From the makers of Gringo-thon comes The Gringomobile Diaries, a new short film due to release later this year. It’s the ripe satirical tale of “Gringo,” a simple and big-hearted backpacker who now arrives in the Andean city of Cochabamba, Bolivia to find himself smack in the middle of a giant street protest demanding the nationalization of Bolivian gas. Taken aback by the protesters’ passion, he decides to figure out what all the fuss is about.

He seeks out famed Water War leader Oscar Olivera who candidly explains how the Spanish colonial empire and then the transnational corporations (ushered in by the IMF, WB and the United States) have robbed the Bolivian people of its natural resources, its common wealth. Bolivia’s natural gas reserves—the second largest in South America—is all that remains and, Oscar says, is the Bolivian people’s “last chance of giving a life of dignity to our present and future children.”

Horrified by his government’s role in the exploitation, Gringo decides that he must right history’s wrongs.

For the following weeks, Gringo thus roams the country dressed in a neon yellow vest with the words “Property of the Bolivian People” spray-painted front and back recruiting gringos travelers to join his reparations program. “We are morally obliged to become servants of the Bolivia people until every single cent is paid back,” Gringo explains. “For how long?,” one recruitee asks. “Oh, just a few hundred years,” Gringo answers.

The gringos begin their duties, performing some of Bolivia’s most backbreaking jobs—tin mining, potato harvesting and picking coca leaves among others. But there’s a problem, Gringo explains to Oscar after a few weeks of carrying out his plan. The Bolivian people refuse to treat the gringos like slaves.

Oscar replies that while Gringo’s plan is well-intentioned, it isn’t the way to a better future. “The thing is, Gringo, we Bolivians don’t want slaves to exist,” says Oscar. “We don’t want masters to exist. We don’t want anyone to exploit anyone else. We want to change the world, the way humans relate to one another. We need to create a new relationship with Mother Earth so that what she gives us can benefit everyone…And we need to treat each other as equals.”

Slightly exasperated, Gringo asks the social movement leader for another idea. Oscar suggests a tournament of rayuela, a traditional Bolivian game similar to horseshoes. Gringo thus traverse the country again—this time, inviting all those with a vested interest in Bolivia (the US government, various transnational corporations, Bolivian unions, etc) to play for the grand prize of Bolivia’s remaining natural resources.

What happens? Stay tuned to Ukhampacha Bolivia and Gringoyo Productions as new segments are released and for the film’s completion later this year!