Vsc Magazine Volume 4 Issue 1

■ Vol 4 ■ Issue 1 ■ Summer 2014

vivavenezuela!

!www.venezuelasolidarity.co.uk

e: [email protected]

■ After Chávez – the Empire Strikes Back■ What’s Really Been Going On in Venezuela?

■ Lobby Your MP to Oppose US Sanctions!

www.thompsons.law.co.uk

With thanks to

Also inside:

RevolutionUnder Siege

2 SUMMER 2014 ■ VIVA VENEZUELA!

...EDITORIAL...EDITORIAL...EDITORIAL...EDITORIAL...EDITORIAL...EDITORIAL...

The recent wave of violence by extremistelements of Venezuela’s right-wingopposition is the latest attempt to oustthe elected government by anti-

democratic means. Such plans have been inexistence ever since President Chávez won in1998, reaching their logical conclusion in the2002 coup against him. Destabilisationattempts have intensified following PresidentChávez’s death – as the opposition believe thattheir time has come to regain office.

Just over one year ago, 13 Venezuelans – alldue to opposition violence – were killed in coldblood after the opposition refused to accept theresults of the first post-Chávez election.

Then, last autumn, the opposition engaged inwidespread sabotage to stoke an economiccrisis timed to coincide with the nationwidemayoral elections. The aim was to weakenMaduro’s support to justify the ousting of thegovernment – as was done in Chile in the runup to the 1973 coup there.

Sadly for the opposition this failed, as Madurowon December’s elections with a nationwide 10point lead. Nevertheless, just a few monthslater, extremists in the opposition unleashed thelatest wave of violence.

Tragically, 42 Venezuelans have died followingthe explicit call for the undemocratic andunconstitutional ousting (La Salida) ofVenezuela’s elected government. The principalcauses are lethal opposition violence and theuse of deliberately dangerous street barricades.In a wave of terror against the population,

government and public service buildings – fromhospitals to universities to public broadcasters– have been attacked by extreme elements ofthe opposition. Street blockades have causedbillions of dollars of damage to the Venezuelaneconomy.

Peace talks have taken place, involving broadsections of society, and have seen the violencediminish. But a minority are not participating inany dialogue and are calling for further streetactions, seeking to create chaos in the hopethis leads to the ousting of the government thatthey have never supported over the past 18years. This minority within the opposition(which is itself a minority) are not withoutassistance – they receive regular verbalsupport from the US as well as millions ofdollars.

One can only conclude that some in the USshare the Venezuela opposition’s aim to oustthe Maduro government ahead of hisconstitutional term. Perhaps that’s notsurprising as Venezuela has the largest oilreserves in the world. But it should not betolerated. Venezuelans have the right to choosetheir own government free from outsideinterference.

History suggests that sooner or later theopposition will again try to violate theconstitution and to oust the electedgovernment. Sanctions, greater US financialsupport and even actual intervention arealready being requested by extremist elementsof the opposition, whose leadership backed the2002 coup.

International solidarity can help to defeat thislatest anti-democratic attempt at ousting thelegitimate Chavista government of NicolasMaduro.

After Chávez – the Empire Strikes Back

Contributors to this issue were:■ Lee Brown■ Paul Dobson■ Francisco Dominguez■ Siân Errington ■ Ewan Robertson■ Matt Willgress and■ Tim Young

This magazine is published by theVenezuela Solidarity Campaign

“One can only concludethat some in the US share

the Venezuelaopposition’s aim to oustthe Maduro government

ahead of his constitutionalterm. Perhaps that’s notsurprising as Venezuela

has the largest oilreserves in the world. Butit should not be tolerated.

Venezuelans have theright to choose their own

government free fromoutside interference.”

Unite the Union GPM London Print BranchCelebrate Venezuela - Unity is Strength

John Ayling, Branch ChairTommy Murphy, Branch Secretary

3SUMMER 2014 ■ VIVA VENEZUELA!

...VENEZUELA IN THE NEWS...VENEZUELA IN THE NEWS...VENEZUELA IN THE NEWS...

