhood had been a familiar in Sofis culture as stated on this particular line from the book. After undergoing many changes of outlook, Sofi meditates on the fact that she had been a single mother And all her life, there had always been at least one woman around like her, left alone, abandoned, divorced, or widowed, to raise her children (Castillo, 1993, p. 161).

This culture, involving single motherhood, is one reality that is clearly discussed in the book despite of its multiple manifestations of divine intervention. It uplifts the reputation of single mothers in many ways and serves as an eye-opener to the public which tends to view single motherhood shallowly and as a subject for indifference or prejudice. This subject about women that Castillo reflected in her novel is something that is worth agreeing for. A womans strength can never be underestimated by anybody regardless of how vulnerable she can be at some point. There are times when all her struggles can get the best of her but a woman, in every essence, has the ability to rise to occasions and surpass her trials. Castillo also expressed in the story the factors affecting women even in real life and the ones that can weaken her disposition  love, deceit, rejection, abandonment and lies. Sofi had reflected nobleness and integrity as a single mother and as an individual even in the face of trial and loss. Sofi had devoted her life to being a good daughter, a good wife, and a good mother, or at least had given it all a hell of a good try . . . Now there was no mother to honor, no father to respect, no jitas to sacrifice for, no rancho to maintain, and no land left to work (Castillo, 1993, p. 218). This line speaks of Sofis thoughts about her tribulations. Yet the story, although there is no apparent victory in the end, had justified the strength and power of a woman.

Lastly, on a macro overview of this novel, it attempts to present itself as a parody of popular and highly regarded Spanish soap operas  telenovelas and a social satire at the same time. In line with this observation as a reader, Castillo is not entirely successful in establishing a balance between the two perspectives. For this reason, the readers will find moments of confusion while reading the novel. Despite of its social relevance and religious and political aspects, the supernatural occurrences that were incorporated in the story added an element of confusion and uncertainty. It is sometimes hard to make a connection to the real world that the novel attempts to establish from the supernatural and magical world it also presents. It is up to the readers to decide which connection proves stronger for them.

Ana Castillos powerful and moving novel entitled So Far From God follows the story of a unique Chicano family of which all female members faced unpredictable transformations brought to them by unexpected events in their lives. With themes related to political ideologies, spirituality, and journey to finding lifes meaning, Castillo weaved an amazing story with an array of characters that are both interesting and enigmatic. With the infusion of humor and supernatural circumstances, Castillos novel effectively delivered the message of change, especially for the status of women in their society, through the story of Sofia and her four daughters. So Far From God is a thought provoking story that enriches readers with knowledge of Mexican-American culture as well as inspires its readers to review their concept of a womans strength as Sofia triumphantly succeeds all trials in her life for her self, her children, and her whole community.

The novel begins with the introduction of Sofia, a mother who was abandoned by her husband, and her four distinctive daughters namely, Esperanza, Caridad, Fe, and La Loca. Even from the beginning of the novel, Sofia already epitomized the image of a devoted mother. The bizarre circumstances of their lives begin at the very first chapter when three year old La Loca dies and was resurrected again. This led to a big change in their lives as La Loca becomes gifted with mystical powers that are beyond explanation. From here, the story follows how the lives of Sofias other daughters were shook and almost destroyed by the cruel realities of the world and inconsolable heartbreaks from the men theyve loved. La Loca took it as her personal obligation to help her distraught sisters. Healing her sisters from the traumas and injustices they were dealt by societya society she herself never experienced firsthandwas never questioned because it was a proof of mystical power that no one outside their family had really ever seen (Castillo 27). Even Sofia had her own share of failure when she married Domingo, the man who who was to become the lifelong source for both her hearts misery and joy (Castillo 106).

Politics and Leadership
So Far From God is also exposed to the world of politics. Their family had been oriented, directly and indirectly, by the violence that seems to be a permanent reality already. Esperanza is a character in the novel that had always been lost to the world of political ideologies. She was an activist in her college years and her work-related death was brought by a brief but huge war in Saudi Arabia. Fes fate reveals in the novel the existence of worker exploitation and injustices of the society. When she moved out after her marriage finally to her cousin, Fe became very ill because of the new job she took at Acme. Exposure to toxic chemicals led to skin cancer, and eventually caused her death. And because of this poisoning, at the time of her death there was so little left of Fe to be buried (Castillo 186). The family tried to fight for justice by rallying against the use of chemicals that are harmful to humans. Up to the second to the last chapter of the novel, Castillo brilliantly wrote a comparison between the familys rally against toxic chemicals and Jesus march of death.

Aside from her daughters, Sofia also has her own share of political ideologies. Her interest in politics was only inspired in the middle part of the novel when she realized that in order to see the change that she wanted she had to personally act on it. Sofia decides to run as mayor of Tome, although that position was technically non-existent. She wanted to be their towns mayor because she sees the harsh realities they were facing and she felt that its about time somebody goes out and tries to do something about these problems and promote the much needed community improvement of their society (Castillo 138). Her real inspiration comes from her eldest daughter Esperanza who always tried to tell her how we needed to go out and fight for our rights and not just be contented to being a conformist (Castillo 142).

But to rescue an area as economically depressed as Sofias and her comadre would truly have taken more than the desires and dreams of a self-proclaimed mayor and campaign manager (Castillo 146). After convincing majority of the people in their town, Sofia embarked on ambitious, income-generating projects. It was difficult at first because there were a lot of risks in beginning a huge project such as what Sofia had done to revive her towns economy. But finally it became a debate of either everyone doing it all together or nobody doing anything at all (Castillo 146). Sofias political stance and careful long-term planning produced a successful boost to their town and gave bigger opportunities to her fellowmen. Her decision to run as mayor and willingly give her self for the service of change brought successes to Tome. In this part of the story, readers are introduced to the leadership capabilities of Sofia, a trait that was revealed again in the latter part of the novel when she began founding and leading the organization called Mothers of Martyrs and Saints (M.O.M.A.S.).

Essence of Spirituality
Religion and the realities of spiritual life are also significant in the novel. From the very first chapter of the story, Castillo already defied their traditional form of religion. But instead of mockery, the author intended to do this to give a clearer picture of what Chicano spirituality was for a very long time. The theme of Spirituality was very ironic in the story. This can be seen most of the time in La Locas character. She was a child who was gifted abilities that only made her aloof to humans because of how they smell to her. And though there were people who have pushed her to make miracles, she herself never saw the need to prove what she can do and what she has seen before resurrecting from the dead. Instead of performing mystical things, La Locas principle for being alive was to pray for other people (Castillo 32). And her prayers, especially for her family, proved to be powerful. Another example of simple irony would be the meeting of Francisco La Penitentes character, a maker of bulto or images of saints by carving woods, with the character of Caridad, Sofias daughter who was also gifted extraordinary abilities.

But the story also reaffirms the power of faith and prayers. Through her characters, the author promotes the idea that people should humble themselves before the magnificence and the power of Our Father in heaven (Castillo 71). Spirituality was transformational in the story. Several characters faced the challenge of struggling for faith and the novel effectively resolves the doubts and questions of each of these characters.

Interconnectedness of Life
One of the admirable qualities of the novel is the way the author had successfully intertwined the lives of different characters to Sofias mystical family. The story reveals how lives of people can be interrelated, even when they least expect this. This reality was highlighted through the characters of Caridad, Doa Felicia, Maria, and Francisco La Penitente. Lives of people are unexpectedly interconnected because each of these characters serves important realities to each other. This theme of the story affects my personal notion of reality, making me realize that despite some absurdity in the novel, the possibility of lives being interrelated in this small world makes the story realistic and effective.

Sofia as a Mother
Castillos story reiterates or proves my concept of a real mother through the main protagonist, Sofia. Her family is constantly filled with trouble and uncertainty because of her daughters situations, but Sofia continued to epitomize a strong woman filled with hope and love for her children. When Esperanza was to be sent to the war in Saudi Arabia as a part of her job, Sofia was not sure of how to face the fear that she may never see her daughter again. But instead of stopping her, Sofia simply prepared all the favorite foods of Esperanza before her departure because feeding is the beginning and end of what a mother knows to do for her offspring, even when she doesnt know what to say (Castillo 49).

