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 has 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 headgear 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.)