Venezuela Extends Support to Palestine

During his visit, Abbas visited the tombof Hugo Chávez to pay his respects.“President Chávez is always in ourhearts” stated Abbas, who awarded

President Maduro and Chávez’s family the ‘Starof Palestine’.

In the economic sphere, two key agreementswere signed: firstly to exempt taxes betweenthe two nations, encouraging trade and

“The Palestinian cause is the world’s cause” explained PresidentNicolas Maduro on receiving Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas for arecent visit.

commerce; and secondly to formPetroPalestina, which will, in the words ofMaduro, “firm up the supply of diesel fromVenezuela to Palestine”.

“Thank you, Venezuela,” said Abbas, addingthat the measure will “help break the blockadeimposed on Gaza” and “help raise the spirits ofthe Palestinian people”.

Finally, discussions were held on the creation ofa Palestinian-Venezuelan centre of OperationMiracle – a Cuban/Venezuelan programmewhich uses laser surgery to restore, withoutcost, sight to people who can’t afford privatetreatment.

The Teresa Carreño Youth Orchestra returned to London’s Southbank Centre in June, under theyoung conductor Christian Vásquez, a protégé of the internationally acclaimed El Sistemamusical education programme.

The orchestra, made up of 14 to 19 year olds, is the sister orchestra of the celebrated Simón BolívarSymphony Orchestra. It represents the next generation of musicians to emerge from El Sistema. Setup in 1975 as a free music education programme, it has benefited a quarter of a million youngstersand seen almost 200 orchestras formed. Under the governments of Hugo Chávez and NicolasMaduro, it has been expanded to reach some of the most disadvantaged children.

President Nicolas Maduro has recently announced plans to further develop the programme byworking with more schools and with public sector bodies.

Caracas Declared‘Territory Free FromHomophobia’

To commemorate the International DayAgainst Homophobia and Transphobiaon May 17, the Municipal Council ofCaracas declared the city as “Territory

Free from Homophobia.” The declarationformed part of a weekend of activitiesorganised by the Council, which included aPride march and cultural events aiming toeradicate homophobia.

Following the declaration, Councillor Yuset Britoexplained that the Mayor of Caracas is to openan office for LGBT movements in the city.Councillor Armando Graterol added that thecelebration of the day followed the teachings offormer President Hugo Chávez, saying “we areall struggling for what should be equal rights, tohave a much fairer and nobler society; we arefollowing [Hugo] Chávez’s legacy of humanism,of eliminating all discrimination.”

Greater LondonRegion

Support and solidarity to theBolivarian Revolution

London UNISON Linda Perks, Regional Secretary

West Midlands UNISON sends fraternal greetings to

Venezuelan workers - No to US destabilisation!


... EDUCATION...NEW UNIVERSITIES...EDUCATION...NEW UNIVERSITIES...

Seven New Universities Created in 12 Months Under Maduro’s Presidency

Since President NicolasMaduro was elected last April,

the Government has createdseven university institutions,

Venezuela’s Minister forEducation recently announced.This is more than were built in

the entire ten years prior tothe 1998 revolution.

plans to distribute 2 million tablets and 23,340computers free to university students.

In recent months, sectors of the universitypopulation associated with the extreme right inVenezuelan politics have attempted to presentthemselves to the world as the spokespersonsof the entire 2.62 million students in Venezuelain calling for the anti-democratic ousting of thePresident.

In response to this, the Minister explained thatthe vast majority of the student sector hasgreatly benefited from the revolution, and thatsuch ‘spokespersons’ are not representative ofthe entire student population, which continuesto be pro-government by a clear majority.

The new public university institutionsoffer university level education free ofcost to thousands of citizens in remoteparts of the country. They join an

increasingly dynamic public university systemwhich includes the 36 new institutions createdby the Chávez and Maduro-led governments.

The Minister also explained that in the last year,university enrolment has increased by 130,000,advancing from 2,503,000 to 2,629,312. Bycomparison, in 1998, before the revolution, only700,000 students were enrolled in tertiaryeducation.

He also explained that the social programmeMission Sucre, which offers university levelnight classes to citizens, has increased thenumber of those meeting university entryrequirements to 380,000, as well as awarding68,000 people professional qualifications thisyear, making a total of 302,000 professionalgraduates since its launch in 2003.

