Author: Emily Todd

A delegation from the International Rights of Nature Tribunal (IRNT) arrived at Isiboro Sécure National Park and Indigenous Territory (TIPNIS) in Bolivia. on August 16th to investigate a highway that is in the works to cross the indigenous territory. However, when they arrived they were held for five hours by the Indigenous Council of the South, a government group who’s tasked with protecting indigenous peoples, and then eventually gave up trying to enter the territory. The IRNT were threatened during their holding time, one of the captors allegedly saying, “We’re going to use whips if you take photos.” Their cameras were also taken away and for the first hour, they weren’t even allowed to leave their cars. This created a very tense atmosphere and put the IRNT on edge at what was supposed to be a routine visit, a routine visit that was supposedly approved by the Cabinet of Bolivia. After several hours this story of capture had spread through social media and a police officer arrived and told the IRNT to leave rather than stay and be threatened. The IRNT refused to leave and then after another hour and the arrival of three more officers, the IRNT were forced to leave without conducting their investigation.

This absurd incident is another example of how the Bolivian government’s control over its many entities is crumbling. It also indicates that there were perhaps wrongdoing going on at Isiboro Sécure National Park and Indigenous Territory at the highway construction that Bolivia did not want the world finding out about. This only follows the worrying trend of power grabbing and blatant disregard for government policies to protect indigenous people. Something that will only get worse as political tensions in Bolivia continue to rise.

https://news.mongabay.com/2018/10/environmental-delegation-blocked-from-entering-bolivian-national-park/

Although Bolivia is a landlocked country, before 1884 they had access to the ocean because of an agreement with Chile. Then, in the War of the Pacific in 1884, Bolivia lost access. In 2013 Bolivia brought it as a territorial dispute case to the International Court of Justice (ICJ) in The Hague. However, the ICJ has just ruled that Chile does not need to negotiate with Bolivia over access to the ocean. This decision is unfortunately binding and cannot be negotiated. This ruling is a huge blow to Bolivia, especially as it descends further into turmoil with President’s Morales’ claims to the presidency, though Morales claims that Bolivia will never give up fighting for access to the ocean. Many citizens of Bolivia are upset over this decision as apparently, he has been leading his people to believe that he has been establishing a healthy relationship between the two countries over the years. While this decision will not affect the majority of Bolivia’s maritime trade through Chile’s ports, it will not provide Bolivia with the advantage of sovereignty over said ports.

In my opinion, this ruling is completely just as it looks a precedent and the history between the two countries. It is also an advantage to the “Say No to Morales” effort that is currently being in Bolivia created to oppose his play for another term. This ruling is an advantage because it will convince more people that Morales is no longer fit to be president and will cast doubts on his actions. It is also an interesting ruling and I wish I knew what exactly had caused Bolivia they had a legitimate claim to sovereignty over some Chilean ports.

https://www.bbc.com/news/world-latin-america-45708671

By 2025 President Evo Morales has said that Bolivia will generate nine thousand megawatts which would make it the capital of South America for energy. He has invested in several renewable energy sources since 2006 including creating thermoelectric, hydroelectric, eolic, solar and geothermal plants. This is in an effort to fully supply their own country with energy yet also have a surplus so Bolivia can make money off exportation. Currently, President Morales has said that Bolivia produces 2100 megawatts of energy from these sources and has a reserve of 600 megawatts. He wants to increase the surplus in order to begin exporting the energy more aggressively. In 2019 Bolivia is expected to produce over 3000 megawatts thanks to the addition of new thermoelectric plants, and export over 100 megawatts to Argentina. This endeavor is a success for President Morales as he has surpassed the expectations of what Bolivia could achieve in clean energy generation.

