Chapter 11, Towards an Uncertain Future looks into some more modern issues that have occurred or are occurring in Latin America. Economic situations, lead to further conflicts in regions across Latin America. These conflicts have lead to corruption in the governments, revolts, and riots, all which have contributed to major changes throughout the region. These reactions could be classified as political discontent. It has been found that North America has had implications, and major contributions to Latin America. As migration from Latin America to North America, specifically the United States required created a pattern of new work positions such as agricultural or services industry. Document 11.1 Summary of Judgment & Order of Superior Court of Nueva Loja, Aguinda v. ChevronTexaco showed the specific details of Chevrons case, in terms of his liability, misconduct, and legal defenses. In the liability section, it stated how they were fully aware of all issues that were harmful/damaging but continued to use them to the fact that it was “least” expensive. The fact that they were not meeting health or safety regulations, and inflicting environmental harm but still Chevron has the nerve to attempt justify that fact that they are not to be held liable. Overall, I find this document to be very complex and somewhat upsetting, as corporate law is often is often in a way corrupt itself, it is difficult to legally compete against them. Many large corporations seem to always find a way out of “sticky” situations, even though the majority knows that there is definitely wrongs being down by these companies, they are often just to power to stand up against. I find that the modern day world is fun by large companies such as these; they hold power, almost more power than the government. I know in the United States this is the case, and I would be interested in finding out if in Latin America is also in a situation, were large companies such as ChevronTexaco hold a large deal of power in the region. While reading many of the documents from this textbook throughout the term, it appears the power is often placed in the hands of people who abuse it, or miss use it. The rulers who have abused their power, often have left identifiable signs of corruption in the their government systems. Large companies will continue to ignore rules and regulations, and fight backing from accepting the consequences.

Source One: Afro-Latin America, 1800-2000

Citation: Andrews, George Reid. Afro-Latin America, 1800-2000. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2004.

http://lib.myilibrary.com.ezproxy.library.ubc.ca/Open.aspx?id=50188.

Immigration into the Latin America region increased during the 1800s on for multiple reasons, one of the most dominate being slavery. The African population drastically increased across almost all nations located within the borders of Latin America. This created an evident shift in ethnic relations throughout the region, giving rise to the term Afro-Latin American. This term was used to describe Africans, or Mulattos (mixed races) whom consisted of both African and Latin American heritage. It was also used as a way to describe Latin America as a national region where a large portion of the majority consisted of a high African population.

The Afro-Latin Americans were largely being used for slavery, and as such, they were directly given a low social status, therefore Andrews (2004) stated that “people of present day Afro-Latin America struggle to escape the economic heritage of poverty and dependency left by plantation agriculture, the colour of their skin is an indicator of low social status.” (P.5) Concluding from this statement, it is evident that modern Afro-Latin Americans struggle to disassociate themselves from their roots. As a result of the social and economic positions their ancestors were in, still find themselves being classified and viewed as less then the average Caucasian or Hispanic individual in the Americas, based on superficial reasons such as skin colour.

This book brings to light the differences between Latin America, and North America in the context of the “superior” race. As Andrews (2004) states “In Latin America racial boundaries have historically been much more fluid and flexible than in the United States,” (P.6) This was shown when people in Latin America, developed social or economic theories and ideas of ways in which an Afro-Latin American could “whiten” the darkness of their skin. It appears the Latin America had been attempting to welcome racial differences into the region, compared to the United States, which during those times was preventing the social or economic rise of any citizen containing African ethnicity. Although, attempts were being made to improve the status of Afro-Latin Americans, negative ideas of African ancestry continued to persist in Latin American society.

With attempts for freedom, or liberation for Afro-Latin Americas there always seemed to by some type of colonial racial law preventing them from navigating away from their present state of poverty. The majority of Afro-Latin American slaves were present in the Brazil region, due to a persistent need for plantation slavery. Plantation slavery created the opportunity for large communities of Afro-Latin Americans to form. These formations soon lead to the uprising and revolutions of slaves all across the region. Andrews (2004) creates the assumption that the idea/triggering event for the slave to consider revolting came from the French Revolution. He argued that the French Revolution was an example and lesson of how to properly overthrow and ancient regime. It was the revolutions throughout Latin American that allowed for change in freedom for Afro-Latin Americans, whom to this day may still struggle with being treated differently due to racial differences.

