Brazil - Brazzil Mag - LatAm's Ill Is Not Chavez But Misery and Lack of Education, Says Brazil's Lula

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Brazil's President, Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva said on Thursday, April 26, he believes in the "existence of a South American spirit but not in Chavism (from Venezuelan president Chavez)". However he admitted it's important to understand Venezuela, "before and after Chavez".

On a state visit to Chile and as one of the main speakers at the World Economic Forum on Latin America meeting in Santiago the Brazilian president underlined that Latin America's main problem "is not Chavez or any other regional leader but extreme poverty, the lack of education, which reflect how backward we are compared to developed nations".

When asked about recent statements from former Chilean president Ricardo Lagos who denied the existence of Chavism but rather a "leader with a fat checkbook from oil revenue", Lula da Silva said it was important "to understand Venezuela before and after Chavez", and to remember that Chavez domestic policies helped him to be re-elected and has "a democratic and civilized relation with Brazil".

"There's nothing wrong with that nor do I believe in the existence of Chavism, I believe in the existence of a South American spirit", he added.

Chilean president Michelle Bachelet said Chile and Brazil "have a century long relation, a friendship without limits,...we're two consolidated democracies, and it all rests in our commitment to freedom, respect for human rights and rule of the law. We share a commitment to address decisively and with resolution the social inequalities, poverty and exclusion which characterize our Latin American community".

Bachelet and Lula da Silva signed nine agreements covering different fields from social security to science and technology, with special emphasis on alternative fuels and bio fuels, where the visitors have a thirty years experience.

Cooperation in biofuels and ethanol covers the exchange of data, experts and the participation of government officials and representatives from the private sector and academia plus undertaking bilateral research and development projects.

To: Ch.C
written by João da Silva, April 27, 2007

Now your turn to comment on this article.

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To Joao ...
written by ch.c., April 27, 2007

How can anyone compare Chile and Brazil ?

Chile had the same problems than Brazil a not so long ago. By now.....they shine, they beat you at whatever metric You Joao is free to chose !
They beat you hands up, hands down, hands in the pocket, and even with fingers in their nose !

I am waiting the choice of your metric...then lets talk !

Sooooooo simple !

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To:Ch.C
written by João da Silva, April 27, 2007

Ch.C, you are an interesting feller.I know about Chile,since I gave some consulting services to companies there. They are very serious people. I have also traveled extensively in that country.

Re your comment "Chile had the same problems than Brazil a not so long ago.", I have heard the Chilians saying that Pinochet did use his iron hands to solve the problems and modernize that country.

Be blunt, my boy. Are you saying that we Brazilians have to use those iron fisted tactics? As I keep on saying, there is no point in critizing. You have to come out with some concrete solutions. I am willing to listen (provided you dont scream at me using upper case letters. BTW, you are a fast learner and not using them any more,for which I thank you so much)

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TO:Ch.C
written by João da Silva, April 27, 2007

BTW, I forgot to ask you. What do you think of this Chavez? Would appreciate your blunt analysis

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Chavez
written by Forrest Allen Brown, April 28, 2007

патамушта висит в разделе "картинки", а не клубничка!

castro and chavis should ben able to read this one

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written by conceicao, April 28, 2007

Is not Lula with his comments rather openly conveying his view that Chavez should step down at the end of his current term?

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To:conceicao
written by João da Silva, April 28, 2007

Is not Lula with his comments rather openly conveying his view that Chavez should step down at the end of his current term?

Regardless of Lula´s comments, Chavez intends to stay in power,because he has an enormous ego and paranoic.He really wants to be the next Fidel after the latter dies (if at all he has not yet passed away already!). Lula on the contrary, a more sophisticated politician.Though many of my friends think that he also intends to stay in power, I differ. He is quietly introducing "Lulaism" , by giving hand outs to the poor and indeed he is an Icon among the less favored ones.By the time he finishes his second mandate, he would have chosen a worthey successor and after he leaves the office, he would still be wielding the power behind the scenes.

As for Chavez´s intentions to stay in power: Intention is one thing and accomplishing the goal is a different thing.It is obvious that not all his Latin American counterparts are too happy about him. So only the time will say if he is really going to be the President of Venezuela for life.

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American Pilot was First
written by Ric, April 28, 2007

One thing Chavez can´t change: the world´s highest waterfall, which is in Venezuela, was discovered by Jimmy Angel, an American pilot, in 1935. That´s why they call it Angel Falls.

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To:Ric/American Pilot was First
written by João da Silva, April 28, 2007

One thing Chavez can´t change: the world´s highest waterfall, which is in Venezuela, was discovered by Jimmy Angel, an American pilot, in 1935. That´s why they call it Angel Falls.

Ric, I always thought that Victoria Falls in Uganda was the highest one in the world. It would be interesting to check it out and I will be doing it.

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written by Ric, April 28, 2007

Angel Falls is over 3,000 feet. The topography around Victoria wouldn´t be able to make Victoria Falls more than a quarter of that at best. Maybe Victoria is the widest, dunno.

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written by conceicao, April 28, 2007

Joao, I appreciate your comments. My thought is that people everywhere tend to tire of politicians and Lula's comments referring to "after Chavez" are an excellent way of blunting the latter's appeal
given Chavez's already lengthy tenure in office. Lula's comments remind me of Castello Branco's condemnation of continuismo - an element that gave the military regime a lot more credibility - in the
U.S. at least - than it might have otherwise had.

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To:Ric
written by João da Silva, April 28, 2007

You are right. It is not as high as Angel Falls. Went through this site:

http://www.rhinoafrica.com/destinations/victoria_falls/

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To:Conceção
written by João da Silva, April 28, 2007

Lula's comments remind me of Castello Branco's condemnation of continuismo - an element that gave the military regime a lot more credibility - in the
U.S. at least - than it might have otherwise had.

Catello Branco is still revered by many Brazilians for that view point and so is the military regime. It may sound strange,but is true.

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written by Ric, April 29, 2007

Do you think the accident involving a FAB jet trainer and Celso Tinoco´s Piper Aztec, in which President Castello Branco was killed, was an accident?

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To:Ric
written by João da Silva, May 01, 2007