South America: Rejecting U.S. Prescriptions, Region Tilts Left

[Judi Lynn]

Friday, 20 January 2006

South America: Rejecting U.S. Prescriptions, Region Tilts Left
By Jeremy Bransten

PRAGUE, 20 January 2006 (RFE/RL) -- Evo Morales, who has called himself "America’s worst nightmare," has been visiting world leaders ahead of his inauguration on 22 January.

His first stop: Cuba. Morales invited Fidel Castro to the swearing in, joking that he would not take the oath of office unless the veteran revolutionary attended.

The 46-year-old Morales is the first Bolivian of indigenous descent to attain the country’s highest office. Born to a poor family in a desert mining town, Bolivia’s new leader has vowed to be a voice for his country’s poor.

"Newly empowered, previously excluded large segments of populations who feel they have not benefited from the economic reforms that their countries have imported in the last decade-and-a-half are speaking through the ballot box and voting for radical overhauls of their countries."He has promised radical changes, including undoing free-market policies that he says have brought no benefit to Bolivia’s poor and indigenous populations. The former llama herder and leader of the country’s coca farmers’ association has also vowed to expand production of the controversial crop, which he says is integral to Bolivian culture.

Coca leaves can be processed into cocaine. But they are valued by locals for other uses. Coca leaves are important in religious ceremonies. They also have medicinal properties, containing proteins and vitamins that, when chewed, can help the human body cope with life at high altitudes
(snip/...)

http://www.rferl.org/featuresarticle/2006/01/b9f2e5b7-a485-41f3-9fbb-b5a6a3ea9ec0.html

[ixion]

1. perhaps if our 'perscription' hadn't been

systematic plunder and abuse we would have seen a more positive outcome? :shrug:

[2Design]

2. good - I hope someone can get it right because the usa way is

not good for the whole of humanity - it only benefits a few

[RaleighNCDUer]

3. And to think that Simon Bolivar launched his revolution that

threw out Spain because he so admired the example of the American revolution.

The US has done everything it could to turn South and Central America against us ever since.

[cliss]

6. And it's paying off....

for them. It seems like the S. and Central American countries are turning to the left. They are becoming socialist. And most important: they are uniting against the U.S. to the north.

I just read an article on Counter Punch (Empire: 2006 report) that says that "things have been going so badly for the U.S. to the south, that they have been forced to shelve some of their most outrageous plans to usurp the countries down there".

It's just turning out to be a tough year for the Empire.

[Judi Lynn]

7. Beautiful comment. That's too good. I hope they can develope their

strength and unity faster than _Bush's administration can figure out a way to divide and conquer them.

[gratuitous]

4. What is "left" about running society to everyone's benefit?

What is "left" about letting the people of a country decide how they want to run their country, instead of unaccountable multinational corporations? What is "left" about holding elections? If that's "left," then I guess I'm leftist.

[NorthernSpy]

5. South America is the future

They've succeeded in seizing control of their fate and now they're free to build an economy that is democratic and fair and equal for everyone.

I wish we could do that.


(/envy)