The Price Of Fire Resource Wars And Social Movements In Bolivia

Have New Social Movements in Bolivia emerged over the "price of fire"-access to basic elements of survival like water, gas, land, coca, employment, and Other Resources. Thesis though Movements helped Pave the Way to the presidency for indigenous coca grower Evo Morales in 2005, They Have Made It Clear That Their fight for self-determination Does not End at the Ballot Box. From the first moments of Spanish colonization to today's headlines, The Price of Fire Offers a gripping account of clashes in Bolivia Between corporate and people's power, contextualizing Them Regionally, Culturally, and Historically.

Benjamin Dangl has WORKED year as independent journalist THROUGHOUT Latin America, writing for publications Such as Z Magazine, The Nation and The Progressive. He Is The editor of TowardFreedom.com, a progressive perspective is world events, and UpsideDownWorld.org, year online magazine wraps activism and politics in Latin America. Benjamin won a 2007 Project Censored Award for historical coverage of U.S. military operations in Paraguay.

"Price of Fire is Not Yet Another bleak 'tell-all' account of globalization, icts pages are filled With stories of Resistance, Struggle and, Above All, hope." Ballve-Teo, editor of The NACLA Report on the Americas and co -editor of Dispatches from Latin America

"Ben Dangl Takes the reader is unforgettable and inspiring year Journey Through Bolivia and Neighboring Countries, Providing a window on The Revolutionary Struggles of the Poor and Dispossessed, and particularly On The resurgence of indigenous resistance and leadership."-Roxanne Dunbar-Ortiz, author of Blood on the Border: A Memoir Of The Contra War

"Most Americans know nothing of Bolivia, ignorance That year only plays" Into the hands of empires. Ben Dangl's book informative and inspiring Both IS, a cure pour la apathy That Grows From That ignorance. A must-read for Those Already Interested in Solidarity With Latin America and indigenous people. "-Tom Hayden, author of The Zapatista Reader and Street Wars

"Ben Dangl has found himself" Under the Skin of the Bolivian freedom Struggle: he accurately Represents icts Constraints, Opportunities icts, and Its Hopes. "-Vijay Prashad, author of The Darker Nations: A People's History of the Third World

"With great empathy and lucid prose, Dangl capture the exemplary courage That has put Latin America in The Vanguard of the New Internationalism and has made it one of The Few bright spots we have n OTHERWISE dismal global landscape."-Greg Grandin, author of Empire's Workshop

"Price of Fire by Ben Dangl INFORMS, insults, and builds hope. People's Movements for societal betterment in South America are annually inspiration for human rights activists worldwide and Dangl Gives us a full serving of encouragement and hope. He documents how Historical Imperialism, Dominated my U.S. corporate / government interests "capital, IS Being Successfully Challenged by indigenous activists. Is The Price of Fire story of cultural resistance from the Street to geo International-Political alliances. I highly recommend this book for working people, students, AND radical democrats to Hear the voices of South American People and Their chronicle of grassroots Democratic Empowerment. "-Peter Phillips, Professor Sociology, Sonoma State University, Director Project Censored, and co-editor Dennis Loo of Impeach With The President: The Case Against Bush and Cheney

Posted In: Bolivia

Alexandra Mallak says...

William Powers' book gave me knowledge that only an individual with personal experience in his subject area can give.Going into the Bolivian Amazon, the author brought with him preconceived notions of how

the environment there should best be handled for the benefit of all. He left knowing that no program there would be a success unless the long-held beliefs, perceptions, and practices of indigenous peoples were incorporated into such a program.

I found Power's enlightenment both exciting and encouraging.His experience means that the rest of us can can be enlightened as well, if only we want to be.It also clarified why some 'green' projects are doomed from the beginning, i.e. when local issues are ignored or mishandled.

In addition, this book is very well written and a pleasure to read. Highly recommended.

Posted on February 9, 2011

Eddie Kofutua says...

I have to say, I'm envious of Bill Powers' writing abilities and his experience in Bolivia.Thanks to his detailed descriptions of character conversations, speeches, emotions, reactions, etc., I feel like I could easily recognize any of his Conservation International colleagues - Salvador, Smithers, Len - if I saw any one of them on the street...or deep in the Bolivian jungle.I did wonder whatever happened to the author's relationships with Daniel and Ana

Posted on February 10, 2011

Mira Mak says...

