----- Original Message ----- From: "soil ride" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: "soil ride" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Sent: Tuesday, February 25, 2003 7:44 AM Subject: Fw: [MLL] Fidel Castro's speech at Globalization Conference
> > ----- Original Message ----- > From: "Charles F. Moreira" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> > To: <Undisclosed-Recipient:;> > Sent: Sunday, February 23, 2003 3:24 PM > Subject: [MLL] Fidel Castro's speech at Globalization Conference > > > > Folks, > > > > The US and Anglo imperialists may well win the war should they invade Iraq > > but what Dr. Fidel Castro Ruz said at the Meeting on Globalisation and > > Development describes what is expected to happen to their drive for > > imperialist globalisation in the long term. > > > > Comrade Fidel also demonstrates his briliant knowledge and understanding > of > > the truth behind the lies and disinformation spread by the spin doctors of > > imperialist globalisation, it's true effects on the economies especially > of > > Third World nations, the true role of IT, the wasteful role of the > > consumerist society. > > > > Castro also re-iterates Karl Marx's vision of a globalised communist world > > of mutual benefit and cooperation for the benefit of all mankind, rather > > than a world of imperialist globalisation where the big imperialist powers > > will suck away the wealth of Third World Nations. > > > > As I've often said, the 11th day of September in the year 2001 marked a > > turning point in world events and today we see people like President Hugo > > Chavez of Venezuela turning the clock back on neo-liberal globalisation. > > > > Chavez has already initiated a crackdown on the pro-imperialist > businessmen > > and a union leader who tried to sabotage Venezuela's economy and I'm sure > > that the wannabe-management, yuppie NGO-types will squeal about how > > "undemocratic," "fascist," "totalitarian," "human rights violating," etc > > Chavez government is -- as is to be expected of these running dogs of > > imperialism. > > > > However, the hardships caused by neo-liberalism and the impending world > war > > will see the rise of more people like Hugo Chavez who will turn against > the > > tide of neo-liberal globalisation. > > > > Marxist-Leninists understand fully well that at the end of the day, > > economics determines politics and whatever subjective or fadish political > > ideologies ideas may prevail at the time. > > > > When the new hypermarket down the road robs a shopkeeper of his livelihood > > making him and his family unwilling victims of creative destruction by > > neo-liberal imperialist globalisation he's not going to be too enamoured > by > > the rhetorical nonsense about the "benefits" of free markets and > competition > > by proponents of imperialist globalisation, and many like him will join > the > > ranks of protestors on the barricades against globalisation. > > > > Perhaps the reason why Internet wallahs and IT types so easily believed > the > > rhetorical lies of the spin doctors of globalisation and its false > promises > > is because they stood to benefit from it on equal terms as their > > counterparts in the imperialist nations, especially the United States and > > they had a callous disregard for the hardship suffered by those who were > > displaced, saying "tough luck to them if they can't change." > > > > As Marx said, "being determines thinking" and it's precisely their > > apparently promising economic being back then which determined their > > arrogant thinking but now that their economic being has been brought down > to > > earth by the collapse of the dotcom bubble and moribund IT markets > > worldwide, we can expect their thinking to change correspondingly too > though > > it will perhaps take a while, given the expected time lag between the > > correspondence of conditions of actual existence and ideas. > > > > Speech by Castro follows > > > > Charles F. Moreira > > > > ================================================ > > > > Speech made by Dr. Fidel Castro Ruz, President of the Republic of Cuba, > > at the closing session of the 5th Meeting on Globalization and > > Development held in Havana, Cuba, on February 14, 2003. > > > > > > Highly esteemed participants in the Meeting on Globalization and > > Development; > > > > > > Distinguished guests: > > > > > > We have gathered here for a respectful debate and to listen to different > > points of view. We have been honored by the presence of eminent and > > perceptive thinkers, as well as representatives of international > > organizations, who were kind enough to accept the invitation extended to > > them, despite knowing that the majority of people attending this event > > have opinions that diverge considerably from the policies followed by > > the institutions they represent. Hospitality and respect for those who > > hold different opinions have become a tradition at these meetings. What > > worth would our analyses have if the ideas expressed