Venezuela's Chavez hosts World Social Forum

[bemildred]

CARACAS, Venezuela (Reuters) - Tens of thousands of international activists gathered in Caracas on Tuesday for the World Social Forum to protest U.S. imperialism and debate topics from fair trade to indigenous rights.

Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez, a self-styled socialist revolutionary, has become a regional standard-bearer for left-wing, anti-U.S. movements since allying himself with Cuba to become one of the U.S. government's most vocal opponents.

The sixth world forum, an event that began in Port Alegre in Brazil, has registered more than 67,000 participants and starts with a march against imperialism and war that will likely focus on U.S. President George W. Bush and the war in Iraq.

"This is a process that can bring change for everyone," said Colombian Lucy Martinez, who belongs to a solidarity group with Cuba. "It's great that it is here in Venezuela because Chavez, like Fidel Castro, is an example for everyone."

Reuters

[mom cat]

1. Buena Suerte, mi amigos.

[winter999]

2. Our favorite mother is there...

go Cindy.

[Heewack]

3. I hope you're joking. n/t

n/t

[Flanker]

4. It appears like it is true

http://vheadline.com/readnews.asp?id=47728

[struggle4progress]

16. Remember the phony reports about Cindy in Venezuela ...

.. last fall at the Summit of the Americas?

Google it: lying wingnuts everywhere spread variously decorated versions of the bullshit around. It got worldwide press coverage: her allegedly sharing a platform with Chavez, who saluted her, and so on.

Oh, heck, I'LL google it for you. Here's an example:

Now is the summit of his discontent
Sarah Baxter, Washington
November 06, 2005
... Yet, in a reminder that Iraq was still the source of Bush’s problems, anti-war activist Cindy Sheehan, whose son died in the conflict, shared a platform with Chavez at a 20,000-strong rally in a football stadium ...
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/article/0,,2089-1859305,00.html


USA Today finally admitted the story was false:

Far from home, Bush can't escape political headaches
By Richard Benedetto, USA TODAY
Posted 11/5/2005 11:42 AM
... Editors's Note: We reported that Cindy Sheehan was among the protesters in Mar Del Plata, Argentina. She was not ...
http://www.usatoday.com/news/opinion/columnist/benedetto/2005-11-04-benedetto_x.htm

[wakeme2008]

18. pic from bbc

[Voltaire99]

5. Reuters is "on message"

"...a self-styled socialist revolutionary"

"...standard-bearer for left-wing, anti-U.S. movements"

Mind you, it's one thing for obedient corporate journalists to demonize Chavez. Wait for it: if the Democrats ever get back into power, they'll do so, too.

[1932]

12. Clinton wasn't exactly anti-neoliberal, but he didn't demonize Chavez.

There are some Democrats who would, but there are many who wouldn't.

There are many in Congress who are very supportive of Venezuela.

IIRC, some of them really grilled Condi Rice on her anti-Venezuela BS during her confirmation hearings.

[Laughing Mirror]

17. Democrats who have demonized Chavez

Kerry, Dean, among them. I was starting a list but decided it would easier to make a list of Democrats who were NOT playing along with that warped and demented tune: Demonize Chavez.

[Peace Patriot]

6. Criminy, look at the buzz words in this Reuters article...

"to protest U.S. imperialism"

"a self-styled socialist revolutionary" (they are talking about the DEMOCRATICALLY ELECTED President of Venezuela, elected twice, and also beat off a U.S.-funded recall election by a big margin, and won more seats in the legislature--all in heavily monitored elections--by the Carter Center, the EU and the OAS, all of whom declared the elections fair and aboveboard--something Bush cannot claim!

"a self-styled socialist revolutionary" --they make him sound like some kind of rogue element. Disgraceful reporting!

"a march against imperialism and war"

and, they find somebody who loves Castro for the first quote--out of 67,000 people!

Way down in the article...we find out that it's a "broad movement"...

"The forum began as an alternative to the gathering of world leaders in Davos, Switzerland, but it is now a BROAD MOVEMENT where activists campaign for everything from fair trade and gay rights to debt forgiveness and anti-globalization." (emphasis added)

Even later we find that this broad movement is sweeping South America...

"The forum took place as Bolivia's Evo Morales became the latest left-wing president to assume power in South America on a wave of regional rejection of U.S.-backed free-market economic policies."

The end of the article states...

"The event bills itself as independent. But much attention will likely focus on Chavez, a former soldier who has branded Bush "Mr. Danger" and who says he is bringing socialism to the world's No. 5 oil exporter to better the lives of the poor."

"The event bills itself as independent. But..."

Much of WHOSE attention "will likely focus on Chavez"? The corporate media, which will always try to marginalize 67,000 people in favor of some personality that they have demonized, scapegoated, misquoted, trivialized, and entirely mischaraterized (as a "dictator," as "anti-press," as "anti-semitic"--all untrue).

I can't find any other corporate media news coverage of this huge and important event--on line today--so I guess Reuters gets some points for even covering it. But I am more and more noticing their bias on certain subjects, and Huge Chavez is one of the them. (They are generally a cut above the Bush lapdogs and war profiteering corporate shills of the US press.)

[Mika]

9. Who would poll more favorably globally: Bush or Castro?

and, they find somebody who loves Castro for the first quote--out of 67,000 people!


Not hard to do in Venezuela.

