tagged w/ Bolivia
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Evo Morales ate a coca leaf at a UN summit on drugs, urging delegates to lift the ban on the use of the plant. Morales also drew parallels between himself and Barack Obama, stating: "Before, nobody believed that an Indian could be president and nobody thought that a black man could be president of the United States."Evo Morales ate a coca leaf at a UN summit on drugs, urging delegates to lift the ban... more
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Sinclair Thomson on the history of Bolivian-U.S. relations in the 2nd half of the 20th century. Part 4
Starting with the Eisenhower Administration, Sinclair Thomson discusses U.S. – Bolivia relations in the second half of the 20th century. From the revolutionary government of Victor Paz Estenssoro to the military regime of Rene Barrentos, Thomson draws a picture of Bolivian history. He discusses the U.S. - backed military coup of the 1960s, the neo-liberal shock treatment of Jeffrey Sachs, and the beginning of the so-called war on drugs. After Evo Morales threw out the U.S. Ambassador, relations with the U.S. – seemed to turn sour, but the Obama administration congratulated Bolivia for the recently passed referendum.
Sinclair Thomson is an Associate Professor at New York University’s Department of History. He is the author of We Alone Will Rule: Native Andean Politics in the Age of Insurgency (2003) and co-author of Revolutionary Horizons: Past and Present in Bolivian Politics (2007).
See Part 1 at:
http://current.com/items/89796978/historic_referendum_passes_in_bolivia.htm
See Part 2 at:
http://current.com/items/89796993/bolivia_s_constitution_and_land_reform.htm
See Part 3 at:
http://current.com/items/89797001/bolivia_obama_and_unasur.htm
.Sinclair Thomson on the history of Bolivian-U.S. relations in the 2nd half of the 20th... more
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New constitution in Bolivia and the new U.S. government. Part 3
In September’s UNASUR meeting, Latin American leaders discussed and agreed to support Evo Morales in Bolivia. This international integration, Thomson says, “really shifted the balance of forces.” It “was decisive in shifting the political momentum in Bolivia and opened up the possibility of negotiations between the [Morales] government and the right wing.” This support allowed for the political environment that set the stage for the recently passed referendum. UNASUR’s formation is a change from the previous largely U.S. controlled political setting in Latin America. These governments are coming together, Thomson says, “against the hegemony of the neo-liberal model,” and “to assert their states in managing their economies and increasing national sovereignty.” The region’s relationship with the United States may also soon change as many expect Obama’s administration will have a different foreign policy than the historic involvement U.S. exercised in the 20th century.
Sinclair Thomson is an Associate Professor at New York University’s Department of History. He is the author of We Alone Will Rule: Native Andean Politics in the Age of Insurgency (2003) and co-author of Revolutionary Horizons: Past and Present in Bolivian Politics (2007).
See Part 1 at:
http://current.com/items/89796978/historic_referendum_passes_in_bolivia.htm
See Part 2 at:
http://current.com/items/89796993/bolivia_s_constitution_and_land_reform.htm
See Part 4 at:
http://current.com/items/89797009/bolivia_and_the_united_states.htm
.New constitution in Bolivia and the new U.S. government. Part 3
In... more
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Thomson: The recently passed constitution in Bolivia marks significant concessions by Morales. Part 2
To understand the significance of the recently passed referendum in Bolivia, Sharmini Peries speaks to Sinclair Thomson, co-author of Revolutionary Horizons. Thomson says, “one of the interesting things about this document, is that it is a compromised document. It’s the outcome of a struggle between popular social forces and the government on the one hand and right-wing opposition forces based in the lowlands of Bolivia.” He concludes that, “this document represents the interests of both sides.” He continues to say that, “this Constitution is disappointing for indigenous peoples because it doesn’t allow for the redistribution of existing large-scale agricultural estates,” but explains the reform will affect future ones. Another major change introduced with the referendum is a new limit on the presidential reelection term, largely, Thomson says, because of a propaganda campaign the right wing opposition waged against Evo Morales, portraying him as a dictator.
Sinclair Thomson is an Associate Professor at New York University’s Department of History. He is the author of We Alone Will Rule: Native Andean Politics in the Age of Insurgency (2003) and co-author of Revolutionary Horizons: Past and Present in Bolivian Politics (2007).