were not matched up > > against other diametrically opposed ideas valiantly maintained by those > > who uphold another view of the world? > > > > Those of us who are not academics also need a dose of courage. Even when > > we strive to be as well informed as possible about what is happening in > > the world, sometimes we simply do not have the time needed to satisfy > > our desire to learn about the growing number of facts and opinions > > regarding the unique historical process we are living through and to try > > to predict the uncertain future lying ahead of us. > > > > But, we cannot complain. We have been given the privilege of living in > > what I would dare to call the most extraordinary and decisive era in all > > of human history. Just as U.S. professor Edmund Phelps of Columbia > > University said, when someone touched on an issue that departed from the > > economic theme he was addressing, "That is not my topic," I should say > > in advance that my topic today is not economics. My topic today is > > politics. Although there is no such thing as economics without politics, > > or politics without economics. > > > > Everything that has ever existed or exists today has been imposed on > > humanity. From the natural laws that caused the human race to evolve to > > the category of rational beings, to ethnic origin and skin color; from > > groups of individuals who wandered through the forests gathering fruits > > and roots, hunting or fishing, to the capitalist consumer societies with > > which a group of wealthy nations are bleeding the Earth dry today. > > > > Developed capitalism, modern imperialism and neoliberal globalization, > > as systems of world exploitation, have been imposed on the world, as has > > the basic lack of the principles of justice demanded for centuries by > > thinkers and philosophers for all human beings, yet still very far from > > being a reality on Earth. Not even those who liberated the 13 British > > colonies of North America in 1776, proclaiming as "self-evident truths" > > that all men are created equal, and that they are endowed by their > > Creator with certain inalienable rights, such as life, liberty and the > > pursuit of happiness, were capable of freeing the slaves. Instead, this > > monstrous institution was maintained for almost an entire century, until > > it became so anachronistic and unsustainable that a cruel and bloody war > > replaced it with other more subtle and modern, if not much less cruel, > > forms of exploitation and racial discrimination. The same could be said > > for those who waged the French Revolution in 1789 proclaiming liberty, > > equality and fraternity, yet were not capable of recognizing the freedom > > of their slaves in Haiti and the independence of that lucrative overseas > > colony. Instead, they sent 30,000 soldiers to suppress them, in a futile > > attempt to bring them back to submission. Despite the desires or > > intentions of the men of the Enlightenment, what was really commencing > > was a colonial era that extended to Africa, Oceania and almost all of > > Asia for centuries, including large countries like Indonesia, India and > > China. > > > > The doors to trade with Japan were blasted open with bombs, in the same > > way that today, even after a war that cost 50 million deaths in the name > > of democracy, independence and the freedom of the peoples, the doors are > > being blasted open for the WTO and the Multilateral Investments > > Agreement, for the control of the world's financial resources, the > > privatization of state companies in developing nations, a monopoly on > > patents and technology, and the attempt to demand the payment of debts > > totaling trillions of dollars, impossible to collect for the creditors > > and impossible to pay for the debtors, who grow increasingly poor, > > hungry and distanced from the living standards attained by those who > > were their colonial powers for centuries and who sold their sons and > > daughters as slaves or exploited them to the point of death, as they did > > with the native peoples of this hemisphere. > > > > It cannot be said that in the second half of the 20th century, the world > > was divided up again like it was in the late 19th and early 20th > > centuries. The world today can no longer be divided up, because it is > > the almost exclusive possession of the nation that emerged at the end of > > this turbulent history as the sole superpower and the most powerful > > empire to ever exist. It is enough to observe how almost all of the > > world's capitals tremble before the last word or the last statement has > > been pronounced or is about to be pronounced in Washington. If there > > were ever any illusion that the United Nations existed, it was > > practically dissolved by imperial decree after that fateful day of > > September 11, barely 17 months ago, and entirely replaced by the > > fiercest unilateralism ever seen. > > > > Throughout the last few days, as I listened to our distinguished > > participants and guests wield their