World public opinion was deeply touched by the tragedy in Japan.
The number of victims of the earthquake, the tsunami and the
nuclear accident has kept on growing. By now there are thousands
of dead, missing and radiation contaminated. Resistance to the
use of nuclear energy will also grow considerably.
The world is suffering, at the same time, the consequences of
climatic changes; shortages and prices of foods, military
spending and the squandering of natural and human resources are
increasing. War was the timeliest event that could happen at
this time.
Obama’s trip through Latin America moved into the background,
people were hardly paying any attention to it. In Brazil, the
contradictory interests between the United States and this
sister nation have become evident.
We cannot forget that Rio de Janeiro competed with Chicago to
host the 2016 Olympic Games.
Obama wanted to win over the South American giant. He spoke of
the “extraordinary rise of Brazil” that has impressed the
international scene and he praised its economy as one of the
economies with the fastest growth rate in the world, but he
showed not even the least commitment in supporting Brazil as a
permanent member of the privileged Security Council.
The Brazilian president did not hesitate in expressing her
disagreement with the protectionist measures the US is applying
on Brazil with the tariffs and subsidies that have constituted a
mighty obstacle for the economy of that country.
Argentine writer Atilio Boron states that “ […] what interests [Obama]
most as administrator of the empire is advancing control of
Amazonia. The main requisite of this plan is to slow down, since
it is something he cannot stop, the growing political and
economic coordination and integration that is happening in the
region: this had been very important in sinking ALCA in 2005 and
frustrating the secessionist conspiracy and coups in Bolivia in
2008 and Ecuador in 2010. He also has to try to sow the seeds of
discord between the most radical governments in the region
(Cuba, Venezuela, Bolivia and Ecuador) and the “progressive”
governments, mainly Brazil, Argentina and Uruguay…”
“For the boldest US strategists, the Amazon river basin, just as
the Antarctic, is a free-access area where national
sovereignties are not recognized...”
Tomorrow Obama moves over to Chile. His arrival is preceded by
an interview he gave to the newspaper El Mercurio that was
printed today, on Sunday, in which he confesses that the “Debate
in the Americas”, as he calls it, is based on a “partnership of
equals” with Latin America that practically leaves us breathless
as we recall the Alliance for Progress that preceded the
mercenary Bay of Pigs expedition.
Obama literally confesses that the US vision for the hemisphere
[…] is based on the concept of a partnership of equals that he
has pursued ever since becoming President of the United States.
Obama stated that he shall also focus on specific areas where
they can work together, such as economic growth, energy,
security and human rights’…
That vision, he emphasized, has the aim of ‘improving common
security, expanding economic opportunities, ensuring a clean
energy future and supporting the democratic values we share’.
…promoting a safe, stable and prosperous Hemisphere where the
United States and their partners share responsibilities on key
regional and global issues...
As we can see, everything is marvellously beautiful, worthy of
being buried just like Reagan’s secrets, to be published within
200 years.
The problem is, as informed by the DPA Agency, according to a
survey carried out by the newspaper La Tercera, “…in 2006, 43
percent of the Chilean population was rejecting nuclear plants”.
“Two years later the rejection rate rose to 52 percent and in
2010 is reached 74 percent.” Today, after what happened in Japan
it has reached “...86 percent of Chileans...”
We only have to ask Obama one question. Taking into account that
one of his illustrious predecessors, Richard Nixon promoted the
coup and the heroic death of Salvador Allende, the torture and
murder of thousands of persons, would Mr. Obama be asking
forgiveness of the Chilean people?
Fidel Castro Ruz
March 20, 2011
8:14 p.m.
