Imperialism And Resistance

Bolivia has broken off diplomatic relations with the zionist entity, in solidarity with Palestine. President Evo Morales called the zionist entity a war criminal and genocidal.

May Allah protect both Venezuela and Bolivia for their expressions of solidarity, and may they be doubly and triply rewarded for their acts of justice and compassion.  At a time when we see supposedly “brotherly” Muslim countries’ leaders act like cowards and worshippers of dunya. 

A good move by the Islamic Republic. Iran has one of the finest primary and preventive health care systems, that has resulted in massive reductions in infant mortality, increase in life expectancy, and immunizations.

Iran should increase its focus on social and cultural exchanges with the countries of Latin America, rather than waiting around for the arrogant US to come to its senses. Iran also has a lot in common, culturally, with the peoples of Latin America, especially with those of indigenous backgrounds. On the other hand, we find that the dominant cultures of US/Europe, including so-called “liberal minded people,” are deeply ingrained with an imperial mentality.

Those of us who have traveled to, and/or lived in parts of Latin America, know that while there is misinformation about Muslims and Islam, it is no where as near the kind of bigotry and Islamophobia we encounter in US/European countries – and that misinformation is, very often, easily corrected with some friendly conversation.

“Working in pairs out of modest, village-based facilities, the Islamic Republic of Iran’s trained community health workers, the behvarzan, provide basic health care to most of the country’s rural population. Mojgan Tavassoli reports.

They have been described as an “incredible masterpiece”. The Iranian health houses, conceived and introduced during the 1980-1988 war with Iraq, have been at the centre of a so-called master plan to bring health care to every district. “”

via Press TV

Iran to open two clinics in Bolivia

Sat, 11 Oct 2008 06:36:39 GMT

Evo Morales (l) and Hojjatollah Soltani
A top Iranian diplomat says Iran will open two health clinics in Bolivia as a base for future Red Crescent projects in South America.

The agreement to open two health clinics in Bolivia was signed by Iran’s business attache Hojjatollah Soltani, and the Bolivian Health Minister, Ramiro Tapia, in the presence of President Evo Morales at the Presidential Palace in La Paz on Friday. Soltani signed the agreement on behalf of the Iranian Red Crescent.

The Islamic Republic plans to base the two clinics in the poorest South American country as the foundation for future Iranian Red Crescent programs across the continent.

Opening specialized health clinics that are based on humanitarian cooperation between the two countries can pave the way to expand cooperation in pharmaceutical and related industries, Soltani said during the signing ceremony.

President Morales expressed appreciation for Iran’s assistance in improving the welfare of Bolivian citizens.

The agreement signed between the two countries includes sending Iranian medical teams to Bolivia, offering specialized education and training for Bolivian physicians and elevating the quality of medical and health services in the Latin American country.

Health Minister Tapia said the Iranian clinics will expand medical aid already being provided by Cuba and Venezuela.

While the US is going into a tizzy with political and economic intrigues, some of the popular leaders have been speaking at the UN – and are worth a listen (…and take a break from the Bush/McCain/Obama tri nonsense).

Evo Morales Ayma, President of Bolivia UN speech + press conference

José Ramón Machado Ventura, First Vice-President, Cuba. UN speech.

Larry King interviews President Ahmadinejad (part 1)

part 2 part 3 part 4 part 5 part 6

An interesting article in Asia Times regarding the recent visit of President Morales to Iran.

Foreign policy advisors of Ahmadinejad are openly counting on Iran’s new relations with Latin America as one of the net gains of his presidency. In fact, the new level of cooperation between Iran and Bolivia and other Latin and Central American countries is a timely, further confirmation of the strategic vision and outlook that they have brought to the government, compared with the Mohammad Khatami government that pushed the arch of detente with the West almost to the exclusion of all else.

It has to be noted that Iran’s constitution includes a clause that supports struggles of the oppressed all over the world. This clause is often overlooked by both the ultra nationalist Iranians, and neo-liberal “reformers” for whom it is more important to be friendly with the United States, and Europe. In many respects, the “reformers” are little different than that class of of Iranians, and really they can be found everywhere in the so-called “third world,” who look up to the “west” as a source of imitation, rather than learning lessons so as to not go down that road.

From Iran’s constitution:

The Islamic Republic of Iran has as its ideal human felicity throughout human society, and considers the attainment of independence, freedom, and rule of justice and truth to be the right of all people of the world. Accordingly, while scrupulously refraining from all forms of interference in the internal affairs of other nations, it supports the just struggles of the mustad’afun against the mustakbirun in every corner of the globe.

via Press TV

The Leader of the Islamic Revolution says the awakening of Latin Americans to stand up for their rights is frightening Western powers.

In a meeting on Monday with the visiting Bolivian President Evo Morales, Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei said that hegemonic powers would certainly exert pressure on Latin American countries because they were unsatisfied with the trend of developments in the continent.

Ayatollah Khamenei added that by standing up to the West’s pressure and using the support of people, President Morales could guide his country through any future difficulties.

Via Agencia Boliviana de Informacion:

El presidente Morales calificó su visita a Irán como histórica, y señaló que es importante acelerar la ejecución de proyectos acordados entre ambos países y profundizar las relaciones diplomáticas “entre pueblos hermanos y antiimperialistas”.

Por su parte, Ahmadineyad expresó estar contento por la visita de Morales, a quien, en retribución, también llamó “mi hermano”, indicando estar muy feliz por la contundente victoria alcanzada durante el referendo revocatorio el pasado 10 de agosto.

“Bolivia es un gran pueblo muy noble, es un país grande con mujeres y hombres revolucionarios”, manifestó al advertir que Irán también vivió momentos de tensión por la presión ejercida desde los Estados Unidos.

Ahmadineyad sostuvo que si bien hay mucha distancia entre Bolivia e Irán “pero nuestros corazones están unidos, por ello se fortalecerán nuestras relaciones bilaterales y no habrá límites a la cooperación porque el progreso de Bolivia es también el progreso de Irán”.

Viva Evo!…Gano el proceso revolucionario en Bolivia

President Evo Morales of Bolivia, gave an excellent speech recently at the 7th Session of the UN Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues on the theme of “Climate change, bio-cultural diversity and livelihoods: the stewardship role of indigenous peoples and new challenges”. more here