IN STEREO

Now, according to the government, we are all good; in Bolivia there is no poverty. When I travel to La Paz, I always go to the market. [There are] thieves in those places, Potosínos in those places. Poor people are begging; they sleep in the [bus] terminal through the winter. The government is [supposedly] investing more than it should in Potosí. But no, there is poverty wherever. For example, here, what has been done this last time is to take away... They don’t pay taxes, the mining entrepreneurs, the coca growers. And those who are screwed now are the micro entrepreneurs who bring products from outside. Religion, politics, everything is at hand. We have been talking here about governments, but finally: who brought the government to power?

It was the people. They should be strengthened a little more and try to find a way to have more understanding among themselves; try to cope, to give strength to each other. Because Palestine is now being mistreated by the people of Israel. They say Israel is the people of God, the chosen people. Israel takes many attributions as something moral. In this case, the people of Israel would have to reflect, because Palestine has been suffering a lot for some time now. What I would tell our Palestinian comrades is that they try to [focus on] things like family, patiently treating their children well and teaching them culture, what they are missing. All that I would say to you is that you try to carry things in the best way, but always with the message of peace. – Hernan