YouSaid · the spoken record

Evo Morales Ayma

lines on the record: 286
first: 2007-09-24
most recent: 2019-09-24
sittings or episodes: 13
sources: un-general-debate

Every line below is reproduced as it was said and linked to the record it came from. Nothing here is summarised or generated. Directory · Search · Corrections

“I propose to the Assembly and its President that our war cry should be “The planet or death; we shall win!” And I wish to say that, from what I have learned in my four and a half years as President of my country, if there is the political will to serve the people of the world, the people of the world can be saved.”
2010-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 65 (2010)
“We must start by practising democracy here. But, above all, I want to tell you, brothers and sisters present here, that we must work together to ensure that, sooner or later, the United Nations becomes an anti-capitalist Organization, if we are to save humankind. If we do not do that, we will be held responsible. And I assume my responsibility by telling you this in a direct and straightforward way. I am not at all scared because I know what the consequences of capitalism are — in particular, with regard to the destruction of Mother Earth. I was thinking that our United Nations — and as a President I feel part of the United Nations — should have a slogan, a war cry for the effort to save humankind.”
2010-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 65 (2010)
“Delegations know, and the world knows, how a coup d’état in a country such as Honduras can be ensured here. This morning President Obama talked about working with countries that fight against poverty. In Bolivia we have greatly reduced poverty, and yet investments are cut. He has said that he will work with democratic Governments. In Bolivia, in five years I have won two referendums and three elections, all with more than 50 or 60 per cent of the vote. Where is the dictatorship? Where is the authoritarianism? The authoritarianism is here at the United Nations. Some 10-54833 38 Governments, some countries have permanent seats with the right to veto. That is authoritarianism, and that is why we must begin to democratize the United Nations if we want to move ahead with a democratic mindset or focus.”
2010-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 65 (2010)
“Let us put an end to the entire nuclear arsenal, because the nuclear arsenal is a threat to life. Let us begin with the United States and then continue with all the other countries. And this is not merely an attempt to punish a country that may wish to implement other policies. Instead of spending so much money allegedly on defence and security, in the end it is for war. If we are responsible to humankind, we must change everyone’s mindset. The last objective of this alliance would be to work together to strengthen the United Nations, but we also have to begin to democratize the United Nations. This is a very difficult task, of course. We have heard statements made by heads of government and by presidents. Some anti-capitalist presidents are accused of being authoritarian or totalitarian, of being dictators.”
2010-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 65 (2010)
“The United Nations tells us that coca cultivation has increased by 1 per cent, while the United States Department of State says that coca crops have increased by 9.4 per cent. Whom are we to believe — the United States or the United Nations? Imagine the spin that is put on this to penalize a Government or a country. The reports recognize the strong efforts undertaken by the national Government in the fight against drug trafficking. For example, dried coca is down to 43,000 tons from 43,500. But even this effort is not recognized, which is why we are convinced that this is clearly a political problem. I believe that it is important to put an end to the acts of aggression, to the interventions in such countries as Afghanistan and Iraq, and to the threats to Iran.”
2010-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 65 (2010)
“It is not right that the United States Government should decertify countries that are not following the capitalist line. The Bolivian Government is making an effort to reduce coca crops. But while the major cocaine-producing countries are certified, the country that makes a real effort against drug trafficking, a small country, is decertified. These are, of course, political decisions, and that is why I draw the conclusion that anti-imperialist, anti-capitalist countries will never be certified by the United States Government. In the end, this does not concern or affect my Government. We are convinced that there will be this type of scare tactic, harassment and intimidation. That has always existed. But there are contradictions here as well.”
2010-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 65 (2010)
“I therefore find it extremely important that we stabilize the temperature increase at 1 degree Celsius, as the people of the world have said. The third objective, so frequently mentioned in statements, is peace. We are all fighting for peace. We are all fighting for freedom, but the basis of freedom is equality and justice for all peoples. There will not be peace without social justice. Moreover, peace is not made with military bases; peace is not ensured by military interventions undertaken on the pretext of fighting against drug trafficking and terrorism but really aimed at developing geopolitical interests — aims I do not share. Yes, we must combat drug trafficking. The best way to do so, I would say, is to put an end to banking secrecy.”