Sofia managed to remain strong and insistent of being alive for the sake of her children. It is hard to decipher if anyone who had faced as much failures, trials, and problems, as Sofia would really endure without losing her mind. But Sofia proved that being a mother really entails having the strength to surpass all these heartbreaking and mind testing experiences. Despite everything that Sofia had to go through, not once did she feel doubt towards her love for her children.

Conclusion
Castillos novel is powerful because amidst the supernatural and peculiar events happening in Sofias family, she was able to bring out the essential message of what kind of sacrifices a parent should expect in raising a family. The novel also effectively imbibed Castillos message of political ideology, spirituality, and the interconnectedness of life. Through a reevaluation of Chicano culture, the novel effectively imparts a story of sacrifice, faith, hope, and unconditional love for the family. It also reaffirms the capabilities of women in a society that gives them too little from the credit they deserve.

In March 1983, Pope John Paul II made a papal visit in Nicaragua, then a country torn by civil war and political discontent (Mulligan, 199147). This was a time of intense conflict between Nicaraguan Catholic hierarchy and the Sandinista-controlled State. The papal visit only intensified the tension between the two hostile groups.

The Nicaraguan Catholic Church and Sandinista Government have different expectations from the Pope. The reform-minded Catholics expect that the Pope will give moral legitimacy to their political platform (fight against Godless Communism of the government). Conversely, the Sandinistas hope that the Pope would respond as an arbitrator for the peace process and express his disagreement to continuing American aid to the contras (opposing side of the government) (Mulligan, 1991).

Despite the magnanimous effort of the Sandinistas to encourage the public to attend the papal mass, and their tremendous effort to provide assistance (free transportation to the mass) to the people, the Sandinistas did not receive the expected response from the Pope. The Pope asserts the importance of religious education and church unification in order to prevent the Nicaraguans from being tainted by godless communism. He also addresses his strong opposition to the rising dissent within the church between the institutional hierarchical church and popular church (Mulligan, 1991). The Pope also emphasizes his opposition against the Nicaraguan priest who held office at the government. Because of these actions, some Catholic Nicaraguans were disappointed.

Rather than improving the situation of the Nicaraguans with their religious dilemma, the papal visit only heightened the dispute between the Sandinistas and Nicaraguan Catholic hierarchy. The Nicaraguans feared that the papal visit will only give the Contras moral legitimacy that may lead to suffering and pointless deaths. The Popes visit was a significant event that made a huge impact in the revolutionary struggle of the Nicaraguan nation.

El Da de los Muertos, which can literarily be translated as Land of the Dead, is a Mexican holiday that is celebrated by Hispanic societies in America and Canada. This festival traditionally starts from October 31st and spans through November 2nd. Several people have likened this festival to Halloween festival in the American culture. During this festival, friends and family gather together with the aim of celebrating the souls of their loved ones that have departed from them. However, unlike what is applicable with Halloween where images of dead creates fear in the minds of the people,  El Da de los Muertos celebrates death or the memory of those who have departed from life (Erichsen, 2010).

El Da de los Muertos festival is the biggest and one of the most significant holidays in Mexico. It follows an ancient Aztecs tradition where a celebration that spanned for a month was organized to celebrate death. This celebration is done under the supervision of Mictecacihuatl, who is regarded as the Lady of the Dead. When the Aztecs were conquered by the Spaniards, the celebration became knotted with the Catholic celebration of the All Saints Day.

The El Da de los Muertos festival is also a symbolic holiday. During this period, friends and family of the departed ones visit the cemetery to celebrate their dead. The streets around the cemetery are adorned with decorations of flowers, candy Calaveras skeletons and skulls, and procession (Erichsen, 2010). It is also a colorful event. An altar is built and the photograph of the departed one is placed on top of the altar. The family members of the dead make offerings and food made in skull-like shapes. Incenses and candles are also an important part of the El Da de los Muertos festival.

The significant of this festival is that the Mexicans accept death as being part of human life and that human beings should learn how to deal with it. Death is not something that should be feared, rather, it should be celebrated. Apart from this, people believe that the El Da de los Muertos festival allows them communicate with the souls of the departed. It is a way by which Latin Americans communicate and remember their departed ones.

The presence of the Catholic Church in almost all the corners of the world has gone on unchallenged. For centuries, Catholic Orders have played a role in exerting social, religious and economic influences over underdeveloped remote societies. Whereas today such missions may have deemed redundant especially with the emergence of rival denominations and modernization, history is laden with examples of such missions that changed the course of societies. One such presence that has been closely examined and one recognized for the multi-tiered influence it had on the society is the Jesuits Order in Latin America. In their wake, they left a society with an established network of economic, social and educational order before they were expelled by the crown governments for their conflicting economic, political and ideological interests.

The Catholic Dogma remains a formidable force in Latin America surpassing that of any other church and having a solidified control over the religious life of the populace.  The history of the Catholic Church in Latin America dates back to the late 16th century as priests from various orders embarked on a mission to spread the word to the indigenous remote areas of the South American continent.  The Jesuits had a late arrival compared to other orders but despite this, they have been recognized as having left an indelible mark and impression upon the natives more than any other religious group. The story of their settlement has been well chronicled and retold to generations after generations. Though their relationship would eventually sour leading to the hostile eviction and suppression of their dogma, the Jesuits were warmly welcomed by the Spanish and Portuguese colonial governments who positively viewed western religion as an apt tool for civilizing the natives and introducing western ways thus make them easily governable (Robert, 2008).

Immense scholarly attention has been channeled to establish the major reasons behind the success of Jesuits in Latin America and the rationalization of their solid foothold despite being late entrants. While some literature may focus on the seemingly vast resources they wielded as enabling them to finance elaborate religious expeditions, many historians have come to the conclusion that the success lay in Jesuits willingness to blend Christianity with the existing pre-colonial culture.  It has to be reiterated that the main motivation the colonial governments welcoming the missionaries was because they saw them as sugar coated baits to the Indians which would ensure their submissiveness to the colonial authority. To the colonists, these Reductions (mission settlements) would be appropriate tools for bringing the Indians together for the purpose of taxation and effective colonization. In Mexico, these settlements were referred to as conregacion while in Brazil they were called aldeias and were seen as appropriate instruments for the Europeanization of the Indians (Gary, 2010).

The Jesuits first set foot in Paraguay, amongst the Tupi-Guarani peoples before extending their influence to areas such as Brazil, Uruguay and Argentina amongst others. The initial arrival of the Jesuits in Latin America was facilitated by the Spanish crown and the superiors in Rome as a joint effort to popularize Christianity as well as civilize the indigenous communities. It is the zeal with which they interacted with the natives and also with the Spanish colonial government that would determine their success.  Their initial abodes were in the European dominated settlements. They found themselves at a disadvantage because other mission pioneers such as the Dominicans and the Franciscans had already mapped out and occupied the easily accessible territories and hence the Jesuits had to venture deep into the Aztec imperialism to reach the indigenous populations. Although eager to work with the native communities, prudence dictated that they had to commence their mission in the Spanish populated zones before venturing into the interiors. It is here hence that they set a solid foundation and initiated educational institutions that had a philosophical impact upon the immediate society as well as extending to the rest of the colony (Herman 1).

One glaring impact that the Jesuits had in Latin America was the solidifying of the economic base of the locals. Scholarly interest has over the years been devoted to explore the extent of the Jesuits wealth and economic interests across South America and has revealed astronomical resources that led to the survival and the expansion of the Jesuit mission but ironically was also a source of conflict with the state and also the private secular haciendas. The Jesuit order was institutionalized in Rome in 1535 and unlike other orders was able to cultivate a cohesive structure away from the wrangles that characterized the state and church relations. Coupled with astute management of financial resources, the urban and rural properties that they owned, the Jesuits were able to expand the sphere of their mission deep into the interior (Enrique 1981).

