Caracas
anti-globalization forum kicks off with march
By Patrick Moser
AFP
CARACAS
Petroleumworld.com 01 25 06
Thousands of activists took to the streets of Caracas Tuesday
denouncing the war in Iraq and US President George W. Bush as
they kicked off an anti-globalization gathering financed by Venezuela's
leftist President Hugo Chavez.
Protesters came from across the Americas, including a Cuban delegation
and a couple hundred Americans. A New York trade unionist led
the crowds in chanting "Bush is a fascist, Bush is a terrorist."
Among the speakers expected at the demonstration launching the
six-day World Social Forum (WSF) was Cindy Sheehan, who has led
a series of protests in the United States against the Iraq war
since her son, a US soldier, died there.
The demonstration will give "an anti-war, anti-imperialist
tone" to the Caracas forum, said Edgardo Lander, one of the
organizers.
Ironically, the march was to culminate at the southern Caracas
avenue usually used for military parades.
The forum will feature over 1,800 panels on issues as diverse
as the struggle against imperialism, alternatives to the predatory
model of civilization, foreign debt, world trade, and inter-religious
dialogue.
Hundreds of delegations are taking part in the gathering, including
trade unionists, environmentalists, indigenous groups, leftist
parliamentarians, anarchists, gay activists and marijuana legalization
advocates. Organizers initially said more than 100,000 people
would take part.
The Caracas forum follows a similar event that concluded in Mali
on Monday. The Asian chapter of the WSF is scheduled to be held
in Pakistan in March.
The annual event is designed as a counterpoint to the World Economic
Forum of political and business leaders that gets underway in
the Swiss ski resort of Davos on Wednesday.
But some participants have complained that the Caracas event,
financed by Venezuela, has become too institutionalized, and have
called for an alternative forum.
There have been grumblings that the forum is being used as a showcase
for Chavez's leftist revolution, a view shared by many members
of Venezuela's opposition.
Chavez, a gifted if at times unstoppable orator, will address
the forum at least twice before it concludes on Sunday.
Vice President Jose Vicente Rangel said Venezuelans should take
pride in hosting the WSF because it demonstrates that Venezuela
is playing a crucial role on the world stage."
Chavez has increased his clout in Latin America, as recent elections
in the region have marked a significant shift to the left.
While the United States needs Venezuela's oil, of which it imports
1.5 million barrels a day, and Venezuela needs the US market,
the two countries are locked in a rhetorical war or words.
The firebrand and unorthodox Chavez seldom loses an opportunity
to lambast US President George W. Bush, whom he has called a threat
to humanity and a murderous psychopath.
That too has won him sympathy in the region, "Chavez has
captured the imagination of a lot of people in Latin America,
in that he can stick his tongue out to the superpower, and nothing
happens to him, says Peter Schechter, a political consultant specializing
in Latin America.
Chavez is more than likely to repeat his attacks on the US administration,
and imperialism in general, when he addresses the social forum,
which brings together many like-minded activists.
Discussions will also focus on the surge of the left in the region,
where Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Chile and Uruguay are led by
leftist leaders, and where Chavez appears to be increasingly popular.
AFP
01/24/06
Copyright
© 2006 AFP. All rights reserved
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