In Latin American cities, most people can get clean water to drink and they almost always have a clean place to go to the bathroom. In rural places, not everyone has access to these basics of sustainable development.

Latin America Sustainable Development Facts:

• In rural parts of Ecuador, 10 percent fewer people have access to clean water compared to people who live in cities.
• Almost 20 percent of people in Ecuador don’t have a clean place to go to the bathroom. This number is 12 percent higher in rural areas than in cities.

The Amazon is in danger.

The Amazon Rainforest

This forest is in danger because of development that doesn’t protect its special environment.
Oil drilling in Ecuador’s rainforest has made a lot of money for some people, but three-quarters of the population in the area still lives in poverty. The drilling has polluted the air and water and has caused many trees to be cut down. This is especially hard for indigenous groups who call the rainforest their home.

Working Together for development

The whole world needs to cooperate to make sure Latin America develops in a way that is sustainable. Right now, a lot of the aid money that Latin America gets from other countries is given to military spending instead of the development programs people need, like clean water projects. It’s time for a change.