For students, the Government is currentlyextending its programme of scholarships, and

Dick Banks Karen ReayRegional Chair Regional Secretary

Unite the Union North East Yorkshire & Humberside Region

President Maduro recently launched a National Consultation forQuality Education, to be rolled out over the next five months

North East Yorkshire & Humberside Region

send a message of solidarity

in support of our colleagues

in Venezuela

Mission Sucre has provided many people with the opportunityto study at a university level


...NEWS FROM VENEZUELA...NEWS FROM VENEZUELA...NEWS FROM VENEZUELA...

President Maduro Announces Measures to Protect Working People on May Day

In his May Day speech at a largerally in Caracas, President Nicolas

Maduro announced the extension ofsocial programmes and benefits to

workers and the Venezuelanpopulation in general.

The new measures include a fund toprotect and increase the value ofworkers’ social security savings, theextension of social programmes to

workplaces and the introduction of free wifi inmany public parks and urban spaces.

Maduro has also ordered the “comprehensive”roll-out of popular social programmes, whichinclude free health clinics and subsidised foodoutlets, to workplaces as a means of increasingthe cover and reach of the government’swelfare policies.

Other new labour initiatives include ensuringthat agreements on collective contracts arereached with public and private sector workers.A presidential commission is also beingappointed to evaluate the implementation of thelabour law and resolve any setbacks ordifficulties with the implementation of thislegislation.

Citing the recently announced 40% minimumwage increase, which seeks to counter theimpact of higher than usual inflation in thecountry, and the increased inclusion of workersin formal employment, the President arguedthat the large May Day rally was “the greatestdemonstration of what side the majority of thepeople and the working class is on”.

President Maduro addresses May Day rally

Successful Launch ofNew Pamphlet onVenezuela’s InspiringLabour Law

The VSC has worked with the Institute ofEmployment Rights to publish a newpamphlet by VSC Secretary Dr.Francisco Dominguez and Siân Errington

of VSC Women for Venezuela to outline theadvances for workers’ rights in Venezuela, withparticular attention paid to the 2012 LabourLaw, which has been described as one of themost progressive of its kind in the world.Explaining the importance of the publication, anIER spokesperson said, “as we approach the2nd anniversary of the introduction of the newVenezuelan laws, it is interesting to compareand contrast State attitudes to workers, tounions, to access to justice and to companieswho fail to comply with the law.” The pamphletis available to order (see below) and waslaunched at a packed roundtable of tradeunionists at Unite House in May.

The authors of the pamphlet with Alvaro Sanchez of theVenezuelan Embassy & Carolyn Jones of the IER.

Unite South WestStands in Solidarity withthe people of Venezuela

Laurence FairclothSW Regional Secretary

Jayne TaylorSW EC Member

Kevin TerrySW Regional Chair

Mark ThomasSW EC Member

www.unitetheunion.org

Order your copy of Bolivarian Venezuela:sustained progress for workers’ rights

Please post Bolivarian Venezuela: sustained progress for workers’ rights to:

Name:

Address line 1:

Town:

County:

Postcode:

I enclose a cheque for £5 made out to the ‘Institute of Employment Rights’ for the special rate for VSC supportersReturn this form to: IER, 4th Floor, Jack Jones House, 1 Islington, Liverpool L3 8EG.Or order online at www.ier.org.uk


...WHAT’S REALLY BEEN GOING ON IN VENEZUELA?...

What’s Really Been Going On inStarting in February, a

wave of violence has left42 people dead andhundreds injured in

Venezuela. Manymisleading reports and

images have beenrecycled in the media,

without verification,giving the impression ofstate-organised violence

against peacefulprotesters. Here we

outline five key pointsshowing what’s really

been happening, revealinga very different picture.

2. THE MAIN SOURCE OFFATALITIES IS OPPOSITIONVIOLENCE

The current wave of violence directly followedthe call to bring down the government by takingthe streets. The government has condemnedthe small minority of the deaths – four –resulting from opposition supporter clasheswith security forces. It has taken tough actionincluding sacking the head of the military policeand ensuring the arrest of officers involved.

