U.S. Dollar Weakness Shows Gold and Silver are the only Real Currencies

Dollar weakness that has continued will continue. That is to make US goods cheaper and more saleable as exports, but the flip side is that imported goods are more expensive and that creates inflation. Such a policy is foolhardy versus foreign nations that have export advantages. Besides the US does not have the predominance of mass to compete on this level. If tariffs on goods and services were implemented that would be another story. That accompanied by a change in tax laws for transnational corporations, that would force them to return the $2 trillion they have offshore and pay normal taxation which would be very beneficial to solve tax, production and employment problems.

Remember, we have lost about 9 million jobs over the past 11 years, as well as 440,000 businesses due to free trade, globalization, offshoring and outsourcing. Tariffs would level the playing field and leave no advantage to cheapening one’s currency, because it would be accounted for in their tariff structure. Having lost our export markets we have a jobless recovery that can never improve, nor can our balance of payments deficit and our increasing debt cause not only falling revenues, but falling job creation. This is just another artifice to try to stave off the inevitable. Lowering the dollar is not the answer. Having a level playing field is the answer.

Price fixing is an exercise in futility and so is a course of mandatory wage increases pursued to play catch up with runaway inflation. Even though higher numbers show sales growth they are misleading and only a reflection of higher pressing inflation. This is not economic growth; it is price inflation. Such an exercise is geared to keep people and business solvent, but in the long term it accelerates inflation and leads to worse problems down the road. The economy is exhibiting deterioration at the edges and that is to be expected for an economy that has been so badly misused. What is left of manufacturing is in decline and until the system is purged such deterioration will continue. It is not only the US, but also the UK and Europe that have followed the Keynesian course and then display suppression when inflationism overrides their systems. These governments are shortsighted and do not posses the strength to cut expenses and raise taxes. They will come slowly when it is to late.

They do not seem to understand balance and sacrifice. Price regulation and wage controls are artificial answers and only expose economic decay and in time fail to work. This value distortion leads eventually to a barter type system, which is inefficient. Then again this would not be necessary if the currency system had not been abused as it had been. This is what happens to nations that wallow in debt in excess of 100% of GDP. The excuses are multifold but the results are always the same, and that is default. Those who created the system in which we are now enmeshed know exactly what they are doing. This game of controls and more money and credit only buys time to pick the right spot to pull the plug and begin another war. We can never understand how bankers can believe the system will collapse, but they remain immune. These same bankers have been in part responsible for current and future inflation and the proliferation of derivatives, which create a faux system within a system. Once these derivatives unravel they will create an explosion at the heart of the banking system. That will take out the top five banks in the US.

There has been no reform and there will not be any. Tariffs will come when it is too late, as will regulatory reform. The proliferation of fiscal debt will continue, as will the exorbitant creation of money and credit. They cannot stop. If they do the system will collapse. That will happen, but only when those driving and controlling the system allow it to do so. We have just witnessed the disinformation calculated to deceive the public into believing that there is a recovery afoot. Nothing could be further from the truth. What little upside that was seen was a lift via price inflation. When figures are released there is never an addendum explaining that if inflation were removed, what the statistics would really be. That is why we have a 5 to 10 year bull market in gold and silver ahead of us, whose presence is so powerful that no governments or central banks can regulate, suppress or overwhelm it.

We have learned from studying the history of currencies for the last 6,000 years, that gold and silver are the only real currencies. Recently we have seen a 40-year hiatus, but, of course, in the history that is the blink of an eye. Being mortal is disturbing because you can see history, but not the future. But we say you can approximate the future by learning about the past. His-story, the history of man. Bankers wed to the fractional banking system really despise gold as a backing for currencies, because it dos not allow them to create infinite amounts of money and credit. This leads in time to monetary debasement and the kind of conditions we are witnessing today. As we said previously, we have seen an almost entirely unnoticed titanic struggle between the US dollar and gold over the past 2-1/2 years, and gold has been the winner hands down. Now we are seeing the inflation factor come into play. The Fed at the same time continues to support the bond market to keep interest rates low, even going to the extent of manipulating the Treasury Inflation Protection Securities to create an illusion that inflation is a minor factor. The manipulation of bond prices in the US Treasury market has all but driven all investors, both foreign and domestic, away from these markets. Finally investors, particularly professionals, see the situation for what it is – plain and simple fraud. In addition, they are tired of observing the scams totally lacking in prosecution to say nothing of the selective corporate welfare, which has been doled out to fellow Illuminists. All they can see is unbridled monetization and inflation and lower dollars as far as the eye can see.

In recent developments the US, England and France have declared a so-called NATO war against Libya. They have frozen $32 billion held in trust by the US in the US. That is the largest amount ever held by the US concerning a foreign country’s asset. The three countries want Libya’s oil, four water aquifers, central banks and their 484.5 tons of gold, plus the Libyan funds held by other countries. These three want to steal it all and leave the country destitute. The EU has in addition frozen $67 billion. It is thought that because the US is desperate for funds that they will now put into the economy those funds to help keep the economy from collapsing.

The US Treasury and the Fed have created a giant bond fraud and the world’s professionals and governments are well aware of it. If they have to take the US dollars in trade they have to take the inflation that comes with them.

They not only have to tend to inflation in their own economies, but fight off dollar inflation as well. That is why nations are dumping US dollar as soon as they receive them by buying raw materials, investing in land, real estate, plant and equipment and gold and silver.

The bankers and the western governments now expect us to believe that Osama bin Laden is dead. He died years ago. This is just more propaganda for a distraction to more important matters, such as the deterioration and collapse of the western financial system. Anything to keep the game going, anything to deceive. We see no comment in any media that the US and European countries had frozen some $32 billion in US banks and $67 billion in European banks of Libyan sovereign wealth funds. As you have seen desperate people do desperate things. These funds do not belong to Mr. Gaddafi, they belong to the Libyan people. It is simple the west is broke and needed the funds. When you see Chatham House all over the European news you know the black nobility executed this.

As such events occur we have Fed Chairman Mr. Bernanke totally lacking integrity telling us there is little inflation and that the Fed just needs more time to complete recovery. What recovery, it must be hiding because we do not see it? What the Fed is doing is no monetary experiment. It has been tried over and over again through the centuries and it is well known among professionals that what Mr. Bernanke is doing does not work. When you hear from Mr. Bernanke that commodity price effects will likely prove transitory, when there has been a bull market in commodities since 1999, and that bull market is getting stronger, you have to question Mr. Bernanke’s integrity. He reminded us of the dollar’s previous comeback proved the safe-haven status of the dollar. How laughable. The rally created by banks was market rigging and we exposed what they were up to early. They are now running the euro up to make even more profits. This week or next the euro should reverse its rally as meetings resume in Greece. To these people currencies, gold and silver, commodities and markets are like footballs to be kicked around. It is not surprising that long-term confidence in the dollar is falling as uncertainty and instability, along with climbing inflation are becoming noticeable. There is no question the Fed has spent many years off course serving its owners and controllers in banking and on Wall Street. This time it is different. This time they are taking the whole system down deliberately to force the peoples of the US, UK and Europe to accept world government. This is not abrogation of responsibility or incompetence; this is willful greed and destruction. In QE1 and QE2, the banks and Wall Street were saved and then the Treasury. Little was done to address what was going on in the real economy. All credit, monetary and fiscal policy, was used to extend the health of the financial community and select transnational conglomerates.

Speculation has been the result of credit expansion almost all of which was pointed at Wall Street, banking and AAA rated transnational conglomerates. We find it interesting that all commentary and reports are based on Fed assumptions. Their policies and end game are rarely questioned, especially when other professionals know what they are up too and they know it does not work. Is it because they are Keynesians? In part yes, but the key is they are afraid to speak out, because if they do they lose their jobs, or in some cases are suicided. These people play hardball and they are unmerciful killers. If you don’t believe that just look at all the wars they have created and financed on both sides. You cannot approach what the money powers are up to with logic and reason. You are dealing with a predatory animal that will out of hand kill its own for power and survival.

How can anyone believe the Fed Chairman when he tells us that there are well-anchored inflation expectations, when real inflation is about 10% and even the uneducated public understands that? This is a monstrous lie, all and sundry know that, yet the media and the powers behind government perpetuate that lie cloaked in propaganda.

As a results of such prevarication gold and silver hit new highs. That has of course brought a barrage of sell recommendations from the regular suspects on CNBC, CNN and Bloomberg, along with the comments of silver mania, bubble, etc. What is worse though are the 96% of newsletter writers who have been consistently wrong for the past five years. It is sell, sell and switch to gold. The coin dealers go right along with the program for profit of course. What a woeful gaggle of dunces and opportunists.

The public doesn’t believe the Fed inflationary lie nor do professionals believe a weak dollar is good for the economy. For Bernanke to even allude to higher official interest rates is laughable. These same “expert”’ observers go right along with the perpetuation of what the Fed has done for a century and that is rob the public blind. Very few want to return monetary policy to the Treasury and perhaps honest transparent policies, that put the American people first, not Fed shareholders.

As we said three years ago, the Fed will expand money and credit until it cannot any more and then they’ll have a new world war to eliminate population and distract the public’s attention away from social, financial and economic chaos.

Right now the big push is to sell silver to buy gold based on the gold-silver ratio. We have been in the markets for 52 years and that ratio has never worked. All the traders who listen to this foolishness will end up last in line. Jackrabbit trading is for losers, we know we were traders for 25 years.

What does not seem to be self-evident among investors and others in that the same group controls Treasury and the Fed. They do what they feel like doing and the media, which they own and control, does exactly as they are told. Writers and commentators say we need more rules to control the Fed. What we need is an end to the Fed, but these weak willed characters refuse to say that because they do not want the wrath of the elitists down on them. What a scurrilous group. There are not going to heavy new rules, because the people who control the Fed have purchased 95% of congress and the judiciary. There has to be violent and radical change and unfortunately there is only one way that can come about.

Will gold, silver prices plunge?

Gold has been on a bulllish rally for the last two years. Silver has been following gold and has in fact outperformed the yellow metal. Where is gold price heading? Is there any chance that gold and silver prices would plunge in the near future?

A new report prepared by goldcore.com says that gold and silver prices are undre pressure these days. The main reason why precious metals prices are getting challenged is on account of the prospect of the interest rate hike in the US and European Union.

According to the report, gold’s two consecutive days of nominal record highs have seen some profit taking as oil is flat, the dollar is marginally higher and the euro has fallen. The ECB’s 0.25 % interest rate hike may lead to further profit taking today but rising interest rates in an increasingly inflationary environment will be positive for gold as it was from 1965 to 1981.

“It is only when real interest rates turn positive (nominal interest rates are again above the nominal rate of inflation) that gold and silver’s secular bull markets may be challenged. Inflation in the eurozone is 2.6%. Today’s interest rate rise will leave eurozone interest rates at 1.25% well below the 2.6% rate of inflation meaning that savers continue to lose out due to very low yielding deposits,” it says.

Similarly in the US, the cost of consumer goods and services has climbed 2.1% (as measured by the CPI) over the past year while Ben Bernanke has kept interest rates at 0% for over two years now.

These inflation numbers are official government statistics and are subject to hedonic and other peculiar statistical adjustments which underestimate the real rate of inflation as being experienced by the public who are feeling the pinch from rising food, energy, insurance, healthcare and other costs.

Negative real interest rates will likely lead to precious metal prices continuing to rise or rather very low yielding fiat currencies falling in value versus non yielding finite gold. Rising interest rates are bullish for gold also as they may see the primary asset classes of equities, bonds and property come under pressure again.

The safe haven, inflation hedging, liquidity and diversification benefits of gold have never been more needed by the investment and savings public.

Here is more on the gold and silver price fluctuations from goldcore.com

Despite this need for gold as a safe haven and diversification to protect from inflation and negative real interest rates, most of the non financial media has ignored and barely reported gold’s record nominal highs in recent days. Despite, incredibly uncertain geopolitical and macroeconomic conditions facing people internationally.

In the same way that sections of the media ignored and downplayed the risk posed by debt, derivatives and property bubbles prior to the subprime debt crisis and bursting of various property bubbles, so today the monetary and macroeconomic risks and the risks posed by inflation to the public and our economies are being downplayed and largely ignored.

What little coverage there is of gold, continues to often be slightly biased with negative terminology such as “gold hits new peak”, “gold peaked today”, “investors piled into gold”, “investors flock to gold” and “speculators hoard gold”. All of which are factually inaccurate and misleading..Headlines regarding “gold peaking” have abounded since gold rose above $700/oz. Given our inability to forecast the future movement of any asset it is always best not to predict if something has ‘peaked’ – especially in a headline.

Also, many journalists continue to fail to report the important fact that the record highs are nominal highs and that adjusted for the significant inflation of the last 31 years, gold remains well below its inflation adjusted high of $2,400/oz.

The primary indicators of investment demand for gold – the Commitment of Traders (COT) data and Total Gold ETF Holdings continue to clearly show that little or no one is “piling into” gold – not even the speculators.

It is interesting that such negative terminology is rarely used with regard to equities and bonds – especially as bonds are likely the largest bubble in the world today.

