No Volunteer Jobs for me in Cochabamba after all

I have been officially rejected by CEDIB as a volunteer on the grounds that this website is not in accordance with their organization. I have been offered no more information, which is pretty ironic coming from an ´information agency.´

Disclaimer: There are cultural jabs at South America on this website, I admit. However, they are meant in good humor, in the name of encouraging other travellers to come down here, and educating the majority of the English speaking world about what life is really like down here. If I have offended anyone by pointing out cultural differences like the stinky bathroom and the gas delivery bicycle, I apologize. I would not post something I felt would be taken as offensive either in South America or the USA, but I do reserve the right to make snippy comments.

Since they have rejected me, I´ve taken the liberty to scrutinize their organization. Last night (before getting my rejection news), I sat through a 30 minute movie discussion at CEDIB which took under 5 seconds to become a 30 minute round-table denouncement of America. Take a good look at the pic I included with this post, or click on it. Notice the spot where they call Americans killers (yankis assesinos)? I would like to refer to that news as biased.

Every day, in the main square of Cochabamba, select newspaper articles are posted on a big board for the poor people to read. Initially (ie - yesterday) I thought this was an ingenious and fair way to educate the poor who can´t afford a paper or TV. Now, I believe it is a large proganda effort by local organizations under the thumb of greater interests to influence the voting styles of poor people. For shame. These poor people need information, not political preaching, and CEDIB is on the wrong side of that line.

Look at my pic. Someone is literally editing the news with a marker so that the people read the articles with the proper political slant. The articles selected all support a heavily socialist agenda in the first place, do they really need help getting the point across?

Info is free of charge, but I certainly would not consider it free.

My gripe is this- If you are the informational equivalent of a socialist political party, say that upfront. They don´t. Here is their mission statement:

El CEDIB pretende lograr que la población boliviana tenga acceso a los canales de información y documentación, independientemente de su condición social, económica o racial, de manera que pueda participar en forma competente (informada) y democrática en la construcción del desarrollo sostenible del país.

That statement would be valid if CEDIB presented the news from all political sides, instead of being the functional news equivalent of the MAS (movement to socialism, coca growers) political party. CENDA, the Andean organization I was going to help as well, is unfortunately involved in the same situtation.

It´s sad, because the indigenous people of Bolivia really need help, and all they find is politics. The Andean support agencies here in Cochabamba are all supported by, and linked to, the political parties. In other words, in order to help the natives you have to hate the USA, fight for socialism, support coca growers, and believe in forcefully nationilizing Bolivian industries. I don´t even know if you can take a class in Quechua (native language) in this town without pledging your support to Fidel. It´s ridiculous.

Though I´m unhappy about being rejected from my last two hopes of volunteering in Cochabamba, I´m thrilled about going to a new city to find a shot there. I have not yet given up on Bolivia, though admittedly I was close. So far religion and politics have come between me and helping the people of Bolivia. What is next?

Tomorrow, Liz and I journey to either Santa Cruz or Sucre, for greener pastures.

Comments

[smormedlisots]

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[agustín]

I hate that bittersweet song, hate it.

[Joe C]

Just checking in to make sure you're still alive. Glad to see that MOST of the vomiting you've done has been self induced. Stay safe. It may just be me, but I can't read the name of that town out loud without thinking of that rediculously stupid song from the late 90s. YA YA YA COCO JUMBO. YA YA YEY. Hey, say that three times Austin and I may have found a replacement for....BITTERSWEET!!!!!! SO SWEET THEN BITTA. BITTA THEN SWEET!!! You love it.

[kevin]

wah wah wah

the real world is calling you to rejoin the rat race.........

[agustín]

word. I expected the usual hate for American policy, but these guys where elaborate and particularly venomous. To be expected, I guess.

Maybe Sucre will be a different story...

[Miguel (MABB)]

You are abslutely right. I was also DECEIVED by CEDIB. The first time I was in their website I thought I found a source of information, but it took me just five minutes to realize they had a very obvious agenda. I was so pissed I wrote them an email complaining that, while they have all the right to express their oppinion, at least they should have de decency of naming themselves accordingly.

On the side though, it is in vogue to hate americans, pretty much all over the world. I get plenty of heat over here in Germany.