Fundación Solón Blog

"Revolt of the Rich": Newsweek interviews CEPR Co-Director Mark Weisbrot on Bolivia

info — Wed, 17 Sep 2008 17:55:59 -0400

Relations between Bolivia's President, Evo Morales, and the country's wealthy easterners were tense from the start. Since Morales's election in ...

Evo Morales, President of Bolivia On the WTO’s round of negotiations

info — Fri, 18 Jul 2008 18:57:00 -0400

July 2008

International trade can play a major role in the promotion of economic development and the alleviation of poverty. ...

CIADI/Telecom Italia : ¡hands off Bolivia !

info — Mon, 25 Feb 2008 13:42:36 -0400

CIADI/Telecom Italia : ¡hands off Bolivia !

7 décembre 2007

“Some multinational companies take over our natural resources, privatize basic services, fail to pay taxes and then, when they have no arguments in their defense, they go to the so-called ICSID. And then, in that World Bank tribunal, no country wins against the multinationals. So why do we need an ICSID where only the multinational companies can win ?” – President Evo Morales of Bolivia

Another World Bank/Multinational Attack on Bolivia – Stop ICISD and Telecom Italia

Once again, Bolivia is under attack by multinationals and the World Bank. In 2000, the people of Cochabamba, Bolivia took back their water system after it was privatized to US based Bechtel Corporation, and prices were hiked up to 300%. Bechtel struck back, suing Bolivia through the World Bank’s International Centre for Settlement of Investment Disputes, or ICSID. But pressure from citizens and social organizations around the world succeeded in forcing Bechtel to back off – and the suit was finally dropped.

Now, Telecom Italia – one of the world’s largest telecom operators and the dominant telephone company in Bolivia – has followed suit. The public phone company in Bolivia, ENTEL, was taken over by the Italian company in 1995.

When Bolivia suggested that Telecom Italia has provided faulty service, has not reinvested profits from Bolivia to benefit Bolivians, and then set up a commission to explore recovering control of the once-public company, Telecom went to the World Bank to sue Bolivia. At ICSID Telecom is claiming Bolivia has “destroyed” it’s investment – even though the company continues to operate and make money. Bolivia, having learned from it’s lessons from Cochabamba, pulled out of ICSID on May 2, 2007. Yet the World Bank’s ICSID still admitted the case on October 31st.

After decades of privatizations and corporate privilege, Bolivia is saying “enough” – enough corporate profit before public service, enough World Bank providing private “justice” for multinationals, at the expense of countries like Bolivia.

Bolivia needs your help. Learn about the case, and fight back :

1.Learn more about the Telecom case at ICISD, and how international law and the World Bank/ICSID give corporations “super powers” that can trump people’s rights and development, and why Bolivia left ICSID.

2.Join in calling on ICISD and Telecom Italia to back off.

Please see www.cadtm.org/spip.php?article2975 <http://www.cadtm.org/spip.php?article2975> to get the fulll information

The right's manipulation of racism in Sucre

Info — Fri, 14 Dec 2007 12:14:51 -0400

Racism has become central to the Right's project to confront the Government and social movements. Fundación Solón convened a conversation of mainly indigenous women from various social movements on the issue of racism and the Constituent Assembly, in which many recounted horrific racist attacks and threats .

A Win in the Water War

info — Thu, 04 Oct 2007 15:11:13 -0400

Megan Tady (inthesetimes.com).- Bill Lokyo never expected to find himself embroiled in a six-year battle over water with a multinational corporation and city officials in Stockton, Calif. “We all thought this would only be a one-year fight,” Lokyo says.

UN passes declaration on indigenous rights

Info — Mon, 17 Sep 2007 11:12:32 -0400

Elizabeth Peredo welcomes UN declaration on Indigenous Rights as an historic step towards recognising the struggles of indigenous communities for dignity and for enabling a new vision based on solidarity, reciprocity and balance with nature to be heard worldwide.