When the non financial press cover gold they often quote bankers, stock brokers, CFD providers and other financial service providers warning about gold and suggesting gold is a bubble and is risky. It is interesting that these same individuals never advised their clients to own gold but now they believe they are experts on the gold market and can advise people not to buy or to sell.

Instead of urging diversification, they give simplistic reasons as to why gold may or “will fall”. Diversification is what they should have been advising for years and their clients would be in a far better position if they had.

Since gold rose above $800/oz in 2007 there have been umpteen definitive statements that gold was in a “speculative” bubble and would fall. If I had an ounce of gold for every time I have heard such “experts” warn regarding gold being a bubble, I would be rich as Croesus.

To be fair, it is likely that part of the reason for the very limited coverage and somewhat negative treatment of gold is that some journalists and editors genuinely believe that gold is a speculative bubble. They may be being cautious after the experience of recent bubbles when much of the media failed to warn regarding, and indeed cheer led, recent equity and property bubbles.

They are right to be cautious in this regard. At the same time, they have a duty to report all of the facts in a non biased manner and to offer a plurality of opinion regarding all markets – including the gold market. Focusing on any one asset class and ignoring others is a failure to report the markets.
Lack of knowledge regarding financial markets, investments and savings is detrimental to the wealth of individuals, families and nations. In the coming years many will look back at the lack of and biased coverage of the gold market and wonder as to how it could have been so biased and myopic.

US Elections, Global Banking, Nuclear Weapons and Democracy

 

SUPERPOWER: Feature Documentary Order from Global Research - 2010-10-21

THE GLOBAL ECONOMIC CRISIS. The Great Depression of the XXI Century - by Michel Chossudovsky, Andrew Gavin Marshall – 2010-10-20

America´s Shadow Class War and the 2010 Elections. The Rich are Getting Richer. - by E.J. Dionne Jr. – 2010-10-12

Inside the Global Banking Intelligence Complex, BCCI Operations Part II - by David DeGraw – 2010-10-12

No International Justice for Congo. UN Coverup of War Crimes - by Ann Garrison – 2010-10-12

Britain: Frog Numbers Plummet 80% as Virus Decimates Adult Population - 2010-10-12

Nuclear Weapons and the Survival of the Homo Sapiens (Part II) Michel Chossudovsky’s presentation at the University of Havana - by Fidel Castro Ruz – 2010-10-12

Bolivia: ‘Never Before Have We Seen Such Changes’ - by Alina Canaviri Sullcani – 2010-10-12

Judge Bars Torture Evidence in Ex-Guantánamo Detainee Trial - by Bill Van Auken – 2010-10-12

U.S. Threat to Attack Iran with Nukes is “Criminal” - by Sherwood Ross – 2010-10-11

The Top Censored Stories From 2009-2010 - by Project Censored – 2010-10-11

America’s “Afghan Trap” Enters 10th Year - by Robert Bridge – 2010-10-11

Foreclose This: There’s More Than Robo Signatures To Blame For The Ongoing Foreclosure Scandal - by Danny Schechter – 2010-10-11

Israel’s Other ‘Peace’ Plan. Arm-Twisting Obama - by Jonathan Cook – 2010-10-11

Who Controls “Big Money”? The Barclay’s Octopus - by Matthias Chang – 2010-10-11

Reports Expose White House Cover-up of BP spill - by Tom Eley – 2010-10-11

Over 60 Percent of Afghans Suffer Mental Health Problems - 2010-10-11

Argentina Protests UK Falklands Military Exercise - 2010-10-11

Afghanistan: Global NATO’s First Ground War In Its Tenth Year - by Rick Rozoff – 2010-10-11

Invasive Cyber Technologies and Internet Privacy: Big Brother is only a “Ping” or Mouse Click Away - by Tom Burghardt – 2010-10-11

Why Is Unemployment Rising? - by Washington’s Blog – 2010-10-10

Does Your Food Contain Genetically Modified Organisms? - by Rady Ananda – 2010-10-10

The Wealthy are Bursting from their Financial Seams: The Struggle for a Workers’ Recovery - by Shamus Cooke – 2010-10-10

Pakistani, European Officials Charge US Manufactured Terror Scare - by Robert Stevens – 2010-10-10

The Ecuadorian Coup: Its Larger Meaning - by James Petras – 2010-10-10

The Afghan War, Past and Present - by FAIR – 2010-10-09

US Banks Fake Documents to Rush Foreclosures - by Tom Eley – 2010-10-09

The US Economy is Faltering. An Inflationary Depression is in Progress - by Bob Chapman – 2010-10-09

Impasse of US-NATO Military Adventure: Coalition loses 150 Tankers in Pakistan - by Syed Moazzam Hashmi – 2010-10-09

The Nightmare: The Iraq Invasion’s Atrocities, Unearthing the Unthinkable - by Felicity Arbuthnot – 2010-10-09

The Financial Crisis Continues to Take its Toll. The Burden That Haunts Obama - by Danny Schechter – 2010-10-09

Elections in Brazil: US Covert Intelligence Operations in Support of “Democracy” - by Nil Nikandrov – 2010-10-09

Side-by-Side Gaza Flotilla Timeline Report - by Friends of Charities Association (FOCA), International Bureau of Humanitarian NGOs (IBH) – 2010-10-09

Pentagon Partners With NATO To Create Global Cyber Warfare System - by Rick Rozoff – 2010-10-09

Nuclear Weapons and the Survival of the Homo Sapiens - by Fidel Castro Ruz – 2010-10-08

Cuban 5: 34 Years of Impunity - 2010-10-08

The Rwandan Genocide: Revenge Tragedy - by John Laughland – 2010-10-08

US and Japanese Air Forces Target North Korea Misawa American Base Town in Northern Japan - by Saito Mitsumasa – 2010-10-08

Corporate Cash Floods US Congressional Elections - by Patrick Martin – 2010-10-08

October 7: Ten Years of War in Afghanistan. Obama Should End the War or He Will Pay a Heavy Political Price - by Kevin Zeese – 2010-10-08

America’s Third World Economy - by Paul Craig Roberts – 2010-10-08

Fraud in Home Mortgages: “ForeclosureGate” and Obama’s “Pocket Veto” - by Ellen Brown – 2010-10-08

IMF Calls for Huge New Round of Bank Bailouts - by Washington’s Blog – 2010-10-08

Afghanistan: 57 NATO Tankers Set Ablaze in Fresh Assaults - 2010-10-08

The Rights of America´s Veterans: Protests of Bonus Army ¨Were Not In Vain; Their Effort Led To The GI Bill of Rights - by Sherwood Ross – 2010-10-08

What’s Behind the One Nation Rally - by Jack A. Smith – 2010-10-08

Media Disinformation: Washington´s “Regime Change Hit List”: Iran versus Honduras Part 1 - by Edward S. Herman, David Peterson – 2010-10-07

Political Terminologies and “Terrorism” Newt Gingrich’s ‘Terrorism’ - by Ramzy Baroud – 2010-10-07

Is America Under Attack? … Or Are the Barbarians Inside the Gates? - by Washington’s Blog – 2010-10-07

Lieberman Speaks for All of Israel. The dangers of ‘recognition’ - by Jonathan Cook – 2010-10-07

VIDEO: Hungary Struggles to Stem Toxic Sludge Breaking News on GRTV - 2010-10-06

Neoliberalism in South Africa: Dead in the Water Development Goals Will Not Be Met - by Prof. Patrick Bond – 2010-10-06

Financial Toxic Waste Continues to Unravel. Loan Assets “Created Out of Thin Air” The Circumvention of Basel Accord Capital - by Matthias Chang – 2010-10-06

Supply Blockade Enters 7th Day as NATO Tankers Sabotaged Once Again - by Syed Moazzam Hashmi – 2010-10-06

Nine Years of US Presence in Afghanistan: What Next? - by Boris Volkhonsky – 2010-10-06

U.S. And NATO To Wage 15-Year War In Afghanistan And Pakistan - by Rick Rozoff – 2010-10-06

The China-Japan Conflict: The Senkaku/Diaoyutai Islands Clash - by Tanaka Sakai – 2010-10-06

Washington´s Fear Campaign: US Issues Terror Alert for European Cities - by Patrick Martin – 2010-10-06

The Criminality of Nuclear Deterrence. The World is at the Precipice of another World War - by Prof. Francis A. Boyle – 2010-10-06

Yemen: The Covert Apparatus of the American Empire - by Andrew Gavin Marshall – 2010-10-05 The American Empire in the Gulf of Aden and Africa

Evidence Refutes BP’s and Fed’s Deceptions - by Dahr Jamail, Erika Blumenfeld – 2010-10-05

Yugoslavia’s US Sponsored “Democratic Revolution”: Nice Guys Finish Last - by Diana Johnstone – 2010-10-05

How the CIA Ran a Secret Army of 3,000 Assassins - by Julius Cavendish – 2010-10-05

Globalism Destroys America’s Middle Class Record income gap between rich and poor - by Dr. Jerome Corsi – 2010-10-05

Reclaiming Rationality and Scientific Method The Life-Coherence Principle as Global System Imperative - by John McMurtry – 2010-10-05

Karzai: ‘US Not After Terrorists in Afghanistan’ - 2010-10-05

Neoliberalism in Australia: Government Introduces Savage Spending Cuts - by Patrick O’Connor – 2010-10-05

Russia Increases Combat Capabilities in Arctic - 2010-10-05

Ecuador Coup Attempt Engineered by the CIA - by Nil Nikandrov – 2010-10-05

Obama’s Cave-In To Israel - by Jonathan Cook – 2010-10-05

The Protest Movement. Financial Fraud in Iceland - by Rady Ananda – 2010-10-05

U.S. Economic, Political and Military Expansion in the Asia-Pacific Region - by Dana Gabriel – 2010-10-05

Crypto Wars! Obama Wants New Law to Wiretap the Internet - by Tom Burghardt – 2010-10-04

We’re In a Global Currency War … But What Does It Mean? - by Washington’s Blog – 2010-10-04

Global Currency Wars and the Police State Selected Articles - 2010-10-04

“We Demand Change in America”: The Real Significance of the One Nation Rally - by Shamus Cooke – 2010-10-04

Venezuela: Left wins, but Right Makes Gains - by Federico Fuentes – 2010-10-04

Marching on Washington: The Joy of Victory and the Agony of Defeat as my Feet Hurt and Heart Ached - by Danny Schechter – 2010-10-04

Economic Shock Therapy for Wall Street: Mortgage Lenders Could Soon be Falling like Dominos JP Morgan suspends 56,000 foreclosures, GMAC and BOA - by Ellen Brown – 2010-10-03

Workers Rights and the Economic Crisis: Striking in a Time of Austerity - by Scott Neigh – 2010-10-03

US Sponsored “Civil War” in Colombia: Piedad Córdoba and Her Fight for Peace - by Fidel Castro Ruz – 2010-10-03

Obama’s Congo Moment: Genocide, the U.N. Report and Senate Bill 2125 - by Ann Garrison – 2010-10-03

VIDEO: China Labour Strikes Gain Momentum Despite ban, workers seeking more rights step up strikes across the country. - by Steve Chao – 2010-10-03

11 US Soldiers Killed in Philippine Anti-Terror Campaign Since 2002 - 2010-10-03

Volcker: “The Financial System is Broken” and “the Mortgage Market Has Become a Subsidiary of the U.S. Government” - by Washington’s Blog – 2010-10-03

What Classless Society? The Growing Rich-poor Gap in “Classless” America Top 10% controls 96% of the wealth - by Jack A. Smith – 2010-10-03

In Struggle With The American Mind - by William Blum – 2010-10-02

Crisis of US Monetary Policy: Quantitative Easing Doesn’t Work Bernanke Knew This Back in 1988 - by Washington’s Blog – 2010-10-02

America’s Food Chain: The Crisis, the Attack, the Kill The S-510 Legislation Spells Disaster - by Rady Ananda – 2010-10-02

Towards an Inflationary Depression in America - by Bob Chapman – 2010-10-02

Victim of FBI Raid Speaks Out - by Tom Eley – 2010-10-02

US House Passes Anti-China Trade War Bill - by Barry Grey – 2010-10-01

Turkey and Russia Defy America’s Imperial Design in the Middle East and Central Asia - by Eric Walberg – 2010-10-01

“Underground” Group of Cadets Say Air Force Academy Controlled by Evangelicals - by Mike Ludwig – 2010-10-01

Scientists: 40 Times More Cancer-Causing Toxics in Gulf than Before Spill … Dispersants to Blame - by Washington’s Blog – 2010-10-01

Farewell to Arms: Jenny, Iraq and the Next War - by Ramzy Baroud – 2010-10-01

Baltic States: Pentagon’s Training Grounds For Afghan and Future Wars - by Rick Rozoff – 2010-10-01

Deceptions, A brilliant Clarion to save the Internet Review of Chris Pratt’s film - by Rady Ananda – 2010-10-01

Ecuador: A third US sponsored coup d’etat against a member state of the Bolivarian Alliance of the Americas (ALBA) - by Eva Golinger – 2010-10-01

Ecuador: Wounded President denounces Coup

Chile’s Ghosts Are Not Being Rescued

The rescue of 33 miners in Chile is an extraordinary drama filled with pathos and heroism. It is also a media windfall for the Chilean government, whose every beneficence is recorded by a forest of cameras. One cannot fail to be impressed. However, like all great media events, it is a facade.

