The Water Battles Continue...

The guardians of the bloqueo

The people of Alto Mirador and the other barrios in this area a few kilometers south of Cochabamba began a bloqueo today aimed at improving their access to water. They currently receive dirty--sometimes bug-infested--water irregularly, with low pressure, and at a high price. They have been waiting years for the installation of a water tank. Raymundo Cassia, the elected head of Alto Mirador´s water committee told me this afternoon that head of SEMAPA, Cochabamba´s civic water project, shut the door in their faces and is refusing to meet with them. At last report, six representatives of these barrios had headed into the center to meet with the mayor. Raymundo said they will maintain the bloqueo until they are assured of a specific date when the promised tank will be completed and promised an adequate amount of water. Needless to say, those in the wealthy neighborhoods north of the center have water in abundance seven days a week.

"!Estoy sangrando!"

Belen pretending that the flower polen on her hands is blood.

La Belen y la Leah

The adorable daughters/grandaughters/nieces of my host family, Belen, 6, and Leah, 7, in the backyard.

...y bailando...

In dress typical of Santa Cruz...

Chicos bailando...

In the dress de another part of Bolivia, not sure which, somewhere to the east I think...

El Dia Ferido de Cochabamba

A school girl in indigenous dress at her school´s fiesta in celebration of Cochabamba´s anniversary, September 14. On this day in 1814, Francisco de Rivero, Esteban Arze y Melchor Guzmán Quitón and their fellow Cochabambinos rose up against the Spanish, proclaiming the revolution that would ultimately win independence 15 years later.

Estudiantes en Huelga

The students of several departments of Cochabamba´s Universidad San Simon are on strike, some on hunger strike, demanding more student oversight of the hiring and promoting of professors and an end to corruption within the university. One student tonight "crucified" himself--mounted himself on a cross. He remains there at last report.

El Cerro Tunari

The view of the mountains at sunset from the laguna el Barrio Juan XXIII. The tallest is Tunari, which I climbed two years ago...

"No to the Autonomies!" This tag is referring to the attempt of the eastern departments of Santa Cruz, Beni, Tarifa, Pando, and Tarija to gain autonomy, in other words, take the natural resources and run.

Juan XXIII

The entrance to my neighborhood. It is a cooperative neighborhood--they installed their own water system before the conflict that they collectively control and they also have their own medical clinic.