Venezuelan flood victims can stay at presidential palace, says Hugo Chávez

[sasha031]

Dozens of Venezuelans left homeless by torrential rain can remain at the presidential palace until the government finds them new homes, the country's president, Hugo Chávez, said today.The news came as the death toll from flooding and mudslides reached 25.Chávez also visited the hillside slum of Antimano, in western Caracas, where he called on people to leave their homes to avoid the potential risks posed by more heavy rains.They told me that you did not want to leave until Chávez came. Well, here I am," he told residents.Authorities confirmed four more deaths in Caracas today, bringing the toll from flooding and mudslides to at least 25. About 5,000 people have lost their homes, prompting Chávez to urge those in high-risk areas to move to government shelters until the rains subside.Chávez told dozens of flood victims at the presidential palace that they could remain there until they had new homes.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2010/dec/02/venezuela-flood-victims-hugo-chavez?CMP=twt_atn

[DesertFlower]

1. but, but, but he's such a bad man.

[sasha031]

4. love your icon DesertFlower

I miss my Senator more than ever. What do you think he would have to say about Obama and his compromises?

[LiberalLoner]

2. You know, every time I read an article like this, it's hard for me to

get that to jibe with the "he's an evil dictator and must be eliminated" stuff I'm supposed to believe.

[sasha031]

3. Chávez is beloved by the people

he has won overwhelmingly more elections, do some research....

There has been so much propaganda, I'm surprised ti's still being repeated, when there is so much evidence to the contrary...

Oliver Stone's film "South of the Border" is not a bad place to start.

[LiberalLoner]

8. There's part of me that really wishes I could move to Venezuela. Not that they'd have me,

and I don't even speak Spanish, but I wish I could go there.

[sasha031]

9. me too, South America is progressing and doing well

if I was young I would, I would do allot of things differently.

[justinaforjustice]

11. Chavez Sincerely Cares About His People, Read "Chavez Nuestra".

Chavez grew up in a poor family in house with a dirt floor and no electricity. He sold his grandmother's sweets on the streets to make money and educated himself by reading voraciously before he entered the Venezuelan military academy.

There is a wonderful book which contains stories from the people who knew Chavez as a child growing up and those who worked with him thereafter titled "Chavez Nuestro" (translates to English as "Our Chavez") by Rosa Elizalde and Luis Baez, Casa Editora Abril, 2004). I'm sure it's been translated into English, but don't have an English language copy. It's a great read!

I really wish his speeches and television/radio presentations were available in English. He is a born teacher, quoting from the books he is reading, explaining historical events and concepts, sometimes bursting into an appropriate song.

The rains here have been dreadful, many people have lost their homes and crops to flooding. Chavez has not only opened the government's Miraflores Palace, similar to our White House, to flood victims, but arranged to have the National Assembly building (like our Congressional Capital) open to house flood victims as well. He has also promised to build new houses for them, as part of a national housing campaign which will construct thousands of new homes. Thanks in part to the thousands of Cuban medical personnel working here in Venezuela, the government is providing medical care, food and temporary housing to the flood victims. It is very, very different than the response of our government to the plight of New Orleans.

I wonder how long it will be before our government houses our foreclosure victims and the unemployed in the White House and Capital Building? Maybe we need to send them some un-invited guests?

[sasha031]

12. thank you, I will try to find it

he is truly beautiful human being.

[ohheckyeah]

5. Can you even imagine

homeless people being allowed to stay at the White House? LOL

[originalpckelly]

7. Yeah, I know.

It just shows you the kind of leader the guy is.

[originalpckelly]

6. You know, I don't think you'd ever hear this from anyone else.

I have to hand it to the guy, he's really doing what he says he does. He's putting his money where his mouth is. I will always have trouble with people who centralize power, rather than decentralize it, but at least he's not completely full of it like some people are. I think what separates him from the people who usually use socialist ideas to gain power, is that they would never do this.

It's a symbol, and a good one.

[Greyhound]

10. How dictatorial and elitist of him...

:sarcasm:

I make an effort to find out what I can about Venezuela, and while it is far from a paradise, he and they have consistently moved in the right direction for years. Poverty has been halved, corruption reduced, power diluted, and cooperative (as opposed to exploitative) alliances expanded throughout the region.