This might be dated, but I just read MABB's good post on the "Pre-Inaguration" of President Morales, where Evo in the Unku or traditional robe of the Colla high priest, was invested with authority in a ceremony at Tiahuanacu.
A comment from a poster said it reminded her of "post-colonial ceremonies" in newly independent third world countries, that is not off the mark. No matter what his politics and policies, Evo's acension resonates enormously with the indigenous people of the Andean region. And Evo in a very shrewd move, modified the traditional robe and staff of the Aymara to incorporate the indigenous peoples of the lowlands by adding Anacondas to the Condors in the robe, and lowland wood to the silver and gold in his staff.
If anything, Evo's skills as a politician and tactician have never been in doubt. Ecuador's indigenous movement, up to now considered the most well-organized, took a long time to reach such unity between lowlands and sierra people's. Evo not only united them, he also mobilized them effectively to deliver votes.
Historical Claims To Bolivia's Geography?
And there is historical precedent for his claim of authority over this territory, despite what some authors have said about Bolivia simply being "geographically" a country, and not a Nation. The Collasuyu extended from its center on the shores of Lake Titicaca, through the Andean plateau, into the lower valleys, and lowlands of Western Bolivia, as well as parts of Northern Chile, Argentina, and Peru. Lowland peoples such as the Guarani's and some Amazonic tribes are descendants from more nomadic Collas who pushed into that area. The unifier was the Aymara language, and the family/community agricultural system, the Ayllu, which started with familiar and tribal clusters, and which was ruled from above in a complex and interwoven system.
When the Inca ruler from Cuzco defeated the Collas militarily, he was able to incorporate the entire Collasuyu rather easily. TheAyllus of the region, simply switched alleigances to the Inca, whose peoples had also borrowed the communal arrangement from the Collas centuries before.
The rulers from Cuzco, built roads through the Collasuyu, and pushed at the frontier trying to conquer lowland tribes, and populating these regions with Collas, whom were pushed out of parts of the Altiplano and subsituted by Quechua speakers. A good part of what became Alto Peru (and Bolivia) after the Spanish conquest is simply imposed over the borders that the Inca had defined, which was essentially the Collasuyu with some added territory. It simply reflects the natural movements of peoples out of the Andes, incorporating lowlands and tropical regions.
If there is any such thing as a collective memory, the Altiplano peoples, with their common languages, have such a conception of a Nation reaching down the valleys and into the jungles.
Use of Symbols
The fact that we are at this stage in the country, is partly due to Bolivia's largely Andean ruling and middle classes There is a legacy of brutal mistreatment that extended well into the 20th century including a system of quasi-slavery for Indians, known as pongos. Racist attitudes against Indians are strong, Indio De Mierda ("Shit Indian) is a common expression among the upper and middle classes. The obvious irony is that a good chunk of these folks, are clearly descended from the same Aymaras, not only in appearance but clearly in attitude and behavior.
This kind of self-hatred, creates a strange form of self-enforced apartheid, where a premium is put on how "white" vis "brown" you look. It reminds me of the infamous "brown bag" test, used by certain creole social clubs in New Orleans, the lighter the better. There is a
Bolivia's upper and middle classes were finally confronted with the reality of highland native peoples, in the Chaco conflict. Urban youth, shared trenches and misery with the poor Indian conscripts, some dragged in chains from highland mines and farms and delivered to the lowland brush. When they returned from the war, these same veterans wanted to remake Bolivia, to actually create a sense of nation, and improve the Indians life.
The problem was that in order to sell this project to the largely middle class, nationalist voters, they adopted the strategy of referring to the Indians as "peasants" in order to incorporate them into the Bolivian polity. So after the 1952 Revolution, this was largely the focus, and the practical results were the organization of sectors of miners and farm workers, as class-based interest groups, which served as bases of support and votes for the MNR. Given their reality of the country, it might have seemed the only practical thing to do.
In the end, this compromise, might have been a mis-reading of Bolivian reality. They failed to create a sense of nation, which incorporated the largest segment of society - one which was linked by blood to many of the Andean elite. They also failed to connect with the lowlands, and generated resentment that continues to this day. Contrast that to Mexico where the Revolution adopted the symbols of their native peoples and made them part and parcel of the "official" nationalist myth. At the very least that gives everyone a sense of "nationhood" and rich kids are named after Aztec emperors. Sometimes symbols do matter.
Looks like Evo has managed to project a specific view of the Nation, incorporating the native peoples of the highlands and the lowlands, with the traditional nationalistic middle classes in the highlands and in Cochabamba. And Evo also has to remember that the last time around this Nation also collapsed like a deck of cards. This could get interesting.
Tuesday, February 07, 2006
Monday, February 06, 2006
Cartoons, Danish, and Angry Mobs
Atlas Shrugs some blogger who I have never read before, (and who is a total babe) has a whole bunch of stuff on the controversy.
She points out the obvious double standard, that Arabic newspapers print some ferociously anti-semitic cartoons.
The cartoons are disrespectful, no doubt about it, and maybe they reflect modern Western societies disconnection from religion in general. Print an equivalent image of Christ in Denmark or France, and no one would have noticed, most of us in the West are desensitized to it.
Doesn't help that Western European governments also are perceived as going out of their ways to be (selectively) accomodating to groups such as Muslims and their beliefs - note the whole row over a Brit city council forbidding pig images at work. Ultimately, this enforced tolerance has more to do with reaching accomodations with different cultures, based almost exclusively on their customs and behavior, as if they were not based on deeply held beliefs in a higher power.
The problem is when you get to certain countries where immigrants are pretty much denied the right to become part of the nation vis a vis citizenship, like France or Germany. These mixed messages and marginalization make for a potent cocktail and create resentment.
This also being the year 2006, thoughts and moods are instaneously transmitted back from immigrants to friends and family. A rumor in Brussels gets transmitted to Cairo and vice-versa, with appropriate embellishments in an IM or cell call in a matter of minutes. This cycle just adds fuel to the fire.