See Part 1 at:
http://current.com/items/89796978/historic_referendum_passes_in_bolivia.htm
See Part 3 at:
http://current.com/items/89797001/bolivia_obama_and_unasur.htm
See Part 4 at:
http://current.com/items/89797009/bolivia_and_the_united_states.htm
.Thomson: The recently passed constitution in Bolivia marks significant concessions by... more
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Thomson: New Bolivian Constitution marks first recognition of indigenous autonomy in 500 years. Part 1
Sinclair Thomson discusses the passing of a historic referendum in Bolivia that saw an over 60% support from the population. The referendum is precedent setting as, he says, “this is the first time Bolivia ever had a popular democratic vote on a constitution.” He explains that the referendum was an “intensely fought over campaign, and yet at the end it is a very solid victory. This Constitution came about as a result of a wave of uprisings against neo-liberal governments and the presence of transnational firms who exploit natural gas.” He continued to explain the referendum “is going to reconsolidate State control over strategic natural resources in the country,” and that “though it compromised a lot of [indigenous peoples’] demands, it recognizes their rights, and for the first time, their autonomy.”
Sinclair Thomson is an Associate Professor at New York University’s Department of History. He is the author of We Alone Will Rule: Native Andean Politics in the Age of Insurgency (2003) and co-author of Revolutionary Horizons: Past and Present in Bolivian Politics (2007).
See Part 2 at:
http://current.com/items/89796993/bolivia_s_constitution_and_land_reform.htm
See Part 3 at:
http://current.com/items/89797001/bolivia_obama_and_unasur.htm
See Part 4 at:
http://current.com/items/89797009/bolivia_and_the_united_states.htm
.Thomson: New Bolivian Constitution marks first recognition of indigenous autonomy in... more
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UYUNI, Bolivia — In the rush to build the next generation of hybrid or electric cars, a sobering fact confronts both automakers and governments seeking to lower their reliance on foreign oil: almost half of the world’s lithium, the mineral needed to power the vehicles, is found here in Bolivia — a country that may not be willing to surrender it so easily.UYUNI, Bolivia — In the rush to build the next generation of hybrid or electric... more
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Social networking site Facebook has removed a group looking to hire a gunman to assassinate Bolivian president Evo Morales.
Titled Global Collection To Hire A Sharpshooter To Liquidate Evo Morales, the group sought to "get the money to inspire someone to do it".
They had 497 members already but have been removed for violating FB's Terms of Service.
Apparently most of the messages were deemed hateful.Social networking site Facebook has removed a group looking to hire a gunman to... more
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SW2
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Facebook has removed a group that was raising money to "liquidate" Evo Morales, the leftist president of Bolivia. The group was titled "Global collection to hire a sharpshooter to liquidate Evo Morales," and had a description that read, "We need to get the money to inspire someone to do it."
Facebook removed the group on Tuesday. So how about it? Social networks as open call for assassinations? What's next?Facebook has removed a group that was raising money to "liquidate" Evo... more
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Bolivian voters embraced a new constitution Sunday that promises more power for the long-suffering indigenous majority and grants leftist President Evo Morales a shot at remaining in office through 2014.
The charter passed easily in a country where many can still recall when Indians were forbidden to vote. But its sometimes vague wording and resistance from Bolivia's mestizo and European-descended minority foreshadows more political turmoil in an Andean nation polarized by race and class.
Morales, Bolivia's first Indian president, says the charter will "decolonize" South America's poorest country by recovering indigenous values lost under centuries of oppression dating back to the Spanish conquest...Bolivian voters embraced a new constitution Sunday that promises more power for the... more
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Bolivia has voted in a new referendum on indigenous rights. The changes include strengthening state control over the country's natural resources, as well as no longer recognizing Catholicism as the official religion.Bolivia has voted in a new referendum on indigenous rights. The changes include... more
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Bolivia is in the midst of a health emergency after three people died from dengue hemorrhagic fever. More than 1,000 Bolivians are thought to have contracted the mosquito-borne disease since November. Dengue has also recently been a problem in Brazil.Bolivia is in the midst of a health emergency after three people died from dengue... more
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Having spent years reporting on the War on Drugs, Lisa Ling offers her perspective on marijuana.
