MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency
Bolivia asks Sean Penn to help lobby in the dispute with Chile over a sea outlet
Bolivia asked visiting Oscar-winner Sean Penn Tuesday to help lobby for La Paz to regain a bit of Pacific coast, and escape the ranks of landlocked states. Evo Morales, the populist president of the arid nation high in the Andes, asked the US actor to help its campaign to press Chile to overhaul treaties that ended a 19th-century war that cost Bolivia its coast and gave the land to Chile. Read full article
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Disclaimer & comment rulesIf you want to add credibility to a political issue don't invite a second rate hollywood actor to advocate your cause.
Oct 31st, 2012 - 07:08 am - Link - Report abuse 0A backward South American dump + making demands + egomaniac = deja vu
Oct 31st, 2012 - 07:10 am - Link - Report abuse 01 Idlehands
Oct 31st, 2012 - 07:13 am - Link - Report abuse 0Oh yeah!!! Next thing you know they will be lining up Nobel peace prize winners........ Like Britninja says @ 2, we've seen it aaaaaalllllll before.
Why doesn't Bolivia ask their bestest friends, Argentina, for a route to the sea?
Oct 31st, 2012 - 07:18 am - Link - Report abuse 0However, this probably shows just how desperate they are, I mean why else would they ask a powerless, self serving, second rate nobody to champion their cause?
I can just see their last cabinet meeting.
Morales: how do we get Chile to hand over land so we can get to the sea?
Cronie: er, we could fight them for it?
Morales: er...well are Armed Forces are sh!e, and CFK promised to lend us their flag ship so we could attack from the sea, but it's still stuck in Ghana.
Cronie: We could take it to the UNGA or the ICJ.
Morales: er..no. We don't actually have a case in this matter, and would be laughed at.
Cronie: well we could ask Sean Penn. I mean he did so well to help CFK get the Maldives back.
Morales: (sigh) looks like that's our best option. See if you can get him on the phone.
TWIMC
Oct 31st, 2012 - 07:51 am - Link - Report abuse 0Article says:
“ Bolivia; ....an arid Nation high in the Andes”
I say:
Whoooooooooooooooooooot???
Bolivia; an arid nation high in the Andes ???
You mean.... like England; an subartic nation high in the Pennines???
Pleeeeeeeease, MercoPress, educate your story scribblers!
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bolivia#Land_relief
Yay, Sean penn. That should do it!
Oct 31st, 2012 - 08:18 am - Link - Report abuse 0Lol :)
Why did Mercopress bother to put Penn to paper?
Oct 31st, 2012 - 08:27 am - Link - Report abuse 0Why does Bolivia not ask Peru for land instead of picking on Chile.
Oct 31st, 2012 - 09:25 am - Link - Report abuse 0Because they have got bully boy Argentina behind them.
Peru is a different proposition as they have good relations with Brazil.
Chile is an easy target for Bolivia.
They aren't “asking for land” in a general sense - they are trying to recalim land they lost by treaty to Chile after the War of the Pacific.
Oct 31st, 2012 - 09:30 am - Link - Report abuse 0( 8 ) mclayoscar
Oct 31st, 2012 - 09:35 am - Link - Report abuse 0You say:
“Why does Bolivia not ask Peru for land instead of picking on Chile.”
I say:
Why does Scotland not ask Norway for independence instead of picking on the UK?
Yet another turnip.....
This time a “South-American History Expert Turnip”....
Comment removed by the editor.
Oct 31st, 2012 - 09:47 am - Link - Report abuse 0@10 Well if we are getting picky....
Oct 31st, 2012 - 09:53 am - Link - Report abuse 0Scotland is asking itself if it wants to be free of England and thus to dissolve the unequal Union brought about by our unfortunate experience in Latin America when the last Queen Elizabeth was Head of State of the Falkland Islands (I think that's right isn't it Islander1?)
(12) Cmdr McDod
Oct 31st, 2012 - 10:04 am - Link - Report abuse 0We can also get melodramatic....
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p6PkwyQ4JDA
As Argentina supported Bolivia earlier this year over its Chile land grab, where have they dissapeared to now?