Moratorium on Free Trade Agreements

Info — Sun, 15 Apr 2007 17:22:57 -0400

Good overview of the rising opposition to and the unravelling of the free trade model in Latin America

Social Summit for A Peoples’ Integration

info — Mon, 15 Jan 2007 15:58:24 -0400

Elizabeth Peredo Beltrán (Solón Foundation).- “Integration issues are no longer matters for chancellors alone,” Esteban Llanos (President of the Council for the Defense of Rio Pilcomayo, Bolivia) told us with great conviction upon opening a discussion between social representatives about water problems in South America during the thematic session, AGUA, of the Social Summit for the Integration of the Peoples of Cochabamba (December 6-9, 2006).

U.S. citizens support bolivian water rights : Hundreds of letters from U.S. to Aguas del Illimani Urge No Compensation, No Lawsuits

info — Thu, 21 Dec 2006 11:53:21 -0400

U.S. citizens, in an act of international solidarity, wrote hundreds of letters to Mr. Antoine Kuhn, the Director of Aguas del Illimani in La Paz, Bolivia urging the company to pay its debts and leave Bolivia without demanding compensation or filing lawsuits, announced the international consumer organization Food & Water Watch. The letters will be hand delivered tomorrow to the Aguas del Illimani office in La Paz, Bolivia.

Blue October Report from Bolivia: Water is Life not a Commodity

Info — Tue, 19 Dec 2006 13:06:34 -0400

Report on activities in La Paz during Blue October, a worldwide campaign against privatisation of water. Includes proposals by a meeting of Women´s leaders for public policies and the Constituent Assemblyon water.

The Challenges of ¿Blue October¿

Info — Fri, 27 Oct 2006 18:20:58 -0400

Carlos Santos from Uruguay argues that global actions in October 2006 marking "Blue Octuber" comes at a time of advance against the commodification of this common resource. It has led to a consolidation of a common agenda at a global scale which includes the promotion of an alternative, public and sustainable water management model.

Suez to leave Bolivia by end of year

Info — Tue, 24 Oct 2006 10:27:27 -0400

"We estimate that by December 31, the service [of water in La Paz and El Alto] would be transferred (from Suez to a new state-owned water company)," said Alvaro Camacho, Bolivia's superintendent of water and sewage systems, according to the state news agency ABI.

Celebrating water as a human right

Info — Tue, 10 Oct 2006 11:39:55 -0400

Children and young people were at the heart of the festival “Water is life, not a commodity” which is taking place in La Paz during Blue October, a month of global resistance to defend water against corporate control.

Canadian Water Activist visits Bolivia to launch initiative for International Convention of Right to Water

Info — Wed, 06 Sep 2006 14:24:41 -0400

Maude Barlow met with water activists and the Bolivian Government to launch the idea of an International Convention of Right to Water which would prevent privatisation of this increasingly precious resource.

Another Hole in the Boat: Suez's "Private Corruption" in Bolivia

Info — Wed, 30 Aug 2006 17:34:50 -0400

Susan Spronk analyses the audit of Suez in El Alto, Bolivia which proves that the French multinational´s claims to deliver clean water to poor people was never a priority set against its desire to win profits.

Historic meeting advances international struggle for right to water

Info — Tue, 29 Aug 2006 16:09:39 -0400

On August 17th, at an historic meeting, civil society groups from North and South met with the Bolivian and Norwegian governments at the Bolivian Ministry of Water in order to advance the international struggle for the right to water forward and commit them to further collaboration.

Changes in the Solon Foundation

Info — Tue, 06 Jun 2006 16:01:55 -0400

After 11 years of continual work, the Solon Foundation is changing its leadership but without changing the principles that guide its work, that is giving voice to the discriminated and critical social sectors that challenge huge inequality and call for social transformation.

Paris mayor vows to aid thirsty city

Info — Tue, 16 May 2006 10:53:47 -0400

After a meeting with Bolivian President Evo Morales, the mayor of Paris promised to help improve the water infrastructure in the slum city of El Alto.

