It was great hearing from both
classes. I saw that both Hayden football and volleyball got some big wins for
homecoming! That is good to see. I will have to get a Skype going some time to
say hello in the real time. Maybe with both classes present so we can see who
we are typing too. In other current news, all schools in Santa Cruz have been
closed for the week due to a H1N1 scare and my students will be doing this from
home.
Now on to the current events. This
week we will be talking again about government and economics. There are events
going on in both Hayden and here in Bolivia were the government wants to use
public lands to try and create revenue for their respective governments and
boost the economy. In Hayden we have the issue of drilling for natural gas and
oil. Here in Bolivia we know about that for sure. The current topic that has
been hot here is that the Government and President Evo Morales is making a
highway through a National Park to the Pacific coast in the name of bring
revenue to Bolivia, even though it is against the law to make a highway through
the rain forest. There have been protests from indigenous groups that clashed
with police. After their struggle, nationwide protests with thousands of people
in many cites ensued.
Here are links to the stories. Mr.
Johnson's class needs to write a paragraph summery of each story and email it
to me by Friday Morning.
Bolivian story, Check out the Video
Hayden Story
If each class would comment a bit on
the event in their country to give some other points of view that would be
awesome.
ALSO
Please comment on what right government
has to use public protected lands, which both lands have been in the past, for
economic gains and the benefits for the common person and what responsibility
government has to protect natural resources and lands for the future.
Thanks and Peace out from Mr. J
Bolivia is going to a very tough time because the government's socialist party is falling apart due to different interests and opinions on certain conflicts. On this case, the Tipnis (an indigenous group from Beni) is protesting against Evo Morales' plan to construct a highway across their territory. This group of indians has been living here many years ago and Morales wants to destruct their community to build a highway that will connect Brasil to Peru and Chile's ports to the Pacific Ocean. Many revolts and protests are taking place all around the country and shockingly, Evo Morales' supporters are leading the revolts.
ReplyDeleteI think that the government should have plans on infrastructure and on different projects but they should also consider the implications that these projects have on the people. The Tipnis group for example is having their community destroyed for a highway that will create greater opportunities for Brazil. The government can and should have ideas but these ideas should be researched before they implement them.
Bolivia has been through a lot considering that both west and east have vastly different views on what economy is. Recently, the Tipnis, an indigenous group from Beni have started their march and strikes toward the President, Evo Morales demanding an end to the plan proposed which would build a 300km long highway connecting other countries such as Brasil, Peru and Chile. Not only are the Tipnis defending their right to their land they've been inhabiting for many years, from another region in the country; Cochabamba, the Aymaras and the Quechuas have begun a strike supporting their indigenous fellows.
ReplyDeleteBolivia's government lacks organization and prosperous plans. They should've known the consequences on proposing the plan. Its also important to consider that this highway will probably not be a positive effect given the fact that drug trafficking will be easier to go back and forth among the countries involved in this new highway. The government should focus on other issues such as the low literacy rates instead of trying to provoke indigenous people.
I for one am not so sure of this whole drilling idea. Yeah sure we need the oil and possibly gas but I mean think of those who are in the areas, some may not want to have this passed and allow this boom to happen. Some people may say yes because it could have Hayden grow but others may say no because they like our little town. Plus Steamboat is big enough; it’s already a tourist attraction, why should they feel the need to be bigger than what they are now? And Craig is just fine the way it is, it has a school, attractions and stores. Our area is just fine right now and while others may believe that it is a necessity to drill I disagree. This drilling is not something we need to do but something we want to do. Yeah it will give jobs to some but for how long? Will it be worth it if there is little or no oil/gas down there? Who’s to say that this is best for everyone except for the community and/or those who be effected by the drilling. So it is my belief that if there are people out in the area who be affected by it say no, even if it’s only 25% of the community the drilling should not happen.
ReplyDeleteI think that the drilling for oil in Hayden would provide many benefits. When the coal mines were first brought to Hayden it made it a bigger town which wasn’t a bad thing. There were more businesses, there were restaurants, a theater, and at one point even a bowling alley. The school was two stories tall and had a swimming pool. So would it be all that bad if we were to grow to that size again? It wouldn’t be destroying history it would be making it! Another thing it would add that would be very beneficial for Hayden is…more people! Many of the people who live in Hayden have lived in Hayden for their whole lives; their parents have lived in Hayden their whole lives, and so have their grandparents and great grandparents. Getting some new blood and new opinions would be really great for this little town. The drilling for oil would create more jobs, which would bring in more people, which would create more businesses, and profit for existing businesses. YAY
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ReplyDeleteEvo Morales is going through a lot of pressure at this time because he realized that he is turning his own people down. I think he is putting realtionships with other countries as a priority before paying attention to local issues. He didnt make a request to the people in the TIPNIS (Territorio Indigena y Parque Nacional Isidoro Secure)to make this road. He acted with full determination to make this road and didnt think his own people (indigenous peoples) would reject his idea.
ReplyDeleteI believe that all this situation and national turmoil has given Evo Morales´opposition a good chance to criticize the President and take advantage of his apparently bad decision. Many people around the country have joined strikes, proving their disagreement with the president and to the violence he permitted against the people of the TIPNIS. Like the article points out, this puts Evo Morales in a lower position for judicial elections in October. The fact that he agreed to build the road accross the TIPNIS was shocking because it was offensive to the whole country as well(cutting through the Amazon, which is partly national territory that brings benefits to the people) and I never thought he was capable of making this decision. It seems that the benefits of the road dont make up for all the disadvantages it brings to the country´s pride and to the home of the indigenous peoples.
Bolivia is confronting a misunderstanding between the President, Evo Morales, and indigenous people, the Tipnis people. The conflict started when Morales publicly said that he would build a road straight through the Tipnis which is the home for 69 indigenous communities that leave in the middle of this forest surrounded with beautiful backgrounds, many beautiful animals and plants. This people, which Evo thought he governed good enough stood up against the government and are positive about not letting the government do this project that will connect Bolivia with other countries such as Brazil, Peru and Chile’s harbors to the Pacific Ocean. The people have been in a march for very long and are strong about not letting anyone stop them.
ReplyDeleteThe government has already sent their people to try to stop this indigenous, I think this was very bad beginning with the fact that they came with very aggressive attitudes and didn’t respect the women nor the children involved in the protest march. I believe this government will soon come done because they have started weak already and are getting worse by putting their own people, people they thought they had already bought, against them. The government has put a big disadvantage to them when agreeing to this road. It is stupid to cut down so many (300 km) from the Amazon which is one of the most a very pretty touristic thing we have in Bolivia also he will be leaving too much people with no homes, people who are already used to leaving there. This road will actually increase the drug trafficking in the country; this is obviously one thing Evo Morales is aware of and is happy to go for it.
Bolivia is going through a discord between Morales' government and the indigenous peole, the Tipnis movement. The conflict started a month ago, when the president announced taking forward the project of building a road through the Tipnis nature reserve. The protesters are confincted in accomplishing their goal, and stopping the project. Te police was sent by the government to stop the people and violent actions toke place, disrespecting women and children. I believe this is the begining of Morales fall down. The indigenous people are the ones that follow him and now he has them against him. Whatever reason is behing, international relationships or drug trafficing, it is causing the people's revolt against the government.
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