- Title: Bolivia set to approve controversial law allowing construction in national park
- Date: 4th August 2017
- Summary: CLOSE-UP OF SIGN READING (Spanish) "WOMEN AND MOTHER EARTH ARE TIRED OF YOUR VIOLENCE" (SOUNDBITE) (Spanish) INDIGENOUS LEADER FROM THE TIPNIS NATIONAL PARK, FERNANDO VARGAS, SAYING: "With this approval, the destruction of the habitat of the indigenous people - the Moxeños, Yuracaré y Tsimane - has begun. Secondly, this is the start of the destruction not only of the TIPNIS (national park) but also of the 22 protected areas nationally and of indigenous territories. Therefore, the indigenous people, we're going to make our territory and our habitat be respected." LA PAZ, BOLIVIA (AUGUST 03, 2017) (REUTERS) GENERAL VIEW OF THE PLURINATIONAL ASSEMBLY OF BOLIVIA (BOLIVIA'S NATIONAL CONGRESS) FACADE OF THE BOLIVIAN CONGRESS WITH FLAGS POLICE GUARDING THE CONGRESS INTERIOR OF THE BOLIVIAN CONGRESS AS LEGISLATORS DEBATE BILL 180 (WHICH WILL OPEN THE TIPNIS NATIONAL PARK TO DEVELOPMENT) POSTER READING "YES TO THE TIPNIS HIGHWAY, FORWARD WITH THE DEVELOPMENT OF BENI, INTEGRATING BOLIVIA" (SOUNDBITE) (Spanish) LEGISLATOR FROM THE GOVERNING PARTY (IN FAVOUR OF THE BILL), RAMONA MOYE, SAYING: "In this parliament and I hope that you all give your full support to our bill because in reality, this is what's going to change the territory of the TIPNIS. The development that for so many years we've longed for, at least good education, good healthcare in our TIPNIS territory." BOLIVIAN CONGRESS DEBATE ON THE BILL AFFECTING THE TIPNIS OPPOSITION LEGISLATOR BEING HECKLED BY MEMBERS OF THE GOVERNING PARTY LEGISLATOR WITH MASKING TAPE COVERING HER MOUTH TO PROTEST APPROVAL OF THE BILL OPPOSITION LAWMAKERS HOLDING SIGNS READING, "DON'T TOUCH THE TIPNIS" AND "CARING FOR TIPNIS IS CARING FOR OURSELVES," AND "NO TO THE DEATH OF THE TIPNIS" CLOSE-UP OF SIGN READING "DON'T TOUCH THE TIPNIS" WITH CARICATURE OF PRESIDENT MORALES LEGISLATORS VOTING ON APPROVAL OF THE BILL, ANNOUNCEMENT THAT THE BILL IS APPROVED AND LEGISLATORS CLAPPING (SOUNDBITE) (Spanish) ENVIRONMENT EXPERT, CECILIA REQUENA, SAYING: "While today the TIPNIS is in an emergency, it is absolutely not a unique case and in fact we can talk here about a pattern, a very clear pattern of an easing of all the norms of protection of the national parks and indigenous territories in the country. With what objective? With, for example, the objective of permitting mining, permitting petroleum extraction." GENERAL VIEW OF REQUENA BEING INTERVIEWED (SOUNDBITE) (Spanish) ENVIRONMENT EXPERT, CECILIA REQUENA, SAYING: "In the Madidi (national park) they want to build a highway, but also at the entrance to Madidi two mega-dams that would destroy not only the Madidi national park but will also destroy the whole hydrologic equilibrium of a basin, the Beni River Basin."
- Embargoed: 19th August 2017 00:18
- Keywords: Bolivia TIPNIS Evo Morales National Park envrionment protest
- Location: LA PAZ AND BENI, BOLIVIA
- City: LA PAZ AND BENI, BOLIVIA
- Country: Bolivia
- Topics: Environment,Climate Politics
- Reuters ID: LVA0026SQS5DV
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text: *** NOTE: VIDEO CONTAINS NUDITY IN SHOTS 1, 2, 4, 5, AND 7
Bolivia's lower chamber of congress voted on Thursday (August 3), to annul a law granting protection to a national park, prompting further protests in La Paz.
The measure is supported by President Evo Morales and is expected to be enacted soon after it is taken up by the senate on Tuesday (August 8).
Supporters of the legislation hope to build a controversial a highway through a Bolivia's Indigenous Territory and National Park of Isiboro Secure (known in Spanish by its acronym, TIPNIS).
However, a coalition of indigenous and environmental groups opposed to development in Bolivia's Amazon region have come out strongly against to the legislation saying it threatens the national park.
The road has been at the heart of the Bolivian President Evo Morales' drive to boost infrastructure investment in the impoverished nation.
Political opposition figures and environmental groups claim the Morales government wants to use the highway to open new lands to coca cultivation and has been in discussions with Chinese construction companies that have expressed interest in projects in the region.
The highway would extend through Bolivia's Amazon region into the Beni district abutting Brazil.
The actions this week follow attempts going back years to develop land within the park. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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