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Bolivia Opening Seville Consulate

On February 14th Bolivia's ambassador to Spain Carmen Almendra announced to Red Erbol that next week Bolivia will be opening a consulate in Seville largely to attend to the needs numerous Bolivian ex-patriots working there. 

Estimated 100,000 tourists at Carnaval in Oruro

On February 13th, Bolivian Vice-Minister of Tourism Iván Cahuaya told the press today that they are expecting to receive around 100,000 tourists from all different continents, South America, and Bolivia that will generate 28 million dollars for the Oruro economy. On a national scale the Oruro Carnaval is expected to generate some $100 million dollars for the Bolivian economy.

Ex-Miss Universe Inaugurates Samsung Store in Cochabamba

The 1987 Miss Universe Cecilia Bolocco presided over the inauguration of Samsung's first store in  Cochabamba.

MAS gives Evo Absolute Power to Name Judges

February 12th, the Movement to Socialism controlled senate has passed a bill called the "Ley Corta" or "Short Law" that allows President Evo Morales to name interim judges to fill any vacancies including those on the Supreme Court and Constitutional Tribunal.

Communities Lose 100% of Crops to Drought

While much of the country is struggling under punishing rains and flooding, three communities in the departments of Chuquisaca and Santa Cruz are facing a loss of 100% of this season´s crops due to drought.

BOLIVIAN SPACE AGENCY (ABE) CREATED TO LAUNCH SATELLITE TUPAC KATARI

This Wednesday, February 10th, the Bolivian Space Agency was born in order for Bolivia to launch its own national satellite, the Tupac Katari, that will cost up to $300 million dollars that Bolivia plans to borrow from China who will be launching the satellite

Government Accuses Patzi of Lying

On February 10th, Bolivian foreign minister David Choquehuanca lambasted La Paz mayorial candidate Felix Patzi for lying to the press regarding his recent arrest for drunk driving and resisting arrest.

NGO Profile: Eco-Bolivia/Madidi Travel

Eco Bolivia is one of the oldest and best-known conservation organizations in Bolivia. Their work focuses on the conservation in the Madidi National Park region of the Amazon Rainforest and the sustainable development of communities in the region.

Cases of Dengue Fever Double after Flooding

Today the Ministry of Health announced that cases of dengue fever had doubled to 43 confirmed cases of the disease.

Authorities Seize More Than $200,000 in Illegal Animals

Between December 2009 and February 3, 2010 Bolivian authorities intercepted shipments of illegally captured endangered animals valued at over US$200,000.

Community Justice: Patzi must make 1000 bricks, Refuses to Resign for Drunk Driving Despite Evo Insistence

Indigenous and Farm leaders have validated Aymará sociologist and ex-education minister Félix Patzi as their choice for governor of La Paz despite his recent arrest and confession to charges of drunk driving and fleeing arrest.

Bolivia Announces Climate Summit April 20-22

Bolivian Chanciller David Choquehauanca announced Monday, Febraury 8th, that Bolivia is inviting all the people and governments of the entire world to a climate change conference from April 20-22 in Cochabamba in response to the failed Copenhagen summit in 2009.  

Bolivia Weekly Episode 6 Podcast: Week of February 7th, 2010

Headlines: Bus drivers declare a strike to protest a new law against drunk driving, Devastating floods submerge entire villages in the Bolivian Amazon, Carnaval begins in Oruro, Evo Morales decrees a harsh new law against drunk driving, Bolivia accepts 88 Haitian refugees temporarily,  Ex-President Paz Zamora is charged with vehicular homocide, and the first Bolivian convicted under the new drunk driving law is controversial Movement to Socialism party member Felix Patzi. 

Classes Began Monday in Bolivia with “Regionally Modified School Calendar”

Some Bolivian schools began their school years last Monday with a modified or partial schedule of classes due to floods or other unavoidable issues, explained Deputy Minister of Scholastic Education, German Jimenez.

Health Officials in Sucre Present Pre-Carnaval Health Fair

In an attempt to prevent the further spread of HIV/AIDS and other revelry-related health hazards during this year’s Carnaval, health officials in Sucre presented a Preventive Health Fair in Bolivar Park, beginning last Friday.

Music Festival Begins Carnival in Oruro

In a celebration mixing music, culture, and politics, the 9th Annual Music Festival in Oruro kicked off the week-long Carnival festivities. 6,000 musicians and more than 5,000 spectators, including President Evo Morales and Culture Minister Zulma Yugar, attended the 2 1/2 hour-long opening procession.