With such immense resources, the Jesuits were able to set up major development facilities as well as ensure the provision of social amenities such as health and education. As most have concurred, the Jesuits were administrative geniuses with their file and rank laden with individuals of various skills and competences. As Oreste (97) agrees,  under the religious habit of the order were hidden skilled technicians in the most distinct specialties educators and psychologist engineers and architects metal workers and agriculturalist artisans of many different trades doctors and pharmacists and even painters and sculptors.  Armed with such immense human resources, they left a decisive influence on the local communities. The schools they set up for the natives were unprecedented. Although there exists other universities set up by the Dominicans and the Franciscans, the Jesuit schools have been recognized for their powerful impact. An example of the famous universities they set up include san Ignacio de Loyola in Cordoba and Xaverian University in Bogot situated in Argentina and Colombia respectively.

A notable contribution has been hailed as having been upon the Indian tribes spanning across both North and South America. By the time the Jesuits began their settlement in Latin America, the Indians were either gatherers or nomadic hunters. By the close of their 150 years of stay, the Indians had become a more organized and educated community with social and economic height equaling that of medieval western towns. Examples that have been greatly highlighted are the Guarani towns referred to as the Settlements of Paraguay. These settlements would later become urbanized being put under the charge of Jesuit priests aided by selected Indians. These settlements formed core units of the national economy creating a concentrated web of economic and social traffic. Each settlement was self autonomous complete with a church and artisan workshops. Education was a core concern and was a main preoccupation to the priests it was a hence necessary that each town be equipped with a school and a library. Indians in the Jesuit settlements were able to accomplish a high level of economic, social and cultural development outdoing even the Spanish towns in the region.

Undoubtedly, the Jesuits had a huge economic, social, religious and cultural impact in Latin America.  Their prosperity and a strong sense of independence put them on a collision path with the Spanish and Portugal crowns and it was only a matter of time before they were expelled. Indeed in 1767, the Spanish king announced the banishment of all Jesuits from all the Spanish controlled areas. This would consequently lead to the taking over of all Jesuit possessions by the colonial government and the return to Europe of all Jesuits under arrest. The woes leading to the expulsion of the Jesuits can be traced to Europe where strong opposition began to arise coupled by a papal decree to dissolve the Jesuit mission or what was known as the Company of Jesus.

A diagnosis of the conflict between the Jesuits and the Spanish crown reveals that it revolved around economic, ideological and political factors. There are those that have pointed out that the immense resources that the Jesuits accumulated and their seemingly prosperity was their undoing.  As reiterated above, the Jesuits became a major economic class leading to the development of Jesuit haciendas. A wealthy class of Jesuits that owned huge tracts of plantations becoming influential figures in both social and political circles. This involvement in economic concerns in the long-term led to the development of conditions that deviated from the original intent of the Company of Jesus. Like the secular haciendas, the Jesuits began enjoying elite privileges and pursuing interests that put them at a crossroad with the crown administration.

The Jesuits were also seen as undermining the crown by exploiting the special relations they enjoyed with the Indians they protected.  There were claims that the Jesuits were treasonable and were engaged in secret plots against the crown. An example would be an uprising in Oporto referred to as the Taverners Revolt which was alleged to have been plotted by the Jesuits albeit never being proven. To the secular haciendas, the Jesuits economic prowess was a major threat to their livelihood. The Jesuits were accused of unfair trade practices and of grabbing the fertile lands at the expense of other enterprising Europeans. For instance they were accused of monopolizing the spice trade in the Amazon and of locking other interested traders using unfair practices. (Herman, 1980) The wealth and the influence that the Jesuits wielded hence left them at a precarious situation creating a fear amongst other groups that their domination would lead to the disintegration of the Portuguese and the Spanish crowns paving way for the taking over the mantle by the Jesuits who by then were spread almost across the whole of South America.  It was for these reasons that the pope issued a banning decree and the crown governments followed it up by expelling all the Jesuits, confiscating their properties and their huge plantations (Jeffrey, 2004)

Indeed the history of the Jesuits in Latin America and their accomplishments remain exemplary. Touted as one of the most influential group of missionaries from Europe, the Jesuit settlement in its wake, and after close to 150 years, left a more advanced economy with advances in education that has continued to be recognized more than two centuries after the banishment of Jesuits. While the major reasons for their expulsion lay in the numerous political, economic and ideological conflicts with the secular haciendas, the crown and the authorities in Rome, their exit left a major blow to south America that would take years to mend.

Latin America has always been seen as a continent where in the 19th and 20th centuries the formal architecture of democracy has been a thinly veiled faade for civilians and military tyrants. Such a view on the origin of democracy specifically in Mexico is misleading (Leslie, 2007). The process of looking for democracy, representative regimes, and affirming the rule of the low as per the constitution has been uneven and in relation to this let us consider the Mexican revolution.

The Mexican revolution sprung up as a result of tremendous disagreement among the Mexican people over the dictatorship of President Porfirio Diaz who stayed in office for 31 years (Franklin, 1934). In his tenure, power was concentrated in the hands of a select few citizens had no power to express their opinions or even select public officials. Wealth was circulating among the rich few who were oppressors, and injustice was like a way of life. Early in the 20th century, a new generation of young leaders arose who wanted to be involved in the political life of the country but their thirst was quenched by political leaders who were embezzled in power and it is only by shed of blood that they would have relinquished their positions (John, 1995). The group of new generation believed that the only way that they would get to be heard is through making sure that president Diaz is not in office

One of the strongest believes that President Diaz should renounce his powers and not seek a re-election was Francisco Madero. In conjunction with other young leaders he created anew anti re electionist party and went around the country selling his ideas to people who were willing and motivated to embrace change. Madero was a firm supporter of democracy and of forcing the government to adhere by strict limits of the law, made him a threat before President Diaz. Shortly before the 1910 elections, Madero was apprehended in Monterey and imprisoned in San Luis Potosi. After Diaz was reelected, Madero fled to the US for self exile (Franklin, 1934). While in the Us he made major pronouncements involving that he was the president till, new elections are held, returning all land convistigated from peasants, an a limit of a one presidential term. The pronouncements formed the basis of the Mexican revolution as from 20th November 1910.

As from 14th November Cuchillo Parado in the state of Chihuahua led a small group who took arms to withdraw President Diaz. When President Diaz learnt of this he responded swiftly and the small group was made to pay by their lives and this formed the basis for Madero to persuade Pascual Orozco and Francisco Villa to join in the revolution. Even though they were not good in military they were excellent strategists and they earned allegiance of people from the northern Mexico who were fed up with the way the ranchers and landlords ran the area.

In March 1911, Emilliano Zapata led the peasants in demanding for their rights which sparked an armed revolt in many parts of the country. The maderista troops inspired by the national hunger defeated the army of President Diaz within a record time of six months then President Diaz resigned and fled to exile in France where he died in 1915.

The Mexican revolution in the twentieth century
Revolution remains an elusive subject of prime importance in the post cold war era. Even though communism in general and Marxist-Leninist theory has lost much of their credibility, the continuation of massive social and economic problems provides an environment in which political unrest and social revolution refuse to disappear. Under the conditions presented above of the Mexican revolution between 1910 and 1940, marks a new significance because it was one of the last major revolutions before the onset of the cold war and the worldwide fascination with the Marxist-Leninist formula for revolution. John, 1994)

Even though Mexico had a small but active communist organization after 1918, the revolution lay just on the edge of the reach of the Comintern and other influences emanating from the Soviet Union. Mexico produced a large scale revolution in which Marxism Leninist theory and praxis amounted to only one of the many radical and reformist influences that intermingled in a complex and often contradictory movement.

The World War II and the cold war brought a similar ideological shift in the United States as in Mexico (John, 1995). The parallel changes created a setting for retrospective reappraisals of the Mexican history as from 1910 to 1940. Commentators who have looked back over those years often found specific changes to have been less radical and the movement in general less revolutionary than had earlier observers however the revolution and the discussions it stimulated among writer and policy makers in the United States provide a useful legacy for the post-Cold War Era (John, 1995).

From the discussion presented above it is evident that Mexican revolution was the first major revolution which overturned a previously relatively stable society and substituted new institution for those who were discredited.

