To mark 10 years of its existence and to commemorate the 6th anniversary of the death of Walter Solon Romero, Fundación Solon is re-opening its galleries to the public on the 4th August. It will feature a special exhibition of Solon's works on the theme of human rights.   more »

Last night (28 July), the US House of Representatives narrowly passed the Central American Free Trade Agreement which aims to reduce trade barriers between the US and six Central American countries. Campaigners in Bolivia have expressed their dismay at a deal that will deepen poverty and environmental degradation in Central America, but vowed to continue the fight to prevent similar "free trade" agreements in the Andes.   more »

Governments and institutions like the IMF and World Bank frequently say there is no alternative to free trade. However Bolivia's social movements are not afraid to speak out for change, given that two decades of "free market" policies have merely exarcebated poverty and damaged the environment. In April, 2005, representatives of hundreds of popular organizations including campesino (rural farmers) groups, women’s organizations, trade unions, faith groups, teachers and other professions came together to discuss how to enshrine a just and solidarity-based trading system within the rules of a new Constitution.   more »

(By Nick Buxton) Having arrived recently in La Paz, one of my first jobs was to look for a flat. As I got shown around each flat, invariably I would be led out past the kitchen to a freezing part of the flat with a tiny room next to an even smaller toilet. This I was told was where I could house my “empleada,” a female household worker. The tiny rooms that would be barely suitable for a domestic pet let alone a person represent the ongoing reality for women household workers several years after the passing of a new law establishing their rights.   more »

Bolivia has been threatened with the initiation of legal action by a series of multinational companies in the last month. All have said their actions are based on Bolivia breaching its commitments under Bilateral Investment Agreements or BITs. But what are BITs and why are they undermining people's rights to clean water, health and sovereignty over their own resources?   more »

In late June, Suez initiated legal action against the Bolivian Government saying it had unilaterally ended its contract to supply water to the cities of La Paz and El Alto.

Negotiations are still underway involving the Bolivian Government, the privatised water utility (Aguas del Illimani) and leaders of social movements who are calling for a new socially-accountable public water utility.

Susan Spronk on Znet analyses the chance of success for the Bolivian Government in international arbitration if negotiations fail to bring about a mutual agreement. She also highlights the role of Bilateral Investment Agreements which increasingly tie the hands of developing country governments in their attempts to regulate and manage multinational companies.

See article>>

Christian Aid have put together a 4 minute video clip that looks at the reasons for the protests for nationalisation of gas during May and June 2005.

View clip>>
Background on protests (Open Democracy)>>

Bolivia is currently an observer at negotiations for a free trade agreement between the US and Andean countries. Fundacion Solon is part of the Bolivian movement against the TLC. Here it outlines ten reasons why a trade deal would do more harm than good.   more »

The World Bank increased lending in the water and sanitation sector from US$546 million in 2002 to over US$3 billion in 2005. Unfortunately, according to a new report by Public Citizen, there is little indication that this resulted in more access to clean and affordable water in the global south. Despite growing popular movements asserting that water is a public good and a human right, the World Bank continues to push a range of conditions such as privatisation, decentralisation, full cost recovery and changes of national laws that mainly benefit a small number of multinational water companies.   more »

Oil giants' record profits this year are under threat as many Southern Governments from Bolivia to Nigeria start to demand a fairer share, New York Times reports.   more »

A handful of multinational energy firms are on the verge of sending notices of dispute to Bolivia - which would set in motion mandatory periods for consultations, after which the firms may turn to international arbitration under investment treaties.   more »

Nick Buxton assesses the Make Poverty History campaign, and wonders what difference all the hype will make to poverty and injustice in Bolivia. The campaign may have moved from talking about poverty to talking about justice, and raised issues of debt and trade with many people for the first time. But it has done little to give voice to the struggles that people are making in Bolivia for greater justice.  It also seems silent on the injustice of eight men even having the power to affect lives in Bolivia.  Isn't it time to move on from expecting justice from the G8, who year after year, have failed to deliver? Is it not time to challenge their very legitimacy?  More>>