The Humanist Movement & Bolivia - the Latin American Humanist forum

II Latin American Humanist Forum
Latin America United without Wars and Without Violence

Over the course of the 23rd, 24th and 25th of November 2007, in La Paz, Bolivia, humanist individuals and organisations met with representatives of governments, parliamentarians, political parties and diverse Latin American social movements. We value the joint work and the contribution of all those in the development of this Forum.
Prior to its inauguration, we were received in the sacred land of Tiahuanaco, a place where we celebrated an ancient ceremony in honour of Pachamama and the Father Sun. Then together we celebrated the Office, a ceremony of Silo’s Message. The local authorities honoured those humanists present and the spokespeople as distinguished guests in that place.
The Forum was inaugurated by the President of the Republic of Bolivia, Evo Morales Ayma and was broadcast live through the national television of the host country.
The work was divided into 18 tables that dealt with the following themes: Art and Integration; Women and Integration of the Peoples; Latin American Student Movement; Conflicts, Disarmament and World without Wars; Native Peoples; Immigrants and Latin American Integration; Strategic Energy: Human Rights, Disability and Development; Generation of Nonviolent Ambits; Health; Education; Human City, Alternative Economics; the Media; Spirituality and Religiosity; Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity. The conclusions of this work will be included as an annexe.
Besides this, we held three panels about: “Nonviolent resolution of historical conflicts between nations”; “There will only be progress if it is by all and for all”; “Visions for a Latin America United, without wars and without violence”. The book The end of Prehistory, whose author is the Spokesperson for Humanism in Latin America, Tomás Hirsch, was also presented.
In parallel, a meeting of New Generations was held, together with meetings of the Centre of Cultures, the Community for Human Development and Humanist Parties of the region.
The Forum explicitly manifested its support to the people and government of Bolivia for the important processes of transformation that are being carried out, in order to achieve greater democracy and social justice in this country. Upon ending the Forum, with great joy we received the news of the approval of the new Constitution by the Constituent Assembly, which found the way to leap over all the difficulties met along the way.

Declaration of La Paz
The Bolivian process is an example for the entire continent and for the world. Universalist Humanism recognises a genuine coincidence with the principles of non-discrimination and nonviolence that drives the Bolivian Government, in the moment of carrying forward its revolutionary project. Bolivia is showing a path of liberation and humanisation for our peoples. The Latin American Humanist Forum commits to continue disseminating this courageous attempt to the whole world.
We are making our own, the proposal of President Evo Morales to include the renunciation of war as a constitutional article in all countries of the region. This gesture added to the attempt to recover the dignity of the Bolivian people through a methodology of active nonviolence, merits the Nobel Peace Prize.
Political-Social projects are emerging in Latin America that gives priority to the well being of its peoples above the dictatorship of macroeconomic demands. In this way, the recovery of natural and energy resources and the basic services of water, light and communications go exactly in this direction. The withdrawal from ICSID by the Bolivian Government is a measure that contributes to advance towards an improvement in the living conditions for its people and a decision that should be implemented in other Latin American countries.
The resolution of historical conflicts and progressive and proportional disarmament between countries of the region are fundamental themes for Latin American integration. Wars are not an initiative of the people but rather of economic interests that exploit them. The aspiration of Bolivia to have a sovereign sea route is one of the emblematic conflicts of the region and this Forum will continue collaborating decisively so that this country achieves this historical objective.
Regarding the environmental question, the Forum considers that it is necessary to construct regional legislation that puts a stop to the plundering actions of savage capitalism. Natural and energy resources are the raw material for the survival of peoples and assure their future; therefore they cannot be abandoned to the immediate ambition of profit. In the same direction, we will study the possibility to organise an international forum about global warming and the direct responsibility of speculative capital in this alarming global phenomenon.
The creation of constituent assemblies in Bolivia, Ecuador and Venezuela, to replace obsolete and antidemocratic Constitutions is a path to be followed by the other countries of the region. The Forum subscribes to the attempt by these countries to build a democratically agreed new institutional order, achieving through this legislative process, a social agreement of the majority and without exclusions.
Friends: this Forum has signified a great advance in dialogue, complementation and joint action between the peoples of our region. We invite all individuals, social, political and cultural organisations together with governments that would like to work to reinforce Latin American integration, under the sign of peace, sovereignty and freedom for all the inhabitants of our region, to the III Latin American Humanist Forum to be held next year in Buenos Aires, Argentina.

For all, Peace, Force and Joy