Evo Morales
(1959-)

1st Indigenous President of Bolivia

birthdate: October 26
birthplace:
Orinoca, Oruro, Bolivia

QUOTES

We are going forward with the idea of a multicultural , a multinational state, trying to live in unity, at the same time respecting our diversity...But we need to all come together so we can live united.

We want to govern with our indigenous ancestors' models: That means a different concept of participation, community work and honesty...

I know that we're different, not only within nations but among nations as well, those differences among the various nations must be respected. But what better among political leaders, presidents, or with social movement leaders, than coming together to think about how we can support life and human kind. And it's my sense that in this new millennium, it should be the millennium of life...we need to create and come together to save lives and to save human kind.

In recent days at the UN I have heard a lot of talk about global warming, climate change, but they don't say why, where all that is coming from. There appear to be few political leaders or movements that say where is all this coming from?. Perhaps from a Western culture. Perhaps excesses in relation to industry. Or perhaps because of excessive luxury. Excessive consumption. And if we all think about humankind, then we need to figure out how we can change that situation.

There are presidents and countries who send troops abroad to save lives but there are also countries and presidents who send troops abroad to take away lives. If we compare these two things and weigh these two things, certainly we're going to come to the conclusion that these policies must change, and that in this millennium, the key guideline must be to save lives.

I don't accept armed struggle. Maybe it was the way in the '50s and '60s, but we want a democratic revolution...

I believe only in the power of the people... I have seen the importance of the power of a whole people, of a whole nation. For those of us who believe it important to defend humanity, the best contribution we can make is to help create that popular power. This happens when we check our personal interests with those of the group. Sometimes, we commit to the social movements in order to win power. We need to be led by the people, not use or manipulate them.

If we want to defend humanity we must change the system, and this means overthrowing US imperialism.

The worst enemy of humanity is U.S. capitalism. That is what provokes uprisings like our own, a rebellion against a system, against a neoliberal model, which is the representation of a savage capitalism. If the entire world doesn't acknowledge this reality, that the national states are not providing even minimally for health, education and nourishment, then each day the most fundamental human rights are being violated.

 

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