Venezuela's Chavez in London: Socialism isn't dead ... it's coming back

VHeadline.com News Editor Patrick J. O'Donoghue writes: While most news agencies in London (UK) have concentrated on what Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez Frias had to say about energy issues during his two-day visit to London, perhaps the reason for the visit, namely to thank Londoners and Britons in general for supporting his efforts to improve the lot of the Venezuelans, has been overlooked.

During a 4-hour speech to around 1,000 persons at Camden Town Hall, Chavez Frias gave his vision of Socialism of the 21st century, telling his audience that people who proclaimed the end of Socialism when the Berlin Wall came down and the Soviet Union collapsed did not realize that Socialism was about to born in Venezuela with the spontaneous revolt of masses in Caracas against neoliberalism, known as the Caracazo.

Socialism is alive and back on the track in South America, as nations reject neoliberalism and Capitalism.

Coining a phrase to counteract the current world situation, the Venezuelan President says the "global village" has been overrun by the "global jungle" with the onslaught of globalization and neoliberalism.

Calling for a "human humanity" and "Social Socialism," Chavez Frias maintains that 21st Century Socialism must have the salvation of humanity as as its main mission ... it cannot be dogmatic, must allow for differences and must be promulgated by people with a heart.

Speaking to the audience of left-wingers of all tendencies, the visitor unleashed a message of inspiration telling them that each one must stand up and proudly state their Socialism and banish the days when people were ashamed to be Socialist.

• A silly comment by The Times diplomatic editor claims the audience were disappointed because they had supposedly come to hear Chavez Frias blast the USA off the map.

Key to the revival of Socialism, Chavez Frias contends, is creativity, the power of imagination and concrete networking projects.

• To round off the speech, Chavez Frias offered his host, London Mayor Ken Livingstone to set up a winter heating discount scheme for poorer sectors of the city, using the products of two Venezuelan oil refineries the UK.

The Mayor has gladly accepted the plan and its networking possibilities ... the two leaders will set out guidelines of the project today.