The concept of “self-determination” or “sovereignty” are widely recognized as the fundamental rights of a nation. However, the United States government flagrantly violates these rights in Venezuela (as well as in many, many other countries throughout the world and throughout history).
Since 1999 Venezuela has been charting its own path, without U.S. foreign domination, through the Bolivarian Revolution which has made huge gains for the Venezuelan people. Social missions have greatly improved education, healthcare and access to subsidized food and other social services in Venezuela. For example, in 2005 Venezuela was declared free of illiteracy by UNESCO, only two years after the launch of Mission Robinson, a literacy program. Prior to the program’s implementation, 1.5 million Venezuelans were illiterate, 2 million had not finished primary school, and many more had not finished high school, which further educational missions addressed.
These accomplishments are an example of what can be done in a country free from U.S. colonial policies and is exactly what the U.S. is trying to destroy at all costs. After years of an economic war, the U.S. government backed an attempted coup in Venezuela on January of 2019, which failed as Venezuelans defended their democratically elected President Nicolas Maduro. Now the U.S. has imposed a cruel blockade against Venezuela, which consists of over 150 illegal unilateral coercive measures that negatively impacts all facets of life for the people of Venezuela.
Peace and justice loving people around the world are standing up in defense of Venezuela and the Bolivarian Revolution, against these attacks from U.S. imperialism and their allies. In Vancouver, Canada, the Fire This Time Venezuela Solidarity Campaign organizes a protest action every month, most recently on November 8, 2019.
At the November 8th action, Venezuela supporters gathered in front of the U.S. Consulate in downtown Vancouver, raising picket signs and chanting “U.S./Canada Hands Off Venezuela!” In between rounds of picketing, protesters heard from local speakers, who also demanded that the U.S. drop all charges against members of the Embassy Protection Collective who were arrested during their heroic defense of Venezuela’s sovereignty. For 37 days the Embassy Protection Collective protected the Venezuelan Embassy in Washington, DC from a take-over by supporters of the U.S.-backed puppet, the so-called “interim President” of Venezuela, Juan Guaidó. (Read more about this important struggle in Fire This Time Newspaper, Volume 13, Issue 6, and donate to the Embassy Protectors’ Defense Fund at https://defendembassyprotectors.org )
The action then moved to the busy Robson street plaza, where the many passersby stopped to talk to organizers and get information. Many also signed on to the petition demanding that Canada stop its sanctions against Venezuela, as the government of Canada also targets Venezuela with cruel sanctions and a media campaign aimed at “regime change” in Venezuela.
These actions continue monthly, and you can find out about the next action at www.firethistime.net or by following on Facebook, Twitter: @FTT_np and Instagram: @FTT.Venezuela.
Follow Janine on Twitter: @janinesolanki
Back to Article Listing