But to suggest anything but a small proportionof the fatalities are due to state actions is togive a very false picture.

The principal cause of the deaths has beenviolence from extremists in the opposition. Ninepolice officers have been killed; at least fiveinnocent civilians have been shot dead whilsttrying to clear opposition street barricades; andsix have been killed in fatal crashes with thesedeliberately dangerous barricades. Some havebeen beheaded after crashing into a barricadewith wire placed at head height.

There has also been violence and arson againstgovernment institutions, buildings andsupporters. This has included attacks onministry buildings, health clinics, powerstations, public transport, buildings associatedwith government social programmes, offices ofleft-wing parties and universities. There hasalso been a violent siege of the state TV stationVTV.

Specific examples include someone arrestedfor putting diesel in the water supply of Merida– a major city. In early April, protesters set theChacao branch of the Ministry of Housing onfire. There were 1,200 employees working inthe building. The fire also endangered 89children who were in the ministry’s crèche.Thankfully, firefighters arrived on time.

1. THE LATEST ATTEMPT TOOUST A DEMOCRATICGOVERNMENT

Once again Venezuelans have facedviolent and unconstitutional attemptsto destabilise the country and oust itselected government.

The protests are political – about overthrowingthe government - and follow calls at thebeginning of 2014 by extreme right-wingminority leaders in the opposition for ‘TheOusting’ (La Salida) of the elected governmentby street action. This drive was led by LeopoldoLopez and Maria Corina Machado, politiciansassociated with the 2002 coup.

Contrary to some media coverage, the protestsare not primarily about the economy, beingconcentrated in wealthier neighbourhoods - the country’s equivalent of Knightsbridge and Chelsea.

Likewise, 88% of Venezuelans have labelled theprotests as violent, so it would be misleading todescribe the protestors as peaceful.

Below: Chavistas have protested for peace. This banner reads for peace & life

Left: Dialogue organised by Nicolas Maduro


...WHAT’S REALLY BEEN GOING ON IN VENEZUELA?...

Venezuela?

3. THE PROTEST MOVEMENTFOR ‘LA SALIDA’ DOESN’THAVE MAJORITY SUPPORT

Current approval ratings place PresidentMaduro on over 50% – higher than oppositionlevels of support of around 37-40%.

The government won a national set of localelections just six months ago by a margin of10%. Many have said that this electoral defeatled to the turn to violence by some in theopposition.

It is worth noting the party of main leader of ‘La Salida’ Leopoldo Lopez won only around5% of the 335 Mayors elected last December,while the second most prominent leader, Maria Corina Machado, got less than 4% in the right-wing opposition’s Presidential primaries of 2012 .

4. THE USA IS PLAYING ADIRECT ROLE – LATINAMERICA HAS CALLED FORPEACE

The US has given $100m to the oppositiongroups over the past decade. Scaled up to thesize of the UK, this would be over $800m, aclear violation of the democratic principle that it should be Venezuelans themselves whodetermine their own government.

The United States' official funding of theseopposition leaders and its recent interventionsinto Venezuelan politics, blaming thegovernment for the violence, do not encourageextremists to move towards a process of peace.Neither do calls from the US Senate andCongress for sanctions on Venezuela. Insteadthey embolden its attempt to oust the electedgovernment.

In contrast, the two main bodies made up of the region’s governments – OAS and UNASUR –passed motions expressing solidarity with theVenezuelan government against attempts tooust it and backing its calls for peace.

UNASUR lies behind the current peace talksefforts through a commission led by Brazil,Ecuador and Colombia.

5. VENEZUELA’S GOVERNMENTHAS ALWAYS CALLED FORPEACE AND THAT NEEDS TOBE SUPPORTED

From the very outset President Maduro calledfor a peace conference to ensure differencesare resolved within the constitutional order.

Peace talks are now under way. It is welcomethat the dominant sections within theopposition are involved in these and polls show 90% back the talks.

But it remains disturbing that the minorityelements most closely tied to the violence haveso far refused to participate.

