Cochabamba: MUCOV´S Moments in the Sun
Once we got off the short 8 hour bus ride we immediately noticed the difference between La Paz and Cochabamba. The air was clearer and warmer; the hustle and bustle of c
ars and buses seemed less congested, as if the city had a time of its own in which it moved at a more leisurely pace. We were happy at the chance to take our long worn out shoes off and put on our summer sandals, the sun felt great and we felt as if the city welcomed us with its slowly opening arms. The first things we did (as usual) was to check out the local central market of San Antonio. We found it as colorful, loud and full of our favorite snacks as all of the other central markets and the heat allowed us the sweet pleasure of a juicy watermelon and fresh cold grapefruit juice.
As it happens with so many of our MUCOV experiences, 
the reason for which we arrived into Cochabamba was also a combination of randomness and destiny: In La Paz we were invited to participate in a Community Feminism Workshop, in which we met some womyn working in NGO´s that support and work for/with womyn in various indigenous communities in Bolivia. One of these womyn was Sara Paez, who in her interest and enthusiasm for our work and our travel invited us to visit her in the city of Cochabamba. In addition, we were reminded that our young film maker friend Ariel, whom we met back in San Francisco, was originally from Cochabamba. He immediately wrote to us that we were welcome to stay in his house and passed on to us his brother Pavel´s information. So with two lovely invitations pending, we decided to keep exploring Bolivia.
the reason for which we arrived into Cochabamba was also a combination of randomness and destiny: In La Paz we were invited to participate in a Community Feminism Workshop, in which we met some womyn working in NGO´s that support and work for/with womyn in various indigenous communities in Bolivia. One of these womyn was Sara Paez, who in her interest and enthusiasm for our work and our travel invited us to visit her in the city of Cochabamba. In addition, we were reminded that our young film maker friend Ariel, whom we met back in San Francisco, was originally from Cochabamba. He immediately wrote to us that we were welcome to stay in his house and passed on to us his brother Pavel´s information. So with two lovely invitations pending, we decided to keep exploring Bolivia. 
The time we passed at Pavel´s house can only be described as the most restful and peaceful one we had in our trip so far. Pavel and his loyal pets, Chocolate, the sweetest most communicative and affectionate dog in all of Cocha, and Lea, a little white trouble maker kitty cat, welcomed us into their home. With Pavel and his girlfriend Vivi we had long and thoughtful conversations about life, family and politics, city tours and movie nights. It was exactly the kind of rest our bodies and minds needed at that time in our trip.
The ALBA Summit
Another reason that motivated us to visit Cochabamba and caught our attention was an important event in South America´
s political venue. We were to be in Cochabamba at the same time in which the 7th ALBA Summit was to take place. The Summit of the Bolivarian Alternative for the Americas was created in December of 2004 under the initiative of Venezuela and Cuba in order to counter the North American (U.S- led) Free Trade Agreements (NAFTA) and to strengthen the alliance amongst the different countries of Latin America. On its seventh gathering, the representatives and leaders of social movements from 40 different countries were to discuss various issues of common interest; the summit´s main purpose this year was to 
approve the creation of a single system of regional monetary currency called SUCRE, an idea that was proposed by Venezuela´s president Hugo Chavez in 2008 in an attempt to reduce the dependence of world economy on the U.S dollar and create an alternative trade exchange. Other topics in the agenda included procedures and regulations to protect Mother Earth, plans of action to reject and denounce the De-facto government of Honduras, the danger and responses to the expansion of U.S military bases in the Americas, and the creation of an alternative international court for monetary disputes to the one created by the World Bank.
s political venue. We were to be in Cochabamba at the same time in which the 7th ALBA Summit was to take place. The Summit of the Bolivarian Alternative for the Americas was created in December of 2004 under the initiative of Venezuela and Cuba in order to counter the North American (U.S- led) Free Trade Agreements (NAFTA) and to strengthen the alliance amongst the different countries of Latin America. On its seventh gathering, the representatives and leaders of social movements from 40 different countries were to discuss various issues of common interest; the summit´s main purpose this year was to approve the creation of a single system of regional monetary currency called SUCRE, an idea that was proposed by Venezuela´s president Hugo Chavez in 2008 in an attempt to reduce the dependence of world economy on the U.S dollar and create an alternative trade exchange. Other topics in the agenda included procedures and regulations to protect Mother Earth, plans of action to reject and denounce the De-facto government of Honduras, the danger and responses to the expansion of U.S military bases in the Americas, and the creation of an alternative international court for monetary disputes to the one created by the World Bank.
