Showing posts with label Evo Morales. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Evo Morales. Show all posts

Friday, October 10, 2008

Day Highlighted by Bolivian Solidarity


Day Highlighted by Bolivian Solidarity

President Evo Morales was not able to attend the Americas Social Forum (ASF) yesterday. Despite this, Bolivian solidarity was a recurring theme throughout the day. In the morning a workshop was held on “Racism and Resistance within the Social Changes of Bolivia and the Americas” organized by the Solon Foundation. According to Maria Tomasa Bulux of Mujeres Unidas y Activas in San Francisco, and one of the GGJ delegates to the ASF, “The mass media has nothing to do with reality. Today we learned of a massacre in Bolivia of 28 campesinos by those opposed to the government. We did not learn about this in the United States press. ”

Wealthy oligarchs in the eastern part of Bolivia, the region known as Media Luna, have been resisting the nationalization of oil and gas resources by the Morales government. Before Morales was was elected, 80% of oil and gas revenues left Bolivia. Upon taking office he nationalized these resources and began to renegotiate contracts with multi-national companies so that 80% of the revenues would stay in the country. This redistribution of wealth to the majority of Bolivians sparked a violent reaction by the wealthy landowners who control the state governments where the oil and gas reserves are located. Most of the revenues from oil and gas go to the Media Luna states.

Chavez has also called for land redistribution. The highest concentration of land ownership in the world is in Bolivia where 2/3 of the land is owned by less than 1% of the population. Protests began and turned violent after Morales trounced the opposition in a recent recall election. In Pando, anti-government thugs ambushed and massacred 28 campesinos who were rallying in support of Morales on September 11.

According to Rubén Solís of Southwest Workers Union, who also attended the workshop, “Campesinos have demanded land in the Media Luna region which is primarily forest land to manage it and protect it from clear cutting. The government is also demanding that the wealthy landowners pay taxes, which until now they have never done. Morales has established a consultation process with various social movement organizations that convene every day at 4am.”

The United States government has tried to undermine the Morales government. The ambassador to Bolivia was meeting with the opposition, and was expelled from the country. The U.S. has also been funding groups in Bolivia through USAID but will not disclose who these groups are.

Yesterday afternoon, a rally in support of the Bolivian government was held in the Plaza of the Martyrs in the Autonomous University of San Carlos, the site of the ASF. President Morales sent a message to the ASF denouncing the violence by the wealthy oligarchs and proposing 10 mandates to save the planet, humanity and life, including 1) an end to the capitalist system, 2) renouncing war, 3) an end to imperialism and colonialism, 4) guaranteeing access to water for everyone, 5) ending dependency on fossil fuels, 6) respecting Mother Earth, 7) that basic services such as water, health, electricity, and education should be human rights, 8) that we consume what we need and end consumerism, 9) that food be produced locally and consumed locally, and finally that we live in unity respecting our differences. The full text of the message is posted in Spanish on this blog.

Thursday, October 9, 2008

Mensaje de Presidente Evo Morales de Bolivia al Foro Social de las Americas


Presidente Morales no pudo estar presente en el foro, pero mando este mensaje:

Foro Social Américas
9 octubre 2008

(Cortesía Minga Informativa de Movimientos Sociales)


[En el marco de la Jornada Continental de Solidaridad con Bolivia y con Evo
Morales, que se realiza hoy, 9 de octubre en la ciudad de Guatemala, como
actividad conexa al III Foro Social Américas, el presidente boliviano hizo
llegar el siguiente mensaje a los movimientos sociales presentes en el
acto.]

Mensaje del Presidente Evo Morales a la Jornada Continental de Solidaridad
con Bolivia, Ciudad de Guatemala, 9 de Octubre de 2008

Hermanas y hermanos, a nombre del pueblo de Bolivia, saludo a los
movimientos sociales del continente, presentes en este acto de la Jornada
Continental de Solidaridad con Bolivia.