Indigenous peoples of Mexico resist commodification of water

Info — Mon, 03 Apr 2006 11:12:17 -0400

Indigenous Communities of San Felipe Ecatapec and Villa de Allende used to have water locally but have increasingly seen sources dry up due to exploitation by bottling companies, deforestation and unequal distribution. Women who have gathered to resist have faced militarised occupation but undaunted took their struggle directly to the World Water Forum in Mexico.

Video clips

Info — Tue, 28 Mar 2006 17:51:51 -0400

Tres video clips sobre los temas de la privatización del agua, libre comercio y resistencia y arte.

Three video clips on the themes of privatisation of water, free trade and resistance and art

http://www.togethertv.org/people/latin_america/bolivia_maxima.htm

At World Forum, support erodes for private management of water

Info — Tue, 28 Mar 2006 17:44:19 -0400

(New York Times) Privatisation has failed to deliver which has given a boost to those activists and governments such as Bolivia that argue that water must be returned and run by local communities and government.

Big water companies quit poor countries

Info — Tue, 28 Mar 2006 17:22:38 -0400

The UN says that water privatisation has failed to deliver in developing countries and calls for Governments to re-assert their role in water management.

Interview with Abel Mamani, first Minister of Water for Bolivia

Info — Fri, 10 Mar 2006 18:47:24 -0400

Abel Mamani outlines his hopes and the challenges his Ministry will face. He explains that the Bolivian Government's policies on water will be based on the understanding that Water is a human right and must be managed by the State and the community.

Bolivia seen likely to end IMF financing ties

Info — Thu, 09 Mar 2006 13:28:45 -0400

Bolivia is likely to end ties with IMF when a lending plan expires on 31 March. The IMF says that it will be a result of Bolivia having alternative financing, but others argue it is evidence of its weakening grip on a continent where its policies have failed to work.

Water wars nearing end under Morales

Info — Mon, 06 Mar 2006 12:34:28 -0400

(Knight Ridder news service) Moves by Bolivia's new president to end foreign control of water utilities have drawn the eyes of other South American countries.

Presente

Info — Mon, 23 Jan 2006 15:05:28 -0400

“I never dreamed that I would be here,” said Evo Morales as he wore his Presidential sash and gazed out over tens of thousands of celebrating indigenous peoples, throngs of foreign journalists, and over-the-moon MAS party activists. Nick Buxton reflects on the inauguration of President Evo Morales

Historic times

Info — Mon, 19 Dec 2005 13:28:32 -0400

(Open Veins) Nick Buxton reflects on an unprecedented and historic victory by Evo Morales and his party MAS in the General Elections on 18 December, and the daunting task they have of meeting peoples' expectations in the coming years.

What if Evo wins?

Info — Fri, 16 Dec 2005 18:09:21 -0400

The big prediction is that Evo Morales will emerge as first in the Presidential race this Sunday (18 December). The thought unnerves the US and various economic interests in Bolivia, but will an Evo government be as radical as its rhetoric suggests?

Suing in fashion: multinational companies line up against Bolivia

Info — Wed, 07 Dec 2005 13:10:38 -0400

Bolivia faces ten litigations by multinational companies in the coming year, who argue that the Bolivia Government’s actions on water and gas undermine their investors’ rights protected by Bilateral Investment Treaties. Within Bolivia, lawyers have joined forces with Congressman Wilson Magne to challenge the treaties saying they are unconstitutional. Activists have warned that any attempt to sue Bolivia will lead to massive international campaigns against the multinational companies involved.

Bolivian services regulator appoints auditors to audit AISA

Info — Mon, 05 Dec 2005 17:47:34 -0400

Bolivia's basic services regulator, SISAB has invited local auditors Pozo y Asociados to carry out an audit of La Paz/El Alto privatised water utility, AISA. The auditor will carry out an economic, commercial, administrative and technical appraisal of Aisa's performance from 1997 to date.