She points out the obvious double standard, that Arabic newspapers print some ferociously anti-semitic cartoons.
The cartoons are disrespectful, no doubt about it, and maybe they reflect modern Western societies disconnection from religion in general. Print an equivalent image of Christ in Denmark or France, and no one would have noticed, most of us in the West are desensitized to it.
Doesn't help that Western European governments also are perceived as going out of their ways to be (selectively) accomodating to groups such as Muslims and their beliefs - note the whole row over a Brit city council forbidding pig images at work. Ultimately, this enforced tolerance has more to do with reaching accomodations with different cultures, based almost exclusively on their customs and behavior, as if they were not based on deeply held beliefs in a higher power.
The problem is when you get to certain countries where immigrants are pretty much denied the right to become part of the nation vis a vis citizenship, like France or Germany. These mixed messages and marginalization make for a potent cocktail and create resentment.
This also being the year 2006, thoughts and moods are instaneously transmitted back from immigrants to friends and family. A rumor in Brussels gets transmitted to Cairo and vice-versa, with appropriate embellishments in an IM or cell call in a matter of minutes. This cycle just adds fuel to the fire.
Saturday, February 04, 2006
VOY MUSIC: Nice Comprehensive Site For Latin American Music
VOY Music new platform for Latin Music, has a whole lot of categories, with really good web radio links.
will update this later to provide more info about the company, just launched.
will update this later to provide more info about the company, just launched.
Wednesday, February 01, 2006
Bolvia: Dubya hollas at Evo,
So Bush apparently got on the phone and muttered something in broken Spanish to Evo,who answered back in broken Spanish.
Well, anyway it is the beginning of a dialogue of sorts.
Not bad, considering how occupied Bush is with Iraq and just about everyhing going bonkers for him domestically. As the Economist recently pointed out, Bolivia is at the very bottom of U.S. foreign policy priorities.
Speculation on who or how this came about:
Has there been a true shift in U.S. foreign policy making, from the Imperial White House and Pentagon giving more discretion to Condi and State? Was this initiative something that brewed up from the regional desks at State to Assistant Secretary of State, Shannon, who seems to be very involved in the situation, and then up to the President?
Recent budget cuts and the priority being put on Border control, might be minimizing the voice of anti-narcotics officials in US-Bolivian relations. Ten years ago, the anti-narcotics types would have been in panic mode. As the Economist also pointed out, most of the Bolivian coca production is going to labs in Brazil where it is mostly transhipped to Europe. Maybe there is a pragmatic realization that the U.S. could live with coca production at current levels in Chapare, where production was dramatically lowered after US-assisted erradication efforts.
=
According to Reuters Brazil and Argentina have been urging Washington to reach some sort of modus vivendi with Evo, that would involve continued cooperation in fighting trafficking. The carrot would be continued economic aid, with Brasilia and Buenos Aires brokering the deal, and acting as intermediaries. For Brazil and Argentina that would help undermine Chavez' influence. Brazil would gain some serious leverage in resolving the differences over Petrobras' involvment in Bolivia. I am not surprised by Kirchner quietly pushing for this sort of accomodation, since it is in his countries interest to have stability since Argentina buys a lot of natural gas from Bolivia, and interruptions could lead to problems. In addition, Kirchner is walking a tight rope involving impoverished Argentinians, an economic crisis and instability in Bolivia could lead to a larger increase in emigration to Argentina, something that could be a headache for the Peronista government.
Would not be surprised if Bush's tone is also influenced by information conveyed to him by his brother, who just met with several Latin American recent trip to South America. As the Miami Herald commented recently, the governor is known to be the conduit to the White House for Latin American leaders, whom he is contact with through periodic visits to the area to drum up business for Florida.
So it could be that this approach of engagement, directed through the State Department is taking more into account the the advice of the larger South American countries.
Evo, needs to sell this to his Cocalero unions with the inducement of direct aid to them for alternative crop development. After all, many cocaleros did accept such deals in the past, and they seem to be working ok, with the region's agricultural production increasing. Morales ultimately, can crow all about "stopping" erradication of the acres still in production.. He did make fighting trafficking a priority, so he can really go after the "illegal" production. Its all wait and see at this point, but at least there is a good beginning.
Well, anyway it is the beginning of a dialogue of sorts.
Not bad, considering how occupied Bush is with Iraq and just about everyhing going bonkers for him domestically. As the Economist recently pointed out, Bolivia is at the very bottom of U.S. foreign policy priorities.
Speculation on who or how this came about:
Has there been a true shift in U.S. foreign policy making, from the Imperial White House and Pentagon giving more discretion to Condi and State? Was this initiative something that brewed up from the regional desks at State to Assistant Secretary of State, Shannon, who seems to be very involved in the situation, and then up to the President?
Recent budget cuts and the priority being put on Border control, might be minimizing the voice of anti-narcotics officials in US-Bolivian relations. Ten years ago, the anti-narcotics types would have been in panic mode. As the Economist also pointed out, most of the Bolivian coca production is going to labs in Brazil where it is mostly transhipped to Europe. Maybe there is a pragmatic realization that the U.S. could live with coca production at current levels in Chapare, where production was dramatically lowered after US-assisted erradication efforts.
=
According to Reuters Brazil and Argentina have been urging Washington to reach some sort of modus vivendi with Evo, that would involve continued cooperation in fighting trafficking. The carrot would be continued economic aid, with Brasilia and Buenos Aires brokering the deal, and acting as intermediaries. For Brazil and Argentina that would help undermine Chavez' influence. Brazil would gain some serious leverage in resolving the differences over Petrobras' involvment in Bolivia. I am not surprised by Kirchner quietly pushing for this sort of accomodation, since it is in his countries interest to have stability since Argentina buys a lot of natural gas from Bolivia, and interruptions could lead to problems. In addition, Kirchner is walking a tight rope involving impoverished Argentinians, an economic crisis and instability in Bolivia could lead to a larger increase in emigration to Argentina, something that could be a headache for the Peronista government.
