------------------------- Via Workers World News Service Reprinted from the Aug. 12, 2004 issue of Workers World newspaper -------------------------
DESPITE CONTINUOUS ATTACKS: BOLIVARIAN REVOLUTION PROVIDES FREE FOOD By Chuck Anderson Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez recently announced the start of a new free food program to provide food for the poor over the next several months. This new program will render emergency assistance to homeless children and adults as well as pregnant women and seniors. Chavez promised that one thousand centers to serve prepared food will be inaugurated during the last week in July. Each center will serve up to 100 adults and street children who Chavez calls "children of the fatherland." Altogether, 4,000 food houses will be built to service 600,000 people in extreme poverty by November. Besides the 1,000 houses in July, the plan is to have 700 more houses open in September, 1,000 in October and 500 in November. Chavez said the program will draw from the existing Mercal food security program, which comprises government-run supermarkets with basic food supplies at fixed discount prices. All the food will be cooked and served by the workers in these supermarkets. In a country dependent on an oil economy and undergoing what is being called a Bolivarian Revolution, President Chavez is making great strides to provide food, education and medical care for the oppressed. How many other presidents or prime ministers in other countries have acted in favor of the oppressed masses? Very few. Chavez' popularly elected government is under constant threat and attack by the U.S. government. U.S. imperialism and the rich Venezuelan oligarchy seek to undermine social and economic reform programs that are aimed at lifting up the majority of the Venezuelan population. Just two years ago, the same reactionary forces backed by the United States kidnapped the democratically elected Chavez. Now they are now trying to use a referendum to oust him from the presidency. Some have called for his assassination if the referendum is defeated. In an act of international solidarity, the revolutionary government of socialist Cuba has agreed to send 12,000 doctors and 17,000 teachers as volunteers to assist neighboring Venezuela. In return, the Venezuelan government agreed to sell oil at discount prices to Cuba. - END - (Copyright Workers World Service: Everyone is permitted to copy and distribute verbatim copies of this document, but changing it is not allowed. For more information contact Workers World, 55 W. 17 St., NY, NY 10011; via e-mail: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subscribe wwnews- [EMAIL PROTECTED] Unsubscribe [EMAIL PROTECTED] Support the voice of resistance http://www.workers.org/orders/donate.php) ------------------ This message is sent to you by Workers World News Service. To subscribe, E-mail to: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To unsubscribe, E-mail to: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To switch to the DIGEST mode, E-mail to <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Send administrative queries to <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
