Aside from the myriad of problems facing him within Ecuador, Gutierrez faces the daunting international pressures of globalization, Washington, and the self-serving fundamentalist international banks. Unfortunately, even before he has assumed power, Gutierrez is displaying behavior which predicts that he may be nothing more than a fleeting symbol for social change. Following only one diplomatic visit to the United States, he has already begun to backtrack from the platforms he stood for during his campaign. In doing so, he has, at least in words, betrayed the very constituency which put him in power.

For example, although he initially promised that there will be no new IMF (International Monitory Fund) imposed austerity measures for Ecuadorians, he is now in favor of dealing with the IMF. (Has he not read "Globalization and its Discontents" by the Nobel prize winning economist Stiglitz or pondered the roots of the illegitimacy of third world debt after reading Eduardo Galeano's "Las Venas Abiertas de Latino America"?) Further, Gutierrez has come to back the Free Trade Area of the Americas (FTAA), despite the ominous predictions presented by respected economists who cite evidence for the FTAA's negative effect on poor and unprepared countries such as Ecuador. His support speaks to an inability to understand that uncontrolled globalization is, at best, cultural genocide.

Even further still, the Colonel has tacitly approved the continued presence of America's military base in Ecuador's coastal Manta province. This presence serves to not only undermine Ecuador's sovereignty but implicates Ecuador as an ally in America's ineffective and circular Drug War. Gutierrez should understand that the Drug War only pummels the region with its Vietnam-like effects (i.e. militarization of the region, refugee problems) while failing to address the consumption problem inherent in this supply/ demand scenario.

Shifting to growing global and local environmental concerns, Gutierrez has spoken of continuing and advancing petroleum exploitation of Ecuador's fragile Amazon rainforest. This venture is riddled with ecological and social repercussions. From his proposed plan, one would think that the Ecuadorian economy has no other recourse but to continue to submit to the will of foreign agendas, such as those involved in building the Oleoducto de Crudos Pesados (OCP- a pipeline meant to connect Ecuador's Amazon basin to Ecuador's Pacific Coast for the transport of heavy crude oil), despite the inherent perils of such projects to ordinary Ecuadorians. (Imagine the destruction that would have occurred if the OCP had already started transporting oil when El Reventador blew apart the polemic pipeline? Isn't it now evident that the whole route of the OCP is riddled with potential dangers such as El Reventador? Perhaps the people of Galicia, Spain can attest to the dangers of heavy crude when the unthinkable happens.)

Gutierrez must find an alternative to oil exploitation as the basis of Ecuador's economy, this for the sake of : the 80% of Ecuadorians who remain poor not having benefited from Ecuador's oil policy, the indigenous tribes living in the Amazon rainforest whose way of life is threatened with extinction, and the global environment which is becoming more polluted by the day due to civilization's oil addiction.

It would not behoove Gutierrez to forget Ecuador's neglected assets, such as agriculture and tourism, both of which, if managed with vision, could lead Ecuador to self-sufficiency in a sustainable manner. (Such an agenda will be difficult to actualize because it is not likely to be supported by American interests, as Americans would rather see Ecuadorians continue to consume food "made in the USA" and to vacation in Disneyworld.)

I have to wonder if the awakening indigenous peoples and all those who struggled bravely to get Gutierrez elected, will find their hopes prioritized in his presidential term.

I hope Gutierrez finds the wisdom and the courage to stay true to his initial platform. I hope he understands that his most important initial endeavor is to get Ecuadorians to trust each other and to believe in themselves. I hope he allows the indigenous majority, with the help of a united Ecuadorian society, a chance to make Ecuador a model country for the new millennium, a country truly ruled by the people, for the people and living in harmony with Pacha Mama (Mother Earth) .