2010-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 65 (2010)
“The people, at a summit in Cochabamba, Bolivia, said that we must stabilize the temperature increase at 1 degree Celsius. The developed countries, which are primarily responsible for global warming, must commit to reducing their greenhouse gas emissions by 50 per cent during the second period of the Kyoto Protocol. Let us assume our responsibilities to cool Planet Earth. I would like to discuss the serious situation in which my country finds itself. We sometimes buy drills to deal with droughts, and yet even by drilling we cannot find water. And if we do find it, it is buried ever deeper and occurs in ever-smaller quantities. Soon, despite all our drilling to obtain water, we will not find it. So what use will the drills be then? Our mountains are losing their snow fields. This is extremely serious.”
2010-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 65 (2010)
“If the plane crashes, no one survives — neither the first-class passenger nor the economy-class passenger. Is that what we want? It will be the same if we do not save Mother Earth. The transnational company with lots of money, the millionaire — all of us will be equally 37 10-54833 affected by the environmental problems that come with climate change. That is why I want to tell you how important it is that we prepare for Cancún, where we will have a great opportunity. I will propose there that we have an alliance of all the presidents and heads of government of the world, headed by the Secretary-General of the United Nations. What will the alliance be for? So that together we can determine how to cool the planet. We are talking about global warming. How can we cool the planet? We, as peoples and Governments, are responsible for humankind.”
2010-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 65 (2010)
“For these and many other reasons besides, we have the obligation to save Planet Earth. Within that context, our proposal is quite simple. Here at the United Nations we must develop a project to protect the rights of Mother Earth. This morning President Obama referred to the adoption in 1948 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights at the United Nations. That was 62 years ago; before that we did not have rights. Later civil, economic and political rights were adopted. Three years ago the rights of indigenous peoples were adopted here. Now in this millennium we should adopt the rights of Mother Earth. And if we do not do this, we will be responsible for a world disaster. To take an example: in a plane some people travel in first class, others in business class, while the majority travel in coach, economy class.”
2010-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 65 (2010)
“We indigenous peoples live in harmony with Mother Earth, in harmony with Nature. Why do we live in harmony with Nature? We came from the Earth, we live on the Earth and to earth we will return. The Earth, Planet Earth, Nature, “Pachamama”, Mother Earth — this is our home, this is our mother. The Earth gives us life: water, natural resources, the abundance of Nature. How can we turn Mother Nature into a business? Because of the discussion I have with social movements around the world, particularly with indigenous movements, I am convinced that the planet can exist without human beings, but human beings cannot exist without the planet. As human beings have rights, like the right to life, so too does the planet, Mother Nature, have the right to life. Just as we human beings reproduce, biodiversity has a right to regenerate.”
2010-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 65 (2010)
“If the United States is — and we all know this to be the case — the supreme world Power, it has the authority to end this injustice and this violation of the human rights of millions around the world. The second objective of this alliance of Governments to save humanity is its most important responsibility: determining how to save Mother Earth. What concerns me greatly is that some countries, instead of conserving Nature, are looking at how to make a business out of climate change, putting a price on Nature. We must not privatize our forests; we must not sell carbon bonds as if the forest’s only role were to absorb carbon dioxide. Any country that does so is making a grave mistake. I want to share something from our culture and our experience in the indigenous world.”
2010-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 65 (2010)
“And that is why it is important for us to be rid of these walls. But there is something else that is unthinkable in the twenty-first century: the economic blockade of Cuba. Everyone calls for the lifting of this embargo, imposed because Cuba was a Communist or socialist country. I want you to know that I too preside over a Government that is anti-capitalist, which, I think, is why the United States Department of State tries to marginalize and exclude us. That is not a solution. People will continue to rebel against systems and economic models that do not resolve the problems of the majority in all our countries. I respectfully ask President Obama to put an end to the economic blockade of Cuba and the economic blockade of the Gaza Strip in Palestine.”
2010-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 65 (2010)
“As far as I know, fences are only built to keep in cattle, sheep and cows. We cannot confuse human beings with animals and build fences to keep them in. It makes no sense. But I also want to say: how can we prevent human beings from going from one continent to another? We have heard much opinion in this debate on the subject of free-market policies. Are commodities to circulate freely around the world but not human beings? What type of discriminatory policies do we have? Those walls of shame must disappear. I listened carefully to the address by the Secretary-General. He wants the United Nations to be strong in the interests of good governance. I share that opinion but believe that we can only achieve this when we resolve the problems of the world’s most defenceless people, who are migrants in this case.”
