- Title: Bolivia set to approve controversial law allowing construction in national park
- Date: 4th August 2017
- Summary: LA PAZ, BOLIVIA (AUGUST 04, 2017) (REUTERS) ACTIVISTS IN BODY PAINT AND WEARING MASKS PROTESTING IN FRONT OF THE BOLIVIAN VICE PRESIDENT'S OFFICE (NUDITY) ACTIVISTS HOLDING SIGNS PROTESTING CONSTRUCTION PROJECT IN BOLIVIA'S TIPNIS NATIONAL PARK (NUDITY) GENERAL VIEW OF THE FACADE OF THE VICE PRESIDENT'S OFFICE VIEW OF PROTESTERS HOLDING SIGNS IN FRONT OF THE VICE PRESIDENT'S OFFICE (NUDITY) CLOSE-UP OF SIGNS READING "TIPNIS" (THE NATIONAL PARK) AND "RESPECT TIPNIS" (NUDITY) POLICE GUARDING ENTRANCE TO VICE PRESIDENT'S OFFICE DEMONSTRATORS HOLDING SIGNS (NUDITY)
- 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: LVA0016SQS5DV
- 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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