To all those in the USA - get this film: OLIVER STONE'S COMANDANTE

[DVTimes]

http://www.cbc.ca/passionateeyesunda...nte/about.html

OLIVER STONE'S COMANDANTE

I was told that this film is baned in the USA (so much for being free). Watch it and you will see the real Cuba.

-------------------------------------------

In February 2002, acclaimed director Oliver Stone traveled to Havana to meet with Cuban leader, Fidel Castro. Over the course of three days, the two men engaged in a series of frank conversations, which culminated, months later, in the film Comandante.

In an interview with the London Times, Oliver Stone noted that directing Comandante - his first documentary film - has given him a welcome break from movie-making.

?I was tired of movies because they?re so big, expensive and artificial...and also the digital aspect was so important. It was great to take up the camera and feel it out and feel the freedom.?

The project began when Fernando Sulichan, a Spanish producer, offered Stone a chance to interview Fidel Castro for Spanish TV.

The Cuban leader had agreed to the interview under the condition that he could stop filming at any moment. The production team taped over 30 hours of interviews and Castro never exercised his power to stop the cameras.

Over the three days, Stone films Castro working at his office, touring a medical school and a museum, and follows him through the streets where he mingles freely with Cuban citizens.

In an interview with the BBC, Stone talked about his thoughts on Castro.

"Castro is isolated in the hemisphere and for those reasons I admire him because he's a fighter. He stood alone and in a sense he's Don Quixote, the last revolutionary, tilting at this windmill of keeping the island in a state of, I suppose, egalitarianism where everyone would get the break, everyone gets the education and everyone gets good water."

The film paints Castro as an engaging and intelligent leader, and looks beyond the familiar beard, cigar and jungle fatigues. Stone and Castro discuss pivotal moment in world history such as President Kennedy's assassination, the Bay of Pigs invasion and the Cuban missile crisis.

Originally produced for Spanish television, the European and American film communities expressed interest in the documentary. Comandante premiered at the Sundance Film Festival in January 2003 and HBO planned to air the film the following May in the U.S.

In April 2003 several men armed with a pistol and knives hijacked a Cuban ferry and 50 passengers and ordered the captain to sail for the U.S. The ferry was captured by Cuban authorities and a few days later three of the hijackers were executed by firing squad, on Castro's orders. 75 other dissidents were imprisoned.

In the controversy over this news story Comandante was banned from the New York Tribeca film festival and HBO postponed its broadcast stating that current events made the film 'incomplete'.

The network asked Oliver Stone to return to Cuba and interview Castro again with recent events in mind. Castro agreed as he was upset by the accusations and wanted to have a chance to deny them. The resulting film, Looking for Fidel is scheduled to run on HBO in April 2004.

Stone has also directed a documentary, Persona Non Grata about Yasser Arafat and the current state of the Palestinian conflict.

[Terry]

It aired in 2004 .. I missed it, dammit!

[bringer]

just burn an american flag and move to cuba. get it over with already

[DVTimes]

Originally Posted by Terry

It aired in 2004 .. I missed it, dammit!

Its well worth watching.

Fidel Castro drove with Oliver Stone, he even changed seats to make Oliver Stone more comfortable. He had not one security person with him. People loved him. It would have been too easy to have someone kill him. But people love the guy.

Even in the UK, all our mp's have security around them.

In many way, people seem far more free in Cuba than they do in most other countries.

[DVTimes]

Originally Posted by bringer

just burn an american flag and move to cuba. get it over with already

I am in the UK.

Why would I burn the USA flag?

After all, if you prefer to pay for your heath care and education, that's up to you. However if like me you feel that heath care and education should be free for all, and not a few Cuba works.

[project_naughty]

Originally Posted by allanuk

Its well worth watching.

Fidel Castro drove with Oliver Stone, he even changed seats to make Oliver Stone more comfortable. He had not one security person with him. People loved him. It would have been too easy to have someone kill him. But people love the guy.

Even in the UK, all our mp's have security around them.

In many way, people seem far more free in Cuba than they do in most other countries.

You are such a gullible fool, it has to be said.

[bringer]

Originally Posted by allanuk

I am in the UK.

Why would I burn the USA flag?

After all, if you prefer to pay for your heath care and education, that's up to you. However if like me you feel that heath care and education should be free for all, and not a few Cuba works.

lets think about this. free health care for all. where do the funds for this come from? any ideas? thats like overpaying for a honda and getting a "free" pepsi

[DVTimes]

By the way Americans, if you come to London, the lord mayer is a comunist, he is known as Red Ken (Ken Livingstone). In deed many of the older members of Labour or well known comunists (sorry).

