Chavez condemns capitalism
Chavez condemns capitalismBy Larry Moonze in Havana, Cuba
Monday May 19, 2008 [04:00]
CAPITALISM is a huge machine that creates misery, Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez has said. And leaders of the European Union, Latin America and the Caribbean have noted the need to implement ambitious and timely policies to tackle poverty, global warming and high food prices.
The declaration of the 5th EU-Latin America and the Caribbean (VEU-LAC) called for upholding of sovereign equality of all states, respect of territorial integrity and political independence, refraining in international relations from the threat or use of force in any manner inconsistent with the purposes and principles of the United Nations Charter.
President Chavez, while in Lima, Peru last Friday, said it was hard to struggle against poverty and hunger through capitalism because neo-liberalism was like a tide that everyday produced misery and poverty.
“We have a formula to struggle against poverty, that is socialism,” he said. “We do not aspire that all the people follow the socialist proposal. However, it is necessary to make a huge effort to avoid the misfortunes caused by capitalism.”
President Chavez also said there was a lot of inequality in the world.
He said it was absurd that a few 100 families in the world had capital that was higher than that of two billion people on earth.
“What they do with all that money while millions of people have not even a cent to afford a piece of bread in several places of the world nobody knows,” said President Chavez, according to the Venezuelan news agency ABN.
And leaders of the VEU-LAC reaffirmed the decision to uphold resolution of disputes by peaceful means and in conformity with the principles of justice and international law.
“We firmly reject all coercive measures of unilateral character with extra-territorial effect that are contrary to international law and the commonly accepted rules of free trade,” the leaders stated. “We agree that this type of practice poses a serious threat to multilateralism. We reaffirm our well-known positions on the application of the extra-territorial provisions of the Helms-Burton Act.” The US uses the Helms-Burton Act in its perpetuation of economic and financial sanctions against Cuba.
The summit agreed to cooperate, in the framework of international law, on matters of security inter alia, illicit drugs and weapons trafficking, organised crime and terrorism, including hostage taking.
The leaders reiterated their commitment to policies for the eradication of hunger and the fight against poverty.
According to the Lima Declaration, the leaders from 66 countries were convinced that in the medium to longer-term, a lasting answer to the current crisis required coordinated actions from the international community with a view to strengthening agricultural capacities and rural development in order to meet a growing demand.
The summit that closed on Saturday agreed that trade was an engine for growth, sustainable development and poverty reduction.
Labels: CAPITALISM, CHAVEZ
posted by MrK @ 5:35 AM
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