Vijay Prashad: Latin America’s Fourth Left Wave Since the Cuban Revolution is Social Democratic In the first wave, inspired by the example of the socialist Cuban Revolution, wave after revolutionary wave has flooded Latin America with hope against US imperialism and for a left-wing breakthrough.The first wave was crushed by extreme violence against the Cuban example through military coups organised by the US programme called Operation Condor. The second wave of leftism – from the Nicaraguan and Grenadian revolutions of 1979 – opened new hope, which was once more contested by the imperialists through their ‘dirty wars’ in Central America and by imperialism’s alliance with the narco-terrorists of the region. The third wave came with the election of Chávez in 1999 and the advancement of what was known as the ‘pink tide’ in Latin America. The tide was undermined by the illegal US war against Venezuela, by the decline in commodity prices, and by the weakness of the social and political movements to contest the entrenched bourgeoisie in many countries of the region. The fourth wave is significant but should not be exaggerated. Even the mildest centre-left governments will be forced to address the serious social crises in the hemisphere, crises deepened by the collapse of commodity prices and by the pandemic.
Political Prisoner Alex Saab
Alex Saab Sends Letter of Thanks to Oscar Lopez Rivera Venezuelan Ambassador Alex Saab was able to respond this Tuesday to a letter sent in February of this year by former Puerto Rican political prisoner Oscar Lopez Rivera, noting that “it has been a real honor” to learn of his empathy and support. Saab said that “your struggle, your endurance and your companionship are an inspiration, without a doubt you are a hero…silence cannot become treason, consenting to the actions of those who abuse (…) gives them power over our future and that of our children and makes us indirect accomplices of their actions, by allowing them to harm others…we cannot give up, surrender is not an option, the empire believes that by torturing us, they break us and humiliate us, but the heart of a warrior is not lost, what better example of this than Oscar Lopez Rivera”.
Venezuela
UN Humanitarian Chief calls for solidarity and increased support for the Venezuelan people Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator Martin Griffiths: “I am heartened to see that the economy is showing signs of recovery. Important humanitarian needs remain. It is more important than ever that the international community continues to show solidarity with the Venezuelan people, ensuring the most vulnerable, including women, girls, boys and the elderly, are not left behind.” The Humanitarian Response Program requires$795 million for this year. It aims to support 5.2 million people with assistance, focusing on supporting health services, improving food security and nutrition, strengthening basic service delivery and education, promoting protection and addressing human mobility. Mr. Griffiths thanked international donors for their efforts in mobilizing $170 million so far this year.
Mision Verdad: Venezuela’s Special Economic Zones Law: What It Is & What It Is Not President Nicolás Maduro stated that the main emphasis of these new SEZs, unlike the so-called “free trade zones” of the past, is the promotion of productive activity, specifically in the primary and secondary sectors, which correspond to the development and transport of goods. A cross-cutting element throughout the law is based on breaking import dependencies, in a way that is key to the context. Import substitution, export diversification and technology transfer are highlighted in Article 6. Article 5 expressly states that “the development of Special Economic Zones, including the economic activities carried out in them, is of a strategic nature, of general interest and of public utility.”
Orinoco Tribune: Venezuela-Iran Food Cooperation Reaches New Heights Iran’s Deputy Minister of Interior for Economic Affairs Mohsen Kushki Tabar noted that the agricultural agreement between Venezuela and Iran will provide the latter with one million hectares for growing food. The agricultural agreement is part of a 20-year cooperation agreement that was signed in June when the president of Venezuela, Nicolás Maduro, visited Tehran and met with his Iranian counterpart, Ebrahim Raisi.
Venezuelanalysis: Venezuelan Gold Reserves: Caracas Protests ‘Astonishing’ Ruling in Favor of US-backed Guaidó Venezuelan authorities have blasted the latest court ruling in the struggle for control over 31 tonnes of gold stored in the Bank of England. The High Court of England and Wales decided in favor of opposition politician Juan Guaidó and dismissed a new effort by the Venezuelan Central Bank to regain control over the reserves worth an estimated US $1.7 billion. Caracas had brought to court the Venezuelan Supreme Court decrees stating that the parallel Venezeulan Central Bank board appointed by the US-backed opposition was illegal. However, judge Sara Cockerill decreed that the British Court could not recognize the rulings made by Venezuela’s highest judicial court. The Venezuelan Central Bank stated, “This ruling violates international law as well as Venezuela’s legal and constitutional order in order to justify a criminal framework that allows for the unlawful seizure of the country’s international reserves.”
