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
Bolivia : Casilla 5283, Cochabamba, Bolivia
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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.
* Blog from Bolivia
An ongoing look at events and insights from The Center's executive director, Jim Shultz, based in Cochabamba.
* Bechtel Corp. vs. Bolivia's Poor
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.
* Globalization: Stories from the Front Row
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
* 100,000 People at Dawn
* Cochabamba: The Place Where I Live
Bolivia Stories from The Democracy Center On-Line
* Notes from Bolivia (12/02/98)
* Jesus and McDonalds (01/20/99)
* The Curse of Carnival (02/19/99)
* Sewing Shut Their Mouths In Order To Be Heard (06/08/99)
* A Bolivian Baby Turns One in Jail - C/O the US War on Drugs (08/02/99)
* The Search for Atlantis - in Bolivia (October 6, 1999)
* A War Over Water (February 4, 2000)
* The Bolivian Water War (April, 2000)
* Bechtel Speaks, We Respond (April 29, 2000)
* U.S. Drug War at center Stage in Renewed Bolivian Violence (October 1, 2000)
* Bolivian Marchers Under Threat (April 19, 2001)
* Cochabamba, Bolivia - The Place Where I Live (June 9, 2001)
* Taking the Census - Bolivian Style (September 5, 2001)
* Bechtel Corp. Vs. Bolivia's Poor (December 18, 2001)
* BECHTEL Falsifies the Facts on its Bolivia Disaster (January 17, 2002 )
* From South America: New Resistance to an Economic Doctrine Imposed from Abroad (August 4, 2002)
* From Cochabamba, Bolivia - 100,000 People at Dawn (September, 20, 2002)
* Bolivia in Crisis Over Gas Sale to California (October 13, 2003)
* In Bolivia, a President is Forced to Leave (October 18, 2003)
* The Curse of Wealth Under the Ground (July 30, 2004)
* A Real Life Scrooge vs. Bolivia's Poor - A Call for Action (December 16, 2004)
* Another Water Revolt Begins in Bolivia (December 18, 2004)
*
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
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.
