Tag Archives: bolivia

Business/Economics

Hunger Games: Bolivia halts food exports! Is it supply problems, or government shenanigans?

27 October 2022 (02:00-UTC-07 Tango 06) 05 Aban 1401/01 Rabi ‘ath-Thani 1444/03 Geng-Xu (10th month) 4720/27 октября 2022 года

“The government, in response to the fears of Bolivian families about the risk of a shortage of strategic food for the population, as a preventive measure… in order to ensure food security and sovereignty, temporarily suspends the export of the following products: soybean, soybean meal, whole grain soybean flour, sugar, oil and beef.”-Néstor Huanca, Ministry of Productive Development and Plural Economy

The South American country of Bolivia has halted food exports, officially blaming it on supply problems.

The food export ban includes soy, sugar, cooking oil and beef.  While the official reason is to avoid massive food shortages domestically, this follows deadly protests over across-the-board cuts in government funding for public services.  It should be noted that while the government blames supply problems for the food export halt, government officials also stated that the export ban would end once the people stopped their protests against the government!  A local newspapers quoted Néstor Huanca, Minister of Productive Development and Plural Economy, as blaming the protesters for “million in damages and losses” to the Bolivian economy, and that food exports will only resume once “normal supply conditions are restored”!

These protest also follow Bolivia’s Ministry of Productive Development and Plural Economy attempt to control inflation by capping domestic beef prices.  In April of this year, there was also protests by retailers, over price increases by beef suppliers/producers.  The beef producers blamed their raising of beef prices on new government regulations and ‘illegal’ competition from Brazil and Peru. And, ironically, a beef worker’s union went on strike to protest the government’s plan to actually increase beef exports!

There have also been protests in the capital city of La Paz, over gold mining restrictions and taxation (which apparently have been resolved).

It looks more like Bolivia’s supply problems are a direct result of government over-reach.

24OCT2022: Bolivian government’s decision to suspend the national census results in massive strikes, road closures, and government services shutdowns!

20OCT2022: The former Minister of the Government of Bolivia pleaded guilty in U.S. court to conspiracy to launder bribes he received in exchange for corruptly helping a U.S. company win a $5.6-million contract from the Bolivian government!

Hunger Games: WHY ARE U.S. TAXPAYER FUNDED RATIONS BEING SOLD TO THE HIGHEST BIDDER?

Business/Economics, International

MERCOSUR joins BRICS to destroy U.S. Dollar with new Bank of the South!

31 July 2014 (13:51 UTC-07 Tango)/03 Shawwal 1435/09 Mordad 1393/05 Xin-Wei (7th month) 4712

“Central America and the Caribbean also constitute a vital space for economic integration and the political unity of Our America…we need to consolidate regional articulation that allows for integral development, to confront poverty, social exclusion and that is based in solidarity and cooperation.”-MERCOSUR/MERCOSUL statement

On 30 July 2014, MERCOSUR/MERCOSUL voted to implement their U.S. dollar killing Bank of the South (aka South Bank) by the end of this year.

Also, Bolivia became a full member of MERCOSUR (Southern Common Market).  Caribbean, Central America and South American countries are joining together to create a Complementary Economic Zone.

BRICS to destroy U.S. dollar with new Global Bank!

International

World War 3: Bolivia sanctions “Terrorist State” Israel!

31 July 2014 (01:57 UTC-07 Tango)/03 Shawwal 1435/09 Mordad 1393/05 Xin-Wei (7th month) 4712

“As a country, as a people, we have made a firm decision to terminate the agreement on visas to Israel…… we are declaring [Israel] a terrorist state…”-Evo Morales, President of Bolivia

The government of Bolivia has declared Israel a terrorist state, and has dropped Israelis from getting preferential “Group 1” ranking for travel to Bolivia.  Israelis are now considered lowly “Group 3” questionable ranking and must undergo background checks by Bolivian immigration officials!

Business/Economics, International, Technology, U.S.

Dengue Fever: Brazil worst hit, Pakistan launches campaign, Dengue survives cold temps, Bolivia on Red Alert, UN says efforts to fight disease failing, energy saving light bulbs spreading disease

“I consider Rio de Janeiro runs the risk of one of the worst epidemics, in number of cases of dengue in its history.”-Alexandre Padilha, Health Minister of Brazil

Brazil’s tourist city of Rio de Janeiro is being hit hard by type 4 Dengue fever.  So far there are more than 3,000 confirmed cases!  However, the rest of Brazil is actually seeing a huge 62% drop in cases (keep in mind that last year Brazil had 106,373 cases).

