Before leaving office, Lula slams US policy in Latin America

[Judi Lynn]

Source: Deutsche Presse-Agentur

Before leaving office, Lula slams US policy in Latin America
Dec 27, 2010, 19:58 GMT

Brasilia - Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, days before leaving office, again slammed the United States, complaining that the 'empire's' policies toward Latin America have persisted despite the election of leftwing US President Barack Obama.

'Nothing has changed in the US vision of Latin America, which makes me sad,' Lula told reporters at a breakfast meeting Monday in Brasilia.

Lula's handpicked successor, Dilma Rousseff, was elected on October 31 and takes office Sunday.

'The United States needs to realize the importance of its relations with Latin America, because of the proximity (to the region), because of the number of Latinos in the United States and because it is a peaceful continent,' Lula said.

He denounced that Washington persists in 'an empire's relations with poor countries.'


Read more: http://www.monstersandcritics.com/news/americas/news/article_1608124.php/Before-leaving-office-Lula-slams-US-policy-in-Latin-America

[EFerrari]

1. Lula!

:applause:

[ClarkUSA]

2. Lula's a hypocrite. As Prez, he sold out indigenous tribes to energy honchos à la "Avatar".

"Ecopolity: Lula insists on a damned dam in the Amazon"
www.ecopolity.com/.../lula-insists-on-a-damned-dam-in-the-amazon

More reading: http://www.google.com/search?client=safari&rls=en&q=lula+rain+forest+dams&ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF-8

[Judi Lynn]

3. Lula's legacy, leaving behind a transformed Brazil

Lula's legacy, leaving behind a transformed Brazil
By BRADLEY BROOKS
The Associated Press
Monday, December 27, 2010; 3:23 PM

~snip~
Since Silva's first election in 2002, the middle class has grown by 29 million people - more than the population of Texas - creating a powerful new domestic consumer market. Another 20 million people - as many as in New York state - were pulled from poverty. The country that received a record $30 billion bailout from the International Monetary Fund as it neared economic collapse in 2002 now lends money to the IMF, making up to $5 billion available for loans to other nations.

The value of Brazil's currency has more than doubled against the U.S. dollar. Inequality has been reduced, as the income of the poorest 10 percent of the population has grown five times faster than that of the richest 10 percent. Inflation has been tamed, unemployment is at a record low and illiteracy has dropped. By the time Brazil hosts the Olympics, it is forecast to be the globe's fifth-largest economy, surpassing Italy, Britain and France.

Early fears that the leftist union leader who battled Brazil's dictatorship would turn the nation socialist proved unfounded. Silva fought off the more radical wings of his Workers Party and used orthodox economic policies to lead the country to unprecedented growth. Under Silva, the economy expanded twice as fast per year as it did in the previous two decades, growing an average of 4 percent yearly. But Silva's legacy goes beyond figures. It's caught in the glint of an eye of a slum dweller such as Lima, who sees herself in Silva's impoverished roots, and feels pride that it was a man from the poor masses who finally delivered on the promise of Brazil.

"For decades I lived in a shack where sewage seeped in every time it rained," Lima said, as four grandchildren bounced around her new two-bedroom apartment in the Paraisopolis slum. "There were no windows, which made my bronchitis worse. Now look at this. I've got concrete floors, not sewage. Windows that let air flow through - you feel that breeze? My health is better. It's because of Lula."

More:
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/12/27/AR2010122701931.html

[iandhr]

4. And what a different man

then Chavez. Rather then try to be President for life and to seek degree powers he graciously stood aside for one of his lieutenants Dilma Rousseff. For which in my view deserves credit.

[roody]

6. I think they are both following the laws of their countries.

[iandhr]

7. Chavez wanted

degree powers because he did not like the result of the elections where his party lost half of the popular vote.

[Judi Lynn]

18. How do you explain the OTHER times he has been given these powers, or OTHER Latin leaders

as they used the same powers for their countries?

What excuse would you give for previous Venezuelan Presidents who also used this authority?

It was inevitable that in the next election the opposition would make gains if they allowed their candidates to run. The last time, they kept candidates out, claiming they were protesting. Of COURSE they would win seats if they ran some candidates.

What do you have against keeping informed on Venezuelan events? It would keep you from mangling the truth.