[DVTimes]

Originally Posted by bringer

lets think about this. free health care for all. where do the funds for this come from? any ideas? thats like overpaying for a honda and getting a "free" pepsi

Its simple. It costs nothing to do, as no one can earn more than $10 a month.

So its very cheap to do.

And everybody is happy about it.

Everybody has a house. No homeless.

Sorry, looks like communism works. Darn it.

[DVTimes]

Originally Posted by project_naughty

You are such a gullible fool, it has to be said.

I must be. So must the people of Cuba who all have houses, free education, free health care.

So must be my friends who have been and a few of my college lecturers who went.

You are right, its a silly system.

Much better to have to pay for heath, education, housing. Get into debt, stress.

[DVTimes]

Hate to tell you this, but Cuba does work.

In fact, you could say it works better than that of the UK, or USA or indeed any other western country.

And if you think I am wrong, name one country that everybody has a house, free education (including university), free heath care (at Cuba's level).

[DVTimes]

BIOGRAPHY OF CASTRO

August 13, 1926: Fidel Castro is born on his family's sugar plantation in Oriente province in Cuba. From a very wealthy family, young Castro spent many of his early years in Catholic boarding schools.

1945: Castro attends the University of Havana's law school and earns a degree. During his student years, Castro becomes a political activist. He is dedicated to social justice and committed to reform of government, which he views as corrupt.

1947: Castro joins the Ortodoxos party, which has a mandate to bring about peaceful revolutionary change through constitutional means.

1948: Castro attends a Pan-American conference in Bogata, Columbia. The student congress turns violent and many people are killed in the riot. The passion and drama of the event compel Castro to consider guerilla warfare as a means of revolutionary change.

1949: Castro marries Mirta Diaz Balart and has his first son, Fidelito. The marriage lasts only 5 years. Castro gets custody of Fidelito and never re-marries (although he fathers many more children in several common-law relationships).

1950: Fidel Castro opens a private law practice in Havana and devotes himself to helping the poor.

1952: Edauro Chibas, Castro's politician mentor, commits suicide during a radio broadcast. Fidel accompanies him to the hospital.

Castro plans to run for the House of Representatives in the next election but General Batista overthrows Cuba's government in a coup. Castro challenges the new regime in court but is unsuccessful.

1953: Castro puts together a small band of revolutionaries and organizes an armed attack on the Moncada barracks in Oriente province on July 26th. Half of the attackers are killed. Castro and his brother Raul are taken prisoner. He is sentenced to 15 years in prison.

In response to the charges against him Castro gives a speech called 'History will Absolve Me' which becomes the manifesto of his movement.

1955: Fidel Castro is released from prison in a general amnesty. He goes to Mexico and organizes Cuban exiles into a fighting force called the 26th of July Revolutionary Movement. He meets Ernesto 'Che' Guevara, an Argentinean doctor who is dedicated to radical politics and socialist causes.

1956: A group of 82 men launch at attack on the north coast of Oriente province. Only 12 survive and they re-treat in the Sierra Maestra mountains and continue to wage guerilla warfare. The movement grows to 800 men.

Casto's movement grows in popularity as he promises class and farming reforms and an end to Batista's corrupt government.

1958: As the military campaigns continue, the U.S. ceases to support Batista and orders an arms embargo. In May, Batista pushes back with an offensive that he loses.

January 1, 1959: Batista flees Cuba and Castro's small force makes a victorious entry into Havana. Tension with the U.S. government grows as the Cuban government begins to expropriate American-owned properties.

1960: Cuba becomes friendly with the USSR and makes an agreement to buy Russian oil. The U.S. imposes an economic blockade that is still in force today.

1961: Diplomatic relations end with the U.S. A force of 1,300 Cuban exiles, trained and supported by the CIA, attempt to invade Cuba at the Bay of Pigs. The Cuban army easily defeats the rebels.

1962: The U.S. government discovers that the Soviet Union is setting up long-range ballistic missiles in Cuba. This is perceived as a threat and President Kennedy institutes a naval blockade of Cuba. President Kennedy warns the Russians that if they launch a missile from Cuba, the U.S. will retaliate with full force against them.

On October 24, the Russian ships carrying the missiles turn back and the missile sites in Cuba are dismantled.

