Venezuela's President Chavez wins hearts and minds in London

[Judi Lynn]

Venezuela's President Chavez wins hearts and minds in London

Enthusiasm for Hugo Chavez was not simply limited to the politically committed -- captains of industry were there to cheer on the Latin American leader too
By Hugh O'Shaughnessy
THE OBSERVER , LONDON
Monday, May 22, 2006,Page 9

Few visitors who come to London without being able to speak English can have had such an effect on such a great variety of people as President Hugo Chavez of Venezuela has just had here.
In the course of the hectic 48 hours that his presidential Airbus was on the ground, the leader of one of the world's biggest oil producers threw himself into one public meeting after the other and fitted in interviews for newspapers, radio and television and consultations with political leaders and captains of industry.

The effect he had on his hearers was remarkable, despite the fact that most had to understand him through the simultaneous translation they received through the little hand-held wirelesses they were provided with at the different venues.
(snip)

His political message and his willingness to hold gatherings and meet the public at Camden endeared him to many young British people and many of the numerous ill-paid Latin American migrants in London.

It contrasted markedly with the somewhat lifeless political discourse in Britain and unwillingness of British political leaders to mingle with the electorate for fear of awkward questions or "for security considerations."
(snip/...)

http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/editorials/archives/2006/05/22/2003309508

[Peace Patriot]

1. Judi, take the word "advertising" out of the first sentence (at the

beginning). It's a cut and paste error.

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This article is mainly about the big welcome Chavez received from the British BUSINESS COMMUNITY. Surprise, surprise, Chavez is NOT a scary, gun-toting, leftist guerrilla out to smash your new jaguar and kidnap your blond daughter--he's a REASONABLE MAN, very well spoken, who wears a nicely tailored business suit and talks about pipelines and the petrochemical industry...

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"Chavez acknowledged the help he has received from Castro who has sent some 20,000 doctors and other medical staff to bring free health services throughout the country where none had existed before. Civil liberties and an aggressively free press have been maintained in Venezuela in contrast to the situation in the many dictatorships which over the years the US has supported in a region which was once known as 'Washington's back yard.'

(snip)

"For British industrialists and bankers gathered in the gilded splendor of the Banqueting Hall in Whitehall, Chavez had further endearments. While he urged them not to be afraid of what he calls '20th century socialism' he went on to appeal to Britain, which had done so much to help Latin America to free itself of Spanish domination two centuries ago, to return with investment and know-how.

"Reminding them that Venezuela's cash reserves came to more than US$30 billion and its oil reserves were the world's largest, he invited them into such projects as four new underground railway systems, a natural gas pipeline to link Venezuela with Argentina -- crossing the Amazon River and Brazil on the way -- and vast new petrochemical schemes.

"Not for nothing did the businessmen and bankers stand up and cheer when the stocky man in the well-cut suit and the red tie finished his speech. He wants to come back this way.

"'I want to go to Ireland very soon,' he told me."

[Judi Lynn]

2. Thank you for that one, Peace Patriot. It got by me!

:hi: :hi: :hi:

[Name removed]

3. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[tatertop]

4. If you want good news, follow Chavez