well-sharpened arguments on issues > > like the world economic crisis and especially the situation in Latin > > America, the FTAA, the obstacles to the development of the poor > > countries in the world today, the role of social policies, and real > > facts, often in great detail, that such issues bring up on the causes of > > so many and such profound tragedies; when I heard that the GDP rose or > > fell, that sustained growth took place and then stopped, that an > > increase in exports is the only way to reduce the deficit, restore > > balance, create jobs, reduce poverty, boost development, fulfill > > obligations; and then other times, when it was said that privatization > > can be very useful, build confidence, attract investment at any cost, > > foster competitiveness, etc., etc., I could not help but admire the > > persistence with which, for half a century now, they have been > > recommending the way to leave underdevelopment and poverty behind. > > > > I said earlier that all opinions deserve to be respected. But so must be > > the many questions and doubts that spring to our minds. What kind of > > idyllic world are we living in? Where are the minimum conditions of > > equality that could make possible the solutions we are taught in schools > > of economics for the development of the Third World countries? Is there > > even really any such thing as free competition, equal availability of > > resources, or free access to relevant technologies, monopolized by those > > who possess not only the fruits of their own talent, but also the talent > > of others, plucked from the least developed countries without paying so > > much as a cent to those who used their meager resources to train them? > > > > In whose hands and under whose control are the international financial > > institutions and the enormous surplus of funds? Who owns the big banks? > > Where, how and by whom are huge sums of money laundered and deposited, > > money derived from financial speculation, tax evasion, large-scale drug > > trafficking and the fruits of massive embezzlement? Where are the funds > > of Mobutu and of dozens of other major embezzlers of public wealth, who > > handed over the resources and the sovereignty of their countries to > > foreign capital, with the blessing of their Western tutors? > > > > Where are the hundreds of billions of dollars that vanished from the > > former USSR and from Russia and how did that happen while the advisors, > > experts, specialists and ideologues from Europe and the United States > > were guiding it along the brilliant and blessed road to capitalism, > > where a plague of vultures swooped down from every side to take control > > of most of the country 's natural and economic resources? Who can be > > held morally accountable for the fact that today its population is > > decreasing and its health indicators -including infant and maternal > > mortality- have worsened, while many of its people, including old men > > and women who fought against fascism, are suffering hunger and extreme > > poverty, which afflict millions? > > > > Who is destroying the national culture of other peoples through a > > monopoly on the mass media and spreading the poison of consumerism to > > every corner of the Earth? How can we view the expenditure of a trillion > > dollars on commercial advertising every year, when that money could be > > used to remedy the lack of education, health care, drinking water and > > housing, the unemployment, hunger and malnutrition, that afflict > > billions of people around the world? Is this simply an economic issue, > > and not political and ethical? > > > > Neoliberal globalization constitutes the most blatant recolonization of > > the Third World. The FTAA, as has already been reiterated here, is the > > annexation of Latin America to the United States; a spurious union of > > unequal parties, in which the strongest will swallow up the weakest, > > including Canada, Mexico and Brazil. It is an immoral agreement that > > will bring free movement for capital and commodities but death for the > > "barbarians" who try to cross the boundaries of the empire through the > > slaughterhouse that the border between Mexico and the United States has > > become. For them there is no Adjustment Act that grants the automatic > > right to residence and employment -no matter what violations and crimes > > they may have committed- and which was created to destabilize Cuba as > > punishment for the revolutionary changes that took place in our country. > > > > I must state resolutely and with no hesitation whatsoever, as a > > revolutionary and a fighter who truly believes that a better world is > > possible, that in my opinion, the privatization of the wealth and > > natural resources of a country in exchange for foreign investment > > constitutes a major crime. It is tantamount to handing over cheaply, > > practically for free, all of the means of survival of the peoples in the > > Third World. And it will lead to a new form of recolonization, more > > convenient