As the US Steps Up Intervention & Funding Into Venezuela, Please Show Your Support!

[Matthew Willgress]

No More Pinochets in Latin America – No to Coup Plotters in Venezuela! A VSC Emergency Appeal for Your Support Hello ,   I recently wrote to you (see below) asking for your support in an emergency financial appeal.  This week the Daily Mail has ran a story explaining that the US funds political groups in Venezuela despite ban, which clearly explains the threats Venezuela's revolution currently faces, saying "The State Department & National Endowment for Democracy, a government-funded nonprofit organization, together budgeted about $7.6 million to support Venezuelan groups last year alone... 15% more than they collectively authorized in 2009, the year before then-President Hugo Chavez pushed Venezuela's Congress to ban such funding in the name of protecting the country's sovereignty," adding that "In Washington, the Senate is considering a bill to boost... [funding] from about $5 million to $15 million amid calls for a tougher line against Venezuela." This increase in US hostility - aimed at illegal 'regime change' - shows clearly what we are up against & why our work to defend Venezuela's sovereignty & social progress is so important - please therefore donate what you can to the VSC today. If 500 people donate £20 we will raise enough to increase our impact, so please give what you can.   Our campaign successes such as an increasing number of MPs speaking up against US sanctions & our most successful solidarity conference yet show what we can achieve with your support - please donate £20 today. Best wishes, Matt Willgress, VSC National Co-ordinator PS: Thanks to everyone who has donated so far. If 500 people donate £20 we will raise enough to increase our impact at this vital time. _________________ ORIGINAL APPEAL:    Hello ,   Twelve years ago today the temporarily successful 2002 US-backed coup against Hugo Chavez took place. Now, Venezuela’s revolution is again fighting for its life. The former ruling elite are seeking to create the conditions to justify a coup & external intervention, accompanied by an international wave of media misrepresentation, including in Britain. To respond to this emergency VSC has launched an emergency financial appeal for £10,000 - We are loudly saying No More Pinochets in Latin America- No to Extreme Right-Wing Coup Plotters in Venezuela! If 500 people donate £20 we will raise enough to increase our impact at this vital time. Donate now Recent weeks have seen a wave of terror against the population from extreme Right elements, some even resorting to putting diesel in water supplies, others attacking a housing programme’s HQ and its neighbouring pre-school, & numerous deadly, militarised street barricades being set up. The threat of US sanctions has been put on the table. Responding to these threats is crucial in the months ahead. Your support to enable us to do this is absolutely vital. Already, our response to the US war mongers & coup plotters has been internationally praised & extremely effective. Now, reaching our £10,000 target has the potential to significantly increase everything we are able to achieve, & launch a range of new, hard-hitting initiatives, just when we need it the most. All of this happened & our campaign is effective because we are ordinary people & activists willing to stand up for Venezuela. Unsurprisingly, we don’t get hand-outs from big corporates or wealthy individuals. We rely on everyone contributing what they can to make it work & ensure we have the maximum impact. Together we have ensured: ·         187,000 Guardian readers in addition to 100,000s online saw our statement signed by more than 100 leading figures from across society supporting peace & dialogue, getting coverage from Latin America’s premier progressive news outlet Telesur. ·         Our FAQs document was internationally circulated & acclaimed, including by Eva Golinger & Oliver Stone as a must read - the latest example of us producing the best information available. ·         The challenging of media misrepresentation, including by bringing together academics from 14 universities to challenge misrepresentation through an Open Letter to the Guardian. ·         10,000s of new people have found out what is really happening through our Facebook & Twitter pages. ·         Packed meetings in our No More Pinochets tour have seen hundreds hear about what’s really happening. But now, as the wave of extreme right-wing, anti-democratic violence in Venezuela continues, we need to do more. So please take a minute to give what you can, to directly fund the work you want to see to defend the amazing legacy of Hugo Chavez. Now we want to: ·        Ensure that as many MPs as possible sign our European statement supporting Latin America’s work for peace & dialogue & opposing proposed US sanctions. ·         Roll out our ‘No More Pinochets ‘ tour, organising a dozen more meetings. ·         Send regular myth busting briefings to journalists, MPs & opinion formers. ·         Make our May 10 national conference the most successful solidarity event yet. ·         Create new & innovative social media content to get the message out to 10,000s of new people. If 500 people give £20, we will raise enough to ensure we increase our impact at this vital time. We get a lot done with surprisingly little money. We are extremely efficient. But it isn't free. Funding can be a problem for organisations like us.  Please therefore donate what you can today. Regardless of whether or not you’re able to donate right now, thank you for everything you do for Venezuela – it is greatly appreciated both here & in Venezuela.   Matt Willgress National Co-ordinator, VSC PS: You can also donate by cheque made out to ‘Venezuela Solidarity Campaign’  & marked ‘Emergency Appeal’ to VSC c/o Unite London & Eastern Region, 33-37 Moreland Street, London, EC1V 8BB. Donate now Donate now "Since the triumph of our Revolution, Venezuela has been transformed. Now we are entering a new stage in this struggle; but have many powerful enemies. Please support this appeal so VSC can carry on its vital work."   Jacobo Torres, International Officer, Venezuelan TUC Equivalent Follow on Twitter | Like us on Facebook You can also donate to us at: Venezuela Solidarity Campaign, c/o Unite, 33-37 Moreland Street, London, EC1V 8BB Cheques should be made payable to Venezuela Solidarity Campaign Unsubscribe / Change Profile Powered by YMLP