Where there is hunger there is no hope. There is only desolation and pain. Hunger nurtures violence and fanaticism. A world where people starve will never be safe

A long time ago I learned not to put the blame for backwardness in Brazil on the US. We have to blame ourselves. Our backwardness is caused by an elite which for a century didn't think about the majority and subordinated itself to foreign interests.


I believe that it is very difficult in the world of today to continue with G-8 only without taking in account the importance of Brazil, China, India, many in the world economy, because these countries are great consumers, large consumers, and we're also becoming great producers, and also because we were better prepared than the rich countries for the nowadays global crisis.

Hunger is actually the worst weapon of mass destruction. It claims millions of victims each year.

No one can wipe away the injustices of centuries in only eight years.

We've advanced in the construction of a true free-trade area across South America... What's needed now is less rhetoric and more action.

Fortunately, war in Latin America is usually waged only with words. The tongue is our most dangerous weapon. We talk too much!