Watching CNN the other night, (it’s my only international news source here so give me a break) I couldn’t believe what I was hearing. In his first sit-down interview since taking office, the President of the United States of America met with Al-Arabiya, an Arab (gasp!) news network, and told them that he has advised the US envoy to the Middle East, George Mitchell, to listen before acting. He said that the United States has a tendency to go into international conflicts assuming the role of a dictator, not a listener, and that this needs to change. He even mentioned that suggestions from other nation states in the Middle East should be considered during the peace making process! What?? Hold on, I’m sorry Mr. Obama, but what country do you think you are the president of? The United States? I don’t think so... Please reevaluate your rational approach to international conflict and then get back to me. And next time, try to make it a little more belligerent- you’re scaring me...
Seriously though, he’s been in office for just one week and already he’s rolling back archaic Washington policies and putting some fire under congress’ wrinkly, saggy, white behind. He has issued solid economic plans, taken a significant stance on environmental issues and finally begun to tackle the world’s most barbaric institution- Guantanamo Bay.
(As an aside, I would just like everyone to know that McDonalds and Starbucks both operate franchises at Guantanamo Bay to serve the American prison employees- 'I'll have a non-fat, no-whip, skinny mocha latte please with an extra shot of injustice, thanks!')
Back on the ranch, (think of Bolivia as my ranch) there have been some historic changes happening as well. On Sunday Bolivians approved a new constitution that Evo Morales has been trying to put forward since he began his presidency. The counts aren’t finalized yet, but initial results show that about 60% of the country approved the new charter. It is the first time that the country has ever put its constitution under a nation-wide vote and it’s the first real attempt to decolonize the country. Bolivia has suffered from both external and internal colonization for hundreds of years and finally, the rights and freedoms of its people will be officially recognized. The new constitution acknowledges the rights of 36 indigenous groups, who just 50 years ago weren’t even allowed to walk through Plaza Murillo in La Paz, and who were only given the vote in 1952.
Sadly, the approval of the new constitution hasn’t totally stabilized the country. In fact, the referendum may have just reinforced the country’s polarized state. Four of Bolivia’s nine states voted against the new constitution and they are still adamantly campaigning against it. This could be somewhat problematic in the near future, because 100 of the new articles still have to go through congress and the senate, which is dominated by the opposition. The opposition claims that the new constitution puts indigenous people first and that it’s just an excuse for Morales to stay in power. It’s true that the new constitution allows the President to run for office for another consecutive term, but I don’t think that was Evo’s only intention. There are so many other important changes the constitution makes for the country that are long overdue. It has put an end to excessive land ownership, made moves to decentralize the government, and allowed for more state control in the economy, which has been heavily influenced by transnational corporations since colonialism.
Perhaps the most interesting change is the idea of making a plurinational assembly that will replace the current congress and require a certain number of its members to be from indigenous communities. The exact numbers haven’t been determined yet, but one thing is for sure- Evo means business.
Another aspect of the new constitution that the opposition has beef with is the fact that it recognizes the legal and judicial systems of indigenous communities as being equal to the legal proceedings carried out by the state. People seem to think that this will cause the country to succumb to a state of anarchy where campesinos will aimlessly start lynching and stoning people on a daily basis. The reality is however, that these two legal systems have always coexisted; it’s just that now community laws will also be viewed with authority. And just to clarify, indigenous legal systems do not consist solely of violent and publicly humiliating acts. Mostly elders of a community will jsut subject a mutually agreed upon criminal to some sort of community service or deprive them of certain privileges for a period of time. A lynching would only occur in extreme circumstances.
There is one concern about Evo's big plans that is shared by both MAS supporters and MAS haters, and it's over how the economic crisis will effect the country. Carlos Toranzo, a political analyst, told BBC Mundo that it’s one thing for Evo to offer Bolivia a whole new world when oil is US$100 a barrel, but it’s another thing for him to make those promises when it’s barely US$40 a barrel… Natural resources are Bolivia’s main gig, so if they’re not getting top dolla for them then that could be a problem.
Regardless, Evo Morales has complied with the promises he made at the beginning of his presidential campaign, and as far as I’m concerned, when it comes to politics, following through with your promises is a novel concept that definitely constitutes change.
As I wrap up my final week here in Bolivia I find myself reflecting on how lucky I have been, not only to have had the opportunity to work here, but also to have been here at this specific moment in time. The conflict and unrest that has taken place in Bolivia since I’ve been here has forced me to pay attention to what’s going on and as a result, I’ve learned a lot about the country. What I am most grateful for though is that thinking about Bolivia’s current struggles has made me think about Canadian politics more critically.
I’ve realized that although we are considered a ‘first world’ nation, we still maintain many regressive policies- especially those surrounding the treatment of Canada’s First Nations people. I don’t mean to suggest that Harper should take a page out of Evo’s book (mainly because it's in Spanish) but for me, thinking about my own country as compared to another country in the Americas has been very helpful. It has opened up my eyes to a whole bunch of issues that Canadian politicians avoid like the plague.
Above all, what this experience has taught me is that even though Canada is part of the self-proclaimed 'developed world', it is still far from complete.