Changes in other countries
However how much we can the Mexican evolution as yearning for democracy there are other countries where the trend also prevailed (Leslie, 2007). Even in some democratic periods many countries in the region can be characterized by semi-democratic mode of governance because on the constraints in the constitution, contestation and fraud and manipulation of electoral results. For example in Argentina, Brazil and Peru in the 1930s, had hybrid democratic-authoritarian regimes, noteworthy for the persistent interference in politics of the military and powerful economic interests, and by frequent direct military intervention. In the three fore mentioned countries there was also the proscription for particular long periods of time because of a leader or a movement i.e. the Peron and the peronists in Argentina, the communist party in Brazil and the Haya de la Torre and APRA in America. It can be connoted that the process of appraising democracy is reversible Not only for Argentina, Brazil and Peru, but in the early 1970s countries with long traditions of constitutional rule and respect for the electoral process such as Chile and Uruguay experienced profound regime breakdowns (Leslie, 2007).

Conclusion
The Mexican revolution is no more the prototype for other revolutions than was tat of Russia, China or Cuba. It was a genuine revolution that deserved a place in serious comparative analyses that can yield helpful insights into events in other areas and circumstances (Franklin, 1934). The role of national governments and the nature of socioeconomic change will continue to spark debates among the liberals and conservatives as well as radicals. The work of American Observers on the Mexican revolution, obscured by half century of Cold war polemics is relevant to if not resonant with a world of ever more closely connected nations dominated by huge economic and media systems imposed uneasily upon hopeful but insecure and often resentful people.

1. Explain and analyze whether Evitas success and Carolinas more acute and protracted misery were the result of each of their countrys diverse economic situation, or their disparate personal background, choices, and determination.

If we look into lives of both Dona Maria Eva Duarte de Peron and Carolina, both of them had variedness and assortment of the vagaries of social, economic and political lives and overall differences in their determined efforts and choices to face world turmoils. Both of their childhood was spent in the poverty and same condition of miseries but what made them apart was their differences in their approach to handle their poverty and societal ordeals. Both of them never succumbed to the pressures of the societal demands yet their approach and outlook to pierce into the racism, prejudices and above all miserable poor conditions made them fall apart. They were both determined to face the neighbors vicarious talks, and face all odds with brevity and determination yet Evita got more success than Carolina. She acclaimed power and status and had a heroic death but Carolina though was successful yet died in misery. There were many reasons behind the same, with the more being their desperate personal background, choices, and determination.

Earlier part of the life of Carolina was spent in the favela, also known as shanty town, in the house made of cardboard and wood scraps. She was earning her living by gathering paper and metal scraps facing tantrums from the whites and from the others of area like Dona Rosa and Dona Silvia. They often picked fight with her children and abused her. In this environment of hunger, disease, humiliation, violence and alcoholism, Carolina grew up and developed her personality. She would get satisfaction only from writing and kind and sympathetic friends and strangers. She was very protective towards her children and tried her level best to keep them away from bad influences and from all troubles. She knew if her children remained in favela, which she called as the worst slum that exists (Maria de Jesus  Clair, 18), they would be sure to come under the bad influence so she took them away from that place. At this stage, life of Evita was no different. Her story too began in a dusty village where she found herself lost in the Pampas ground of Argentina. Like Carolina who was an illegitimate child, she was also unfortunately born out of wedlock and jostling from one place to another she became an actress first, then she made her place in radio and then became the mistress of Colonel Peron and finally wielded that power in political and the turmoil period of postwar Argentina, that has very few parallels in the history of heredity monarchy. She became on one hand idol among millions but also hated and feared by many as well.

Both Carolina and Evita were strong willed women, as both wanted to fight hypocrisy and prejudices, and many racial and evil forces that were predominating the society of Brazil and Argentina. However, both had their own traits and personality, like Evita seized the opportunity of first becoming actress of whatever role she got, then eventually she joined radio and finally in 1944, she met Colonel Juan Peron who was the Secretary of Labor and Social Welfare in the military government which had attained power during the early June 1943. Eva entered into the intimate relationship with Peron and later both got married. This changed her life completely as she became a great political force garnering support of the laborers and masses. She became so powerful and exerted so great influence among the masses that at a time when her health continued to destroy, it was decided to change her name to Eva Peron, and was devoted to eulogies of the most remarkable woman of any historical epoch, and with the title of Jefa Espiritual de la Nacion (Spiritual Leader of the Nation) (Fraser  Navarro, 168). And when she died, her corpse was hidden by nervous politicians for the fear if working class even got a hint where she was buried, it would lead to revolution.

On the other hand, Carolinas written diary on the penury conditions made her famous. When excerpts from her diary appeared in a weekly magazine O Criziero, Carolina was very proud but even after this, it did not have that effect on her what she was expecting. Her life remained the same as she found her successfully much bitter than before. She had to face the same frustrations and challenges as she was facing before. She still had to fight for water, racism, sexism and struggle to have enough money for food. Her dabbling with the politics too made her disgusted as she found everywhere hypocrisy, hungry race for powers and their anti poor policies. More than that even though Carolina got opportunity to marry as she got offers from well to white men yet she refused as she pledged to remain unmarried for the sake of her children. She never tried to seek opportunity whatever came to better her life as she was a great self willed woman for whom self respect and love for children was for more than anything else.        

It was the decisions and the personal choices and determination that they carried their life which shaped the lives of both Evita and Carolina. Evitas marriage with the politician and her seizing the opportunity changed her live whereas Carolina never wanted to marry and did not do anything that went against her self interest leading this self willed women to land into misery.

2. Did Carolinas Brazil seem a place less appropriate to succeed than Evitas Argentina Explain.
Social, political and economic conditions of both the Brazil and Argentina were same. In both the places, there was poverty, misery, racism, political upheavals and hypocrisy. The place in which Carolina was staying was a favela or a shanty town where the spaces constituted crude huts constructed of cardboard and wooden scraps. There was hunger, violence, diseases and people falling into the grip of alcoholism everywhere. Her only consolation was writing and kindness towards friends and strangers. In eyes of Carolina, President of Brazil, Senhor Juscelino was like a bird living a golden cage (Maria de Jesus  Clair, 26) and the dwellers were like hungry cats that might someday arouse against him if got a chance. Inflation was at its peak and especially in the Political Circle, Carolina felt the whole system was hatching some or other kind of plot against the poor. Even prices and cost of food was all time high. Factory owners would throw garbage and rotten food near favela as if not people but animals were living there. Racism and class discrimination was also at all time high. In these conditions, it was really very difficult to even survive.

No doubt in Argentina by 1890s English money and English technology had created a fan of railways across the plain from Buenos Aires and the villages grew up as points on the railway lines, halts at which cattle were loaded (Fraser  Navarro, 2) but in 1920s the World Depression had gripped the economy in particular and whole society in general. As agriculture crippled, people began to migrate to towns in search of employment in factories where the condition was again all time low. Industries of Argentine were trying to produce for the European marketers and factories and industries were mushrooming reaching at new heights after Second World War while government was being run by conservatives. Moreover despite of the efforts of the labor movement though small, weak and divided in nature yet the condition of the laborers and common masses continued to remain the same till the day when a military coup brought the oligarchy rule to an end. Colonel Peron began to make his presence felt among the masses as the most controversial figure, but when Evita became a political figure, the first thing she did was to consolidate the labor movement that was the need of the hour. Laborers were getting dissatisfied and by 1941 the membership among various labor groups was increasing. Workers began strike for increase in wages and better living and working conditions. Evita seized the situation and political turmoil to her advantage and gained success and became a legendary figure.

Economic conditions of both the Brazil and Argentina were same but the political turmoil and changes that were taking place in Argentina made conducive place for Evita to succeed. The same was not true in Brazil where Carolina was only able to express her disgust and frustration but was not able to do anything or take any action.