2010-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 65 (2010)
“We must recognize the need to put an end to policies — wherever they originate, including the return policies of Europe — that have the effect of expelling migrants. When our 10-54833 36 ancestors migrated because of war or famine from Europe to Latin America there was no expulsion of migrants. Those European migrants took over thousands of hectares and pillaged natural resources, and no one said anything. But now that our brothers and sisters, driven by lack of work, emigrate in search of jobs in the United States or Europe, they suffer persecution, discrimination and expulsion. This has to stop. Our alliance must also examine the fate of these brothers and sisters. I have also heard it said that walls or fences are being built in, for example, Mexico and Palestine.”
2010-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 65 (2010)
“We must move forward and respond to the needs of the most vulnerable — the poor, the disenfranchised, the migrants. All basic services in Bolivia are a human right under the Constitution. And we are currently translating that concept into practice, so that all these basic services will truly be a human right. That is why I think it important to have an alliance now, in this new millennium, to see that human rights are guaranteed for all. I should also like to say that it is indefensible in the twenty-first century to continue to persecute and expel migrants — whether they are migrants because of economic problems or because of climate change or a natural disaster. I would like to take this opportunity to say that I learned from the media that President Obama is rejecting the Arizona law.”
2010-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 65 (2010)
“We have many differences in our programmes, our cultures and our societies. We have many differences from one continent to another. The economic asymmetries are profound. But despite these differences we at the United Nations must work together, united. Why united? We must be united so that human rights will be well and truly protected around the world. I come here to propose an alliance of all presidents and Governments so that we can save humankind and save Planet Earth — or save humankind by saving Planet Earth. There are four main objectives, the first being the protection of human rights. I commend the many Governments that last week adopted a proposal from the Government of the Plurinational State of Bolivia that water be recognized as a human right. Next will be energy and after that communication.”
2010-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 65 (2010)
“I am demanding officially that the International Monetary Fund pay for the economic damage and the damage to human beings that resulted from these impositions which, in Bolivia, resulted in death, injury and hunger. So I am very pleased that we have begun to change Bolivia. Of course, it is impossible to meet all the demands that our indigenous brethren have been making for 500 years, or that other brethren or regions have been making for hundreds of years — or indeed the demands which have arisen from 20 years of neoliberal Government in our country. We are living in times of deep and sweeping changes. We have an enormous responsibility to future generations. The fate of Planet Earth depends on what we do or do not do. We know ourselves. We have many ideological differences.”
2010-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 65 (2010)
“I would like to say from here at the United Nations to the world and to the Bolivian people that, without income taxes and without increasing fuel prices, we had a surplus in the first year of our administration. It was so important to have recovered our natural resources and to have recovered our companies providing basic services. Sooner or later the International Monetary Fund has to redress the damage it has done to Bolivia and to Latin America. But it appears that the International Monetary Fund, under the pretext of structural adjustment, is continuing to impose policies on some countries — policies of pillaging natural resources. It did us great harm.”
2010-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 65 (2010)
“But once we had nationalized oil and gas, in 2006, the first year of my administration, we had a surplus. With this surplus, we were able to provide grants and subsidies for some of the most vulnerable sectors of the population, namely, young people and the elderly. In February 2003, when I was a union leader and National Deputy, the International Monetary Fund instructed the then Government to institute an income tax or to increase fuel prices in order to decrease the budget deficit — not to eliminate it, but to decrease it. The Government decided to institute an income tax. There was an uprising by those affected by this tax, and in two days of confrontation there were 15 dead.”
2010-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 65 (2010)
“We looked at the numbers 35 10-54833 carefully in order to ensure that the company would not be harmed. Our data showed that with 18 per cent of the profit, they would recover their investment and they would even have access to profits. What I did with our supreme decree, after taking total State control of gas and oil, was to ensure that the State, the Bolivian people, received 82 per cent of the profits and the investing oil company, 18 per cent. These companies continue to be present in our country and continue to invest in Bolivia. We had discovered that there was an ongoing sacking of our natural resources and this alone has brought changes to our economy. For example, since 1940, Bolivia had never had a budget surplus, only deficits.”