Source Two: A Revolution for Our Rights: Indigenous Struggles for Land and Justice in Bolivia, 1880-1952

Citation: Gotkowitz, Laura. A Revolution for Our Rights: Indigenous Struggles for Land and Justice in Bolivia, 1880-1952. Durham, NC: Duke University Press, 2007.

http://read.dukeupress.edu.ezproxy.library.ubc.ca/content/a-revolution-for-our-rights.

The indigenous people of Bolivia are struggling for equality. They would like to see that everyone is treated the same, special treatment is not reserved from anyone within the borders of Bolivia. Laura Gotkowitz (2007) mentions that “Over a period of almost two decades, Cruz and hundreds of other community activists deluged public officials with petitions demanding the return of stolen land, equal ‘‘protection and guarantees’’ (amparo y garantías), and armed force to shield the community from abuse by landlords and local state officials.” (P.2) With these demands coming from citizens of Bolivia, it is clearly evident that equality is not present, and that wealthy or more dominant social class, is taking property from the lower class societies. The land being taken could in fact be vital for survival and continuation of people’s families. Unfortunately, these demands were not meet, which soon resulted in rural uprisings, that largest ones of the twentieth century in Bolivia.

In the uprisings they were fighting against a state ruled by landlords, who invaded land and destroyed the lives of rural communities in Bolivia. Gotkowitz (2007) stated that the “rural mobilization for land and justice persisted and helped pave the path for Bolivia’s 1952 Revolution.” (P.3) The effects of rebellion during 1947 created an even larger revolution, that began to emerge only a few years later. Rural political actions began in Bolivia, along side the multiple revolts exploding across the nation. There, rural mobilizations received unusual amounts of political attention, compared to the average peasant revolt in Bolivia. It is possible that the way the rural communities executed their plans, in terms of location and severity, is what drew in the attention of political officials, and government workers.

This attention brought it other social groups to join the revolt against inequality and state violence in Bolivia. It wasn’t long before urban workers, mineworkers, Indians, peasants, and people of the middle class joined this rebellion. Major conflict began to emerge, putting the countryside of Bolivia into a crisis of state authority. The 1952 movement successfully defeated the national army, showing the power behind these rural communities. It was clear that Bolivia would forever be changed from these revolts, proving the power of the peasant community.

Whether peasants of modern day Bolivia still experience the same or similar acts of inequality is unclear. It appears certain that there are still some visible levels of inequality. One can expect that the lower class will continue to fight for in Bolivia, and in similar regions in Latin America, as developing nations often have many battles to fight before they can reach a stage of democracy. Even within a democratic society there are still battles worth fighting and certain situations were equality is ignored. It may be hard to imagine, but the brutal inequalities faced by a developing society, may also be faced by a developed nation.

In chapter 10 Speaking Truth to Power it brings to light the historical weakness of Latin American states, in relation to taxes, laws, territories, violence. Over history people have used these weaknesses to their advantage, by creating revolts, protests, and riots to influence government to make a decision in favor of the rebelling party. The corruption of Latin American nations is often what has lead to the unsettlement of the people residing within specific regions in the past. Document 10.2 Revolutionary Women’s’ Law discusses the struggle and fight that people have faced to only see progress has slowly begun, and that the battle for equality, and rights for woman will be long fought for. It states the various changes that they demand to be made or put into progress. Some of the most important demands were, that woman have the right to work and receive a just salary, women have the right to decided the number of children they will have and care for, women have the right to health care and education, women shall not be beat or physically mistreated. It is shocking to think that women had to fight for the right not rapped or physically mistreated in any way. The right to a life without any physically mistreatment is something people may often take for granted in developed nations such as Canada. Here I have grown up knowing that if I ever was to experience any type of abuse, I could immediately seek help and the guilty would be severely punished. I could not imagine how extremely difficult it would be to grow up in a time or place where I have to protection against such things as physical abuse. Document 10.7 The Diario de Juarez Open Letter to the Drug Cartels talks about the violence and death related to the drug cartels in Latin America, and how the people are pleading for these deaths to stop, they do not want to see anyone else injured or forced to suffer the consequences of the negative relationships between cartels and the government. Journalists covering these conflicts are constantly getting put in undesired and dangerous situations where they often lose their lives. This document states that journalists deserve safety while put in a position to cover the ongoing conflicts. This conflict between cartels and the governments has placed many people in harms way, as the ongoing battle between illegal drugs, and the government is a conflict being fought by extremely violent methods.