Would not be surprised if Bush's tone is also influenced by information conveyed to him by his brother, who just met with several Latin American recent trip to South America. As the Miami Herald commented recently, the governor is known to be the conduit to the White House for Latin American leaders, whom he is contact with through periodic visits to the area to drum up business for Florida.
So it could be that this approach of engagement, directed through the State Department is taking more into account the the advice of the larger South American countries.
Evo, needs to sell this to his Cocalero unions with the inducement of direct aid to them for alternative crop development. After all, many cocaleros did accept such deals in the past, and they seem to be working ok, with the region's agricultural production increasing. Morales ultimately, can crow all about "stopping" erradication of the acres still in production.. He did make fighting trafficking a priority, so he can really go after the "illegal" production. Its all wait and see at this point, but at least there is a good beginning.
Monday, January 30, 2006
Is Bolivia's New Oil and Gas Minister Really that Stupid?
I had earlier talked about how Soliz Rada, Bolivia's Minister in charge of Hyrdrocarbons sounded, almost....ignorant of some really basic things. Now this AFP article, as well as this Bolivian government communique expounds a bit more on what Soliz Rada said. This reminds me of two true stories
At the beginning of the last century a Bolivian lawyer-slash-politician, gave a speech on the record on some controversy going around that body. He furiously demanded an explanation of how the senate had passed the "law of supply and demand" without his knowledge and vote.
My dad in the 80's, went to some conference/seminar for government officials of developing countries in Venice. One of the delegation was this Peruvian political hack, a very pompous and pretentious lawyer. Impressed by some land mark in the Italian city, he gave an impromptu speech, in quite florid language about how Cervantes had seen his first sunset near said monument, or something to that effect. Fortunately for the honor of Peru, Spain, and the entire Iberian-American world, few people present spoke Spanish, and lawyer boy did not speak English. Unforunately for my dad and the few other Latin Americans, they did understand what he was saying. Can't remember if my dad called him out, but I do know that he exrticated himself and instead hung out with some interesting folks from Sri Lanka.
Anyway, Soliz Rada is cut out of that same cloth as the Bolivian and Peruvian lawyer-politicians. Like other some-what educated South Americans (and the old Southern rural politicans in the United States) his grammar is good, his speech florid, and he can pull big words out of his rear. And like them, all he does is blab incessantly and pompously about things he knows nothing about, without any clue that he is absolutely and utterly wrong.
Soliz Rada has no clue part 1.
Here is my own translation of this first nugget.
Bolivia's gas reserves, he claims are used as "backup by some oil companies", "through some sort of "special registrar" in the New York stock exchange.
Quite indignantly he defends Bolivian soveirgnity claiming that if "these reserves (gas) have to be registered with the stock exchange by anyone, it is by us Bolivians".
Soliz Rada As the master of...... 20/20 hindsight, who Knows? .
So the man that Evo says is "an expert" tells us he is glad because the (2002 Gas War causing) Liquid Natural Gas Project to export liquid gas to the US died, because in his view if it had been ratified, the consortium Pacific LNG would have been able to "register" Bolivian gas as its own, much like Repsol did recently.
So genius boy, it is somehow a good thing that Bolivia does not have a pipeline to the pacific and the ability to produce liquid gas for export, because the scary alternative would have been that SEC filing. I mean that piece of paper would have certainly wiped out any benefit received from thge "consortium" which was prepared to spend billions of dollars in infraestructure and improvement. Pity, those poor Russians and Indonesians who ended up getting this and similar contracts, they now have their entire soveirgnity compromised by quarterly statements. Billions of dollars and revenue be damned.
Soliz Rada CPA, Quick Get Spitzer on it!!!
And of course, our corporate finance and accounting expert, then goes on to say that this registration is an "accounting fraud" and I presume that violates Securities and Exchange Commission regulations, the laws of the State of New York, as well as the offside rule in soccer.
Idiot-boi said what? again
Tu Du Duh!! Ask for the special registrar at the stock exchange, yeah just take the short bus from Queens, ask the driver he will get you right there. LOL.
Yeah, the special petroleum and gas police are going to go down to Bolivia to enforce YPF's "Special Registration". This is funny material, where does he get this stuff from?
Tell you what Solis Rada, go ahead and file something with the SEC. Even better, send me a ten grand retainer and I will go ahead and "register your claim" with the "stock exchange", and for a couple of grand a month more, I might even stop callling you a retard.
Soliz Rada's first law of mutual corporate and government benefit through frozen investments in the hundreds of millions of dollars.
He found it logical that BP was stopping its investments in Bolivia, saying that it was good both for the companies and for Bolivia?????? Not only that, but he thought that Repsol YPF freezing 476 million dollars was also a good thing. He suggested that they should freeze their investments, until they have become fully "transparent", and that they do not have those problems. And by "those problems", in his own circular logic, he is again referring to the SEC filings.
So, we now have the most important sector in Bolivias economy, being ruled by a reporter and lawyer, who does not have a frickn clue about basic corporate finance and the gas industry, and whose views of business are colored by blind leftist dogmatism of the worst kind. Hmmm. I am a lawyer and blogger, and according to some of you I am pretty dogmatic, maybe they should have made me kingpin instead of him, I look much better on TV.
Seriously this is not good at all, we are talkikng about compromising the ability to deal toughly, intelligently, and effectively with big oil multi-nationals and their resources. And, it also is embarrasing as all hell, which is probably why it has bugged me so much. This is the type of Tercermundismo you expected to hear in the immediate post-colonial periods in Africa, the Middle East and Asia. At this stage of the game, no one with any serious responsiblity in a modern industry,talks like that, be it in Jakarta, Johanesburg, Almaty, or Trinidad and Tobaggo. Throwbacks like Soliz Rada just show an old bad side to Bolivia in front of the world, and a side that can cost the country dearly in monetary terms.
So Evo has placed Soliz Rada in charge of "refunding" YPFB, before that they might want to try to "refund" the good ministers brain, cause it ain't working.
