The Brazil-Bolivia gas crisis

[MIGkiller]

Are you following the recent crisis between Brazil and Bolivia since the Bolivian military occupied Petrobras stations in that country? Are you also annoyed by the growing influence of Hugo Chávez over Latin-America affairs, here symbolized by his puppet Evo Morales? Tired of seing Lula making us fools in front of the world? Express your opinion.

[Mengão86]

I haven't really been following it too much since I am out of the country. Gas is a problem everywhere these days..

[AuriVerde]

It's really annoying to see a country so big and influential(the most) in South America being so passive towards this situation.Well..Bolivia has much more to lose in this war than us,but it's still an annoying situation.

[NitrousOxide]

I was really angry with the whole episode, I mean 1.5$ billion in lost Petrobras assests is a pretty hard loss to swollow considering its a state company run with state funds. But Its obvious Lula would not act any differently since he has the same ideological fantasies of Morales. He still does not see the difference of what is good for Brazil and what is Good for PT. The only thing this episode was good for was to show how Chaves is making a complete mockery of Lula's so called leadership in South America! With the US on one side and Venezuela in the other, we're actually becoming more Isolated. I mean think about it, which country is a strong Brazilian ally today in South America ? Chile comes the closest and even that is a stretch !

[Brazil_1500]

I can't wait for the next election. the soon we take out this retard from power it will be for best.

[deejay]

I know this is a Brazil forum here and most of you are blowing some steam, so I won't try to press my point to much.

1. Evo may or may not be a Chavez "puppet" but the fact is that the whole Bolivian populace has been pushing for a change in the contracts for a long time now. Why do you think the previous two presidents where pressured out of the post? Why do you think Evo got a first round vote of more than 50% (something that has never happened before in Bolivia) Bolivians wanted this change, not just Evo.

2. The contracts were hugely unfair. The oil companies paid for a 50% share of the company but then reaped 82% of the profits with no taxes!!! This has been going on for over a decade. I think Petrobras has made more than enough profit.

3. The contracts were illegal. They were signed by the then president Sanchez de Lozada and kept under wraps. Nobody was allowed to see them. They were never approved by parliament. Doesn't that smell like he was paid off by the oil companies?

4. The oil companies will still stick around. The contracts have been changed. Now 82% of the profits are for Bolivia (I hope they use it well). Unfair you say? Well, the oil companies could have left the country if they wanted to, but all the major ones are back. Petrobras and Repsol(Spain) are the major companies. If they couldn't make a profit in those conditions why would they come back?

5. Funny that there are no US oil companies (Only Mobile and with very small interests) and therefore the US press doesn't really worry about this. Interesting that there are Brazilian and European companies and now their press is all over this. Just human nature I guess.

[Brazil_1500]

the thing he could have done was raise the taxes. not steal!

[Brazil_1500]

lula is embrassing Brazil on the world stage with his weak respose to evo morales! I think it was last year that lula forgave bolivian debt's with Brazil and this is how they pay us back?

[MIGkiller]

Evo "Indio" Morales is now criticizing the purchase of the Acre state 100 years ago. Is he trying to pick a fight with Brazil? I think he is.

[Joelzinho]

Evo "Indio" Morales is now criticizing the purchase of the Acre state 100 years ago. Is he trying to pick a fight with Brazil? I think he is.


Thats a big move.

[Brazil_1500]

O Brasil comprou o estado do Acre por dois milhões de libras esterlinas, o que é equivalente a R$ 630 milhões e deu pequenos territórios do Mato Grosso e mais ainda a ferrovia Madeira-Mamoré. Mula é um bundão.Evo "Indio" Morales is now criticizing the purchase of the Acre state 100 years ago. Is he trying to pick a fight with Brazil? I think he is.

[Brazil_1500]

Last time someone tried to invade us, they learned a heavy lesson. If bolivia wants to learn the same lesson; just try because u will learn to never mess with us again.

[Joelzinho]

Last time someone tried to invade us, they learned a heavy lesson. If bolivia wants to learn the same lesson; just try because u will learn to never mess with us again.

Clealry Bolivia would lose. Brasil would beat them and then swallow up thier country.

[NitrousOxide]

Funny how morales mentions we got Acre for one horse and conviniently forgets about the 2 million pounds (U$1Billion today) plus some land off Mato Grosso State. Talk about selective memory !

[devilman]

Last time someone tried to invade us, they learned a heavy lesson. If bolivia wants to learn the same lesson; just try because u will learn to never mess with us again.

When was that??...

[deejay]

Funny how morales mentions we got Acre for one horse and conviniently forgets about the 2 million pounds (U$1Billion today) plus some land off Mato Grosso State. Talk about selective memory !

Obviously a bargain. Also, it was a payoff to one of the most corrupt men in Bolivia's history.

Sort of like the oil contracts. Bolivian politicians were paid off by the oil companies so they could then get incredible profits. They were getting 82% of the profits and paying no taxes!

Besides the contracts were illegal. They were never approved by the Bolivian congress and were kept a "state secret" by the Executive. Reeks of pay off.

Also, Evo got voted in by the first 50%+ vote in decades precisely because the Bolivian people knew the contracts were illegal.

Finally, all the major oil companies are coming back to renegotiate contracts. Why? Because, they'll still make money. This time it will be a more equitable share.