Bolivia and the Current Crisis

I chose to talk about the current economic and political unrest found in Bolivia. I found this story at http://www.linktv.org/latinpulse/20081007.

As Americans and the rest of the world focus on the looming economic catastrophe, Bolivia is struggling to avert its own internal problems that ultimately could throw Latin America into a tailspin. According to this website, "One out of three Bolivians want their department (province) to secede from the country." Why would anybody want to do this in one of the continent's poorest countries? United States ambassadors to Bolivia have been sent packing, and this event has ultimately created chaos within Bolivia.

The central government of leftist President Evo Morales, Bolivia's first leader from an Indian majority centered in the western highlands, has been conducting talks with governors of largely white provinces in the east who want autonomy. Both sides are trying to settle differences in the distribution of oil and gas revenue, autonomy for eastern states, and Morales' plans for a constitution that would give more rights to indigenous Bolivians. The talks began after clashes this month between supporters of the two sides killed at least 30 people. Morales has said the opposition leaders are trying to overthrow the government. He expelled the U.S. ambassador, Philip Goldberg, on the grounds that the envoy urged anti-government protesters to get violent.

"This is a coup in the past few days by the leaders of some provinces, with the takeover of some institutions, the sacking and robbery of some government institutions and attempts to assault the national police and the armed forces," Morales has said." Opposition leaders said they merely want their demands met.

This topic relates to our discussions of Latin America, and it could eventually play a very large role in geography as a whole. This is a very large political problem that could effect not only Bolivia, but all of Latin America, and its economic policies. Hopefully this event will be resolved quickly and with no more violence.