Comments on: Bolivia to Become World Battery Capital? http://matadorchange.com/bolivia-to-become-world-battery-capital Tue, 16 Mar 2010 12:56:34 -0700 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.6 hourly 1 By: muhammad http://matadorchange.com/bolivia-to-become-world-battery-capital/comment-page-1#comment-3846 muhammad Wed, 05 Aug 2009 10:29:37 +0000 http://matadorchange.com/?p=835#comment-3846 Evo Morales has proved to be rational and consistent in defending his country against foreign investors and Bolivian neo-liberal oligarchs. Both of these groups are slaves to the "bottom line", with little or no regard to the people of the poorest country in south america. His courageous fight against powerful and wealthy forces has proven difficult for him, yet effective in maintaining (if not reversing the status quo). I support his decision to delay the mining until a future date to be used in car batteries as mentioned in the article. I think during this time, he should encourage radical changes in the mining industry to minimize the negative impact on the land/environment, I also have to say that the Bolivian people have the highest percent of indigenous in any country in south america, and its time these people are respected for their wishes...even if its 500 years too late. Evo Morales has proved to be rational and consistent in defending his country against foreign investors and Bolivian neo-liberal oligarchs. Both of these groups are slaves to the “bottom line”, with little or no regard to the people of the poorest country in south america.

His courageous fight against powerful and wealthy forces has proven difficult for him, yet effective in maintaining (if not reversing the status quo). I support his decision to delay the mining until a future date to be used in car batteries as mentioned in the article. I think during this time, he should encourage radical changes in the mining industry to minimize the negative impact on the land/environment,

I also have to say that the Bolivian people have the highest percent of indigenous in any country in south america, and its time these people are respected for their wishes…even if its 500 years too late.

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]]> By: Esteban Roaldo http://matadorchange.com/bolivia-to-become-world-battery-capital/comment-page-1#comment-3841 Esteban Roaldo Tue, 04 Aug 2009 14:04:26 +0000 http://matadorchange.com/?p=835#comment-3841 Evo Morales should nationalize mining and grant concessions only to companies, which are willing and able to build up a lithium battery and accumulator industry right there in a Bolivian city nearby. This would bring good jobs to the country and the required skills how to make the best use of its Lithium wealth. Evo Morales should nationalize mining and grant concessions only to companies, which are willing and able to build up a lithium battery and accumulator industry right there in a Bolivian city nearby. This would bring good jobs to the country and the required skills how to make the best use of its Lithium wealth.

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]]> By: Real http://matadorchange.com/bolivia-to-become-world-battery-capital/comment-page-1#comment-3798 Real Wed, 29 Jul 2009 13:07:09 +0000 http://matadorchange.com/?p=835#comment-3798 Having it within government control will allow a better balance if done well. Certain regions should remain in their pristine state while the rest are exploited. The people of Bolivia could really use the growth. Having it within government control will allow a better balance if done well. Certain regions should remain in their pristine state while the rest are exploited. The people of Bolivia could really use the growth.

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]]> By: Sarah http://matadorchange.com/bolivia-to-become-world-battery-capital/comment-page-1#comment-3793 Sarah Tue, 28 Jul 2009 17:50:14 +0000 http://matadorchange.com/?p=835#comment-3793 Amen, Hal! That said, I remain really, really skeptical when it comes to these ventures. The history of Latin America looms sinister over anything like mining or drilling for oil--the U.S ambassador has already been declared persona non grata in Bolivia for allegedly conspiring (with the big foreign oil companies based out of Santa Cruz) to overthrow the government. Does that mean Bolivia should sit back and leave its resources untouched? No...but I think that really extreme caution is necessary here. Also, there comes a point at which the question of preserving the land is as urgent and pressing as that of exploiting resources. 70 percent of the rivers in China are polluted, and the air quality there is so poor that millions of children are suffering from serious respiratory diseases. Beyond the health issues, the country has been destroyed by rampant development--I don't even want to think about the landscapes I went through on train rides from Beijing to Mongolia and Beijing to Hong Kong. Amen, Hal!

