An Invitation to Foreign Press Visiting Bolivia

Dear Reporters:

We know that many of you are heading to Bolivia this month to cover the elections. We have been doing all we can to assist journalists with research, contacts, and other help.

Now, to help visitors from the foreign press deepen their understanding of Bolivia (for these elections and beyond) The Democracy Center and our Bolivian colleagues will be hosting a media briefing and we hope that you can come:

Bolivia Media Briefing

When: Saturday, December 17 (the day before the vote) 9:30 to Noon

Where: The Democracy Center offices in Cochabamba

What will be included:

1. Briefings by Bolivian and foreign experts on three current issues with important international implications: a) The Bolivian debate over gas, b) The trial of former President Gonzalo Sánchez de Lozada, and c) The Bechtel "water revolt" case before the World Bank.

2. Opportunities to interview a variety of Bolivian social movement leaders

3. Salteñas

For those who haven’t covered Bolivia before, that Saturday before the vote is a "dead" day, in terms of reporting. The campaigns all cease. There is no campaigning or candidates to follow around. There is also no alcohol for sale (legally) that day. We thought this would be a good time to provide visiting journalists with a briefing.

If you are interested, please contact Gretchen Gordon (email: graciela@riseup.net) for details and to RSVP.

Note: This event is only for legitimate foreign press and only journalists will be invited to attend. The Democracy Center will continue to host information events for the general public after the New Year starts.