and self-serving, in which the natives will now cover the > > costs for public order and other essentials, which formerly corresponded > > to the colonial powers. > > > > In its relations with foreign capital, Cuba uses mutually beneficial and > > carefully considered forms of cooperation that do not impinge on the > > country 's sovereignty or place the control of national wealth and the > > country's political, economic and cultural life at the mercy of any > > foreign capital or power. > > > > As a rule, we do not give anything away for free, and when facing the > > dilemma of paying a price, we render unto Caesar the things that are > > Caesar' s and unto the people the things that are the people's. Make no > > mistake about it: we are a socialist country and we will continue to be > > socialists. And in spite of the colossal obstacles, we are building a > > new and more humane society, with more experience, enthusiasm, energy > > and dreams than ever. The U.S. dollar circulates, and the euro is > > beginning to circulate, and they may be followed by other currencies to > > facilitate tourism, but the currencies that fundamentally circulate are > > the regular Cuban peso and the convertible Cuban peso. The monetary > > situation is under control. The value of our national currency remained > > stable throughout the entire year of 2002, something almost unheard of > > in other countries, and there is no flight of hard currency. > > > > Among the immense problems weighing down on this hemisphere -as is all > > too well known- is the colossal external debt. Payment on the capital > > and interest of this debt sometimes absorbs up to 50% of national > > budgets, which has an extreme impact on the services essential to any > > country: health care, education and social security. > > > > The enormous interest that governments are forced to pay on deposits in > > the banks, so as to precariously defend themselves from speculative > > attacks and capital flight, make it absolutely impossible for them to > > achieve any amount of development with the country's own funds. > > > > The free exchange of currencies imposed by the new economic order > > constitutes a lethal instrument for the weak economies of countries > > striving to develop. It has been a long time since money was worth > > anything in itself, like it was in times past, something that could be > > saved and buried in an urn, like pieces of gold or silver. > > > > At Bretton Woods -as all economists know -the United States, which > > possessed 80% of the world's gold reserves, was accorded the privilege > > of issuing the worldwide reserve currency. But back then, for each > > banknote issued, it contracted an obligation to convert its value to > > gold. This obligation was fulfilled, guaranteeing the value of the paper > > currency through a simple procedure applied by the country's government, > > that of buying or selling gold in the necessary amounts when there was a > > surplus or deficit on the market. This formula was in place until 1971, > > when U.S. President Richard Nixon, after huge military expenditures and > > a war without taxes, adopted the unilateral decision to take the U.S. > > dollar off the gold standard. > > > > Nobody could have imagined the colossal speculation that would > > subsequently be unleashed in the buying and selling of currencies. Today > > those transactions have reached astronomical levels, totaling over a > > trillion dollars a day. > > > > Because of the credibility it had accumulated, the habit of using it as > > an instrument of exchange accepted by all, the enormous economic power > > of the country that issues it, and the lack of another instrument, the > > U.S. dollar continued to play its role. > > > > Such a privilege was not and could not be enjoyed by the countries of > > Latin America and the rest of the Third World. Our currencies are simply > > pieces of paper in the international market. Their value is limited to > > the amount of the country's reserves in hard currency, fundamentally > > U.S. dollars. No national currency in the countries of Latin American > > and the Caribbean is or can be stable. The real value of a currency may > > be equivalent to 100 today, and in a matter of months, weeks or days, > > depending on external or internal factors, it could be worth 50%, 40% or > > even 10% of its former value. What happened in Argentina with the > > idyllic, utopian and folkloric attempt to maintain parity between the > > peso and the dollar ultimately ended, as was only logical, in disaster. > > Something similar happened with the real and the dollar. Countries like > > Ecuador ended up throwing their own currency onto the trash heap, > > directly adopting the U.S. dollar as the only currency in domestic > > circulation. > > > > In Mexico, as a rule, every six years the change in government led to a > > heavy devaluation that considerably lessened the value of their > > currency. Brazil, as a result of the last speculative attack and the > > crisis of 1998, lost