Nov 162012
 


On 7 October, Hugo Chavez was re-elected as President of Venezuela. Since 1998, Chavez and his Bolivarian movement have championed the cause of the poor in Latin America and have proved to be tough opponents to the power structure that would see them deposed in the same way that Pinochet dealt with the Allende Government in Chile. With thanks to Mike Martin.

Film showing, Monday 19 November at New King’s NK10 at 1930

Two independent filmmakers were inside the Presidential Palace in Caracason 11 April 2002, when Chavez and his team were forcibly removed from office. They were also present 48 hours later when, remarkably, he returned to power amid cheering aides and massive pro-Chavez demonstrations.

The film records what was probably history’s shortest-lived coup d’état. It is a unique document about political muscle and an extraordinary portrait of the man The Wall Street Journal credits with making Venezuela, ‘Washington’s biggest Latin American headache after the old standby, Cuba’.

This meeting has been organised by the Aberdeen Latin America Solidarity Network and is supported by the Shared Planet Society and the Venezuela Solidarity Campaign.

Everybody is welcomed to attend.

For more info: www.venezuelasolidarity.org.uk or contact Mike Martin 0797-476-3082

 

Sep 212012
 

Aberdeen based musician Simon Gall will present a talk on democracy and development in Venezuela next Thursday. With thanks to Mike Martin.

On 7th October there will be presidential elections in Venezuela – a country which has more elections than nearly anywhere else in the world, all certified free and fair by respected international bodies.

Record numbers are registered to vote – up from 11 million in 1998 to 19 million today – due to the removal of obstacles that stopped many poorer people voting.

Alongside Venezuela’s democracy, there has been a flowering of social programmes that have delivered free healthcare, eradicated illiteracy and lifted millions out of poverty.

Simon has recently returned from Venezuela where he was hosted by the Ministry of the Environment.

Simon’s talk will be followed by a 20 min video “Experience in Democracy (A Quick Glance at the Venezuelan Electoral System)” and a discussion facilitated by Gordon Maloney of the AUSA.

Time and Date:  7pm, Thurs, 27th September
Venue: New King’s NK14, Aberdeen University

For more information: www.venezuelasolidarity.org.uk
Or contact Mike: 0797-476-3082