Hugo Chavez Gets Hero's Welcome at World Social Forum

[mom cat]

Hugo Chavez Gets Hero's Welcome at World Social Forum

By Alan Clendenning Associated Press Writer
Published: Jan 30, 2005


http://ap.tbo.com/ap/breaking/MGBYDUVXL4E.html



PORTO ALEGRE, Brazil (AP) - Sporting a red shirt embossed with a picture of the revolutionary Che Guevera, Venezuelan leader Hugo Chavez received a hero's welcome Sunday at the World Social Forum, where activists greeted him with hugs and cries of "Here comes the boss!"
Tens of thousands of people attending the six-day gathering held to protest the simultaneous World Economic Forum in Switzerland consider Chavez their strongest voice against the U.S.-sponsored spread of liberalized trade in Latin America, a move they say benefits multinational companies while enslaving workers.

"Now the imperialist forces are starting to strike against the people of Latin America and the world," Chavez said. "And it's up to our soldiers to stay alert and be prepared to defend the people and not to submit themselves to the interests of the empire."

Chavez, a self-described revolutionary, is mounting an aggressive land reform campaign and funneling profits from Venezuela's oil riches to the poor as part of a political movement loosely based on the ideas of South American independence hero Simon Bolivar.

While Chavez was cheered at the social forum, some jeered Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva when he spoke Thursday, accusing him of failing to come through on promises of social reforms to eradicate Brazilian misery.

Chavez

[Cha]

1. CHAVEZ!

Viva Chavez! :toast: :bounce:

[HysteryDiagnosis]

2. profits from Venezuela's oil riches to the poor as part of a political

movement<< How terribly "undemocratic" of him.... shame.

I see he received the same sort of welcome that the corporate pimp received in front of the U.N. last go around... </sarcasm> how friggin sad.

[aikido15]

25. Venezuelan papers are reporting...

that Chavez is now a target of the US. Bush has already tried to stir conflict between Ven. and Columbia in an attempt to oust Chavez. It's in the works, Iran and Venezuela.

I am afraid for Chavez.

We seriously need to dump the Democratic party and join the Democratic Socialist Labor party here. It's the only way we can beat back Corporate run America. Sorry...but Dems aren't going to do it! I think that would be obvious to everyone by now.

Go ahead, burn me at the stake. But that's my opinion. If they can do it so can we.

[mike_c]

3. viva Chavez!

[Spazito]

4. Go Chavez!

Every time he shows up it is a big poke in the eye to the bush cabal who have failed twice to remove him through illegal funding and support of coups. I love it!!!

[Rican1]

5. He'll be replacing Sadam soon in the Axis of Evil

[lateo]

35. Or worse...

He might be assasinated before he makes the list.

[Judi Lynn]

50. We've got a pResident who's too stupid and greedy for diplomacy.

Hoping Chavez will live a long time, in good health, and all _Bush's evil plans will never touch him again. The world needs to see goodness triumph, finally, over pure, stupid, senseless evil.

[peacetalksforall]

6. They put this together to protest the World Economic Forum - the one

Clinton attended and from whose audience he received a lengthy standing ovation?

[aneerkoinos]

24. Originally yes

But World Social Forum is today much bigger and wider phenomenon than just alternative to Davos.

It is the Vox Populi of Globalized world, discussion forum for globalization serving interests of humans and their societies instead of sociopathic corporations.

It's huge, not only world, but Asian, European and multitude of more local Social Forums have been organized during these years. Also in Boston: http://www.bostonsocialforum.org/news.php

[aikido15]

27. It's exciting...

Sign me up! I'm done with this two party system in the US. They are all for corporate greed, not the people!

[aikido15]

26. World Economic Forum is about

more corporate greed, so yes.

[HysteryDiagnosis]

33. Finally we can say that what is going down is all about good

vs evil.... choose your sides. Corporate agression vs land reform and distributed wealth. Should be a no brainer. :)

[peacetalksforall]

40. What's up with Clinton---he seems to be angling to be a peace prince

and he is already considered a people president...

so...why is he at the wrong forum?

I didn't hear his speech at Davos - I only heard about the ovation - he must have made them happy with what he said...or were they just relieved to here someone articulate something original and not loaded with I I I I I I I I's and snorts and sneers and hackneyed 'folksi' xxxx and threats?