At the beginning of the last century a Bolivian lawyer-slash-politician, gave a speech on the record on some controversy going around that body. He furiously demanded an explanation of how the senate had passed the "law of supply and demand" without his knowledge and vote.
My dad in the 80's, went to some conference/seminar for government officials of developing countries in Venice. One of the delegation was this Peruvian political hack, a very pompous and pretentious lawyer. Impressed by some land mark in the Italian city, he gave an impromptu speech, in quite florid language about how Cervantes had seen his first sunset near said monument, or something to that effect. Fortunately for the honor of Peru, Spain, and the entire Iberian-American world, few people present spoke Spanish, and lawyer boy did not speak English. Unforunately for my dad and the few other Latin Americans, they did understand what he was saying. Can't remember if my dad called him out, but I do know that he exrticated himself and instead hung out with some interesting folks from Sri Lanka.
Anyway, Soliz Rada is cut out of that same cloth as the Bolivian and Peruvian lawyer-politicians. Like other some-what educated South Americans (and the old Southern rural politicans in the United States) his grammar is good, his speech florid, and he can pull big words out of his rear. And like them, all he does is blab incessantly and pompously about things he knows nothing about, without any clue that he is absolutely and utterly wrong.
Soliz Rada has no clue part 1.
Here is my own translation of this first nugget.
Bolivia's gas reserves, he claims are used as "backup by some oil companies", "through some sort of "special registrar" in the New York stock exchange.
Quite indignantly he defends Bolivian soveirgnity claiming that if "these reserves (gas) have to be registered with the stock exchange by anyone, it is by us Bolivians".
Soliz Rada As the master of...... 20/20 hindsight, who Knows? .
So the man that Evo says is "an expert" tells us he is glad because the (2002 Gas War causing) Liquid Natural Gas Project to export liquid gas to the US died, because in his view if it had been ratified, the consortium Pacific LNG would have been able to "register" Bolivian gas as its own, much like Repsol did recently.
So genius boy, it is somehow a good thing that Bolivia does not have a pipeline to the pacific and the ability to produce liquid gas for export, because the scary alternative would have been that SEC filing. I mean that piece of paper would have certainly wiped out any benefit received from thge "consortium" which was prepared to spend billions of dollars in infraestructure and improvement. Pity, those poor Russians and Indonesians who ended up getting this and similar contracts, they now have their entire soveirgnity compromised by quarterly statements. Billions of dollars and revenue be damned.
Soliz Rada CPA, Quick Get Spitzer on it!!!
And of course, our corporate finance and accounting expert, then goes on to say that this registration is an "accounting fraud" and I presume that violates Securities and Exchange Commission regulations, the laws of the State of New York, as well as the offside rule in soccer.
Idiot-boi said what? again
Tu Du Duh!! Ask for the special registrar at the stock exchange, yeah just take the short bus from Queens, ask the driver he will get you right there. LOL.
Yeah, the special petroleum and gas police are going to go down to Bolivia to enforce YPF's "Special Registration". This is funny material, where does he get this stuff from?
Tell you what Solis Rada, go ahead and file something with the SEC. Even better, send me a ten grand retainer and I will go ahead and "register your claim" with the "stock exchange", and for a couple of grand a month more, I might even stop callling you a retard.
Soliz Rada's first law of mutual corporate and government benefit through frozen investments in the hundreds of millions of dollars.
He found it logical that BP was stopping its investments in Bolivia, saying that it was good both for the companies and for Bolivia?????? Not only that, but he thought that Repsol YPF freezing 476 million dollars was also a good thing. He suggested that they should freeze their investments, until they have become fully "transparent", and that they do not have those problems. And by "those problems", in his own circular logic, he is again referring to the SEC filings.
So, we now have the most important sector in Bolivias economy, being ruled by a reporter and lawyer, who does not have a frickn clue about basic corporate finance and the gas industry, and whose views of business are colored by blind leftist dogmatism of the worst kind. Hmmm. I am a lawyer and blogger, and according to some of you I am pretty dogmatic, maybe they should have made me kingpin instead of him, I look much better on TV.
Seriously this is not good at all, we are talkikng about compromising the ability to deal toughly, intelligently, and effectively with big oil multi-nationals and their resources. And, it also is embarrasing as all hell, which is probably why it has bugged me so much. This is the type of Tercermundismo you expected to hear in the immediate post-colonial periods in Africa, the Middle East and Asia. At this stage of the game, no one with any serious responsiblity in a modern industry,talks like that, be it in Jakarta, Johanesburg, Almaty, or Trinidad and Tobaggo. Throwbacks like Soliz Rada just show an old bad side to Bolivia in front of the world, and a side that can cost the country dearly in monetary terms.
So Evo has placed Soliz Rada in charge of "refunding" YPFB, before that they might want to try to "refund" the good ministers brain, cause it ain't working.
Sunday, January 29, 2006
Bolivia: Evo Appoints Cocalero To Anti-Drug Post!
This blurb in the Miami Herald, shows that Evo might be leaving the fox in charge of the henhouse. Is it possible this was his agenda all along? Political payback to his backers?
Evo-apologists from the stupid-left like Jim Schultz, routinely gloss over the shenanigans of the cocaleros in Chapare. But the facts are undisputed: most of the coca produced there goes to illegal cocaine production. The Cocalero unions, who control local municipalities and represent many growers, have fought efforts to erradicate this illegal coca production through bribery, intimidation and outright violence. Farmers who sign on for alternative crop programs have been intimidated and attacked, alleged informants have been summarily executed by Cocalero thugs, and alternative crop posts have been burned and ransacked. In sum, MAS operates as a mafia in Chapare, and this is the culture from which this official emerges.
COCA GROWER IS NEW ANTIDRUG OFFICIAL
LA PAZ -- Bolivia's new leftist government swore in a coca grower as Deputy Minister of Social Defense, a post that oversees the fight against drug trafficking in this impoverished Andean nation.