This hardcore element – literally a few hundred– continues in attempts to use violence streetprotest.

It should always be remembered that thosewho initiated the violence and who now opposethe talks are a small minority in an oppositionmovement that itself is a minority in thecountry.


...VSC CONFERENCE...VSC CONFERENCE...VSC CONFERENCE

The Conference was opened by VSCSecretary Dr. Francisco Dominguez whoexplained that the recent violentprotests in Venezuela “are political” and

“have always been about overthrowing theGovernment."

Continuing on this theme, in the openingplenary, Guardian journalist and author SeumasMilne spoke of the continued media distortionof the situation in the country and provided afirsthand insight into his recent trip to Caracas,his interview with President Maduro and theattempts to destabilize Venezuela by extremeright sectors.

Reminding the conference that the right-wingextremists in Venezuela, on the eve of thecurrent violence, said they would set streetsalight, he explained how he had witnessed theeffects of an opposition arson attack.

He convincingly argued that we were seeingviolence from elements of the opposition afterthey have lost 18 out of 19 referendums andelections - even though elements of the mediaportray it as democratic – and concluded thatthe protests (including those he had witnessed)were a “naked and democratic revolt of the richconcentrated in wealthy areas.”

He was joined by US writer Mark Weisbrot whooutlined why it is so important to debunk lies inmedia and Labour Member of the ScottishParliament Neil Findlay who spoke about hisexperiences as an observer to last year'selections in Venezuela and the country’svibrant, inclusive democracy.

Numerous workshops provided an insight intothe current, violent attempts to destabilise the

country by extreme right-wing elements, andadditional workshops on various aspects ofsocial progress in Venezuela reminded us whyour solidarity is so important, confirming CWUGeneral Secretary Billy Hayes’ point that thegains of Venezuela “matter to the left and arehated by the right.” Or, as Guardian Comment isFree contributor, blogger and campaigner EllieMae O’Hagan put it, “the reason that the Rightreally dislike Venezuela in this country, and in theUS, is that they can’t stand the fact that in thatcountry there are free, democratic and frequentelections, and people keep choosing socialism.”

After a full day of insight and discussion theconference ended with a closing rally where theChargé d’Affaires of the Venezuelan Embassy,Alvaro Sanchez, thanked all the participants for

Fantastic Conference In May, over 250 people

attended the VSC’snational conferenceentitled Celebrating

Hugo Chávez's Legacy -Defending Venezuela

Against Us Intervention &Right-Wing Destabilisation.

Guests and speakersincluded journalists,

diplomats fromVenezuela, Argentina,

Cuba, Ecuador andNicaragua, MPs,

academics, film makersand activists.

BethanJenkinsWelsh Assembly Member

“Venezuela is an oil rich country.Of course America are going to belooking to Venezuela to destabilisethe situation. Look at what happened inIraq. We are not foolish enough to notunderstand that’s why they wantdestabilisation in Venezuela.”

Fran PerezUnited Left of Spain

“Venezuela needs us. The chaos,destabilisation and violence by the Rightand the oligarchy are an attempt toillegitimately overthrow Nicolas Maduro. The undemocraticright-wing is attempting to achieve what they couldn’t inthe December elections by way of violence. With thesupport of the US government, they are attempting toensure Maduro can’t continue the work of Hugo Chávez.”

Jeremy Corbyn addresses closing rally against US intervention& right wing destabilisation

Conference closing panel against US Intervention & Right WingDestabilisation in Venezuela

Over 250 people packed ULU throughout the day including tolisten to an opening plenary with US writer Mark Weisbrot & others


...VSC CONFERENCE...VSC CONFERENCE...VSC CONFERENCE

their continued support and highlighted theefforts being made by the government ofPresident Maduro to ensure peace throughoutthe country. The actor and screenwriter Andy dela Tour spoke of his experience as an

international observer of the 2013 elections inVenezuela, and international guests, CamilaMejia from the union FETSALUD Nicaragua andFran Perez from the United Left of Spain, gavefascinating insights into solidarity withVenezuela in their countries.

Finally Jeremy Corbyn MP called for continuedefforts to build the solidarity movement to ensureVenezuela can be defended internationally.

