After landing in La Paz at the world’s highest international airport (El Alto) I spent the next two days in the country’s capital adjusting to the altitude, exploring the city, and familiarizing myself with Bolivian norms and culture. La Paz is busy and bustling, with a mix of modernity and traditional Bolivian culture. On my second day in La Paz, after wandering aimlessly around the city center, I turned a corner to find myself about 20 feet from President Evo Morales who was giving a speech to commemorate and pay tribute to the women of Bolivia as September 5th is International Indigenous Women’s Day. The Plaza was filled with Bolivians and indigenous women marched through the streets throwing flowers as marching bands provided the beat. Everyone showed so much praise for Evo — Bolivia’s first indigenous President (Aymara) — despite his recent right-leaning political tendencies and contradictions concerning the indigenous population and ‘Pacha Mama’. (See article)

http://english.aljazeera.net/indepth/opinion/2011/09/201197105514717750.html

The following day I took a 7 hour ($5) bus ride to Cochabamba — the “City of Eternal Spring” of the “Garden City” — as it is commonly known. Cochabamba is a bit more tranquil, has a smaller city center, a population of roughly 600,000 (urban) and lots of young people. The city is located in a valley surrounded by the Andes with a Rio-like Christo overlooking the city atop a mountain. The climate is great — about 25*C every day and mild at night. The city has a great feel with lots of cafes, bars, restaurants, plazas, green space, etc. It also has a bustling market called “La Cancha” which spans something like 10×10 blocks. Huge. And full of everything.

Finally, I went to el Centro de Documentacion e Informacion Bolivia (CEDIB) which is the organization I’ll be working with for the next 3 months. Here I am doing research on the mining industry’s social and environmental effects in the state or Oruro. Specifically, issues of food security are of importance and whether or not the mining industry’s overall economic benefits outweigh its social, environmental, and economic (in terms of agricultural production) costs. There is much debate about mining and development (resource curse, dutch disease, etc.) as many resource-rich countries or regions are often the poorest. As Evo is a president symbolic of indigenous rights and defending the environment (Pacha Mama) this study will examine whether or not his rhetoric is put into practice or whether the forces of neoliberalism are infiltrating his policy-making and decisions.
CEDIB produces a magazine every 2-3 months on in-country issues and societal effects. I am working with a research team devoted to food security and the mining industry and am working alongside another SFD intern from Saint Mary’s University – Isaac Gray — along with 4 ‘Cochabambinos’ who are employed at CEDIB on a full-time basis.
So far, my time here has been great — the people at CEDIB have been extremely friendly and helpful and the work environment has been quite independent and flexible.
As time goes by, I’ll be blogging mainly about my experiences living in Cochabamba, as well as providing updates on the research project.
Chau!

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