One of the best crime thrillers of 1993 Blood In, Blood Out, directed by Taylor Hackford, movie is an immense panorama of the futility and anarchy that grips lives of youths in an environment of extreme racism in Barrios of East Los Angels. As the movie starts, we are introduced to three cousins Paco, Cruz and Miklo who have grown up just like real brothers. One of the brothers Miklo is going to join other two in a gang called as Vatos Loco, in other words crazy guys. Members of this gang do all the mad and crazy acts but they do everything which is within their limit but one day all three guys break the law resulting in Cruz with a broken leg, Paco being forcibly sent to join United States Marine Corps as a form of punishment while Miklo faces conviction and is sent to the San Quentin State Prison. Whole story revolves around Miklo and his endeavors in the gang as he murders one of the persons, leads the gang in illegal gambling and faces racism and differential attitude because of his white skin as well as blue eyes.

We can see movie coming alive behind the bars with all the blacks, browns, and whites within their own groups striving to make their place and maintain their identity. They fight with each other but at the same time enjoy too. They are burly convicts sporting tattoos with the size of head. Hackford has a keen insight into the melodramatic nasty activities of the breathing souls behind bars. As Miklo is agonized by his mixed heritage, he finally takes over the leadership of La Honda. Movie is so powerful that we can feel inner forces at play and the outer forces dissecting the whole personality and inner instincts. In just three hours, Hackford has shown the epic of the inner city with its power to cause damage to the inner psychology on one hand while with the power to heal too on the other hand. Story starts in 1972 and subsequently continues throughout 1973, 1980, 1983 and 1984. Here Hackfords intention is to show the social and emotional turmoil of youths as they find continuous shattering of their youthful passions and macho images by societal norms.

All casts in the movie keeps excitement of the viewers all time high be it Mr. Chapa, Mr. Bratt and Mr. Borrego all have excellently played their part well. Large number of supporting cast adds to the exhorting excitement with the main being Enrique Castillo, who happens to be the leader of Chicanos in San Quentin and Lanny Flaherty can be seen entering into an unfortunate bargain with Miklo. Development of three brothers takes place in a very dramatic way as a young gang member Paco experiences an event that could change his life for the better. He joins the military and when he gets up, he becomes undercover cop back home. The second brother Cruz who happens to be an artist and can become famous due to his artistic skill and fortune cannot at all give up his family life and falls itself into the world of depression. When family rejects him, he attains a new life in San Quentin, which is in fact more horrific. The story moves around the casts as they get to learn the deep meaning of revenge, family crisis and forgiveness.  

According to some critics, Blood In, Blood Out appears to be more like a visionary portrayal of an artist. Casts openly makes use of vulgar language typical of a gang members. Film has been rated R, overall it resonates with the real life as the realistic and picturesque version of youths in gangs are shown. It also juxtaposes with the real life of America which is similar and far more superior. Director has given more in depth attention to the details of the Hispanic culture showing its music and outlook presenting with great perspective about the gangs of East LA. Behind veils of the violent mannerism and hysterical outburst of the youths in their gangs, we can see them as an outcaste and depressed souls as they want to make their presence felt and create their own identity. To achieve this aim, they can go to an extreme extent of even murdering someone. Their facial expressions and movements remind us about the Buried Mirror Reflections on Spain and the New World. Written by Carlos Fuentes, it is an interesting account of the experiences faced by Latin America which explores the possibilities of pan-Latin Americanism and mentions about the way Latin Americans feel as oppressed. Carlos makes use of the words of the oppressors to give the description of the way they are oppressed and also the way they would like to achieve liberation. (Fuentes, 1992)

As contradictory to the most classical movies of the mafia-genre, the plot does not move around Americans of Italian-Sicilian descent, but of Mexican origin. So the whole cultural dynamics is different but the genre remains the same, and can easily be compared to most of the genre classics. In one of the scenes that run for 74 seconds, I can see Miklo, a protagonist is leading towards the prison and on his way he sees darkest figures looking at him with evil eyes. When he is placed in the cell, guard closes the door behind him and tells him to contact him anytime whenever he finds himself in trouble. Miklo just takes out his arm until he touches at the wall of the small cell, and feeling depressed leans against it. Though a very short scene yet it is impressive as it is a beginning of a new journey for Miklo. This scene mentally prepares us for the life now Miklo is going to lead in the prison. As he is led inside the cell and the way dark figures look at him, the shots directly shows how the darkest period of his life is going to start and most noteworthy he is not going to be welcomed by the other inmates very easily because of his multi-ethnic background. There are six shots in this 74 second scene with each shot showing from close up the conflicting state of mind of Miklo as he tries to make his way behind the bars. There is cut in the scene as Miklo is made to enter into the bar. (Hackford  Gershwin, 1993)

Whole movie is gritty in depth with many plots and sub plots intricately co joined with number of events that could leave you surprised. There are recurring themes in the plot as again and again violence takes place and we can feel recurring motif of self identity and individuality lingering behind the masks of each character as they physically abuse and bruise each other. Their frustration can be easily seen as it is taken out on others. In the whole movie, we can see grim images on one hand and brutal and languishing lives of the prisoners on the other hand. Shots are beautiful taken giving the minute details. For e.g. we can see details of the Hispanic culture through the clothes they wear, their views and outlook towards life. As the film comes to an end, a gang war ensues so the characters forge together in a common destiny. Directory Taylor Hackward chooses to end these long travails of the lives of youngsters through the racist America where they have only two choices left- either join armed forces or gangs.

The whole movie is very intriguing, touchy and emotionally driven. Without taking directly into the social causes, director makes us pass into the realm of the lives of the youngsters as they are led into the gang by the forces outside their control. This is juxtaposed by the traumatic experiences they face themselves. What makes movie interesting is the comic relief it gives in between the abuses and violence. But it is recommended children to accompany adults for watching movie. Length of the movie is fine and driven by narrative but by the individuals, lives are fleshed out. Though very violent yet if we realize the overall melodrama and the impact it creates, it is a movie worth watching.

Financial services are the services that are offered by the organizations in the finance industry which range from banking, insurance, mortgage, vestment firms and credit card companies among others. These services play a vital role in the economy and society at large. The presence of a competitive and strong financial service sector within a country, it is an indication of a viable and productive economy for the country.  These financial institutions provide businesses with the necessary finances for start up, growth and improving efficiency and production (Joseph, 2000, p. 42). When new businesses are created and existing ones improve production, there are benefits that accrue out of these developments for the economy like, more production, greater financial wellbeing and more employment in turn improving the financial status of the society as result.

The financial services sector major roles in the society is offering a wide range of money managing services  to  their consumers for their  whole lifetime ,  some of these vitals services include insurance ,credit and loans , investment services healthcare insurance that help the society manage  theirs  health bills and even financial advice among other major services (Christopher, 2000, 111) . These services also create wider advantage to the economy as a whole by improving business for the economy.  The other major role these financial institutions play is providing an avenue for distribution of financial resources by the government to its citizenly by providing access to these financial services through their networks .this offers a platform for improving and sustaining productivity and in turn improving the societies standards of living. The intermediary services offered by the financial service sector.

Financial service institutions are essential for the proper functioning of the economy by providing access to finance and the present economies cannot function effectively without a smooth running finance sector. A well performing finance sector is critical in improving fiscal and monetary policies of a governments economy. And are also essential in reducing the social and economic costs of the economy in times of economic distress, studies have also revealed that well performing finance sector creates a more balanced access to capital even to the low and middle income earners in the society (Watkins, 1998, p. 12).

As much as the services offered by these financial institutions make possible the smooth running of the economy, most of these services involve risk taking and sometimes the process can plunge the economy and the society as a whole into crisis as is being experienced in the ongoing global financial crisis due to failures in regulation of risk taking by some of the organization in the finance sector (Christopher, 2000, p. 113). This is one of the examples of how excessive risk taking by the industry can lead to a multitude of problems for the economy and the society at large. However, risk taking is part of the finance industry and if eliminated some of the services offered by these institutions would not be available leaving regulation as the only means of circumventing excessive risk taking (Joseph, 2000, p. 44)

Another key role the financial institutions play in the economy is influencing the course of the global economy through their interconnectedness this makes shocks to experience in one place to be experienced across the globe as was witnessed with the global financial crisis. This influences the course of the whole global economy through buttressing the linked downward recession. The opposite case applies when there are improvements in economy in one region which through the interconnections influence growth in the whole global economy.

