VENEZUELA:
One year after the popular uprising reversed the coup
Friday 16 May 7 pm
Friends Meeting House (side
entrance) 
173-177 Euston Road, NW1 Euston 
Entrance: Donation
Two women from the Global Women's Strike, which has been supporting women in Venezuela since July 2002, were in Caracas on the first anniversary of the revolution.
Their report-back includes a video of speeches and interviews on what this amazing 21st century revolution is winning, what we can do for it and what it can do for us.
| In
1998 President Chavez was elected by a landslide to tackle poverty
and corruption. The two parties in power for over 40 years had left
80% of Venezuelans, mostly people of colour, in poverty despite a
lucrative oil industry.
In 1999, a new constitution framed by the population was voted in, which:
It opposes the privatization of oil, enabling the population to reclaim its stolen oil revenue. On a continent plagued by US-backed military dictatorships and disappearances, the Chavez government promotes a caring use of its military. Soldiers, as well as defending the revolutionary process, work with and for the community: building homes, schools, providing healthcare . . . As laws implementing the constitution were about to come into force, the US government and Venezuela’s white racist elite organised a coup and kidnapped President Chavez. But the civilian-military unity paid off. Two days later, on 13 April 2002, millions took to the streets led by women from the poorest areas. With the support of loyal soldiers they won back their elected president and their constitution. The grassroots took the revolution into its own hands. In January 2003, oil managers, the corporate media and corrupt union leaders tried to stop the revolution by stopping the oil industry. Again they were defeated by people determined to defend and extend their gains. |
For more info call:
020-7482 2496 (voice/minicom)
Email womenstrike8m@server101.com
Crossroads Women’s Centre,
230a Kentish Town Rd, London NW5 2AB
The
Venezuelan revolution –
Urgent appeal from women to women all over the world
Last year the
unelected US government engineered a military coup against the elected
government of President Hugo Chavez. The new dictatorship disbanded Congress and abolished the
Constitution. But the coup was reversed when hundreds of thousands of
people, including soldiers, came out onto
the streets to defend their government and their movement. Most
recently, a “general strike” that has been in fact a corporate
lockout, has tried to stop oil exports, to give the US an excuse to
intervene and restore the rich and racist elite to power. Women have been at the heart of this peaceful
constitutional movement that prioritizes the needs of people (80% of whom
live in poverty) over US oil interests. The Global Women’s Strike, whose theme is INVEST IN CARING
NOT KILLING, was invited by the Venezuela Women’s Institute to help
prevent further bloodshed.
Los
Angeles Event:
Venezuela: One Year after the Popular Uprising Reversed the Coup
Saturday, May 31, 2-6 pm
Immanuel Presbyterian Church
3300 Wilshire Blvd (near Berendo), LA
for info call 323-292-7405
Appeal to US trade unionists on behalf of workers in Venezuela
Statement from Latin American and Caribbean women, 8 March 2002