by Ashley Braun
Cochabamba, Bolivia—The voice of
Evo Morales cut through the autumn heat, no problem: “The principle causes of
climate change are from capitalism,” the Bolivian president told attendees at
his country’s alternative climate summit, the first World People’s Conference
on Climate Change and the Rights of Mother Earth. It was time, said Morales,
for the people’s voices to be heard.
The people attending the inaugural
ceremonies on Tuesday were mostly listening—and sweating. Like many developing
nations, Bolivia is already
feeling the ill effects of a changing climate, including the dramatically
retreating glaciers across the Andes. So I tracked down some of the Bolivian people to hear
what they really thought about their country’s alt climate summit, the
significance of Earth Day, and the need for international action on climate
change.
Photo: Ashley BraunJ.C. Ernesto Miranda Uribe,
27
Environmental engineer and educator
Cochabamba, Bolivia
“The ‘environmental movement’
is very new here; it’s no more than 10 years old. But now everyone knows about Bolivia and its
environmental initiatives. For Bolivia,
this [conference] is a great opportunity that I believe the government is doing
that not even other COPs [U.N. climate meetings] have tried to do. It’s trying
to put everyone’s words in the proposals.
“To me, as a Bolivian, this
is something that you see once in your lifetime. I think Evo Morales is
connecting something that was always a belief of indigenous people with what
Western people believe about the environment. I hope these ideas and proposals
are going to be taken into consideration on a higher level.”
———————————————————————
Photo: Ashley BraunMarcelina Chavez, 52
Miner,
farmer, and senator of Cochabamba
Cochabamba, Bolivia
(originally from Icoya, Bolivia)
“For me, Earth Day is about
respecting the environment. On Earth Day, we are going to plant 2,000 trees—by
the president of Bolivia
and by presidents of other countries and organizations, and we hope that this
will be a seed for change because all days should be treated like Earth Day.
“Considering that I’m older
and an indigenous person, my main goal [for the summit] is to make this process
of minimizing our effects on the environment happen for real.”
———————————————————————
Kelly Blynn, 25
350.org Latin America coordinator
Mexico
City, Mexico (originally from Pennsylvania)
“This conference has real
potential for civil society and governments to work together in a very concrete
way. There was so much tension at Copenhagen.
Everyone here is so positive and wants to find solutions, as opposed to some
parties at Copenhagen
who wanted things to fail. I see a lot of diverse perspectives here and lots of
young people who are psyched to see their government taking the lead.”
———————————————————————
Photo: Ashley BraunGuedoi Palma, 59
Engineer
Cuzco, Peru
“Everyone here has the same
weight and the same chance to participate in the solutions. I think this day,
Earth Day, is important because the population needs to recognize the
importance of Mother Earth. We have to have pride in the Earth.
“Every participant should
have a voice, but we have to keep working. Not only talking but also taking
care of the trees.”
———————————————————————
Alejandra Kolbe Arce, left, and Helga Gruberg, rightPhoto: Ashley BraunHelga Gruberg, 27, and
Alejandra Kolbe Arce, 27
Gaia Pacha Foundation
Cochabamba, Bolivia
Gruberg:
“I really hope we stop
talking so much. There’s no time to wait for COP16 or COP17 because so many
people [and their livelihoods] are hurt from climate change, for example, with
their harvests. People are starving. It’s no joke.
“We had a pre-conference in
Bolivia a week or two before, and indigenous Bolivian groups helped make a
proposal for this country [to be brought to this international summit].”
Kolbe Arce:
“Earth Day, for us, is really
big because we move in environmental circles, but a lot of people don’t know
about it.
“I think this conference is
really important because the people can really talk, not just the government or
high-level officials, and because it’s an alternative to the COP process. The
important thing is not only the scientific facts but also people telling their
stories. The Working Groups here [composed of various international
representatives] give people the opportunity to talk more openly.
“Right now, we should hope
that people not in Annex I [developed nations] can get together and work with
one idea, instead of fighting all the time.”
———————————————————————
Photo: Ashley BraunFernando Slogo, 53
Ongamira
Despierta! (Wake up Ongamira!)
Valle de Ongamira, Argentina
“It’s important that the
conference is in Bolivia
because Evo Morales and Bolivia
can be a model. This is a start that can become bigger and can create
connections.
“I spent some time in Europe, and we have to analyze their science and their
techniques and use our heads, but change is what comes from the heart … with
changing the way you and I think.”
Related Links:
Bolivia’s Morales slams capitalists for causing global warming
U.S. lowers expectations for climate treaty this year