A country of statistical extremes, landlocked Bolivia is the highest and most isolated country in South America. It is very rich in mineral and energy resources but Bolivia is one of South America’s poorest countries. Therefore Bolivia is often called the “Himalaya of Latin America”.
Back in January 2015 we started our exploration of Bolivia it lasted something like 6 month. In the meantime I never found time to write the full “Retro Perspective Bolivia” but I had a few drafts living around so now publishing them to share the thoughts with you. We lived in Samaipata first and then in Rurrenebaque and at the end in the big urban city of Santa Cruz de la Sierra. All 3 locations can be highly interesting depending on what you are seeking for.
Camba / Cruceños VS Colla people, who are the indigenous population of Western Bolivia (Quechua and Aymara: Two worlds clashing … https://boliviainmyeyes.com/tag/camba-vs-colla-people/
Coca … Legal in Bolivia. Half of the production will be shipped outside of the country.
2014 Law of Mother Earth
Law of Mother Earth sees Bolivia pilot new social and economic model based on protection of and respect for nature.Bolivia is to become the first country in the world to give nature comprehensive legal rights in an effort to halt climate change and the exploitation of the natural world, and to improve quality of life for the Bolivian people.
http://peacefulwarriors.net/bolivia-gives-legal-rights-to-the-earth/
Undarico Pinto, a leader of the social movement Confederación Sindical Única de Trabajadores Campesinos de Bolivia, said: “It will make industry more transparent. It will allow people to regulate industry at national, regional and local levels.”Signifying a fundamental shift away from exploitation of nature, the draft law referrers to mineral resources as “blessings” and states that Mother Earth, “is sacred, fertile and the source of life that feeds and cares for all living beings in her womb. She is in permanent balance, harmony and communication with the cosmos.”
A Ministry of Mother Earth is to be established to promote the new rights and ensure they are complied with. But with its economy currently dependent on exports of natural resources, earning nearly a third of its foreign currency – around £300m a year – from mining companies, Bolivia will need to balance its new obligations against the demands of industry.
So sad to see Bolivia taking a backwards step…. All the talking about Madre Tierra, Pachamama, Mother Earth means nothing to the politicians. :-(
2015 Bolivia opens protected areas to oil companies
Bolivia has opened millions of hectares of protected areas to oil and gas extraction, reports The Guardian. The law, passed last month, grants exploration rights in at least 11 of Bolivia’s 22 protected areas, including up to 75 percent of Madidi National Park, a renowned protected area that hosts 11 percent of the world’s bird species. Read more: http://news.mongabay.com/2015/0615-bolivia-oil-and-gas-law.html#ixzz3doUBetJy
http://news.mongabay.com/2015/0615-bolivia-oil-and-gas-law.html