2010-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 65 (2010)
“The Fund Governors were telling us that as long as the oil or gas was underground, it belonged to the Bolivian State and the Bolivian people, but that once it was taken out and reached the wellhead, it was the property of the transnationals. From these mega-fields the oil transnationals received 82 per cent of the gas and oil revenue, while the Bolivian people were left with only 18 per cent. It is a matter of responsibility. Countries that invest have the right to recover their investment and they have the right to make profits, but not 82 per cent of all of the profits from our oil and gas resources. On 1 May 2006, the Government decreed, first, that the State would take control of all oil fields. We nationalized them. Secondly, so that the investing company, seeking to recover their investment, could do so and make a profit.”
2010-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 65 (2010)
“There has been a democratization of the national economy, with grants and subsidies that have allowed for the improvement of the economic situation of the poorest and most abandoned — in particular those of the rural and indigenous movement, but also our brothers and sisters the workers, and our brothers and sisters from the barrios of Bolivia’s big cities. However, the improvement of our economy has basically come with the recovery of our oil and gas reserves, and with the nationalization of these natural resources. Let me say that earlier, and unfortunately, under instructions from the International Monetary Fund (IMF), our natural resources were privatized. Moreover, the IMF contracts stated that the owner, the transnational oil company, would have the rights from the wellhead.”
2010-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 65 (2010)
“This is the first time I have participated in the general debate since the declaration of the Plurinational State of Bolivia and my fifth as President — since I took on enormous responsibilities towards my people, acting through social movements. I would like to quickly say that in four and a half years in government, we have begun to bring profound structural and social change to Bolivia. Fortunately, two weeks ago, the United Nations recognized that extreme poverty had decreased from 41 to 32 per cent. In four and a half years, our small country of 10 million inhabitants has seen its national reserves grow from $1.7 billion to $9 billion. The rate of economic growth is currently 5 per cent, while before I arrived it was barely 3 per cent.”
2010-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 65 (2010)
“Our two peoples, our brother republics, Chile and Bolivia, feel sufficient trust in each other to seek to resolve the issue of maritime access. I hope that it can be settled bilaterally. If not, intervention by the international community will be needed. Progress has been made. I feel that there is trust, which is needed in order to resolve any problem. Otherwise, important steps must be taken. I thank my brothers and sisters for listening to me. I would like to continue to share their experience, proposals and concerns for the good of mankind as a whole.”
2009-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 64 (2009)
“At least in Latin America, the so-called Afro-Americans and Afro-Bolivians are the sectors most discriminated against in society, together with the so-called Indians or indigenous people. We are called “negroes” and “Indians”. I do not understand how a black person who has been discriminated against and excluded can 09-52228 40 discriminate against and exclude an Indian. It is a matter of grave concern. It is to be hoped that those historic errors can be rectified, not for the good of the President, and not just for the good of Bolivians, but for the image of peoples, such as the people of the United States. I well understand that sometimes it is not easy to change structures which may work against our peoples. Finally, I refer to some historical demands, such as the return of our access to the sea.”
2009-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 64 (2009)
“Now President, fortuitously and for the time being, I am extremely concerned that it is said that the Government will dismantle the union movement by decree. How could I eliminate the unions, when they and the social movements are the backbone of the Evo Morales Government? I have built union headquarters and encouraged unions, workers and indigenous peoples, and yet I am accused of dismantling the unions. President Obama may not be aware of the documents to which I have referred, which perhaps come from the State Department. I perfectly understand that sometimes when change is desired it is difficult to change State structures. But after reading the documents very carefully I wonder how it is possible for someone who has suffered discrimination to discriminate against another.”
2009-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 64 (2009)
“It should be understood that growing the coca leaf is one thing and that cocaine is quite another. We do not defend cocaine; we shall fight it. Indeed, our proposal is zero cocaine. What I have just said does not mean having free cultivation of the coca leaf, though in its natural state it is beneficial and healthy for human life. We have launched a campaign on decriminalizing the traditional consumption of the coca leaf. I guarantee that there will never be free cultivation of coca, but neither will there a zero coca leaf policy. But there is a zero cocaine policy. It cannot be said that I encourage coca cultivation in Bolivia. That is not true. The Assembly will know that I come from the trade union and social movements, and that I was a union leader.”