Across the world, Pakistani health officials (Rawalpindi Development Authority, Water and Sanitation Agency, the Parks and Horticulture Authority and the Health Department) have gone to war to prevent an outbreak of hemorrhagic Dengue fever.

Pesticides are being sprayed, and residents are being told how to fight the dengue carrying mosquitoes. A health official in Punjab said they now know that the dengue virus can be spread in cold winter temps.

Back over to South America, in Bolivia, the city of Santa Cruz confirmed 157 cases of dengue.  There are another 820 suspected cases. They have declared a red alert.

Also on February 25, the UN’s World Heath Organization reported that after 50 years of fighting the disease, cases of dengue in Thailand and Sri Lanka have only increased!

“The floods actually interrupted the Aeges aegypti’s life cycle and has resulted in a reduction in dengue.”-Sanphet Mahamard, Communicable Disease Control Department of Thailand

However, Thai officials say the massive flooding, at the end of 2011, has actually destroyed the breeding grounds of many of the dengue carrying mosquitoes.  So thanks to Mother Earth, they are already seeing a 36% drop in dengue cases (keep in mind that as of January 2012 Thailand has seen more than 1,000 cases and one death).

In Sri Lanka, officials are so determined to reduce dengue cases that they’re even going after business owners who don’t control mosquitoes on their property!

The Chief Technical Engineer of the railway yard of Sri Lanka Railways was fined, and is in prison, after 20 employees got sick, and one employee died, from dengue fever. Investigators discovered that railway officials did not conduct anti-mosquito programs on their property.

There is no vaccine (although Mexico is testing one of their own vaccines), and it turns out the mosquito eggs can survive a full year, even in cold temperatures.  Also, research showed that the mosquitoes are attracted to the light of energy saving florescent light bulbs.

 

 

 

Business/Economics, International, U.S.

Global Economic War: CELAC holds first summit meeting, the U.S. & Canada are not invited! “Death sentence” for the United States! IMF begging CELAC for money to bail out Europe. Get ready for Second Falkland Islands War!

“This is the achievement after 200 years of battle…The [U.S.] Monroe Doctrine was imposed here: America for Americans, the Yankees. They imposed their will during 200 years, but that’s enough…As the years go by, CELAC is going to leave behind the old and worn out OAS! [U.S. controlled Organization of American States]”-Hugo Chavez, President of Venezuela, December 3, 2011

“Today, we are going to give a death sentence to the Monroe Doctrine…that battle is culminating today with the creation of CELAC.”-Daniel Ortega, President of Nicaragua, December 3, 2011

CELAC was formed in February 2010.  On December 3rd, 2011, they held their first official meeting, and the Chinese were overjoyed: “I’d like to send my warmest congratulations. China is always looking to approach its ties with Latin America and the Caribbean from a strategic perspective and is willing to deepen dialogue, exchanges and cooperation.”-Hu Jintao, President of China, December 3, 2011

CELAC stands for Comunidad de Estados Latinoamericanos y Caribeños, or Community of Latin American and Caribbean States.  CELAC is made up of 33 countries from the America’s and Caribbean. It now dominates North and South American economic policies. The United States, Canada, and the European countries were intentionally left out.

“A union of Latin American countries is the weapon against imperialism. It is necessary to create a regional body that excludes the United States and Canada …therefore, it is the best time for prime ministers of Latin America and the Caribbean to gestate this great new organization without the United States to free our peoples in Latin America and the Caribbean.”-Evo Morales, President of Bolivia, February 2010

Even supposed South American allies of the U.S. are involved: “This is in our interest, not against the OAS or Iberoamerican Summit, this is integration between Latin America and the Caribbean. I laud the meeting as a step in the right direction for Latin America.”-Juan Manuel Santos, President of Colombia, December 3, 2011

The Mexican President, Felipe Calderón, had the honor of opening the CELAC summit with the first speech: “Today we continue in a long process that never before had managed to achieve the integration of Latin American and Caribbean countries!”

Almost 30 years ago Argentina lost a war to take back the Falkland Islands from the United Kingdom.  The islands are called the Malvinas in Argentina, and at Saturday’s first CELAC summit there was unanimous support for Argentina’s continued diplomatic efforts to take back the Malvinas: “The Argentine government has shown a permanently constructive attitude and willingness to reach, via negotiations, a peaceful and definitive solution to this anachronistic, colonial situation on American soil.”-CELAC declaration

The issue of the Falklands/Malvinas is even more serious as major oil reserves have been discovered there.