When we made our way to the stadium in which the last day of the 
summit was to take place, we were excited for the opportunity to capture this significant event with our dear cameras. But what we did not know was that a number of surprises were just waiting for us around the corner: our dissatisfaction with the spot we found to film in which the stage was barely discerned, surrounded by the waiting crowds of peasants, students, mine workers, union-organizers, and city folks drove us to try and make our way into the center of the event. Because of our lack of credentials and despite our best efforts, we could not get through since the center spot was reserved for delegations of various social movement and VIP Press. But because MUCOV is stubborn and persistent, we went for Plan B. We asked a man walking in our direction with what seemed like credentials if he would be kind enough to help us get through security.
summit was to take place, we were excited for the opportunity to capture this significant event with our dear cameras. But what we did not know was that a number of surprises were just waiting for us around the corner: our dissatisfaction with the spot we found to film in which the stage was barely discerned, surrounded by the waiting crowds of peasants, students, mine workers, union-organizers, and city folks drove us to try and make our way into the center of the event. Because of our lack of credentials and despite our best efforts, we could not get through since the center spot was reserved for delegations of various social movement and VIP Press. But because MUCOV is stubborn and persistent, we went for Plan B. We asked a man walking in our direction with what seemed like credentials if he would be kind enough to help us get through security.
The man said that we would give it a try; as we were walking to the gate, a side gate opened and a man with a white doctor´s coat appeared next to a silent ambulance. ¨Oh you are here to film? You are press than? ¨Come in! ¨he said! He led us through the entrance into the grassy lawn in which hundreds of colorfully dressed man and womyn were standing in a huge square holding the Bolivian flag. The next thing we knew, he lead us close to the main entrance in which guards wearing various uniforms stood, and in which the music could be heard at higher decibels. The other man that lead us in, who we later found out was also a doctor, left and our guide said: ¨So I would really like you to make a video for us to represent the hospital, I want you to film all of the representatives coming through this gate and then the crowds cheering and our ambulance too.¨ We were awe struck! from one moment to the next, we were standing in the middle of the stadium, with dozens of other people from the press holding big and impressive looking cameras and with anticipation written in their eyes. ¨How did we get here¨? We asked each other with incredulous smiles.
But there was no time to talk because soon, a wave of excitement could be felt through the crowds: the presidents were about to come through the gate and go on the stage! And MUCOV was right there; ready to witness it all. The music went up a few notches and the crowd cheered! As Evo Morales, the current Bolivian president walked through, Daniel Ortega, the Cuban Vice-President ,and representatives of Ecuador, Honduras, Dominica, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, and Antigua and Barbuda and at the end Venezuela´s president Hugo Chavez. MUCOV got front row spots and recorded the president´s and head of countries powerful speeches, their gestures, words and overall presence, the colorful crowd, numbered in the thousands cheering and the different organizations and their leaders. The best part was to see the crowd, the live music from various countries playing in the background, and the flags of different Latin-American nations waving with pride and hope.
And here are some of the wonderful womyn MUCOV has met in Cochabamba:
Ana: A petite young womyn with a protruding belly (she is in the nine 
month of her second pregnancy) a wide smile, a contagious laughter and a range of theatrical gestures and facial expressions that immediately puts one in a cheerful mood. Ana shared with us Herstory as if she was acting up in a play. In fact, that is quite normal for her, since she has been working in a street theater for the last few years and is currently giving drama and acting lessons for children. Ana was born in Colombia but immigrated to Bolivia at a young age with her parents, a nomad
ic doctor and a build-anything-possible kinda engineer. She recalled the years she spent in the countryside with indigenous communities and how she learned to speak Quechua (which she even spoke in her sleep!) and to appreciate mother earth and its animals, which she loved and took care of often. She told us of the depression she suffered through her adolescence, of the sexual harassment her music teacher put her through and her difficulty in making close friends she could trust. To the shock of her family, she accidentally got pregnant at the age of 19 but gave birth to a beautiful little girl who she says is the love of her life. Under pressure from her family, she married the father of her child but then realized that it was she who had the strength to really take care of her daughter and support herself and decided to get divorced. And now, she is pregnant again, with a whole different story to this pregnancy…
month of her second pregnancy) a wide smile, a contagious laughter and a range of theatrical gestures and facial expressions that immediately puts one in a cheerful mood. Ana shared with us Herstory as if she was acting up in a play. In fact, that is quite normal for her, since she has been working in a street theater for the last few years and is currently giving drama and acting lessons for children. Ana was born in Colombia but immigrated to Bolivia at a young age with her parents, a nomad
