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Voces Bolivianas: Blogging A Summit And A Referendum

Categories: Feature, Voces Bolivianas

Voces Bolivianas Summit

The recently concluded Voces Bolivianas summit [1] at Cochabamba, Bolivia titled “Web 2.0 for Everyone [2]” was a success. Some of the participants have blogged about their experience. Cristina Quisbert at BOLIVIA INDIGENA [es] writes [3]:

As expected the majority arrived on Friday January 30 at the Martadero, a former slaughterhouse today become a place for art and culture in its various manifestations. There we were received by three bloggers in El Alto, Marisol, Nancy and Dora then enter to hear the presentations.

VB Summit

In her English blog INDIGENOUS BOLIVIA [4] Cristina writes:

During three days, people that participated since 2007 in the workshops to learn how to use blogs to show and share information about our cultures, about daily life, etc. in different cities within Bolivia, were able to have this meeting.

It was important for me to participate in this Summit, since it was an opportunity to know other bloggers from Bolivia and work together to analyze what has been done up to now and what else could be done in the future.

VB Team

Daniel Sempertegui writes [5] [es]:

The truth surpassed all expectations, was a very successful event held in Cochabamba – Bolivia, or that I think few or none in this city. I hope this is a firm step to further promote the Web 2.0 and Blogs to all persons, without limits of age, creed or economic status. (machine translation)

Presentation

Virginio Sandy writes [6]:

At this Summit of voices in Bolivia, was (about) understanding and collecting experiences by members of Voces Bolivianas (Bolivian voices) throughout Bolivia, this summit also served to assess and plan the future actions of Voces Bolivianas projects for the benefit of the less represented in the (Bolivian) cyber world.

Sandy photoBolivian Voices has human resources in the cyberspace, what is lacking is the logistical support for this non-profit institution to fulfill its goal and reach the farthest points of the Bolivian territory. We are convinced that the Web 2.0 is a tool to reach out and make us known to the world; our culture, our concerns, our projects, our identity, our archaeological wealth and much more.

The Internet through the Blog, is now a window that connects us to the world and we cannot continue digital illiteracy, we must join the world community with this tool to leave many people, indigenous communities are mired in anonymity because of the lack of a tool such as the Web. (machine translation)

Here is video of an interview [7] of a participant [es] by Hugo Miranda [8]:

And what impact these efforts by Voces Bolivianas project has on Bolivia? Alberto S. Medrano Flores writes in El Alto Noticias [9] that a hybrid of journalism, blogs, and Web 2.0 covered the news of the Bolivia's constitutional referendum from Friday January 23 to January 27.

Cristina Quisbert writes [10] about the importance of this referendum regarding the reform of constitution:

Why is the New Bolivian Constitution so important? There are a lot of reasons. One of these, is in the first article, which says that Bolivia is a Plurinational, free, independent, intercultural, democratic State and with autonomies.

The inclusion of all the population in this Constitution is an important reform. Since the Constitution of 1826, most of the inhabitants belonging to the indigenous peoples were not included in this document, but now, it is not only recognized the existence of the indigenous peoples of high and low lands in Bolivia, but also their languages, their own spiritual beliefs and practices, etc.

http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_x0sRIZiRaQw/SX3iePRO2KI/AAAAAAAAASA/PdnDp_B1hIM/s320/papeleta.jpg

The new constitution won with more than 60% of support from the population and it was promulgated [11] by the President on 7th of February.

She uploaded [12] a video of people singing songs to celebrate the new constitution: