Climate Change Concerns in Flooded Bolivia

Climate Change Concerns in Flooded Bolivia: "February 25, 2008
Climate Change Concerns in Flooded Bolivia
Bolivian leaders blame floods on global warming and actions of others
by Cynthia English

WASHINGTON, D.C. -- For the second consecutive year, floods are wreaking havoc on many parts of Bolivia. In response, the country's leaders are again publicly blaming the floods on climate change and demanding that the international community take action. Gallup finds that nearly all Bolivians who have heard of global warming or climate change consider it a 'somewhat serious' or 'very serious' threat.

Since last year, high-ranking Bolivian officials, including President Evo Morales and most recently Foreign Minister David Choquehuanca, have blamed the flooding in their country on global climate change and on those countries that they perceive are most responsible for the problem. Bolivian leaders are demanding that the international community pay for the damage and help with recovery efforts. However, many Bolivians' perception that global warming is a serious threat is not necessarily directly linked to the flooding, as Gallup polling last year fell between the two flood-ridden, rainy seasons, and not at the height of the natural disasters.

Residents in eight South American countries Gallup surveyed in 2007 appear to have a similar sentiment as Bolivians do about the threat of global"