Jesse Jackson Tours Venezuela Farming Cooperative, Praises Chavez's Social Programs
The Rev. Jesse Jackson toured a state-run farming cooperative Tuesday and praised social programs established by Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez as noble efforts to help the poor.
The American civil rights leader told workers at the sprawling vegetable farm that programs bringing the poor free health care and education are positive, and that the U.S. government should start more projects like those Chavez has championed. The visit came as Jackson wrapped up a three-day visit in which he met Chavez and urged both his government and the United States to tone down their "hostile rhetoric."
Jackson arrived by helicopter at the farming cooperative, which was set up five months ago on land turned over to the poor as part of an agrarian reform program. "Those who worked on the plantation own the land now," Jackson told more than 100 workers, speaking from the porch of a building used as the cooperative's office. "This is the dawn of a new day." Jackson, who visited with members of his civil rights organization Rainbow/PUSH Coalition, criticized the U.S. war in Iraq and said the money being spent on the conflict should instead be going to social programs similar to those started by Chavez. "We have to fight for life, not death," Jackson said. Chavez says cooperatives are at the heart of his socialist "revolution" aimed at alleviating poverty.
Critics say the programs bring some new income for participants but not enough to lift them out of poverty. Cooperative workers receive monthly stipends of 200,000 bolivars (US$93 or euro76), and split up the proceeds of their crops - corn, cassava and peppers. Lourdes Hernandez, a 42-year-old mother-of-three, said before the cooperative was set up she used to make ends meet raising chickens and a few crops around her home. "I prefer to work as a group instead of doing it as an individual," she said. "Here we're all a family."
Some of Chavez's critics say his land reform program violates rights to private property, but the government denies it. The 90-hectare (222-acre) Hacienda Sanz was declared state land in April because the government said those who claimed ownership did not have documents to prove it. Some of the participants on Tuesday put on an Afro-Caribbean drumming performance for Jackson, and he joined in.
Jackson also led a prayer for the victims of Hurricane Katrina, and praised Chavez's offer of Venezuelan hurricane aid for Louisiana. Details of that aid have yet to be provided. Jackson said repeatedly during his visit that good relations are in both countries' interests since Venezuela is a top supplier of U.S. oil.http://ap.tbo.com/ap/breaking/MGBWIHKP0DE.html
Printer-friendly format
Email this thread to a friend
Bookmark this thread
(1000+ posts)
Send PM |
Profile |
Ignore