Attendees left the Conference with the words ofAlvaro Sanchez of the Venezuelan Embassyringing true when he said "it's not just theprogress of Venezuela but the progress of theworld" that is at stake and that’s why oursupport is so vital.

Expresses Solidarity!

Denis Doody Regional SecretaryAlec Nichol Regional Council ChairAlan Stansfield Exec. Council Member

From the Northern Region Of UCATT

Solidarity greetings to Nicolas Muduro and the PSUV!Long live the BolivarianRevolution!

Wolverhampton UNISONLocal Government Branchstands with the Bolivarian

Revolution

Billy Hayes

CWU General Secretary

“Some forces within the[Venezuelan] opposition have noconfidence in their ability tosecure a future majority, so they areviolently attempting to provoke a coup or anintervention against the electedGovernment.”

Neil FindlayMember of the Scottish Parliament

“There is a seismic shift [in LatinAmerica] that the corporations andtheir US allies detest. They detest theloss of control and their role ofkingmaker. They hate the fact thatthe people are in control and notthem… the fact that democracy hasproduced a result they don’t like.”

Alicia CastroAmbassador to the UK from Argentina and formerly Argentina’s Ambassador to Venezuela

“Who wins with the violence? Clearly it’s not theGovernment but the opposition… Attacks have beenlaunched against public buildings… intended to sowterror, hatred and social fragmentation.”

Seumas MilneJournalist who recently interviewed President Maduro

“There’s no doubt whatsoever about the scale of US andforeign intervention in Venezuela. The evidence isvoluminous, from the time of the 2002 coup to the $100million estimated of funding to the Venezuelan oppositionin all its forms.”

Workshops took place throughout the day including this oneon tackling racism and neo-colonialism chaired by ZitaHolbourne of the PCS

ActorAndy DeLa Tourchairs theclosingrally


...LOBBY YOUR MP...OPPOSE US SANCTIONS...LOBBY YOUR MP...

Numerous MPs have added theirsupport for Venezuela (see below) dueto this campaigning, and now,lobbying your MP against US

sanctions has become all the more importantwith the decision of U.S. House ofRepresentatives to ignore the Latin AmericanConsensus and pass sanctions againstVenezuela on May 28. The Senate ForeignRelations Committee, headed by a right-wingFlorida politician, Marco Rubio, has also votedin favour of the bill.

In contrast, Union of South American Nations(Unasur) foreign ministers and officials signed astatement remarking that the intendedsanctions violate the principle of non-intervention in the affairs of other states and hitagainst the process of dialogue between theVenezuelan government and opposition, statingsuch sanctions are also "an obstacle" for theVenezuelan people "to overcome their hardshipswith independence, peace and democracy."

STATEMENT TEXT“We the undersigned join Latin America's mainregional bodies such as the Organisation ofAmerican States (by 29 votes to 3) and UNASUR(Union of South American nations) in bothcondemning the ongoing wave of anti-democraticviolence from extreme elements of Venezuela'sright-wing opposition in recent weeks, whosedeclared aim ('La Salida') is the ousting of theelected government, and in supporting the calls ofVenezuela's elected President Nicolas Maduro forpeace and dialogue.

We agree with the OAS in its call for "respect forthe principle of non intervention in the internalaffairs of states and its commitment to thedefense of democratic institutionalism of the stateof law in agreement with the OAS Charter andinternational law," and therefore disagree with allexternal interference, including through anysanctions on Venezuela as proposed by somemembers of the US congress. We urge all partiesinternationally to support the efforts of UNASUR,through its commission on this issue, in workingfor peace and dialogue in Venezuela. “

Lobby Your MP to Oppose US Sanctions! Hundreds of VSC supporters havewritten to their MP asking them

to add their name to a statementin support of the work of the

special Commission of the LatinAmerican regional body UNASUR

(Union of South AmericanNations) for peace and dialogue in

Venezuela, and noting theposition taken by the

Organisation of American Statesby 29 votes to 3 in its call for

"respect for the principle ofnonintervention in the domestic

affairs of states and itscommitment to the protection of

democratic institutions and therule of law" and therefore

opposing proposed US sanctionson Venezuela.

