Photo Essay From Bolivia: Memories of the Water War and Preparation for the World Climate Conference

Ten years after the 2000 Cochabamba Water War, social movements took to the streets to commemorate the historic uprising that stopped the company Aguas de Tunari, subsidiary of the US corporation Bechtel,  from privatizing the Cochabamba public water services. To many, the water war marked the beginning of the end of an era of neoliberal economic policy in Bolivia.

 

Ten years after the 2000 Cochabamba Water War, social movements took to the streets to commemorate the historic uprising that stopped the company Aguas de Tunari, subsidiary of the US corporation Bechtel,  from privatizing the Cochabamba public water services. The following photos are from a march initiated by the International Fair of Water, during which participants created a proposal for the World People’s Conference on Climate Change that is taking place this week, April 20-22, 2010.

Water For All 

 To many, the water war marked the beginning of the end of an era of neoliberal economic policy in Bolivia.

  

"Water: Gift of God" and "10 Years of Struggle"

The event, organized by the Coordinator of Water and SICA-SUR (Asociación de Sistema Comunitarios de la zona sur), began with a march of workers, irrigation workers, women and young people in the central September 14th Plaza.

"The Water is Ours, Carajo!" and "Water For All"

Afterwords, participants attended a rally in the headquarters of the Federation of Fabriles, where representatives from social movements from different countries told of their personal experiences in local struggles to defend the right to water.

Without Water, There's No Chicha.