National Solidarity Conference on Venezuela
March 4-6, 2006
Washington, DC (George Washington University)

*****Please distribute widely!*** **


In the wake of increasingly hostile rhetoric from the Bush administration against the democratically elected government of Venezuela, and in response to an ongoing pattern of interventionist actions by the U.S. government, individuals and organizations from all regions of the United States and Canada will come together to learn, share experiences, and develop strategies for strengthening solidarity with the Venezuelan people.

Special guests include:

-  Andrés Izarra, President of teleSUR, a new television network committed to reflecting the reality and perspectives of the people of Latin America and the Caribbean.

-  Phoebe Jones of Global Women’s Strike Bolivarian Circle

-  Deborah James of Global Exchange

-  José García, founding member of the Oregon Bolivarian Circle, who will reflect on the Bolivarian experience from the perspective of a Venezuelan living in the United States.

-  Father Roy Bourgeois of the School of the Americas Watch, who has fought long and hard for the cause of peace since the days of the Vietnam War.

-  Bill Fletcher, President of the TransAfrica Forum

-  Bernardo Alvarez, Venezuelan Ambassador to the United States

-  Eva Golinger, author of The Chavez Code

-  Bob Brown, Director of the Kwame Ture Work-Study Institute and Library

-  Others invited but yet to confirm include Harry Belafonte, Rep. Jose Serrano, and Rep. Bobby Rush.

These featured speakers will be joined by many other leaders of activist organizations working to further the causes of justice and human rights throughout the Western Hemisphere.

Come to Washington, DC to join the solidarity movement and to show the Bush Administration and the world that we stand with the Venezuelan people!

In addition to plenary presentations on the “U.S. Agenda for Venezuela & The Venezuelan Vision for the Americas” and on “Solidarity with Venezuela”, multiple workshops will cover a range of topics including:

- The Bolivarian Missions (education, health care, cooperatives and full employment initiatives, indigenous rights, nutrition, land reform)

- ALBA (Bolivarian Alternative for the Americas) vs. ALCA (FTAA)/CAFTA: The move toward a new model of regional integration

- Women in the Bolivarian Revolution

- African-Venezuelans and the Bolivarian Revolution

- The Bolivarian Movement in the United States and Canada: How to get involved

- National Endowment for Democracy (NED) and USAID: Agents of destabilization

- Participatory Democracy and the 1999 Venezuelan Constitution

- Media bias in the United States and alternatives to corporate news

- People-to-People Exchanges (Sister Cities, Youth Delegations, Indigenous Communities, Academic Exchanges, Faith-Based Solidarity, Volunteer Work in the Missions, Art and Cultural Exchanges)

- Developing a Solidarity Action Plan & Emergency Response Network

There will be two full days of presentations and workshops on March 4th
and 5th, followed by a Day of Action on March 6th during which conference
participants will visit with members of Congress and carry out peaceful
demonstrations to express opposition to current U.S. policies toward
Venezuela and to highlight the need to show solidarity with the Venezuelan
people.

The conference will take place at George Washington University (The
Elliott School of International Affairs, 1957 E Street, NW Washington, DC
20052).

ADVANCED REGISTRATION IS REQUIRED.  In order to learn more about the
conference and to register, please visit:

Latin America Solidarity Coalition’s website at:

http://lasolidarity.org/venezuelaConf.html

The Alliance for Global Justice
1247 E Street, SE
Washington, DC 20003

Ss serving as the Registrar for the conference.  The office can be contacted at 202-544-9355 or via email at nicanet@afgj.org (The Nicaragua Network, a
Project of the Alliance for Global Justice).

Registration Fees:

General  $25.00
Students or low income  $10.00

General Schedule:

SATURDAY
8:00 am - 9:00 am
Registration
9:00 am - 4:45 pm
Presentations  & Workshops
7:00 pm - 9:00 pm
Cultural Event

SUNDAY
9:00 am - 9:15 am
Brief Opening Meeting
9:15 am - 3:00 pm
Presentations, Workshops, Plenary on Action Plan
3:30 pm
Cultural Celebration and Send-Off

MONDAY
All Day:  Visits to Congressional Offices & Solidarity Demonstrations

Media representatives seeking information about the conference should
contact the office of The Alliance for Global Justice at 202-544-9355 or
via email at nicanet@afgj.org.

Partial list of groups co-sponsoring the conference:
Nos vemos en Washington, DC – Del 4 al 6 de marzo!