Stuart Munckton
At the same time as the US government continues to escalate its hostile rhetoric towards the left-wing government of Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez, March 8 marked the beginning of a week of solidarity with the US people. The Bolivarian News Agency reported on March 6 that the week was being promoted by Venezuela's foreign ministry.
The president of the Venezuelan National Assembly Family Commission, Gabriela Ramirez, explained that the week was motivated by the ongoing war against Iraq, saying, "We are going to be supportive with US inhabitants, who are forced to go into battle and sacrifice their children ... in the economic interests of the US government".
To mark International Women's Day on March 8, thousands of Venezuelan women marched to the US embassy in protest at the US occupation of Iraq, "accompanied by fireworks, samba drums and whistles", according to a March 9 Reuters report. One participant told Reuters that "I wouldn't want my children to go to battle just for some economic benefits". Protesters handed over a document against the war from Venezuela's National Assembly to a representative of the US embassy. The government claims that since January, 2 million people have signed a government-initiated petition against the occupation of Iraq.
Meanwhile, hundreds of activists from across the US rejected the Bush administration's attacks on Venezuela, at a national conference in Washington DC on March 4-6. The conference, sponsored by a wide range of organisations, was held in solidarity with Venezuela and the revolutionary process transforming that nation.
Recognising the urgent need to combat their own government's attacks on Venezuela, various solidarity initiatives were discussed, including the creation of an "emergency response network" to respond to any attack as well as a demonstration on May 20 in Washington in solidarity with Cuba and Venezuela against US aggression.
From Green Left Weekly, March 15, 2006.
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