A New Type of Revolution in Latin America

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               Historically speaking the Sun has played a key role in shaping the Mesoamerican and South American aspects of pre-colonial culture and religion. From our earliest understanding of the regions ancient religions we have discovered a direct link between their beliefs and that of astronomy. The sun, being a key part of their understanding of their physical and spiritual world. 

Following the colonization of the region, these ancient customs were all but lost. This genocide of both their people and their beliefs led to a great loss in our understanding of their society. One of the major beliefs that has been uncovered is that of the Mayan Fifth Sun. 

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          The Mayan fifth sun was considered by many to mark the Mayan's belief in Armageddon. They however, could not be more incorrect. The Mayan Fifth Sun is not a period of death and destruction, but a re-birth of spirit and development. A change in composition and beliefs that marks the beginning of a new age. This re-birth can be considered a drastic change in the way Latin America has historically been viewed. December 21st, 2012, marked a new age for Latin America. That age is fueled by renewable energy.

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          The majority of Latin America lies in the Sun Belt Region of highest solar radiation, solar energy in this region is nothing short of overabundant. This factor, added to the regions growth under the yoke of non-renewable energy, shows the possibility for an incredible re-birth of providence and quality of life in these fossil fuel consuming societies.

         In terms of Latin America, solar energy has the ability to stabilize and reconstruct the region into the beacon of pride it was before the European colonization. Its a way to feasibly end the reliance on the world energy market and begin to produce energy in Latin America, and not be reliant on foreign sources to dictate the price of energy. 

          The International Renewable Energy Agency, or IRENA, has recently found that, as of January 2015, renewable energy was shown to be more cost effective than Fossil Fuels. The ramifications of this finding are enormous, especially for the companies invested heavily in fossil fuels. This shift has been on the horizon for awhile, and oil companies have already reacted. 

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These oil companies are afraid of a future that isn't beholden to them for energy needs, and they should be. Countries around the world are rethinking their energy sources, and Latin America is set to lead the way. 
           According to the Inter-American Development Bank, in Latin America, 34 million people lack access to modern electricity services. Even more destructive to progress is that fossil fuel imports take up a sizable chunk of many Latin American countries budgets. This money could go back into the economy and produce jobs. How? Not by pouring money into foreign markets plagued with constant price increases and supply problems but instead investing in the new field of Solar energy. 

          Over the past hundred years, the cost of energy limited the ability of Latin American countries to reach their full potential. The new breakthroughs in renewable sources can eliminate that restriction and create potentially free, limitless energy. If you're thinking to yourself that relying on solar energy is economically unfeasible, just consider the following; the price of solar cells has fallen fifteen-fold since 1980 and shows no sign of slowing down. 

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          Compounding that, the cost of solar PV has halved between 2010 and 2014 Its important to understand that as the price of solar falls, the price of non-renewable sources continue to grow. What this allows is a re-evaluation of what Latin American Countries can do for their population, to allow for a greener, prosperous future. 

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          As IRENA states in their summery of findings, "any remaining perceptions that renewable power generation technologies are expensive or uncompetitive are at best outdated, and at worst a dangerous fallacy." Don't let an outdated perception of energy fuel a greater reliance on nonrenewable, environmentally dangerous, and costly sources. Think Green, in terms of energy and saved money.