People's Uprising in Chile with Alejandra Parra

Breaking Green

In this episode of Breaking Green we talk with long-time activist Alejandra Parra about her experiences during the People’s Uprising in Chile and the hopes of recognizing environmental, social and economic reforms in the new Chilean constitution.
In 2019, Chile experienced intense nationwide protests against neoliberalism with calls for sweeping reform. In response the United Nations moved the UN Climate Change Conference COP 25 from Santiago, Chile to Madrid, Spain.
In 2020 the people of Chile voted in favor of a constitutional convention in order to replace its current constitution that was created under the Pinochet dictatorship. The convention, which grew out of the People’s Uprising, is currently underway with work expected to finished by March. The convention is being attended not only by representatives of political parties, but elected representatives of Indigenous Peoples, independent citizen groups, environmentalists, social justice activists, and is designed for gender parity.
In 2021, Gabriel Boric, a young leftist candidate soundly defeated ultra-far right candidate Jose’ Kast for President. Boric is expected to be seated on March 11, 2022.
Breaking Green is produced by Global Justice Ecology Project.
Breaking Green is made possible by donations from people like you.
Please help us lift up the voices of those working to protect forests, defend human rights and expose false solutions. Simply click here to send a donation or text GIVE to 1 716 257 4187.

Chapters

1. Breaking Green Introduction (00:00:00)

2. Episode Introduction (00:00:28)

3. Introduction of Alejandra Parra (00:01:26)

4. Activist History (00:02:11)

5. History of the Mapuche (00:04:00)

6. Tree Plantations (00:06:11)

7. Water Rights (00:07:58)

8. 2019 Uprising (00:09:01)

9. Violent Police Response (00:11:44)

10. Break with Theresa Church (00:13:14)

11. Blinding, Sexual Assault by Police (00:14:30)

12. Origin of Constitutional Convention (00:15:31)

13. Human Rights, Decentralization (00:20:43)

14. COP 25 and Chile (00:25:22)

15. What it was like on a personal level. (00:28:20)

16. President Elect Gabriel Boric (00:29:50)

17. Far Right Disinformation Campaign (00:34:06)

18. Will Boric be Seated (00:35:17)

19. Will things be different under the New Constitution (00:35:31)

20. Outro (00:37:04)