Underneath the sweater: Bolivia’s Evo Morales faces mounting opposition

Wed, 02 Nov 2011 15:28:00 -0500

Since elected in 2006, Bolivia’s president Evo Morales has been hailed as a morally-driven leader of the people. Known for his trademark alpaca wool sweaters, he's long touted his indigenous roots and anti-American, environmentally progressive politics. Among world leaders, Morales is one of the most active in pushing nations to adopt climate change legislation. In 2009, the U.N. even named him a “World Hero of Mother Earth.”

Recently, however, Morales’ carefully crafted image has begun to crack. For months this year, he refused to relent in his support for a highway project through the TIPNIS National Park, a protected reserve in the Amazon basin. The area is home to 11 endangered species and three ethnic groups battling extinction of their own.

In response, indigenous groups recently marched 260 miles in protest from the lowland Amazon jungle -- where the park is located -- to the Bolivian capital of La Paz. Along the way, they faced a brutal police crackdown, which only increased national support for the protests.

Two weeks ago, Morales finally succumbed to mounting pressure and declared the project would be canceled. The political damage, however, was already done.

For analysis, we turn to Miguel Centellas, an expert on Bolivia and a political science professor at the University of Mississippi.

Quinn signs new seat belt law

Mon, 27 Jun 2011 17:38:00 -0500

Every car passenger in Illinois will soon have to buckle up. Illinois Governor Pat Quinn signed a bill today that requires it. Before this seemingly common sense law, backseat passengers 18 years or older weren't required to wear a seatbelt.

Illinois Secretary of State Jesse White explained why backseat passengers need to be restrained.

He said, "If by chance they are not buckled up, then of course they could become a human missile for those in the front of the vehicle."

But the law still exempts riders in buses, emergency vehicles and those in the backseat of taxis. Illinois Senate President John Cullerton sponsored the bill with the late GOP Rep. Mark Beaubien.

Regarding the taxi exemption, Cullerton said, "A lot of times in taxi cabs, the seatbelts are not maintained properly and it's hard to find them. I know I have trouble myself digging down to try to find them sometimes." Cullerton said he hopes taxis will be added to the bill sometime later on.

The new law will take effect January 1, 2012.

Meanwhile just before the seatbelt press conference, a taxi cab crashed into a downtown Chicago building - killing a pedestrian and seriously injuring the driver and backseat passenger.

WBEZ | highways

Underneath the sweater: Bolivia’s Evo Morales faces mounting opposition

Quinn signs new seat belt law