Heading into the presidential campaign both Hillary Clinton and John McCain, both of whom once detested ethanol, are slobbering all over the place in its support. That’s because they want votes in Iowa’s caucuses.
Meanwhile, in a March 4 radio chat on the Venezuelan program “Hello President,” Hugo Chavez warmly welcomed the recovering Fidel Castro, and in short order the two fell into an animated discussion on the same subject:
Chavez: Do you know how many hectares of corn are needed to produce one million barrels of ethanol?
Castro: To do what?
Chavez: To produce one million barrels of ethanol?
Castro: Ethanol. I believe you told me about that the other day. Somewhere around 20 million hectares.
Chavez:[Laughing] Just like that.
Castro: Go ahead, remind me.
Chavez: Indeed, 20 million. You are the one with an exceptional mind, not me.
Castro: Twenty million. Well, of course. The idea of using food to produce fuel is tragic, is
dramatic. No one is sure how high the price of food will rise when soy is being used for fuel, with the need there is in the world to produce eggs, milk, to produce meat. It is a tragedy. One of many today.
I am happy to know that you have taken up the flag to save the species because… there are new problems, very difficult problems and therefore to see someone become a great preacher of the cause, a champion of the cause, an advocate of the life of the species. For that, I congratulate you. Continue fighting [words inaudible] to educate the people so they can understand.
There are things that I read and review every day. I am very aware of the threat of war,
environmental threats and food threats. We have to remember that there are billions of people famished. These are realities, and for the first time in history, the governments are getting involved. Governments that are able and have the moral authority to do it, and you are one of those rare examples…
The two heads of state reminisced as they rambled along over the radio…
Castro: Venezuela has a territory of nearly one million square kilometres. We are just a nut shell that the Gulf current pushed too close to our friends to the north. [Chuckles]
Chavez: [In English] Our friends Fidel, listen.
Castro: Well, you say that I know English. I did at one time.
Chavez: Did you forget it?
Castro: The trauma afterwards has made me forget it. This is why I no longer have that excellent memory you have, the capacity to summarise or your musical ear, your talent to remember songs. I cannot believe that you have partied so much as to remember all those songs.
Chavez: I never partied as much as you.
Castro: I envy you that.
When it came time to say goodbye, Chavez said, “Do you know how many people listen to the first hour of the programme? Forty percent. As you know, the audience of “Hello President” is huge. Let’s gain ground. We will win the battle for life. We will win that battle. Thank you for your call.”
Castro thanks Chavez and they continue.
Chavez: Let’s give Fidel a round of applause. [Applause] A hug. Comrade, companion, and you know, I do not have any qualms about calling you father in front of the world. Onward to victory.
Castro: Onward to victory.
Chavez: We will prevail.
Castro: We will prevail. [Applause]
You can read the entire transcript, originally provided by the BBC, at the National Post of Canada’s site.
— James Ridgeway