Oct 31st, 2012 - 10:10 am - Link - Report abuse 0Another broken promise from Argentina to its South American friends?
Bring on Timmerman to go to the UN on Bolivia's side.
Although Argentina might want to look at Chile's armed forces before it backs a loosing horse.
Evo should talk with Sinn Fein not with Sean Penn.!
Oct 31st, 2012 - 10:15 am - Link - Report abuse 0Sean Penn is their secret weapon? You have got to be kidding.
Oct 31st, 2012 - 10:23 am - Link - Report abuse 0Think..... Did you cry to the ed? Sums up the RG cause really, anyway by doing so i proved my point
Oct 31st, 2012 - 10:36 am - Link - Report abuse 0Because Chile released her hand to the Islanders? Here is the answer, Chile borders only with three countries: Argentina, Bolivia and Peru. Bolivia harasses him for a piece of land and Peru for some currently Mar. Argentina alone with no “problems” borderline. Chile's why over backwards to conform to Argentina because I have enough with the other two. So wave goodbye to any support Islanders from the Americas, the referendum is only a query to choose the best partner of the classroom. Have not, nor will ever support any South American country.
Oct 31st, 2012 - 11:14 am - Link - Report abuse 018 XAVIERV
Oct 31st, 2012 - 11:35 am - Link - Report abuse 0Can you translate that into English for us?
Jajaja!! Sure .. Like it? PINOCHET are more alone than in the day of a friend! Chile may never be allies!
Oct 31st, 2012 - 11:47 am - Link - Report abuse 0@19 I think he is trying to say Chile is surrounded by thieves and the only neighbours they can trust are the Falklanders.
Oct 31st, 2012 - 11:47 am - Link - Report abuse 0As they say in Chile..'never trust an RG with a map'
I like the way he responds with a second equally unintelligible effort at English
Oct 31st, 2012 - 11:56 am - Link - Report abuse 0Bolivia are already given access to the sea. The problem is they want to move their No 1 export, drugs, to the sea on their own land, rather than across Chilean land.
Oct 31st, 2012 - 11:57 am - Link - Report abuse 0Chile will never agree.
@5
Oct 31st, 2012 - 01:16 pm - Link - Report abuse 0I was going to say.
@7
Very good.
@8
The reason they insist that we give them access to the sea is because (our wealthiest region) the region of Antofagasta belonged to Bolivia before they lost it to us in a war.
@23
“Bolivia are already given access to the sea.” - quite right.
For Yall enlightenment:
In the 1904 peace treaty we granted Bolivia tax free access of our port in Arica and freedom of movement of Bolivian goods between Bolivia and the coast. This means there is practically no economic disadvantage for Bolivia in not having access to the sea. But we didn’t just stop there, we paid for and built a railway from La Paz to Arica just for them. Regrettably they haven’t done a good job of maintaining it.
For many years the US backed Bolivia’s claim and in 1926 we agreed to the US proposal to give Arica to Bolivia (it had never belonged to them). Peru blocked the proposal. Carter and Regan also both back Bolivia’s claim.
It is ironic to note that the US (Evo’s sworn enemy) has done more than any Latin American state to recover access to the sea for Bolivia.
Chile has always been open to giving Bolivia access to the sea – and in fact did so more than 100 years ago. The problem is that Bolivia really wants more than that, they want the whole of the Antofagasta region and that is not going to happen.
Mr Penn welcome to another lost cause.
Yeah, they want that land that just so happens to have a lot of...what's that stuff called...? Oh yeah, copper. Everybody knows that Bolivia has easy access to the port of Arica. It's no different from CFK's incessant claims on the Falklands. She and her clown brigade talk about “historically part of Argentina” and blah blah blah. They want the islands for the natural resources all around the islands. What's that other stuff called...? Oh yeah, hydrocarbons.
Oct 31st, 2012 - 02:11 pm - Link - Report abuse 0Good luck Spicoli.
Thats reality that Bolivia sea oulet region once invaded by Chile.
