reports from Caracas Forum
- Venezuelan Politics Touch Sixth World Social Forum Youth Camp
- World Social Forum meets in a country of resistance * Venezuelan workers show how to organise against neo-liberalism
- Caracas World Social Forum Mirrors the Times
Venezuelan Politics Touch Sixth World Social Forum Youth Camp
By: Simone Baribeau | Monday, Jan 30, 2006 | www.venezuelanalysis.com
The International Youth Camp in Parque Los Caobos, Caracas.
Credit: ECHO/Aporrea.org
Caracas, Venezuela, January 29, 2006 – Parque Los Caobos, located in Bellas Artes, the arts center of Caracas, was transformed this week by the thousands of campers who came to the Caracas gathering of the sixth World Social Forum. Gone was the tranquil atmosphere where families, joggers, and dog walkers enjoyed an afternoon among trees, sculpted white fountains, and winding paths. Campers replaced the serenity with a vibrant energy as people from across the Americas and farther set up camp, put up banners and flags, participated in cultural activities, and talked about how to change the world.
But while a Caracas park was briefly changed from a Venezuelan sanctuary into a global village, the organization and experience of the youth camp was bound up in the political realities of the country. Or, at least, the political situation was used as an excuse to justify problems within the camp.
Among the issues that concerned campers was their virtual exclusion from camp decision-making. One of those to make this complaint was French Canadian activist Pierre Marin, who had come to Venezuela before the forum to help organize. He said camp decisions were hierarchal and failed to consult campers, citing as examples the fumigation of the Parque Vincio Adams campsite and the formation of the camp newspaper, El Querrequerre, which was organized and largely written by people who weren't staying in the camp.
The Director General of the camp, Eduardo Che Mercado, agreed with this assessment, saying that Venezuela was a civil military society. "[Those who make this criticism are] totally right. We've realized, and have been learning with the people in both camps that our way of being and our way of living in – Venezuela is really vertical," he said. "The forum has reflected that [working in a horizontal manner] has been very difficult for us, but it also has reflected that we have the will and the possibility to work towards it."
He could not cite an example where the camp had shown its will to work more consultatively, but said that because it of Venezuelan politics, now was not the time to make changes. "If I'm honest, within the forum organization, there's no horizontality. It doesn't exist. And this is a historical moment in the country, where there should not be horizontality," he said, pointing out that it was an election year and that he thought that Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez needed to be reelected.
"As soon as we've achieved this, we can begin to work in the evolution of this new revolutionary political process, which obviously should be horizontal and that I personally call popular power," he said. Many had hoped that December's parliamentary elections, which, after a partial opposition boycott, gave the governing coalition 100 percent of the seats in the National Assembly, would be the turning point where Chávez supporters were given the political space to act less defensively.
Echoing Che Mercado's concerns of guarding against the Venezuelan government detractors, the editorial in issue number four of El Querrequerre – which reflects the opinion of the paper's editorial staff rather than that of the campers – seems to warn campers against the giving ammunition to the press. The major Venezuelan media, as well as United States op-ed pages, have been staunchly opposed to the Chávez government. "The dynamics of living together results in a dose of understanding that is necessary for our society, especially for the caraqueña (Caracas) community. Subject to the tensions of political changes, we live here under the crossfire of the media, which do not delay in highlighting the blunders, turning them into weapons against the dreams of an undeniable majority," it reads.
Another bone of contention at the camps, which was blamed by some on politics, was the price of food. Planning to house many more people than came, forum staff set up two camps, one in Parque Vinicio Adames, which lies, when there's no traffic, about half an hour outside of the center of town, and one in Parque Los Caobos. When less people than expected came, food cooperatives at Parque Vinicio Adames raised the price of food above the rates that had been promised to campers before they came.
Organizers did not cite economies of scale as an explanation. "In this country you always need to be careful with the opposition, all of the government work that is done, or any event, they've always got their hand in it. In this case, the people in the cooperatives, the majority of them are these sorts of people [from the opposition] – So, the first day, there was only one cooperative selling food at the [initially agreed upon] solidarity price," said Massiel Terrasi, a volunteer organizer in the youth camp food office. Terrasi was a government supporter who said she was volunteering in order to aid the process of social change going on in the country.
