Valle de Tucavaca - Plurinational State of Bolivia

SONIA FALCONE | PLURINATIONAL STATE OF BOLIVIA
1965, Santa Cruz de la Sierra, Plurinational State of Bolivia. Lives and works in Mexico
JOSÉ LAURA YAPITA
1968, La Paz, Plurinational State of Bolivia. Lives and works in La Paz

Without title, 2014, sound installation
Courtesy: the artists

Ethnic group: Originating from Plurinational State of Bolivia
Language: Aymara
Speaker: José Jesús Laura Yapita
Location: Peru, Plurinational State of Bolivia, Chile and Argentina
Population: 2.100.000
Level of Extinction: Moderate

The ancestors always sowed wisely, keeping their produce in large storage spaces. In order to have a good harvest, whether in the hills or on the plains, they took a thorough reading of the weather and of nature. Doing so, did not require big machines or money; all that was necessary was to give importance to or carry out a good reading of the weather and mother earth. Today, industrialized countries use big machines, fertilizers with chemicals for sowing, with no concern for the damage they cause to the eco-system. In this way they also succeed in building big factories with much economic capital. With the technology at their disposal they contaminate the environment, consequently destroying the Pachamama (mother earth). In order to do this, they receive economic assistance from their governments. These same products, technologically produced are sold to their own countries. Economic aid does not always reach the small producer in order to enhance production. In our lands, the way things are going, there is no longer, nor will there be in the future a good harvest. At this point it would be wise to reflect on other alternatives of production, so that our communities and ayllus might continue to produce.