The accident that trapped the miners is not unusual in Chile and is the inevitable consequence of a ruthless economic system that has barely changed since the dictatorship of Gen. Augusto Pinochet. Copper is Chile’s gold, and the frequency of mining disasters keeps pace with prices and profits. There are, on average, 39 fatal accidents every year in Chile’s privatized mines. The San Jose mine, where the trapped men work, became so unsafe in 2007 it had to be closed – but not for long. On 30 July last, a labor department report warned again of “serious safety deficiencies,” but the minister took no action. Six days later, the men were entombed.

For all the media circus at the rescue site, contemporary Chile is a country of the unspoken. At the Villa Grimaldi, in the suburbs of the capital Santiago, a sign says: “The forgotten past is full of memory.” This was the torture center where hundreds of people were murdered and disappeared for opposing the fascism that General Pinochet and his business allies brought to Chile. Its ghostly presence is overseen by the beauty of the Andes, and the man who unlocks the gate used to live nearby and remembers the screams.

I was taken there one wintry morning in 2006 by Sara De Witt, who was imprisoned as a student activist and now lives in London. She was electrocuted and beaten, yet survived. Later, we drove to the home of Salvador Allende, the great democrat and reformer who perished when Pinochet seized power on 11 September 1973 – Latin America’s own 9/11. His house is a silent white building without a sign or a plaque.

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Everywhere, it seems, Allende’s name has been eliminated. Only in the lone memorial in the cemetery are the words engraved “Presidente de la Republica” as part of a remembrance of the “ejecutados Politicos”: those “executed for political reasons.” Allende died by his own hand while Pinochet bombed the presidential palace with British planes as the American ambassador watched.

Today, Chile is a democracy, though many would dispute that, notably those in the barrios forced to scavenge for food and steal electricity. In 1990, Pinochet bequeathed a constitutionally compromised system as a condition of his retirement and the military’s withdrawal to the political shadows. This ensures that the broadly reformist parties, known as Concertacion, are permanently divided or drawn into legitimizing the economic designs of the heirs of the dictator. At the last election, the right-wing Coalition for Change, the creation of Pinochet’s ideologue Jaime Guzman, took power under President Sebastian Piñera. The bloody extinction of true democracy that began with the death of Allende was, by stealth, complete.

Piñera is a billionaire who controls a slice of the mining, energy and retail industries. He made his fortune in the aftermath of Pinochet’s coup and during the free-market “experiments” of the zealots from the University of Chicago, known as the Chicago Boys. His brother and former business partner, Jose Piñera, a labor minister under Pinochet, privatized mining and state pensions and all but destroyed the trade unions. This was applauded in Washington as an “economic miracle,” a model of the new cult of neoliberalism that would sweep the continent and ensure control from the north.

Today. Chile is critical to President Barack Obama’s rollback of the independent democracies in Ecuador, Bolivia and Venezuela. Piñera’s closest ally is Washington’s main man, Juan Manuel Santos, the new president of Colombia, home to seven US bases and an infamous human rights record familiar to Chileans who suffered under Pinochet’s terror.

Post-Pinochet Chile has kept its own enduring abuses in shadow. The families still attempting to recover from the torture or disappearance of a loved one bear the prejudice of the state and employers. Those not silent are the Mapuche people, the only indigenous nation the Spanish conquistadors could not defeat. In the late 19th century, the European settlers of an independent Chile waged their racist War of Extermination against the Mapuche who were left as impoverished outsiders. During Allende’s thousand days in power, this began to change. Some Mapuche lands were returned and a debt of justice was recognized.

Since then, a vicious, largely unreported war has been waged against the Mapuche. Forestry corporations have been allowed to take their land, and their resistance has been met with murders, disappearances and arbitrary prosecutions under “anti terrorism” laws enacted by the dictatorship. In their campaigns of civil disobedience, none of the Mapuche has harmed anyone. The mere accusation of a landowner or businessman that the Mapuche “might” trespass on their own ancestral lands is often enough for the police to charge them with offenses that lead to Kafkaesque trials with faceless witnesses and prison sentences of up to 20 years. They are, in effect, political prisoners.

While the world rejoices at the spectacle of the miners’ rescue, 38 Mapuche hunger strikers have not been news. They are demanding an end to the Pinochet laws used against them, such as “terrorist arson,” and the justice of a real democracy. On 9 October, all but one of the hunger strikers ended their protest after 90 days without food. A young Mapuche, Luis Marileo, says he will go on. On 18 October, President Piñera is due to give a lecture on “current events” at the London School of Economics. He should be reminded of their ordeal and why.

President Chavez ratifies denouncement of economic conspiracy against Bolivarian revolution

Caracas, May 13. ABN.- The President of Venezuela Hugo Chavez ratified that there is a, local and international, economic conspiracy against the Bolivarian revolution with a political purpose, aimed at promoting speculation in both transactions with the U.S. currency and consumer goods.

The denunciation was made by the Head of State during the inauguration act of the Bolivarian National Police Training Center in Caracas.

“Who are behind all this’ Big capitalist people, Venezuelan and foreigners, big companies; because, there is an economic conspiracy against the revolution to generate more inflation, shortages, and people’s displeasure.”

Chavez explained that he requested for support to the General Attorney Office, the National Bolivarian Intelligence System and any other investigation organ of the State to counter the speculation promoted by some financial sectors with the currency, trying to put pressure on parallel dollar exchange rates.

Likewise, he underscored that the Government is currently investigating some people that are bringing dollars to the country to promote the parallel market.

The Venezuelan President explained that these destabilizing actions belong to a political plan of Venezuela’s bourgeoisie as to win the parliamentarian elections next September.

“They will fail, but that is the plan: create shortages, economic problems, increase crime rates, because a great part of the crime in Venezuela has a political seal, are just induced crimes,” he stated.

Moreover, Chavez pointed out that these economic systems in which banks and stock houses take part, have some mechanisms and ways to make business that are unknown by most of the people.

Chavez strengthens socialist distribution networks and declares war against speculation

Chavez strengthens socialist distribution networks and declares war against speculation

Caracas, May 16. ABN.- The President of Venezuela Hugo Chavez declared the war against speculation and organized crime that want to destabilize the Venezuelan Government and its Bolivarian process. Likewise, he informed about the new institutions created that will join the food production and distribution system.

Putting in practice the socialist policies that will help the country to move towards the consolidation of food sovereignty, the President Chavez informed the people the last measures adopted by his Administration against speculation and the next works under construction for people’s welfare, during his weekly TV and radio program “Alo, Presidente.”

Fighting against speculation and building the socialism

In the framework of the fight against speculation and working for a price reduction of food products, the President of Venezuela inaugurated the supermarket Supermercal General Jose Laurencio Silva, which belongs to the food networks expansion plan in the country.

This food distribution center is the second largest of the governmental food network Mercal in the country.

Furthermore, the Venezuelan Head of State commented on the efforts done by the Bolivarian Government to recover the production capacity in the country, fight against speculation, and move forward towards the industrial development of the country.

In this regard, on Sunday, eighty communal mini-Mercal stores were inaugurated nationwide.

Chavez pointed out that in each state communal representatives received their food distribution competence certificate. These people will be in charge of distributing and selling basic-needs basket products in their regions.

In this regard, the Venezuelan President made them a call to multiply the small production units that can be found near the mini-Mercal stores and invited mayors and ministers to work on it.

Moreover, he emphasized that family “backyard” agriculture must be promoted. In this sense, he commented that his Government will resume a project with Brazil, where 70 percent of the agricultural production comes that way.

Afterwards, Chavez highlighted that the governmental food network Mercal sells products up to 60 percent under their regulated price, which contributes with people money saving and a better distribution of the resources among population.

During Chavez’s weekly, the first Social Supply Unit at the Commune Construccion Panal 2021 was also inaugurated. This communal supply center will sell products from the Venezuelan Food Corporation, CVA, and vegetables produced by farmers that have been supported by governmental policies.

President Chavez explained that in addition to the creation of new food distribution centers, the State will keep fighting against inflation and the indiscriminate rise of prices; therefore, he made a call to companies in the country to obey Venezuelan Laws.

He added that recent expropriations are aimed at fighting against the speculation, and making people to have access to basic food products. For instance, the expropriation of the company Molinos Nacionales (Monaca), will give the Government the capacity to process 45 percent of the corn consumed in the country, as well as to lower food costs.

Towards industrial sovereignty with China’s cooperation

The Head of State made reference to the meeting held with a top-level commission from China on Saturday night, aimed at looking over the work agenda for Asian investment in Venezuela to improve basic industries in the country.

The Venezuelan President commented that the Chinese delegation made a tour by the raw materials companies in Venezuela and they were amazed of seeing huge mountains of iron and such a large reserve.

Water for everybody

Moreover, Chavez informed that he approved the allocation of more than 1.3 billion bolivares ($500 million) to guarantee drinkable water for Venezuelans.

“This revolution has to guarantee drinkable water for the entire Venezuelan people, but not a guarantee for today only (…) We are assuring to have water for the next 20 years,” Chavez said.

In this regard, he underscored that previous capitalist governments privatized the drinkable water “and rich people filled up their pools and washed their cars with it.”

Land recovery continues

In the framework of the fight against workers exploitation, the President made a telephone contact during the program with the President of the national land institute Juan Carlos Loyo, who talked about the progress achieved after 14 days a land was recovered by the Government.

According to Loyo, daily milk production in that place has been doubled after two weeks thanks to the rescue plan implemented by his institute, from 100 to 200 liters. In addition, expert technicians are executing a recovery project to safe the coffee production that was hardly affected by plague.

Chavez underscored that with the nationalization of this large-estate the State will give a better use of these lands.

Law Against Illicit Exchange Transaction comes into force

The President of Venezuela took advantage of the opportunity to sign the reform to the Law Against Illicit Exchange Transactions, passed by the National Assembly, and he urged population to denounce people that offer dollars at a different price of the one established by the Government.

The Law was reformed to face speculation with the exchange of dollars, bring to justice “dollar’s speculators,” and leave under Venezuelan Central Bank control any transaction done through exchange bonds, which were previously negotiated by the entire financial system.

Chavez reiterated his call to denounce people offering dollars at a different price through the phone numbers that he has published in his Tweeter account: @chavezcandanga. He informed that, to date, diverse raids have been done thanks to denouncements made by the people through the social network.

Inauguration of works for people’s benefit

At the end of his Sunday’s program, Chavez informed that he will inaugurate and supervise diverse works aimed at improving Venezuelan’s quality of life.

On Monday he will deal with the just reformed Law Against Illicit Exchange Transactions. On Tuesday, he will meet with the board of the United Socialist Party of Venezuela (PSUV) to appoint the National Campaign Command for the next parliamentarian election to be held on September 26.

On Wednesday, Chavez will preside over a ceremony to grant credits from the Bicentenary Fund to a group of small and micro companies to continue strengthening national production.

On Thursday, he will supervise some public works under construction, such as the railway system and he will inaugurate more health units at the Maternity Hospital Concepcion Palacios in Caracas, in the framework of the governmental maternity program Mision Niño Jesus.

On Friday, Chavez will inaugurate the new cellphone factory Orinoquia, which will produce mobiles with Chinese technology.

Venezuela reduces extreme poverty by 70 percent

Caracas, May 18. ABN.- Between 1990 and 2009, the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela reduced in more than 70 percent the number of people living in extreme poverty, as well as the Rates of Prevalence of Malnutrition, which was reduced from 11 to 6 percent, that is to say, a reduction close to 50 percent.

The information was given by Isabel Iturria, Vice-minister of Health Resources of the Ministry of People’s Power for Health and President of the Latin American Children’s Cardiology Hospital, during the 63rd World Health Assembly organized by the United Nations in Geneva, Switzerland.

Iturria said that Venezuela has been working on the reduction of social gaps and inequalities, assuming health as a human and constitutional right and not as a merchandise, as done by the capitalist model.

In this regard, the health vice-minister assured that the current world financial crisis and climate change are absolute evidences of the failure of said model, and also that Southern countries are the most affected by its terrible consequences.

Iturria stated that since 1998, the Venezuelan State offers free medical attention to the 100 percent of the people affected by HIV/AIDS, including the supply of the antiretrovirals (ARV). In addition, the mortality rate due to tuberculosis was reduced 39 percent, that is, 2.15 for every 100,000 inhabitants.

Another achievement reached by the Bolivarian Government is the reduction by 81 percent of the people without access to drinkable water and the lack of access to sewerages was reduced by 67 percent.

Regarding the health system, the Venezuelan representative underscored that with the governmental program Mision Barrio Adentro that was created in 2003, the Government has guaranteed free access for everybody to an integral health care system, benefiting the entire population. In the last seven years, the number of facilities have increased from 4,804 to 11,915, which represents an increase of 248 percent.