[gorbal]

43. I've been reading about both forums

YOu can see some interesting video of dialogs that took place during the world economic forum here-

http://www.weforum.org/site/homepublic.nsf/Content/Annual+Meeting+2005#21

I like the forum with Clinton, Blair Bono, Mbeki and others down the page a little waya. There ARE some interesting ideas on how to end global poverty, although I suspect their were even more interesting and revolutionary ideas presented at the world social forum, I wish we could get some video of that.

[Matilda]

7. This warms my heart - Bushco, take note.

I hope Lula will find the strength to follow his example.

[katinmn]

8. Chavez speaks against imperialism, and the people love him for it.

I enjoyed this quote:

Holding up a U.S. dollar bill, Chavez also challenged President Bush to wager which president will remain in office longer.

"I challenge you to a bet Mr. Bush, one dollar, who will last longer? You in the White House or me in Miraflores?" said Chavez, who has repeatedly accused the United States of conspiring to oust him.

http://www.signonsandiego.com/news/world/20050123-1632-venezuela-demonstrations.html

[Mika]

9. Pics here

At the World Social Forum

[aikido15]

28. I wish these were pics...

of our president! Can I move there? I know a little Spanish.

[AP]

10. First person to find picture of Chavez in Che t-shirt wins a US dollar.

You'd think the TBO or LATimes would have made sure they captured that image for the article.

[Mika]

11. The t-shirt is under the red shirt

But, here's another





Where's my rapidly deflating dollar? ;)

[Pastiche423]

16. Too cool that you found one!

My admiration for Chavez grows every day.

VIVA CHAVEZ!

[AP]

19. That's pretty funny.

[aikido15]

29. Cool pic!

[AP]

12. Unless Che is embossed on the sleeve of this shirt, I don't know what the

author of this article is talking about.

Here are the pictures:





http://www.rnv.gov.ve/noticias/index.php?act=ST&f=3&t=12988#

[Tinoire]

13. Go Chavez. You just go! The hopes of progressives everywhere

are with you!

This is great. Chavez got a hero's welcome.

Meanwhile, for the July G8 conference in Scotland, they're not expecting a very warm welcome for the participants.

The difference says it all! Go Chavez!

Ring of steel to protect city from G8 mayhem

HAMISH MACDONELL AND LOUISE GRAY


PARTS of central Edinburgh will be turned into virtual no-go areas in the biggest police operation ever mounted in Scotland when world leaders gather for the G8 summit in July, it emerged yesterday.

(snip)

Some city-centre businesses will be boarded up and closed and there will be massive traffic disruption during what will be the biggest and most extended protest in Edinburgh’s history.

Leaders from the UK, United States, Germany, France, Japan, Canada, Italy and Russia will meet at Gleneagles Hotel as the highlight of Britain’s leadership of the G8 this year.

(snip)

Early estimates put the numbers expected to descend on Edinburgh at 100,000 to 150,000 but police now believe that could rise to 200,000 and plans are in place to draft in thousands of officers from all over the country to cope.

(snip)

Senior police officers have warned of the threat of extremist violence and have shown MSPs footage of the riots in Genoa in Italy and Evian, France, which accompanied recent G8 summits elsewhere in Europe.

(snip_

http://news.scotsman.com/index.cfm?id=110412005

[aikido15]

30. Thanks for this post...

How do we get American progressives to join ranks in the Socialist movement? I am already there...:shrug:

[radio4progressives]

14. yeah! Watch out the Bushies have something cooked up and the media is

going along with the Bushies.

[Mika]

15. Cuban child inaugurates 5th World Social Forum

Cuban child inaugurates 5th World Social Forum
http://www.granma.cu/ingles/2005/enero/juev27/06sfnina.html

PORTO ALEGRE, BRAZIL (PL) – Last night, a six-year-old Cuban girl held the attention of several thousand participants at the 5th World Social Forum (WSF), when she officially opened the debates along with three adults.

The inaugural event took place after a mass march in which 200,000 people took part according to military police estimates, a record for this type of event.

The brief address opening the 2,000-plus programmed events and to work "for justice, dignity as a universal human value" was read out by three adults in Portuguese, English and French, and by the Cuban child in Spanish.

The child chosen, Ivette González, is the daughter of René González, one of the five Cubans serving harsh prison terms in the United States for combating terrorism.

