1/30/2005 Porto Alegre, Brazil - Hugo Chavez, the president of Venezuela came to the World Social Forum in Porto Alegre, Brazil today. Speaking at a press conference, before attending a 6 PM rally at the Gigantinho stadium, Chavez spoke about the increasing tension with Colombia. Rumors have been circulating throughout the forum that the United States was trying to provoke Colombia to attack Venezuela, and overthrow Chavez. After an incident between the two countries last week, Chavez said, “all of the nations in Latin America came together to get the two countries to work out their differences.” The United States was the only country in the world encouraging Colombia to take hostile action against Venezuela.

Chavez was adamant that capitalism will not solve the problems of hunger and poverty in the world. He said “we need to re-invent socialism. It won’t be the socialism that we saw in the Soviet Union, but it will emerge as we develop systems that are built on cooperation, not competition.” Venezuela now has 20,000 Cuban doctors in their country and is providing Cuba with oil. Venezuela has a lot of oil to sell and that is one of the reasons why the United States is so interested in the country.
Read More | Chavez Closes WSF with Call to Transcend Capitalism | More Indybay WSF Coverage