Felipe Cáceres, former mayor of Villa Tunari town in Bolivia's coca-growing Chapare region, was inaugurated as deputy minister late Friday in a ceremony led by Alicia Muñoz, Bolivia's first female interior minister.<
Evo-apologists from the stupid-left like Jim Schultz, routinely gloss over the shenanigans of the cocaleros in Chapare. But the facts are undisputed: most of the coca produced there goes to illegal cocaine production. The Cocalero unions, who control local municipalities and represent many growers, have fought efforts to erradicate this illegal coca production through bribery, intimidation and outright violence. Farmers who sign on for alternative crop programs have been intimidated and attacked, alleged informants have been summarily executed by Cocalero thugs, and alternative crop posts have been burned and ransacked. In sum, MAS operates as a mafia in Chapare, and this is the culture from which this official emerges.
Friday, January 27, 2006
Bolivia: Repsol YPF Freezes 400 Million in New Investments, Bolivia's Oil Minster Says Moronic Things
Taken from Boliviahoy.com
400 million dollars which Repsol was going to invest in Bolivia have been frozen until the regulatory framework is clarified.
Bolivia's rather idiotic minister of gas, Andrés Soliz Rada probably contributed to this by suggesting that the company was somehow committing "accounting fraud" by "registering" its gas reserves in Bolivia with the "stock exchange in New York". Somehow this is an attempt to claim this gas as belonging to the company and not to its legitimate owner the Bolivian people. This moron is seriously deluding himself by claiming that SEC filings are somehow certificates of ownership.
Soliz Rada, sounds downright stupid if he seriously thinks it improper to list gas reserves in fields it is exploiting, in its list of assets. That is a standard practice, and failure to do so would result in an undervaluation of its assets that could get it in trouble, for failure to disclose assets under its duties to its shareholders under SEC regulatory rules. It is a very simple principle, understood by anyone with half a brain and a cursory understanding of elemental corporate finance, corporate rules, and the oil and gas industry. It is routine practice to list and give a valuation in dollar amounts to any executory, long-term contracts you have. If it involves
Soliz Rada got all fired up about a routine filing with the SEC, and which involved more than the reserves the company listed in Bolivia, it included its global holdings. And in Bolivia they revised downward the estimates of what it thought it could extract from gas fields it is exploiting in Bolvia. That depends on economic factors such as increased taxes and/or royalties, as well as key investments which could help its existing efforts. Having trigger-happy morons in command of key ministries definitively does not help.
Soliz Rada, though, doesn't stop there. He now somehow suggested that the companies revision of its reserves somehow constitutes a "giant step towards nationalization" of hyrdocarbons. How in the world that is, I don't have a clue, what I do know is that the guy is a real piece of work.
400 million dollars which Repsol was going to invest in Bolivia have been frozen until the regulatory framework is clarified.
Bolivia's rather idiotic minister of gas, Andrés Soliz Rada probably contributed to this by suggesting that the company was somehow committing "accounting fraud" by "registering" its gas reserves in Bolivia with the "stock exchange in New York". Somehow this is an attempt to claim this gas as belonging to the company and not to its legitimate owner the Bolivian people. This moron is seriously deluding himself by claiming that SEC filings are somehow certificates of ownership.
Soliz Rada, sounds downright stupid if he seriously thinks it improper to list gas reserves in fields it is exploiting, in its list of assets. That is a standard practice, and failure to do so would result in an undervaluation of its assets that could get it in trouble, for failure to disclose assets under its duties to its shareholders under SEC regulatory rules. It is a very simple principle, understood by anyone with half a brain and a cursory understanding of elemental corporate finance, corporate rules, and the oil and gas industry. It is routine practice to list and give a valuation in dollar amounts to any executory, long-term contracts you have. If it involves
Soliz Rada got all fired up about a routine filing with the SEC, and which involved more than the reserves the company listed in Bolivia, it included its global holdings. And in Bolivia they revised downward the estimates of what it thought it could extract from gas fields it is exploiting in Bolvia. That depends on economic factors such as increased taxes and/or royalties, as well as key investments which could help its existing efforts. Having trigger-happy morons in command of key ministries definitively does not help.
Soliz Rada, though, doesn't stop there. He now somehow suggested that the companies revision of its reserves somehow constitutes a "giant step towards nationalization" of hyrdocarbons. How in the world that is, I don't have a clue, what I do know is that the guy is a real piece of work.
Repsol congela $us 400 millones de inversión en Bolivia
El presidente de la petrolera hispano-argentina Repsol YPF, Antonio Brufau, ha señalado que las inversiones de 400 millones de euros en Bolivia van a quedar congeladas "hasta que se clarifique el marco regulatorio" de la nueva ley de hidrocarburos, aunque subrayó la disposición de la petrolera al diálogo con el nuevo Gobierno del país andino.
Según Brufau, las inversiones están en 'stand-by' porque en la situación actual "es difícil comprometer inversiones a largo plazo", dijo en declaraciones a la prensa internacional.
El máximo responsable de Repsol YPF restó importancia a la decisión del gobierno boliviano de revisar la inscripción de las reservas de gas natural de la compañía en la bolsa de Nueva York.
Según Brufau, el problema no radica en la titularidad de las reservas, ya que en la mayor parte de los países productores son propiedad del Estado, sino en la capacidad de las petroleras para anotárselas, algo que se hace habitualmente.
Por otro lado, la petrolera hispano-argentina ha anunciado una reducción de sus reservas de gas en el país andino en un 25%. La mitad de esa reducción corresponde a las reservas de la compañía en Bolivia.
Mexico: "EZLN Warning, Penguin On Board" Pinguino and Marcos
Talk about the motorcycle diaries. So Pinguino is touring Mexico with Marcos, now known as Delegado Zero, on the "Sup's" 2006 tour.
Apparently when he first left on motorcycle, he had a special container for the bird, which bore a warning site reading: "EZLN Warning, Penguin On Board" LMAO.