Acabamos de sufrir la violencia de la oligarquía, que tuvo su mas brutal
expresión en la masacre en Pando, hecho que nos enseña que ostentar el poder
en base a la plata y las armas para oprimir el pueblo no es sostenible.
Fácilmente se derrumba, si no es basado en un programa y la conciencia del
pueblo.

Estamos viendo que la refundación de Bolivia afecta a los mezquinos
intereses de unas cuantas familias de grandes terratenientes, que rechazan
como agresión las medidas a favor del pueblo como la distribución más
equilibrada de los recursos del gas para nuestros abuelos y abuelas, igual
que la distribución de tierras, las campañas de salud y alfabetización, y
otras.

Para resguardar su poder y privilegios y evadir el proceso de cambio, las
oligarquías latifundistas de la llamada media luna se encubren en las
autonomías departamentales y la división de la unidad nacional, prestándose
a los intereses yanquis de acabar con la refundación de Bolivia.

Pero, en el referendo revocatorio del 10 de agosto, acabamos de recibir el
mandato de dos tercios del pueblos boliviano, para consolidar este proceso
de cambio, para seguir avanzando en la recuperación de nuestros recursos
naturales, en asegurar el Vivir Bien para todas las bolivianas y bolivianos,
y unir a los distintos sectores del campo y la ciudad, de oriente y de
occidente.

Hermanas y hermanos, lo que ha pasado en el referendo revocatorio en Bolivia
es algo importante no solamente para los bolivianos sino para todos los
latinoamericanos. Lo dedicamos a todos los revolucionarios de Latinoamérica
y del mundo, reivindicando la lucha de todos los procesos de cambio.

Yo venía a expresar la forma de cómo recuperar la vivencia de nuestros
pueblos, llamado el Vivir Bien, recuperar nuestra visión sobre la madre
tierra, que para nosotros es vida, porque no es posible que un modelo
capitalista convierta a la madre tierra en mercancía. Cada vez más vemos
profundas coincidencias entre el movimiento indígena y las organizaciones de
los movimientos sociales, que apuestan también por el Vivir Bien. Saludamos
a ellos para que de manera conjunta podamos buscar cierto equilibrio en el
mundo.

Y dentro ese marco, quiero compartir y proponer para un debate unos 10
mandamientos para salvar al planeta, a la humanidad y la vida, no solamente
a este nivel sino también para debatir con nuestras comunidades, con
nuestras organizaciones.

Primero, si queremos salvar al planeta tierra para salvar la vida y a la
humanidad, estamos en la obligación de acabar con el sistema capitalista.
Los graves efectos del cambio climático, de las crisis energéticas,
alimentarias y financieras, no son producto de los seres humanos en general,
sino es del sistema capitalista vigente, inhumano con su desarrollo
industrial ilimitado.

Segundo: renunciar a la guerra, porque de las guerras no ganan los pueblos,
solo ganan los imperios, no ganan las naciones, sino las transnacionales.
Las guerras benefician a pequeñas familias y no a los pueblos. Los
trillones de millones que se destinan a la guerra deben ser destinados para
reparar y curar a la madre tierra que esta herida por el cambio climático.

Tercera propuesta para el debate: un mundo sin imperialismo ni colonialismo,
donde las relacionas deben estar orientadas en el marco de la
complementariedad, y tomar en cuenta las profundas asimetrías que existe de
familia a familia, de país a país, y de continente a continente.

El cuarto punto esta orientado al tema del agua, que debe ser garantizada
como derecho humano y evitar su privatización en pocas manos, ya que el agua
es vida.

Como un quinto punto, quiero decirles que debemos buscar cómo acabar con el
derroche de energía. En 100 años estamos acabando con la energía fósil
creada durante millones de años. Como algunos presidentes reservan tierras
para automóviles de lujo y no para el ser humano, debemos implementar
políticas para frenar los agrocombustibles y de esta manera evitar hambre y
miseria para nuestros pueblos.