Then too, people criticized bureaucracy and traffic, typical complaints of virtually everyone living in Caracas. "Yesterday, it got really crazy with Hugo Chávez speaking at the Paliedro. [None of the camp transportation] would go straight to [the] Vinecio [camp]. Even if all of us wanted to go to [there], they would stop at the Poliedro [which was] half an hour out of the way and then go to Vinecio, and there was tons of traffic anyway," said Kesha Ram, a member of Students for Peace and Global Justice at the University of Vermont (UV).
But characteristic Venezuelan hospitality also pervaded the camp. The camp volunteers, many of whom were government workers sent by their agencies, helped sick campers, artists setting up to perform, and lost foreigners, in every way imaginable. And they seemed genuinely pleased to welcome the hoard of visitors to their city.
"This is a world wide event that's taking place in our city. It's a privilege to have it here. How could we miss out on the opportunity to work on it?" said Oswaldo Zárraga, a volunteer in the transportation department.
Carol Dorta, one of the four coordinators of the department echoed his sentiments. "We're all students at different universities – so when we heard to forum was coming we immediately started asking how to get involved," she said.
"The forum is cool – The people who have come, really understand that for the revolution, it's necessary to put forth an effort to continue working for it? I've never seen anything like this, people have come in tents, all their clothes have gotten wet, but in spite of that they're supporting the forum, and all of the topics they're talking about. It's magnificent," said Karina Ramos who works for the mayor's office and had been sent to help with the security of the event. She said hadn't yet been able to go to an event because she'd been working.
Even those who opposed the current Venezuelan administration – a marked minority among the overwhelmingly Chavista volunteers and campers – seemed to appreciate the campers. Isabel De Sosa, a doctor vocally opposed to the government, was working at the camp medical clinic. Though she knew little about the content of the forum, she, too, said she enjoyed the international atmosphere the forum had brought to the city. "We've heard people speaking all sorts of different languages on the metro. You listen and hear a Brazilian talking, and then someone who speaks English, or Japanese. It's unusual in your own country to hear this spectrum of languages at the same time – People are making friends with people from all over the world. It's really excellent," she said.
And the atmosphere created by the work and enthusiasm of the volunteers did not go unappreciated. Paola Monges, a camper from Paraguay, raved about the security and vegetarian food.
At last years World Social Forum, in Puerto Alegre, she said, "There were problems with robberies and rape, but here the security is super good." She was surprised to see so much military around, but, she said, "They really are here to protect us." And, she said, unlike it other camps, vegetarian food was easily accessible, and good.
A group of Venezuelans decided to stay in the camp even though they lived in the city.
"At night, people get together here, and have fun together. We were in the pacifist tent, and [in another there was] samba, salsa, we played drums, and danced," said Alex Reyes, a student at the University Central de Venezuela, and a member of a Capoeira group that had been performing. "We're here to have another opportunity to get to know people? The best way to [do that] is to live with them and spend time with them," said Jean Carlos Rosa, another member of the group.
Ram, the student from Vermont, said it was creating a space for meeting people that scarcely existed anywhere else. "If you're from the United States, [and] you're affluent enough, you can travel to other countries, but the problem is that you often go and have this dichotomous relationship [with the people]. You're either a tourist and these people are natives or you're giving charitable service work and they're receiving the service work, so it's charity. Whereas with this you meet people and you all have common interests and you're all on the same field, in many senses of the word," she said.
World Social Forum meets in a country of resistance
Socialist Worker 1986, 4 February 2006 | www.socialistworker.co.uk
Chris Bambery, editor of Socialist Worker, in Caracas
There was one word that could be heard being repeated throughout last week's World Social Forum (WSF) – revolution.
This year's WSF was held in the Venezuelan capital, Caracas. The choice of venue meant that participants didn't simply discuss why we need a better world, we talked about how we can get it in the here and now.
There were, as at previous WSF meetings, debates over the crucial issues, but the presence of huge numbers from Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador and above all Venezuela itself brought a new edge to those debates.