Iturria also mentioned the construction of the Latin American Children’s Cardiology Hospital that has offered free medical attention on cardiovascular surgeries, hemodynamics and electrophysiology to more than 4,000 children. This is 1,418 percent more than the attention given to children in these areas in 1998.

In Venezuela, about 5,000 opthalmology surgeries were carried out per year; however, since the Government implemented the program Mision Milagro, 1,104,150 surgeries have been carried out in 6 years, including 333,710 foreign patients, which shows Venezuela’s solidarity in the framework of the South-South cooperation.

Iturria concluded saying: “The achievements of the Revolutionary Government of President Hugo Chavez, demonstrate that the Millennium Development Goals can be reached if there are radical changes on the development model, based on the essential principles of justice, equity and solidarity.

The current challenge for the Revolution consists on deepening these principles to consolidate in our country the Bolivarian and humanist socialism that was democratically chose by Venezuelans.”

The World Has No Money, And The Emperor Has No Clothes

Economics / Global Economy
May 17, 2010 – 02:46 AM

By: Pravda

Most of us are aware of the very old fairly tale by Hans Christian Andersen in which two weavers promise an emperor the finest suit of clothes imaginable, but from a fabric invisible to anyone who is unfit for his position or “just hopelessly stupid”. Well, in the fairy tale it turns out that nobody wants to admit that they are “unfit” or “stupid”, so when the emperor parades before his subjects in his imaginary new suit of clothes, it takes a child to cry out: “But he isn’t wearing anything at all!”

Well, many of us have been declaring that the world economy “has no clothes” for some time now, but when the anchor of NBC News declares it on national television it gets a bit more attention. During his recent appearance on The Late Show with David Letterman, NBC’s Brian Williams was asked about the world financial situation. His answer included this shocking statement: “The world has no money, and the Emperor has no clothes.”

During the interview, it was readily apparent that Williams was honestly shaken up by what had happened last Thursday in the stock market. But who can blame him? After all, most of us who watch the markets were totally stunned when the stock market dropped almost 1000 points exactly in less than an hour.

Normally a network news anchor is much more guarded and is much more careful about what is revealed to the public. But on Letterman’s show, Williams gave us a glimpse of what he really thinks about the world economic situation….

“If I wasn’t a tad too close to this, I’d probably not leave the house. But that’s how bad it is.”

So why did the U.S. stock market plunge so rapidly last Thursday?

Well, many have blamed the episode on a “bad trade” or a “computer glitch”. Others claim that the Greek debt crisis caused a brief panic. There are yet others who see something more insidious going on – such as Goldman Sachs seeking to remove their name from the financial headlines, or the Federal Reserve sending a message that S. 604 (the bill to audit the Federal Reserve) should not be passed.

The truth is that we will probably never know what actually caused the market to fall through the floor that afternoon.

But it did pave the way for more bailouts.

Over the weekend, European policy makers unveiled an unprecedented loan package worth almost $1 trillion and a program of bond purchases designed to stop the sovereign debt crisis that threatened to shatter confidence in the euro.

The Federal Reserve got into the act as well. Over the weekend the Fed promised to flood the international financial system with U.S. dollars. This was seen in the markets as a sign of “resolve” meant to keep doubt about the European economy from turning into a global crisis of confidence.

So on Monday, investors responded to these bailouts with exuberance. The Dow Jones industrial average gained 405 points that day, which was the average’s biggest one day point gain since March 23rd, 2009.

But are more bailouts, more debt and a flood of paper money really something to celebrate?

No.

The truth is that debt and paper money that continually declines in value are some of the chief causes of the financial mess that the world is now in.

In fact, Congressman Ron Paul is warning that the European bailout that was just announced will just lead to even larger financial problems in the future….

And Ron Paul is right – all of these bailouts and all of this debt will eventually cause all of the major paper currencies (including the U.S. dollar) to collapse.

The funny thing about these bailouts is that they never seem to help the average people on the street. Just take a look at the U.S. economy. We are told that Wall Street has recovered and that things are getting back to normal, and yet more Americans than ever find themselves dependent on the U.S. government for their survival.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture recently announced that 39.68 million people, or 1 out of every 8 Americans, were enrolled in the food stamp program during February, an increase of 260,000 from the previous month.

Nearly 40 million Americans on food stamps?

How in the world did that happen?

Once upon a time, the old timers would tell us that one day things would get so bad that we would all have to stand in bread lines.

Well, today food stamps are the new bread lines.

If you have to rely on the government for the very bread that you eat, what kind of a position does that put you in?

The truth is that the once great American middle class is allowing the system to slowly keep grinding them into oblivion.

Like never before in our lifetimes, wealth is being concentrated in the hands of the “lucky one percent”, while the rest of us are rapidly being marginalized.

Do you ever stop to wonder why it seems like almost everyone is either broke or up to their eyeballs in debt?

That even goes for the major governments of the world. The U.S. government (the “wealthiest” nation on the globe) has piled up the biggest mountain of debt in world history.

You see, Brian Williams was actually chillingly accurate when he declared that “the world has no money”.

So if the world doesn’t have any money, then who does have it?

The international bankers.

But, shhhhh, don’t tell anybody.

Just keep quietly clapping as the emperor walks down the street with no clothes on.

Michael Snyder

The Economic Collapse

Venezuelan opposition rejected by 76% of the people

Caracas, May 13. ABN.- According to the last opinion poll carried out by GIS XXI, seventy-six percent of the Venezuelans consider that opposing leaders are just defending their personal economic interests, and not country’s interests. In contrast, only 13.3% of the population considers that counterrevolutionary leaders do really care Venezuela.

The figures were made public through a press release issued by GIS XXI, in which they add that in said survey only 29.4% of the people consider that the opposition represents a hope for better things to Venezuela and 58.2% do not agree with that idea.

In addition, 47.5% of Venezuelans think that opposition has nothing to offer to the country and 39% are against this same idea.

Moreover, 53.5% of the people reject opposition’s performance, while 13.8% supports the way they act.

Likewise, the data collected by the private pollster revealed that since October 2007 the reject for opposition actions reach 50% and the tendency remains, “not even with the fluctuations presented by the Government; that is to say, the opposition has not been even able of capitalizing that temporary variation, when the positive perception about Government’s administration decreases.”

“With such negative evaluation done by Venezuelans about the opposition will be hard to revert that historic advantage that the Socialist United Party of Venezuela (PSUV) has had in past electoral processes. If any of the electoral results between Dec. 2008 and Feb. 2010 is repeated, the PSUV will have the majority at the National Assembly and opposition followers will face again the lies of a lost and with no destination leadership that has promised them something impossible,” reads the report made by GIS XXI.

Chavez: Orinoco Socialist Project must become in the engine to develop the country

Caracas, May 13. ABN.- “The Orinoco Socialist Project goes well beyond oil. This integral project is located in the geographical center of the country, over the Orinoco River. This entire integral socialist plan must become the most significant engine for a comprehensive development of the entire territory and Venezuelan population.”

The statements were made by Chavez after attending the ceremony were the two companies that will operate in the Carabobo Block of the Orinoco Oil Belt were created.

The event took place in the Simon Bolivar Hall of the Venezuelan state-run oil company PDVSA headquarter, where agreements were endorsed with oil companies from India, Japan, Malaysia, Spain and the United States for the creation of the joint ventures Petrocarabobo and Petroindependencia for an starting investment of 40 billion dollars.

“Currently, with the signing of these agreements, we are fully exercising our independence without being subjugated by any foreign power,” Chavez emphasized.

Through a decree published on May 7, 2010, the Government of Venezuela authorized the alliance between the Venezuelan Petroleum Corporation (CVP), Chevron Carabobo Holdings (U.S.A.), Japan Carabobo (Japan) and Suelopetrol Internacional (Venezuela).

The joint venture created among them will be denominated Petroindependencia. The shares will be divided as follows: CVP, 60%; Chevron, 34%; Japan Carabobo 5%; and Suelopetrol 1%.

Likewise, the same date, the joint venture Petrocarabobo was created between CVP, Repsol Exploracion (España), PC Venezuela, Petrocarabobo Ganga, and Indoil Netherlands (India). The shares are split as follows: CVP, 60%; Repsol, 11%; PC Venezuela, 11%; Petrocarabobo Ganga, 11%; and Indoil, 7%.

The investment of each company will be 12 billion dollars and it is expected they will reach an early production of about 50,000 barrels per day each by 2012. For such purpose, the construction of new facilities such as an oil improver, a production operative center and an oil pipeline have already begun.

The goal is that by 2016, both companies will produce around 400,000 barrels of oil per day after the construction of the oil improver plants.

Furthermore, Venezuela will receive a bond of $ 1.5bn from each company. In addition, both companies agreed on granting a credit to PDVSA for $ 1bn.

The President of Venezuela Hugo Chavez said the country is entering into a new oil century that will contrast with country’s oil history; therefore, he made a call to Venezuelans to compare both periods and be aware of it.

“We can say now that the Venezuelan oil project is starting over solid grounds with a philosophical conception, and a political and social ideological orientation in harmony. We are not going to repeat that terrible history of the 20th century,” Chavez underscored.

Production growth to come from the Orinoco Oil Belt

Rafael Ramirez, energy and oil minister and president of PDVSA, was also present at the ceremony. He was in charge of informing about the progress achieved in the projects and production estimations.

Ramirez stated that by the end of 2015, oil production in Venezuela will reach 4.15 million barrels per day; that is, one million more than the current production. Likewise, he said that by 2016, Government expects production will be over 5 million barrels per day and over 6 million barrels in 2021.

The oil minister explained that the progress achieved on oil projects has been possible thanks to the implementation of a completely sovereign policy, allowing a fiscal adjustment on exploitation and production in the framework of the Organic Law on Hydrocarbons and the governmental Oil Sowing Plan.

The Orinoco Oil Belt has been split into 31 blocks, in which more than 27 companies from 21 countries are working jointly with Venezuela to contribute with country’s development.

Ramirez recalled that when the process to choose the partners for the Carabobo Block began, some tried to interfere into the Venezuelan oil policy through international competition.

“The success we have achieved in Carabobo Blocks ratifies our oil policy and the viability that we have established for the development of these projects,” he underscored.

On May 7 the Ministry of People’s Power for Energy and Petroleum published in the Official Gazette the creation of these two joint ventures that will be comprised by PDVSA and the transnational companies from Japan, India, Malaysia, the United States and Spain, aimed at exploiting hydrocarbons at the Orinoco Oil Belt.

President Chávez becomes most followed Venezuelan on Twitter

Caracas, May 10. ABN.- Just two weeks after joining Twitter, President Hugo Chávez has become Venezuela’s most followed user of the online social network, with over 265,000 followers as of Monday, May 10. He is also amongst the only heads of state that is using the network to directly engage with followers, both in Venezuela and around the world.

President Chávez joined Twitter on April 28, and within 12 hours had gained more than 45,000 followers. Since then, his Twitter account – @chavezcandanga – has gained followers at a rate sometimes exceeding 1,000 per hour. It is estimated that within the first month of use, President Chávez will gain one million followers.

While his first tweets were merely informational, on May 3 he began responding directly to other Twitter users, a practice replicated by virtually none of the other heads of state that use the service. (His first response was to a Mexican girl, to whom he wished a happy birthday for her sister.) He has also taken to responding to tweets during presidential addresses and speeches.

On May 7, President Chávez announced that he was assigning a number of aides to help respond to the multitude of requests coming in through Twitter, and also announced the creation of a special fund to directly assist those who contact him on Twitter and that require immediate attention in key areas such as housing and health.

Venezuela has become a hotbed for Twitter, with over 300,000 registered users to date. Additionally, over five million Venezuelans use Facebook. The use of online social networks mirrors a dramatic growth in access to the Internet in Venezuela. Since 2000, the number of Venezuelans with access to the Internet has grown from 800,000 to over 7.5 million. In 2000, only three percent of the Venezuelan people were online; in 2009, that number stood at 27 percent.

The Venezuelan government has moved aggressively to make access to the Internet free and universal. In recent years, 668 Infocenters – community-based Internet access points – have been founded, and $10 million has been set aside to build 200 more in 2010. The Infocenters are a central component of the government’s plans to broaden Internet access and offer low-income sectors access to online tools and services.

The Embassy of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela in Washington, D.C. also uses Twitter, and can be found at @VzlaEmbassyUS.

Embassy of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela to the U.S. Press and Communications Office / May 10 2010

The Lines of Chavez # 72: The Socialist Federation!

Caracas, May 16. ABN.- I want to start by highlighting the signing of the contract to create the joint venture companies to work in the Orinoco Oil Belt, held on May 12th. The new Venezuelan oil project does start now with a new philosophical conception, with a new and harmonic political, ideological and social direction, face to face with our real national independence.

With the participation of oil companies from India, Japan, Spain and the U.S., which involves a $40 billion joint investment in our country, the recent creation of Petrocarabobo and Petroindependencia will produce 800,000 barrels per day in 2016.