Como sexto punto: respecto a la Madre Tierra. El sistema capitalista trae a
la Madre Tierra como una materia prima, pero la tierra no puede ser
entendida como una mercancía, ¿quién podría privatizar o alquilar, fletar a
su madre? Propongo que organicemos un movimiento internacional en defensa de
la Madre Naturaleza, para recuperar la salud de la Madre Tierra y
restablecer la vida armónica y responsable con ella.

Un tema central como séptimo punto para el debate, es que los servicios
básicos, sea agua, luz, educación, salud, deben ser tomados en cuenta como
un derecho humano.

Como octavo punto, consumir lo necesario, priorizar lo que producimos y
consumimos localmente, acabar con el consumismo, el derroche y el lujo.

Debemos priorizar la producción local para el consumo local, estimulando el
auto sostenimiento y la soberanía de las comunidades dentro de los límites
que la salud y los recursos menguados del planeta permitan.

Como penúltimo punto, promover la diversidad de culturas y economías.

Vivir en unidad respetando nuestras diferencias, no solamente fisonómicas,
también económicas, economías manejadas por las comunidades y las
asociaciones.

Hermanas y hermanos, como décimo punto, planteamos el Vivir Bien, no vivir
mejor a costa del otro, un Vivir Bien basado en la vivencia de nuestros
pueblos, las riquezas de nuestras comunidades, tierras fértiles, agua y aire
limpios. Se habla mucho del socialismo, pero hay que mejorar ese socialismo
del siglo XXI, construyendo un socialismo comunitario o sencillamente el
Vivir Bien, en armonía con la Madre Tierra, respetando las formas de
vivencia de la comunidad.

Finalmente, hermanas y hermanos, seguramente ustedes están haciendo
seguimiento sobre los problemas que existen. Llego a la conclusión que
siempre habrá problemas, pero quiero decirles que estoy muy contento, no
decepcionado ni preocupado porque esos grupos que permanentemente
esclavizaron a nuestras familias durante la colonia, la república y en la
época del neoliberalismo, siguen agrupados en algunas familias,
resistiéndome.

Es nuestra lucha enfrentar esos grupos que viven en el lujo y no quieren
perder el lujo, perder sus tierras. Es una lucha histórica y sigue aún esta
lucha.

Hermanas y hermanos, esperando que esta Jornada Continental del III Foro
Social Américas culmine con fuertes lazos de unidad entre todos ustedes y
con un firme Plan de Acción a favor del pueblo de Bolivia y todos nuestros
pueblos, reitero mi saludo fraternal.

Evo Morales Ayma
Presidente de la República de Bolivia

Tuesday, October 7, 2008

Delegation of Grassroots Leaders Arrives at Americas Social Forum

For Immediate Release: For more information,
Grassroots Newswire Michael Leon Guerrero, michael@ggjalliance.org
October 7, 2008 www.ggjalliance.org

Delegation of Grassroots Leaders Arrives at Americas Social Forum
U.S. Foreign and Economic Policies Will Be Major Topics as Financial Crisis Infects Guatemala and Central American Region

Thirty-nine representatives of community-based and worker organizations that are part of the U.S.-based Grassroots Global Justice Alliance (GGJ) arrived on October 6 in Guatemala City. Representing 20 organizations from 8 states, the delegation is here to participate in the 3rd continental Americas Social Forum (ASF). With the backdrop of the spiraling collapse of the U.S. and global financial system, the GGJ delegation plans to meet with other grassroots movements from throughout the Americas to discuss a range of topics including the economic crisis, the environment, militarism, women's rights and indigenous sovereignty.

”It's important that we discuss strategies and alternatives to neoliberal policies of the past 30 years that have driven millions more people into poverty,” says Cindy Wiesner, GGJ Political Coordinator, “For the past 3 decades the problem of this system has been felt globally, now we are feeling it in the U.S. The Social Forum of the Americas provides the opportunity for U.S. grassroots leaders to meet with social movements from the hemisphere and construct a vision to reverse the neoliberal agenda that is exploiting poor and working people across the globe.”

“Our communities in the U.S. have been hit hard by the financial collapse,” says Shirlene Cooper of the New York City AIDS Housing Network, a group working for housing rights for people living with AIDS. “More people are losing their homes. Homeless shelters are filling up. Social programs are shutting down.”