Oct 31st, 2012 - 02:29 pm - Link - Report abuse 0Holy Smoly Batman......not THE Sean Penn! Must be on Chubby Chavos advise. I am sure CHile will buckle now that THE Sean Penn is involved..........NOT !
Oct 31st, 2012 - 02:31 pm - Link - Report abuse 025 jakesnake
Oct 31st, 2012 - 02:35 pm - Link - Report abuse 0I don't believe it is even about natural resources when it comes to the Falklands (though that point has been thrown into the mix).
It is about nationalism and the added humiliation that occured when the invasion failed.
If you need to make historical arguments over territorial claims AND expect to have any credibility, everyone knows that your go-to guy is Mr. Hand, not Spicolli.
Oct 31st, 2012 - 03:53 pm - Link - Report abuse 0'Being landlocked makes trade and transport difficult for Bolivia, already South America's poorest nation.'
Oct 31st, 2012 - 04:32 pm - Link - Report abuse 0Landlocked nations include Switzerland, Austria, Slovakia and the other bit that I can't spell, most of the 'Stans , a swag of african countries.... and the list goes on and on and on.... Which is the only one making a fuss???
Being landlocked does hinder a nation - for a start their navies suck.
Oct 31st, 2012 - 04:37 pm - Link - Report abuse 0Transit fees and unfriendly neighbours are the biggest hinderances to trade.
I wished that more of my fellow Americans were as conscienscious and devoted to peace and reasoniung as this man is. Just goes to show that there is hope yet.
Oct 31st, 2012 - 04:53 pm - Link - Report abuse 0@1 That's “second-rate hollywood hack”!
Oct 31st, 2012 - 05:02 pm - Link - Report abuse 0@9 Are you sure? What about the Battle of Arica on 7 June 1880? Hadn't Bolivia already already “retired” from the War of the Pacific on 26 May 1880?
@12 No, it isn't. The “Kingdom of Scotland” tried to compete with the Kingdom of England starting in 1698, 95 years after Queen Elizabeth I died. The Darien Disaster, being an incompetent Scottish project, failed and made Scotland virtually bankrupt. In desperation, the Scots asked for English assistance and entered into the Acts of Union in return for England taking over the Scottish debt. “Numpty King Alex” is about to start Scotland on a repeat performance. Although the likely response to another request might “F*** off.” These being words that Scots understand.
@21 I don't think Britain would have any problem supporting Chile. Two proper countries. Venezuela, Ecuador, Brazil, Bolivia and argieland could say goodbye now! Britain from the Falklands and Chile over the Andes. Plus two excellent navies.
@32
Oct 31st, 2012 - 05:19 pm - Link - Report abuse 0Your wish - it might be the case if anyone here actually believed you were an North American and not a RG puppet!!!!
#32 my ass you're an American! Prove to me you are Amercian and I will bend over and kiss my own ass in Copley.....and give to a few hours to gather a crowd!!!
Oct 31st, 2012 - 05:58 pm - Link - Report abuse 0Sean Penn is a good actor, entertainer......ahhhhh I see what he is doing.....work!
@35 Conqueror Captain Poppy
Oct 31st, 2012 - 06:22 pm - Link - Report abuse 0You are not an american,,,,you damn irish man!
I am an american and argentine citizen,,,, I can post my address in the USA while you don't dare to do it!
You damn wimp!
Sussie just give up you are a complete nutter.
Oct 31st, 2012 - 06:25 pm - Link - Report abuse 0Unless you were born here you are not American. COme up to Boston and I will take you for a tour of West Roxbury.
Oct 31st, 2012 - 06:34 pm - Link - Report abuse 0TAke a picture of yourself holding the TUSCON WEEKLY, recently dates and place in in photo bucket. I will do the same wil the Globe or the Phoenix....to prove where I come from.....and suzzie.....everyone thinks you are crazy......I don't....why to you always chane your name?
I know your a fucking wacko
Is there a sea outlet problem amid two countrylets Chile/Bolivia ?
Oct 31st, 2012 - 06:44 pm - Link - Report abuse 010 Think
Oct 31st, 2012 - 08:03 pm - Link - Report abuse 0what you obviously don't know is that Bolivia and Peru share a border, so why shouldn't Bolivia ask Peru?
