| Since the end of World War II the USA has intervened | | | | re-negotiate all contracts with the gas suppliers in |
| in Latin America countless times in order to keep the | | | | Bolivia which included Centrica which owns British Gas. |
| balance of power in the interest of the USA. The | | | | These contracts were to be renegotiated back into |
| Panama Canal and Bay of Pigs are just two of many | | | | the favour of the government of the host country. The |
| examples. Like the UK in Africa, it was originally about | | | | gas companies refused to agree to the terms which |
| the cold war and combating the rise of the Communist | | | | Morales said would still provide a return of 20-25% |
| influence of Russia. | | | | profit during the life of the contract. The gas |
| With the end of the Cold War, what ideological reason | | | | companies refused on the basis that if they agreed for |
| did the USA have for remaining in control both politically | | | | the terms to be renegotiated in Bolivia with them taking |
| and economically in Latin America? It was all about | | | | a smaller piece of the pie, then this would open the |
| money, big business and control. Some large multi | | | | flood gates for other countries to do the same. So |
| nationals in the USA have bigger incomes than many | | | | what they do is they vilify those leaders via the press |
| countries in Latin America, Africa and Asia. Isn't it | | | | with the stance that they are anti-business and not to |
| grotesque that companies are more powerful that | | | | be trusted. The CIA has intervened many times in the |
| presidents and heads of state? If they competed on a | | | | past to remove leaders they don't see as suitable to |
| level playing field, then I'm sure that the companies | | | | the big business interests and politics of the USA. A |
| would never have grown to the size that they are. | | | | recent example is the removal of Saddam from Iraq, |
| Halliburton started by Dick Cheney is just one example | | | | Halliburton and other big companies have now moved |
| of a multi-billion pound country working in Iraq and | | | | into Iraq and a recent audit commission by the USA |
| around Latin America, obtaining contracts often | | | | government states that $8 billion has gone missing |
| awarded by the IMF and World Bank. | | | | from oil revenues since the invasion. Governments in |
| The continuing poverty in Latin America has meant | | | | Africa and Latin America have been removed for less |
| that indigenous leaders with an anti-poverty agenda | | | | than half that amount but because this money has |
| have become popular for the first time in hundreds of | | | | gone missing on while the allies are in charge. They |
| years. This popularity has been sparked by the | | | | just say that they need to tighten procedures. All this |
| collapse of Argentina and the continuing privatization of | | | | info is available via reputable(?) media sources if you |
| everyday necessities such as water and | | | | google it. |
| communications. In Latin America these privatizations | | | | The end result is that Latin American leaders have had |
| often to lead to huge price increases meaning that the | | | | enough. They want to exploit natural resources for the |
| majority poor of these countries cannot even get | | | | good of the people of their own countries and not |
| access to basic needs. | | | | those located in the developed world. That's why we |
| But the recently elected indigenous leaders of | | | | will see a continuing polorisation and small scale trade |
| Venezuela and Bolivia are starting to bite back at the | | | | agreements between these emerging countries in Latin |
| role of the USA, IMF, World Bank and other countries | | | | America that are beginning to 'bite back' at their former |
| that they see have exploited the minerals and wealth | | | | masters. The way they do this?.where it hurts the |
| of their countries. Morales in Bolivia recently offered to | | | | most?. Money, business and power! |