Revolution in the Camden air as Chavez gets Hero's Welcome

[Divernan]

(Note to Moderators: This story reports a DIFFERENT speech by Chavez, made in London. It is not the same speech reported in another thread in a story coming from the earlier Vienna summit - Chavez plans cheap oil for Europe's poor - so please do not combine the threads. This story was published in this morning's Guardian, Monday, May 15th)

www.guardian.co.uk/international/story/0,,1774992,00.html

Hugo Chávez addresses crowds of supporters at the Camden Centre in London.

He attacked the administration in Washington as "the greatest threat to this planet ... Imagine they launch this attack on Iran. They've got it planned. If the US attack Iran, people in England who drive cars will have to park them. Oil will be $100 a barrel." The man who survived a coup in 2002 - "planned in the Pentagon and the White House" - told the audience to huge applause: "I know there are plans to kill me. It doesn't matter. It won't stop me."

In the audience was Bianca Jagger who said she had come to "listen and learn ... I'm Nicaraguan so I am interested in the politics of Latin America and I have one or two questions I would like to ask him." She said it was important for people in Europe to understand the motivations of President Chávez and President Morales with regard to their energy supplies. "You need to understand the history of the oil companies in Latin America," she said. "They left a terrible environmental disaster behind them and they have never been accountable for it."

The Labour MP Jeremy Corbyn, who was on the platform, said: "I am very interested in what they are doing in Venezuela in terms of lessening the gap between rich and poor. Maybe the British government could learn something from that. Blair and the government should recognise which way the wind is blowing in Latin America."

President Chávez had arrived in London from a summit in Vienna of leaders from the EU and Latin America and Caribbean nations. This week he will be going to Algeria and Libya. In Vienna, he had said: "The final hours of empire have arrived. Now we have to say to the empire 'We are not afraid of you, you are a paper tiger'." He suggested the US was as doomed as a pig on its way to the slaughterhouse. He also wanted to provide cheap heating oil for poor Europeans. "I want to humbly offer support to the poorest people who do not have resources for central heating in winter and make sure that support arrives."





Guardian Newspapers Limited 2006

[rman]

1. kick

[Vidar]

2. Bravo Chavez! Encore!

[Judi Lynn]

3. Great article. Very glad to see Duncan Campbell covered it, too.

He's got real character, knowing how much right-wingnuts like _Bush want to see him dead, and not letting it slow him down.

You never hear of any leader other than _Bush involving hundreds, if not thousands, of people to "per-teck" them every where they go. Chavez knows his days might be numbered and he's not cutting back.

Any nutjob in the States who dares to think the movement in Venezuela can be reversed, and the poor sent back into the void, just by knocking off Chavez, hasn't been paying attention. The people themselves take this very, very seriously, as they tell visitors to Venezuela.

Long live this good man, without any "accidents" or wounds from assassins sent to remove him for the right-wing monster clowns in Washington.

[Judi Lynn]

4. Only out 10 minutes: Remarks by Ken Livingstone, London's Mayor

Chávez and Venezuela deserve the support of all who believe in social justice and democracy
Posted: 2006/05/15
From: Mathaba

George Bush's refusal to respect the choices of the Venezuelan people shows that his administration has no real interest in promoting democracy at all.

By Ken Livingstone

President Hugo Chávez of Venezuela will today become the second head of state - after the Queen - to be welcomed to London's City Hall. When it comes to the social transformation taking place in Venezuela, the political qualifications often necessary in our imperfect world can be set aside. It is crystal clear on which side right and justice lies. For many years people have demanded that social progress and democracy go hand in hand, and that is exactly what is now taking place in Venezuela.

It therefore deserves the unequivocal support of not only every supporter of social progress but every genuine believer in democracy in the world.

Venezuela is a state of huge oil wealth that was hitherto scarcely used to benefit the population. Now, for the first time in a country of over 25 million people, a functioning health service is being built. Seventeen million people have been given access to free healthcare for the first time in their lives. Illiteracy has been eliminated. Fifteen million people have been given access to food, medicines and other essential products at affordable prices. A quarter of a million eye operations have been financed to rescue people from blindness. These are extraordinary practical achievements.

Little wonder, then, that Chávez and his supporters have won 10 elections in eight years. These victories were achieved despite a private media largely controlled by opponents of the government. Yet Chávez's visit has been met with absurd claims from rightwing activists that he is some kind of dictator.
(snip/...)

Ken Livingstone is the mayor of London

[e-mail]

The short URL for this item is: http://mathaba.net/news/?x=537304
or, http://mathaba.net/0_index.shtml?x=537304

[pberq]

7. Yes! Livingstone get's it. Viva Chavez!

[Judi Lynn]

5. Livingstone lunching with Chavez

Livingstone lunching with Chavez
Press Association
Monday May 15, 2006 6:08 AM


Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez will continue his two-day visit to London with a lunch hosted by Ken Livingstone.

Mr Livingstone is a strong supporter of the radical left-wing president and has defended him as "the best news out of Latin America in many years."

They will be joined at the lunch by figures from the worlds of culture, finance and fashion as well as trade unionists and MPs.

Guests include playwright Harold Pinter, Bianca Jagger, Peter Voser, Chief Financial Officer of Shell International, fashion designer Katherine Hamnett and Michael Lynch, director of the South Bank Centre.

MPs expected to attend include Tony Lloyd, Jon Cruddas, Diane Abbott, Colin Burgon, Dawn Butler and Jon Trickett.

The trip was designed to establish stronger economic links with the Latin American country.
(snip/...)

http://www.guardian.co.uk/uklatest/story/0,,-5822391,00.html

[mom cat]

6. Interesting that the CFO of Shell is meeting with Chavez. Are some

big companies starting to get it? Shell has repeatedly had to reduce their stated reserves and may have to dance the Hugo polka!