Wednesday 01 February 2006
Hugo Chavez Action Figures. The street vendors of Venezuela, who make up an entirely second economy, were selling them on every corner. We cut ourselves a deal, $11 (25,000 Bolivars) for our very own Hugo Chavez doll that speaks for five minutes about the ideas of the Bolivarian Revolution with loud music and cheering people in the background. This is long for an action figure, but fitting for Chavez, whose speeches can last anywhere from two to three hours. We just hope he doesn't make too much noise in customs entering the US.
We saw Hugo Chavez speak at the World Social forum. Chavez referred to Bush as "Mr. Danger" in his speech. Economic power and the values of the Bolivarian Revolution give Chavez the confidence to stand up to corporations and to George W. Bush.
The Whirled Social Forum By Chris Hume t r u t h o u t | Report
Sunday 29 January 2006
The "Whirled Social Forum" finally came to an end today. It was powerful, passionate, and wildly disorganized. So much altruism in one place ... all it needed was a good dose of Ritalin, and injustice would be wiped out forever...
But in spite of the beautiful chaos, the message to the world was strong and clear. People returned to their home countries more inspired than ever to steer the human race away from its course with disaster.
Guarataro By Sari Gelzer t r u t h o u t | Report
Sunday 29 January 2006
Guarataro was our destination this morning. A rancho just outside the center of Caracas, Guarataro is considered one of the most dangerous in the entire city. Due to our experience with nine-year-old boys and our need to drive through red lights at night to avoid car-jacking, I wasnt sure what this would mean. I really got startled when the taxis to get there were hard to find.
We arrived in Guarataro in a narrow street at the steps of La Casa de Alimentacion. La Casa de Alimentacion is a national organization located in every community that provides free food for the poor and homeless. We wanted to see one of the newly implemented programs created as part of the Bolivarian Process.
World Social Forum: A Loud, Multicolored 'No' to Imperialism and War By Humberto Marquez Inter Press Services
Thursday 26 January 2006
Caracas - Although the sixth World Social Forum grants equal importance to all of the myriad workshops, seminars and other activities taking place this week in the Venezuelan capital and to all of the participating civil society groups and figures, that has not kept some personalities from standing out, like US peace activist Cindy Sheehan, whose soldier son Casey was killed in Iraq.
"We need to bring our troops home immediately," Sheehan told the thousands of protesters taking part in the march that kicked off the six-day Forum on Tuesday. "We need to hold someone responsible for all the death and destruction in the world. We need to see George Bush and the rest of them tried for crimes against humanity."
Global Movement By Sari Gelzer t r u t h o u t | Report
Thursday 26 January 2006
The power of the World Social Forum hit me today! Hundreds of thousands of people from all over the world are here speaking of ways to preserve our human rights and our earth.
On Tuesday, January 24, the participants of the World Social Forum met on Paseo Los Ilustres and marched two miles. It was exhilarating to see groups of Bolivians, Brazilians, Spaniards, Venezuelans, Uruguayans, Chileans, Americans, Colombians and more, all supporting indigenous rights, women's rights, environmental protection and labor rights, to name a few.
A New World Is Possible By Cindy Sheehan t r u t h o u t | Perspective
Thursday 26 January 2006
And necessary! This is the theme for the World Social Forum that I (along with tens of thousands of people from all over the world) am attending in Caracas this week. I know the idea of a world where everyone lives in peace and with justice is very "subversive," but the theme is very close to my heart and soul.
We need a new world. This one is broken.
Before my son Casey was killed in Iraq on April 4, 2004, I had never traveled much to speak of. I had gone to Israel and Mexico and that was about it. I had a barely used passport.