Building socialism, being an oil nation, represents a dilemma we have to solve. Notwithstanding, this solution involves our autonomy and independence on this area, if we want to have an invulnerable sovereignty. This is what irritates the unpatriotic opposition that opposes our oil sovereignty since it (the opposition) was used to giving it away to foreign interests that stepped over our patriot dignity.

Now, the Venezuelan people set out the conditions for those who want to work jointly with us in the Orinoco Oil Belt, which is and will always be under Venezuela’s control.

II

I want to make an acknowledgment to every single worker who worked in the gas rig Aban Pearl on the extraction in the Dragon Well, at the north of the Paria Peninsula.

They showed not only their professionalism and technical experience, but also their patriotic commitment. I have enough evidence about it. They did their best to avoid the sinking of the rig; but the difficult conditions imposed over their brave answer and efforts.

At 23:00 hrs Wednesday night, all the alarms and the processes of evaluation and security were activated. There is no risk of gas leak. The rig was disconnected; the security valves and extra mechanisms were activated.

This serious accident has been useful to show the level of responsibility, prevention and security of our oil and gas projects. Contrary to some big companies whose structure and roots are hundred percent capitalist and operate all over the world regardless of the disastrous consequences it may have.

In this sense, Project Macondo of the British Petroleum already made history with one of the worst ecological disasters. Since three weeks ago and every day 800,000 liters of oil crude (around 5,000 barrels) go into the Gulf of Mexico after an error in the management of the oil rig Deepwater Horizon, which was drilling a 1,525 meters well.

In Venezuela, we are determined to overcome these situations guided by the voracity, and we are making it. The human and ecological aspect will always be our main priority.

III

We have declared war to every sort of crime. I want to reiterate that there are no untouchables, as I said during the inauguration ceremony of the Police Training Center of Catia, on Thursday 13th, which makes part of the Experimental University for Security Studies (UNES).

We are guided by the inalienable conviction of fighting against impunity. There cannot be any evil condition that transforms some men and women into first-class citizens, and some other into second-class citizens. The first raids and arrests in the illegal, parallel dollar and gold market started under this premise on May 14th.

We swore it to speculators and swindlers, we are going to thrash them in order to finish once and for all the damage they try to make to bankrupt our economy and finances. We amended the Law Against Illicit Exchange Transactions with utmost dispatch; especially the articles 2 and 9, so as to avoid that the homeland’s enemies continue sheltering under certain legal loopholes. The evil conception that “every law has its loophole” must be far away from us.

I urge the current and future deputies to be aware of the need of promoting a new legislative and juridical culture, a culture for the truth and justice.

IV

We formally opened the Federal Council of Government on May 14 in the Ezequiel Zamora Hall, formerly Governor’s Hall, as a great step towards the social State and communal State.

We are riding the horse in times of a new Zamoran and Socialist Bolivarian Federalism, representing a clear and perceptible overcoming of the liberal and bourgeois federalism imposed by the Fourth Republic. One of the worst consequences of this bourgeois federalism was the birth of a deviated concept of decentralization.

It was a decentralization based on unequal and unharmonious political and territorial division designed in direct proportion to the oligarchy; not based on the unity our Liberators fought for. The unity we vindicate and make come true through our Bolivarian revolution.

In this sense, I was capable of nothing else but to invite pro-opposition governors and mayors to be aware that that beyond our ideological and political differences, there is in the middle a national project established in the Constitution of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela.

‘I always put the community before the individual,’ wrote our liberator Simón Bolívar in 1828 to the Marshal Antonio José de Sucre. The Federal Council of Government was born with this spirit, and this Federal Council must keep on coming to life under the same spirit. As an instrument of communities, so they definitely take control and assume the powers of the state, as Kléber Ramírez thought, by making a reality the Robinson Toparchy, the Toparchy included in the “Motors of Development Districts.”

Thus, without being euphemistic, it is time for us to practice obedience and let it radicalize among us. In this regard, the Federal Council of Government is born under the obedience power and it must point us the direction and set the example.

All the power for the people!
Socialist Homeland or Death!
We shall triumph!

Hugo Chavez Frías

China Cuts Holdings of U.S. Treasuries

Foreign demand drops by record amount; Japan now holds most Treasuries

WASHINGTON – The government said Tuesday that foreign demand for U.S. Treasury securities fell by the largest amount on record in December with China reducing its holdings by $34.2 billion.

The reductions in holdings, if they continue, could force the government to make higher interest payments at a time that it is running record federal deficits.

The Treasury Department reported that foreign holdings of U.S. Treasury securities fell by $53 billion in December, surpassing the previous record of a $44.5 billion drop in April 2009.

The big drop in China’s holdings meant that it lost the top spot in terms of foreign ownership of U.S. Treasuries, dropping to second place behind Japan.

Japan increased its holdings of U.S. Treasuries, boosting them by $11.5 billion to $768.8 billion in December. That amount was higher than China’s December total of $755.4 billion, putting Japan back in the top spot in terms of foreign ownership of Treasury securities, a position it had lost in the fall of 2008 when China surpassed Japan.

The $53 billion decline in holdings of Treasury securities came primarily from a drop in official government holdings, which fell by $52.3 billion. The holdings of foreign private investors fell by $700 million during the month of December.

For all of 2009, foreign holdings of U.S. Treasuries dipped by $500 million. In 2008, foreigners had increased their holdings of U.S. Treasuries by $456 billion as a global financial crisis triggered a flight to the safety of U.S. government debt.

That flight to safety had driven down the interest rates that the government was having to pay on its debt to record lows with rates on some short-term securities dipping into negative territory for brief periods.

The Obama administration on Feb. 1 released a new budget plan which projects that the deficit for this year will total a record $1.56 trillion, surpassing last year’s record of $1.4 trillion deficit. The trillion-dollar-plus deficit have been caused by a deep recession, which has reduced government tax receipts, and the massive spending that has been undertaken to jump-start the economy and stabilize the financial system.

The administration has pledged to begin addressing the huge government deficits with Obama saying he will soon appoint a commission to recommend ways to trim future deficits.

Overall, the Treasury Department said that foreign net purchases of long-term securities totaled $63.3 billion in December, down from $126.4 billion in November. This category covers Treasury securities and private company bonds.

China’s holdings are a result of the huge trade deficits the United States runs with China. The Chinese take the dollars Americans pay for Chinese products and invest them in Treasury securities and other dollar-denominated assets.

American manufacturers argue that China’s huge dollar reserve reflect a strategy by the Chinese government to keep its currency artificially low against the dollar as a way to boost Chinese exports and dampen demand in China for American products.

BRIC Ready to Recast World Order

The summit of the world’s top emerging economies (Brazil, Russia, India and China) closed in Brasilia today. All the BRIC leaders came together, for the second time in history, to address various ways to overcome the consequences of the crisis, gear up for the G20 meeting and make the case for a new financial world order.

First coined by Goldman Sachs back in 2001, the term “BRIC” only gained full political and financial prestige in the beginning of the U.S. credit crunch in 2007. The recession that plagued developed countries pushed the emerging economies to the forefront as growth leaders and fundamentally changed the balance of forces on the global arena. BRIC countries have repeatedly called for a new world order in which emerging economies would have more say.

This time around was no exception. BRIC countries unanimously agreed that they had the right to more influence in such international organizations as the World Bank and the IMF. They also urged that reforms be initiated by the next G20 summit in November.

The parties also signed a memorandum outlining ways for the global economy to recover from the aftermath of the financial crisis. They placed special emphasis on preserving the stability of the main reserve currencies and counteracting any form of protectionism to ensure free trade.

On the summit’s sidelines, Russian President Dmitry Medvedev met with his Chinese counterpart Hu Jintao to ventilate business cooperation and international issues. President Medvedev offered China any assistance, on any scale, that Russia could provide in connection with the earthquake in the country’s Qinghai province. In turn, the Chinese leader said that he appreciated Medvedev’s consent to cut the summit short, since the earthquake forced him to return home immediately. Notably, both parties set much store by Sino-Russian relations.

Before he set off for China, however, Hu Jintao met with Brazilian leader Luiz Lula da Silva, and the countries managed to strike a number of deals to further develop bilateral partnerships, including those in trade and energy. For one, China is set to build a steel factory in Brazil, and is also interested in developing railway service in the country.

Another important step forward made at the summit was a memorandum of cooperation signed between the Bank for Development and Foreign Economic Affairs State Corporation (Vnesheconombank), Export-Import Bank of India, China Development Bank and the National Bank for Social and Economic Development of Brazil (BNDES). Under the memorandum, the first practical document within the BRIC format effectively aimed at creating an efficient funding infrastructure for multilateral trade, economic and investment cooperation, authorized financial development and exports support institutions will band together to work out funding schemes, including those for high-tech, innovative and energy efficiency projects, the Russian bank’s press office said.

Vnesheconombank’s CEO Vladimir Dmitriyev also announced that the bank was currently in talks with Brazil’s BNDES and aircraft manufacturer Embraer over a joint project to design and build a 50-seat jet for Russia’s regional air forces. The deal could involve a license to produce the jets, particularly at Tatarstan’s Kazan-based aircraft building plant, Dmitriyev clarified. Investment in such a project could reach hundreds of millions of dollars.

Venezuela, Iran strengthen cooperation ties to face capitalist world crisis

Tehran, May 17. ABN.- In the occasion of the Fourteenth Summit of the G-15, this Tuesday the President of Iran Mahmud Ahmadineyad and the Venezuelan foreign minister Nicolas Maduro held a meeting.

During the encounter that took place at the Iranian Government Palace, the Venezuelan minister and the President of Iran agreed on the necessity to keep progressing towards the consolidation of relations between the two countries and, even more, the consolidation of mechanisms that, from a South-South cooperation perspective, flourish as a sovereign and independent response to face the world crisis, as reads in an official communiqué issued by the Ministry of People’s Power for Foreign Affairs.

In this regard, President Ahmadineyad expressed his willingness to keep supporting Venezuela on technology and industry matters and even to increase the cooperation on energy.

Likewise, Maduro, on behalf of President Chavez and the entire Venezuelan people, congratulated Ahmadineyad and Iranian people for the outstanding organization and success of the G-15 Summit, which took place on Monday in Tehran.

After talking about world economic situation, Maduro said that he was convinced that the so-called first world countries, which have been seriously affected by this financial crisis, are about to wake up just as has happened in Latin America in recent years.

“Venezuela lasted 40 years submerged into passivity. It would not be strange if European peoples wake up, because they are going through the current contradictions we are witnessing,” Maduro stated.

Venezuela, Iran strengthen cooperation ties to face capitalist world crisis

Tehran, May 17. ABN.- In the occasion of the Fourteenth Summit of the G-15, this Tuesday the President of Iran Mahmud Ahmadineyad and the Venezuelan foreign minister Nicolas Maduro held a meeting.

During the encounter that took place at the Iranian Government Palace, the Venezuelan minister and the President of Iran agreed on the necessity to keep progressing towards the consolidation of relations between the two countries and, even more, the consolidation of mechanisms that, from a South-South cooperation perspective, flourish as a sovereign and independent response to face the world crisis, as reads in an official communiqué issued by the Ministry of People’s Power for Foreign Affairs.

In this regard, President Ahmadineyad expressed his willingness to keep supporting Venezuela on technology and industry matters and even to increase the cooperation on energy.

Likewise, Maduro, on behalf of President Chavez and the entire Venezuelan people, congratulated Ahmadineyad and Iranian people for the outstanding organization and success of the G-15 Summit, which took place on Monday in Tehran.

After talking about world economic situation, Maduro said that he was convinced that the so-called first world countries, which have been seriously affected by this financial crisis, are about to wake up just as has happened in Latin America in recent years.

“Venezuela lasted 40 years submerged into passivity. It would not be strange if European peoples wake up, because they are going through the current contradictions we are witnessing,” Maduro stated.

Venezuela Expands Telecommunications Sector

Caracas, May 18. ABN.- Recent figures provided by the National Telecommunications Commission (CONATEL) show that Venezuela has continuously expanded access to information and communication technologies (ICT) throughout the country in recent years.

From 2000 to late 2009, when the last survey was conducted, land-based telephone service in urban and rural Venezuela increased over 260 percent, growing from 2,535,966 subscribers in 2000 to 6,595,922 people in 2009.

According to CONATEL, mobile telephone use showed an increase of 448 percent, amounting to a growth in subscribers from 5,447,172 in 2000 to 24,405,387 in 2009. Venezuela’s population is 27.5 million, which means that mobile telephone use stood at 88.54 percent of the population.

In the same time period, internet use increased 743 percent. In 2000, there were 273,534 internet users in Venezuela, while through the end of 2009 there were 2,033,858, reported CONATEL.

The number of internet users who access the web without having a subscription at home also increased. In 2000, about 820,000 people had access to the service, while in 2009 7.5 million Venezuelans were connected to cyberspace. Nowadays, more than eight million Venezuelans have access to internet. These figures show an increase of more than 900 percent. The penetration of internet in Venezuela increased from only 3.38 percent in 2000 to 30.71 by the end of 2009.

Additionally, there are more than 668 Infocenters in Venezuela, which offer electronic services absolutely free of charge to over three million people.

