When he nationalized Bolivia’s natural gas companies, soon after being elected, Evo Morales threw Petrobras out of the country, leaving Brazil close to an energy crisis while he threatened to increase the fuel’s price. The situation still hasn’t been solved, since Morales says he’ll only negotiate with diplomats, while Lula’s Foreign Relations Ministry says this is a technical matter that should be dealt with by Petrobras officials.
Meanwhile, Brazil has notified its neighbour that it intends to build two hydroelectric power plants in the Madeira river, very close to the countries’ borders. Which, if you ask me, was already an unnecessary courtesy. But what was the Bolivian government’s response? They’re saying they won’t accept (.br) Brazil’s plans – cause the studies they’ve been presented with are not conclusive about the possible environmental implications to Bolivia -, and want a binational project for the region.
So, they kick Petrobras out of the country, hold a good deal of our energy matrix hostage while threatening to increase gas prices, and now want to decide what the government can or can’t build in Brazil’s own territory? I think it’s more than time for someone to teach mr. Morales a lesson on how to do proper politics.
2 responses so far ↓
Cisco // February 12, 2007 at 11:00 am |
“I think it’s more than time for someone to teach mr. Morales a lesson on how to do proper politics.”
It is high time to teach the man a lesson, but I’m not sure our diplomats and ministers know the lesson well enough to teach it.
Glenn // March 8, 2007 at 1:06 pm |
What do you expect in response to a plan to dam the Madeira River, flooding Bolivian rainforests, including a newly established forest reserve in the process? Morales is sticking up for the rights of local communities in the face of a Brazilian juggernaut which plans to build 60 new large dams on the rivers of the Amazon.