EMAIL CAMPAIGN AND NATIONAL VENEZUELA SOLIDARITY DAY:
FRIDAY, DECEMBER 2, 2005
THE TIME IS NOW!

Let's stop Bush Administration plans to bring down democracy in Venezuela!

The Latin America Solidarity Coalition (LASC) is calling for a National Venezuela Solidarity Day for Friday, December 2, 2005, the anniversary of the Monroe Doctrine.

LASC is also calling for a prolonged email campaign to let Congress and the White House know that US policy in Venezuela and Latin America is unacceptable, and an attack on real democracy.It is time for people in the United States to come together and demand an end to centuries of interference in the hemisphere!

Here are three easy ways you can participate:

ONE: Join our email campaign to Congress and the White House.( you may start sending now)
TWO: Help organize a Venezuela Solidarity event in your community on or near December 2nd.
THREE: Organize a delegation to visit your Senators and Representatives while they are home for the holidary recess

CLICK ON THIS LINK TO SEND THE FOLLOWING EMAIL TO CONGRESS AND THE WHITE HOUSE :

www.pephost.org/HandsOffVenezuela

Dear Senator/Representative/President Bush:

We demand that Congress and the Bush Administration::

Stop interfering in Venezuela's elections and sovereign affairs!

Cease and desist from invading Venezuela or sponsoring any more coup attempts!

Close the School of the Americas and the National Endowment for Democracy due to their illegal and disruptive activites in Venezuela and throughout Latin America!

We are appalled at the attempts by the United States Congress and the Bush Administration to interfere in affairs of the sovereign nation of Venezuela. We are dismayed that these actions are aimed at overthrowing legitimately and democratically chosen government.

The Venezuelan people have elected Hugo Chavez as their president twice, and reaffirmed that choice in a recall referendum that was funded with US tax dollars. The Venezuelan people have elected Bolivarian majorities to the National Assembly and ratified a Bolivarian constitution. All sides in Venezuela agree on one point, the masses of people are more involved in democratic processes there than at any time in history.

The government of Venezuela poses no threat to the United States--unless real democracy itself is a threat!

The Chavez administration has worked closely with private oil companies, and has kept an open flow of oil to the US. Indeed, when the United States suffered a massive electrical blackout in the Northeast, and again, in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina, the Chavez administration offered shipments of cheap oil. In the case of Katrina much needed medical personnel and supplies were also offered. The way the Bush administration and the US Congress have treated the people of Venezuela is a shame and a disgrace.

Graduates of the US Army's School of the Americas led the coup attempt against Pres. Chavez. There is ample evidence that plans for the coup were discussed in advance with US State Department and military personnel. The misnamed National Endowment for Democracy and USAID funded groups behind the coup, the unpopular recall referendum, and the illegal lockouts and work stoppages designed to cripple the Venezuelan economy.

The United States cannot claim to care about world democracy while at the same time acting to undermine it. Therefore, as people of the United States and the Americas, we demand the US federal government cease and desist from all efforts to overthrow or manipulate the Venezuelan government and the people's popular choices.

Sincerely


---------------------------------------------------------------------IS YOUR COMMUNITY ORGANIZING AN EVENT FOR THE NATIONAL VENEZUELA SOLIDARITY DAY?


If your community is already organizing something, be sure to let us know when and where your event will be. All information will be posted on our websites at www.lasolidarity.org , www.handsoffvenezuela.org and www.ushov.org

And be sure and let us know if you are organizing a delegation to visit your Representatives and Senators.If your community is not already participating, but is interested in doing so--let us know who and where you are and we'll do what we can to get you in contact with other organizers in your area. We'll also connect you with resources and get you an organizer's kit.

Ideas for possible events could include: vigils or demonstrations at federal building, the office of a Senator or Representative, a park or major intersection, or other public sites; a lecture, film showing, or cultural event, an informal post card party--get folks together for potluck and have them write letters or post cards to Congress in solidarity with Venezuela. Or maybe you have an idea we haven't thought of that we could share with others

For more information, email, call, or visit our websites
at jpj-AT-lasolidarity.org

www.lasolidarity.org , www.ushov.org and www.handsoffvenezuela.org

202-544-9355

NATIONAL VENEZUELA SOLIDARITY DAY SPONSORS INCLUDE:

ActionLA, Alliance for Global Justice, Bend-Condega Friendship Project ,Bolivarian Circle Alberto Lovera-New York, Bolivarian Circles-Boston, Colombia Action Network, Committee in Solidarity with the People El Salvador, Ecumenical Program in Central America and the Caribbean, Global Exchange, Hands Off Venezuela Campaign,Hitec Aztec Communications, Interconnect, Latin America Solidarity Coalition (convening organization), Marin Interfaith Task Force on the Americas, Mediteranean League, Mexico Solidarity Network, Nicaragua Network, Nonviolence International, Office of the Americas, PCASC/CBLOC, Pan African Roots, Puerto Rican Nationalist Youth, Rochester Committee on Latin America, Quixote Center, School of the Americas Watch, Seattle/Cuba Friendship Committee, Turnwind, US Peace Council

WE ALSO WANT TO STRONGLY ENCOURAGE COMMUNITIES TO THINK ABOUT SENDING A DELEGATION OR INDIVIDUALS TO THE WORLD SOCIAL FORUM IN CARACAS, VENEZUELA, IN JANUARY 2006.

For more information about the World Social Forum, visit: www.globalexchange.org .