ic doctor and a build-anything-possible kinda engineer. She recalled the years she spent in the countryside with indigenous communities and how she learned to speak Quechua (which she even spoke in her sleep!) and to appreciate mother earth and its animals, which she loved and took care of often. She told us of the depression she suffered through her adolescence, of the sexual harassment her music teacher put her through and her difficulty in making close friends she could trust. To the shock of her family, she accidentally got pregnant at the age of 19 but gave birth to a beautiful little girl who she says is the love of her life. Under pressure from her family, she married the father of her child but then realized that it was she who had the strength to really take care of her daughter and support herself and decided to get divorced. And now, she is pregnant again, with a whole different story to this pregnancy…
The Feminist Assembly: Karina, Leny and Rose: We met a wonderful group of womyn that are part of the National Feminist Assembly. They shared with us what feminism was for each one of them, how they becam
e part of the assembly, the challenges, the stigma, and about the goals they have for the future. From being dubbed as anti-male lesbians, to radical and liberal womyn, they have continued to show in action what political life choices they take on and what are the convictions that determine the path they are creating. They support the organizational strategy to organize under what is known as
Community Feminism, which is a movement that has Julieta Paredes at the forefront. Their vision feminism is rooted in community organization, in which womyn and men respect the different experiences they have and work together in a way that does not support, but instead, opposes the patriarchical system that is inherent in society. These feminist spoke about the particular cultural markers within the Bolivian culture that they confront daily and explained that their feminism is particular to their experience and their reality. It was an enriching conversation and it was immediately noticeable that critical thought and direct action go hand in hand with the way of life these feminist are creating.
e part of the assembly, the challenges, the stigma, and about the goals they have for the future. From being dubbed as anti-male lesbians, to radical and liberal womyn, they have continued to show in action what political life choices they take on and what are the convictions that determine the path they are creating. They support the organizational strategy to organize under what is known as
Community Feminism, which is a movement that has Julieta Paredes at the forefront. Their vision feminism is rooted in community organization, in which womyn and men respect the different experiences they have and work together in a way that does not support, but instead, opposes the patriarchical system that is inherent in society. These feminist spoke about the particular cultural markers within the Bolivian culture that they confront daily and explained that their feminism is particular to their experience and their reality. It was an enriching conversation and it was immediately noticeable that critical thought and direct action go hand in hand with the way of life these feminist are creating.
Sonia: Once a dentist by profession, Sonia, a pleasant womyn with a clear and strong voice, found her real purpose in supporting the rights and lives of womyn in Cochab
amba, Bolivia. Sonia is the head of a pro-life organization that offers social and psychological assistance to womyn who have been through the experience of an abortion or who want information and support relating to the subject. She told us that her desire and conviction to help these womyn comes from her catholic background which also provides her with a deep spiritual understanding of what these womyn go through and what is needed to guide them. She shared with us that she believes that the common denominator connecting womyn worldwide is the lack of self esteem, but that all womyn are capable of making the decisions that are right for them and their families. We thank Sonia for doing what she believes is her calling and for supporting the womyn of Bolivia.
amba, Bolivia. Sonia is the head of a pro-life organization that offers social and psychological assistance to womyn who have been through the experience of an abortion or who want information and support relating to the subject. She told us that her desire and conviction to help these womyn comes from her catholic background which also provides her with a deep spiritual understanding of what these womyn go through and what is needed to guide them. She shared with us that she believes that the common denominator connecting womyn worldwide is the lack of self esteem, but that all womyn are capable of making the decisions that are right for them and their families. We thank Sonia for doing what she believes is her calling and for supporting the womyn of Bolivia.
Susana: is a petite Quechua womyn wearing a wide smile and her traditional Quechua skirt and shawl, who
se words and ideas awaken in one a deep respect. She shared with us of her passionate and long fight for the rights of her people, the indigenous Aymara and Quechua of Bolivia. Susana is a social communications activist and has worked in various radio stations and utilized her voice to promote the rights the indigenous people of Bolivia have to their land. She is a strong supporter of current Bolivia president Evo Morales and believes that he has brought about many positive changes for her people and her country. Because of her commitment to her work and her diplomacy skills, she was c
hosen by her community to be a political representative in the regional assembly of Cochabamba. She says that she knows she has lived discrimination in her own skin, racism in her own face and that she has learned to understand how to demand her rights and the respect that she deserves with dignity. She knows that she has gotten far in her activism but believes that the road is long and that there are still many more things to accomplish, for all of us.