Pinguino, according to Marcos groupies, now has a title: El pingüino de la Sexta Declaración de la Selva Lacandona translated roughly as The Penguin From the Sixth Declaration of the Lacandona Jungle
Stories about it, here, here, and here.
Apparently when he first left on motorcycle, he had a special container for the bird, which bore a warning site reading: "EZLN Warning, Penguin On Board" LMAO.
Pinguino, according to Marcos groupies, now has a title: El pingüino de la Sexta Declaración de la Selva Lacandona translated roughly as The Penguin From the Sixth Declaration of the Lacandona Jungle
Stories about it, here, here, and here.
Subcomandante Marcos Appears In Houston!!!!!
WOW, this is huge!
For the past couple of years, Marcos has been mostly out of the media spotlight, and has just recently started making noise again.
The reason for those years of silence is that he quietly slipped away from the Selva Lacondana, moved to the U.S., Houston specifically, and assumed the personality of rapper Chingo Bling. Whenever "Marcos" was needed back in the jungle he would fly back incognito.
Sounds weird, but think about it people.
Both Marcos and Chingo are relentless self-promoters, hustlers, and ladies men. But the real smoking gun is that both travel with a rooster, Marcos' Pinguino and Chingo's Cleto bear an amazing resemblance. Pinguino for angrily attacking deviationist guerillas at ELZN basecamps, and Cleto for killing pitbulls.
Anyway, you be the judge, pics are attached, and these are about five months apart, which in Rooster years is big.
Marcos and Pinguino
Chingo Bling and Cleto
For the past couple of years, Marcos has been mostly out of the media spotlight, and has just recently started making noise again.
The reason for those years of silence is that he quietly slipped away from the Selva Lacondana, moved to the U.S., Houston specifically, and assumed the personality of rapper Chingo Bling. Whenever "Marcos" was needed back in the jungle he would fly back incognito.
Sounds weird, but think about it people.
Both Marcos and Chingo are relentless self-promoters, hustlers, and ladies men. But the real smoking gun is that both travel with a rooster, Marcos' Pinguino and Chingo's Cleto bear an amazing resemblance. Pinguino for angrily attacking deviationist guerillas at ELZN basecamps, and Cleto for killing pitbulls.
Anyway, you be the judge, pics are attached, and these are about five months apart, which in Rooster years is big.
Marcos and Pinguino
Chingo Bling and Cleto
Entertainment: Can Somebody Please Fix AOL Latino?
AOL is like Bally's Fitness, one of those annoying over-priced things you seem to sign up with for life. Whatever, I admit it I am a long-time AOL subscriber, maybe its the convenience of having the same main email addy there for the past decade or so.
So they do the whole AOL Latino thing, so I put it up as my preference. '
Content wise, they are months behind everything else, be it Univision, Es-Mas, or Yahoo.
Like today they have "Super Estrenos" or supposedly new tunes.
Check out the listing:
'Don't Bother' - Shakira
'I Don't Care' - Ricky Martin
'La cadena de oro' - Cabas
'Reggaetón latino' - Don Omar
'Baby Blues' - Andrea Echeverri
Admittedly, they deserve major props on the Andrea Echeverri tune, she is a genius, and the Shakira single qualifies as new.
Bu WTF is up with the Don Omar, Ricky Martin and Cabas songs? Those were on heavy rotation on Mun2, MTV, and "Hurban" radio, months ago.
Not that AOL Latino doesn't have some truly neat features, such as the Sessiones @ AOL, which is top acts like Bacilos and Juanes in private sessions. They have also aired music by acts like Plastilina Mosh, Volumen Cero, and Kinky when these were pretty much ignored by the Univision/Televisa cartel.
But ultimately, new is new, and these people need to keep their content extremely fresh, if they really want to make serious inroads among Latinos in the US of A, particularly young kids. you need to keep the content at least as current as what you can see or hear on TV or the radio, in order for it to be relevant. In an ideal world, AOL Latino's music section would complement what a Miami or Houston resident would be able to see on Mun2. Maybe it is the fact that the content part can actualy be good sometimes, but it is maddening to see them so far behind in some respects.
So they do the whole AOL Latino thing, so I put it up as my preference. '
Content wise, they are months behind everything else, be it Univision, Es-Mas, or Yahoo.
Like today they have "Super Estrenos" or supposedly new tunes.
Check out the listing:
'Don't Bother' - Shakira
'I Don't Care' - Ricky Martin
'La cadena de oro' - Cabas
'Reggaetón latino' - Don Omar
'Baby Blues' - Andrea Echeverri
Admittedly, they deserve major props on the Andrea Echeverri tune, she is a genius, and the Shakira single qualifies as new.
Bu WTF is up with the Don Omar, Ricky Martin and Cabas songs? Those were on heavy rotation on Mun2, MTV, and "Hurban" radio, months ago.
Not that AOL Latino doesn't have some truly neat features, such as the Sessiones @ AOL, which is top acts like Bacilos and Juanes in private sessions. They have also aired music by acts like Plastilina Mosh, Volumen Cero, and Kinky when these were pretty much ignored by the Univision/Televisa cartel.
But ultimately, new is new, and these people need to keep their content extremely fresh, if they really want to make serious inroads among Latinos in the US of A, particularly young kids. you need to keep the content at least as current as what you can see or hear on TV or the radio, in order for it to be relevant. In an ideal world, AOL Latino's music section would complement what a Miami or Houston resident would be able to see on Mun2. Maybe it is the fact that the content part can actualy be good sometimes, but it is maddening to see them so far behind in some respects.
Hamas and MAS the Ugly Side of Democracy (HA - MAS)
Well Hamas wins in the occupied territories and Evo Morales takes the elections in Bolivia. While Evo is a throwback to some of the most outdated and stupid socialistic doctrines, he is nowhere close to being a violent terrorist, but there is a lot in common in both recent votes, besides freaking out Washington.
