Bolivia

The United States certainly has its own myriad of problems and crises. However, there are many conflicts, ethnic race conflicts around the world. Bolivia was an indian land before Europeans (Spanish) turned the agricultural people into miners. That was about 500 years ago. The descendants of the Spaniards own most of the lands and farms and mines. The indigenous descendants do most of the farming and man the mines. This is probably not much of a surprise to most anyone reading this. If you believe this is unique, you have not gone outside much. 1825 saw the creation of an independent, constitutional Bolivia. That didn't help the ethnic bigotry. During the 1900s growing social movements won small battles until the 1950s when the indigenous population won suffrage and property rights. Although a majority, they have not been able to control the government. Finally 2 years ago, Evo Marales, a cocoa farmer and leader of the social movement, became President. He nationalized the gas industry and began work on a new constitution. Its that new constitution that is causing the current fuss. It seems that the the constitution, debated with several riots disrupting and suspending talks over the last 2 years, has specific language that legitimizes indigenous peoples' claims to titles of land never allowed before. It also limits land ownership to 24000 acres. This seems to be a fighting point. Several large land owners have said they would take up arms if the constitution passes. Not that they would lose any of their current holdings. It would be limiting to future titles. Land of course is power. I present this as another conflict in our world, happening around us. Can our government help this new democracy? should we? by example? by aid and trade? or do we aid the international companies that built the gas industry in Bolivia whose works have been nationalized by Morales? cut off trade or limit it and force Morales into positions more difficult for the democracy? These last were positions taken by previous US administrations. How will this change?

Villages ravaged

With a Blog name like Marauding When it Counts, how could I start with anything but some thoughts on ravaged villages. I intend to fully explore the world, historically and currently; from the front door of my house and to a burnt door of a foreign embassy. I am reading a book (yes, thank you for the applause) about a man who devotes himself to helping poor people. He is a doctor. He is a humanitarian. He is also a pragmatist who has leveraged his genius to create an oasis within the absolute poverty of Haiti, fight and overcome MDR -TB in Peru, and moved policy within the World Health Organization. Paul Farmer. That's his name. I am still reading this well written biography, Mountains Beyond Mountains. It is inspirational and uplifting. It is also politcally charged. Paul Farmer understands the politics of poverty and tries to turn it. It is not my purpose here to do a book review. Politics of poverty though is a catchy phrase. There are inequities around the world. Big news flash huh. Programs targeted toward the poor will always be poor programs. Universal programs win political acceptance, get appluaded at government & world stages, but never get funded to levels that would change how poor people live and die. Can we do better? Is there a way to hope? There may be. Today I was part of history. I watched a changing of the guard. You probably did so as well. Millions of Americans, potentially a billion people world wide, did so. A new Great non-White Hope took the highest office of our country and the world. He said today "To the people of poor nations, we pledge to work alongside you to make your farms flourish and let clean waters flow; to nourish starved bodies and feed hungry minds. And to those nations like ours that enjoy relative plenty, we say we can no longer afford indifference to the suffering outside our borders; nor can we consume the world's resources without regard to effect. For the world has changed, and we must change with it. " There are many challenges. The way to our Country's leadership role in the world is to regain the respect of the world. We will see how well this pledge is kept.