Chavez, Lula clash over ethanol at energy summit - Reuters

[Eugene]

Source: Reuters

Chavez, Lula clash over ethanol at energy summit

By Brian Ellsworth
53 minutes ago

PORLAMAR, Venezuela (Reuters) - South America's political
heavyweights clashed over ethanol, exposing a rift on Monday
at an energy summit that host Venezuelan President Hugo
Chavez hoped would cement anti-U.S. unity.

Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, the leader of
the continent's largest economy who has moved closer to
U.S. President George W. Bush over ethanol output, swiped
at Chavez, rejecting his fellow leftist's criticism of
their plan.

Chavez, who wins political influence with the OPEC nation's
subsidized energy exports to its neighbors, denounced Bush's
project to promote ethanol production in developing countries
as a sure-fire way to increase hunger by lifting food prices.

But Lula, who has cultivated ties with both right-winger Bush
and his leftist antagonist Chavez, said there was sufficient
arable land in South America.

-snip-

Read more: http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20070416/wl_nm/venezuela_summit_dc_4

[AX10]

1. We need to get all our selves off of oil.

Go Lula!!!!

[Massacure]

3. But razing the rain forrest to do it is a mistake.

[UnseenUndergrad]

2. Yeah... arable land

Does lula mean that they have plenty of arable land before or after they clear the forests and drain the pampas?

Lets see: the palm plantations in borneo are planning to cash in on the ethanol craze by chopping down Orang-Utan habitat to expand, and now more in south america.

Yeesh... just go solar and wind and be done with it.

[razzleberry]

4. why would Lula make a decision that ...

makes political enemies at home,
and would forgo billions in export earnings?

[AX10]

5. Here goes the left wing nuts again!

Why the HELL should Lulu do as Chavez says. It's not like he's (Chavez) is the regional dictator or anything. :sarcasm:, or not?