Two Vacations

I'm off on vacation today for two weeks, so if there are not too many new posts on this site (off course that will depend on Matt) then check out some of the blogs listed below, especially Kotaji's blog, never a dull moment there.

On the topics of travel, Brazilian president Lula is in Korea this week. Here's a story on his meeting with the KCTU. Lula has his personal roots in the labor movement but has recieved criticism for his wavering opposition to some tenants of neo-liberalism as of late.

I'm curious if they agreed on some possible actions or agreements.

Lula meets Korean labor leaders
Visiting Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva met yesterday with leaders of Korea's most hard-line labor group to discuss global labor issues such as neo-globalization and the Doha Development Agenda.

The meeting between the labor-leader turned president and representatives of the Korean Confederation of Trade Unions was arranged by the Brazilian labor group CUT, with which the KCTU has long-time relations, KCTU officials said.

Korean labor activists including the KCTU President Lee Soo-ho were expected to stress that the U.S.-led globalization trend is a threat to the livelihood and rights of workers all around the world, including those in Korea. The Brazilian leader arrived in Seoul on Monday for a three-day visit to participate in the Global Forum on Reinventing Government which runs through Friday.

Summit talks with President Roh Moo-hyun are also to be held today. Internationally known for his past career as labor activist, Lula was hailed by many workers in the world when he was elected in 2002 as president in a landslide victory. He is a founder of the Workers' Party of Brazil and a former president of the Metal Workers' Union.

Korea Herald (2005.05.25)