CENTRAL AND SOUTH AMERICA
The
people of Central and South America are as diverse as
everything else here. The cities of Mexico City,
Panama City, Rio De Janeiro, Sao Paulo, Buenos Aries, etc...
are every bit the modern mega-cities equal to Tokyo, London,
Night City, Hong Kong and Paris. Mexico City in
particular is the second largest city in the world, coming
in just behind Tokyo. Since its reconstruction after
the quake, and its growing self reliance, Mexico City is the
symbol of a country on the verge of reaching Super Power
status. The standard of living is high, and people
achieving a measure of wealth formerly undreamed of.
Corporate controlled Rio is
another city whose standard of living h
as
utterly exploded. For the people in these urban
meccas, life is no different than than in any other
large metropolis,
people go to work, spend their money on the latest
technology and entertainment available to them, and party
till dawn. As in every major city, street gangs are a
major problem, particularly for the youth, and the
underground black markets support all manner of contraband
and illicit dealings.
The rural areas of
the region are a dichotomy, in the suburbs life is modern
and similar to that of the cities, but in the more remote
villages and towns there are areas that still have yet to
own a television, or be supplied with electricity or even
running wate
r.
Though
with the ever consuming growth of the Agri-corp farm
presence, this simple way of life is quickly
dissapearing. Whether in urban or rural areas, among
families and neighborhoods
there is a prevailing
sense
of community, this extends to some degree to all of the
region, propagated both by communal ties, and the bond
created by recurring and devastating foreign intrusion over
the last several hundred years.
In some extremely
isolated areas, particularly deep in the rainforests and
high on the mountains, tribal life still exists relatively
unchanged for centuries. Hunter gatherer tribes using
bows, spears, and blowguns. Wearing loincloths at the
most, living in grass huts, and having no concept of
technology. In Brazil it has been made absolutely
illegal to interact with these tribes or encroach on their
territories under pressure from ecological and
anthropological groups. Deep in the Amazon there are
even rumors of headhunters still lurking in the jungle,
cannibals. Of course most people give no more credence
to these rumors than they do to the chupacabra legend, but
enough reports come in and local populations are scared of
them enough, that some in the scientific community still
take them seriously.
Religion still
plays a huge role in the day to day life and culture of the
people. Catholicism is still the majority religion by
an overwhelming number, however Santeria and Voodoo are
growing in influence, particularly in the Caribbean.
Among the youth culture, particularly the violent street
gangs of the larger cities, a new quasi-religion is quickly
growing. Azteka,
a bastardization of Aztec and Mayan beliefs noted for
totem worship, blood rituals,
and extremely violent practices. Practitioners often
affect Aztec or Mayan inspired
tattoos and fashion, with their
"Priests" often wearing headgea
r and
elaborate costumes. At first it was seen as merely a
fad among the youth gangs, but the recent and recurring
discoveries of bodies killed by ritual execution has led
authorities to believe the threat is becoming much more
serious. Growth of this religion is rampant among
youths, and most street gangs, particularly in Mexico, have
taken to it with a passion, grown tired of Christianities
strict control, condemnation, and unfulfilled promises.
Concern is mounting over what city officials 
Organized
crime, particularly in the form of drug cartels, is ever
prevalent even in the rural areas. Among other
criminal activities, underground slavery, prostitution and
worse crimes are growing in intensity. Many countries
have little restrictions or little means and resources to
enforce them. This has led to a massive influx of
criminal activity and the smuggling and black market network
has reached epic proportions.
Anti-American sentiment runs high throughout
most of Central and South America, and to a lesser degree
the same feelings abound towards Europeans and
corporations. The latter however are tolerated out of
necessity, without the corporate presence in the economic
community, most of these countries would have reverted back
to stone age life after the World Wide economic
crashes. Evidence of this can be easy seen in
Suriname, where the entire country has seemingly descended
into madness, or the Islas De La Sangre, where the once
thriving and independent populations have banded together
and resorted to piracy and aggression against any who
trespass. Regardless, of the Anti-American sentiment
prevalent in the region, American Nomads are almost
universally welcome in Central America, at least in non-SAA
allied countries, and there is are large numbers of American
veterans of the Second South American war still living in
the region, completely assimilated into the native
population. Having effectively denounced the U.S.
these "gringos" have little problem with the natives, though
lingering discrimination does still exist.
CENTRAL
AND SOUTH AMERICAN
LIFEPATH GENERATOR
(Written by Deric "D" Bernier.)