In my thoughts, it is a certainly impressive achievement for a country that is currently struggling with political corruption. They reached and then surpassed the level of focus concerning clean energy that the United States has. On this note, while it is impressive one must not overlook the failings of the government in other sectors such as healthcare and fair elections. President Morales may have experienced success in this endeavor but, it cannot be ignored that he may use this success to justify his power grab or to further his stranglehold on certain parts of the government.

http://www.cadenagramonte.cu/english/show/articles/28344:bolivia-energy-heart-of-south-america-for-2025-evo-morales

In recent weeks Bolivian President Evo Morales has submitted to Congress a law that would in his words, “punish liars” in the news and “moralize” independent news organizations in Bolivia. This is worrying as laws similar to this are already seen in the totalitarian states of Venezuela and Nicaragua. This is part of the downward trend of the Bolivian government, another component is Morales continued unconstitutional claim to the presidency. This has led him to be faced by extreme opposition while also being fiercely supported. The contrast of these two groups has caused a rise in conflict and aggression. While his campaign for power has been successful and has not faced any candidate that he can’t have “taken care of”, The United States and many other Latin American countries have voiced their denunciation of Morales. Though it is thought to be President Trump’s dismissal of the media that has given Morales confidence to do the same.

Rising totalitarianism in Latin American countries is dangerous to people within those countries and also a potential threat to other stable democracies in that region. In my opinion, the United States and the global community needs to pay more attention to these trends before more people are put at risk because of them. Latin American countries are also a big part of the global export economy and the global community should pay attention to them for that reason if nothing else spurs them into action. We cannot allow Bolivia to fall victim to totalitarianism as we have allowed Venezuela and Nicaragua to fall, we cannot allow this to be a case of the domino effect.

https://www.miamiherald.com/latest-news/article218277975.html

The cloud forests of Honduras are not immune to climate change and deforestation. Cloud forests are unique and very small in their frequency. They are special due to their high elevation because they are actually in the clouds which means they are never dry and they get their moisture directly from the clouds. However, their uniqueness also makes them extremely vulnerable as their conditions are not easily replicated. A ten-year study of Cusuco National Park shows that bird populations are moving to higher elevations in order to escape the destruction of their habitats.  The study showed that species are moving to higher elevations at a rate of twenty-three feet per year. This makes the species diversity increase at higher elevations but decrease at lower elevations. The main cause that drives species to higher elevations is deforestation and the uncaring attitude of developers looking for more agricultural land. Even if extra land protection was added, it would not stop the migration as rising temperatures from climate change simply cannot be stopped. Rising temperatures threaten Cusuco National Park as they decrease the moisture that is available near the lower elevations of the forest which is detrimental to certain species.

This piece of Hispanic news is important because it illustrates how climate change is having a real impact on species. This study further proves that climate change is not an abstract idea, it is a proven phenomenon which has very real consequences. Not only is it affecting species, Honduras uses its wildlife as a big tourism draw and if something is affecting its wildlife, it is also affecting is tourism and therefore its economy. Personally, this article is worrying because it makes me question if the same thing is happening in places in the United States.

Bolivia’s president Evo Morales has been in power for three terms, one term before the constitution put into place term limits and then two after that which meets the maximum limit of two terms. Over those 12 years, Morales has done wonders for the Bolivian economy and sense of national identity. He has brought recognition to the 36 indigenous groups living in Bolivia, even making the 34 languages spoken official languages of the country. Morales has also reinvigorated the economy, increased literacy rates, improved public health, and put into place new education initiatives. However, despite his commitment to maintaining order as his third and final term is coming to a close, Morales might not relinquish his position so easily.

Morales currently plans to run for re-election for the fourth time in 2019 and while it is technically legal, Bolivia’s 2009 constitution prohibits that it. The way Morales works around it is that courts struck down term limits saying that they are a “violation of human rights”. Now, Bolivia has dueling demonstrators in the streets, one group advocating for him to stay in power and one saying he should leave. The group advocating for his continued power says that he has done so much good and will continue to work for the people if he stays in power. The other group says that this power grab ruins his legacy as a great president and that change has to come, they are cautious of countries like Venezuela and do not want to fall victim to an unchallenged power. Bolivia will find out in the coming year whether their protests work or not.

 

https://newrepublic.com/article/150529/fighting-democracy-lesson-bolivia