Meanwhile, Castro is very popular in Cuba. He institutes sweeping land reforms which give land to the masses of peasants. He nationalizes hundreds of major companies in Cuba which had been previously foreign owned. He also sets up free education and health care for all Cubans.

But the upper and middle class in Cuba grow disillusioned with Castro's plan for the country. Thousands of Cubans risk their lives to escape to the U.S. rather than live in Castro's communist state.

1991: The collapse of communism in the Soviet Union throws Cuba into a domestic crisis. Economic aid ceases and Cuba endures a massive recession. Castro tries to modernize Cuba's economy by allowing some private enterprise.

2000: Elian Gonzalez, a young Cuban boy is the lone survivor of a Cuban refugee boat wreck that claimed his mother's life. His relatives in Miami fight to keep him in the U.S. but Fidel Castro insists that the boy be returned to Cuba to live with his Cuban father. A bitter battle ensues. The U.S. government finally seizes the child from a home in Miami and returns him to Cuba with his father.

2003: Fidel Castro is strongly criticized after he orders the death of three men who had tried to hijack a passenger ferry.


Castro has been with his current common-law wife Dalia Soto del Valle for 30 years and they have 5 sons; Angel, Antonio, Alejandro, Alexis and Alex.


He is now the longest serving leader of any country in the world.

[wjxxx]

Originally Posted by allanuk

Its simple. It costs nothing to do, as no one can earn more than $10 a month.

So its very cheap to do.

And everybody is happy about it.

Everybody has a house. No homeless.

Sorry, looks like communism works. Darn it.

OK so if it is such paradise then why people run from that paradise on boats risking lives ?

[Head]

Looks like a good movie.

[DVTimes]

Originally Posted by wjxxx

OK so if it is such paradise then why people run from that paradise on boats risking lives ?

But the upper and middle class in Cuba grow disillusioned with Castro's plan for the country. Thousands of Cubans risk their lives to escape to the U.S. rather than live in Castro's communist state.

[DVTimes]

I tell you what, buy the film - watch it - then make up your mind.

Lets face it, your USA government is hardly going to promote the fact than communism can work, as for many years it told you it did not.

In the UK we have had many supporters (well known) of communism, this includes the current Lord Mayor of London, Red Ken (Ken Livingstone). And support Cuba.

[wjxxx]

Originally Posted by allanuk

I tell you what, buy the film - watch it - then make up your mind.

Lets face it, your USA government is hardly going to promote the fact than communism can work, as for many years it told you it did not.

In the UK we have had many supporters (well known) of communism, this includes the current Lord Mayor of London, Red Ken (Ken Livingstone). And support Cuba.

Do you really beilieve in everything that you watch on DVD ?

[DVTimes]

Originally Posted by wjxxx

Do you really beilieve in everything that you watch on DVD ?

No, I believe people who have been to Cuba.

Why do you believe everything you see on TV - sorry silly question, your American (ha ha ha).

[project_naughty]

Originally Posted by allanuk

Hate to tell you this, but Cuba does work.

In fact, you could say it works better than that of the UK, or USA or indeed any other western country.

And if you think I am wrong, name one country that everybody has a house, free education (including university), free heath care (at Cuba's level).

What a poor, young, impressionable fool you are. I remember when I was 14 or 15, I thought that communism sounded attractive, until I actually thought about it. Then I realised that it is one of the worst systems ever invented by man. It's only killed over 100 million people since it was invented.

If communism is so successful, perhaps you could tell us all how many signups you get from Cuba, China and North Korea.

[wjxxx]

Originally Posted by allanuk

Why do you believe everything you see on TV - sorry silly question, your American (ha ha ha).

No, I remember and I`m not American

[DVTimes]

Originally Posted by project_naughty

What a poor, young, impressionable fool you are. I remember when I was 14 or 15, I thought that communism sounded attractive, until I actually thought about it. Then I realised that it is one of the worst systems ever invented by man. It's only killed over 100 million people since it was invented.

If communism is so successful, perhaps you could tell us all how many signups you get from Cuba, China and North Korea.

Ha Ha Ha.

China (and old USSR) was only communism by name. They are not real communist countries, and do not really help people.

Cuba is about helping people.

I would bet that there are a vast amount of people who die of poverty in both UK and USA.

