Despite threats to his life from those close to the Bush administration, Hugo Chávez came to New York City in September 2005. He addressed the United Nations, visited inner city communities and spoke at a packed public meeting.

During his visit, I interviewed President Chávez as part of a Pacifica Radio team. I had met him a number of times, as the Strike has worked with Venezuela’s grassroots since 2002. My weekly radio programme, "The Sojourner Truth Hour", is known for updates on the Bolivarian revolution.

The interview took place the day after Chávez told the UN General Assembly that it had to be "founded anew" outside of the US which had disqualified itself by invading Iraq over the UN’s head. He said it was a disgrace that at the current rate, the UN would not meet its goal to halve poverty until 2215 or achieve universal primary education until 2100! A new international economic and political order was needed, which prioritizes the caring of people and the environment. He received the most applause!

At the interview he was warm and welcoming. I commented that he was breaking with a long tradition of racism in the Americas by acknowledging his African and Indigenous roots, and asked about the importance of defeating racism in making fundamental economic and social changes. He said he was proud of his ancestry, that racism is characteristic of capitalism which doesn’t prioritize life, and that the lack of US government response to Hurricane Katrina in New Orleans was racism. He attacked the money spent on war. The money spent on war could end world poverty.

The world's people are the other superpower, and we're going to save the world.

I asked about women in the fight against poverty and whether the professional classes would put their skills at the service of the grassroots rather than cling to their power over us. He answered that both poverty and revolution have a woman’s face; that without women there could be no revolution; and that to end poverty, the poor must be empowered.

"We are reducing to zero the possibility of corruption because the money goes directly to the population: technical resources, equipment, housing, water and electricity supply schemes...Not to a private company to take the profit and the community ends up poorer than before."

Chávez is increasingly popular, as he prioritizes bringing grassroots people together around the world. He’s offered $5 million to the victims of Katrina, and low-cost heating oil to low-income communities. Eye surgery free of charge carried out jointly with Cuban doctors has been extended to low-income US residents.

Chávez warned that people throughout South America would fight tooth and nail against US invasion; oil exports to the US would stop. "The planet can’t stand this any longer. So-called developed countries should reflect upon their way of life and its waste of energy."

Chávez spoke at the United Methodist Church. A friend from a Black military family summed up the feelings of the 2,000-strong audience: "I travelled 7hrs to hear him. It was worth it. I agree with him, the US people don’t want to be represented by imperialism. There has to be equity and justice. Peace is not just absence of war. Hunger and poverty are violence. Can I adopt a president?"