Mood:
incredulousNow Playing: Friday "Anti War Demonstartion" and TV stations
Topic: Venezuela Trip
Well.... I’m at an internet cafe this morning (Saturday) .. our WIFI is not connecting at the hostel. I may not have spell-check and I only have a half-hour here. The first day we went to a protest (peace demonstration) against the military bases in Colombia...there was about 4,000 people there, allot of folks had red shirts.
It was full of energy. People clapping, bands singing, ...speeches.... they had a big stage... TV cameras etc... our group is networked through the peace network here so we made it to the front...and then we (4 of us) made it to the stage. Benji Iraq Vet, Gerry Vietnam war resister, Andrew activist...and me with my camera...We were all on stage with 50 other people... we had a chance to speak.
I just filmed...it was a powerful ... The crowd cheered. they loved us. Our folks on stage spoke out against "Imperialism and War¨ we stood in solidarity ...... We had people thanking us latter on the streets...That night Benji & Josh ..both Iraq veterans were on the national TV speaking out against war and US Imperialism. Nothing slanderous...but a powerful message against the failed US policies, and the use of Armed Forces on other people. Those two were on 2 different stations, that evening.After the demonstrations, we went to a small cafe and had lunch...chicken burrito and Pepsi for me...then we drove to a community media studio ...we got the complete tour.
The media studio was a using¨ "recycled containers" like big railway cars to make offices and studios for filming recording.. they have a big mobile stage on a flat bed trailer...they have trucks with cameras and recording equipment...plus a big outdoor stage that they were actually filming a show on when we were there.
They are using recycled materials and government money to run the studio...it was a big open concrete area that used to be houses before the change in the "Metro" streets project for that area. We are in a 3 story nice clean house in our hostel.
Three ladies (younger than me) come by to fix breakfast and cook our dinner. Its cool and good food. Today we are maybe going to an opposition party protest. Don’t know the details but sounds like it will be interesting. We have an interpreter with us all day and he is really good...other in our group can speak pretty well to help us get around... we stay in a group most of the time.I had a lady tell me on camera to¨" tell Obama that capitalism isn’t working ...and that socialism is the answer" we are treated by folks here "really well" ....NOT one bad word or comment directed at us... just smiles!
I feel the energy here and the people are wise to their struggles for empowerment...it is cool....w e had a couple local guys stop by last night and party with us ...drinking beer till 1 am...and just sharing and listening to music etc....
The busses and cars drive "all over the road" with motorcycles zipping in between and all around honking their horns. Its insane ....I seen no accidents... but its is crazy... no one stops for red lights...very little police on the streets... almost all the busses and cars are really rugged broken down looking.... smoky exhausts etc... the trips around town are bumper to bumper...
I will be writing latter ...we are trying to get the WIFI up and runningthe weather is sultry... hot/warm....all the timeSo far I have four hours of video collected....
I will write about today latter tonight or in the morning. ¿joe anybody
