El Mundo Mejor es Possible
A New World is Possible
So says Fidel, in a propaganda poster I saw a lot in Cuba, but with the inauguration of Evo Morales in Bolivia on Sunday, I feel, for the first time in a very very long time, that the world is starting to change.
A lot has been written about Evo Morales, by the left and mainstream press, I'm not going to offer my own analysis but I do feel Evo needs critical support. His government will be attempting to overturn 500 years of exclusion, discrimination, and exploitation. This change does not happen overnight, and people need to give him a chance to push through his mandate.
There are many problems with MAS, but the symbol of Evo winning, for the first time in Bolivias history, a clear majority in the election, shows that people want change and are tired of struggling. There is a lot of expectation and excitement about the new government and there are thousands of people traveling to La Paz this weekend for the ceremony.
My friend Tom just got back from ToroToro (about 5 hours south east of Cochabamba), there a group of campesienos were getting ready to travel to La Paz for the inauguration. This is just a reflection of how important being there at the ceremony is to so many people.
I have lived in this amazing country for almost 3 years. I have watched in horror the brutal repression of the people of El Alto in October 2003, I have been in the Plaza Principal in Cochabamba when the tear gas canisters have exploded and listened to the people tell their stories of struggle and their demands for a better life.
Some say the election of Evo is a peaceful revolution. But lets not forget those who died in the 6 years of struggle to bring change to Bolivia. This peaceful revolution still has blood on its hands and we should never forget.
The socialist romantic in me tells me that this is a chance to build a new Bolivia, a society not based on wealth or colour of skin, and that compromise should never be given. The realist in me tells me that Bolivia has a long road ahead, that the pressures from outside and in are great, and that this is just the start of another long struggle.
For the moment I am so grateful to have the opportunity to live in this incredible country and I have become an optimist.
El Mundo Mejor es Possible, we just have to continue to fight for it.
So says Fidel, in a propaganda poster I saw a lot in Cuba, but with the inauguration of Evo Morales in Bolivia on Sunday, I feel, for the first time in a very very long time, that the world is starting to change.
A lot has been written about Evo Morales, by the left and mainstream press, I'm not going to offer my own analysis but I do feel Evo needs critical support. His government will be attempting to overturn 500 years of exclusion, discrimination, and exploitation. This change does not happen overnight, and people need to give him a chance to push through his mandate.
There are many problems with MAS, but the symbol of Evo winning, for the first time in Bolivias history, a clear majority in the election, shows that people want change and are tired of struggling. There is a lot of expectation and excitement about the new government and there are thousands of people traveling to La Paz this weekend for the ceremony.
My friend Tom just got back from ToroToro (about 5 hours south east of Cochabamba), there a group of campesienos were getting ready to travel to La Paz for the inauguration. This is just a reflection of how important being there at the ceremony is to so many people.
I have lived in this amazing country for almost 3 years. I have watched in horror the brutal repression of the people of El Alto in October 2003, I have been in the Plaza Principal in Cochabamba when the tear gas canisters have exploded and listened to the people tell their stories of struggle and their demands for a better life.
Some say the election of Evo is a peaceful revolution. But lets not forget those who died in the 6 years of struggle to bring change to Bolivia. This peaceful revolution still has blood on its hands and we should never forget.
The socialist romantic in me tells me that this is a chance to build a new Bolivia, a society not based on wealth or colour of skin, and that compromise should never be given. The realist in me tells me that Bolivia has a long road ahead, that the pressures from outside and in are great, and that this is just the start of another long struggle.
For the moment I am so grateful to have the opportunity to live in this incredible country and I have become an optimist.
El Mundo Mejor es Possible, we just have to continue to fight for it.
posted by Paula Pfoeffer at
1:09 am