Chapter 9 The Terror discusses the horrific events and ideologies that braced Latin America for various years. The corruption that dominated this region ran ramped through the government and political systems for decades. Revolts were often provoked as a definite way to endure a change in society. Major conflicts in Latin America often resolved around the government system, and the peasants or working class. I would assume this is because the people being ignored by corrupt officials, would be the lower classes, as the higher class would mostly likely contain these corrupt government or political officials, and a middle class appeared not to be primarily evident during the times of the major terrors that occurred in Latin America. Document 9.1 The Massacre is an article, which reveals details about the Peruvian Massacre. It stated that the massacre had religious overtones, as well as political and social implication. Latin America, in my opinion has always had a proud and bold sense of culture; therefore it is possible that the religious and cultural beliefs would play into all aspects of life, including violence and tragedy. Religion has been found to play is role in serious violent events across the world, difference in belief, or way of interpreting/practicing a belief has proven to results in many horrific tragedy’s in history.

In relation to the massacre, document 9.2 and interview with Gonzalo, reveals offensive and corrupt ideas the lead to the destruction of countless lives in Latin America. It shows the terms of a revolution involving the peasants, in which the previous article states, they have a misconception and end up killing reports coming into the area. That they wanted and needed to sweep them away as a class that this must be done by genocide, and will continue to be done with such methods. To me this is horrific, how someone can be okay with blatantly stating that, genocide is a necessary action that will continue to be used. Personally it is hard to understand how someone could publicly admitted their intents to use genocide as continues method until then end goal is achieved, the removal a specific group of people. Gonzalo’s interview is harsh, it allows for people to see where the corruption in Latin America is really coming from, and how actually these ideas are being formed and spread throughout the region. These documents show that corruption in government systems has a great deal of influence on the people of a region.

Chapter seven, Power to the People addressed four documents surrounding the topic of presidency, and power in Latin America specifically Argentina. The first document 7.1 “Peronists Will Head Argentine Ticket” discusses speeches made in Buenos Aires, this document had clear relations for the following documents. I found it easier to examine after reading the other three documents. In the second document, The Peronist Version of the Speech it stated that “the people, it is the women, the children, the elderly, and the workers who are here today because they have taken the future into their own hands”. That by standing behind General Peron at the helm of the Nation they will only find that justice and freedom they are looking for. This speech enforces the idea that it was thanks to him the people believed in such opportunities of freedom and moral dignity. It later touches on those who will never forgive General Peron who made the country suffer an endless night for raising three flags that should have been raised centuries ago. This is piece that shows how a great deal of importance is placed on the ideas of freedom, things people in developed nations now a days often take for granted. I believe people often do not realize the opportunities that are given for them, and what was accomplished for such opportunities to be available to the people.

The fourth document, Eva Peron’s Final Response Broadcast over the Airwaves at 8:30 p.m. on August 31, 1951 was an informative announcement were she justified her reasons for resignation. She re states the promises she has made, and how she has done everything in her power to keep those promises. In my opinion rather she completed those promises or not, the effort is what counts, this is notable when she states “I think I did everything in my power to keep my promise and pay my debt”. By publicly announcing her resignation it shows her devotion to the people of Argentina. It appears that she feels a connection to the people, therefore feeling the responsibility to publicly explain her situation, which I find to a reasonable and respectable move. It appears that she implies her support for the future, and her hope for a positive outcome, with the reference to “Evita” a women she states devoted her life to bringing the hopes of the people before the President, and “that is who she wants to be”.