From: Mark Steven Heyman (markheyman@infoproconsulting.com)
Date: Sat Jul 23 2005 - 17:38:36 BST
msh:
> For more about Bechtel's attempt to corner the water market in
> Cochabamba, the resulting water war, and details of the political
> unrest, as well as the aftermath, see Jim Schultz's "BOLIVIA’S WAR
> OVER WATER." Here's a link:
>
> http://www.democracyctr.org/bechtel/the_water_war.htm
response 7-23-05:
For fairness and balance not to mention a "critical examination" of
all available facts and perspectives, see:
http://www.bechtel.com/newsarticles/65.asp
msh 7-23-05:
It's hard to see how a Bechtel press release might be regarded as a
"critical examination" of facts and perspectives, especially when
compared to an extended series of investigative reports written by
citizens of Cochabamba. Nevertheless, in reading Bechtel's talking
points, the very first one in fact, there is a glaring omission. No
mention is made of the fact that The World Bank, doing what it is
designed to do, refused to loan Bolivia money for enhancing
Cochabamba's water service UNLESS the was privitized. So, to suggest
the government freely opted for privitization is misleading, to say
the least. To borrow a bit from The Godfather, the Bolivian's were
made an offer they couldn't refuse. This is what The World Bank
does: it is a kind of economic hit-man.
Another such distortion is the claim that "the government" raised
water rates, as if the private interests weren't pulling the strings--
remember Dewey's shadow? In addition, the claimed average
percentage of rate increase in no way corresponds to the facts on the
ground, as can be seen in some of the links provided below. (The
Bechtel PR people liked this particular distorting paragraph so much,
they used it twice in the same press release.)
Besides, none of what appears in Bechtel's press release invalidates
my original claim: Privitization of vital public services can and
does lead to the destabilization of society.
Anyway, the authors of the reports from Cochabamba have taken Bechtel
to task over these and other issues, so interested MOQers can decide
for themselves. I've pasted some links below my sig block.
Best to all,
Mark Steven Heyman (msh)
-- InfoPro Consulting - The Professional Information Processors Custom Software Solutions for Windows, PDAs, and the Web Since 1983 Web Site: http://www.infoproconsulting.com "We abuse land because we regard it as a commodity belonging to us. When we see land as a community to which we belong, we may begin to use it with love and respect." - Aldo Leopold BECHTEL SPEAKS, WE RESPOND http://democracyctr.org/newsletter/vol33.htm BECHTEL CORP. VS. BOLIVIA’S POOR http://democracyctr.org/newsletter/vol41.htm BECHTEL FALSIFIES THE FACTS ON ITS BOLIVIA DISASTER http://democracyctr.org/newsletter/vol42.htm THE BOLIVIAN WATER REVOLT The World Bank Letters http://www.democracyctr.org/bechtel/world_bank_letters.htm MOQ.ORG - http://www.moq.org Mail Archives: Aug '98 - Oct '02 - http://alt.venus.co.uk/hypermail/moq_discuss/ Nov '02 Onward - http://www.venus.co.uk/hypermail/moq_discuss/summary.html MD Queries - horse@darkstar.uk.net To unsubscribe from moq_discuss follow the instructions at: http://www.moq.org/md/subscribe.html
This archive was generated by hypermail 2.1.5 : Sun Jul 24 2005 - 03:45:28 BST