in barely eight weeks the almost 40 billion dollars > > it had acquired through the privatization of many of its best production > > and services companies. > > > > Capital flight is one of the worst forms of economic bleeding suffered > > by the countries of Latin America in recent decades. It is not a matter > > of transfers of profits earned by foreign investors; it is not a matter > > of the plunder entailed by the payment of foreign debts that were often > > contracted by dictatorial and corrupt regimes that squandered and > > embezzled the countries' funds, or used them to cover private debts or > > theft and shady dealings in private banks; nor is it a matter of the > > growing losses caused by the well-known phenomenon of unequal exchange. > > Rather, it is a matter of funds created within the country, surplus > > value earned off the backs of poorly paid workers, or the honest savings > > of intellectual workers and professionals, or the profits of small > > industries, businesses and services. > > > > The asphyxiating yoke that binds the Latin American countries to capital > > flight is the free purchase, with no restrictions or requirements > > whatsoever, of hard currency with national currency, a formula imposed > > as a sacred neoliberal principle by the international financial > > organizations. It is estimated that this flight of capital, in some > > countries like Venezuela, throughout a period of more than 40 years, has > > totaled approximately 250 billion dollars. Add to this figure the > > national funds that have escaped from Argentina, Brazil, Mexico and the > > rest of Latin America. > > > > Glory to the brave Venezuelan people and its valiant leader that have > > just established control over the exchange rate, thus putting and end in > > that country to the tragedy I have just described! > > > > I recall that at the time of the triumph of the Cuban Revolution, in > > 1959, the entire combined debt of Latin America was only five billion > > dollars. Its population at the time, 214.4 million, has increased to > > 543.4 million inhabitants -of whom 224 million are poor and over 50 > > million are > > illiterate- while its total combined debt is no less than 800 billion > > dollars in 2003. > > > > Why has this region of the hemisphere not achieved the post-war > > development seen in countries like Canada, New Zealand, and Australia, > > which were once European colonies, less wealthy and developed than us? > > Is it perhaps due in part to the doubtful privilege of being the > > backyard of the United States? Or could it be because we are a > > contemptible bunch of whites, blacks, Indians and half-breeds, and thus > > the negation of what the studies of the human genome and scientific > > research have demonstrated: that there are no differences in > > intellectual capacity among the different ethnic groups that make up the > > human species? Where does the fault lie? > > > > I began by saying that everything that has ever existed or exists today > > has been imposed on humanity. I fully agree with Karl Marx, who said > > that when the capitalist system of production and distribution no longer > > exists, and the exploitation of man-by-man disappears along with it, > > this would mark the end of the prehistory of the human race. He based > > his reasoning on the dialectical development of the history of our > > species. > > > > This way of thinking may seem overly simple and outdated to many. Marx > > studied the first stage of capitalism, an era that coincided with the > > birth of a new class, destined to transform that society, which > > inevitably became exploitative and ruthless, and to open the way to a > > new era and a more just world. When he put forth these views, there was > > still no such thing as electricity, telephones, internal combustion > > engines, modern ships that travel at high speed and carry huge cargoes, > > modern chemistry, synthetic products, airplanes that cross the Atlantic > > with hundreds of passengers in a matter of hours, radio, television, > > computers. He was spared from the horrifying vision of the irresponsible > > way in which modern technology has been used by man to destroy the > > forests, erode the earth, turn hundreds of millions of hectares of > > fertile soil into deserts, overexploit and pollute the seas, eliminate > > entire species of plants and animals, and poison the water we drink and > > the air we breathe. > > > > Marx, who developed his theory in England, the most developed country of > > the time, did not state the need for a worker-peasant alliance, nor > > could he have possibly perceived the colossal problem that would arise > > from the colonial world of that time. This was something that Lenin, his > > brilliant disciple, following the line of his thinking in the special > > circumstances of Imperial Russia, would discover and elaborate later. > > > > In the times of Marx, who witnessed the accelerated development of the > > English industrial revolution and the nascent industrialization of > > Germany and France, no one would have been able to predict, unless he > > were clairvoyant, something so alien to his character, the role that the > > United States of America would come to play barely 60 years after his > > death. > > > > While Malthus sowed pessimism, Marx inspired hope. > > > > In those days, the geography of the planet and the laws that govern the > > biosphere - the land, forest, seas and air - were little known. Very > > little was known about outer space. The theory of relativity did not > > exist, nor had a single word been written about the big bang. > > > > Marx could not have imagined that cell phones would allow people to > > communicate from one end of the earth to another at the speed of light, > > that trillions of dollars in stocks, currencies, hedge operations, > > commodities that do not move from where they are and other securities > > would change hands every day, and that the profits from speculation > > would outweigh surplus value. > > > > Marx believed above all in the development of productive forces and the > > infinite possibilities of science and human talent. He believed that a > > fully developed world was an essential condition for the existence of a > > social system capable of producing the goods needed to fully satisfy the > > material and spiritual needs of society. He did not envision a > > Revolution in a single country, and he saw so far into the future that > > he was able to come up with the idea of a globalized world, such as I > > have always understood it, a world joined together in peace and in > > access to the full enjoyment of the wealth it can create. He could not > > have even conceived of the idea of a world divided between rich and > > poor. "Workers of the world, unite!" he proclaimed, and in the real > > world today, this could be interpreted as a call for unity among all of > > the manual and intellectual workers, the peasants and the poor in every > > country, in pursuit of what has come to be called "a better world". > > > > For the first time in human history, our species is facing a real threat > > of extinction. It is endangered not only by the destruction of its > > natural habitat, but also by grave political threats, increasingly > > sophisticated weapons of mass destruction and extermination, and > > extremist doctrines backed by lethal and annihilating force. > > > > These are not days of hope and glory for peace in the world. A war is on > > the verge of breaking out. This would not be a confrontation between > > comparable forces. On the one side, there would be the hegemonic > > superpower, with all of its overwhelming military might and technology, > > backed by its main ally, another country with nuclear capability and a > > member of the United Nations Security Council. On the other side, a > > country whose people have suffered more than ten years of daily bombings > > and the loss of hundreds of thousands of lives, mainly children, through > > hunger and disease, following an unequal war provoked by Iraq's illegal > > occupation of Kuwait, which was an independent state recognized by the > > international community. > > > > The vast majority of worldwide public opinion is unanimously opposed to > > a new war. Above all, they are opposed to the adoption of a unilateral > > decision by the United States government in complete disregard for > > international rules and the power and authority of the United Nations, > > as limited as they already are. This is an unnecessary war, under > > pretexts that are neither credible nor proven. > > > > Completely debilitated by the last war against the United States in > > 1991, Iraq -which was backed and armed to a considerable extent by the > > West during its war with Iran- completely lacks the capacity to > > counteract the offensive and defensive weaponry wielded by the United > > States. The United States, on the other hand, is fully capable of wiping > > out any risk of the use by Iraq of nuclear, chemical or biological > > weapons, if Iraq does in fact possess any such weapons; this is in > > itself highly unlikely, and even if it did, any attempt to use them > > would be politically absurd and militarily suicidal. > > > > The real danger lies in the fact that such an armed attack would become > > a patriotic war for the Iraqi people, and no one can gauge in advance > > their response and resistance, how long this war could last, how many > > deaths and how much destruction it could cause, and what the human, > > political and economic consequences would be for each of the > > adversaries. > > > > The world would doubtlessly be subjected to enormous economic risks, in > > the midst of the profound crisis it is already facing today. No one can > > predict what would happen with oil prices under these circumstances. > > > > On January 29, when I spoke on the occasion of the 150th anniversary of > > Jose Marti's birth, I quoted and analyzed a number of speeches made by > > the president of the United States. I will now quote just a few lines, > > which