Simón Bolívar Satellite: Technology for Everyone

The creation and launching into orbit of the Simón Bolívar Satellite, which has been in space since October 2008, is another of the advances reported by CONATEL in the telecommunications sector.

Since the launching of the satellite, long-distance communications amongst Venezuelans has expanded and improved. Additionally, medical and educational services, such as tele-medicine and tele-education, have been promoted.

With an investment of more than $420 million and agreements signed between Venezuela and China, the satellite facilitated the development of an entire technological platform in order to overcome all the communication shortages in rural areas.

Currently, the Simón Bolívar Satellite broadcasts official transmissions on TV and radio, provides internet connection for the Infocenters and the Bolivarian Centers of Informatics and Telematics (CIBIT), as well as distance medicine and education services (tele-medice and tele-education), especially in faraway communities.

The Venezuelan satellite has allowed for the connection of Inforcenters, indigenous communities, faraway or hard-to-access areas, seismology stations of the Venezuelan Foundation of Seismology Research, as well as improving communications in border populations and connecting the broadcasting of the state-owned media network during presidential events.

Translation by Press and Communications Office of the Embassy of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela to the U.S.

BCV: Venezuela has an excess of monetary liquidity

Caracas, May 18. ABN.- The Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela has at this right moment an excess monetary liquidity, having more than 14 billion bolivares ($5.4 billion), said on Tuesday the President of the Venezuelan Central Bank (BCV, Spanish abbreviation) Nelson Merentes.

In a press conference held at the Simon Bolivar Hall of the Miraflores Presidential Palace, the President of the BCV categorically denied the version of an economic crisis in Venezuela.

“Venezuelan monetary liquidity in bolivares is enough. At this right moment we are above 14 billion bolivares ($5.4 billion); that is to say, technically and politically, it has no sense to talk about a financial crisis, but an excess of (monetary) liquidity,” Merentes stressed.

Likewise, Merentes commented that regarding currency exchange matters, the granting of foreign currency aimed at imports during the first four months of 2010, compared to 2009, has increased at least 10 percent.

He detailed that, in total, the Government has granted about 8.9 billion dollars for imports.

Regarding the way the BCV will take part in the process of buying and selling foreign currencies, Merentes underscored that the financial entity will intervene based on the offer and supply through a very transparent process.

“The BCV is going to set a platform, without any kind of technical difficulty, so as to in certain moment, based on offer and supply, could result in an intervention and negotiate with securities in accordance with the Law Against Illicit Exchange Transactions,” he said.

Chavez open Twitter in English..

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Internal Pressure Forces Honduran Coup Regime (1\2) to Reverse Civil Liberties Crackdown, But Repression Continues

Venezuela:Final Declaration of Nueva Esparta, II Africa-South America Summit

Caracas, Sept 27. ABN.- Following the Final Declaration of the II Africa-South American Summit (ASAS), carried out in Margarita Island, Nueva Esparta state, Venezuela:

Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela
Margarita Island, Nueva Esparta
September 26 and 27, 2009

DECLARATION OF NUEVA ESPARTA
II AFRICA-SOUTH AMERICA SUMMIT

WE, the Heads of State and Government of Africa and South America, meeting in the Second Africa-South America Summit (II ASAS) in Nueva Esparta State, Isla de Margarita, Venezuela on September 26 and 27, 2009;

1. EXPRESSING our appreciation to His Excellency Commander Hugo Chávez Frίas, President of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela, the Government and the People of Venezuela for their warm reception and generous hospitality and for hosting, conducting and organizing the Second Africa-South America Summit with such excellence;

2. TAKING NOTE of the Abuja Declaration of the First Africa-South America Summit held in Abuja, Nigeria, on 30 November 2006 and the efforts that have been made since then to consolidate the process of cooperation and strategic partnership between our two regions;

3. AFFIRMING the commitment, as contained in the Abuja Declaration, to continue strengthening the links between our two regions and to foster and enhance cooperation in various areas of mutual interest;

4. CONSIDERING also the deeply rooted historical and cultural ties that have inspired this relationship;

5. ACKNOWLEDGING the active participation of Afro-descendant population in the development of South America as well as the contribution of South American countries to the consolidation of political independence and development on the African continent as part of this process;

6.REAFFIRMING our commitment to foster South-South Cooperation as a major objective of both regions, in order to complement the traditional North-South Cooperation and promote, among other aims, sustained economic growth and decent work, enable social justice, foster inclusive social policies by mainstreaming the effective participation of youths, civil society and gender groups and persons with special needs, ensure equality, respect and mutual regard among states in the global system, promote economic cooperation and facilitate distribution of the benefits derived from exchange of goods and services, as well as generation and transfer of technical knowledge, aiming at the accomplishment of the Millennium Development Goals;

7.AGREEING to exchange experience and foster close and effective co-operation between our regions, with the strong support of the African Union (AU) and the Union of South American Nations (UNASUR), important pillars of cooperation among our peoples, already forged by the contribution and role of both Organizations in the preparatory meetings leading up to the Second Summit;

8.COMMENDING the efforts undertaken so far by the Follow-Up Coordinating Committee of ASA to intensify cooperation between Africa and South America and also to promote effective multilateralism for the mutual benefits of the states and peoples of the two regions;

9.RECOGNIZING the outcomes of the International Seminar on the Poles of the South held in Caracas from 20 to 21 May 2008 and the Ministerial and Senior Officials/Experts Conferences held between the two Summits;

10.REITERATING our will to promote peace, security and international cooperation on the basis of adherence to multilateralism, observance of International Law, the Rule of Law, Democracy, and respect of human rights and International Humanitarian Law;

11.REAFFIRMING likewise our commitment to disarmament, non proliferation of nuclear weapons and other weapons of mass destruction and the fight against traffic in small arms and light weapons in all their aspects; taking into consideration the decision to fight the global drug problem, within the framework of common and shared responsibility, terrorism in all its form, piracy, mercenarism, transnational organized crime, especially the traffic of persons and the smuggling of migrants;

DECLARE THAT:

12.In order to translate this wider commitment into action, we affirm the need to develop, consolidate and build on our axes of cooperation in the following specific areas:

I.COOPERATION IN THE MULTILATERAL AREA

13.WE RENEW our commitment to multilateralism within the framework of unrestricted respect for the norms and principles of International Law and the Charter of the United Nations.

14.WE STATE our full support for the reform of the UN Security Council, as a process that, more than anything, should ensure a greater participation of developing countries in South America and Africa and the improvement of their working methods in order to correct current imbalances and make this Council a more democratic, transparent, representative, effective and legitimate body that responds to the new political realities. In this sense, we commend the efforts made in the intergovernmental negotiations on this matter, in accordance with Decision 62/557 of the UN General Assembly. We hope that this new stage of negotiations will be inclusive and fruitful in the 64th Session of the General Assembly.

15.WE TAKE NOTE that Africa maintains its common position on the UN Reform, as stipulated in the Ezulwini Consensus and the Sirte Declaration of the African Union Assembly of Heads of State and Government of July 2005, and reaffirm our commitment to the conclusion of the global processes of the UN Reform.

II.COOPERATION TO FIGHT CRIME AND OTHER RELATED MATTERS

16.WE RENEW our decision to strengthen initiatives for cooperation to fight all forms of transnational organized crime, such as illicit trafficking in Small Arms, Light Weapons and Ammunitions, the fight against human trafficking and against proliferation of nuclear and other weapons of mass destruction, both at the bilateral and multilateral levels, as well as our determination to implement follow-up mechanisms and action plans for institutional development and exchange of information with a view to developing joint work and cooperation in this area.

17.WE RECOGNISE the adverse effects that all aspects of the worldwide problem of drugs, including the illegal traffic of narcotics and psychotropic substances and related crimes, have on security, peace, governance, economic development and public health of our peoples, as this poses a serious challenge to social and political institutions, contributes to environmental degradation and poverty, and weakens the efforts for social integration. In this respect, we commit ourselves to fostering initiatives, proposals, actions and activities to fight this phenomenon, both bi-regionally and bilaterally, acting always under the principles of common and shared responsibility, demanding an integral and balanced approach, respect for the sovereignty of States and their territorial integrity, non intervention in the internal affairs and respect for human rights, as set forth in the Charter of the United Nations.

III.PEACE AND SECURITY

18.WE EXPRESS our commitment to maintenance of international peace and security, as well as peaceful dispute settlement, observing the principle against the threat or use of force in international relations and supporting peace processes in Africa as well as strengthening of existing mechanisms to prevent and solve conflicts.

19.WE EMPHASIZE the importance of promoting peace in both regions, by bolstering measures to encourage confidence and cooperation in the fields of defense and security, as the best means to warrant stability, security, democracy, human rights and comprehensive development of our peoples.

20.WE RECALL the need to peacefully solve, in accordance with the Charter of the United Nations, any problems or disputes which may endanger regional or global stability, as well as the determination to take appropriate and effective measures against any threats to peace and security caused by the proliferation of chemical, biological and nuclear weapons, as well as the illicit traffic in arms, ammunitions and explosives, under the relevant provisions of the United Nations.

21.WE COMMIT OURSELVES to continue strengthening dialogue and cooperation for promotion of peace and security between organizations and mechanisms in which we are members of, such as the Peace and Security Council of the African Union, the South-American Defense Council of UNASUR and the Zone of Peace and Cooperation in the South Atlantic (ZPCSA).

22.WE EMPHASIZE the importance of cooperation in the area of peace consolidation, both through acting within the Peace Building Commission (PBC) of the United Nations, and the Post-Conflict Reconstruction and Development Policy of the African Union. We commend the work developed by the PBC in Burundi, Sierra Leone, Central African Republic and Guinea-Bissau and urge support for both Post-Conflict Reconstruction and Development Policy of the AU and the PBC.

23.WE STRESS the importance of the United Nations Program of Action to Prevent, Combat and Eradicate the Illicit Trade in Small Arms and Light Weapons in All Its Aspects and call upon all States to participate and contribute towards the continued implementation of the above-mentioned Program.

24.WE CONDEMN the production and use of anti-personnel mines, by any country, as they jeopardize the lives of our peoples, affect their physical and emotional integrity and have a negative impact on the wellbeing and development of communities. The member states reaffirm their commitment to the Convention on the Prohibition of the Use, Stockpiling, Production and Transfer of Anti-Personnel Mines and on their Destruction, and invite all States which have not yet done so to adhere to or ratify this Convention.

25.WE EXPRESS concern over the existence of explosives left behind by the Second World War, especially in the form of landmines and other remnants of war, which continue to cause humanitarian and material damage and also obstruct development processes. In this regard, we call on the countries responsible for planting these landmines and explosives to cooperate with the affected countries, through the provision of maps that show locations of landmines and explosives, as well as the provision of the necessary technical assistance for their complete removal.

26.WE CONDEMN terrorism in all its manifestations and we reject any linking of terrorism to a specific culture, ethnicity, religion or peoples. We emphasize the importance of combating terrorism via active and efficient international cooperation in the framework of the relevant regional organizations and the United Nations, based on the respect of the objectives and principles of the Charter of the United Nations and in strict conformity with the principles of International law and human rights. We also share the conviction that the recourse to payment of ransom for terrorism should be condemned and criminalized.

27.RECOGNISING the threats and negative consequences caused by piracy which have greatly interrupted maritime and international security, WE UNDERSCORE the need for the international community to deal with the root causes of the piracy problem in territorial and international waters and strongly condemn and discourage payment of all forms of ransom on piracy.

28.WE SUPPORT the negotiations developed within the framework of the United Nations Convention on Certain Conventional Weapons on the prohibition of production and use of cluster ammunition given the damage they cause to civil populations.

29.WE REITERATE our deep concern at the use, recruitment, funding, training and transport of mercenaries or any other form of support to mercenaries, in violation of the purposes and principles set forth in the Charter of the United Nations.

IV.DEMOCRACY, GOVERNANCE, HUMAN RIGHTS AND POLITICAL ISSUES

30.WE REITERATE that human rights are universal, indivisible and interdependent, and that the international community should address itself to its comprehensive defense. We encourage the establishment of cooperation mechanisms among the countries of Africa and South America aimed at ensuring and promoting rights inherent to the individual, protected by International Law, including the right to development.

31.WE CONDEMN racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related forms of intolerance, as they deny the purposes and principles of the Charter of the United Nations. Our principles are based on respect for human rights and fundamental liberties of everybody without drawing a distinction of ethnic origin, color, gender, religion, political opinions or any other. We commit ourselves to delve into bi-regional cooperation and exchange of practices to fight any and all forms of intolerance, in accordance with the commitments undertaken under the Durban Declaration and Plan of Action.

32.WE EMPHASIZE the importance of promoting, at the relevant multilateral forums, respect for cultural, ethnic, religious, and linguistic diversity, as well as the comprehension of their different cultures among the peoples and nations of the world. We recognize the significance of national and regional peculiarities, as well as different historic and religious heritages within the framework of progressive development of International Law of Human Rights.

