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Damian Lewis
Damian Lewis
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Damian Lewis
What prompted the decision to go on the trip to Bolivia?
I studied Spanish at 'A' level and I’ve always enjoyed Spanish cultures. I’ve been to Spain a lot, and I’ve been to Mexico but I’d never been to South America.
Also, I was interested to go and see what was behind all these stories about the privatisation of gas, water and dairy sectors.
Also, I was interested to go and see what was behind all these stories about the privatisation of gas, water and dairy sectors.
So you were happy to go?
Yes, very happy. It was 2 or 3 weeks before the election and there was a lot of talk at that stage about Evo Morales getting in.
He has subsequently got in, the first indigenous president in Bolivia’s history, which is a remarkable thing because the ruling elite are effectively Spanish and he got in with the largest mandate in political history.
He has subsequently got in, the first indigenous president in Bolivia’s history, which is a remarkable thing because the ruling elite are effectively Spanish and he got in with the largest mandate in political history.
the first indigenous president in Bolivia’s history
So it was an extraordinary time to be there.
Bolivia is the poorest country in South America and yet has massive natural resources. Why is that?
Well, it's been the history of all of Bolivia’s resources, which have made it flush for 2000 year periods at a time, that they haven't been renewable. The tin mines and rubber plantations ... all these things are non-renewable and the problem was, the conquistadores were the people who came and plundered the resources and ... very little of it has even gone back into Bolivia, and it certainly hasn't sustained Bolivia's economy for any length of time. Now they have uncovered these gas resources and I think it was kept pretty quiet initially by the government about the extent of the gas reserves,
They're worth about $250 billion these gas reserves
which is why there were these riots, because once they found out - people rioted, quite justifiably. They're worth about $250 billion these gas reserves, and Evo Morales - god knows whether he will run the country successfully, he's certainly going to piss off America while he's doing it, which may be a good thing - but it's difficult to argue with his ambitions for renationalising the gas industry.
America is nervous because another South American country has turned left
Going forward, do you foresee any further problems for the country under a strongly nationalist indigenous leader with the best interests of the people at heart - what is the correct response for a campaigning organisation?
Mmm. Yes. Morales has already aligned himself very strongly with Chaves and Castro, that's why he's pissing off America so much. America is nervous because another South American country has turned to the left. Presumably any bilateral agreements Bolivia has with America are going to be wiped out. It's all really part of the same political mechanism as the IMF and World Bank that are supposed to be independent but have their headquarters in Washington DC across from the White House... and it's, uh, Bolivia needs aid. Doesn't it. It needs aid in order to help itself out of poverty
it doesn't need a rocket scientist to see who's going to need all the protection through the deal
and Evo Morales is going to have to balance that very carefully. If you're going to piss off some of the most powerful organisations in the world then by extension is he going to be pissing off the financing bodies too, and therefore losing his aid, and if he does that I think it'll be disastrous for Bolivia, but at the same time, I... If someone really principled like Evo Morales had been there before, on firmer ground, then they might have got some better deals. But it's important to stress that remember - you know, for example Accrington Stanley are doing a transfer with Man Utd, it doesn't need a rocket scientist to see who's going to need all the protection through the deal, who holds all the power. If you're reliant on the IMF and World Bank for aid and they suggest to you very strongly that you privatise your water, your gas and various industries, otherwise you might just see a reduction in the amount of aid you get this year, what are you going to do? You’re going to listen. Their hands are tied. So that's been the interesting thing for me - how is Evo Morales going to exercise this greater protectionism to good effect, without isolating them, because if they cut adrift
They should be able to get it at local prices
They will suffer, no doubt about it.
Yes, short term certainly, long term - what does that mean? It means economic growth will slow, in terms of the global economy, their place within the global economy will slow right down but - first of all what they should be able to do is get gas at local prices, not international export prices, which is another huge problem - that the multinationals are able to charge international export prices to the local population. And that's absurd. They should be able to get it at local prices - it's their gas.
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| Kalpesh Lathigra | Damian Lewis |
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