“Another stock market slide yesterday only highlights the fact that the $700 million bailout of Wall Street last week is not the answer,” says Maria Poblet of the St. Peter's Housing Committee in San Francisco, “The problem is a much deeper crisis of capitalism, and saving the rich will not change the lot of most of the people in the world. We need a long term economic plan that puts people first – an economy that's built from the bottom up.”

The U.S. financial crisis is deeply affecting Guatemala and the Central America region. Imports, exports and trade are largely dependent on the U.S. Guatemala was one of the countries that signed the Central America Free Trade Agreement (CAFTA) last year. “Clearly trade policies pushed by the last three U.S. administrations have had devastating impacts on the region,” says Che Lopez of Southwest Workers Union in San Antonio, TX. “It is the other financial and social bubble that has busted, we see it in the form of economic refugees forced from their homelands in Mexico, Central America, and other countries, the deepening poverty throughout the hemisphere, the strength of the working class being eroded and protections for the environment being stripped away.” Trade policies will be the focus of discussions at the ASF on October 8.

Roughly 8,000 to 10,000 delegates are expected to come from throughout the hemisphere, many of them indigenous peoples. President Evo Morales of Bolivia is expected to address the forum on Thursday. Morales' administration is under attack by wealthy oligarchs that control the energy rich states in the eastern part of Bolivia. The President has nationalized much of Bolivia's oil and gas resources to redistribute the revenues to the Bolivian population which ranks among the poorest in the world. “The self-determination and autonomy of indigenous nations throughout the Americas are threatened as their lands are being exploited for energy resources,” says Jihan Gearon of the Indigenous Environmental Network,” we need to stand in solidarity with the administration of President Morales and all other nations fighting to maintain their sovereignty and the sacredness of Mother Earth.” The ASF will close on Sunday with a ceremony led by indigenous people.

U.S. military policy throughout the hemisphere will also be explored. “The war and occupation of the Middle East is just one front where the U.S. government is imposing its will and attempting to control resources,” says Stephanie Guilloud of Project South in Atlanta, GA. “The occupation of Iraq is taking a huge toll in human lives in Iraq and the economy of the U.S. The Bush administration has not only directly benefitted financially from the war, it has also continued its military buildup in Latin America in order to control resources.” The U.S. maintains 27 military bases in the Americas, more than during the height of the Cold War.

Another major concern is the criminalization of social movements, who are facing renewed repression as they oppose the impacts of CAFTA and other neoliberal policies. “The economic plans of business interests are accompanied by the military plans, Plan Mérida and Plan Colombia,” says Carlos Arriaga of Coordinadora Nacional de Organizaciones Campesinas (National Coordinator of Peasant Organizations) in Guatemala, “The same methods that were used under the dictatorships in Guatemala are beginning to be used again today, including intimidation, investigations, even assassinations. The purpose of the militarization is to control the movements that are rising up to oppose mining, water privatization, and mega projects, .” Hundreds of thousands of Guatemalans were killed, tortured or kidnapped under brutal right-wing military dictatorships supported by the U.S. government.

The Americas Social Forum is the hemispheric version of the global World Social Forum process. The WSF was established in 2001 under the theme “Another World is Possible”. Tens of thousands of social justice activists from around the world converge to define alternatives to corporate-driven economic policies.

“We look forward to the next 5 days here,” says GGJ Coordinating Committee member Trishala Deb of New York City and NNIRR, “We know the world is resisting the U.S. empire, and we are here to say there is resistance growing within the U.S. as well. We are connecting across sectors, issues and communities to join the liberation movements of the Americas and beyond, and we are very grateful for the opportunity to learn from and grow with our comrades.”

“We are here, standing, dreaming, with dignity, and a historical memory and vision towards the future,” declared Carlos Arriaga in his welcoming statements to the GGJ delegation.


Catch ongoing news and updates of the GGJ delegation to the Americas Social Forum at our blog: http://ggjalliance.blogspot.com/