Over the past few months, some of the world’s attention has turned to the burning of the Amazon rainforest with a primary focus on Brazil, which is home to over 60% of the primordial forest that serves as the thermostat and lungs for the planet. However, the burning and loss of forest lands in Brazil have also taken place in neighboring countries, including Peru, Bolivia and Paraguay.
For more than 17 years, the Presbyterian Hunger Program (PHP), through its Joining Hands initiative, has been tackling the root causes of hunger and poverty. PHP staff recently gathered with representatives from several countries to look at the progress and where to go from here.
The gravel road is mostly abandoned now. With only small spots of fallen snow and flurries along the way, one would not believe this was the same road that led masses of people to the world’s highest lift-served ski area at 17,785 feet. After navigating hairpin turns and watching the houses and farmland of the Bolivian “altiplano” (high plateau) become smaller and smaller (if one dared look over the narrow road’s edge), the Chacaltaya glacier, in all its nakedness, soon would be revealed. Today’s view of the glacier, however, is much different from that of years past. Now only a few small remnants of ice and snow remain.
The gravel road is mostly abandoned now. With only small spots of fallen snow and flurries along the way, one would not believe this was the same road that led masses of people to the world’s highest lift-served ski area at 17,785 feet. After navigating hairpin turns and watching the houses and farmland of the Bolivian altiplano (high plateau) become smaller and smaller (if one dared look over the narrow road’s edge), the Chacaltaya glacier, in all of its nakedness, soon would be revealed. Today’s view of the glacier, however, is much different from that of years past. Now only a few small remnants of ice and snow persist.
By Elizabeth Hostetter and Elizabeth Vincent, Mennonite Central Committee Volunteers with the UMAVIDA, Joining Hands Bolivia The Christian faith has a rich heritage of creation care and simple living…. Read more »
By Rev. Don Shaw, Joining Hands Partnership Presbytery of Cascades Chenoa Stock, our Joining Hands facilitator in Bolivia, met us at the world’s highest international airport, located up 13,325 feet on… Read more »
Wilhelm Piérola Iturralde, President, UMAVIDA, JH Bolivia, as translated by Chenoa Stock, Companionship Facilitator, Bolivia The mission of the PC(USA) is inspired by a vision of a world where peace… Read more »
