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