"Capitalism
Is The Worst Enemy Of Humanity"
By Evo Morales
04 October, 2007
Bolivia
Rising
Speech by Bolivian President
Evo Morales Ayma during the United Nations meeting on Climate Change,
New York, September 24, 2007
I
would like greet the panel, and on behalf of the Bolivian peoples, I
want to say that I am pleased that there is such a great gathering to
debate global warming and climate change.
Today in our discussions,
we must be very sincere and very realistic about the problems faced
by our peoples, humanity and the entire planet.
I feel that we are not speaking
truthfully if we talk about life and the future of humanity, while each
day we are destroying the future of humanity. It is important to pinpoint
who our enemies are, what the causes are of the damage being done to
the planet, damage that may put an end to humanity.
I’d like to sincerely
apologize if some countries or some groups are affected by the survival
of my country, the survival of the indigenous people. I think that that
capitalism is the worst enemy of humanity and if we do not change the
model, change the system, then our presence, our debate, our exchange,
and the proposals that we make in these meetings at the United Nations
will be totally in vain.
Capitalism has twins, the
market and war. The market converts life into commodities, it converts
land into a commodity. And when capitalists cannot sustain this economic
model based on looting, on exploitation, on marginalisation, on exclusion
and, above all, on the accumulation of capital, they rely on war, the
arms race. If we ask ourselves how much money is spent on the arms race
— we are never concerned about that.
This is why I feel that it
is important to change economic models, development models, and economic
systems, particularly those in the western world. And if we do not understand
and thoroughly discuss the very survival of our peoples, then we certainly
not will not be addressing the problem of climate change, the problem
of life, the problem for humanity.
It is important that we learn
lessons from some sectors, from some regions. Let me avail myself of
this opportunity: I come from a culture based on peace, from a lifestyle
based on equality, of living not only in solidarity with all people,
but also living in harmony with Mother Earth. For the indigenous movement,
land cannot be a commodity; it is a mother that gives us life, so how
could we convert it into a commodity as the western model does?
This is a profound lesson
which we must learn in order to resolve the problems of humanity that
are being discussed here, climate change and pollution. Where does this
pollution come from? It comes from, and is generated by, the unsustainable
development of a system which destroys the planet: in other words, capitalism.
I want to use this opportunity
to call on sectors, groups and nations to abandon luxury, to abandon
over-consumption, to think not only about money but about life, to not
only think about accumulating capital but to think in wider terms about
humanity. Only then can we begin to solve the root causes of these problems
facing humanity.
Because if we don’t
think that way, if we do not change, it won’t matter if business
owners have a lot of money, no matter if they are a multinational or
even a country — no one can escape these ecological problems,
environment problems, and climate change. No one will be spared, and
the wealth that some country, some region or some capitalist may have
will be useless.
I feel that it is important
to organise an international movement to deal with the environment,
a movement that will be above institutions, businesses and countries
that just talk about commerce, that only think about accumulating capital.
We have to organize a movement that will defend life, defend humanity,
and save the earth.
I think that it is important
to think about some regions, some sectors and some countries repaying
what has often been called the ecological debt.
If we do not think about
how this ecological debt will be paid, how are we going to solve the
problems of life and humanity?
I want to say, dear colleagues
and friends, that we must assume the responsibility as leaders or as
presidents, as governments — we must save life, we must save humanity,
we must save the entire planet.
Thank you very much.
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