Venezuelan charge daffairs Nelson Davila, who had just returned from Nauru, described the impact of capitalist development on the small Pacific island state, which has had its sole natural resource phosphate sucked dry by Australian mining companies. He related the discomfort of the US, Australian and other foreign diplomats at the Donor Roundtable meeting he attended when he offered food, medicine and solidarity from the Venezuelan government. The US government offered soldiers and weapons.
Davila also presented greetings to the ACFSs Cuban Rebellion Day celebration attended by 200 people in Fremantle.
The joint seminar included a plenary examining the roots of the Latin American rebellion against neoliberalism. Workshops addressed themes such as media and free speech in Venezuela, women and revolution in Latin America, and the life and legacy of Che Guevara.
Electrical Trades Union organiser and AVSNs Venezuela May Day brigade participant Terry Hayes presented a workshop on workers control and the union movement in Venezuela. Other workshops examined Cubas green revolution, Cuban political prisoners in the US and the mass movement against the electoral fraud that last year robbed Mexicos left-wing presidential candidate Lopez Obrador of victory.
The AVSN will be screening the films
Venezuela: No Volveran in August and John Pilgers
War on Democracy in September. For more information, phone Trent on 0407 070 841 or email
<perth@venezuelasolidarity.org>.