2009-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 64 (2009)
“That strikes me as direct interference by the United States Government in the Constitution and other norms and standards, and I roundly reject it. What we want is diplomatic relations not of interference, but of cooperation and investment. While the new Constitution for the first time guarantees private property and State property, fundamentally it guarantees collective property — property held by associations and cooperatives, and communal lands belonging to the indigenous, native movement. In addition, an accusation is made against me in a United States report stating that current challenges include the explicit acceptance and encouragement of coca production at the highest levels of the Bolivian Government. That is to say that I encourage the cultivation of coca.”
2009-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 64 (2009)
“I welcome his closure of Guantanamo, which represents progress. But in addition the economic blockade of Cuba should be ended. That is my respectful request to the Government and people of the United States. Bolivia, like Latin America as a whole, used to enjoy certain tariff preferences, but under ex-President Bush they were removed, because we were accused of not combating drug-trafficking and poverty. We know that that was a political decision, but ex-President Bush never took into account Bolivian norms or our Constitution. Now, under President Obama’s Government, we see documents which include references to our new Constitution, which, for the first time in the 183 years’ existence of the Republic, was approved by a vote of the Bolivian people. There is a reference to article 56 and respect for private property.”
2009-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 64 (2009)
“The status of permanent membership of the Security Council and the right to veto must be abolished. It is not possible in the twenty-first century to maintain outdated totalitarian practices going back to the time of monarchies. All countries must have the same rights within the United Nations. Those who proclaim themselves to be the leaders of democracy should give up their privileges and accept true democratization of the Security Council. We must be responsible with democracy and begin to democratize the United Nations. I shall soon end my short intervention, as I do not wish to exceed my time limit, in keeping with the discipline that our peoples teach us. But first I am sorry to have state a truth that may upset the Government of the United States. I had great hopes of President Obama.”
2009-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 64 (2009)
“I hope that these proposals will be taken into account during the discussions in Copenhagen. We also hope that Copenhagen will provide a grand solution to resolve the serious problems that affect us all, in all the countries of the world. I also take this opportunity to take up some of the proposals made by a number of Presidents. If we want 39 09-52228 to change the world, we must first change the United Nations. If we want to effect change in our countries, seeking equality and dignity for our compatriots, why not first change the structures of the United Nations? Listening to what many other Presidents said about the Security Council, I felt that there were many points of agreement. We need a real democratization of the United Nations, for which I make the following suggestions.”
2009-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 64 (2009)
“First, the developed countries must acknowledge and pay the climate debt that they and all humankind owe Planet Earth. Secondly, a court for climate justice must be established to try and to punish those who fail to meet their commitments and those who continue to damage Planet Earth. We need a structure that can quantify the damage caused by some countries and transnational companies, and therefore it is important that such a court for climate justice be established. The third proposal is one of those that have been developed above all by rural and indigenous movements: the United Nations must draw up a declaration of the rights of Mother Earth, in order to defend the right to life, the right to the regeneration of bio-capacity, the right to a clean life and the right to harmony and the coexistence of us all.”
2009-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 64 (2009)
“But human life cannot exist without planet Earth — Mother Earth. After having listened to many statements and after having listened to my brothers, I have reached the conclusion that at this point in time, in this new twenty-first century, it will be more important than ever before to defend the rights of Mother Earth than to defend human rights. If we do not protect the rights of Mother Earth, there will be no point in defending human rights. I am prepared to discuss this concept, and sooner or later everyone will understand why it is so important to defend the rights of Mother Earth. As we are currently discussing climate change, I propose to Presidents, representatives and all our other brothers and sisters who are listening throughout the world our very simple, three-point proposal.”
2009-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 64 (2009)
“For the indigenous movement, this is Mother Earth — or, for many others, planet Earth or the environment. For those of us who live in harmony with Mother Earth, not just in harmony with human beings, Mother Earth is something sacred. It is Mother Earth which gives life, which provides water, natural resources, oxygen. We all promote the well-being of our peoples. We are struggling and fighting and working for the well-being of our peoples, but first of all, we must ensure the well-being of Mother Earth. If we cannot guarantee the well-being of Mother Earth, then it will be impossible to guarantee the well- being of our countrymen or of all the peoples on planet Earth. I have reached the conclusion that Mother Earth — or planet Earth — can and will exist forever with or without human life.”