Research topic
The general topic for this study is the history of the Jesuits in Latin America.  However, to be more specific it will cover the effects of Jesuits arrival and factors that led to their expulsion in South America.  

Thesis statement
The arrival of Jesuit missionaries in Latin America brought numerous developments in the continent.  Despite their motive and mission being to restore the society into Christianity, they managed to acquire enormous power which enabled them to conduct their activities and operations without disturbances thereby resulting in economic growth and development in the continent.  Consequently, the acquisition of economic power and the social influence attained by Jesuits could have contributed to their expulsion in the South American continent.  This research study seeks to explore the history of Jesuits and the developments associated with their arrival and in addition to that evaluate factors that led to their expulsion.

Annotated bibliography

Dussel, Enrique. A History of the Church in Latin America. Grand Rapids, MI Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing, 1981.

Summary
Dussel provides an ample history of the church in South America however much emphasis is placed on theology.  The emphasis on theology by the author makes this publication essential for historians as well as theologians with outstanding interests in Latin American culture.  The publication is structured in a way that ensures provision of clear understanding regarding the formation and continuity of the traditions and culture of Latin Americans.  Materials contained in this publication would play an important role in this study since Jesuits played part in the way the Latin American culture and traditions are shaped.  Furthermore, it covers the activities of Jesuits thus making it crucial for the study.

Klaiber, Jeffrey. The Jesuits in Latin America Legacy and Current Emphases. The Jesuits in Latin America Legacy and Current Emphases. International Bulletin of Missionary Research, 28.2 (April 2004) 63-66,

Summary
This article presents an adequate outline of the legacy of Jesuits in Latin America following their arrival in the sixteenth century.  It also outlines their perceived roles by the colonial government as advisers and collaborators.  In addition, Klaiber provides insight concerning the expulsion and the return of Jesuits in Latin America and the developments in terms of education and employment that were brought in.  The author claims that Jesuits built schools and colleges which prospered and are still recognized in the present day.  The information presented by Klaiber would play a crucial role in meeting the objectives of this study.  By covering issues concerning the expulsion and the return of Jesuits and the progress realized, this publication is in line with the thesis statement hence supports this study.      

Konrad, Herman W. A Jesuit Hacienda in Colonial Mexico Santa Luca, 1576-1767. Palo Alto, CA Stanford University Press, 1980.

Summary
This publication revolves around the levels of command and administration within the Jesuit hierarchy in Mexico.  It covers details concerning the management structure adopted by Jesuit missionaries that led to the success of their enterprises.  The author claims that Jesuits held immense economic influence in Latin America during the colonization era and this was as a result of the huge properties which they owned.  In addition to that, the author also outlines some of the Jesuit properties and the developments realized by the South American nations.  This publication contains crucial resources that support this study as a result of the author focusing on the Jesuit realm.

Smith, Gary. The History of the Catholic Church in Latin America and Liberation Theology. New Haven, CT Yale-New Haven Teachers Institute, 2010.

Summary
This publication provides a detailed examination of the history of Jesuits in Latin America.  The author attempts to provide a clear understanding regarding the role of the church in South America during the conquest and independence era.  The article also covers the developments which were realized in the continent as a result of the arrival of Jesuits.  According to Smith, by eighteenth century Jesuits held exceptional economic power, intellectual standards and social influence.   The Jesuits vast holdings led to many developments being realized through domestic employment and opening up of settlement areas thus making this publication essential for the study.  In addition, the article covers briefly issues that led to the expulsion of Jesuits in Latin America which makes it critical in addressing the objectives of this study.    

Watson, Robert G. Spanish and Portuguese South America During the Colonial Period. Charleston, SC BiblioBazaar Publishing, 2008.

Summary
Watson provides a comprehensive overview of activities that took place in South America during the colonial era.  Moreover, the author also covers the involvement of Jesuits in bringing developments in the continent and factors that led to their expulsion.  During that period many discoveries were made which played part in the economy growth of countries such as Brazil where mines were explored.  This study entails the progress that came with arrival of Jesuits in Latin America which makes this publication important in ensuring adequate data is availed.  Through materials encompassed in this publication a clear panorama of the research objectives is provided and the likelihood of meeting them is enhanced.        

MEXICO
The North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) was adopted in 1993, to create a free market for goods within the North American region. Mexican policy makers had signed trade agreements with thirty two trading partners, with an aim of expanding the market and ensure affordable goods for consumers.  

During its early years, NAFTA made a positive economic impact for Mexico. Lower investment tariffs opened doors for American companies that were previously locked out by Asian firms. New jobs were created and exports grew three times. Per capita increased by 24 and the economy reached 594 billion dollars in 2003, making Mexico the ninth largest economy in the world. Andrs Rozental, the president of the Mexican Council for Foreign Relations, says that without NAFTA, the situation in Mexico would have beeen much worse.

However, the benefits of the agreement were short lived. NAFTA was not a solution for Mexico, but a means by which the country would have competed with others. It only generated wealth that the government should have invested in other sectors of the economy such as agriculture, but it never did. Thus, the benefits of free trade eroded quickly. In a global market, a nation has to be aggressive to match competition from other players (Christina and Geri 2003).

The agricultural sector is the one that suffered most from the effects of the North American Free Trade Agreement. After US traders had been given a freeway into Mexico, they flooded the country with subsidized agricultural products. By selling their products at lower prices than most local manufacturers and producers, they very quickly dominated the market and as a result, local companies lost business. By the year 2003, more than one million farm jobs had been lost, according to a new report by the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, a Washington think tank..NAFTA has been a disaster for us, Mexico was never prepared for this (Christina and Geri 2003).

Coffee farmers, in particular, were not able to fetch better prices from their produce as big exporters like Brazil and Nicaragua came into the Mexico Market. At the same time, competition at the international market was rife, especially in the US, which opened its doors to major coffee growers. Similarly, the introduction of coffee farming in Vietnam had a far reaching impact on Mexican coffee, since Vietnams production increased rapidly, rising to the second largest exporter in the world after Brazil. If it were not for the NAFTA, Mexico could have been shielded from an international onslaught. In the long run, the effects of the agreement could be felt until today, since coffee under free trade still dominates the world market. As Tyler Bridges puts it, Worse, if you happened to be a landless peasant, employed by the day to pick coffee on someone elses property, you would probably be at your wits end by now, forced to abandon the countryside and trudge with your children toward a city to beg for your keep, just as thousands of Nicaraguan peasants have lately been doing (Bridges 2006). Since our production will be on a relatively small scale level, we would not be in a position to compete in such a competitive environment.

Overproduction and oversupply of coffee in the market will only favor well established producers, who produce in large quantities to offset expenses from a low profit margin.  Good examples of the established giants in the coffee industry are the big conglomerates Proctor  Gamble and Philip Morris, which dominate global coffee sales, cramming supermarkets with vast amounts of not-especially-good coffee, while paying rock-bottom prices to producers (Mann 2000).

In addition, farmers are highly exploited within the free trade market. A long chain of middlemen and brokers leave the farmer with as little as 26 US cents after deducting commissions and expenses. Caroline Whitby, chief executive of Transfair Canada, a coffee dealer which sells high-quality coffee supplied at above-market prices, says that There is a fair bit of exploitation at the level of these middlemen, since a parade of middlemen stands, hands outstretched, between the producer and the vacuum-sealed bag, and a grower might receive 25 cents or even less per pound of green coffee (qtd in Mann 2000).

For these reasons, fair trade seems to be the best option. It could pay farmers a living wage because it bypasses the middlemen, who often siphon off up to half the worldwide price of raw coffee, which hovers near  1 a pound.we work with these producers who are all in small- farmer cooperatives that are democratically organized (Mann 2000).At the same time, most health conscious consumers are taking to fair trade coffee, since it is not contaminated with pesticides and other farm chemicals. In Bolivia, farmers are planting as much organic quinoa as possible because of increasing demand in the United States, though t quinoa is only one of dozens of organic products that Latin American farmers are increasingly harvesting for export to the United States as they tap into the growing clamor for chemical-free products (Bridges 2006). Similarly, Bridges says that health-conscious U.S. consumers have long found benefits in fresh, pesticide-free organic products, and now U.S.-based investors are also learning that the benefits of going organic are not strictly financial.