Both victories owe a lot to the "throw the bums out" feeling in populations frustrated by the inability of their elected officials to govern honestly. Clientilism and corruption in government is fairly new to Palestinians, given the fact that they have not governed themselves for too long, but it is old hat to most Bolivians. And like Fatah, the traditional Bolivian parties (and by definition the upper class elites) had a long and tarnished history of governance. And they were clearly not able to get their house in order for this election, in the same way Fatah presented a divided and confusing face to the Palestinian voters.
At the very least it is a truism in both cases that the freedom to express ones self and the right to vote have given both populations options they did not have 30 years ago. The people have spoken, and the message they have given is that it will not be business as usual. That ultimately should act as a wake-up call to the Bolivians and Palestinians that they must shape up if they ever want to be in power again. And it also is a message to the new rulers that they must govern efficiently and make compromises that befits statesman.
What is crucial in the long run, is how well the institutions on which a democracy depends can survive. Elected governments, can devolve into paralysis, mob rule, and/or single party rule. But, fortunately for Bolivia, its state has been pruned down from its earlier excesses, and power has been spread out to the provinces. Bolivias democracy has been surprisingly resillient, and the new centers of power in places like Santa Cruz will ultimately keep Evo honest, or the golden goose will simply move away and become another country. If MAS stops being the party of economic nonsense and stupidity and embraces economic reality, the long-term future of Bolivia might not be compromised.
Hamas is more complicated, it will have to change its stated goals and terrorist methods, and live up to its reputation as an honest administrator. It faces the might of the Israel Defence Forces as a brake on any attempt to continue to behave as a terrorist organization. The Palestinians certainly deserve both good government and peace.
Both victories owe a lot to the "throw the bums out" feeling in populations frustrated by the inability of their elected officials to govern honestly. Clientilism and corruption in government is fairly new to Palestinians, given the fact that they have not governed themselves for too long, but it is old hat to most Bolivians. And like Fatah, the traditional Bolivian parties (and by definition the upper class elites) had a long and tarnished history of governance. And they were clearly not able to get their house in order for this election, in the same way Fatah presented a divided and confusing face to the Palestinian voters.
At the very least it is a truism in both cases that the freedom to express ones self and the right to vote have given both populations options they did not have 30 years ago. The people have spoken, and the message they have given is that it will not be business as usual. That ultimately should act as a wake-up call to the Bolivians and Palestinians that they must shape up if they ever want to be in power again. And it also is a message to the new rulers that they must govern efficiently and make compromises that befits statesman.
What is crucial in the long run, is how well the institutions on which a democracy depends can survive. Elected governments, can devolve into paralysis, mob rule, and/or single party rule. But, fortunately for Bolivia, its state has been pruned down from its earlier excesses, and power has been spread out to the provinces. Bolivias democracy has been surprisingly resillient, and the new centers of power in places like Santa Cruz will ultimately keep Evo honest, or the golden goose will simply move away and become another country. If MAS stops being the party of economic nonsense and stupidity and embraces economic reality, the long-term future of Bolivia might not be compromised.
Hamas is more complicated, it will have to change its stated goals and terrorist methods, and live up to its reputation as an honest administrator. It faces the might of the Israel Defence Forces as a brake on any attempt to continue to behave as a terrorist organization. The Palestinians certainly deserve both good government and peace.
Thursday, January 26, 2006
Evo Mugabe????
The guy appointed by Evo to be energy minister is a socialist dinosaur, and a total moron. Ditto for some of the third rate academics, who are entrusted with public finances. The good news is that Bolivia has had incompetent ministers for most of her history.
There is a huge rush to get the traditional goodies associated with government, namely jobs and appointments. Expect some extremely incompetent people to come to office, as well as the carpetbaggers from Bolivia's old left (MNRI, PS1), who rode the Evo bandwagon. In other words, expect the same type of old-school corruption and and a nouveau riche bureaucrats at the top.
Some of the folks at some minor posts, with experience in local governance, might do a surprisingly good job. Thank Goni and US-AID for that, it was his innovative Popular Participation law in the 90's, combined with US AID funding that helped develop local governance in municipalities, many of which ended up as MAS strongholds.
So-called Neo-liberalist policies, have actually produced a much leaner State, whose finances are much more transparent than they have ever been in Bolivia's history. Any attempts to enlarge these institutions will be subject to much public scrutiny, some of it, paradoxically coming from the social movements themselves.
As for Evo, it is one thing to bring down the government, it is another to run it. He will confront reality pretty soon. And the reality is that no matter what the retread left says, sound macro-economic policy including an anti-inflationary monetary policy, limited government spending, and freedom for foreign investment - in sum the Neo-liberal bogeyman - is a good thing. Reversing some of the will get you nowhere near "social justice", and will only plunge you into more poverty. Bolivia can not afford any such failures.
There is a huge rush to get the traditional goodies associated with government, namely jobs and appointments. Expect some extremely incompetent people to come to office, as well as the carpetbaggers from Bolivia's old left (MNRI, PS1), who rode the Evo bandwagon. In other words, expect the same type of old-school corruption and and a nouveau riche bureaucrats at the top.
Some of the folks at some minor posts, with experience in local governance, might do a surprisingly good job. Thank Goni and US-AID for that, it was his innovative Popular Participation law in the 90's, combined with US AID funding that helped develop local governance in municipalities, many of which ended up as MAS strongholds.
So-called Neo-liberalist policies, have actually produced a much leaner State, whose finances are much more transparent than they have ever been in Bolivia's history. Any attempts to enlarge these institutions will be subject to much public scrutiny, some of it, paradoxically coming from the social movements themselves.
As for Evo, it is one thing to bring down the government, it is another to run it. He will confront reality pretty soon. And the reality is that no matter what the retread left says, sound macro-economic policy including an anti-inflationary monetary policy, limited government spending, and freedom for foreign investment - in sum the Neo-liberal bogeyman - is a good thing. Reversing some of the will get you nowhere near "social justice", and will only plunge you into more poverty. Bolivia can not afford any such failures.
Tuesday, January 24, 2006
The Axis of Stupidity
LOL, now we have the trifecta completed, of pathetic uber-leftist idiots in power.
