5th World Social Forum concludes
in Brazil
The 5th World
Social Forum (WSF) ended Monday
at the southern Brazilian city
of Porto Alegre, with more than
350 proposals for a better world
and protests against US
imperialism.
The six-day forum focused on
anti-globalization and
anti-poverty issues, including
the safeguarding of world peace,
eradication of poverty,
protection of the disadvantaged,
the development mode of world
economy and other global
challenges.
Proposals raised at the forum
are so diverse, ranging from the
creation of working groups to
debate the rights of women, to
the proposal for daily exercise.
Thousands of activists against
the spread of American influence
joined a final demonstration in
Porto Alegre to the close the
forum, chanting slogans against
US-style liberalized trade and
theo ccupation of Iraq.
The fifth WSF, believed to the
biggest international conference
so far, drew 150,000
participants and more than 6,800
journalists from 135 countries.
Brazilian President Luis Inacio
Lula da Silva and Venezuelan
President Hugo Chavez also
attended the forum.
The WSF was initiated by
non-governmental activists who
oppose the trend of economic
globalization. The annual forum
is designed to counter the Davos
summit of political, financial
and business heavyweights. The
two meetings are held almost
simultaneously every year.
Unlike previous WSFs, which were
held at one location, the
organizing committee said the
WSF 2006 will simultaneously
take place in several places of
the world. Venezuela and Morocco
have expressed interest in
hosting the coming WSF.
Storm kills 11 in Argentina
A storm caused at
least 11 people dead, 52 injured
and 200 homeless in Argentina,
the authorities said Monday.
Eight people were killed and 49
wounded when a bus carrying
tourists collided with a truck
on the Buenos Aires Route 41,
near the city of San Andres de
Giles. A woman and two minors
died in the area of Buenos Aires
Luis Guillon after strong winds
forced a tree to fall on their
house.
The other three were injured on
Route 3 where a bus collided
with an official vehicle.
Over 200 people have been
evacuated by civil protection
departments as populous
neighborhoods of Buenos Aires
province were flooded.
Nearly 2,000 Uruguay-bound
passengers were stranded after
heavy rains and strong winds
forced the Uruguayan navy to
close the ports of Montevideo
and Colonia.
In Buenos Aires, the Buquebus
company's two vessels suspended
their planned voyage to the
Uruguayan harbors. The ship
Atlantic, the only one departing
for Montevideo, had to return
due to the poor weather.
"A lot of people had to resort
to different means of transport
to depart, while others had to
re-schedule their departure,"
said a Buquebus spokesperson.
At least 800 passengers could
not leave for Uruguay on Sunday
night. They were upset to wait
with little food and under poor
hygienic conditions. But more
complaints were about lack of
timely information of prevailing
situation.
Argentina's National
Meteorological Service has sent
alerts before. It said the storm
will wane on Monday night.
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New Air Link between Dominican
Republic and Cuba
The first commercial
flight in the Santiago de los
Caballeros-Santiago de Cuba
route departed Monday to its
destination, thus linking the
Caribbean cities by air.
The new boarding center is at
the city airport, second most
important in Dominican Republic,
155 kilometers northeast Santo
Domingo, Caribair Company
President Rafael Rosado
explained.
A 37-passenger opening flight
took off Sunday, Rosado stated,
but he commercial route opened
Monday, he specified.
It will be a 1-hour-40-minute
trip three times a week, Rosado
stressed. He further commented
that the two destinations,
important cultural centers, are
identified by the same name and
there are similarities between
their affable and hospitable
inhabitants.
Cuban Embassy to Dominican
Republic´s commercial attaché
Carlos de la Nuez accompanied
the attendees to the ceremony of
the boarding of the first
passengers.
During the ceremony, he
summarized the historic links
between these two cities and
congratulated the organizers of
the commercial initiative.
During their stay in Santiago de
Cuba, the visitors will be able
to visit tourist sites, the
embassy official highlighted.
The city promoters mentioned
ecological Baconao Park and the
historic Moncada Garrison
-assaulted on July 26, 1953 by
youths led by Fidel Castro to
start the latest Cuban
liberating struggle- as
must-visit sites.
The tour also includes the
Santuario del Cobre, where the
virgin of Charity, patron saint
of Cuba since 1916, crowned by
the Pope John Paul II during his
memorable visit to Cuba on
January 1998
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