The US authorities have repeatedly denied visas to Ivette and her mother so that they can visit him.

www.freethefive.org

[aikido15]

31. Denied visas?

That is just shameful! They are not criminals. What did the little girl do? Oh, I hate US for this.

[PowerToThePeople]

17. You Rock!!!

www.vheadline.com/readnews.asp?id=16153

[GetTheRightVote]

18. * does not like him because he wants nothing to do with him

:kick:

[stevedeshazer]

20. I must say, the next war may not be in Iran, Syria, or North Korea

'Nuff said.

[sarcasmo]

21. Hugo knows. The strongest voice against Darth Chimpy and the imperialists.

U.S.-sponsored spread of liberalized trade in Latin America, a move they say benefits multinational companies while enslaving workers.

[cal04]

22. "The one a lot of people are looking to with a lot of hope"

Go Chavez!

American Mike Fox, of San Francisco's Global Exchange human rights group, said Chavez has become the model leftist leader in Latin America.

Since surviving a referendum bid last year aimed at ousting him, Chavez has promised a new role for Venezuela's state-owned oil company in the ``redistribution of national income.'' High oil prices have allowed the Venezuelan leader to fund massive social programs for the poor.

``In Latin America, he's the one a lot of people in other countries are looking to with a lot of hope,'' Fox said.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/worldlatest/story/0,1280,-4766885,00.html

[aikido15]

32. Does anyone else think that maybe...

we should follow suit and support the socialist movement in the US? It's growing strong and has international support.

I DO!

I've not heard anyone comment on that.:think:

[tlcandie]

23. Wow!! Just blows me away! Thanks for the awesome pics too!!!

:bounce:

[Judi Lynn]

34. "Here comes the boss!" Now that sounds as if they respect this man.

Thanks for this great article, and thanks to Mika for supplying those great Chavez photos which haven't been posted here before now.

You surely don't see this man hiding in crowds of only hand-picked supporters. As other posters have expressed, he faces a direct threat when he gets out of bed each morning. As we've been shown, he doesn't even have to leave the building, as "opposition" and US-related people will go in and try to kidnap/assault/next time kill? him right where he stands. Sure, they would drop him in a heartbeat if they could pull it off sucessfully.

I'll bet they'll try it again. He's very brave, however, and has not been cowering within the Presidential Palace, nor hiding in a bunker in the ground. He gets right out there with the people.

Here's a copy of the Venezuelan Constsitution in English. You may need it the next time an anti-Chavez poster shows up and tries to give misleading quotes from it:

http://www.vheadline.com/readnews.asp?id=6831



_Bush, hands off Venezuela.

[ausiedownunderground]

36. Chavez will get trouble from Uribe in Colombia i have been informed

I have a very good friend from Oz who has been working in the British consulate in Bogota for the past 2 years. The US is pressing Uribe the Colombian President to "create trouble" in Venezuela - His words not mine. He just spent a night with us back here in OZ over our summer and his theories about the US, Colombian and Venezuelan situation are what "Best sellers" are written about.

Chavez hates "The Bush Gang"! "The Bush Gang hates Chavez! Colombia loves the US because the US "Pumps" money into Colombia. Check out US foreign aid money. Colombia wouldn't be to far behind Israel.Uribe has just recently been allowed to stand for another election against Colombia's constitution which restricts how long a President is allowed to rule. BE CAREFUL AMERICA!

Chavez has a lot of oil and is extremely popular amongst the poor of Venezuela who make up about 90% of the population. He's ex-army and has support in the armed forces. Putin and now China are courting him and are shipping arms to him at an incredible rate, just in case! "The Bush Gang" thought overthrowing Chavez would be easy, but they didn't realize like what they found themselves, the opposition in Venezuela is disorganized and corrupt and hoplessly inept. TAKE NOTE DEMOCRATS!

So "The Bush Gang" has turned to Uribe to help them!!! This will be a very interesting geo-political confrontation!!

Chavez however still has an "ACE" up his sleeve if things get really "Hot"! A barrel of Venezuelan oil costs 30 EURO!!!!!!!

[aneerkoinos]

39. The Game

It is quite evident that Washington is trying to push Uribe into replica of Contra-destabilation against Venezuela and Bolivarian revolution (which, at this stage, is no more dependent on Chavez but has gained momentum of it's own). The Uribe angle has been evident for couple years at least.

