‘The gas is ours’ Indigenous Bolivians resent foreign take over of their natural resources

Bolivian Christians are praying for stability in their country following weeks of chaos caused by road blockades, organised by the main political opposition party. Demands for high tax increases on foreign energy companies are being met half way by President Carlos Mesa’s government. A vote by Congress on 16 March to raise the tax on profits from 18 to 32 per cent has resulted in the blockades being called off. It has been a tumultuous few weeks. On 6 March, after failing to appease opposition leaders, the President offered to resign. But his resignation was rejected by Congress, and people took to the streets to show their support for him and opposition to the blockades which triggered his decision.

‘The sight of the main squares full of people waving the Bolivian flag and white handkerchiefs was very emotional,’ said Julie Noble, a member of Latin Link, based in Oruro. ‘The peaceful demonstrations of support for President Mesa make a sharp contrast to the violence we experienced in 2003, when the last President was forced to resign.’

The opposition party, Movement to Socialism or MAS, led by Evo Morales, wanted him to increase taxes on foreign oil companies operating in the country as high as 50 per cent.

MAS gains most of its support from Bolivia’s poorest indigenous communities, including miners and small farmers. It is angry about the privatisation of utilities like oil and gas and believes high taxes should be levied to fund social reforms.

Despite threatening to call an election later this year it is now hoped that Carlos Mesa will serve his full term of office until 2007, as Julie Noble explains: ‘The Government’s commitment to negotiation and peace and their refusal to use violence to solve the problem of the blockades has given new hope to the majority of Bolivians tired of the disruption of the blockades and the violence.’

Last April, President Mesa met with 200 evangelical pastors in the Presidential Palace. Hundreds of Bolivian Christians gathered outside Parliament, while church leaders prayed for the country.

‘I have felt that God really has his hand on Carlos Mesa,’ said Andy Smith, another Latin Link worker in La Paz. ‘I have been made aware of the tremendous compassion he has for his nation.

‘God is at work in Bolivia, but continuous prayer is needed.’

(March 2005)

The Global Call to Action Against Poverty was launched by Brazil's President, Luis Inácio Lula da Silva, at the World Social Forum (WSF) in Porto Alegre on 27 January. The meeting was organised to coincide with the annual World Economic Forum for world business and political leaders meeting in Davos, Switzerland, the same week. Also on the WSF platform this year was Venezuelan President Hugo Chávez who addressed the international gathering of more than 10,000 activists who reject neo-liberal globalisation, and campaign on behalf of the interests of the poor in developing countries. In his speech Lula urged the world's poorer nations to unite in standing against the rich in order to 'change the world's social and economic geography', though he was heckled by those impatient to see his own promised reforms take effect.

 Lula is accused by many of his left wing supporters of deserting his socialist roots, though others applaud his pragmatism in attracting foreign investment to Brazil.

Before he jetted off in his controversial new presidential plane to join other world leaders in Davos he promised to be a 'bridge' between the two and that his message there would be no different.

The Global Call to Action Against Poverty is a worldwide alliance putting pressure on world leaders to live up to their election promises and make a breakthrough on poverty in 2005. It is made up of national campaigns around the world who are using a simple white band to symbolise a united call to end poverty.

Latin Link has joined the UK coalition to Make Poverty History in 2005 along with a number of other Christian charities and churches. Many different organisations and individuals are calling on government to fulfil its commitment to the Millennium Development Goals of debt cancellation, trade justice and more and better aid. For more information see www.makepovertyhistory.org

(February 2005)

Shops in Argentina’s urban centres are thronged with tourists taking advantage of the cheap peso and the exhilarating nightlife. Farmers from the pampas are splashing out on new harvesting machines. Almost across the board, the country’s economy is picking up.

What makes this remarkable is that only three years ago the republic was in chaos. Argentina achieved development in the only three years ago the republic was in chaos. 1990s only to lose it again. Despite the formidable task ahead and an unpromising start, president Kirchner has achieved an unusual degree of political dominance and approval.