Chavez no Se Va By Sari Gelzer t r u t h o u t | Report
Wednesday 25 January 2006
"Ooh Ah Chavez no Se Va, Ooh Ah Chavez no Se Va"
These are the extremely catchy lyrics of a popular political song that was performed today at the pro-Chavez rally. The chant translates to, "Hey Ho, Chavez Won't Go!" This song is not just catchy, it is a powerful representation of the fight of the Venezuelans to form their own government without US intervention. Venezuelans have sung this song since Chavez became president in 1998 in the democratic election, which he won in a landslide. He called for a peaceful and democratic "Bolivarian Revolution" with his first step being the creation of a new constitution using the process of popular consensus. The US intervened and supported a coup that occurred April 11, 2002, when Chavez was kidnapped by opposition leaders. The masses said, "Ooh Ah Chavez no Se Va," and within 48 hours thousands of Venezuelans swarmed the streets of downtown Caracas and Chavez was returned to office. In 2004 the opposition to Chavez requested a referendum and again, Chavez won in a landslide that was certified by many international observers. Interestingly enough this was inspired by the California recall of Grey Davis, but the difference was Davis lost and Chavez won.
Chavez was officially elected in a democratic process and while the opposition is very small, the US support has the ability to inflate their power for the benefit of America's elite. This song currently represents the position of many Venezuelans against the extremely obvious US aggression towards Chavez and the Bolivarian Revolution. Chavez is leading a revolution that is anti-imperialist and the US sees this as a threat not to human rights, but to their bags of money. Venezuela is the world's fifth largest producer of oil and Chavez has transformed Venezuela's economy because of his utilization of oil for programs that support his citizens. With the military at a breaking point in Iraq, America does not have the resources to attack Venezuela, but there are other ways that America is currently supporting the opposition, such as through organizations and funding.
A Note from Cindy Sheehan
Dear Friends,
There were tens of thousands of people in the anti-war, anti-imperialsm march in Caracas yesterday. Fernando Suarez (another member of Gold Star Families for Peace) and I were among the people who led the march. It is incredibly exciting here. Tens of thousands of people working for peace with justice ... But you won't see this parade and the World Social Forum covered in America ... except TruthOut.org is here ... stay tuned. I will have a meeting with President Chavez later this week. Will ask him how we can work together to spread peace non-violently.
Love, Cindy
Close Call By Chris Hume t r u t h o u t | Report
Monday 23 January 2006
Our means of transportation around Caracas - a 1977 Chevy Malibu circa Starsky & Hutch. The car was so big the front seats swiveled like bar stools ... You'd think that would keep us safe in Venezuela's capital - but no. A nine-year-old boy ran up to the window and tried to grab my camera case right off my lap - while we were driving! Luckily my grip was stronger than his, and we still have a camera.
So we went off to the anti-Chavez march on Caracas's East Side. This is the "Laguna Beach" of Caracas - the bedroom community where people generally hate the left-wing socialist leader of the country. We encountered all types. A large contingency were riding souped up Harleys. The spectrum ranged from a women who was literally praying for the US invasion of Venezuela to an elderly gentleman who thought Venezuela should work things out on its own.
Benvenidos a Venezuela By Sari Gelzer t r u t h o u t | Report
Sunday 22 January 2006
Young Venezuelan volunteers in red shirts that said "A Better World Is Possible," with a picture of Bolivar on the bottom, greeted us at the airport as part of the World Social Forum. They led us to a room where vistors from all over the world (Spain, Nicaragua, Italy, England, US), were waiting for the bus to take them to Caracas. One young Venezuelan volunteer named Jose sat and spoke with us. He was very articulate about his pro-Chavez politics. He made it very clear that he does not dislike the people of the United States, but that he dislikes the US government. He opposes the war in Iraq and said that the main reason Chavez came to power was because people were fed up with the government's oil-based corruption.
On the way to Venezuela By Sari Gelzer t r u t h o u t | Report
Friday 20 January 2006
The Red Eye for Venezuela leaves tonight. I spent all day today preparing to leave. While I was receiving my shots, the doctor told me of the warnings listed on his up to date government information sheet. He that said on the 22nd there is warning of an anti-Chavez demonstration, followed by a pro-Chavez demonstration on the 23rd. Why are demonstrations in need of warning? Of what, I ask myself, a warning of democracy?
It was likely that there would be political demonstrations in Caracas due to the amount of people and press expected to be there surrounding the World Social Forum, which in itself is a non-governmental meeting. It is a meeting of peoples. Up to 100,000 visitors are expected to arrive for the 6th annual World Social Forum, which begins on January 24 and lasts till the 29th.
