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Kodak Moment at Peace Rally in Caracas

Who wasnt smiling, when we were at the Peace Rally on Friday?

reflections post delegation

Stay tuned for new blog postings as our delegates recall and reflect on their experiences.

HONDURAS DELEGATION DAY FOUR

HONDURAS DELEGATION DAY FOUR 10/10/2009

http://hondurasdelegation.wordpress.com/

We’re back at the hotel after a very long day of meetings.

We met today with students and youth and the international committee of the National Resistance Front.

We also had the opportunity to connect with a delegation that is here from Los Angeles, and discussed coordinating future efforts.

While some of us were busy sending out the emergency email this morning, others were able to get into the U.S. embassy and meet with a representative to present our evidence and demands.

The police and military have resumed their repressive tactics against protesters.

People returning to the bottler’s union today from the demonstrations showed us the injuries they had sustained at the hands of these forces—one man with a large bruise across his upper arm, where he had been hit with a baton; another who suffered an allergic reaction from the gas, with a rash all over his back.

A member of our delegation was shown dozens of tear gas canisters and rubber bullets that one protester had collected just that day.

Meeting with the youth and students, we learned that there was a kidnapping attempt on a leader of one of the student organizations today.

The kidnapper attempted to drag the young woman into a car; with the help of a friend she was able to escape but fractured her hand in the process.

We have not heard any further reports about shooting at the Brazilian embassy, or of any injuries.

On an exciting note, members of our delegation were able to speak by phone to Xiomara Zelaya, spouse of President Manuel Zelaya who is also seeking refuge at the Brazilian embassy.

Things remain tense; however the movement remains strong, organized and dedicated.

In fact, as the repression intensifies, it even seems that the movement becomes more sophisticated and organized.

Students and workers are all talking about how to take the struggle forward.

Everybody talks about how class consciousness has been raised since the day Zelaya was kidnapped—a qualitative shift in the minds of the people.

Something big is happening in Honduras.

Joe Anybody’s Latin America Solidarity Blog Page

 

Joe Anybody Latin America Solidarity Blog

http://zebra3report.tripod.com/JoeAnybodyVenezuel/

I am going to be posting and uploading information related to Latin America and my solidarity with the social justice, human rights, independent media issues and peace movements in that region on a new blog page. I have been posting related information on this blog, but will be primarily posting to this “new” link in the near future … please stop by and stay current with solidarity concerns and issues.

I will occasionally post on this blog site

 as well as others from the pdxVenezuela delegation

But am excited to tell you that

all new related information to South America I find

I will now be posting it  here

Working for "peace and justice"  ~joe anybody 10/9/09

Latin America Film Festival – PDX

http://pdxlaff.org/

 

OCTOBER 14-19 2009

More information on these films here:
http://pdxlaff.org/forms/2009_PDXLAFF_Program.pdf
——————–      ——————–   ——————–   ——————–

Welcome to the Third Annual Portland Latin American Film Festival as it returns for its third year with a diverse mix of short films, full –length films and documentaries from Argentina Brazil, Colombia, Chile, Mexico including co-productions with the United States, United Kingdom, Netherlands and Spain.

This year’s festival will take place from October 14-19, 09 at the NW Film Center & the Regal Cinema’s Broadway Metro 4.

We are excited to be kicking off the festival on Wednesday, October 14th at 6:30 pm with a screening of the Argentinean film, A Boyfriend for my Wife , a comedy that was the biggest hit of 2008 in Argentina. The film is co-sponsored by the Northwest Film Center, and will be screened at the Whitsell Auditorium – Portland Art Museum 1219 SW Park Avenue. After the show, there will be a reception with Latin music at West Café, located at 1201 SW Jefferson St. We hope you can join us!

The Festival continues on Thursday, October 15th. through to Monday October 19th with all films screened exclusively at the Regal Broadway Metroplex 4 (1000 SW Broadway in Portland), on the largest screen in downtown Portland.

The festival offers screenings of high-profile films that have been presented in some of the most prestigious international film festivals around the world including: Toronto, Edinburgh, Venice, Havana, Berlin, Viña del Mar (Chile), Tribeca (USA), Rio de Janeiro, Guadalajara (Mexico). Many have won awards on the festival circuit on the international festival circuits.

We are delight to announce that this year, for the very first time, we have a selection of documentaries and concerts featuring some of the most representative rhythms and groups from Argentina, Brazil and Mexico. Music is another way of celebrating the diversity and richness of Latin America. For those looking for a raw concert experience, we are showing the legendary Argentinean rock band Soda Stereo You will see me Return (Me Verás Volver) Latin American Tour.

 

 

Pictures of Chavez in NY City for UN Meeting

Chávez’s trip to the UN in NYC pictures on link below.
http://tinyurl.com/yapdyuw

Gadhafi / Chavez – anti-terrorism declaration

Gadhafi and Chavez sign anti-terrorism declaration

Published on 09-30-2009

Source: AP 

(copied from)   http://blacklistednews.com/?news_id=5772

PORLAMAR, Venezuela

— Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez and Libyan leader Moammar Gadhafi signed a declaration Monday night decrying what they call attempts by powerful Western countries to equate struggles against colonialism with terrorism.

In the declaration, Venezuela and Libya “reject intentions to link the legitimate struggle of the people for liberty and self-determination” with terrorism, but also adds that they “reiterate the importance of countering terrorism in all its forms.”