You can lobby your MP with our easy-to-use online tool at www.venezuelasolidarity.co.ukor by writing to your MP c/o the House of Commons, London, SW1A 0AA.

If you need to look up who your MP is, please visit www.theyworkforyou.com


...LOBBY YOUR MP...OPPOSE US SANCTIONS...LOBBY YOUR MP...

POLITICAL SIGNATORIESAt the time of going to press, politicalsignatories include:

Dave Anderson MP, William Bain MP, RobertaBlackman-Woods MP, Jim Cunningham MP, Nic Dakin MP, Ian Davidson MP, Mark DurkanMP, Neil Findlay MSP, John Finnie MSP, Lord Anthony Gifford QC, Sheila Gilmore MP,Roger Godsiff MP, Rt. Hon. Peter Hain MP, Kelvin Hopkins MP, George Howarth MP, Glenda Jackson MP, Cathy Jamieson MP,Bethan Jenkins AM (Welsh Assembly Member,)Darren Johnson AM (London Assembly,) Rt. Hon. Sir Gerald Kaufman MP, Jean LambertMEP, Ian Lavery MP, John Leech MP, AlexLowley MSP, Elfyn Llwyd MP, John McDonnellMP, Siobhan McMahon MSP, Graeme MorriceMP, Grahame Morris MP, Lord Martin O'Neill of Clackmannan, Fiona O'Donnell MP, JennyRathbone AM (Welsh Assembly Member,) Linda Riordan MP, RT. Hon. Dame Joan RuddockMP, John Robertson MP, Rt. Hon. Andrew SmithMP, Elaine Smith MSP, Mark Williams MP, Chris Williamson MP and Mike Wood MP.

vivavenezuela!

!

Standing shoulder to should with the Venezuelan people

in defence of Workers' Rights, progress and peace

Jim Kelly Peter KavanaghRegional Chair Regional Secretary

Unite the Union London & Eastern Region33-7 Moreland Street,London EC1V 8BB

“Twelve years ago thetemporarily successful2002 US-backed coupagainst Hugo Chávez

took place. Now, Venezuela’s revolutionis again fighting for its life. The formerruling elite are seeking to create theconditions to justify a coup and externalintervention, accompanied by aninternational wave of mediamisrepresentation, including in Britain.To respond to this emergency VSC haslaunched an emergency financialappeal for £10,000 - We are loudlysaying No More Pinochets in LatinAmerica- No to Extreme Right-WingCoup Plotters in Venezuela! If 500people donate £20 we will raise enoughto increase our impact at this vital time.

VSC Emergency AppealAlready, our response to the US warmongers and coup plotters has beeninternationally praised and extremelyeffective. Now, reaching our £10,000target has the potential to significantlyincrease everything we are able toachieve, and launch a range of new,hard-hitting initiatives, just when weneed it the most.. So please take aminute to give what you can, to directlyfund the work you want to see to defendthe amazing legacy of Hugo Chávez.

If 500 people give £20, we will raiseenough to ensure we increase ourimpact at this vital time. We get a lotdone with surprisingly little money. Weare extremely efficient. But it isn't free.Funding can be a problem for

organisations like us. Please thereforedonate what you can today.Regardless of whether or not you’reable to donate right now, thank you foreverything you do for Venezuela – it isgreatly appreciated both here and inVenezuela.” – Matt Willgress, VSCNational Co-ordinator

● You can donate by cheque madeout to ‘Venezuela SolidarityCampaign’ and marked‘Emergency Appeal’ to VSC c/o Unite London and EasternRegion, 33-37 Moreland Street,London, EC1V 8BB.

■ If you join VSC online at:www.venezuelasolidarity.co.uk for only £18 you receive afree DVD of Oliver Stone’sSouth of the Border. You can also join by chequefor £18 (£9 unwaged) toVenezuela Solidarity Campaign,c/o PO Box 56210, London N4 4XH

Join the VSC

Vsc Magazine Volume 4 Issue 1

Documents

Transcript of Vsc Magazine Volume 4 Issue 1