Across Latin American the movement against imperialism and neo-liberalism is advancing.
Tens of thousands of Venezuelans came, turning the WSF into a fiesta. Discussion spilled out onto the streets, involving the poorest sections of the population.
Much of this is due to the country's president, Hugo Chavez. It is hard to think of any other head of state telling his audience at a packed venue:
"There is not going to be another century beyond the 21st if we don't change the direction of this one.
"The phrase used by Karl Marx – socialism or death – is more relevant than ever. But now it's the death of the human species. Capitalism is killing the planet, the environment, the life of the seas, of the woods, drying rivers and lakes.
"This destructive model of capitalism is destroying the life of the planet. It's now or never, as Fidel Castro said, 'Tomorrow could be too late'."
Chavez warned that the annual WSF meeting was in danger of becoming "a discussion forum with debate but no conclusions". He called for the construction of a mass anti-imperialist front.
Chavez's talk of socialism for the 21st century meant that that debate echoed through the WSF. There was, however, a contradiction. Chavez went out of his way to praise the Brazilian president, Lula, saying he stood "shoulder to shoulder" with him.
Lula, leader of the Brazilian Workers' Party, drew strong criticism from Brazilian delegates for implementing neo-liberal policies and committing troops to the US-led occupation of Haiti.
As well as talking of the need to build anti-imperialist unity, Chavez is also pushing for an alliance between Venezuela, the new radical Bolivian president Evo Morales, and centre – left governments in Argentina, Brazil, Uruguay and Chile. That jarred with the mood of most of those at the WSF.
Popular power
At one meeting on resisting imperialism in Latin America, speakers from the region spoke in support of Venezuela's revolution.
But a former guerilla fighter, now active in the barrios (shanty towns) of Caracas, argued that Chavez faces two enemies – US imperialism and the old, corrupt state bureaucracy.
The movement, he added, had to be ready to challenge both. That involved building all forms of struggle – effective trade unions, popular power and people's militias.
On the morning of Thursday of last week, it was standing room only for a discussion on building popular power, held in the unlikely surrounds of the Hilton Hotel.
People discussed the popular assemblies created during last June's rebellion in Bolivia.
There was debate about whether we should fight for socialist revolution or popular revolution.
Several speakers talked of the need to build assemblies in workplaces and communities. These should draw together indigenous people (descended from the original inhabitants of Latin America), landless labourers and the people of the barrios, alongside organised workers.
The biggest applause greeted Brice Bragato, of the radical left P-Sol party in Brazil, when she slated Lula for appeasing the bankers, Bush and big business.
She called for the left to build radical left parties like P-Sol, embracing all those who reject the neo-liberal consensus of the centre left.
Elsewhere a representative from the landless MST movement from Brazil argued that because of Lula's record, the working class and social movements in Latin America's biggest and most important country was in crisis.
He joined the calls for a new political party, saying, "It's not enough to get on a bus and travel – you need someone to direct it and to say when to get off."
The forum started with 100,000 people marching on Tuesday of last week. There was an even better spirit on a 3,000-strong protest of people calling for the unification of the struggles in Venezuela.
Landless labourers waved machetes on the march. Some had been arrested, beaten and charged by the National Guard after taking over unused land owned by a major landowner. They were demanding Chavez revoke a state of emergency imposed by the right wing local authorities in the Yaracuy region to stop such occupations.
Young people from the barrios spray-painted banks and McDonald's, while a feminist collective from the Bolivarian University chanted "women and men, together we must build popular power" and "no socialist revolution without women's revolution".
They all shared the popular enthusiasm for Chavez and the changes he has brought about.
The WSF committed itself to support a number of initiatives, but above all the global day of action on 18 March against war and occupation.
Government ministers publicly admit that Venezuela owes a debt of gratitude to the Iraqi resistance, which prevents George Bush intervening directly against Chavez.
We need to continue the debate with our sisters and brothers in Latin America. But on 18 March we need to march together and deepen links between our common fights against neo-liberalism and war.
