Environmental, social contradictions of Bolivian development

Lithium, the gift of Pachamama: “However, the indigenous population of Bolivia’s western areas, who are among the poorest people in the country and who have strong communal traditions, appear to disagree with the policy. The social movements that brought Morales to power have mobilised over recent months around demands for local development, and in defence of water rights. In the mind of many Bolivians, the most important thing is that local communities decide on the uses of resources in their own territory.”

From Time Magazine: ‘Until last week, Juan Pablo Ramos was Morales’ longest-standing highest environmental authority. But Ramos tells TIME that he resigned from his Vice Minister of the Environment post “out of conscience,” leaving an unsigned environmental license for the Isiboro-Sécure highway on his desk on the way out. Ramos says he remains hopeful that the Morales government’s international environmental leadership is more than just talk. But, he says, “we are in a time of great threats. We finally have the entire world discussing how to move forward sustainably, and it’s on all of us to keep the pressure on Morales and all world leaders to make this happen.” ‘