Brasília, 2/17/2004 (Agência Brasil - ABr) - Speaking via video conference at the annual Parliamentary Network Conference of World Bank member countries, president Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva declared that he intends to mobilize world leaders, union movements, parliaments and NGOs in a worldwide campaign against hunger in poor nations.

"I am going to write to all these people and groups. I believe it is possible to create a world movement against hunger. In my dictionary, the word peace means social justice. Without social justice we will never achieve peace," said the president.

In his answer to a question from a Pasquistani parliamentarian, Lula strongly attacked agricultural subsidies used by the United States and the European Union, calling them detrimental to the growth of developed nations. Lula said the subsidies were more electoral than economic.

Lula also warned the 150 World Bank member nations that while the problem of hunger today is a social problem, it will become a political problem in the future. "That will happen when the hungry begin to scream," he declared.

In conclusion, Lula once again called for a world hunger fund to be financed by a tax on international arms sales and so-called fiscal paradises. (AB)