Capitalism harms planet - Morales
By Laura Trevelyan
BBC UN correspondent, in New York
Bolivian President Evo Morales has told a UN forum that capitalism should be scrapped if the planet is to be saved from the effects of climate change.
"If we want to save our planet earth, we have a duty to put an end to the capitalist system," he said.
Opening an UN meeting in New York on the rights of indigenous people, he also said the development of biofuels harmed the world's poorest people.
The forum's theme is the global impact of climate change on native people.
Mr Morales gave the keynote address at the opening of the seventh session of the UN Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues.
Duty bound
As a descendent of the Aymara people, he is Bolivia's first indigenous president.
Bolivia's left-wing president said unbridled industrial development was responsible for the pillaging of natural resources.
Speaking through an interpreter at the UN headquarters in New York, he had this uncompromising message: "If we want to save our planet earth, to save life, to save mankind, we have a duty to put an end to the capitalist system."
Mr Morales also argued against biofuels, crops which are used to produce alternative energy rather than food.
Biofuels resulted in poverty and hunger he said, and were very harmful to the poorest people in the world.
In a side swipe at Brazil, major manufacturers of the biofuel ethanol, he said some presidents were putting cars ahead of people.
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