An August 21 dinner organised to raise funds for Green Left Weekly and the Socialist Alliance turned into a celebration of Venezuela’s Bolivarian revolution, after Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez easily defeated a recall referendum on August 15.

The keynote speaker at the event was Venezuelan ambassador, Leonel Vivas, who thanked the participants for their solidarity with the majority of the Venezuelan people. “My country is a rich country”, he said, “but 70% of the population is poor. That is what our opponents do not understand: the Chavez is not just a president for the rich, he is a president for the majority, because he thinks our oil wealth belongs to the majority.

“And so [the opposition] was surprised, when the people of Venezuela spoke. Because it does not think these people matter. But to Chavez, under our constitution, everyone matters.” Clearly inspired by his presentation, the diners asked questions and discussed solidarity efforts in Australia for some time. The event raised around $1600 for the two organisations.

From Green Left Weekly, August 25, 2004.
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