That said, I remain really, really skeptical when it comes to these ventures. The history of Latin America looms sinister over anything like mining or drilling for oil–the U.S ambassador has already been declared persona non grata in Bolivia for allegedly conspiring (with the big foreign oil companies based out of Santa Cruz) to overthrow the government.

Does that mean Bolivia should sit back and leave its resources untouched? No…but I think that really extreme caution is necessary here.

Also, there comes a point at which the question of preserving the land is as urgent and pressing as that of exploiting resources. 70 percent of the rivers in China are polluted, and the air quality there is so poor that millions of children are suffering from serious respiratory diseases. Beyond the health issues, the country has been destroyed by rampant development–I don’t even want to think about the landscapes I went through on train rides from Beijing to Mongolia and Beijing to Hong Kong.

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]]> By: Hal http://matadorchange.com/bolivia-to-become-world-battery-capital/comment-page-1#comment-3792 Hal Tue, 28 Jul 2009 14:17:49 +0000 http://matadorchange.com/?p=835#comment-3792 After seeing what copper has done and is still doing for Chile (ironically, in territory that was taken from them during the War of the Pacific), I don't think Bolivia can ignore the potential represented by lithium mining. If they can actually swing it to where the money stays domestic (practically a "foreign" concept in South America!), it could seriously change the face of the country. And they need it. The Salar is a gorgeous place to be sure, but I think a small part of it could be sacrificed to bring people out of destitute poverty. And they wanna make electric car batteries with it, not gold necklaces. Wouldn't it be great if there could be some sort of international **cooperation** whereby Bolivia was assisted in mining as low-impact as possible but still got to keep the majority of the profits? Now that would be progress. After seeing what copper has done and is still doing for Chile (ironically, in territory that was taken from them during the War of the Pacific), I don’t think Bolivia can ignore the potential represented by lithium mining. If they can actually swing it to where the money stays domestic (practically a “foreign” concept in South America!), it could seriously change the face of the country. And they need it.

The Salar is a gorgeous place to be sure, but I think a small part of it could be sacrificed to bring people out of destitute poverty. And they wanna make electric car batteries with it, not gold necklaces.

Wouldn’t it be great if there could be some sort of international **cooperation** whereby Bolivia was assisted in mining as low-impact as possible but still got to keep the majority of the profits? Now that would be progress.

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]]> By: The Travel Tart http://matadorchange.com/bolivia-to-become-world-battery-capital/comment-page-1#comment-3790 The Travel Tart Tue, 28 Jul 2009 04:01:40 +0000 http://matadorchange.com/?p=835#comment-3790 Yes, this is an interesting article. Mining in South America has been well established in Chile for years, and is starting to take off in Argentina. There have been good and bad examples of mining regarding the social and environmental issues there. The trick is to provide 'balance'. If the locals don't benefit from the mine in terms of better infrastructure, employment etc, then there's no point in starting up a temporary land use like mining. I've been to the Salar de Uyuni and it's a magnificent place. Any new mines would need to be carefully assessed. But with the huge demand for resources, especially from China and India to produce goods for the west, it will be interesting to see what the future of mining in South America, and Bolivia, holds. Yes, this is an interesting article. Mining in South America has been well established in Chile for years, and is starting to take off in Argentina. There have been good and bad examples of mining regarding the social and environmental issues there.

The trick is to provide ‘balance’. If the locals don’t benefit from the mine in terms of better infrastructure, employment etc, then there’s no point in starting up a temporary land use like mining.

I’ve been to the Salar de Uyuni and it’s a magnificent place. Any new mines would need to be carefully assessed.

But with the huge demand for resources, especially from China and India to produce goods for the west, it will be interesting to see what the future of mining in South America, and Bolivia, holds.

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