|
It provides reports from knowledgeable people on the ground in Oaxaca and for other places/events in revolutionary Mexico. We owe a great debt to this web site, and to its reporters, Nancy Davis and others. They have been RISKING THEIR LIVES in Oaxaca, where Indy photographer Brad Will was shot dead on the street by Gov. Ruiz's paramilitaries (POLICE in plain clothes--caught in the act by Brad's camera as he died), and where many innocent people have been shot and killed, kidnapped, unfairly arrested and detained, raped, and tortured, or are being hunted. It is shocking that Ruiz is still in power, with all this occurring--much of it in broad daylight (known perps)--and with the Fox/Calderon government now protecting and enforcing Ruiz's power with a federal military occupation of Oaxaca. But then, we have a similar situation in the United States, where we are being inured to having an illegitimate government of thieves and murderers whom the Corporate Party refuses to bring to justice. The difference is that the Oaxacans and other Mexicans will not put up with it, will not recognize illegitimate state and federal governments, will not honor fraudulent elections, and, in Oaxaca, are forming their own government, based on the "uses and customs" provision of the Mexican Constitution (which provides for alternative forms of government, based on ancient indigenous concepts of self-rule, in the case of fascist oppression by existing authorities). Another big difference is that Mexico's revolution is a lot fresher than ours. And a third big difference is the huge, peaceful, democratic, leftist (majorityist) revolution that is occurring throughout Latin America, which has yet to influence politics here in the U.S.--except negatively: billions of our tax dollars being poured into Latin America to bolster fascist military forces and topple democratic governments, the Bushites' brilliant notion of building The Wall along a thousand mile border with Mexico, and full bore Corporate propaganda in all controlled news media in the U.S., to misrepresent and demonize anything good happening in Latin America that empowers the poor majority.
But the poor in Mexico ARE aware of these amazing events in South America. As Evo Morales, the first indigenous president of Bolivia, has said: "The time of the people has come."
Leftist (majorityist) governments have been elected in Brazil, Argentina, Uruguay, Chile, Venezuela and Bolivia, with strong leftist movements in Ecuador (leftist leader way ahead in the polls) and in Peru. Daniel Ortega (leader of the Sandinista revolution in the '80s) was just elected in Nicaragua. And all of these developments are kindred to the huge movement behind Lopez Obrador's campaign in Mexico, and the revolt in Oaxaca. What is more, these new South American leaders are very smart as to the basic economics of oppression that have been brutally enforced in Latin America, for decades and centuries, with U.S. backing, and they are creating structures of economic and political cooperation to strengthen their region against outside (particularly U.S. government/corporate) interference and domination. That's one of the biggest benefits of democracy/transparent elections. The smart rise. (And, of course, we are seeing the flip side, with non-transparent elections and the loss of democracy in the U.S.: the stupidest president in U.S. history, puppet of the worst criminals ever to gain power here.)
An example of what's happening in Latin America AMONG these leftist governments, is the bridge that Lula da Silva (former steelworkers, president of Brazil) and Huge Chavez (brown-skinned advocate of Bolivarianism--regional unity) just opened over the Orinoco River between Brazil and Venezuela; also, Venezuela's easy term buyout of Argentina's onerous World Bank/IMF debt; the consequent dramatic improvement in Argentina's economy, making talks possible between Brazil and Argentina on creating a regional currency (like the euro). Argentina would never have been in that position without Venezuela's help. Venezuela has the bucks. They're willing to share their wealth, for the sake of regional solidarity and helping the poor (--which of course were taking the worst economic hit from World Bank loans in Argentina--the loans, incurred by previous rightwing governments, which stole much of the money--were unraveling Argentinian society).
Another example: Venezuela providing cheap oil to Cuba, in exchange for Cuban doctors to staff the new medical centers in poor areas of Venezuela. When the local communities prioritized medical care as one of the helps they needed, the Chavez government was willing to build and supply medical centers in these under-served areas, but could not staff them, because Venezuela's rich oil elite had neglected education in Venezuela (used Venezuela's oil wealth to pad their own pockets, neglecting essential needs). Venezuela wasn't training enough doctors. Cuba provided the doctors, and medical educations for Venezuelan students, in exchange for much needed cheap oil. Chavez's government has meanwhile bolstered eduction on the other end--with schools, adult literacy classes and free university schooling.
How all this is portrayed in our Corporate-controlled press is this: "Hugo Chavez, the gun-toting, cigar chomping, and, according to his critics, increasingly authoritarian LEFTIST president of Venezuela...no, wait, gun-toting, cigar chomping is Castro...the LEFTIST president of Venezuela, who, according to his critics, is becoming increasingly authoritarian, and will soon be toting guns and chomping cigars with his major ally and good friend, Cuba's communist dictator, Fidel Castro...".
Or some such. You get the picture. No mention of Chavez's Argentinian or Brazilian allies (or many others). No mention of schools and medical centers for Venezuela's vast poor population. No mention that Venezuelan elections are the most heavily monitored elections in history, and that all independent monitoring parties--the OAS, the Carter Center, EU election monitoring groups--have all, unanimously, declared Venezuelan elections to be honest and aboveboard. And no evidence whatsoever, and no quoted source, on Chavez becoming "increasingly authoritarian." (It is a baldfaced lie, as a matter of fact.)
The bridge that has been built between Brazil and Venezuela is symbolic of a lot of OTHER bridges that are being built in Latin America, with regional strength against U.S. interference and domination as the motivator. Why should Latin Americans shun Cuba--a stable government--the least oppressive government that communism has produced--with a revered leader, that has been of great benefit to the poor, and, furthermore that SHARES Latin American culture? One benefit of Cuban communism is that Cuban doctors are not into the money culture, the way most of ours are; they receive free educations, and work for normal salaries, and thus are available for humanitarian work, when it is needed. Venezuelans don't want communism Their strictly enforced Constitution protects private property--and they are creating a mixed socialist/capitalist economy, with a strong element of social justice, but that does not mean that they can't see the positive side of Cuban policies, and work cooperatively with Cuba. Why NOT?
This sea change in Latin America feels like a deep tidal wave--unstoppable, inevitable--although it has been created out of a lot of hard work (on transparent elections, for instance) toward empowering the majority and establishing democracy. This "wave" has not only hit Mexico, it is worldwide--in South Korea, for instance--and is a revolt of the poor everywhere against U.S.-based and other global corporate predators. Our Corporate Rulers have reason to fear it--because it is PEACEFUL, and it's based on love of one's own land (huge worldwide movement of small farmers), and one's own country (the peoples' sovereignty vs. OUTSIDE global corporate profiteers, who have no loyalty to anyone). The people of Oaxaca ARE the government. That is the point. And if the faux government of Corporate colluders like Fox and Calderon is too corrupt to side with the sovereignty of the people, they WILL be overthrown, peacefully, by the numbers. And it will happen in the United States as well--although, as the vortex of the Dark Lords, our country will be among the last to fall to democracy, sad to say.
Another good source of info.: www.venezuelanalysis.com.
|
Printer-friendly format
Email this thread to a friend
Bookmark this thread
(1000+ posts)
Send PM |
Profile |
Ignore