[DVTimes]

Originally Posted by project_naughty

What a poor, young, impressionable fool you are. I remember when I was 14 or 15, I thought that communism sounded attractive, until I actually thought about it. Then I realised that it is one of the worst systems ever invented by man. It's only killed over 100 million people since it was invented.

If communism is so successful, perhaps you could tell us all how many signups you get from Cuba, China and North Korea.

So your argument for not going down Cuba's system is that you will not make money from porn.

I tell you right now, I would give up porn in a second, if I was given a free house, and free heath and education. No stress.

The only reason I do porn is to give myself the quality of life that those in Cuba have.

[project_naughty]

Originally Posted by allanuk

Ha Ha Ha.

China (and old USSR) was only communism by name. They are not real communist countries, and do not really help people.

Cuba is about helping people.

I would bet that there are a vast amount of people who die of poverty in both UK and USA.

Dipshit. That's the standard communist apologetic - "if only communism were practiced properly it would work". The reason communism doesn't work is that it is anti to natural human desires - desires such as being free to do pretty much what one likes and the ability to be rewarded for work. Communism grants neither.

[DVTimes]

Originally Posted by allanuk

Ha Ha Ha.

China (and old USSR) was only communism by name. They are not real communist countries, and do not really help people.

Cuba is about helping people.

I would bet that there are a vast amount of people who die of poverty in both UK and USA.

By the way, I think you will find that many millions have been killed over the years in wars that were not by communist countries.

(Most started by the USA).

[project_naughty]

Originally Posted by allanuk

So your argument for not going down Cuba's system is that you will not make money from porn.

I tell you right now, I would give up porn in a second, if I was given a free house, and free heath and education. No stress.

The only reason I do porn is to give myself the quality of life that those in Cuba have.

Absolutely unbelievable. What a dipshit.

[DVTimes]

Originally Posted by project_naughty

Dipshit. That's the standard communist apologetic - "if only communism were practiced properly it would work". The reason communism doesn't work is that it is anti to natural human desires - desires such as being free to do pretty much what one likes and the ability to be rewarded for work. Communism grants neither.

But it does work in Cuba.

[project_naughty]

Originally Posted by allanuk

By the way, I think you will find that many millions have been killed over the years in wars that were not by communist countries.

(Most started by the USA).

Dipshit. Back that argument up.

[Dirty Dane]

Originally Posted by allanuk

Hate to tell you this, but Cuba does work.

In fact, you could say it works better than that of the UK, or USA or indeed any other western country.

And if you think I am wrong, name one country that everybody has a house, free education (including university), free heath care (at Cuba's level).

We have it and it works.
Maybe not everyone use it, but everyone are offered it and have the opportunity if they choose and can. The only thing that suck is that we pay 51% tax, but if you can live better on your 49% than what we call minimum standard, then everything is fine.
Unfortunately many economies are based on the combination capitalism/greed, and not capitalism/responsibility. Thats why most western countries fail with their so-called welfare systems. I guess the scandinavian countries are exempt from the norm.

[DVTimes]

Originally Posted by project_naughty

Absolutely unbelievable. What a dipshit.

Well that's a clearly an educated argument. Maybe you should get a flight to Cuba and take advantage of there excellent and free education system.

[BRISK]

Originally Posted by allanuk

I tell you right now, I would give up porn in a second, if I was given a free house, and free heath and education. No stress.

You sound amazingly lazy. You want everything given to you without having to earn it?

Personally, I like meritocracy.

[project_naughty]

Originally Posted by allanuk

But it does work in Cuba.

What a brainless twat. Cubans live in poverty and misery. So much so that as many as possible of them try to escape to Florida each year.

[project_naughty]

Originally Posted by BRISK

You sound amazingly lazy. You want everything given to you without having to earn it?

Personally, I like meritocracy.

[project_naughty]

Originally Posted by allanuk

Well that's a clearly an educated argument. Maybe you should get a flight to Cuba and take advantage of there excellent and free education system.

What an utter 13 year old dipshit you are.

[DVTimes]

Originally Posted by project_naughty

What a brainless twat. Cubans live in poverty and misery. So much so that as many as possible of them try to escape to Florida each year.

Do they!!!!


Why, because thats what you have been fed on your TV's.

[klinton]

Oliver's movies and himself rox

[wjxxx]

Get a clue http://www.hup.harvard.edu/catalog/COUBLA.html

[DVTimes]

Statement from me;

Your all right. Cuba does not work, that DVD must have been a fake. All the Cubans in in were not really having fun. Cuban's do not have the best heath care in the world, and the UN must have lied about that. The Cubans do not have a fantastic education system (even though its been recognised as have being).