2009-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 64 (2009)
“They say that the only reason there has been no coup d’état in the United States is that there is no United States Embassy in the United States. There are coups d’état occurring everywhere, but let me say that in September last year there was an attempted coup d’état in Bolivia, and thanks to the union forces and the involvement of the international community, particularly from the southern cone, we were able to halt that civilian — not military — coup d’état. For these reasons, we are convinced that military bases cannot guarantee democracy, integration or social peace. We have also been discussing the subject of climate change, and I would like to take this opportunity to propose a number of issues to the Assembly which are of the utmost importance for all of us who inhabit Mother Earth.”
2009-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 64 (2009)
“I hail the courage of our colleague, President Zelaya of Honduras, who is democratically and pacifically resisting with the aim of restoring democracy. My respect and admiration go to him as he strives together with his defiant people to uphold democracy. How good it would be if the United Nations, this great international organization, were to adopt a resolution issuing an ultimatum to the military dictatorship in Honduras to withdraw and restore the only internationally recognized President. I am convinced that the United States Southern Command does not accept Latin American countries or their Presidents that are seeking liberation. I have even heard from some friends, comrades and brothers that they supported the dictatorships in Bolivia and elsewhere in Latin America.”
2009-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 64 (2009)
“For that reason, I would like to say that when there is a United States military base, particularly in Latin America — I do not know about their conduct in Europe or on other continents, but in Latin America, the presence of military bases is no guarantee of social peace or of democracy. Certainly, it cannot guarantee the integration of our countries, much less of the peoples who are seeking to bring about deep-wrought changes in our social, economic and cultural structures. 09-52228 38 Now we have Honduras. If there is a United States military base in Honduras, why can this military base not guarantee democracy? It cannot because there are Presidents who change these countries, which are constantly threatened by military bases.”
2009-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 64 (2009)
“Although we are promoting and seeking peace, in the light of our experience, we know that we will not find social peace while there is economic inequality, and all the less when there are military bases in some countries. These may be located on many continents, including Latin America and South America. How can we hold discussions when United States military bases provoke distrust among peoples? I would like to briefly tell the Assembly that I was a victim of the military bases operating in my country before assuming the presidency, before the social movements were not merely opposed to policies but also actors in a new country of equality and social justice. All of us were victims of the United States military presence in Bolivia, and as victims we know what uniformed armed United States personnel can do in South American countries.”
2009-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 64 (2009)
“But the majority of Presidents and the majority of the statements referred only to the effects, not to the causes. I would like to speak frankly to the Assembly — my listeners here, and to all others who are following the debates taking place in this global forum. I would like to say that the origin of these crises was the unbridled accumulation of capital in a few hands, the irretrievable looting of natural resources and the commercialization of Mother Earth. And above all, I believe their origin lies in an economic model, an economic system, namely, capitalism. If we do not tell our peoples the truth about the origin of this crisis, then we will be misleading ourselves and the international community too. We will be misleading our peoples, who have great expectations of their Presidents and Governments and of forums such as this one.”
2009-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 64 (2009)
“I fully agree that it is important that we Presidents and Governments unite to meet the demands of our peoples, in order to resolve these crises. I would say that in my country the crises have been imposed from above and from outside. We need unity within the United Nations for the sake of the equality of our peoples; we need unity for dignity; we need unity above all to tackle the deep economic divergences, the deep asymmetries between continents, between families and between countries. But it must be unity in a context of complementarity, in order to meet our peoples’ demands. There is an ongoing debate on the financial crisis and on climate change, as well as on the problems of democracy and the energy and food crises. I welcome a number of the statements that addressed and focused on the origins of this crisis.”
2009-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 64 (2009)
“Once again, we meet at the United Nations to share concerns, problems and experiences and to discuss the various ways in which we can serve our peoples worldwide. Since this morning I have listened closely to statements, starting with that of the Secretary- General — to whom I offer a special, revolutionary greeting — until this moment, when we just heard the President of Iran. In all of these statements, there has been great convergence on problems such as the financial crisis, problems arising from the environmental crisis and problems concerning stability and institutionalization of democracies in a number of countries. There have also been ideas and proposals such as those offered by the Secretary-General, who called for unity among Presidents and unity within the United Nations.”
2009-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 64 (2009)
“There will be peace only when there is equality among all human beings; there will be peace only when our identity and the dignity of every people are respected. I do not think there can be peace with capitalism, no matter how moderate or regulated. We need to work together, we need to participate in the struggles of our peoples for equality. Only Governments and leaders working together with their peoples can find equality. When we have equality, there will be social peace throughout the world.”
