Evo.

I just returned from a meeting with my boss and, somehow, she has approved my project! I just finished a draft of my grant for funding for distribution of the project and titled it the Gender Identity Awareness Project. It will be completed in two parts. First, a short documentary about the experience of Trans individuals in Cochabamba in the realms of health care, human rights, and social stigma. Second, I will be creating an information packet about Trans identities that will be distributed both with the film and as a separate entity.

I am Stoked. 

Moving along...

Have you ever thought to yourself, "What the hell is the deal with Evo Morales?" Probably not, I guess. However, it's been a common thought in my head lately. Evo Morales is the President of Bolivia. He is a member of the MAS (essentially "socialist movement"). He didn't go to college. He is from the campo and identifies with indigenous communities (although he is not actually Indigenous). And debate over his presidency runs fiercer and deeper, and splayed with more propoganda, than the U.S. debates over George W. Bush.

It seems like every single person in Cochabamba has an extremely strong opinion about Evo and there are only two opinions to pick from: Love him or Hate him. Pretty much all of the host families that FSD interns are staying with hate Evo with a burning passion. Their explainations vary. For my host family specifically, they are disgusted by Evo because of his complete lack of education and insight. They talk often about how he offers incentives to campesinos who will march to Cochabamba or La Paz or any given cause and show him support. He will do things like build a soccer stadium or give a bunch of bread to the campo if all of the residents march. What he doesn't do, however, is increase infrastructure, find a way to get water to the campos, or invest in long-term development. For my host family, this is a problem. Other people seem to strongly dislike him for more anti-indigenous sentiments, and still others because he hurts international business opportunities.

However, when I drive out to rural areas with IDH for our sexual health workshops, the dirt roads are lined with spray painted Pro-Evo signage. The campesinos seem to love him. I can't figure out if it is because of lack of education and blind faith in the government that claims to be "pro-campo" or if he has actually helped the campos' standard of living increase. 

Before coming to Bolivia, I felt like I had read a lot about Evo's government and felt somewhat in favor of his regime change from his neoliberal predecessors. But now, all of that is in question. Poverty has not reduced in Bolivia during Evo's Presidency (since 2006), laws have been cohersively made to extend Evo's term in office, in fact my host family told me flat out that they don't know when the next election in Bolivia might be held. Additonally, Evo publicly stated that he thinks that eating chicken causes homosexuality. I have a serious problem with this.

But rather than assert my own views about his policies, I find it more fascinating to observe the country in a state of such political angst. The wealthier, city-dwellers seem almost hopeless in their discussion of Evo, my host family talks more of emigrating from Bolivia than actually fighting against Evo's administration. Additionally, the campos are so covered with Evo paraphenalia that it seems almost contrived. Is Evo a populist? A narcissist? Intentionally deceitful or filled with positive intentions? I'm not sure if I will ever really know.