 When it comes to buying souvenirs, anti-globalization activists have found a shopping paradise at the World Social Forum. From "Che" Gueverra T-shirts to books on "21-Century Socialism" and "Low-impact backpacking," Venezuela's street vendors are offering just about anything a leftist activist might want, eager to capitalize on the gathering of more than 60,000 people.
| Any of the Che pics with mouse ears on them? |
Activists are digging in their pockets for posters of Cuban President Fidel Castro or pins bearing photos of Vladimir Lenin and Colombian rebel leader Manuel Marulanda. Others are themselves selling handmade jewelry and political pamphlets to bankroll their trip to the Venezuelan capital.
A lucky few are snapping up talking dolls of Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez -- the hero of this year's World Social Forum, an annual event timed to coincide with the market-friendly World Forum in Davos, Switzerland.
In one street market, French activist Rene Villepin (who may or may not be a man) haggled with a vendor before paying $30 for the talking "Chavecito," or "Little Chavez." The doll sports the Venezuelan leader's signature red-beret and at the push of a button says: "It's your dream, it's your hope and it's your job to be free and equal."
"I usually buy only reading material at these types of events, but I had to have one," Villepin said, smiling.
Chavez's image and the slogans of his leftist government seem to be everywhere at the six-day forum, which has drawn anti-globalization activists, peace advocates, labor leaders and intellectuals from around the world. Many hunted for interesting trinkets, but others urged fellow attendees to avoid certain "imperialist" products, like Coca-Cola and Pepsi.
In keeping with the event's distaste for corporate giants, forum organizers set up public computers running on the open-source operating system Linux, which unlike Microsoft's Windows is free, said Carlos Torres, a Montreal-based Chilean organizer.
| I'm sure Bill Gates noticed. |
The event brought out Venezuela's many part-time street vendors. Luis Escobar, a 38-year-old unemployed construction worker, was selling Chavez masks amid thousands of anti-war marchers during the forum's opening "anti-imperialist" demonstration. "They're going fast! They're going fast!" he called out to activists, holding up the mask which sold for $23. But privately he said he'd found few takers. "Nobody's buying," Escobar said in a low voice, adding that he opposes Chavez but doesn't mind capitalizing on the president's image.
| Which is why Chavez is still around. |
Hundreds of visitors from Europe, the United States and Latin America camped out in parks, some hawking their own items, from beaded necklaces to books on the Palestinian cause. Nestor Petrola, who came by bus from Argentina, offered copies of his "Worker's Weekly" newspaper in exchange for "a small contribution," or "whatever they can give." "It's not much, but it helps with travel costs," he said. |