speak for themselves: > > > > "We will use every necessary weapon of war." > > > > "Every nation, in every region, now has a decision to make. Either you > > are with us, or you are with the terrorists." > > > > "This is civilization's fight." > > > > "The great achievement of our time, and the great hope of every time - > > now depends on us." > > > > "And we know that God is not neutral." > > > > (September 20, 2001) > > > > "Our security will require transforming the military you will lead -- a > > military that must be ready to strike at a moment's notice in any dark > > corner of the world (...) ready for preemptive action (...)" > > > > "We must uncover terror cells in 60 or more countries." > > > > "We are in a conflict between good and evil." > > > > (Speech made on June 1, 2002, on the 200th anniversary of the West Point > > Military Academy) > > > > "The United States will ask the UN Security Council to convene on > > February 5, to consider the facts of Iraq's ongoing defiance of the > > world." > > > > "We will consult, but let there be no misunderstanding. If Saddam > > Hussein does not fully disarm, for the safety of our people and for the > > peace of the world, we will lead a coalition to disarm him." > > > > "And if war is forced upon us, we will fight with the full force and > > might of the United States Army." > > > > (Address to Congress, January 28, 2003) > > > > Although President Bush states his conviction that God is not neutral, > > the fact is that Pope John Paul II and almost all of the world's > > religious leaders oppose this war. Who can actually interpret the Lord's > > designs? > > > > Two days ago we were discussing the future of humanity here. Some > > wondered what would come after globalization, whether the current world > > economic order would be long or short-lived, how long the new imperial > > system would last. I will try, at great risk, to improvise an answer to > > these questions, on which I have meditated more than once. > > > > I base myself on some personal convictions in which I firmly believe. > > Men do not make history. Subjective factors can accelerate or delay > > major events, even for relatively long periods, but they are not a > > decisive factor, nor can they prevent the final outcome. Extremely > > serious accidents of human or natural origin, a nuclear war, the > > accelerated destruction of the environment and a relatively abrupt > > change in the climate can alter all estimates and forecasts made by the > > most visionary talents of our species. All of these things could still > > be avoided. > > > > Objectives factors derived from the very process of development of human > > society are the decisive factors. > > > > Economy is not a natural science, it is not and cannot be exact; it is a > > social science. Concepts and ideas, trends and laws that have emerged at > > a given time in a specific social and economic system tend to endure, > > even when these systems may be reaching their final stages or have even > > disappeared. This often prevents a correct interpretation of events. The > > huge diversity of views and theories we hear at social science meetings > > or gatherings bear witness to this. The huge mistakes made in any > > profound revolutionary process are another good example. > > > > Politics, I would say, is a combination of both science and art, > > although it is more art than science. > > > > We cannot forget that in both cases, responsibility lies with human > > beings, and they are as varied and variable as the particles contained > > in their genetic makeup. > > > > There is a lesson we can draw from history on which I usually insist. > > Great solutions can only come out of great crises. I think that there > > are very few exceptions to this rule. > > > > Today we are facing a great general crisis, both economic and political. > > It may be the first fully global crisis. > > > > The prevailing economic order is unsustainable and unbearable. There is > > no possible solution without major and radical changes. It is not > > necessary to provide abundant data that has been repeated here and > > elsewhere to understand the reality. Examples of local, regional and > > hemispheric crises that are repeated with increasing frequency > > demonstrate this. No country, rich or poor, is spared from these crises. > > Many political parties are totally discredited. The people are > > increasingly ungovernable. International financial bodies and related > > institutions like the WTO, or groups of super wealthy countries like the > > Group of 7, can no longer find a place to meet. Social movements and > > organizations affected by or sensitive to the tragedy the world is > > living through are growing in number everywhere. Modern technology has > > made it possible to spread messages without help from the traditional > > media. > > > > Despite the fact that 800 million people are still illiterate, billions > > of people have access to a certain amount of information, through one > > means or another, and