So much good writing is being done about the need to develop sustainable life styles that it's difficult to sort out the best. This is a very important and readable book in that context. William Powers was there in Bolivia struggling with the tension between an indigenous Amazon tribe and the attempt of apparently well-meaning nonprofits and industrialists to change the natives. For those who think we can go back to living in the pre-industrial world, and for those who are looking for a better answer, this is an engaging story of great importance.

Posted on February 10, 2011

Gwyn Mctiernan says...

I guess I have a bone to pick with this title, as I'm the author of at least 90% of the background information; I wrote the first four editions of this book, but failed to receive any author credit this time around. However, the newly inserted practical information seems to be solid, despite the fact that the new updater(s) lacked much time to put it together and Lonely Planet's new format dictated the deletion of lots of information that I'd consider both useful and entertaining - and in some cases essential. I'm sorry to see what has happened to 'my baby' (this was the first book I wrote for Lonely Planet), but that's through no fault of the current updater(s). In fact, I believe it's still the best available guide to Bolivia. Happy travels in that wonderfully enigmatic country!

Posted on February 11, 2011

Elenor Tetteh says...

Whispering in the Giant's Ear: A Frontline Chronicle from Bolivia's War on Globalization by William Powers. I found out more information about him on his website[...]. The book covers the author's experiences on the ground in Bolivia over the country's dramatic last five years. The book is eloquently written, filled with anecdotes from Mr. Powers' time there, and many other essential details one should know when visiting this lesser known place. This book provides a highly readable history of Bolivia and its current challenges. Additionally, it provides a detailed look into the relationship between a "gringo" do-gooder and the locals. It's a must read for anyone planning on visiting Bolivia any time soon.

Posted on February 13, 2011

Colleen Devaughn says...

As a North American, the media, if it reports about Latin America, our southern neighbors, at all, it is usually muddled and simplified. I am always skeptical when all the media is biased in union and regurgitating the same refrains. I always have to make an extensive effort to get even a basic understanding of what is really happening in the "Other Americas".



This book is a clear window. It contextualizes events instead of using a broad stroke for the entire continent. It makes clear and startling connections between what is happening down there and the United States deliberate and active roles in it and in their history and current events.



For anyone curious about the social changes and revolutions happening down there, for anyone desiring an unmuddled view of Latin America and its past events, get this book.



This is from an independent journalist without corporations he needs to please. Definitely recommended. An inspiring, thought provoking read.



(Thank you AK Press for sending me this as my monthly book for being a Friend of AK Press!)

Posted on February 14, 2011

Mica Tingler says...

For anyone wanting to learn more about the exciting social movements that are rocking Bolivia and transforming the continent, I highly recommend this informative book. Benjamin Dangl has really done an amazing job bringing to life the various struggles of working-class Bolivians to reclaim the basic elements of survival like water, gas, land, and dignified jobs. More than just the triumphant story of the people's movement to elect the indigenous leader Evo Morales, this book is about the popular resistance of Bolivian miners, farm workers, factory workers, and students to the economic and political catastrophes caused by neoliberalism. Internationalist in perspective, this book interlinks the Bolivian revolution with revolutionary movements in Venezuela and Argentina. As someone interested in integrating art and politics, I found the chapter on Bolivian hip hop, street theater, and Mujeres Creando to be especially fascinating and imagine that others involved in, say, building giant street puppets, painting public murals, or writing folk music would enjoy this as well. As the poorest nation in South America, a nation burdened with the tragic history of Operation Condor and the military dictatorship of Hugo Banzer, Bolivia is helping to pave the way for justice, peace, and liberation in Latin America.

Posted on February 14, 2011

Glenda Eichorst says...

I have written a full review of this book [...]but in short, I think this book is very well-written and honest.Powers is a keen observer of Bolivian culture and is not afraid to present us with situations that do not fit neatly into even the narrative he wishes to create.This is well worth reading, both by Bolivianists and by those who are curious about the politics surrounding indigenous groups and national parks in South America.

Posted on February 15, 2011

Lacy Mikrot says...