"I really think that it's time that our law makers and drug enforcement officials, perhaps scientists and intellectuals, actually sit down and scrutinize this issue and figure out a way to possibly better regulate it, possibly decriminalize it, and there is a way, I think, because, relative to methamphetamine and cocaine, it's not as extreme a drug. I don't know if marijuana will ever become legalized, it quite possibly could become decriminalized, but I do know that the arguments for legalization are very strong!"Having spent years reporting on the War on Drugs, Lisa Ling offers her perspective on... more
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A top Bolivian government official said Monday that the country's intelligence services had uncovered a plot to assassinate President Evo Morales.A top Bolivian government official said Monday that the country's intelligence... more
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Spoiler alert. Amazing that the one James Bond movie I have seen in a while would be one where corporate privitization of water would be the main plot. Needless to say I was interested to find out how it would end, and actually glad to see it addressed in a movie of this nature even if it was made to look fictional. Unfortunately, it is more in the realm of reality than some who see this movie may think. And if Hollywood now believes as well that water is the new oil, well, it must be true; and in this case they are right.Spoiler alert. Amazing that the one James Bond movie I have seen in a while would be... more
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The Bolivian President, in his first visit to Washington, talks about visible change.
Bolivian President Evo Morales, in his first visit to Washington, addressed the Organization of American States (OAS) and a standing-room only audience of diplomats, scholars and students at the American University. Explaining the extraordinary transformations taking place in Bolivia in the past few years, his overall theme, as he himself defined, was visible change. Contrary to the Bush administration, who always antagonized him, and whose ambassador was declared persona non grata in Bolivia by the President, Evo Morales - who was called the Indian President - hoped bilateral relations under Obama - the Black President - will improve.
Pepe Escobar, born in Brazil is the roving correspondent for Asia Times and an analyst for The Real News Network. He's been a foreign correspondent since 1985, based in London, Milan, Los Angeles, Paris, Singapore, and Bangkok. Since the late 1990s, he has specialized in covering the arc from the Middle East to Central Asia, including the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq. He has made frequent visits to Iran and is the author of Globalistan and also Red Zone Blues: A Snapshot of Baghdad During the Surge both published by Nimble Books in 2007.The Bolivian President, in his first visit to Washington, talks about visible change.... more
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Bolivian President Evo Morales joins us in the firehouse studio to discuss the election of Barack Obama, US-Bolivian relations, the global economic crisis and more. Morales is visiting the United States at a time when relations between the two countries are deteriorating. Last month, the Bush administration suspended long-term trade benefits with Bolivia over its alleged failure to cooperate in the “war on drugs.” Meanwhile, Morales has given the Drug Enforcement Administration three months to leave Bolivia. He accused DEA agents of violating Bolivian sovereignty and encouraging the drug trade.
more@linkBolivian President Evo Morales joins us in the firehouse studio to discuss the... more
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Morales, a former coca grower union leader who won the presidency in 2006, has embarked on a policy of "zero cocaine, not zero coca" in the Andean nation where the coca plant is widely chewed or drunk as a tea by indigenous people. Under Morales' program, farmers in specified areas are allowed to grow small amounts of coca for traditional and industrial uses.
Already cool relations between Bolivia and the US grew even chillier over the weekend, as Bolivian President Evo Morales announced Saturday that he was suspending anti-drug operations by the US DEA within Bolivian territory. In making the announcement, Morales accused the DEA of interfering in internal Bolivian affairs and trying to undermine his government.
"From today all the activities of the US DEA are suspended indefinitely," Morales said Saturday in remarks reported by the BBC. "Personnel from the DEA supported activities of the unsuccessful coup d'etat in Bolivia," he added, referring to a September massacre of Morales supporters that left 19 people dead. "We have the obligation to defend the dignity and sovereignty of the Bolivian people."
more@linkMorales, a former coca grower union leader who won the presidency in 2006, has... more
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Bolivian leader Evo Morales on Thursday accused the US government of encouraging drug trafficking as he explained his decision to banish the US Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA).Bolivian leader Evo Morales on Thursday accused the US government of encouraging drug... more
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