they suffer on a daily basis from the scourges of > > unemployment, poverty, the shortage of land, poor health, insecurity; > > the lack of schools, housing, minimum hygienic conditions, self-esteem > > and social status. Even consumerist commercial advertising itself > > heightens their awareness of their own unmet needs and hopelessness. > > > > There is no way to continue this systematic deception. They cannot all > > be killed off. There are already over 6.2 billion inhabitants on the > > planet, whose population has increased fourfold in just one century. The > > ranks of the discontent in the Third World are joined by millions of > > educated workers and men and women from the professional sectors and > > middle classes of the developed countries, who are increasingly > > concerned about their own future and that of their children, as they > > witness the poisoning of the air, the water, the soil and the plants, > > and the disappearance of everything beautiful around them, a consequence > > of the irresponsible and anarchic use of natural resources. The > > continued existence of human beings in any part of the world is > > increasingly becoming a fight for survival. > > > > That there is no alternative for humanity but to change its course is > > something that no one can deny. How will it change? What new forms of > > political, economic and social life will be adopted? That is the most > > difficult question to answer, and it leads me to the final idea I want > > to express. > > > > In this case, the subjective factor will play a more important role than > > ever, and for that reason, it must be informed and encouraged to think. > > Spreading information, fostering debate and building awareness will be > > the responsibility of the most advanced. The World Social Forum in Porto > > Alegre was an encouraging example of the new methods of struggle. The > > 100,000 people who gathered there to reflect and discuss have presented > > a vision of the forces that are emerging and will push forward the > > changes that are objectively imposed on the world. > > > > In Cuba, we call this struggle the Battle of Ideas. We have been fully > > engaged in this battle for three years and two months now. More than a > > hundred social programs have emerged from it, the majority of them > > devoted to education, culture, the spreading of knowledge, a revolution > > in the school systems, the dissemination of information on a wide range > > of political and economic topics, social work, increased opportunities > > for higher studies, and the in-depth exploration of our most pressing > > social problems, and their causes and solutions. Our goal is for the > > entire population to achieve a high degree of comprehensive general > > knowledge and culture, without which even people with a university > > degree could be considered functionally illiterate. > > > > Our plans are ambitious, but we are truly encouraged by the results we > > have obtained so far. > > > > Despite the fact that the world is living through a major economic > > crisis, our country has managed to reduce unemployment to 3.3%. We hope > > to reduce it to less than 3% by the end of the year, which would give us > > the status of a country with full employment. > > > > Perhaps the most useful contribution to the struggle for a better world > > that we can make through our modest efforts will be to demonstrate how > > much can be done with so little, if all of the human and material > > resources of a society are put at the service of the people. > > > > Nature cannot be destroyed, and the rotten and wasteful consumer > > societies cannot prevail. There is a field where the production of > > wealth can be > > infinite: the field of knowledge, of culture and art in all its > > manifestations, including a painstaking ethical, esthetic and > > solidarity-based education, a full spiritual life, socially sound, > > mentally and physically healthy, without which it would be impossible to > > talk about quality of life. > > > > > > Can anything stop us from achieving such goals? > > > > We want to prove what we all proclaim: that a better world is possible! > > > > The time has come for humanity to start writing its own history! > > > > Thank you very much. > > > > > > > > > > > > Cuba SI - Imperialism NO! > > Socialism or death! Patria o muerte! Venceremos! > > http://groups.yahoo.com/group/cubasi > > > > Post message: [EMAIL PROTECTED] > > Subscribe: [EMAIL PROTECTED] > > Unsubscribe: [EMAIL PROTECTED] _______________________________________________ > > Marxist-Leninist-List mailing list > > [EMAIL PROTECTED] > > To change your options or unsubscribe go to: > > http://lists.econ.utah.edu/mailman/listinfo/marxist-leninist-list Joshua "In the world through which I travel, I am endlessly creating myself." -Frantz Fanon _______________________________________________ Leninist-International mailing list [EMAIL PROTECTED] To change your options or unsubscribe go to: http://lists.econ.utah.edu/mailman/listinfo/leninist-international