Asking Chile is as if Paraguay asked Argentina to hand back the Misiones and Formosa provinces plus at part of Chaco.
( 40) St.John
Oct 31st, 2012 - 08:13 pm - Link - Report abuse 0what you obviously don't know is that Scotland and Norway share a border, so why shouldn't Scotland ask Norway?
Maybe........ because Norway has nothing to do with the original Scottish/English conflict?
As Perú has nothing to do with the original Bolivian/Chilean conflict..
What a Turnip!
Captain Poppy (#38)
Oct 31st, 2012 - 08:13 pm - Link - Report abuse 0“Unless you were born here you are not American.”
Anybody born in the continents of North America, South America, including central America and the Caribbean, is an American.
Even those taking (eg USA) citizenship, etc can become Americans.
41 Think
Oct 31st, 2012 - 09:12 pm - Link - Report abuse 0Seems you like them so much:-
This soup could not be easier to make. Just saute a few aromatics, boil them in broth with the turnips, puree, and add cream. It's warming and comforting and full of flavor. Serve it as a starter to a larger meal, or as the main event with a winter salad and crusty bread for an easy, casual supper.
Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook Time: 20 minutes
Total Time: 35 minutes
Ingredients:
• 4 large turnips
• 2 small onions or leeks
• 2 cloves garlic
• 2 Tbsp. olive oil or butter
• Salt
• 4 cups chicken or vegetable broth
• 1/4 to 1 cup heavy cream
• Turnip greens or parsley (optional garnish)
Preparation:
1. Peel turnips and chop them into small chunks. Set aside.
2. Peel and finely chop onions or clean and finely chop leeks. Set aside.
3. Chop garlic and set aside.
4. Heat oil or butter in a medium pot over medium high heat. Add onions or leeks, sprinkle with salt, and cook, stirring occasionally, until onions are soft, about 3 minutes.
5. Add garlic and cook, stirring, until fragrant, about 1 minute.
6. Add turnips and broth. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat to maintain a steady simmer and cook until turnips are very tender, about 10 minutes.
7. In a blender, whirl soup until very smooth, at least 2 minutes per batch. (Tip: Cover lid of blender with a kitchen towel to prevent burns.)
8. Return soup to pot and add cream. Adding just 1/4 cup will just smooth out the edges of the soup. The more you add the thicker and more luxurious the soup will become. Add salt to taste.
9. Garnish with shreds of thinly cut turnip greens or parsley, if you like. Serve hot.
34 Leiard (#) Believe what you want. I won't be thinking of you while I have my delicious USDA steak at a Melrose Ave. restaurant this weekend.
Oct 31st, 2012 - 09:23 pm - Link - Report abuse 0#42 really Geoff.....have an rg fly into my country without a passport and get a job? Are you picking the lice out of argentines hair? I was referring the An American of the USA.
Oct 31st, 2012 - 09:25 pm - Link - Report abuse 0http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sean_Penn
Oct 31st, 2012 - 09:59 pm - Link - Report abuse 0Dear Sean,
Oct 31st, 2012 - 10:58 pm - Link - Report abuse 0my neighbour has a nice garden, mine is way bigger yet i want his aswell even though he was their first and its rightfully his, i tried to steal it from him using force, as he is only small and i am a coward i thought it would be easy but he soundly kicked my a55, since then he has got a guard dog or two and there is no chance of him giving it to me and i am very poor, i even have to dodge debt collectors. so please can you fix it for me to steal it from him using your wisdom,charm and international clout.
yours manipulatingly,
Christine.
ps do you take I.O.Us?
“Yet another turnip..... ”
Oct 31st, 2012 - 11:14 pm - Link - Report abuse 0“You keep using that word. I do not think it means what you think it means....”
you can add the accent ¬_¬
@ 41 Think
Oct 31st, 2012 - 11:18 pm - Link - Report abuse 0“As Perú has nothing to do with the original Bolivian/Chilean conflict.”
What?