No you are right, Cuba sucks. All my friends are stupid and got it wrong. The people they stayed with were all faking being happy.

All those politicians in the UK including Red Ken the current Lord Mayor of London are wrong.

Its also wrong that all those Cubans have free homes. Much better to have homeless (as in the UK and USA).

Just seems odd that Castro is loved by his people, and that he has no security to protect him as he does not need it. Strange that in both the USA and UK the leaders have security around them.

Hope your happy now.

[Nydahl]

or watch "shake the dog " maybe you finaly wake up then

[DVTimes]

Originally Posted by BRISK

You sound amazingly lazy. You want everything given to you without having to earn it?

Personally, I like meritocracy.

And what do you do for a living? I take it you get up at 5am and work will 11pm in a coal mine?

What was that? You sit all day by your PC and view porn. Hell you do work hard.

By the way, who says those in Cuba do not earn it?

They work for the country and not for themselves.

[BlueDesignStudios]

Originally Posted by allanuk

He is now the longest serving leader of any country in the world.

not a bad little achievement

[DVTimes]

http://www.newsmax.com/archives/ic/2...7/122323.shtml
London Mayor to Celebrate Castro

London's mayor Ken Livingstone, who calls President George W. Bush "the greatest threat to life on this planet,? wants to celebrate Cuba's communist revolution by inviting Cuban dictator Fidel Castro to visit his city.



The visit would take place on the 50th anniversary of Castro?s return to Cuba to launch the guerrilla war that led to his communist takeover in 1959.

[DVTimes]

http://hurryupharry.bloghouse.net/ar...red_guests.php

March 02, 2005


Livingstone's honored guests



Mayor Ken Livingstone writes to The Guardian:

In order for me to perform a U-turn on inviting Fidel Castro to London (Diary, March 1), I would first have had to invite him. Of course, if Castro came to London he would be an honoured guest.

Regular readers of Harry's Place will recall Livingstone's "honoured guest" of last summer. Would it disturb Castro to be placed in the same category as a homophobic, anti-Jewish, misogynistic defender of suicide murderers? Given Sheikh Qaradawi's anti-American credentials, my guess is that it wouldn't.

Does Livingstone ever welcome democrats as honored guests to London? If he does, I would be pleased to hear about it, and to acknowledge it.

[DVTimes]

http://www.london.gov.uk/view_press_...?releaseid=127

Ken welcomes Mayor of Havana
16-3-2001 105


Ken Livingstone, Mayor of London, met his Cuban counterpart Conrado Martinez Corono, Mayor of Havana this week.

Mayor Martinez Corono dropped into see Mr Livingstone as part of a visit to the UK during which he will formalise Havana's relationship with the city of Glasgow.

During the meeting, Mr Livingstone told Mayor Corono: 'I want to make it clear that I fully support the UN call for the United States' illegal blockade of Cuba to be lifted. I am concerned that the election of a new President will mean a hardening of the US position on Cuba and I will do everything I can to oppose the blockade.'

Mr Oscar de los Reyes, representative of the Cuban embassy in London, invited Mr Livingstone to visit Cuba and the mayor responded positively, indicating that he would like to visit Havana during his mayoral term.

Ends

[Nydahl]

Originally Posted by project_naughty

What a brainless twat. Cubans live in poverty and misery. So much so that as many as possible of them try to escape to Florida each year.

nop its clear you have never been to Cuba.
Maybe they are not as much developed country but 99% of Cubans love their life style.They are naturaly fucking lazy people + they drink pretty much.

Thats typical US way of thinking - you are different so you must be some kind of shit.
Iraq is 1 example
those people are different and beleive in different faith.Who you think gives a fuck about your Mcdonalds ,sundays bbq , propaganda , fake freedom and low educated nation?90% of population in US are idiots unable to think and decide themselfs.Wake up man - the rest of the planet feels no respect for the quality of US nation.Its just you and only you who think that US are the # 1

[DVTimes]

http://www.poptel.org.uk/scgn/articles/0411/p6a.htm

New alliances to create a better world
By Ken Livingstone
The European Social Forum has provided an opportunity for over 20,000 people to exchange ideas and views, to learn and to discuss how to campaign for global social justice. We must debate how to democratise the world, so that we can tackle the obscene and growing concentration of power and wealth.