So Evo Morales, fresh after praising Mao, and claiming that Fidel is a democrat finally gets his wish and now runs at least half of Bolivia. Starts off nicely too, appointing some total ignoramuses to high posts. Don't know what is worse: the inevitable corruption and clientilism, or someone actually trying to impelment the outdated socialist crap these retards are spewing.
In sheer stupidity he rivals Hugo Chavez who recently accused the Jews of somehow ousting Simon Bolivar from power a couple of centuries ago, something straight out of the Lyndon Larouche book of paranoia.
It was the Illuminati Hugo.
And Fidel is Fidel of course.
So Evo Morales, fresh after praising Mao, and claiming that Fidel is a democrat finally gets his wish and now runs at least half of Bolivia. Starts off nicely too, appointing some total ignoramuses to high posts. Don't know what is worse: the inevitable corruption and clientilism, or someone actually trying to impelment the outdated socialist crap these retards are spewing.
In sheer stupidity he rivals Hugo Chavez who recently accused the Jews of somehow ousting Simon Bolivar from power a couple of centuries ago, something straight out of the Lyndon Larouche book of paranoia.
It was the Illuminati Hugo.
And Fidel is Fidel of course.
Thursday, October 27, 2005
Rock You Like a Hurricane!!!
Just had to throw the over-used Scorpions reference in. For the anti-globalemmings out there who can't stand me, sorry I did not get sucked out of my window by Wilma, electrocuted by a power line, or hit by an errant tree branch.
Got power finally, that sure was four days of fun without electric. Well, time to figure out the whole gasoline situation, which they say sucks.
Got power finally, that sure was four days of fun without electric. Well, time to figure out the whole gasoline situation, which they say sucks.
Thursday, October 20, 2005
Chavez At Full Samba
A top Venezuelan official confirmed that the State-run oil company, PVDSA, will be sponsoring a float at Rio de Janeiro's annual Carnaval. Left unsaid, according to one local wag, was whether Chavez was going to deliver on his public promise to go dance with nubile young garotas at the huge event. As the "other" Venezuelan Amigos Invisibles at Petroleumworld.com suggest, this fun would cost Venezuelan taxpayers about a cool million or two. Seems like the spectacle of Chavez cavorting with statuesque Cariocas, in the interest of spreading the Bolivarian Revolution, carries a pretty high price tag for Venezuelas citizens.
Friday, October 14, 2005
Another Name For The Bolivarian Revolution
Some Venezuelans refer to it as the "Robo-lucion"
hehehehehehehehehe,
Its Not Only Havana
About 100 miles north of Castro's paradise, another city inhabited by Cubans is also enjoying the fruits of the Bolivarian Revolution. It is whispered that so many of Chavez' cronies are buying houses, condos, and commercial properties in the Miami area, that it is helping to fuel the current real estate lunacy going on in the Metro Dade area.
hehehehehehehehehe,
Its Not Only Havana
About 100 miles north of Castro's paradise, another city inhabited by Cubans is also enjoying the fruits of the Bolivarian Revolution. It is whispered that so many of Chavez' cronies are buying houses, condos, and commercial properties in the Miami area, that it is helping to fuel the current real estate lunacy going on in the Metro Dade area.
Bolivia: Quispe Threatens To Take Up Arms
Aymara leader, and presidential candidate, Felipe Quispe (Mallku) has threatened to take up armas, if he loses the elections, according to this AFP piece reprinted in Petroleumworld
Quispe has previously admitted he has trained guerillas in the highland region.
While Quispe has strained relations with Evo Morales and MAS, and has recently stated that Evo is not ready to govern Bolivia, and has made "deals" with the "neo-liberals". he has been close to Garcia Linera the MAS VP candidate. They were both involved in the same guerilla movement, were jailed, and the lilly-white Garcia Linera is somewhat of a theoretical guru to the Aymara activist.
That relationship makes me wonder if Quispe - who has no chance of winning- is purposefully playing the extreme, to make Morales more palatable to the urban middle classes in the highlands. If Morales is seen as a relatively moderate alternative among indigenous leaders, as well as having the credibility and strength among the indigenous base he could receive the votes of middle class voters wanting stability.
Quispe has previously admitted he has trained guerillas in the highland region.
While Quispe has strained relations with Evo Morales and MAS, and has recently stated that Evo is not ready to govern Bolivia, and has made "deals" with the "neo-liberals". he has been close to Garcia Linera the MAS VP candidate. They were both involved in the same guerilla movement, were jailed, and the lilly-white Garcia Linera is somewhat of a theoretical guru to the Aymara activist.
That relationship makes me wonder if Quispe - who has no chance of winning- is purposefully playing the extreme, to make Morales more palatable to the urban middle classes in the highlands. If Morales is seen as a relatively moderate alternative among indigenous leaders, as well as having the credibility and strength among the indigenous base he could receive the votes of middle class voters wanting stability.
Wednesday, October 05, 2005
Venezuela Chavez' "Bolivarian" Computers
More comedy from Caracas! Hype From Hugo.
Chavez now decides to embark on building a so-called "Bolivarian" Computer for Venezuela, in a joint venture with a Chinese Company story here.
Underneath all the nonsense is the plain fact that this whole thing is no more than an assembly plant for Chinese-made computer components. Assembling computers has been done in basements, and in cheap-labor plants all over the world for years. So much for innovation, this is more maquilladora than "incubadora".
Chavez now decides to embark on building a so-called "Bolivarian" Computer for Venezuela, in a joint venture with a Chinese Company story here.
Underneath all the nonsense is the plain fact that this whole thing is no more than an assembly plant for Chinese-made computer components. Assembling computers has been done in basements, and in cheap-labor plants all over the world for years. So much for innovation, this is more maquilladora than "incubadora".
Wednesday, September 21, 2005
Thursday, September 01, 2005
Timeout Time Kids!!
Expect little, if any, posts for the next week or so, I am travelling. Too bad for some of my anonymous "admirers" - but there is other stuff on the internet for them to get angry about.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)