Indigenous Groups Criticize Evo & Bureaucracy

Several different indigenous groups over the past week have denounced Evo Morales and the MAS government as overly bureaucratic and only representing the interests of large Andean indigenous groups. 

Flooding Worsens: 11 Dead, over 100,000 Fleeing

Bolivia's Civil Defense reported February 6th, that some 28, 000 families (thus over 100,000 individuals) have been displaced by flooding and natural disasters during this particularly harsh rainy season and 11 deaths have been reported so far. 

Cosmos Company Begins Operation After Suspension

The Vice-Minister of Transportation Spokesperson Emilio Rodas accredited 36 Cosmos drivers out of a total of 78 for complying with the strict new professional driving rules establish under Supreme Decree 420. 

Supermodel MAS Governor Candidate Helps Flood Victims

Evo Morales' Movement to Socialism (MAS) party candidate for governor of the state of Beni, British-Bolivian Supermodel Jessica Jordan (24), personally delivered aid to flood victims near the city of Trinidad on January 29th.

National Lottery Corruption Scandal of 64 Million

Nardi Suxo, Anti-Corruption and Transparency Minister, has denounced a 64 million dollar fraud scheme in the Bolivian National Lotery (LONABOL).

Bolivia Irked by Brazil Condescension

Bolivian politicians have delivered a curt response to Brazil's somewhat condescending stance on the

Bolivian Men and Women in Unique Celebration: Dia de Compadres & Comadres

Yesterday, February 4, Bolivians in several departments celebrated Jueves de Compadre, a male-only

Bolivia Accepts 88 Haitian Refugees

Bolivian Immigration confirmed that as of January 27th Bolivia has admitted 88 Haitian refugees who are

Buses Declare 48 Hour Strike to Protest New Drunk Driving Law

On February 3rd the Bolivian Drivers Confederation has declared a 48 hour nationwide bus strike

Ex-President Zamora Charged With Vehicular Homocide

Taxi driver Juan Bautista Castrillo died in the San Juan de Dios hospital on January 27th from

Call for Reporters: Write for Bolivia Weekly

Bolivia Weekly is accepting applications for interns and journalists to cover the following subject areas:

• Politics
• Environment
• Sports
• Travel & Tourism
• Bolivia in International News
• Oil/Gas/Mining
• Economy
• Local sections for Regions/Cities

Requirements:

• Advanced Level of Spanish and English; fluency preferred.
• Committment to write between 2 and 7 well written, researched, unbiased, news stories per week.
• Ideal: Proficiency with audio recording and ability to contribute audio content to the weekly podcast.

Please send a resume and cover letter with 1 paragraph in English and 1 paragraph in Spanish explaining why you will be a good reporter for Bolivia Weekly to: info@thespittingllama.com

Internships and full reporter positions are unpaid at this time.

Lula Affirms Bolivian Gas Contracts, Cites Solidarity

President Lula of Brazil re-affirmed his committment to natural gas purchasing contracts with Bolivia despite

Ex-Education Minister Patzi is 1st Bolivian to Lose Driver's License For Life Under New Law

On February 4th the Sacha Llorenti, the Minister of Government announced that the national police have

Peru-Bolivia Border Conflict over Gold Smolders

There is an ongoing standoff on the Bolivia-Perú border in the Amazonian part of the La Paz state along

Evo Asks Citizens to Each Plant a Tree

Wednesday, February 3rd, President Evo Morales asked Bolivians to defend the Pachamama or "mother

Tough New Traffic Law. Traffic Deaths Double in 10 Years.

After 80 highway deaths in January due to multiple egregious bus accidents involving high speeds,

Hail Destroys 60% of Village's Crops

On february 2nd a powerful hail storm devastated 60% of the potato and fava bean crops of the small

Bolivia Weekly Episode 5 Audio Podcast January 2010

Hear all the news from Bolivia in Episode 5 for the week ending Jan 31st 2010.

NGO Profile: PROINPA

In an age when seeds are patented, crops are genetically engineered to be dependent on fertilizers, and

Four of Every Ten Students Victims of Intimidation

According to a recent study by NGO Association of Vital Voices, four out of every ten Bolivian students

Enthusiastic Youth Open Bicentennial Carnival

In Cochabamba, more than 40 dance groups oozing with talent, youth and creativity opened the