News Roundup - September 28, 2008
A girl casts her mother's vote in a referendum on changes to the constitution in Otavalo, Ecuador, Sunday, Sept. 28, 2008. (AP Photo/Fernando Vergara)TOP STORY - New Ecuadorian Constitution Approved by Strong Majority, President Correa Claims “Historic Victory” (Upside Down World)
Bolivia - 'This is a fight between rich and poor' (Green Left Weekly)
Brazil - Brazil's Lula calls US bailout plan unfair to poor (Reuters)
Brazil - Lula Includes Blacks on Foreign and Domestic Agendas (Inter Press Service)
Nicaragua - UN undemocratic, says General Assembly president (Green Left Weekly)
Venezuela - Venezuela's Hugo Chávez castigates U.S. bailout, Bush (Associated Press)
World - FTAs smack of double standards (Emirates Business 24/7)
World - Battle in Seattle should spur talk of need for revising NAFTA (Fresno Bee)
posted by Justin Delacour | 8:58 AM
1 Comments:
No one is going to claim that Ecuador's constitutional reform was rigged or anything? No one clamouring to talk about the poor oppressed elites of Guayaquil who just want "autonomy"? What a shame.
If no one is going to be critical of the referendum, I will: Correa has made a long term mistake by taking the social movements for granted and not moving forward with local consultation processes (with a veto) over extraction.
They escaped major confrontation when last minute the Correa yes-men in the constituent assembly included references to Kichwa and Shuar.
Overall, I think the new constitution is a step forward for Ecuador, but it is not to the potential that Correa had promised and I think the social movements should move forward cautiously because I suspect Correa is trying to manipulate their support without addressing their concerns sincerely.
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