33.WE CALL FOR the strengthening of those national institutions in charge of timely implementing the Declaration on the Right of Indigenous Peoples adopted by the General Assembly of the United Nations in its Resolution AG/61/295 of September 13, 2007.

34.WE UNDERLINE the importance of promoting the exchange of experiences in the area of the rights of women, children and youth, as well as the promotion of the rights of the elderly and people with disabilities.
35.WE REAFFIRM the commitment of the States to full observance and protection of child and youth rights as a priority area of public policies in the fight against poverty and the fostering of health, education and culture, and the protection against all kinds of labor and sexual exploitation in the higher interest of children, with the State, society and family assuming their responsibility of ensuring maximum enjoyment of their fundamental rights.

36.WE ADVOCATE the right to development, democracy and respect and protection of the rights of indigenous peoples, including isolated indigenous peoples.

37.WE HIGHLIGHT the importance of fostering an Agenda, within the framework of WIPO, with a view to promote the transfer and dissemination of technology and access to knowledge and education to the benefit of developing countries and countries of less relative development, and the most vulnerable social groups.

38.WE CALL UPON the international community not to approve unilateral illegal and coercive measures as a means of exerting political, military or economic pressure against any country, in particular against developing countries, according to the Charter of the United Nations.

39.WE URGE the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and the Argentine Republic to resume negotiations in order to find, as a matter of urgency, a fair, peaceful and lasting solution to the dispute concerning sovereignty over the Falklands/Malvinas Islands and South Georgia and South Sandwich Islands and surrounding maritime spaces, in accordance with the resolutions of the United Nations and other pertinent regional and international organizations.

40.WE URGE the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, France, and the Republic of Mauritius to pursue negotiations in order to find, as a matter of urgency, a fair, peaceful and definitive solution to the issues regarding the sovereignty over Chagos Archipelago, including Diego Garcia, and Tromelin and the surrounding maritime spaces, in accordance with the resolutions of the United Nations and the other pertinent regional and international organizations.

41.WE URGE the Republic of France and the Union of Comoros to resume negotiations in order to find, as a matter of urgency, a fair, peaceful and definitive solution to the dispute regarding sovereignty over the Island of Mayotte and its surrounding maritime spaces in accordance with the resolutions of the United Nations and the other pertinent regional and international organizations.

V.AGRICULTURE, AGRIBUSINESS, RURAL DEVELOPMENT AND WATER RESOURCES

42.WE RECOGNISE the pressing need to articulate policies allowing for food security, including access to food, and therefore underscore our determination and strong willingness to conduct joint studies and exchange experiences in the field of food security in order to facilitate the achievement of the Millennium Development Goals. In this regard, we reject the distorting policies adopted by developed countries, due to the negative impact they have on agricultural production and investment in developing countries and on the exercise of the right to food.

43.WE RECOGNIZE the importance of water as a natural resource of States that is an essential element for life, with socio-economic and environmental functions. We shall promote the right of our citizens to have access to clean and safe water and sanitation within our respective jurisdictions.

44.WE REALIZE the need to promote sustainable use of water, and in this regard, we shall promote the exchange of information and best practices between our regions with a view to achieving the Millennium Development Goals.

45.WE REAFFIRM our commitment to the multilateral system as a valid tool to help solve the issue of hunger and poverty. In this regard, we urge developed countries to fulfill their funding commitments, undertaken at the High-Level Conference on World Food Security, held at FAO in June 2008. Further, we highlight our commitment to reinforce the Committee on World Food Security (CFS) as a multilateral forum where all the States can find alternatives to solve the world food insecurity.

VI.ECONOMY, TRADE, INVESTMENT AND TOURISM

46.WE TAKE INTO ACCOUNT the outcome of the First Conference of Trade Ministers of Africa and South America held on 19 June 2008 in Marrakesh, Morocco.

47.WE RECOGNIZE that the principles of complementarity, cooperation and solidarity contribute to social and economic development, as well as to transparent, non-discriminatory, fair and all-inclusive trade, in accordance with the multilateral rules of trade notwithstanding integration mechanisms and ratifying the need for ethical and responsible practices, taking into account the asymmetries, developmental differences and strategic peculiarities of each country. In this regard we recognize that international trade and commercial, scientific, technological and innovative exchange should be factors that contribute to growth, sustainable development, poverty reduction, and, in some instances, the protection and defense of traditional cultural knowledge, conservation practices and sustainable use of biodiversity, and to the strengthening of the fraternal dialogue among peoples, as well as their sovereign right of peoples to the use of their resources.

48.WE AGREE that fostering South-South trade and investment contributes to the complementarities of developing economies and to the identification of new opportunities for economic and commercial exchanges. In this regard, we believe that the Global System of Trade Preferences among Developing Countries (GSTP) is a tool in the attainment of these objectives and, therefore, call for a prompt conclusion of the 3rd Round Negotiations of the Generalized System of Trade Preferences that enables the diversification of production relations in accordance with the strategic areas of interest that may be identified by both regions.

49.WE REAFFIRM the fundamental role of the State in the definition of economic and social policies and as an economic stakeholder in socio-economic development, taking into account the peculiarities of each country.

50.WE RECOGNIZE the role of the private sector and other organized social stakeholders, and the importance of productive investment and its commitment to the economic development of our countries, and reiterate the will to foster cooperation to promote that sector in our development agenda in accordance with the interests, priorities and needs of each State.

51.WE REAFFIRM our commitment to reach a successful conclusion to the Doha Development Round of the World Trade Organization (WTO) in a fair and balanced manner to developing countries. Likewise we reaffirm the need for a transparent process involving all the members of the WTO, taking into account the needs of developing countries. Similarly, special attention should be given to the need of coordinating the positions of the two regions within the framework of the WTO, so as to promote the interests of developing countries by paying attention, in particular, to the challenges faced by less relatively developed countries.

52.WE COMMIT OURSELVES to the promotion of tourism as a factor of integration. We also commit ourselves to the promotion of tourism based on community development and absolute respect for our cultural heritage, customs and traditions.

53.WE RECOGNIZE that the current financial and economic crisis is a structural crisis. We therefore commit ourselves to fostering the changes needed in order to enable the establishment of a new international financial architecture, which must be based on a democratic decision-making process, including a balanced participation of all parties concerned and taking into account the views and perspectives of developing countries. We emphasize, likewise, the need to prevent the losses from such crises from being transferred to developing countries through the implementation of various financial safeguard mechanisms. We agree that in order to speed up the establishment of the proposed new international financial architecture, it is necessary to strengthen regional systems through the promotion of supportive financial and monetary institutions based on solidarity, cooperation, endogenous regional development and the formation of more democratic, fair and equitable societies within the framework of respect for national independence and sovereignty.

54.WE RECOGNIZE the need to move forward in the adoption of financial safeguard measures required to prevent the costs of the international financial crisis, taking into special consideration the conditions and circumstances of the more vulnerable economies. We agree on the need to foster the design of a new international and regional financial architecture in order to achieve the comprehensive development of our peoples.

VII.COMBATING POVERTY AND HUNGER

55.WE REAFFIRM our commitment to intensify our efforts to eradicate poverty and hunger, both in rural and urban areas with special attention to most vulnerable peoples, by tackling the root causes that generate them, with a view to fostering societies based on values such as social justice, solidarity, complementarity, equality, social inclusion, citizens´ involvement and respect for human rights and respect for Mother Earth in accordance with the provisions set out in Resolution 63/278 of the United Nations General Assembly. In this regard, WE RECOGNIZE the need to develop rural and urban areas in poverty situation by pursuing their inclusion into national projects.

56.WE REITERATE the importance of achieving the Development Objectives contained in the Millennium Declaration, and agree to develop and engage in joint efforts in the fight for eradicating poverty and hunger on a worldwide scale, as well as to promote social inclusion. Likewise, we underline the need to uphold the commitment reaffirmed in the Monterrey Consensus in 2002 (United Nations Conference on Financing for Development), whereby industrialized countries are to set aside 0.7% of their GDP to official development assistance (ODA) in favor of developing countries and 0.2% in favor of the Least Developed Countries (LDCs).

VIII.INFRASTRUCTURE DEVELOPMENT

57.WE COMMIT OURSELVES to identifying joint initiatives on the basis of the needs of each bloc for funding and developing projects.

58.WE RECOGNIZE the Infrastructure Initiative for the Integration of Regional Infrastructure in South America (IIRSA), the South-American Infrastructure and Planning Council of UNASUR, the New Partnership for the Development of Africa (NEPAD), and the Short-Term Action Plan (STAP) of the African Union as the foundations for mutual exchange and support in the field of infrastructure.

59.WE RENEW our commitment to facilitate transit through the territory of transit countries by all means of transport, in accordance with the applicable rules of International Law, to landlocked developing countries, and recognize that their special characteristics deserve an adequate approach to deal with their specific problems.

IX.ENERGY AND SOLID MINERALS

60.WE AGREE to consolidate our efforts in order to exchange experiences in terms of development and universal use of energy sources and energy saving by the governments and the peoples of both regions, in particular clean, renewable and alternative energy sources, with a view to extending their sustainable diffusion and utilization, as well as achieving maximum efficiency in their usage, in accordance with the relevant economic, social and environmental aspects, thus contributing to the economic and social transformation of the countries of Africa and South America. Considering the envisaged use of fossil fuels going into the future, both regions will cooperate on matters relating to the sustainable production and use of fossil fuel, particularly oil and gas.

61.WE COMMIT OURSELVES to enhancing energy-related cooperation between Africa and South America in order to contribute to industrial growth, the development of energy infrastructure, the exchange and transfer of technologies, the reduction of transaction costs and the training of human skills in order to attain the strategic goal of energy security and integration.

62.WE RECOGNIZE the importance of creating conditions to increase the presence of African and South American companies including the energy and mining sectors in both regions, which would contribute to strengthening South-South trade and investment. We renew our earlier mandate for AFREC and UNASUR to prepare an energy strategy to promote sustainable development, while respecting the sovereign rights to manage and regulate natural resources.

63.WE REAFFIRM the importance of continuing the studies to diversify the energy matrix in Africa and South America, as well as studies on the potential of other alternative sources of energy.

64.WE COMMIT OURSELVES to joining efforts with the aim of ensuring the exchange of experiences in the areas of Prospecting, Exploration and Treatment of Mineral Resources, prioritizing local transformation, in a diversified manner, using clean technologies that preserve the environment.

65.WE COMMIT OURSELVES to implementing joint projects, to be identified, in the areas of energy technologies and minerals.

X.SOCIAL ISSUES AND SPORTS

66.WE REAFFIRM sports, physical education and recreation as fundamental elements of transformation in improving the living conditions and physical and mental health of citizens, as well as in the processes of social inclusion and strengthening both individual and collective self-esteem and national identity.

67.WE SUPPORT the Tunisian initiative on the Proclamation of the year 2010 as the International Year of Youth as well as the holding of a Youth World Congress under the auspices at the United Nations and relevant International Organizations.

68.WE COMMIT OURSELVES to providing all the necessary support to ensure the success of the Africa Cup of Nations, to be held in Angola in January 2010, the success of the 2010 FIFA World Cup to be held in South Africa and the 2014 FIFA World Cup to be held in Brazil, and welcome the candidacy of Rio de Janeiro to host the Olympic Games in 2016.

69.WE DECIDE to establish sports competitions between Africa and South America and call upon the specialized Federations of both continents to work together in collaboration with all actors in order to organize different tournaments.

70.WE COMMIT OURSELVES to implementing active policies aimed at generating decent work and implementing the International Labor Organization fundamental conventions for creating conditions of quality employment for the development of our human resources, and to formulating economic policies giving globalization an ethical dimension by placing the person at the center of public policies.

71.WE WELCOME the programs approved by many countries to attain the full integration of immigrants into their societies as well as the reunion with their families. In this context, we recognize the important work being developed within the United Nations framework.

72.WE SHALL JOIN EFFORTS to work on and strengthen the areas of cooperation and integration in the field of health with a view to identifying structural weaknesses and other illness-determining social factors and preventing the high maternal and infant death rates, malnutrition, and improving access to drinking water, as well as fighting the transmission of HIV / AIDS / STDs and their impact on the population, as well as of other poverty-related illnesses such as tuberculosis, malaria, and other epidemics coexisting with non-transmittable diseases, through promotion of national and international initiatives which aim to produce and equitably distribute new vaccines and widen the access to essential medicines, with a view to guaranteeing health as an inalienable right of our peoples and achieving the Millennium Development Goals.

73.WE SHALL TAKE action in order to exchange information and good practices in fighting the risks of A (H1N1) Influenza for the peoples of both regions, particularly for the poorest and those with no ready access to health services. We advocate, jointly, sharing viral strains with pandemic potential, by using the system of the World Health Organization and building an equitable and fair system to share the benefits arising from the use of this genetic material.

XI.SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY AND INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGIES (ICTs)

74.WE SHALL JOIN EFFORTS to embark on initiatives of cooperation and exchange of experiences aimed at building the scientific, technological and institutional capacities of the STI (science, technology and innovation) national systems and the formulation and implementation of policies aimed at the sustainable development and social progress of both regions, with a view to foster integration and rapprochement of the African and South American scientific communities promoting the generation, transfer and social appropriation of scientific and technical knowledge. In this respect, and in order to promote social inclusion, we commit ourselves to fostering the use of information and communication technologies (ICTs), as well as other technologies, with a view to facilitating opportunities of education, health and better living conditions for the population.

