Coverage of my CESO trip to Bolivia by the Slave River Journal of Fort Smith www.srj.ca
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Wednesday, December 28, 2005
Friday, December 23, 2005
Morales to nationalize Bolivia oil, gas
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Morales to nationalize Bolivia oil, gas:
The winner of Bolivia's presidential elections has repeated his vow to nationalize oil and gas and said he will void at least some contracts held by foreign companies "looting" the poor Andean nation's natural resources.
Morales to nationalize Bolivia oil, gas:
The winner of Bolivia's presidential elections has repeated his vow to nationalize oil and gas and said he will void at least some contracts held by foreign companies "looting" the poor Andean nation's natural resources.
http://tinyurl.com/8x9ue
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Eyeing return, Ortega says Bolivia poll is US loss :
Former Nicaraguan President Daniel Ortega, a Cold War U.S. foe, hailed Bolivia's election of a leftist president and said on Wednesday it was part of a trend that will help him return to power next year.
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Eyeing return, Ortega says Bolivia poll is US loss :
Former Nicaraguan President Daniel Ortega, a Cold War U.S. foe, hailed Bolivia's election of a leftist president and said on Wednesday it was part of a trend that will help him return to power next year.
Bolivia to nationalise oil and gas
The winner of Bolivia's presidential elections has repeated his vow to nationalise oil and gas and said he will void at least some contracts held by foreign companies "looting" the poor Andean nation's natural resources. Indian coca farmer Evo Morales said he will not confiscate refineries or infrastructure owned by multinational corporations.Instead, his government would renegotiate contracts so that the companies are partners, but not owners, in developing Bolivia's resources, he said."We will nationalise (Bolivia's) natural resources," Morales said at a news conference Tuesday in La Paz. "Many of these contracts signed by various governments are illegal and unconstitutional."It is not possible that our natural resources continue to be looted, exploited illegally, and as the lawyers say, these contracts are legally void and must be adjusted."Gas reserves Bolivia's proven and potential reserves total 48.7 trillion cubic feet of natural gas, second only to Venezuela in South America, according to the US Department of Energy's Information Administration.Morales said his government would open talks with governments and company executives, working to strengthen relations with state oil companies.He has close relations with Hugo Chavez, the Venezuelan president, who is also trying to change the role of foreign oil companies in his country.With 92% of polling stations officially counted, Morales had 54.1% of the vote in Sunday's election.He needs a bare majority to win outright and avoid having congress choose between him and conservative rival Jorge Quiroga in mid-January.Outgoing President Eduardo Rodriguez's administration said it was organising a transition team in anticipation of Morales' inauguration on 22 January.
Full Story
* Morales close to outright victory *
Bolivian socialist leader Evo Morales builds an insuperable lead to be named president, electoral officials say.
Full story:
Friday, December 16, 2005
Evo Morales Could Be a 'Nightmare' for U.S.
Bolivian Could Be a 'Nightmare' for U.S.
By FIONA SMITH
The Associated Press
Monday, December 12, 2005; 3:03 PM
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2005/12/12/AR2005121200656_pf.html
or
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20051212/ap_on_re_la_am_ca/bolivia_america_s_foe
or
http://www.ocnus.net/artman/publish/article_21918.shtml
or
http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/national/1102AP_Bolivia_Americas_Foe.html
CARACOLLO, Bolivia -- As a little boy in Bolivia's bleak highlands,
Evo Morales used to run behind buses to pick up the orange skins and
banana peels passengers threw out the windows. Sometimes, he says, it
was all he had to eat. Now, holding the lead ahead of Sunday's
presidential election, he's threatening to be "a nightmare for the
government of the United States."
It's not hard to see why. The 46-year-old candidate is a staunch
leftist who counts Cuba's Fidel Castro and Venezuela's Hugo Chavez
among his close friends. Moreover, he's a coca farmer, promising to
reverse the U.S.-backed campaign to stamp out production of the leaf
that is used to make cocaine.
With his Aymara Indian blood and a hatred for the free-market
doctrines known to Latin Americans as neo-liberalism, Morales in
power would not only shake up Bolivia's political elite, but
strengthen the leftward tide rippling across South America.
"Something historic is happening in Bolivia," Morales told The
Associated Press in an interview. "The most scorned, hated,
humiliated sector now has the capacity to organize."
At a recent campaign stop in the western highland town of Caracollo,
Morales and members of his Movement Toward Socialism party were
mobbed by crowds who kissed them, showered them with confetti and
draped necklaces of flowers and fruit around their necks.
The Movement Toward Socialism "represents not only hope for the
Bolivian people, but also a nightmare for the government of the
United States," Morales told the supporters.