I have just finished Whispering in the Giant's Ear and felt compelled to write a review. So much of what Powers has written about Bolivia has struck a chord with me, as I have just returned from Bolivia on assignment for a Canadian magazine. As I read this book, I found myself on the edge of my seat, anxious to see how Powers dealt with many of the same contradictions and frustrations I witnessed traveling through the Andes and into the low-lying areas in the east.This book's obsession with the fine line betweenromanticism and pragmatism, the spiritual difficulty in assigning "value" to a forest in order to ensure its protection, makes it an absolutely crucial (and very entertaining) read for anyone interesting in globalization, indigenous rights, environmentalism, global warming, Kyoto, NGOs... the list goes on. Pick up this book. Expose yourself to one of the most heart-wrenching (and under-reported) social dramas currently unfolding on our planet.

Posted on February 17, 2011

Shirly Vancleave says...

Things across Latin America look like they've heating up in the last five years to the breaking point. After decades of military rule, right-wing forces, banana republics, and domination by foreign companies, governments in Latin America crushing left-wing movements and people fighting the old orders of extreme wealth and extreme poverty, it really looks like those days are through. Social movements are no longer an isolated thing. From the autonomous movements in Argentina, to the Landless People's Movement in Brazil, to even (to some extent) charismatic left-wing rulers like Hugo Chavez, to the Zapatistas and their supporters in southern Mexico, it looks like from this vantage point in the mid-atlantic region of the United States, that Latin America has some really big things going on right now. Bolivia is no different.



"The Price of Fire" explores struggles and movements in Bolivia, focusing on the last five years. The book's title refers to what many of the struggles there are tied around: the simple price of fire, or gas for heating. Dangl talks about many different issues going on there, and especially issues like the coca trade, access to water after the government privatizes the water and begins billing people for it, and the community mobilization across the country in response. These uprisings are called "wars", like the Water War and the Gas War, for very good reasons.



One interesting aspect is that the coca leaf is used as a symbol of resistance. Coca can be processed into cocaine, but it's also a main ingredient in coca-cola and is used locally as medicine. Because of the US insistence as a part of the "War on Drugs", the government and sometimes US Forces, regularly bomb, destroy, and prosecute coca farmers. Indeed, sometimes the soldiers themselves sent to destroy the crops are chewing coca leaves as they burn coca plants. The military also murders farmers who refuse to plead guilty to drug trafficking. In response, at the city of Chipiriri, the cocaleros formed a coca farmers union, and set up a tightly controlled market to sell their goods, while forbidding any drug dealing or usage at the market.



Two major uprisings, the Water War in Cochabamba of 1999 and the Gas War of 2003, are vividly described in the book. After three years of pressure by the World Bank to either privatize its water or face losses of billions of dollars in loans, the Bolivian government relented and pushed for the water of the nation to be places into corporate hands in 1999. This totally enraged the population of Cochabamba, which has around half a million people and is growing rapidly, after costs skyrocketed, distribution failed, and the poorest were completely cut off from water at all. Road blockades, huge street demonstrations, and occupation of the water company offices forced the government to act, and they made the company public.



On September 19th 2003, the Gas War starts in Cochabamba, and quickly escalates as cocaleros join in huge road blockades, made even more popular by events in Argentina as a form of protest. The issue is on whether to export natural gas to foreign countries when there is a shortage for the very poor in Bolivia. Large popular assemblies gather, and unions, community groups, and other organizations unite around this issue, which eventually brought down the President. An anarcha-feminist group, Mujeres Creando, agitates for the end of patriarchy and women's submission in their center "The Virgin". Neighbors in the neighborhood El Alto also emerge at the head of the mobilization. At the end, a left-wing President, former coca-grower and indigenous Evo Morales is elected, with the understanding that if he does not stand up against International Companies and the World Bank, that he can be forced out of office as well.



This book takes a wide view of the situation in Bolivia, as the author worked as an independent journalist throughout Latin America, writing for a variety of left-wing magazines like Z Magazine, The Nation, and the Progressive. I recommend that if you have read Marina Sitrin's Horizontalism, you read this one right afterwards. The two fit together like a hand in a glove, one focusing on Argentina and one focusing on Bolivia, but seemingly talking about the very same thing: poor people, indigenous people, and women rising up againstcorporations and the rulers of their lands. A lot of theory andanalysis makes you want to jump off a cliff with how depressing it is; books like this and Sitrin's fills you with hope and examples of how

people are organizing and fighting back.

Posted on February 25, 2011