75.WE AFFIRM the importance of joining efforts in order to make our history and current reality known, as well as our cultural diversity and common issues and problems, through the exchange of radio-and television-broadcast contents, which enable the initiation of cooperation in the areas of communication and information, and contribute to progressively establishing bi-regional television and radio stations.
76.WE EMPHASIZE the need for consolidating cooperation between Africa and South America in the fields of Information and Communication Technology (ICT) as well as undertaking joint action in order to reduce the digital divide as stipulated in the Tunis Declaration adopted by the World Summit on the Information Society held in 2005, and to promote technological literacy and the development and use of free software.

XII.EDUCATIONAL AND CULTURAL ISSUES

77.WE REGARD as fundamental the establishment of joint research projects in strategic and priority areas for both regions through permanent exchange programs for students, researchers and teachers, as well as the fostering of networks of teachers, researchers and students between academic institutions, and mechanisms of triangular cooperation and scholarship programs for those projects within the spirit of solidarity and complementarity.

78.WE ALSO REGARD as important the reinforcement of the bonds existing between the Diplomatic Academies of Africa and South America with a view to promoting mutual knowledge among the new generations of diplomats and the consolidation of new, multidisciplinary professional training.

79.WE COMMIT OURSELVES to strengthening and deepening supportive cooperation relations among the peoples of Africa and South America in order to recognize our cultural and historic heritage so as to coordinate efforts to guarantee education as a public, human right and universal asset based on the principles of social equality, inclusion and relevance in accordance with the Millennium Development Goals in the field of education.

80.WE RECOGNIZE the incidence of illiteracy as a factor of social exclusion in the development of our countries. We therefore agree to consolidate efforts, from a perspective of social and gender equality, to contribute to eradicate this scourge through the exchange and the promotion of successful practices in the field of teaching to read and write with a view to reaching the Millennium Development Goals.

81.WE TAKE NOTE that chewing coca leaves is an ancestral cultural manifestation of the Bolivian people, which must be respected by the international community.

82.WE UPHOLD the commitment to exchange experts and develop joint research projects on the contribution of the African Diaspora to the culture of the peoples of South America and we support the arrangements being advanced for the 2nd African Union Diaspora Summit, to be held in the near future.

83.WE CALL for the holding of festivals, meetings and other types of exchanges enabling mutual knowledge and cultural and human enrichment. We congratulate the countries that have implemented initiatives in this regard.

84.WE REAFFIRM our commitment to advance in the acquisition and transfer of knowledge in the field of cultural heritage. WE ALSO EXPRESS our concern over the illegal export, import and transfer of ownership of cultural property from our countries. WE FINALLY EMPHASIZE the need for the full implementation of the 1970 and 1995 Conventions of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) on returning the cultural properties to the countries of origin.

XIII.ENVIRONMENT

85.WE UNDERLINE the need to embrace the issue of climate change within the context of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) and the Kyoto Protocol, in accordance with the principles, norms and commitments set forth in the said international juridical framework. We highlight the relationship between the historical responsibility of developed countries for global warming and the obligation of those countries, as Parties to the Convention, to reduce their emissions of greenhouse gases. We underline the need to define, in 2009, more ambitious reduction targets for developed countries for the second commitment period of the Kyoto Protocol and, also, of comparable mitigation commitments and actions for all developed countries. Moreover, we agree on the need to continue fostering positions of consensus within the Group of 77 plus China in the process of negotiation of the Ad Hoc Working Group on Long-Term Cooperative Action, created by the Bali Action Plan.

86.WE REAFFIRM the need for a strong political commitment of the developed countries based on their historical responsibility, including those countries that did not adhere to the Kyoto Protocol to adopt and comply with their emission reduction commitments. WE OPPOSE any intention of modifying the balance of rights and obligations established in the Kyoto Protocol in respect of the mitigation commitments.

87.WE REITERATE our support for the Special Climate Change Fund aimed at developing countries, which works for the strengthening of domestic capacities in the face of climate imbalances and disasters. We therefore urge developed countries to make urgent and substantial contributions permitting developing countries to make use of the financial resources needed to take early adaptation actions. We commit ourselves to working towards achieving the outcome agreed upon within the framework of the Bali Action Plan of 2007 at the 15th Conference of the Parties, to be held in Copenhagen, Denmark, in 2009, and which we hope will enable a full, effective and sustained implementation of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC). In this regard, we pledge to promote our positions in the said conference.

88.WE REITERATE our political commitment regarding the implementation of the 10 year Strategic Plan and Framework to foster the implementation of the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD), approved by the 8th Conference of the Parties, at all levels.

89.WE TAKE NOTE of the national initiative undertaken by Ecuador, called Yasuní-ITT and aimed, among other aspects, at promoting the exploration and development of alternative sources to obtain revenues, reduce the non-sustainable production of natural resources and optimize the conservation of biological diversity.

90.WE ALSO TAKE NOTE of the project the Great Green Wall of Africa with a view to stop the desert from advancing in the Saharo-Sahelian region.

XIV.INSTITUTIONAL DEVELOPMENT, EXCHANGE OF INFORMATION AND SHARED VIEW ON APPROPRIATE PRACTICES

91.WE BELIEVE in a new conception of international economic relations fostering actively South-South exchange and based on the principles of transparency, complementarities, cooperation and solidarity, and enabling an adequate distribution of the benefits derived from the exchange of goods and services, in compliance with the norms of the multilateral trade system, supported by new instruments and regional financial institutions and strengthening the comprehensive development of peoples through the utilization of the potentials existing in their national territories.

92.WE RECOGNIZE and commit ourselves to undertaking efforts to promote sustainable and productive development, sharing best practices in fostering the development of micro and small enterprises and other alternative forms of production, the promotion of micro finances and the training and education of human resources for work enabling to contribute to the well-being of our peoples and to sustainable development as an engine of transformation in the fight against poverty and social exclusion.

XV.FOLLOW-UP MECHANISM

93.WE TAKE INTO ACCOUNT the Africa-South America Follow-up Mechanism that was established under the Abuja Declaration and urge Member States to give it the necessary support in the fulfillment of its mandate. The Follow-up Committee comprising High-Level Officials shall be responsible for proposing new initiatives and undertaking actions on previously agreed programs and projects, reviewing the progress of their implementation and disseminating information about cooperation arrangements. It shall also follow up on Ministerial and Summit decisions, and submit recommendations to Summits.

94.WE TAKE NOTE of the proposals contained in the “Nueva Esparta Implementation Plan” as well as the “Implementation Programme” of the ASA Declaration and Plan of Action presented by the South American and African parties, respectively. Both documents are annexed to the current Declaration. Expressing our satisfaction over the inaugural meetings of the eight ASA Work Groups, WE AGREE that the ASA Member States shall meet within six months at the Senior Officials level with the objective of producing a harmonized ImplementationProgramme that will define the prioritized projects, timeframe for implementation and financial mechanisms, these will then be submitted for approval during the next Ministerial Meeting.

95.In order to ensure effective implementation of this Declaration and the Implementation Plan, WE AGREE TO REINFORCE the Follow-up Mechanism as follows:

i.A meeting of the Ministers of Foreign Affairs for implementing actions will be held parallel to the 65th United Nations General Assembly;
ii.Regular meetings of the various Working Groups will take place at least once a year to ensure the full implementation of the projects they envisaged;
iii.A meeting will be held with the participation of the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Venezuela, as host country of the Second ASA Summit; the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the host country of the Third ASA Summit; Brazil and Nigeria, as Regional Coordinators; the Chairperson of the African Union Commission; and Ecuador, as Pro Tempore President of UNASUR in order to evaluate this Bi-Regional Mechanism as well as the execution of the Nueva Esparta Implementation Plan and the Nueva Esparta Programme of Implementation.

96.WE GLADLY ACCEPT the offer of the Great Socialist People’s Libyan Arab Jamahiriya to host the Third Africa – South America Summit (ASA) in 2011.

In case there is mass violation to human rights in Honduras, we’ll have to intervene immediately

Caracas, Sept 28 ABN.- “If there is mass violation to the human rights in Honduras, we might have to intervene in the country for the security of the population and the whole continent,” stated on Monday the General Secretary of the Organization of American States (OAS), Jose Miguel Insulza.

At a press conference celebrated at the OAS seat in Washington today, Insulza stressed that he will devote to the issue of Honduras until the institutionality and democracy is carried back to the Central American country.

“I will devote to the issue of Honduras until there is democracy in Honduras. The situation calls for it because with this de facto government the peace and security in the continent are threatened.”

Moreover, he added that “There is a breaking to the constitutionality of the country and I hope we succeed by means of diplomacy so as to solve the conflict, though the de facto foreign minister has said that he does not believe in diplomacy,” Insulza stressed.

Likewise, he commented that the visit of the OAS mission will take place when the results are evident, in which the only negotiable thing is the return to the constitutionality and democracy in Honduras.

“An OAS mission means to have answers, we will not go there unless we have them,” the General Secretary said.

Furthermore, he commented that if the de facto government carries out the elections, these would not be recognized. “The elections in Honduras will not be recognized unless democracy and Zelaya are returned to Honduras.”

United Nations Office on Drugs recognizes Venezuela’s effort to fight against drugs

Porlamar, Sept 28. ABN.- The Regional Representative for United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime, Jose Manuel Martinez Morales, recognized the effort made by Venezuela on its fight against drugs.

The statements were made during the opening ceremony of the Nineteenth Meeting of the Heads of National Drug Law Enforcement Agencies (HONLEA) Latin America and the Caribbean, taking place in Porlamar, Nueva Esparta state (Venezuela’s northeast).

“The biggest drug seizures seem to be concentrated in Latin America and Europe. South America seized 45% out of the world total. Colombia, Venezuela and Ecuador the highest amount of seizures,” he said.

Martinez Morales stated that the last numbers collected show that about 900 tons of cocaine are produced and distributed each year.

The studies carried out in this field indicate that a great amount comes from South America towards Europe and United States.

Africa is also going through serious problems dealing with this issue. Nigeria and Gambia stand out as the countries with biggest problems on drug trafficking and consumption.

In this sense, Martinez said that “multilateral offices must assume the challenge on drug control, with a sustained effort and a better use of the resources.”

Therefore, he made a call to HONLEA participants to intensify the efforts made on the drug area.

The delegates attending to the Nineteenth Meeting of the HONLEA Latin America and the Caribbean are committed to evaluate the situation on illicit drug trafficking and consumption, so as to propose joint projects allowing to carry out effective policies.

In this sense, there will be evaluated essentially the main regional tendencies on drug trafficking and measures to control it.

The Nineteenth Meeting of the HONLEA is taking place in Nueva Esparta state with the attendance of more than 100 international delegates.

Bank of the South will not impose IMF and World Bank humiliating conditions

Caracas, Sept 28 ABN.- The recently created Bank of the South is a financial entity that will bestow funds to the State parties so as to attack social problems but without the humiliating conditions of other multilateral entities, as the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank, for instance.

The above statement was issued by the Venezuelan Minister of Economy and Finances, Ali Rodriguez Araque, after his participation on the II Africa-South America Summit (ASAS), which was carried out during the weekend in Margarita island, Nueva Esparta state, northeast of Venezuela.

“The Bank of the South comes to overcome the asymmetries showed by other financial entities. The purpose is to create a fund in which we allocate resources so as to attack different problems of a social nature, beginning with projects to reduce poverty and decrease the unemployment rate,” he explained.

Moreover, the Minister added that now the integration in South America not only embraces the areas of energy, infrastructure, culture and trade, but that it will also comprise the financial integration.

Likewise, Rodriguez Araque added that initially the bank is to finance only projects of the member States, though they do not dismiss the possibility of developing projects outside the borders of the region.

NATIONAL AND INTERNATIONAL ANNOUNCEMENT BY THE RESISTANCE IN HONDURAS

Posted in Blogroll on September 23, 2009
The National Front of Resistance Against the Coup d’Etat, in view of recent developments brutally repressive executed by the military dictatorship of Mr. Roberto Micheletti , at the national and international public opinion denounces the following:

1. We condemn the brutal repression that runs the military dictatorship against the people who protest peacefully celebrating the return of President Manuel Zelaya of Honduras. This repression has expanded to neighborhoods and villages through aggression and military police indiscriminate and brutal. It is so great that the dictatorship has conditioned both stadiums to house arrest under the pretext of the curfew, so we demand the immediate release of all political prisoners.

We condemn the inhuman measures it has implemented the usurper regime against the people who are in the Embassy of the Federative Republic of Brazil, including the President and his family, fellow refugees Resistance there and diplomats of the embassy, such as cutting electricity and shortages of potable water service, so we denounce before the world outrage and calls for reinforced international solidarity to move from statements to action.

Given in the city of Tegucigalpa, M.D.C. at 22 days of September, 2009