Neither of the two leaders commented publicly on the document. It does not specifically name any Western country, but Gadhafi mentioned both the United States and Britain during a speech after the signing.

During many of his 40 years in power, Gadhafi was accused of harboring terrorists and hosting militant training camps while sponsoring terrorist attacks. But the Libyan leader has taken steps in recent years to mend relations with the West, and says his government renounces terrorism and rejects being labeled as a sponsor of terrorist acts.

Chavez, meanwhile, has been accused by Colombia and the United States of supporting the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia, or FARC, which has been seeking to overthrow governments in Bogota for 45 years.

The Venezuelan leader denies aiding the FARC. He claims the United States is using Colombia as part of a broader plan to portray him as a supporter of terrorist groups to provide justification for a U.S. military invasion of Venezuela.

Cheered on by hundreds of supporters at a rally held for the signing, Chavez praised Gadhafi, comparing him to Venezuela’s most revered founding father — 19th century independence hero Simon Bolivar. He presented his guest with a gold-plated replica of a sword that once belonged to Bolivar.

“I’m not exaggerating at all. What Simon Bolivar is for the Venezuelan people, Moammar Gadhafi is for the Libyan people. He’s the Liberator of Libya,” Chavez said, prompting applause from the crowd gathered in Porlamar, a Caribbean resort city.

“This is a great honor that I have received,” Gadhafi said through an interpreter.

Chavez and Gadhafi are strengthening their relationship and finding common ground in their efforts to challenge what they contend is the “imperialism” of wealthy nations and to take on the role of spokesmen for poor nations. Before the rally in Porlamar, they led a weekend summit where South American and African leaders pledged to deepen links between their continents.

Gadhafi, who is making his first visit to Latin America, said at the summit that the two regions should unite to wield more influence and form a defense alliance, a “NATO for the South” — calling it “SATO.”

“Those who were betting on NATO, we now say to them that we’re going to bet on SATO,” Gadhafi said during the summit. “We’re going to have our treaty, too.”

Chavez, a former army paratroop commander, says the United States poses the greatest potential threat to Venezuela and has raised the idea of a South Atlantic defense bloc with other allies in the past.

“South-South” cooperation was a buzzword at the summit, which brought together the African Union and the South American bloc Unasur.

Gadhafi, who has ruled Libya since he seized power in a 1969 coup, has sought a higher profile internationally in recent years and is currently chairman of the African Union.

During his speech at the rally Monday night, he criticized the “imperialism” of some wealthy countries, singling out the United States and Britain, and he repeated his denunciation of last week calling the U.N. Security Council an elite club where nations such as Libya have no voice.

“They do not give any importance to the (U.N.) General Assembly,” Gadhafi said. They think they are above all the nations of the world.”

Gadhafi also condemned the war in Afghanistan, predicting a defeat for NATO forces.

“Now they are waging wars in Afghanistan. We are totally against terrorism, without any doubt,” he said. “Are they going to conquer in Afghanistan? It’s impossible. Until they the Day of Reckoning, they will never conquer.”

Earthquake in Caracas – we were there

Map locates area where a 6.4-magnitude earthquake shook off Venezuela coast near Caracas

There was an earthquake while we all were in Caracas. No one was hurt …we were concerned and bewildered. We didnt panic. We continued our interview that was going on with a local TV station. We were outside, yet one floor below ground, when the earth started shaking.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/09/12/venezuela-earthquake-ratt_n_284733.html

Venezuela — An earthquake shook Venezuela’s capital and nearby states Saturday, injuring 14 people and causing damage to a few buildings.

The U.S. Geological Survey reported a preliminary magnitude of 6.4 for the quake, saying the epicenter was off Venezuela’s Caribbean coast 65 miles (110 kilometers) west of Caracas. The head of Venezuela’s seismological agency, Francisco Garces, put the quake at magnitude 6.2, followed by an aftershock registering 4.0.

Two young people, ages 9 and 26, suffered serious leg injuries, and 12 other people had minor injuries, Justice Minister Tareck El Aissami said.

El Aissami said western Falcon state reported the most structural problems, with seven houses and two other buildings damaged. Two houses were reported damaged in neighboring Lara state, where the wall of a medical clinic also collapsed, state civil protection director Hector Vargas told the state-run Bolivarian News Agency.

Buildings swayed as the quake rocked Caracas about 3:40 p.m. local time (4:10 p.m. EDT, 20:10GMT). Only a few people evacuated buildings to stand outside as a rainstorm slowed traffic. No injured were reported in the capital, El Aissami said.

The head of Venezuela’s national civil protection agency, Luis Diaz, said authorities would evaluate two Caracas malls, including one where glass had shattered, to ensure their safety.

Cities in nearby Carabobo and Aragua states were also jolted, but did not experience major problems. In Aragua, there were reports of damage to some houses, and some people were injured on an escalator at a mall during a panicky evacuation, a state security official, Col. Cesar Oliveros, told Venezuela’s official news agency.

Infrastructure Minister Diosdado Cabello said there were no reports of major infrastructure damage. No problems were reported at oil refineries or other installations in Venezuela’s key oil industry.

Read more at: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/09/12/venezuela-earthquake-ratt_n_284733.html

 

Solidarity = Love 

joe-anybody

Dont Watch TV video

Dont Watch TV Video

CATIA community TV station