This struggle has taken longer than I thought when I became politically active in 1968. Every day my generation felt the world was on the point of transformation as we marched and saw the prospect of ending the war in Vietnam, the struggle to create socialism with a human face in Czechoslovakia and the challenge to de Gaulle?s regime in France. Since then, the situation has been rolled back. We did not understand what a long haul will be required to transform society and the world.

The European and World Social Forums arose in a difficult world situation. The collapse of the Soviet Union, whatever disagreements people may have had about its structure, represented a defeat for the vast majority of people across the world. It allowed capitalism to advance dramatically. It allowed a gross and excessive increase in the inequalities of wealth. In London inequality in wealth has doubled in the last 20 years. We have seen the erosion of pensions and other fundamentals of the welfare state. Yet people are increasingly fighting back ? the tide is beginning to turn.

There are a number of reasons that the US launched war against Iraq ? not only that US corporations wanted control of Iraq?s oil. Saddam Huss-ein?s government took a decision shortly before the war that the sale of Iraqi oil would no longer be in dollars, but would switch to euros. The determination to keep the dollar as the predominant global currency, in order to gain huge advantage for US capitalism is an issue that drives all US administrations. Britain played exactly the same game in its century of global domination, forcing all transactions to be through the pound, with every transaction helping to sustain and reinforce its global dominance. That was a further reason why the US was so determined to remove Saddam.

Every previous attempt to challenge the dominance of the dollar has failed.
However, within decades, there will be a decisive challenge to the dollar. This will be when the Chinese economy, already the second largest in the world, emerges as the largest economy, and questions why it should trade in dollars and prop up the current structure to the benefit of the United States. That will be a most dangerous time for the world. And the majority of the world?s population will have an interest in defeating a financial system that enslaves hundreds of millions of people.
Alliances needed
New alliances are needed at this time. When US imperialism moved against President Chavez?s government in Venezuela, it was important to support Chavez. A similar response will be necessary if the US tries to challenge Lula?s administration in Brazil. Wherever there is such a challenge by the United States, whether we have disagreements on the exact nature of the regime, we have to stand together. That is what the European and World Social Forums can represent at their best ? mobilising pressure to defend those threatened by US imperialism, the World Bank and the IMF.

I was very proud to welcome Aleida Guevara, the daughter of Che to London from Cuba during the ESF. There is no greater example in the world than Cuba of what can be done in the most difficult circumstances to create an alternative society on the very doorstep of the United States. Cuba has successfully resisted the pressure of the US for almost 50 years. It could not have done that without the support and mobilisation of its people. The Cuban revolution has meant that in a far poorer country there is a higher level of literacy and better healthcare in Cuba than there is in the US. It is an example of all that is possible as an alternative way of organising society.

Debate change
For all the talk of creating new structures and the ?third way?, every human society in history has had the same fault line running through it. In every society, there has been the struggle of those that do not have wealth and power against those that do.

It is important to consider whether each stand we take, as politicians, trade unionists or activists, moves us closer to challenging inequalities or pushes us back. I am proud that I can be both Mayor of London and on the side of the people who fight for change.

[wjxxx]

Thanks for posting that. So I know Livingstone is fucking idiot now.

[Nydahl]

Originally Posted by project_naughty

You are such a gullible fool, it has to be said.

no - you are - and typical.

[Kristian]

Originally Posted by allanuk

http://www.poptel.org.uk/scgn/articles/0411/p6a.htm

New alliances to create a better world
By Ken Livingstone
The European Social Forum has provided an opportunity for over 20,000 people to exchange ideas and views, to learn and to discuss how to campaign for global social justice. We must debate how to democratise the world, so that we can tackle the obscene and growing concentration of power and wealth.

This struggle has taken longer than I thought when I became politically active in 1968. Every day my generation felt the world was on the point of transformation as we marched and saw the prospect of ending the war in Vietnam, the struggle to create socialism with a human face in Czechoslovakia and the challenge to de Gaulle?s regime in France. Since then, the situation has been rolled back. We did not understand what a long haul will be required to transform society and the world.

The European and World Social Forums arose in a difficult world situation. The collapse of the Soviet Union, whatever disagreements people may have had about its structure, represented a defeat for the vast majority of people across the world. It allowed capitalism to advance dramatically. It allowed a gross and excessive increase in the inequalities of wealth. In London inequality in wealth has doubled in the last 20 years. We have seen the erosion of pensions and other fundamentals of the welfare state. Yet people are increasingly fighting back ? the tide is beginning to turn.

