Original interview published in
the June 2013 issue MU Magazine, from the La Vaca popular media collective in
Buenos Aires. Translated by Margi Clarke.
Reprinted with permission. Upside Down Word
1- ECUADOR
In Ecuador there is a
government that proclaims a “citizen revolution” and that has a constitution
with explicit environmental values that speaks of Well Being and the rights of
Nature. At the same time, there are 179
or 180 indigenous leaders and activists accused of sabotage and terrorism for
doing what they always have done: blocking roads and occupying public land to
protest and stop the mining projects that threaten their livelihood and
communities. The greatest struggle of
the social movements right now is to defend water and to halt open-pit
mining. President Correa calls them
“full-bellies” (‘pancitas llenas’) who have plenty to eat and can dedicate
themselves to criticizing the government and the mining industry alongside
their imperialist NGO allies (non-governmental organizations).