Another big attraction of the fair trade coffee is its environmental significance. At a time of serious concerns about global warming, environmental conservation movements and non-governmental organizations are campaigning for farming methods that cause minimal pollution to the environment. According to Ryan Black, the Chief Executive at  a Californian company that imports acai, a type of coffee grown in the Amazon region of brazil,  This was a way to do something beneficial for the planet and a way to make money (Bridges 2006). Instant coffee, for instance, which is marketed within the FTA, is a big contributor to environmental pollution as more water is used to make it. Even worse is decaffeinated coffee, for the extra water and chemicals that are used to remove the caffeine content.

Similarly, FTA coffee is grown in cleared lands, leading to destructions of forest cover and animal habitats. This has a big impact on climate changes and extinction of some animals and birds. The pesticides and fertilizers used to on large coffee plantations also contribute to water and air pollution. On the contrary, organic coffee in the fair trade agreement does not add pollutants into the environment. Eighty five percent of fair trade coffee is shade grown under a canopy of existing forest, instead of higher-yield methods on cleared land (Peter 2007).

Therefore, given the failures of the FTA to protect small-scale producers from established foreign companies, it will be wise to invest in fair trade coffee. Mexico is still healing from the effects of the free trade agreement, and local farmers do not earn much from their coffee. Within fair trade production, we will be earning far above the market prices, and at the same time contribute to the conservation of the environment.
Finally, the fair trade agreement is in line with the UNs millennium goal of reducing poverty and conserving the environment. Fair trade addresses the firs goal, which is Eradicating abject poverty and hunger, and the seventh goal, Ensuring a sustainable environment. With this knowledge of global market trends, environmental concerns and the millennium development goals, we opt for the fair trade coffee.

The purpose of this paper is to analyze the aspects which would explain the success of the 1895-1898 Cuban war of independence as against the 1868-1878 insurgency. It is quite clear that there were demographic and economic factors which would explain the success of the 1895-1898 Cuban insurrection.

Demographic and Economic Factors
Some of the demographic and economic factors were as follows 1) the establishment of a system of free labor (abolition of slavery), and 2) creation of new towns and economic centers. The proces of gradual abolition of slavery began in 1868 without the sanction of colonial law in the rebel areas of eastern Cuba. By 1886, it had produced a system of free labor. The way that slavery ended also made the threats of race war ring hollow. Without slaves and without the perceived dangers of their emancipation, arguments about the necessity of Spanish rule as a guarantee of social stability and economic prosperity lost their basis. This was never evident prior to the 1868-1878 Cuban insurrection. By 1890, Cuba was on the verge of another insurrection, which, later proved successful.

Demographic factirsm, such as the increasing proportion of Spaniards in the Cuban population helped further discredit these racialized arguments. In 1862, census showed .that the white population outnumbered the black population, constituting 54 of the population. Two decades later, this widened to 68. Between 1882 and 1892, almost 100,000 Spaniards traveled to and stayed in Cuba. The influx of Spanish laborers may have helped to ease the process of dislocation that was inherent in the emancipation process.

The success of the 1895-1898 Insurgency can also be credited to the 1890 economic crisis. The emancipation problem in cuba coincided with an economic crisis. Therefore, those slaves that returned to their former masters plantations could not necessarily count on jobs. Therefore, those Planters also had to contend with new competition from cane and beet sugar producers. Spanish authorities worried that the presence of all of these unpaid workers created a breeding ground for banditry.

Prior to 1868, the centralized nature of the sugar economy integrated long-term costs associated with economic crisis. Plant owners could easily replace losses by employing more slave labor. In the 1890s, however, this was not possible, as about 80 of slaves in the country were emancipated. In short, during the 1895-1898 Rebellion, former slaves were free to join the ranks of farmers and the working class.

The creation of new towns and other economic centers also added fervor to the later Cuban revolutionary war. The new towns provided the rebels with unprecendented supplies throughout the war. This was not possible in 1868 since the Cuban economy was at its primordial state. Note that after 1878, there was a surge in urbanization and economic development. This fostered the creation of economic towns.

Political Factors
In order to fully develop the historic course of the Cuban insurrection, there is a need to analyze its immediate and indirect causes. The sugar economy of Cuba was highly centralized. In the 1850s, intense competition resulted to increase in beet sugar production, general decline in sugar prices, and regional recessions. Given the dependence of the United States on Cuban sugar, a sharp recession in the United States occurred. The Civil War, however, deeply depressed US demand for sugar from Cuba. This hurt the Cuban economy.

Plantation owners looked to the Confederacy with hope and frustration. Cuban planters wanted Cuba to be annexed to the South in order to protect the institution of slavery. But as the Civil War progressed, Union forces steadily advanced toward Confederate territories. The surrender of Confederate forces under General Lee at Appomattox Court House ended all hopes for annexation.

In Spain, Queen Isabella was expelled from the throne. The ratification of the 1856 Constitution brought the liberals to power. However, in less than a year, the liberal movement was shoved out of Madrid. When the conservatives came back, they resurrected the Constitution of 1845. The important provisions of the document were as follows 1) Church properties would be protected from unwarranted sequestrations, 2) Roman Catholicism would be recognized as the only religion in Spain, 3) the Catholic Church would have control over all education, private and public, and 4) government funding for religious orders. The Catholic Church though was a weak institution in Cuba because it was generally associated with colonial rule. The Church was never supportive of the abolition movement. In general, the Church presented itself as an agent of the colonial government  an institution opposed to the ideals of the common class. This was in contrast with the Church in Mexico, where the clergy were the main opponents of colonial rule.

When the 1868 rebellion started (also known as the Ten Years War), Spain was in chaos. In 1866, one of the military generals (one of Isabellas lover), mounted a military coup against the royal court. The coup though failed. The rebellion in 1868 in Spain preoccupied the military in Spain, and therefore preventing Spain to deal with the insurgency in Cuba. This allowed the insurgency in Cuba to have some space.

The 1868 rebellion however was doomed to failure. Neither the Spanish nor the revolutionary army could decisively win the war. A significant portion of the population moved to safer towns and cities. The Spanish weakened the rebellion by launching preliminary offensives which dispersed Cuban forces and eliminated rebel supply lines. The Spanish targeted the supporters of the revolution, destroying homes and farms of rural families. Napoleon Arango, a Spanish diplomat, wrote a powerful treatise on negotiation. He explained that negotiation and reform are necessary instruments for attaining peace. Rebellion or insurgency always leads to anarchy and tyranny. The Spanish used Arangos treatise to convince the rebels to surrender. In addition, the Spaniards offered freedom to slaves who orchestrated the surrender of twenty rebels.

But, there was a growing moral issue within the revolution itself. Most of the insurgents were colored troops, ex-slaves. Cespedes once wrote that the revolution was doomed to failure if the various factions within the revolutionary army would quarrel over governing ideologies and social conduct. Some members of the Revolutionary Assembly wanted a Cuba ruled by creoles. Other wanted the creation of a bipartisan Congress.

But one factor decided the outcome of the revolution. The once discipline Cuban Army was reduced to shambles. Desertions, immorality, and indiscipline destroyed the morale of the army. The Spanish Army on the other hand was well-equipped and disciplined. A series of offensives were launched against Cespedes forces in eastern Cuba. Estrada Palma, the President of the Republic of Arms was captured by the Spanish in 1877. Negotiations for peace started on February 1878 in Puerto Principe.

