We survived -- until the next time

Last night our neighbour, Andrea, came over to use the phone and she told us the blockades and the march was over -- for now. The campesinos have abandoned their march on Santa Cruz, pending the signing of an agreement by the two parties. The men will return home and life will be normal once again.

BUT, and there is always the but, nothing was signed today. According to the Santa Cruz paper, the government ordered the campesinos to abandon the march and they obeyed. However, if nothing materializes the march and the blockades will go up again on October 15. In reading the papers today, it does not seem like there is much movement towards an accord. The five eastern provinces are determined that they will retain the oil royalties and their 'right to autonomia' while the campesinos are equally determined that they should have a share of the royalties and that the new constitution should be passed. What will happen is anyone's guess. We hope and pray that the violence shown in the Pando and in Santa Cruz City will not be repeated.

So we will life as usual in the campo and will ensure that we have enough suppplies for the long haul in case there are more blockades in October. We survived just fine this time but we remember to buy the toilet paper and the toothpaste. These were not items that we had on the 'needed supply' list. Hopefully, we will have the solar energy problem solved by then and we will be 'tranquilos'.