Al Mayadeen: Venezuela: Pelosi’s visit threatens China’s self-determination Venezuela’s foreign ministry slammed US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s visit to Taiwan, calling it an outright provocation and a threat to China’s security. “The trip of the Speaker of the US House of Representatives Nancy Pelosi to Taiwan is a direct provocation and seriously threatens the self-determination and territorial integrity of the giant of China.” Venezuela reiterated its support for the One China policy and demanded that other countries respect China’s sovereignty. Nicaragua also condemned Pelosi’s visit as an “unprecedented provocation of North American imperialism.”
Cuba
Code Pink: Cuba is Not a Sponsor of Terror! (petition)
Statement by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs: Cuba reaffirms its unreserved support to the “one China” principle The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Cuba states its firm rejection to the actions aimed at harming the territorial integrity and sovereignty of the People’s Republic of China; condemns interference in its internal affairs, and emphasizes its concern over the increasing tensions and further deterioration of the situation concerning Taiwan as a direct result of the aggressive policy and high military presence of the United States and its allies in the Taiwan Strait, military contacts and regular sale of weapons, actions all that undermine peace and international and regional peace.
TeleSur: Hate Mob Incite Violence Against Caravan for Cuba in Miami A group of “hate-filled people” incited violence against the caravan in Miami convened by the Bridges of Love movement to demand the US end the economic blockade against Cuba. Cuban-American Carlos Lazo, leader of the initiative, denounced the provocations on social media, which took place in the streets of Coral Gables surrounded by dozens of people who were demonstrating against Washington’s sanctions on the Caribbean nation.“They call us terrorists for taking medicine and powdered milk to Cuba for children and the elderly, they call us terrorists for being in favor of family reunification and travels to Cuba, and we are in favor of bridges of love.”
Nicaragua
Daniel Ortega: “Taking shape, being born is a New World, and this New World is going to be a Democratic World, where there will be Respect between Nations“The ALBA was like a bridge that appears, inspired by our Brother Comandante Hugo Chávez, by Fidel, the bridge that opens up with a Spirit of Solidarity, a Spirit of developing Collaboration, Cooperation, taking into account the asymmetries between our Countries. At no time was ALBA considered as simply a trade Project, but rather as a Project full of Humanism, full of Solidarity, full of Love, and naturally that did not go down well with Imperialism…Then the Empire trying to destroy ALBA, and in doing so, to affect the poorest people of our Region; because the Empire has not been able to provide the levels of unconditional cooperation ALBA has provided, made possible by the Bolivarian Revolution of our Peoples, despite the Empire being a thousand times more powerful in economic terms, in financial terms than Venezuela, Cuba, and all of this undoubtedly has contributed, despite the blows that the Empire has given against ALBA, the benefits brought by ALBA have left their fruits. No country [referring to Venezuela], no capitalist government in the world offered us that kind of cooperation, not to their neighboring countries, nor to the African Peoples who had been subjected and enslaved by them.
NicaNotes: A Strange Kind of Dictatorship My government in the US has called Nicaragua a dictatorship. My observations over the past year, and before, tell me that this claim is ridiculous. It’s a strange kind of dictatorship in which there is a call for everyone to get involved in building their country. I will cite three examples of the high level of citizen participation I have seen – in the areas of elections, confronting natural disasters, and healthcare.
Events and Delegations
Global Health Partners: Help Send Life-Saving Medical Supplies to Cuba We’re committed to raising $137,000 this month to rush urgently needed anesthesia machines, sutures and surgical supplies to Cuba. Thanks to your solidarity and compassion, we’ve already raised $78,000. Please help us again to bring in the $59,000 we need to reach our lifesaving goal!
Wednesdays: WTF is Going on in Latin America & The Caribbean with Teri Mattson
Travel to Venezuela with Code Pink October 7-17
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