Venezuelan workers show how to organise against neo-liberalism Socialist Worker 1986, 4 February 2006 (www.socialistworker.co.uk)
http://www.socialistworker.co.uk/article.php?article_id=8202
British delegates at the WSF met with Venezuelan workers
Sarah Allen from the Unison public sector union and Jane Hardy from the Natfhe lecturers' union were among the British trade unionists attending the WSF. They met with teachers and some of those taking advantage of Venezuela's ambitious education and literacy programmes
'At the WSF we were invited to a meeting of teachers. We met some of the leaders of the UNT, the new radical Venezuelan trade union. They gave us a warm welcome.
One of them had previously been on a tour of British trade unions to try to get support for the Venezuelan revolution.
We also met a group of rank and file teachers who had been sent to the WSF from all over the country.
One of Chavez's main priorities has been to increase access to education.
The school day has been lengthened and children are given two meals a day. This is a major measure for combating poverty as well as ensuring that children get the best out of their education.
Teachers' pay has also been increased substantially.
The approach to education is to get more young people into university, as well as providing education for those who missed out in the past.
This is captured in the slogan, "Every grandmother should read." Old women in the barrios are extremely excited by the possibility of being literate.
The teachers said that these changes were part of the revolution. They saw their role as trying to bring in a new set of values.
They emphasised the idea of community in contrast to the individualism of neo-liberalism.
It is important to emphasise that changing ideas is a huge challenge when elements of the old state and the old elites still exist.
The newspapers and most television channels, are anti-Chavez and still dominated by big business.'
Simon Hall was sent to the WSF as a delegate by Unison's northern region. He met with Venezuelan workers
'I've seen that it's possible for workers to organise and run industries, and for the promoters of profit to be pushed back.
At Invepal, a paper factory west of Caracas, workers were told by the owners that they had to join the bosses' lockout called to overthrow Chavez three years ago.
After it failed, management closed the plant saying it was unprofitable. Workers occupied and went out to build widespread community support.
They won – the factory is back in production, half owned by the state, half by the workers. Profits are used to provide welfare for local people.
I'm returning to Britain ready to organise to strike over pensions, arguing that we need to carry that spirit into our unions and build that kind of unity.'
Caracas World Social Forum Mirrors the Times
http://www.ain.cubaweb.cu/idioma/ingles/2006/ene30forum-caracas.htm
The World Social Forum, which concluded this past weekend in Caracas, Venezuela, was not a simple meeting of enthusiasts searching for multilateral exchange and understanding. It also reflected the conditions and circumstances under which today's world is living, as well as the direction the international people's movement has taken in the face of overwhelming imperialist supremacy.
Nonetheless, some corporate media outlets attempted to stigmatize the forum by promoting the idea that Venezuela and Cuba have garnered political and ideological monopoly over the world gathering, turning plurality into a myth.
In that regards, such media should talk about a universal convergence in which Caracas and Havana have become major reference parties based on their examples and revolutionary experiences.
Such media outlets should also ask what encouraged those 100,000 people from all parts of the world to travel thousands of miles and come together for several days to share opinions and visions on this important moment for the world. This was a moment in which they committed themselves to unity as a key factor for urgent and necessary transformations. Could the mainstream media consider that such a huge attendance as the result of only a call by one or two Third World nations, or is it the consequence of much more powerful reasons?
Such "objective observers" might well speak about the situation imposedon many nations by the current US-led imperial order. Doing so, they would find a fully coherent explanation to their questions.
Attending the forum were indigenous movements, because they were always discriminated against and subjected to impoverishment by capitalism throughout the centuries. In addition, mothers from the United States were there because their sons are being sent to die in foreign countries in defense of the interest of energy transnationals.
Likewise, students, workers and women were also there because they are being deprived of their rights and see their future being stolen. And of course, Cuba and Venezuela were present as well, because they wish to offer their solidarity, friendship and international cooperation which reveal a possible and promising alternative position.
Therefore, the main ideologically driven actor is that system which offers no solutions and imposes its violent and excluding vision. The cause of such a situation -which some "analysts" look for overseas- is right in their own home. The worse thing is that they dare to deny it or try to hide it.