Morales Says Bolivia to Nationalize Mining Sector

[Warren Stupidity]

RIO DE JANEIRO (Reuters) - Bolivia's government will move ahead with plans to nationalize the mining industry, President Evo Morales said Friday, in the latest move by a left-leaning Latin American nation toward more state control of key sectors.

Morales, speaking to reporters at a summit of presidents of the Mercosur trade bloc in the Brazilian city of Rio de Janeiro, said however it would not be a full nationalization. His government was still studying the details, he added.

``We are discussing some deep reforms that will allow investors to recover their investments but they are also going to have to make an economic contribution to the state,'' Morales said. ``I've said it before, we need partners not masters.''

http://www.nytimes.com/reuters/world/international-bolivia-mining-nationalization.html?_r=1&oref=slogin

[bemildred]

1. After 500 years, finally. nt

[High Plains]

2. Uh-oh, the Axis of Evo!

[Judi Lynn]

3. Beautiful quote, from the "Axis of Evo" (thanks, High Plains).

Also announced at Mercosur:

Lula and Chávez Go Ahead with Brazil-Venezuela Gas Pipeline
Written by Alexandre Rocha
Friday, 19 January 2007

The presidents of Brazil, Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, and of Venezuela, Hugo Chávez, signed during the Mercosur Summit, a statement concerning the first construction phase of the Gas Pipeline of the South.

According to the document, the first section will link Güiria, in Venezuela, to the Port of Suape, in northeastern Brazilian city Recife. In further phases, the Pipeline should also cater to Argentina, Bolivia, Paraguay and Uruguay, as well as any other countries in the region that may adhere to the project.

According to the statement, the two governments decided to accelerate studies regarding technical, environmental and economic viability of the project. The "visualization and conceptual engineering" of the project should be concluded by the end of 2007.

The president of Petrobras, José Sérgio Gabrielli, stated that the Mariscal Sucre gas field, in Venezuela, is going to supply half its production, 17 million cubic meters of gas a day, to the Pipeline.
(snip/...)

http://www.brazzilmag.com/content/view/7795/54/

[Vidar]

4. Way to go, Evo!

[Bridget Burke]

5. Relating to the news from Venezuela, I read up on Nationalization....

Especially as it happened in Chile. The corporations were offered compensation but found it insufficient. Thus the US-assisted coup, Allende's overthrow & "suicide" (or murder).

However, Chile retained control of the copper mines. Under Pinochet & to the present.

[Peace Patriot]

6. Great message there: "We need partners not masters."

That ought to be inscribed on every government building in Latin America, and, indeed, it should fly on banners on every home, in every community, and be attached to the national flags of every country, throughout the world.

Evo has a way with words. He also said, of the huge, peaceful, democratic revolution that is occurring all over Latin America; "The time of the people has come." He was talking specifically about Peru and its recent election (where the time of the people has not quite arrived yet--but it was close; next election cycle...), but it was memorable and really stuck with me.

"The time of the people has come."

We need partners not masters.