Day 2Tuesday aown ine main Avenida Bolivar, which has been blocked off, towards the enormous Hilton complex (now part co-op, part Cubanowned), the centre of the WSF. Stalls from government ministries line the route.
Arrive at assembly point for the march which opens the WSF. Thousands already here hand out Fourth
leaflets Spanish on Venezuela and 21st century socialism. As soon as they see the word "Socialismo' people almost rip the leaflets out of my hands. I Day 3 -First day of the WSF proper. We take 2 hours to queue to pay and register. Talk to two Catholic women inspired by
are comrades over lunch. They turn out to be from the new party, P-SOL, but work closely with Luizianne Lins and the PT left.
Evening: Eventually including many from Caracas, have decided to camp here. Day 4 -Thursday After another semi-sleepless
Decide to move to campsite Go to another meeting at the manage to hook up with some Hilton organised by and on British comrades from Hands the Latin American left Off Venezuela. Lose diary, which seems very worthy, bu which contains my WSF par- leave before the end to go o so that's all right. He shows Venezuela people are gathered me round the WSF campsite round the speakers with no
police in sight (just who on organized by Greg Wilpert the founder of www.venezuelanalysis.com. on post-capitalist alternatives. When we emerge from the metro we could be in a European or night at the hotel, go to meet- North American city. Clear
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A student shows me round the Bolivarian University of Caracas, which has 3000 students and is situated in an old PDVSA (state oil company) building. Tuition is free. streets, shiny big commercial buildings, policemen directing traffic. This was the base for the opposition during the 2002 coup and during the referendum campaign. Feel out of place in my WSF T-shirt.
The university is appropriately plush and the discussion
conducted in English
Jess Hurd Chavistas talk, laugh and play music into the small hours. Meanwhile it rains heavily
floor of my tent becomes a puddle. I achieve a certain level of resignation and even a couple of hours' sleep. The noise starts again at 7.30am. Bleary and blurry. Take cold