VIC BECOMES VENEZUELA SOLIDARITY CAMPAIGN

VIC BECOMES VENEZUELA SOLIDARITY CAMPAIGN AT ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING
 
Venezuela Solidarity Campaign to Build Broad-Based Support for Democracy and Social Progress in Venezuela.
 
In a move which has been welcomed by representatives of the Venezuelan Government, delegates voted unanimously at the third Venezuela Information Centre (VIC) AGM on Saturday 16 May to change the name of the organisation to the Venezuela Solidarity Campaign (VSC.)
 
Commenting on the decision, Ken Livingstone, VSC President, said “President Chavez's government has inspired people at home and around the world with its combination of radical social progress and democracy in Venezuela. Although it has been strengthened by the shift in the world economy from the US to the East, the replacement of Bush by President Obama and repeated election victories in Venezuela, anti-democratic vested interests remain committed to trying to overthrow the elected government of Venezuela. The Venezuela Solidarity Campaign will explain the truth about the social transformation in Venezuela and defend the rights of its people to decide their own government and policies.”
 
Jennie Bremner, VSC’s new Chair and Unite the Union Assistant General Secretary, said “Unite and other trade unions in Britain have been inspired the social progress being made in Venezuela, which show that another world is possible. Through the work of VSC, we will build the broadest possible support in the labour movement and beyond for the progressive changes taking place there.
With the dawn of the Obama Presidency and hope of a new approach to US-Venezuela relations, our continuing campaign for Britain and Europe to adopt a policy of constructive engagement with Venezuela is needed as much as ever.”
 
Dr. Francisco Dominguez, VSC’s new Secretary, added “The new name and aims of the organisation more accurately reflect what the organisation does and our unconditional support for the right of the Venezuelan people to determine their future free from external interference, and to also actively defend the achievements of the Bolivarian Revolution. In the next year we will be redoubling our efforts to both counter negative misrepresentations of Venezuela and raise awareness of the social progress being made.”
 
The meeting also heard from guest speakers Alvaro Sanchez, of the Embassy of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela, and Mariano Baque, Secretary of the CTE trade union federation in Ecuador, who thanked delegates for their solidarity and gave the event an update on the inspiring changes taking place across Venezuela and Latin America as a whole.
 
Notes to Editors:
1 The aims of the Venezuela Solidarity Campaign shall be:
a) To defend Venezuela's sovereignty and independence;
b) To support the right of the Venezuelan people to determine their own future free from external intervention;
c) To defend the achievements of the Bolivarian Revolution;
d) To provide accurate and up-to-date information in support of democracy and social progress in Venezuela;
e) To support and build activity around these objectives throughout Britain, within parliament, regional and local government, the trade unions. amongst women, lesbian and gay communities, Black, Asian and Latin American communities, students and others.
2. The AGM also passed a number of motions and amendments on further advancing solidarity work, which can be found on the website here . The annual report of the organisation’s work can be found here .
3. For further comment or information please contact Matt Willgress, VIC Co-ordinator, on 02074208963 or info@vicuk.org .