Page 10 - Contrast2008
P. 10
Devon Braekbil\
Capitalism in
Cochabamba
... the Bechtel Corporation of San Francisco had taken over Cochabambas'. water system an d raised
water rates. Protestors blamed Bechtel for trying to "lease the rain. "
-Frontline, July 5, 2002.
When we turned the rusted faucet on
to wash our grime-stained hands,
no water came out,
and they said,
"We own all the water now."
When we took shovel and pick
to soil and rock
to dig ourselves a well,
with sweat trickling down our arms and necks
in pouring, flooding streams,
they said,
"We own that now."
When the storm clouds gathered
across the horizon and large drops,
plummeting, filled our parched hands
and wetted our cracked lips,
they said,
"We own that too."
When we took to the streets
in massy uproar,
calling on God's justice,
and the soldier fired,
and the child bled,
blood flOWingdown his arm _
the street overrunning with that spring of red _,
they said,
"We own that now."