There are a number of reasons that the US launched war against Iraq ? not only that US corporations wanted control of Iraq?s oil. Saddam Huss-ein?s government took a decision shortly before the war that the sale of Iraqi oil would no longer be in dollars, but would switch to euros. The determination to keep the dollar as the predominant global currency, in order to gain huge advantage for US capitalism is an issue that drives all US administrations. Britain played exactly the same game in its century of global domination, forcing all transactions to be through the pound, with every transaction helping to sustain and reinforce its global dominance. That was a further reason why the US was so determined to remove Saddam.

Every previous attempt to challenge the dominance of the dollar has failed.
However, within decades, there will be a decisive challenge to the dollar. This will be when the Chinese economy, already the second largest in the world, emerges as the largest economy, and questions why it should trade in dollars and prop up the current structure to the benefit of the United States. That will be a most dangerous time for the world. And the majority of the world?s population will have an interest in defeating a financial system that enslaves hundreds of millions of people.
Alliances needed
New alliances are needed at this time. When US imperialism moved against President Chavez?s government in Venezuela, it was important to support Chavez. A similar response will be necessary if the US tries to challenge Lula?s administration in Brazil. Wherever there is such a challenge by the United States, whether we have disagreements on the exact nature of the regime, we have to stand together. That is what the European and World Social Forums can represent at their best ? mobilising pressure to defend those threatened by US imperialism, the World Bank and the IMF.

I was very proud to welcome Aleida Guevara, the daughter of Che to London from Cuba during the ESF. There is no greater example in the world than Cuba of what can be done in the most difficult circumstances to create an alternative society on the very doorstep of the United States. Cuba has successfully resisted the pressure of the US for almost 50 years. It could not have done that without the support and mobilisation of its people. The Cuban revolution has meant that in a far poorer country there is a higher level of literacy and better healthcare in Cuba than there is in the US. It is an example of all that is possible as an alternative way of organising society.

Debate change
For all the talk of creating new structures and the ?third way?, every human society in history has had the same fault line running through it. In every society, there has been the struggle of those that do not have wealth and power against those that do.

It is important to consider whether each stand we take, as politicians, trade unionists or activists, moves us closer to challenging inequalities or pushes us back. I am proud that I can be both Mayor of London and on the side of the people who fight for change.

This is socialism not communism.

[project_naughty]

Originally Posted by Nydahl

nop its clear you have never been to Cuba.
Maybe they are not as much developed country but 99% of Cubans love their life style.They are naturaly fucking lazy people + they drink pretty much.

Thats typical US way of thinking - you are different so you must be some kind of shit.
Iraq is 1 example
those people are different and beleive in different faith.Who you think gives a fuck about your Mcdonalds ,sundays bbq , propaganda , fake freedom and low educated nation?90% of population in US are idiots unable to think and decide themselfs.Wake up man - the rest of the planet feels no respect for the quality of US nation.Its just you and only you who think that US are the # 1

Another dipshit, I see.

[DVTimes]

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/article...442419,00.html

The Sunday Times - Britain



January 16, 2005

Ken asks Castro to visit London



KEN LIVINGSTONE, the mayor of London, is planning to celebrate the Cuban revolution by inviting Fidel Castro to the capital, writes Andrew Porter.
Livingstone is a great admirer of Cuba and has written in praise of its health and education systems, which he compares favourably to those of the United States.



He outlined his plans to celebrate the Cuban revolution to union officials last week. An aide of Livingstone?s then revealed that the mayor intends to invite the 78-year-old Cuban leader. Next year is the 50th anniversary of Castro?s return to Cuba to begin the long guerrilla war that led to the 1959 revolution.

An invitation could create another headache for Tony Blair, who is expected to call a general election in May. It will also open Livingstone, who was readmitted to the Labour party last January, to criticism that he is returning to his ?loony left? days as leader of the Greater London Council as ?Red Ken?.

One source who attended the meeting at which Castro was discussed said: ?It was like being back in the 1980s. I?m sure the London taxpayer is not going to be too happy about funding this sort of pathetic jamboree.?

Castro has been in poor health after a televised fall in October that shattered his kneecap. But just before Christmas he made his first public appearance dressed in his customary green suit.

He has been a thorn in the side of the Americans, something that pleases Livingstone, who describes President George W Bush as ?the greatest threat to life on this planet?.