In a twist of irony, it’s been revealed that the U.S. controlled International Monetary Fund (IMF) has approached CELAC for loans to help bailout Europe!  Normally countries south of the U.S. border have always been stereotyped as beggars waiting for hand out loans from the IMF:  “This time, the IMF did not come to bring money but to ask for money! I would prefer to be a creditor than a debtor.”-Guido Mantega, Finance Minister of Brazil

“It seems like the tables have been turned. Latin American finance ministers used to shudder when IMF officials came to the region. And they were scolded, they were berated by IMF officials, who told them the way to do things… Now they’re the model of fiscal discipline and responsibility.”-Michael Shifter, Inter-American Dialogue

The President of the IMF, Christine Lagarde, was in Brazil, just before the CELAC summit in Venezuela. She admitted CELAC was the economic boss now: “It’s often the case that when one part of the world is not doing so well, the other ones are going to drive the bus and take the global economy forward.” 

 

 

Business/Economics, International, Technology, U.S.

Global Economic War: Bolivia wants Iranian made Farm equipment

The South American country of Bolivia has sent a trade delegation to Iran.  They want the Iran Tractor Manufacturing Company to set up shop in Bolivia.

Bolivian officials say they’re impressed with Iran’s industrial advancements, despite all the decades of sanctions from the United States and Europe.

The building of an Iranian tractor factory in Bolivia, is part of the South American country’s agriculture modernization program.

Iran has economic agreements with numerous Latin American countries, like Venezuela, Bolivia, Cuba, Brazil and Ecuador.

International

Christian Mennonites used animal drugs to gang rape their own women

“Women are not seen as equal to men in these colonies, and this will continue to lead to ever more social problems.”-Abe Warkentin, Die Mennonitische Post

In Bolivia, nine Mennonite men are on trial for using animal sedatives to knock out and then gang rape women, and girls, in their own community.

130 Mennonite females, between the ages of eight to 60, have come forward to help prosecute the men.

The Mennonite men would go out at night, looking for open windows, then spray a powerful animal sedative into the house.  When everyone was knocked out they would enter the house and rape any females in the house.

One pregnant woman went into premature labor because of the rape.  Abraham Martens Froese, the husband of the pregnant woman said: “We will listen to what our wives tell us now.”

The Mennonite community in Bolivia is referred to as an “Old Colony” community, meaning it’s part of a fundamentalist Mennonite sect.  The nine men have pleaded not guilty, but have also waved their right to testify at their own trial.

Business/Economics, International

Bolivia about to pass historic law, multi-national corporations won’t like it

The Law of Mother Earth.  If it passes, it will be historic.  Bolivia’s legislature is debating the new bill, which many believe will be passed.

The proposed law states: “Mother Earth is a living dynamic system made up of the undivided community of all living beings, who are all interconnected, interdependent and complementary, sharing a common destiny.”
It is based on Sumaj Kawsay, a native phrase for living in harmony.
Basically the law requires a transition from non-renewable to renewable energy; to  assess the ecological impact of all economic activity; ecological audits of all private and state companies;  reduce greenhouse gas emissions;  policies of food and renewable energy sovereignty; require all companies and individuals to be accountable for environmental contamination.
Of course there is opposition to the proposed law, mainly from large corporate mining and farming operations.  Corporate soy farmers say the law “will make the productive sector inviable.”
Even government agencies say the law would not be enforceable because it would be a logistical nightmare.
Supporters say something has to be done about the exploitation by multi-national corporations: “We need to pull together peoples, researchers, and communities to develop real concrete alternatives so that the dominant systems of exploitation don’t just continue by default. This is not an easy task, but I believe with international solidarity, we can and must succeed.”-Raul Prada, adviser to Pacto de Unidad

International

Bolivians don’t like Reporters

Currently there are protests going on in Bolivia.  The issue is workers rights, but it’s become clear no one cares about the rights of journalists.

Journalists are being attacked by protesters and police.  Everyone accuses the reporters of working for the police, or the protesters.  Even Bolivian judges are treating reporter with contempt.

In one case a reporter waited for months before his case was brought to trial.  He had been charged with causing a riot that destroyed a police station. Then he was let go, but only with the warning that he could not talk about the details of his trial.

In another court case, a reporter was ruled incompetent, and that all trials involving journalists had to be heard by a special judge.  The reporter in this case had been charged with insulting a government official.

Finally there is the case where a radio personality was murdered, and no investigation has been undertaken.   Reporters Without Borders

 

Business/Economics, International, U.S.

Obama’s Latin America trip wasted

Under Bush Jr, the United States lost two ambassadors in South America.  The Obama administration has lost another, bringing the total to three.

Those countries are Bolivia, Ecuador and Venezuela. So President Obama’s recent trip to Latin America did little to mend relations.

Even U.S. ally Columbia, is leaning towards Hugo Chavez in Venezuela.

Looks like the U.S. just doesn’t get Latin America.