[mudplanet]

8. Yea. well, Brazil is like ten or twenty times bigger than Venezuela

and has very little history of interference in its politics from the US.

You give Lula credit for following the law. How about giving Chavez credit for the same thing, because he has followed the law. Whether you like his policies or him as a leader, he has followed the law.

[davidinalameda]

10. he followed the laws he made

[mudplanet]

11. Not an expert on Venezuelan Constitutional law but pretty sure

the legislative body makes the laws.

[davidinalameda]

16. and they pretty much passed what Hugo wanted

i.e. the "give me power to do what I want" law

[Judi Lynn]

13. Clearly you understand the topic is Luis Inacio Lula da Silva.

There are two other active Chavez thread awaiting your gracious touch.

By the way, Lula and Chavez have been good friends for years.

By the way, if it weren't for U.S. scum-sucking maggot Republicans, we STILL wouldn't have Presidential term limits here.

You know that.

Term limits were NOT part of the U.S. government's original construction, were not in place until the filthy scum right-wingers, after FDR died in office in his 3rd term, and their attempt to overthrow him in a coup failed, according to General Smedley Butler, became obsessed with the need to "fix" the Constitution so no other beloved effective, productive, widely successful Democrat could ever hold office over a long period again.

[Judi Lynn]

14. Lula: Chavez is without a doubt Venezuela's best president in the last 100 years.

05/10/2008
SPIEGEL Interview with Brazilian President Lula
'We Want to Join OPEC and Make Oil Cheaper'

~snip~
SPIEGEL: Left-leaning governments are in power almost everywhere in South America. But the continent is divided into a more social democratic movement, which you lead, and a more radical one, shaped by Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez. Are there any commonalities within the Latin American left any more?

Lula: The left in South America still uses the same slogans as the European left did in the 1920s and 1930s. Politicians take a more radical position in places where there is hunger, and where people have no access to education. This continent was churned up by military coups. Guerrilla groups were still active in many countries only 20 years ago. Today we all agree -- with the exception of FARC in Colombia -- that elections are the only legitimate way to acquire power. The victories of Hugo Chavez, Evo Morales in Bolivia and the others, most recently Fernando Lugo in Paraguay, signify democratic progress. It was high time that presidents were elected who are truly of the people.

SPIEGEL: But it's precisely Chavez, with his concept of socialism for the 21st century, who is intervening in the internal affairs of other countries, especially in the Andean region. Isn't he destabilizing the entire region?

Lula: He'll maybe have problems in his own country. Chavez is without a doubt Venezuela's best president in the last 100 years. Nevertheless, he has far less influence than people say he has. Europe has no need to worry about the left in Latin America.

SPIEGEL: A war almost broke out recently between Colombia and Ecuador.

Lula: And that's where Chavez proved to be a peacemaker. Fortunately, war in Latin America is usually waged only with words. The tongue is our most dangerous weapon. We talk too much!

More:
http://www.spiegel.de/international/world/0,1518,552900,00.html

[Hulk]

5. He has done a lot for Brazil!

You can debate whether or not the dam on the Amazon was in the best interest of the country or not....certainly it had some drastic negative effects; but he helped lift Brazil out of the third world status it has been stuck in.

[bvar22]

9. My only disagreement with Lula...

...is his categorizing of Obama as a "leftwing" president.

[Odin2005]

12. K&R.

[boppers]

15. Another failed pony-giver.

So sad.

[Judi Lynn]

19. Failed? Really? He is Brazil's absolutely beloved President, with ratings over 70%.

You must be mad.

He has done WONDERS for Brazil, hence his astounding popularity with the citizens.

[Judi Lynn]

20. " Brazil's Silva sees record approval rating"

Posted on Thursday, 12.16.10
Brazil's Silva sees record approval rating
The Associated Press

SAO PAULO -- Brazil's president is seeing record approval ratings with just over two weeks left before he leaves office.

The Ibope polling institute says Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva's personal approval ratings are now at 87 percent. That's up from 83 percent at the same time last year.

The poll released Thursday also indicates Silva's government has approval ratings of 80 percent - up from 72 percent a year ago.

The poll interviewed 2,002 people in 140 counties across Brazil. It has a margin of error of plus or minus two percentage points.

http://www.miamiherald.com/2010/12/16/1976860/brazils-silva-sees-record-approval.html

[Vidar]

17. Viva Lula!