The outcome of the Ten Years War was different from the result of the 1895-1898 War of Cuban Independence. The War of Independence succeeded because

Fundamental changes were instituted in Cuban society. Slavery was abolished. Former slaves joined the ranks of farmers and the urban working class. The number of tenant farmers rose considerably. Those opposed to Spanish rule found support in former slaves

The Cuban economy was becoming more and more dependent on the United States. Jose Marti, the future leader of the revolution, even lobbied the United States Congress to annex Cuba. In essence, perception of US support encouraged rebels to increase their strength and number

Wealthy Cubans supported the war because it would dislodge the Spanish from important sectors of the economy. This self-centered stance toward the revolution though was very helpful, as wealthy Cubans bought large supply depots for the rebels

Finally, direct US intervention in Cuba encouraged Cuban rebels to directly take the fight to the cities. Rebels captured important towns and cities even before the arrival of American forces in the port of Havana.
Unlike the 1868-1878 War, the War of Independence was fully supported by the majority of Cubans. Indeed, after 1898, Cuba was ready to become a young nation in the Caribbean.

Gonzalo and Gabriela Gomez invested the 5 million US dollars that Gonzalo inherited from his aunt in a coffee production business, which they believe is likely tom give them stable profits for the coming years. Both Gonzalo and Gabriela are competent enough to enter the coffee production business because they have the necessary knowledge and skills, as they have university educations. In line with this, they have to give due consideration in the trade agreements that their country has participated in. The home country of Gonzalo and Gabriela is Brazil and the country has entered into a regional trade agreement, MERCOSUR in recent years, which has changed the prospects of doing business.

Adaptation of the Brazil to Free Trade Agreement 
In years of development, Brazil had been one of the most important countries to provide various types of products. For the last few decades, the production of Brazil had increased tremendously and has grown into one of the major states to be invested by the United States and European countries. Hence, its association with the Free Trade Agreement is only relevant to its current status.

The Latin America during the time of 1980 until 1995 had been mostly invested by rich nations such as Europe and the United States. During the time of democratization, the course of the economy also led to the opening of economic and political stability.  After the long military regimes of countries in the Latin America, continuous growth in the economy and politics had been stimulated by different international organizations such as the International Monetary Fund (IMF) as well as the World Bank and led to an active neo-liberalization of the states. Hence, privatization had been actively promoted and applied in different countries. Also, the start of cooperation within countries also became open (Fishlow, 277-279).

In the course of such change, there had been a large increase of production between countries of Brazil and Argentina. Due to this, both Brazil and Argentina became the top producers in Latin America. During this period, it is seen that there is already a need for the Latin America to create integration. The integration was led by Argentina and Brazil which resulted to the creation of MERCOSUR (Mercado Comum do Sul). Through out its active participation in the world, MERCOSUR had been recognized by the world as the 4th largest regional block in the world and is greatly recognized by the European Union (EU) (Fishlow, 277-279).

In Brazil the contribution of the MERCOSUR is immense due to the fact that the changes of the country from the time is was democratized.  To date, the coffee production in Brazil had been one of most important industry that it has. Given that there are other countries where coffee is also exported, Brazil had shown its robustness and high quality in terms of the coffee it is producing. Through the MERCOSUR, the aspects of trading had been active. Due to the aspect of free trade itself, the traders where enabled to trade among themselves without the meddling of different government organizations.  Through this, trading is clearer in a sense that directs association with different producers which results to faster transactions.

Brazils Coffee Industry and MERCOSUR
The creation of MERCOSUR brought about strong institutional innovation, especially for Argentina and Brazil that favored the change of paradigm. Agrifood sector of Brazil has proven to be competitive in the global market, especially in the production and international trade of grain. The main factor of success in this free trade agreement is dependent upon harmonizing the business strategies and public policies, which result in competitive advantages. In relation to this, a structural change in the relationship of the government and the society of Brazil was observed. The state government conducted administrative reforms, which include privatization, deregulation of the market that have a huge impact in the producers of goods and services because these changes have opened the economy of the country for the greater insertion in the world market (Vervaele 394-395).

Due to MERCOSUR, Brazil is an emerging important food supplier in the world, especially with the competence that the country developed in the past years. The competence that comes from both suppliers and farmers such as advanced machineries, education and professionalism as well as the increase in competition and market orientation have paved the way for large multinational companies to invest in the country. The large internal market of Brazil also offers food companies the opportunities to have the necessary scale and patterns for the international market. As a result, Brazil is regarded as the first world exporter of coffee together with other important food products such as sugar, beef, poultry, and orange juice (Ordonez et al. 6).

The coffee industry of the country has largely benefited from the free trade agreement that Brazil participated in because the agricultural sector is given more opportunity to develop. This is proven by the efforts coming from the Embrapa (Brazilian public research agency on agribusiness), which is doing extensive research and development in order to further increase the agricultural productivity of the country. In line with this, the government is also doing a large part in further helping the coffee industry and other agricultural producers of the country by means of improving the public infrastructure of the country for easier transportation of goods. In addition, the Brazilian government is also heightening its diplomatic relationship with other country through economic treaties, which increases the commercial partners of the country. Being the case, the increase commitment of Brazil in free trade agreements allow coffee producers to better participate in global distribution of their products, which further increases their opportunity to gain more from their business operations (Alimonda 31-32).

Challenges of Free Trade Production in Brazil 
Provided the Brazil is one of the top producers of coffee it had already established its stance in the world. However, great challenges are still at hand. The challenges of Brazil mostly happen within it territories and people. Due to the fact that Brazils society is heavily bounded by social classes, people of different social class are given unequal opportunity to rise and attain the same success as the others. Based on the experience of Maria Fiallos, she mentioned that unequal opportunities provided for farmers and land owners are frustrating and devastating.

In the course of her observation, the land owners often have the best opportunities due to the high value of coffee in the market. However, the farmers that work for big land owners often end up simply farming. Hence, farmers who work for the lands in Brazil do not have the opportunity to gain larger income or drift away from farming.

On the other hand, huge land owners overwhelm the smaller land owners. Due to the capability of huge land owners to produce more products for lesser value, the small land owners are over taken by huge land owners which results to unsuccessful establishment of new corporations (A bitter brew for coffee farmers, n.p.).

Another form of challenge in the country of Brazil is environment degradation which is caused by the exploitation of water resources and people. In the 1970s there were aspects in which different neighboring countries had a joint project which enables to attain more water resource to supply different farms. Although this is a good idea at first, different families who were living in the area had to be relocated. The construction of the irrigation had been very excruciating in the part of the people because they are heavily affected by the creation of the huge irrigation. In another view, attaining irrigation is not very ideal for environment protection for it exploits the percentage of water available. Provided that global warming is at hand, different natural resources are seemingly harder to attain (Alimonda, 39).

Overall Assessment
Entering the coffee industry of Brazil requires careful analysis of the factors that affects the operations in this kind of business. The free trade agreements of the country plays an important role in the coffee production of business organizations, may it be small or big. In this sense, both Gonzalo and Gabriela also takes into account the respective opportunities and challenges that are involved in free trade agreements and fair trade agreements. After discussing the relative pros and cons of the these two kinds of agreement, Gonzalo and Gabriela decided that they would produce coffee under a fair trade agreement because this allows starting and small coffee producers like them the opportunity to equally compete in the market. Under fair trade agreements, small coffee producers are given the necessary protection in order to compete in the market because it gives them more profit as compared with the presence of a middleman in a free trade agreement. In addition, the welfare of small coffee producers is given importance because large coffee companies cannot easily monopolize the trade of small coffee growers under the fair trade agreement.  

Millennium Development Goal 
The Millennium Development Goal (MDG) is a program which is built by the United Nations in order for poverty to be reduced. Provided that Brazil is a nation where in poverty is at large, Brazil needed to create actions to adhere to such type of program in order to relieve the percentage of poverty in the country (United Nations).

The main MDGs which had been focused by Brazil are lowering the poverty rate in the country. As a huge country that also has a huge population, it is very likely that Brazil shall have a hard time relieving poverty in the nation. In order to address this Brazil has different programs such that of the development and support of the government to various industries.  In addition to this, the government of Brazil is creating ways to have a stronger global partnership with other nations. Due to Brazils current place in the world it had encouraged different nations to create various types of relations more especially in the economic perspective. Moreover, Brazil is an active participant of the MERCOSUR and United Nations and seeks to have more friendly relations to other countries in order to create a much peaceful and harmonious relations most especially in the view of the world economy (United Nations).