The article’s main point is to show how ancient beliefs are still useful and beneficial in the Latin America political stage in this day and age. This is especially seen in the electoral results of countries such as Bolivia and Ecuador.
Some people may however argue that the practice is leftist and backward. For instance in May 2007, Pope Benedict XVI while on tour in Brazil claimed that during colonization of Indians they had already been awaiting their change. This sparked angry remarks from the President of Ecuarunari. In a protest letter addressed to the Catholic church. Indigenous practices remain parceled to the politics in Abya Ayala.
On the contrary not all Latin America leaders saw eye to eye on this issue. Rafael Correa, president of Ecuador blamed an “infertile” coalition of environmentalists for the intrusion of Pachamama-Nature into the constitution. Pachamama is interpreted in the Ecuadorian constitution as where life becomes real and reproduces itself.
Earth beings and human interactions with earth practices as referred to by Penelope Harvey are increasingly frequent political practices in the Andes. In Bolivia offerings to Pachamama were witnessed in two recent occasions. These were two political mobilizations known as Guerra del Agua and Guerra del Gas that took place in 2000 and 2003 respectively. The two events coincided with the fall of two neoliberal regimes in Bolivia.
In December 2006, over 1000 peasants went to Cuzco’s main Square, Plaza de Armas. They had travelled from the foot of a mountain known as Ausangate. Ausangate is known as the source of life and death, wealth and misery. They therefore wished to stop the proposed mining on one of the peaks of the mountain. In 2008 the plan was called off in fear of Ausangate’s wrath.
Works cited
Cruz-Torres, María L, and Pamela D. McElwee. Gender and Sustainability: Lessons from Asia and Latin America. Tucson: UAP, 2012. Print.
