Benjamin Dangl, Author at Toward Freedom

Bolivia: Morales Enacts New Constitution in El Alto

Benjamin Dangl February 7, 2009 Benjamin Dangl

Fog covered El Alto, Bolivia on Saturday morning as social movements from around the country marched into the city to mark the official passage of Bolivia's new constitution. "This is the second independence, the true liberation of Bolivia," Bolivian President Evo Morales said as he signed the new constitution.

Latin America Breaks Free

Benjamin Dangl February 3, 2009 Benjamin Dangl

UNASUR Meeting in Chile (Photo: ABI)

Five years ago, when Evo Morales was a rising political star as a congressman and coca farmer, I met him in his office in Cochabamba, Bolivia. He was drinking orange juice and sifting through the morning newspapers when I asked him about a meeting he just had with Brazilian President Lula. "The main issue that we spoke about was how we can construct a political instrument of liberation and unity for Latin America," Morales told me.

Bolivia Looking Forward: New Constitution Passed, Celebrations Hit the Streets

Benjamin Dangl January 26, 2009 Benjamin Dangl

Crowd Greets Morales

After Bolivia's new constitution was passed in a national referendum on Sunday, thousands gathered in La Paz to celebrate. Standing on the balcony of the presidential palace, President Evo Morales addressed a raucous crowd: "Here begins a new Bolivia. Here we begin to reach true equality."

From Bolivia’s Streets: What Voters Think About the New Constitution

Benjamin Dangl January 25, 2009 Benjamin Dangl

Today's referendum on Bolivia's new constitution took place on a rare sunny day for this time of year in La Paz. Since traffic is prohibited on voting day, families taking advantage of the abnormally quiet streets walked their dogs, ate ice cream and strolled into the local schools to vote. What follows is a series of observations and interviews from various polling places in La Paz.

Bolivia: After Rallies for New Constitution, Morales Nationalizes Oil Company

Benjamin Dangl January 24, 2009 Benjamin Dangl

On Thursday, January 22, the last day of campaigning for the new constitution before the document is set to a vote on Sunday, January 25th, representatives from Bolivia's diverse social movements convened in downtown La Paz. The rally, located in the Plaza Murillo, marked the end of over two years of meetings, conflicts and mobilizations to, as President Evo Morales often says in speeches, "constitutionalize" much-needed changes. The following day, Morales nationalized the Chaco oil company.

Spilling Ink Instead of Blood: Bolivia Poised to Vote on New Constitution

Benjamin Dangl January 22, 2009 Benjamin Dangl

Dozens of marches and rallies in support of Bolivia's new constitution, to be voted on this Sunday, have filled the streets of La Paz in recent days. On Tuesday, at a rally for the constitution and to celebrate Venezuela's donation of 300 tons of asphalt to the city of La Paz, President Evo Morales took the stage, covered in confetti and with a coca leaf wreath around his neck. The crowd cheered and waved signs, one of them saying, "Thanks for the asphalt and the progress."