What will Uribe do with his paramilitaries? His international standing is weak in the area, perceived as goon of Gringolandia and rightly so by Lula and Kirchner and rest of the popular pro-Chavez leaders of the area. Uribe is also weak internally, the civil war continues and his popularity among even former supporters is quite low. The latest kidnapping incident was quite telling, Chavez threatened to cut diplomatic ties to Kolumbia and Uribe humbly made equivalent of apology and promised to respect Venezuela's sovereignity.

But who knows, perhaps Uribe is so deep in Washington's pocket he has no choise but to be their unwilling pawn. In the case Washington brings it on, Chavez is not easily intimidated, his position domestically and internationally is stronger than ever (thanks to failed orchestrations of Washington), he's influential OPEC insider who no doubt knows how fragile the world oil market is. He's just made deal with major nuclear power guaranteeing endless demand for Venezuelan oil, China, emerging superpower with death-grip over US economy.

So the ACE that Chavez holds is not just moving to euro, but just stopping delivieries to US (VZ is one of the biggest suppliers and US economy is dependent on VZ oil), and I strongly suspect he will take no more shit from Bushistas but identify correctly the origin of destabilization efforts from Kolumbia, and put US under sanctions. Dare me, I will double dare you, says Chavez to Bush, and how can Bush respond? Invade VZ - with what military? Naval blockade against VZ - yeah, sure, if he's ready for China's response when her vital interests are threatened?

The way I see it, If Bush takes one more serious attempt against Venezuela and Chavez decides to take no more shit, the most likely outcome is abrupt and severe collapse of US economy and the whole Empire. Chavez wins, Gringolandia looses, the whole world wins.

Bring it on!!!

[Commie Pinko Dirtbag]

42. I wonder when are the next Colombian presidential elections

And the chances of Uribe's sorry Bush-owned ass to be kicked therein.

[Judi Lynn]

49. Hope Chavez can keep Bush outta where he doesn't belong! n/t

[Judi Lynn]

48. So good to read your comments, ausiedownunderground.

You've noticed how many deviant types _Bush scooped up and placed in his State Department, leftovers from a brutal Republican obsession on the parts of Nixon, Reagan, and his own CIA father in tightly controlling and governing all of Latin America through puppet dictators, and killing off everyone who got in the road.

We've been kept in a complete information black-out all this time, and a lot of us are just starting to find out what's been going on because of our own predatory right-wing Presidents.

Thanks for sharing your observations. Great knowing others are keeping an eye on this mess, too.

[RockStar]

37. Man how I wish Chavez was our president

[Commie Pinko Dirtbag]

38. Woo hoo! Chavez thread! Kickety kick!

I want to cook some pizza!

[TahitiNut]

41. (lol!) I bet I know what brand of pizza.

Chavez threads are excellent bait. They're the Roach Motels of the day. :silly:

[Judi Lynn]

44. Oh, YEAH! Bring those pizzas on! They were just wonderful last time. n/t

[Judi Lynn]

45. Venezuela and China Sign 19 Cooperation Agreements

Venezuela and China Sign 19 Cooperation Agreements

Monday, Jan 31, 2005



By: Sarah Wagner – Venezuelanalysis.com

January 31, 2005—Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez and Chinese Vice President Zeng Qinghong signed 19 agreements last Saturday concerning oil, agriculture and technology, including 5 agreements with the President of the Chinese National Petroleum Corporation.
(snip)

Bi-lateral cooperation between China and Venezuela has been in the works for some time now. In late December, 2004, Chavez visited China, where he further strengthened relations with Chinese President Hu Jintao. Caracas and Beijing agreed to invest in joint ventures in oil and gas exploration in Venezuela.

Relations between "China and Venezuela are in better conditions than ever," noted Chavez, adding that "now go from the subsoil, where there is petroleum and gas, to the stratosphere, where we are going to put a satellite."

For quite some time Venezuela has been looking to foster new trade relations, in particular with China and Russia, in order to break dependency on the United States. The South American nation is currently the world's fifth largest producer of petroleum. It supplies the United States with 13% of its oil, making it the closest major supplier.
(snip/...)

http://www.venezuelanalysis.com/news.php?newsno=1487

[oasis]

46. Stand up for poor people and you're still a hero to MOST of the world.

[burrowowl]

47. Go Chavez!

Go WSF!!!!!!!!

[Andrushka]

51. Kick

Because Chavez IS da man!! :headbang:

[Vidar]

52. Vive la revolution, Vive Chavez.