Coca Leaf "Lunch For Kids"

The Weekend Australian ^ | February 25, 2006 | AFP

[Loyalist]

Coca leaf has more nutritional value than milk and should replace it in school lunches, Bolivia's new Foreign Minister has suggested.

"Our children need calcium, and the coca leaf has more calcium than milk," David Choquehuanca said.

In past interviews, Mr Choquehuanca said he stopped reading books when he discovered his Aymara heritage, and claimed to get his knowledge from reading the wrinkles of his ancestors.

"Our children need phosphorous, and the coca leaf has more phosphorous than fish," he said. "Perhaps instead of milk in school lunches, we should be giving coca leaf to our children."

Mr Choquehuanca said his information on the nutritional value of the coca leaf came from studies by the Bolivian Health Ministry and Harvard University.

Coca leaf is chewed by millions of Bolivians as a tonic and to stave off hunger. But it is also processed into cocaine and sold abroad, chiefly in the US, in a multi-billion-dollar illegal trade.

Bolivian President Evo Morales, also of indigenous extraction, who was elected in December with strong support from coca farmers, is under US pressure to repress the industry.

Asked to comment on Mr Choquehuanca's proposal, opposition MP and former education minister Tito Hoz de Vila said coca would have a detrimental effect on schoolchildren.

"Those poor students would be dozing off in the classroom instead of paying attention to their schoolwork," he said.

[ndt]

"When I was a small back in Argentina"

Where are you from? I live in Argentina. My wife is Porteña so we moved down here a couple years ago.

"I believe the practice is the same in Uruguay."

Actually even more so if you can believe it(at least in Colonia) absolutely everybody walks around with a thermos of hot water under their arm.

"However, Argentina also boasts more psychiatrists per capita than any other country."

So true. I had to use that as an example for my wife to explain just how many lawyers we have in the states.

[ndt]

"playing guitar with 3 lovely hotties from Buenas Aires"

It sound cliche, but they really are that hot. You mix Spanish Italian French and just a hint of German and what do you expect.

[Caipirabob]

Cool story, thanks!

Martin's post shared a particular brand that apparently embodies all of the "not so easy on the brain" attributes of Mate. Since he's reminded me, I'm going to order some today. I have a shipment of coffee beans for roasting arriving later today, I wonder about "green" Mate? I'd probably have to grow it myself due to standard import restrictions on unfinished agricultural products, and I'm too lazy for that.

Then again, this is me up at 4:30AM on a Saturday wondering if I can both color-wash and put up baseboard in a rennovated room within the same day. Need more of that home-roasted coffee...

Here's the English site I found for "Sara-The dirty girl". ; )