[1932]

13. In Richard Gott's book on Cuba, he makes the point that Castro is

incredibly popular in poor communities throughout central and south america. He is so popular with the poor that even the last Pope realized that if the Catholic Church had any hope of making inroads among the vast numbers of poor in the region, he'd have to go to Cuba and be friendly with Castro.

[Judi Lynn]

14. Very interesting. Thanks for the insight.You remember that as soon

as American reporters had flown to Havana to cover the story of the Pope's visit to Cuba, badda bing, the story of Monica Lewinsky broke in Washington D.C., and they all rushed back to Washington, leaving very, very little coverage of that trip.

[Judi Lynn]

10. It's a disgrace, a slap in the face to journalism. AP is just as bad.

One day they'll realize they have simply frittered away their credibility. Hope new news services will be created to take their place.

[mdelaguna2000]

7. Magnificent

Wishing I was there...

[leftchick]

8. AP: Activists Rally in Caracas Against Iraq

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20060124/ap_on_re_la_am_ca/venezuela_social_forum

CARACAS, Venezuela - To the beat of drums and trilling whistles, thousands of activists from around the world showed their opposition to globalization and the Iraq war at the opening Tuesday of the World Social Forum backed by Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez.

The six-day conference got under way in Caracas amid a light drizzle as activists filled a plaza waving banners reading "Stop Bush" and "End the occupation of Iraq" ahead of a giant march.

"There are more poor people than rich people in this world. We need to stop fighting these wars and start focusing on fighting this poverty," said Ivan Rosa, 30, of Philadelphia.

Organizers have said more than 60,000 people are signed up to attend, and tens of thousands more were expected at the forum, about half from outside Venezuela.



Members of the Cuban delegation that are attending the 6th World Social Forum listen to Cuban Parliament Speaker, Ricardo Alarcon, not in picture, in Caracas, Venezuela, Tuesday, Jan.24, 2006. Alarcon accused the U.S. government of protecting Luis Posada Carriles, an anti-Castro militant being held at a U.S. federal detention center in El Paso, Texas, on immigration charges. The pictures in background are of Venezuelan Liberator Simon Bolivar, left, and Cuban hero Jose Marti. (AP Photo/Fernando Llano)

[Stockholm]

19. Cindy Sheehan is truly getting her message out!

"American activist Cindy Sheehan called for a stronger global movement against the Iraq war.

"We have to work together as a global community to fight for peace and justice. We're all in it together. It's not just me who has lost a son," said Sheehan, whose son, Casey, was killed in Iraq in 2004.

Sheehan, 48, of Berkeley, Calif., gained international attention when she set up a protest camp near President Bush's Texas ranch last year.

"We really need to stop the imperialist tendencies of countries like the United States and Great Britain," Sheehan told The Associated Press."
------

Cindy and Chavez :evilgrin: together

[IndianaGreen]

21. Posada Carriles is a terrorist, like bin Laden!

The Yahoo story says describes him as "an anti-Castro militant." This is the moral equivalent of saying that the 9-11 hijackers were anti-American militants.

[Judi Lynn]

23. Someone in an influential position created that term to describe the creep

It's simply bizarre. I've seen it used before, believe it or not. "Militant" instead of mass murderer. Nice work if you can get it, creating completely fraudulent news terms to completely mislead the unsuspecting.

[Vidar]

11. Viva Chavez!

[ronnie624]

15. This movement in Latin America

brings a flicker of hope for the future. I hope President Chavez can avoid the "jackals".

[Judi Lynn]

20. Venezuela forum draws world's leftists

Venezuela forum draws world's leftists
Poverty, war, free trade among forum activists' chief concerns

Wednesday, January 25, 2006; Posted: 9:15 p.m. EST (02:15 GMT)



Cuban delegation members dance during a demonstration marking the beginning of the forum.

CARACAS, Venezuela (AP) -- Activists at the World Social Forum called for decisive actions against poverty, an immediate end to the war in Iraq and a radical shift away from free trade.

The event, held to counter the market-friendly World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, has attracted tens of thousands of leftist activists and on Wednesday featured panels on topics like "imperialism -- the greatest threat to humanity" and "socialism of the 21st century."

"We came to raise our complaints about the lack of justice in the world, the hunger, the war," said Catalina Herazo, a 25-year-old Colombian student activist.

She said national governments, particularly wealthy ones, should make radical changes and consider a "worldwide tax" to combat poverty. (Read how the activists have honed in on President Bush)
(snip/...)

http://www.cnn.com/2006/WORLD/americas/01/25/venezuela.forum.ap/index.html

[IndianaGreen]

22. Cindy Sheehan: Most US Condemn War

Cindy Sheehan: Most US Condemn War

Caracas, Jan 25 (Prensa Latina) US peace activist Cindy Sheehan assured nearly 70 percent of her compatriots condemn the war in Iraq and want their troops back home.

Sheehan, at the 6th World Social Forum in Caracas and mother of a US soldier killed in Iraq, believes that is the current reality, unlike that of the start of the war, when 80 percent supported the US invasion of Iraq.

The more than 2,200 US troops who have died and the Iraqis´ death toll standing between 100,000 and 200,000 have changed people´s mind.

"The truth is that war is for oil and not against terrorism, and that view is increasingly prevailing," she told Venezuelan TV´s En Confianza program.

She said "it was highly suspicious" that Osama Bin Laden is still free despite US President George W. Bush holding him as terrorist number one, and the international public should know most US people oppose the Bush policy.

PRENSA LATINA