On Sunday, wondering what on earth we could do about the terrible events in the world in the last few days, I listened in to an emergency rally for Venezuela, hosted by the VSC, with attendees from the main anti-war groups and other organisations, such as trade unions. There were 500 in the zoom, and hundreds more watching on YouTube.
Here, to the best of my ability, is a summary of ideas raised and ideas about what we can do:
Richard Burgon MP
Burgon opened the speeches, stating that what we’d witnessed was a violation of the law, that it was about control of oil, that it was naked colonialism, a power grab.
He spoke about the US violence and control we’re seeing across the world, in the name of ‘restoring the Monroe Doctrine’. He addressed those in government across Europe, saying that Trump will not just stop – we have to stand up to him.
Things to do: Burgon urged listeners to join the Venezuela Solidarity Campaign.
Sophie Bolt of CND
Bolt said this was about regime change, for the sake of oil wealth, reminding us that it comes after months of extrajudicial killings and a tremendous build up of arms, including nuclear weapons, in and around Venzuela, putting the entire population under threat.
She listed the General Secretary of the UN, the Mayor of New York and the Pope amongst those who have spoken up for the rule of law. We have to act now, she said, or other countries will be attacked.
Things to do: Bolt asked anyone who can to come to the Downing Street Rally today (Monday 5th) at 6pm.
Maryam Eslamdoust (TSSA)
Eslamdoust reminded us it’s six months since Iran was bombed by Israel, a crime for which the world offered no repercussions. She spoke of the silence, the cowardice of European politicians in response to such crimes.
To those who justify Trump’s actions, she asked, why not bomb Saudi? Why not the UAE? She concluded this could not be about drugs or corruption and, if it’s just what Trump wants to do, one day it could be us under attack.
Things to do: she asked listeners to email their MPs, email Keir Starmer, question their values, demand support for international law.
Tariq Ali
Ali pointed out that this is not new behaviour from the USA. He spoke about Aristide in Haiti, about Noreiga and other South American politicians who’ve been attacked. He quoted Trump saying, “we want out oil back” and said that, as ever, the USA wants the whole of South America. From the point of view of the left and the Bolivar revolution, Ali said we’ve lost Chile, Argentina, Bolivia, Equador, and now Venezuela. He said that the USA tried bribery first. Maduro said ‘no’ to money, he said ‘no’ to a palace in Turkey. He stood up for the people of Venezuela.
He considered the charges the US claims it has against Maduro – that he’s the leader of a drug cartel that doesn’t seem to exist, that he carried weapons (as a General, in his own country – how is this a crime?) and he was ‘gun running’. It’s a nonsense.
Things to do: Ali suggested asking your trade union to affiliate to the Venezuela Solidarity Campaign.
Francesca Emanuela of the CEPR
Emanuele reminded us that over 40 people had been killed in Trump’s action which, as well as a violation of international law, was an unconstitutional action according to US law. She said that members of Congress have condemned the action, and when Congress convenes next week, there will be resolutions against it.
So why can’t our politicians manage to condemn it? Who will be next, Mexico? Columbia?
Things to do: Francesca suggested joining Stop the War or CND, helping to bring together the opposition to government violence across the world.
Lindsay German of Stop the War
German agreed with those who’d spoken already about the importance of not putting up with ‘gangster politics’. By contrast, she said, our Prime Minister appears to be a rabbit in the headlights, stuttering out a contradictory statement. He’s scared of Trump and his actions are encouraging far-right politics in the UK. We need to put pressure on our government.
She says people in the chat are asking about the UN, but the UN is getting weaker. There is an arms race in the EU, and as well as showing solidarity with Venezuela, we need to build a movement to challenge imperialism everywhere.
Things to do: She suggested that people go to all the demos, and look at the Stop the War website for further actions.
Jeremy Corbyn, Peace and Justice Project
Corbyn said he’d spent Christmas reading the US policy document, laying out the ‘Trump Monroe Doctrine’. The salient points are:
- Everything is only important if it matters to the US.
- US corporate interests come first.
- The US requires resources from many countries around the world, and will do whatever is necessary to get them.
Apparently this applies to Africa as well as the traditional ‘hemisphere’ of Monroe, and in addition, Trump has made known his dissatisfaction with the ‘regulation and wokeism’ of Europe. So, what do we do? Trump does not challenge Russia or China except where the US’s direct interests are challenged. He has nothing to say about the real problems the world faces: environmental crisis, poverty and refugees. Global corporate interests are using Trump’s miliary actions to grab what they can.
Corbyn said we need to build links with the global left, the global anti-war movement. There will be a Latin America Solidarity Conference in February. We must do all we can to understand and stand against illegality and the global power of corporations.
Click here for a commentary on the US Strategy Document from JVL.
Things to do: Make the real problems matter. There’s a Peace and Justice event coming up which will explore these issues further.
Bernard Regan of the Cuba Solidarity Campaign
Regan says Cuba has issued a statement condemning Trump’s actions and supporting Venezuela and its government. He says 21 South American countries have agreements with China, and this is what the UD is objecting to. He says Britain is holding onto a large amount of Venezuelan gold, and is subservient to the US in all its decisions.
Things to do: join the national rallies, and if there’s nothing locally, set up your own local rally in solidarity with Venezuela.
Francisco Domingues
Head of Research Group on Latin America at Middx University and Secretary of the Venezuela Solidarity Campaign
Domingues looks at Trump’s accusations that Marduro was guilty of ‘narco-terrorism’ and ‘drug trafficking. He finds that the USA’s main drug problem is fentanyl, and points out that 1. Venzuela produces no fentanyl at all and that 2. Other drugs the US has problems with mainly enter the US via the Pacific, and that the ‘Cartel de los Solos’ does not appear to exist.
He points out the disastrous state of the US economy and society, and concludes that because all their policies have failed, Trump’s oligarchy can now only survive by military might. He says that although the violence and danger are enormous, there is also a massive opposition to Trump across the world, that is growing all the time. Trump’s regime is not going to last forever.
Things to do: Make sure everyone knows the facts. In all conversations and communications, stick to our demands that Maduro and his wife should be released, and our politicians should condemn illegality. We need to get our politicians on the side of the people, and on the side of the law.
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Right, that’s it. I’ve summarised the main points to the best of my ability. Any mistakes are my own – please don’t take it as gospel, but please do go back and look at those to-do lists, and resolve to do at least one thing every day to help build the global resistance. See you on the streets!
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Kay Green 