In 1873 Bolivia and Peru had signed a defensive alliance, so Chile declared war ON BOTH COUNTRIES 5 April 1879, formally starting the 'Pacific War'.
En 1873, se había suscrito el tratado de Alianza Defensiva Perú–Bolivia, por lo que Chile declaró la guerra a ambos el 5 de abril de 1879, iniciando formalmente la guerra del Pacífico.
It seems to me the turnip in question is living in Patagonia.
“In 1873 Bolivia and Peru had signed a defensive alliance....”
Nov 01st, 2012 - 01:52 am - Link - Report abuse 0“Defensive” .... good laugh. It was a secret war pact between Bolivia and Peru which was not made public at all. A defensive pact is never secret, as it does then not have the dissuasive effect to a third potentially offensive nation. Also the personal letters from the Bolivian dictator back then to his peruvian colleague already admit that it was an offensive war pact, as he mockingly defines that “Chile put a feet on the trap”. What a pity it didn't work out for them, huh?
49@ Please, explain that he lives in Argentine Patagonia (stolen from Chile just after finished the Pacific War)....
Nov 01st, 2012 - 02:15 am - Link - Report abuse 0It must be said that during the Military Gvt. Chile offered to Bolivia a narrow corridor along the Concordia Line (the border between Chile and Peru) in exchange for an equivalent piece of land in the Bolivia/Chile Andean border which one was rejected by Peru because the they have the might to do so according to the treaty signed after the Pacific War. BTW, Chile have been acomplishing what it have signed in the treaty with Bolivia, so this country have access to the sea through the CHILEAN coast for free, have a railway and a big port depot for free also...
If Bolivia wants an own coastal territory must ask for it to Peru to be granted to exchange a fringe along thre Concordia line or...if the Bolivians want to take those territories they just have to fight for them, we are ready waiting for them to get them back to the Amazonic rain forest where the belong to.....as the monkeys they are...(the Evito´s cronies I´m refering to).
Mr. S. Penn probably will be paid as “friendly ambassador” with that he most likes.....DRUGS....!!! So, what you can expect from a guy like him....be friend of an evil like Evito, the drug maker....and a crazy pills dependant like the bipolar Mrs. Botox...and Chavito the corruption king.....and Rafaelito, the media blocker....a bunch of leftist that are leading their countries to the cliff.
A country whit big ammounts of natural gas, oil, tin, silver and other commodities would be on the top of the growing countries even being landlocked (Austria and Switzerland have nothing at all compared with Bolivia in natural resources but both of them are top developed countries).....
I would be quite supportive if Chile over this if they hadn't been so ashamedly kissing Kirchners arse over her Falklands in recent years. They will now see who their true friends are and I hope they turn on them. South American unity alive and well. On a comical note, if you need Sean Penn to fight your battles, you have already lost.
Nov 01st, 2012 - 04:12 am - Link - Report abuse 0Britworker, you mean... something like UK (3:2 decision and ack Straw) did, when they decided to capture a Chilean politican with international diplomatic immunity (no matter we like him, he has been granted immunity) and to extradite him to Spain becauseo nowerdays expulsed Garzon wanted it? I don't think you can set your “standards” that high, as you yourself can't stick to them. But I support you in general regarding the message. Be sure most Chileans aren't happy with the respective current decisions of the government neither.
Nov 01st, 2012 - 06:35 am - Link - Report abuse 0Bolivia follows the script written by Argentina.
Nov 02nd, 2012 - 07:38 pm - Link - Report abuse 0S. America is going to see more of this, not less.
Territorial claims are infectious, soon everybody has one.
Unity and brotherhood S. American style.
Hmmm... how did Sean Penn's sort out his dispute with Madonna? Oh yes, he tied her to a chair and beat the **** out of her. What a guy. I can see why he's popular with Choquehuanca, Chavez and KFC.
Nov 02nd, 2012 - 09:02 pm - Link - Report abuse 0Gotta love Sean Penn, as Madonna said when she was his wife, coolest guy in the world =)
Nov 03rd, 2012 - 11:56 pm - Link - Report abuse 0Commenting for this story is now closed.
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