2008-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 63 (2008)
“We never think about the larger family, which, for us in Bolivia, is the whole of Bolivia. The struggles of peoples for democracy and for the re-establishment of the rule of law is being repeated in Bolivia. In the past, great social movements led by indigenous farmers brought down dictatorships. In recent days, they defeated an attempted coup in Bolivia, and we hail them. We have just been informed that social movements are wisely mobilizing themselves in a search of peace and asking that new standards be adopted to ensure equality be for all Bolivians. In conclusion, I wish to say that I am convinced that only the conscience of the people can defeat the interests of certain groups and United States imperialism. I heard some leaders this morning sue for peace with a regulated, moderate form of capitalism. I do not believe in that.”
2008-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 63 (2008)
“If they are human rights, they should be a public service and not left to the private sector. To be sure, we have many differences with multinationals. Investment is certainly important, but we need investors in Bolivia who are not the owners of our energy and our oil, but who are our partners. My next point is that we should consume only what we need and prioritize local consumption in the context of food sovereignty. We also need to respect the diversity of cultures and economies. Our final point concerns how to live well. What does it mean to live well? Living well is living in equality, solidarity and complementarity, eliminating inequalities between families and the deep-rooted disparities that exist among countries and continents. When we try to live better, sometimes all we do is to become selfish and ambitious.”
2008-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 63 (2008)
“We also heard discussions on energy and how important it is to have clean, environmentally friendly energy. Speaking of nature, the indigenous peoples have experience living in harmony with Mother Earth and nature. Mother Earth is neither a shopping centre nor a commodity. Thus, the historic struggle of our peoples is for land and territory, and that struggle is being repeated in our country. Our next point, as I said earlier, is to Mother Nature within the United Nations. I hope that can be taken into account. I would also note that the new Bolivian political constitution incorporates the ten commandments to save humanity and the world. Basic services should be human rights. Water, light and telecommunications cannot be in private 33 08-51606 hands.”
2008-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 63 (2008)
“In our new political constitution for the Bolivian State, we propose that Bolivia should not accept the military base of any country of the world on its territory. In that way, we shall assert our dignity and defend the sovereignty of Bolivia and of other peoples. I have very respectfully suggested to the people and the Government of the United States that it would be best to withdraw their military from Iraq and Afghanistan and other parts of the world as soon as possible. If they do not, the peoples themselves will expel them because interventionism and war are no solution for life and humanity. Our third point is a proposal for a world without imperialism and colonialism. Last year, I heard a critical issue discussed here by several heads of State. That issue was water — water as a right of all living beings.”
2008-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 63 (2008)
“Wherever there is capitalism, there is exploitation. Wherever there is capitalism, our natural resources are plundered. That is what we have seen and experienced. Our second point is that we must denounce war. As everyone knows, we are working arduously to put Bolivia back on track by drafting a new constitution. In that new political constitution for the Bolivian state, for the first time the State and the people of Bolivia will constitutionally pledge never to initiate war. That does not mean that we renounce defending ourselves. I do not believe in wars. Speaking of war, I am sure that peoples do not want wars. They do not want the military intervention of any country in any part of the world.”
2008-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 63 (2008)
“I do not care whether I am a friend of the President of the United States, but I am a friend of the people of the United States. I have had many meetings with representatives from social movements in the United States and we agree on our approach to life and humankind. That is why we have to put an end to blacklists. We are living in times where there are no empires, no dominance or imposition of economic models that can greatly harm countries or continents or the whole world. I wish to say that we have begun to work on a proposal. It is called “Ten commandments to save the planet, humankind and all life”. I hope that my colleagues will distribute this document, and with the participation of all it will help us save the planet, humankind and life. One of the first subjects we raise here is how we can put an end to capitalism.”
2008-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 63 (2008)
“According to United Nations reports, some countries are increasing their coca plantations, but they are not on decertified lists because they are pro-capitalist. To those countries that support the counter-narcotics struggle by reducing their coca cultivation, we did not say that there would be no coca, but that there would be no free cultivation of coca, since the coca leaf does have medicinal and nutritional benefits. Once we clearly defined our anti-imperialist position, we were decertified. However, I am quite sure that this is not about certification or decertification, terrorist or non-terrorist countries. Mr. Bush, President of the United States, sent me a message recently in which he wrote: “If I am not a friend, I am an enemy”.”
2008-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 63 (2008)