\nEvo Morales cut through the autumn heat, no problem: “The principle causes of
\nclimate change are from capitalism,” the Bolivian president told attendees<\/a> at
\nhis country’s alternative climate summit, the first World People’s Conference
\non Climate Change and the Rights of Mother Earth<\/a>. It was time, said Morales,
\nfor the people’s voices to be heard.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
The people attending the inaugural
\nceremonies on Tuesday were mostly listening—and sweating. Like many developing
\nnations, Bolivia is already
\nfeeling the ill effects of a changing climate, including the dramatically
\nretreating glaciers across the Andes. So I tracked down some of the Bolivian people to hear
\nwhat they really thought about their country’s alt climate summit, the
\nsignificance of Earth Day, and the need for international action on climate
\nchange.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Photo: Ashley BraunJ.C. Ernesto Miranda Uribe, <\/p>\n “The ‘environmental movement’ <\/p>\n “To me, as a Bolivian, this <\/p>\n ———————————————————————<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Photo: Ashley BraunMarcelina Chavez, 52<\/strong> <\/p>\n “For me, Earth Day is about <\/p>\n “Considering that I’m older <\/p>\n ———————————————————————<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Kelly Blynn, 25<\/strong> <\/p>\n “This conference has real <\/p>\n ———————————————————————<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Photo: Ashley BraunGuedoi Palma, 59<\/strong> <\/p>\n “Everyone here has the same <\/p>\n “Every participant should <\/p>\n ———————————————————————<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Alejandra Kolbe Arce, left, and Helga Gruberg, rightPhoto: Ashley BraunHelga Gruberg, 27, and <\/p>\n Gruberg:<\/strong><\/p>\n <\/p>\n “I really hope we stop <\/p>\n “We had a pre-conference in <\/p>\n Kolbe Arce:<\/strong><\/p>\n <\/p>\n “Earth Day, for us, is really <\/p>\n “I think this conference is <\/p>\n “Right now, we should hope <\/p>\n ———————————————————————<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Photo: Ashley BraunFernando Slogo, 53<\/strong> <\/p>\n “It’s important that the <\/p>\n “I spent some time in Europe, and we have to analyze their science and their Related Links:<\/strong><\/p>\n Coked-out Coca-Colla [sic]<\/a><\/p>\n Bolivia’s Morales slams capitalists for causing global warming<\/a><\/p>\n U.S. lowers expectations for climate treaty this year<\/a><\/p>\n
\n27<\/strong>
Environmental engineer and educator
Cochabamba, Bolivia<\/p>\n
\nis very new here; it’s no more than 10 years old. But now everyone knows about Bolivia and its
\nenvironmental initiatives. For Bolivia,
\nthis [conference] is a great opportunity that I believe the government is doing
\nthat not even other COPs [U.N. climate meetings] have tried to do. It’s trying
\nto put everyone’s words in the proposals.<\/p>\n
\nis something that you see once in your lifetime. I think Evo Morales is
\nconnecting something that was always a belief of indigenous people with what
\nWestern people believe about the environment. I hope these ideas and proposals
\nare going to be taken into consideration on a higher level.”<\/p>\n
Miner,
\nfarmer, and senator of Cochabamba
Cochabamba, Bolivia
\n(originally from Icoya, Bolivia)<\/p>\n
\nrespecting the environment. On Earth Day, we are going to plant 2,000 trees—by
\nthe president of Bolivia
\nand by presidents of other countries and organizations, and we hope that this
\nwill be a seed for change because all days should be treated like Earth Day.<\/p>\n
\nand an indigenous person, my main goal [for the summit] is to make this process
\nof minimizing our effects on the environment happen for real.”<\/p>\n
350.org Latin America coordinator
Mexico
\n City, Mexico (originally from Pennsylvania)<\/p>\n
\npotential for civil society and governments to work together in a very concrete
\nway. There was so much tension at Copenhagen.
\nEveryone here is so positive and wants to find solutions, as opposed to some
\nparties at Copenhagen
\nwho wanted things to fail. I see a lot of diverse perspectives here and lots of
\nyoung people who are psyched to see their government taking the lead.”<\/p>\n
Engineer
Cuzco, Peru<\/p>\n
\nweight and the same chance to participate in the solutions. I think this day,
\nEarth Day, is important because the population needs to recognize the
\nimportance of Mother Earth. We have to have pride in the Earth.<\/p>\n
\nhave a voice, but we have to keep working. Not only talking but also taking
\ncare of the trees.”<\/p>\n
\nAlejandra Kolbe Arce, 27<\/strong>
Gaia Pacha Foundation
Cochabamba, Bolivia<\/p>\n
\ntalking so much. There’s no time to wait for COP16 or COP17 because so many
\npeople [and their livelihoods] are hurt from climate change, for example, with
\ntheir harvests. People are starving. It’s no joke.<\/p>\n
\nBolivia a week or two before, and indigenous Bolivian groups helped make a
\nproposal for this country [to be brought to this international summit].”<\/strong><\/p>\n
\nbig because we move in environmental circles, but a lot of people don’t know
\nabout it.<\/p>\n
\nreally important because the people can really talk, not just the government or
\nhigh-level officials, and because it’s an alternative to the COP process. The
\nimportant thing is not only the scientific facts but also people telling their
\nstories. The Working Groups here [composed of various international
\nrepresentatives] give people the opportunity to talk more openly.<\/p>\n
\nthat people not in Annex I [developed nations] can get together and work with
\none idea, instead of fighting all the time.”<\/strong><\/p>\n
Ongamira
\nDespierta! (Wake up Ongamira!)
Valle de Ongamira, Argentina<\/p>\n
\nconference is in Bolivia
\nbecause Evo Morales and Bolivia
\ncan be a model. This is a start that can become bigger and can create
\nconnections.<\/p>\n
\ntechniques and use our heads, but change is what comes from the heart … with
\nchanging the way you and I think.”<\/p>\n