"I have no fear in saying _ and saying loudly _ that we're not just
anti-neo-liberal, we're anti-imperialist in our blood."
Morales, whose leather key chain sports a portrait of communist
revolutionary Che Guevara, has already been involved in toppling two
presidents, has come close to winning the presidency once before, and
is now running strong against conservative former President Jorge
Quiroga and several other candidates. If no one wins an outright
majority on Sunday, Congress will choose between the top two
vote-getters in mid-January.
The latest poll by Ipsos-Captura shows Morales with 32.8 percent,
five percentage points above Quiroga, and gives a margin of error of
two percentage points.
"Symbolically, he would represent a fundamental change," said Jimena
Costa, a political science professor at Bolivia's Universidad Mayor
de San Andres. "It's not just the first time an Indian would win the
presidential elections, but he would be doing it with the support of
a sector of the white and mestizo community and urban populations."
Morales has been a problem for Washington since he rose to prominence
in the 1990s as the leader of the cocaleros, or coca farmers, in
Bolivia's tropical Chapare region, leading their often violent
resistance to U.S.-backed coca eradication efforts.
While the U.S. government insists that much of the Chapare's coca
becomes cocaine, farmers say they supply a legal market. Coca leaves
are sold in supermarkets and can be chewed, brewed for tea, and used
in religious ceremonies.
During the last presidential election, then U.S. Ambassador Manuel
Rocha criticized Morales, only to see him shoot up in the polls. This
time Washington has kept silent, though a statement two weeks ago by
the present ambassador, David Greenlee, urging Bolivia not to change
course on coca, was widely interpreted as a jab at Morales.
"I hope there aren't changes, because if there are changes for the
worse, the country that's going to suffer is Bolivia," Greenlee told
anti-drug rally in El Alto, a slum city next to La Paz.
Morales, more comfortable in black Wrangler jeans and sneakers than
suit and tie, still maintains coca fields and pledges an
international campaign to legalize the leaf and industrialize its
production. He insists he will fight drug trafficking, but maintains
that the plant has been wrongly maligned in the world's mind.
As a boy, Morales' family struggled to survive. Of seven children,
Evo was among only three who made it past infancy. He helped herd the
family's llamas and harvest their potatoes, played trumpet in a
traveling band and dropped out of high school. When he was 19 the
family joined the highland migration to low-lying Chapare in the
southeast. There he became a cocalero and in 1993 was elected
president of the local coca farmers' federation.
Meanwhile, the nation of 8.5 million was emerging from decades of
coups and dictatorships and joining the spread of democracy across
the continent. Morales founded the Movement Toward Socialism in 1995,
was later elected to congress, and in 2002 narrowly lost the
presidential race to Gonzalo Sanchez de Lozada.
The free market policies that have failed to pull Bolivians out of
poverty, coupled with the conflict over how best to exploit the
continent's second largest natural gas reserves, has empowered the
country's poor Indians to demand change. Morales became an important
figure in waves of protest that brought down Sanchez de Lozada in
2003 and his successor, Carlos Mesa, in June.
© 2005 The Associated Press
Saturday, December 10, 2005
On my way home.... so far
Got up at about 5AM this morning to catch the plane from La Paz... almost
did not get on... TACA Airlines... the carrier from La Paz to Lima asked
me to take a hotel room and a 24 hour delay... I guess they had over
booked... of course I said no... then they offered to check my bad through
to Toronto... so I hope I see it when I get there tomorrow...
I have only been at sea level for avout 5 hours and I am already breathing
a lot better... the altitude in La Paz was... so I thought... not
affecting me too badly... but I tell you this... when you get down to the
sea... you sure notice the difference....
Arrived in Lima at about 9;30am and have been hanging around ïntransit
imbo eversince... until my Air Canada flight at 9PM... at least I get a
hotel room in Toronto until my flight on Monday.. otherwise... of course
all is wellhave resisted contributing to the Pruvian economey as much as
possible (except for food & such here at the airport) Aparently Saturdays
are a really quiet day for international flights...
There was a AC flight to Toronto that left just around 11AM that I used to
confirm my booking (both for today and for Monday´s Toronto Edmonton to Ft
Smith flights)... I almost got on it but they could not promise that they
could get my bag on it.. so I thought the better of it...
Too bad my trip to Cameroon got cancelled... but it sounds to me that that
was probably a good thing as the client did not seem up to having me there
and I do not think that spending two months in the Cameroon doing nothing
would have been a good way to spend my time...
I have already been in touch with my boss at Aurora College in Ft Smith
and am already supposed to be doing several shifts over the lucrative
Christmas holiday season... so I am back earning some $$$ which is not bad
at all....
