AUSTRALIA
Venezuela’s revolution discussed
Matthew Burke, Newcastle
9 May 2009
On May 5, Nelson Davila, charge d’affairs for the Venezuelan embassy in Australia, travelled to Newcastle for a day of discussion about the history and progress of the Bolivarian revolution.
At a lunch time lecture at the University of Newcastle, Davila gave an overview of the views of the Bolivarian government on issues as varied as climate change, the current relationship with the Obama government in the United States, the nationalisation of the petroleum industry in Venezuela and the status of the social programs that have improved life for so many in Venezuela.
The forum was also addressed by Kris Gesling from the Newcastle University Students’ Association (NUSA) and Dr Tom Griffiths, Deputy Head of the university’s School of Education. NUSA and the School of Education were sponsors of the event.
At an evening forum organised by the Australia-Venezuela Solidarity Network and chaired by former ALP MP for Newcastle Bryce Gaudry, Davila spoke in greater depth about the birth of the Bolivarian revolution and discussed the social programs that are eliminating poverty.
Davila said: “While most nations are currently losing jobs in huge numbers, we are creating employment.” He also commented on the misguided belief that the Bolivarian revolution in his country is a dictatorship.
He said: “While Hugo Chavez is a great revolutionary leader, he is not the revolution — the revolution is the people. We say power to the people and nobody else.”