se words and ideas awaken in one a deep respect. She shared with us of her passionate and long fight for the rights of her people, the indigenous Aymara and Quechua of Bolivia. Susana is a social communications activist and has worked in various radio stations and utilized her voice to promote the rights the indigenous people of Bolivia have to their land. She is a strong supporter of current Bolivia president Evo Morales and believes that he has brought about many positive changes for her people and her country. Because of her commitment to her work and her diplomacy skills, she was c
hosen by her community to be a political representative in the regional assembly of Cochabamba. She says that she knows she has lived discrimination in her own skin, racism in her own face and that she has learned to understand how to demand her rights and the respect that she deserves with dignity. She knows that she has gotten far in her activism but believes that the road is long and that there are still many more things to accomplish, for all of us.
Sara: Sara has welcomed us into her home on our last few days in Cochabamba with such 
openness and affection we felt right at home in her spacious house and with her dog Jack, the most hyperactive animal alive. Besides being a gracious hostess, Sara is a dedicated and committed manager at the NGO where she works to support womyn in various indigenous communities around Cochabamba. She takes her job seriously but has an easy going and upbeat attitude towards life and what it has to offer her. She shared with us of her past as a traveler through Europe and of adventures that to this day she does not regret experiencing, and of her dreams of saving money and continuing on her travels throughout the world. Sara has given us the perfect goodbye present: a good wine with good friends and wonderful conversations. Thank you Sara, for your loving words, and Blessings!
openness and affection we felt right at home in her spacious house and with her dog Jack, the most hyperactive animal alive. Besides being a gracious hostess, Sara is a dedicated and committed manager at the NGO where she works to support womyn in various indigenous communities around Cochabamba. She takes her job seriously but has an easy going and upbeat attitude towards life and what it has to offer her. She shared with us of her past as a traveler through Europe and of adventures that to this day she does not regret experiencing, and of her dreams of saving money and continuing on her travels throughout the world. Sara has given us the perfect goodbye present: a good wine with good friends and wonderful conversations. Thank you Sara, for your loving words, and Blessings!
Thank you Cochabamba for your peace, tranquility and Herstories!
P.S. Obama´s Nobel Peace Prize: Malinche is really confused by this global recognition granted to Obama after such a short time in office. “What came first the chicken or the egg?” she asks. “Being granted a N.P.P is supposed to be exceptional, demonstrating the impo
rtant actions and accomplishments taken by individuals in situations of all contexts that remarkably stand out. By default, Obama has the task of doing some deep house cleaning after the Bush torpedo affected nations world-wide, which is not easy, but it is also not exceptional, it´s simply called responsibility. Anyone in office post-bush had to change the situation of economic crisis, end the wars abroad, stop the violation of civil liberties, and clean up everything that translates as foreign policies in "efforts to maintain our national security". But, Obama got the prize and we still have not seen big results, yet it is also quite early--let´s be rational here. In any case, he made many promises during his campaign, and it is up to everyone to remind him of the Change he promoted! There are so many individuals that have literally achieved big changes, great actions humbly made possible thanks to their convictions of justice and freedom that do not necesarily have official titles to their names. But now that Obama has already won it, he must be reminded that now he has to earn it…The world works in a backwards mode too often”, continues Malinche with a sardonic tone to her voice. But that was just a momentary lapse, as she all of a sudden exclaimed, “If an egg can´t lay a chicken, how can a Nobel Peace Prize lay a President…or vice-versa…ohh these philosophical questions get too scrambled with my politics!
rtant actions and accomplishments taken by individuals in situations of all contexts that remarkably stand out. By default, Obama has the task of doing some deep house cleaning after the Bush torpedo affected nations world-wide, which is not easy, but it is also not exceptional, it´s simply called responsibility. Anyone in office post-bush had to change the situation of economic crisis, end the wars abroad, stop the violation of civil liberties, and clean up everything that translates as foreign policies in "efforts to maintain our national security". But, Obama got the prize and we still have not seen big results, yet it is also quite early--let´s be rational here. In any case, he made many promises during his campaign, and it is up to everyone to remind him of the Change he promoted! There are so many individuals that have literally achieved big changes, great actions humbly made possible thanks to their convictions of justice and freedom that do not necesarily have official titles to their names. But now that Obama has already won it, he must be reminded that now he has to earn it…The world works in a backwards mode too often”, continues Malinche with a sardonic tone to her voice. But that was just a momentary lapse, as she all of a sudden exclaimed, “If an egg can´t lay a chicken, how can a Nobel Peace Prize lay a President…or vice-versa…ohh these philosophical questions get too scrambled with my politics!
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