As soon as I get back I will have to get my phone properly connected and
reconnect my highspeed internet connection.... and generally get back into
life in Ft Smith... but I am looking forward to that...
That´s all for now... next message should be from the hotel in Toronto...
unless something happens here in Lima...
--
p>
Saturday, December 03, 2005
Blog from Bolivia & FOCUS ON BOLIVIA from The Democracy Center in Cochabamba
Blog from Bolivia
The Democracy Center, based in Cochabamba Bolivia and San Francisco California, works globally to advance human rights through a unique combination of investigation and reporting, training citizens in the art of public advocacy, and organizing international citizen campaigns. If you like the Blog, consider becoming a subscriber to The Democracy Center's free e-newsletter by clicking here.
The Democracy Center
San Francisco : P.O. Box 22157
San Francisco, CA 94122
Tel: 415/564 4767 - FAX: 978/383 1269
San Francisco : P.O. Box 22157
San Francisco, CA 94122
Tel: 415/564 4767 - FAX: 978/383 1269
Bolivia : Casilla 5283, Cochabamba, Bolivia
Site Feedback:
info@democracyctr.org
FOCUS ON BOLIVIA
Since 1998 The Democracy Center has used its base in Bolivia, in the heart of the Andes, as an opportunity to help educate people about the realities of life in a poor country. Some of that story has been about the realities of economic globalization, including The Center's landmark reporting on the Bolivian Water Revolt. Some of that has been just opening a window into the everyday life in an amazing country, through photographs and stories.
Below are links to some of these issues and stories.
An ongoing look at events and insights from The Center's executive director, Jim Shultz, based in Cochabamba.
In January 2000, just months after it took over control of the water system of Bolivia's third largest city, Cochabamba, a Bechtel subsidiary hit water users with enormous price increases. These increases forced some of the poorest families in South America to literally choose between food and water. The complete story.
Coming soon, The Democracy Center's new project looking in depth at the effects of economic globalization in South America's poorest country.
Slide Shows
Bolivia Stories from The Democracy Center On-Line
Media Stories about Bolivia from The Democracy Center
Bolivia Counry Profile:
Pacific News Service article by Jim Shultz (Dec. 17, 2004): Five years after water privatization raised water rates and sparked deadly riots in Cochabamba, Bolivia, another water war is brewing in in the country, in a city to the north.
Another Water Revolt Begins in Bolivia:
Pacific News Service article by Jim Shultz (Dec. 17, 2004): Five years after water privatization raised water rates and sparked deadly riots in Cochabamba, Bolivia, another water war is brewing in in the country, in a city to the north.
Behind Bolivia's Gas War
Pacific News Service article by Jim Shultz (Oct. 17, 2003): To Bolivians marching in the streets, "free" trade of natural gas or other resources from their impoverished country to California is just another name for theft.
Bloody Chaos over California Gas Deal
An opinion column in the Sacramento Bee showing the link between California and the Bolivian gas revolt in October 2003.
Bechtel Vs. Bolivia - Time to Open Up Secret Trade Courts
Pacific News Service article by Jim Shultz (Nov. 08, 2002): Two years ago, rioters protesting increased water rates forced a U.S. company in Bolivia to pack its bags and leave. Now, in a harbinger of the loss of local control through globalization, the corporation is striking back in secret proceedings.
Bolivia's 'Texan' President Does U.S. Bidding
Pacific News Service article by Jim Shultz (March 20, 2002): High on the agenda at President Bush's meeting with Andean presidents will be free-market and drug policies, just the problems looming larger every day for Bolivia's boyish-looking new technocrat president, Jorge Quiroga. Also being charged with serious rights abuses, Quiroga's administration is breeding resentment where hope had reigned.
Leasing the Rain
The site for the July 2002 PBS film on the Cochabamba water revolt. For the transcript of the entire program click here.
Bechtel Puts Squeeze on Bolivia's Poor
Pacific News Service article by Jim Shultz (Dec. 19, 2001): Two years ago, Bolivians rioted when a subsidiary of corporate giant Bechtel tripled water rates in the country's third-largest city. Now, Bechtel is suing the Bolivian government for $25 million in damages and lost future profits.
Paying the Price of Privatization -- A Bolivian Town Goes to War Over Water
Bolivia Counry Profile:
Pacific News Service article by Jim Shultz (Dec. 17, 2004): Five years after water privatization raised water rates and sparked deadly riots in Cochabamba, Bolivia, another water war is brewing in in the country, in a city to the north.
Another Water Revolt Begins in Bolivia:
Pacific News Service article by Jim Shultz (Dec. 17, 2004): Five years after water privatization raised water rates and sparked deadly riots in Cochabamba, Bolivia, another water war is brewing in in the country, in a city to the north.
