Venezuela Solidarity Conf. - April 18-20 - WASH, DC

[magbana]

Might be a good opportunity for a meet up of DUers.


Only 5 days left to get the $35 discounted registration fee. Register Today on-line at www.vensolidarity.org.



Dear friend:



The Venezuelan right is making a comeback. After the December referendum defeat of constitutional reforms proposed by President Hugo Chávez, conservatives are increasingly assertive in their efforts to derail the revolutionary process through violent protests and economic sabotage.



The right’s agenda—and the resistance to it by the grassroots left—will be a major topic in the national symposium on Venezuela, April 18-20 in Washington, D.C.



This isn’t the first time the right has tried to undermine Venezuela’s reforms and anti-neoliberal policies. In 2002, the right mounted a failed coup—backed by the U.S.—followed a few months later by an oil industry “strike” that was in fact a lockout by industry bosses.



The bosses’ strike failed, and Venezuela’s oil revenue has been used to finance a series of path-breaking reforms—free medical care, subsidized grocery stores, literacy programs, land reforms and much more. President Hugo Chávez rolled up a series of election victories until the December referendum, which was defeated amid anticommunist scare campaign, hoarding of food by businesses and violent protests by right-wing students. Now, as the left debates the reason for the referendum defeat and how to achieve socialism for the 21st Century, the right is increasingly more assertive.



What next in Venezuela? Come to a national symposium in Washington, D.C., April 18-20 (details below) and join solidarity activists from the U.S., grassroots movement leaders and government officials from Venezuela as well as academics and experts. Take part in a weekend of analysis and debate about the Venezuelan revolutionary process—and discuss its importance for Latin America and the rest of the world.



Conference information



WHAT'S UP WITH VENEZUELA?

Participatory Democracy or Democracy as Usual?

A National Symposium

Friday, April 18 - Sunday, April 20, 2008. Howard University, Washington, DC



Speakers include…



BERNARDO ALVAREZ HERRERA, Venezuela’s ambassador to the U.S.



STEVE ELLNER, author of Rethinking Venezuelan Politics and several books on the Venezuelan labor movement



GONZALO GÓMEZ, National Association of Free and Alternative Community Media (ANMCLA)



GREG WILPERT, Venezuelanalysis



Jorge Guerrero, Network of Afro Venezuelans



Mark Weisbrot, Center for Economic Policy Research



Fernando Vegas Torrealba, Venezuela Supreme Court Justice



EVA Golinger, lawyer, author





PANEL DISCUSSIONS:



Venezuela 101: From Capitalism to Socialism in the 21st Century



Agents of Change, Part 1: Workers and Peasant Movements



Agents of Change, Part 2: Social/Ethnic Popular Movements



The Economy, Energy and the Environment



Popular Democracy: What is it?



Traditional Democracy: How Does it Fare in Venezuela Today?



International Relations: Venezuela Becomes a Player and a Target



For information and online registration, visit www.vensolidarity.org or call the Alliance for Global Justice at 202-544-9355. Pre-register before March 15 at the discounted price of $35. Registration after March 15 is $50.



The Venezuela Solidarity Network is a project of the Alliance for Global Justice.