Behind Bolivia's Gas War
Pacific News Service article by Jim Shultz (Oct. 17, 2003): To Bolivians marching in the streets, "free" trade of natural gas or other resources from their impoverished country to California is just another name for theft.
Bloody Chaos over California Gas Deal
An opinion column in the Sacramento Bee showing the link between California and the Bolivian gas revolt in October 2003.
Bechtel Vs. Bolivia - Time to Open Up Secret Trade Courts
Pacific News Service article by Jim Shultz (Nov. 08, 2002): Two years ago, rioters protesting increased water rates forced a U.S. company in Bolivia to pack its bags and leave. Now, in a harbinger of the loss of local control through globalization, the corporation is striking back in secret proceedings.
Bolivia's 'Texan' President Does U.S. Bidding
Pacific News Service article by Jim Shultz (March 20, 2002): High on the agenda at President Bush's meeting with Andean presidents will be free-market and drug policies, just the problems looming larger every day for Bolivia's boyish-looking new technocrat president, Jorge Quiroga. Also being charged with serious rights abuses, Quiroga's administration is breeding resentment where hope had reigned.
Leasing the Rain
The site for the July 2002 PBS film on the Cochabamba water revolt. For the transcript of the entire program click here.
Bechtel Puts Squeeze on Bolivia's Poor
Pacific News Service article by Jim Shultz (Dec. 19, 2001): Two years ago, Bolivians rioted when a subsidiary of corporate giant Bechtel tripled water rates in the country's third-largest city. Now, Bechtel is suing the Bolivian government for $25 million in damages and lost future profits.
Paying the Price of Privatization -- A Bolivian Town Goes to War Over Water
Pacific News Service article by Jim Shultz (Feb. 08, 2000): The doctrine of privatization moves so swiftly across the underdeveloped world that there is rarely a chance to see what is actually going on.
GROUPS petition Cameroon over 11 arrests
GROUPS petition Cameroon over 11 arrests
PlanetOut - San Francisco,CA,USA
PlanetOut - San Francisco,CA,USA
Several human rights groups sent a letter Thursday to Cameroon's minister of justice, urging him to free 11 men jailed on "sodomy" charges and to prevent a ...
<http://www.planetout.com/news/election/article.html?2005/12/02/5>
STUDENT Activists Arrested and Detained in Cameroon
STUDENT Activists Arrested and Detained in Cameroon
Voice of America - USA
Voice of America - USA
Security forces in Cameroon have arrested and detained the president and vice president of the Student Activist Movement at the University of Yaounde One, the ...
<http://www.voanews.com/english/Africa/2005-12-02-voa17.cfm>
CHILD malnutrition, obesity both rise in Cameroon
CHILD malnutrition, obesity both rise in Cameroon
Reuters AlertNet - London,England,UK
Reuters AlertNet - London,England,UK
... The situation was particularly severe in half of Cameroon's 10 provinces: the Far North, North, West, East and South-West provinces. ...
<http://www.alertnet.org/thenews/newsdesk/L0270981.htm>
CONDOM drive aimed at Cameroon's truckers
CONDOM drive aimed at Cameroon's truckers
Independent Online - Cape Town,South Africa
Yaounde - Some 28 000 long-distance truck drivers in Cameroon will receive
free condoms during the next five years in a bid to curb high Aids rates
in the West ...
Independent Online - Cape Town,South Africa
Yaounde - Some 28 000 long-distance truck drivers in Cameroon will receive
free condoms during the next five years in a bid to curb high Aids rates
in the West ...
<http://www.int.iol.co.za/index.php?set_id=1&click_id=86&art_id=qw1133365146721B243>
CAMEROON truckers to get free condoms for 5 years
Reuters AlertNet - London,England,UK
YAOUNDE, Nov 30 (Reuters) - Some 28,000 long-distance truck drivers in
Cameroon will receive free condoms during the next five years in a bid
to curb high AIDS ...
Reuters AlertNet - London,England,UK
YAOUNDE, Nov 30 (Reuters) - Some 28,000 long-distance truck drivers in
Cameroon will receive free condoms during the next five years in a bid
to curb high AIDS ...
<http://www.alertnet.org/thenews/newsdesk/L30270033.htm>
TRUCKERS in Cameroon get free condoms in fight against AIDS
News-Medical.net - Sydney,Australia
In an attempt to curb high AIDS rates in the West African country of Cameroon,
long-distance truck drivers will receive free condoms during the next
five years ...
News-Medical.net - Sydney,Australia
In an attempt to curb high AIDS rates in the West African country of Cameroon,
long-distance truck drivers will receive free condoms during the next
five years ...
<http://www.news-medical.net/?id=14759>
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