Chávez visit to London

[Annie]

We need to mobilise for this - a welcoming gathering demo if nothing else. Does anyone have more details?

Annie



>From: pescao@thenewagenda.org
>To: handsoffvenezuela@thenewagenda.org
>Subject: Chávez visit to London angers Blair
>Date: Thu, 04 May 2006 14:11:23 +0100
>
>http://news.ft.com/cms/s/f63b8d92-db0a-11da-aa09-0000779e2340.html
>
>
>Chávez visit to London angers Blair
>
>
>By Daniel Dombey
>Published: May 4 2006 03:00 | Last updated: May 4 2006 03:00
>
>
>Tony Blair is not pleased. London is about to play host to Hugo
Chávez, the
>Venezuelan president, who has described the prime minister as the
"main
>ally of Hitler".
>
>
>Mr Chávez, whose mention of Hitler is thought to be a reference to US
>president George W Bush, will be visiting the capital from May 14 to
16,
>when he will meet Ken Livingstone, the London mayor, leaders of the
Trades
>Union Congress and a group of Labour MPs.
>
>
>"I will be delighted to host a lunch for President Chávez," said Mr
>Livingstone. "There are many areas where we can benefit from the
Venezuelan
>experience," he added, citing energy and environmental policies,
democratic
>participation and education and free health care.
>
>
>The visit, which is classed as a private one, is a sign of the
Venezuelan
>leader's growing confidence at a time when the oil that fuels his
economy
>is at record prices, and the number of sympathetic leftwing
governments in
>Latin America is rising.
>
>
>This week, Bolivia - a country now allied with Venezuela - announced
it was
>nationalising its reserves of natural gas, after president Evo Morales
>conferred with Mr Chávez and Fidel Castro, Cuba's president.
>
>
>Mr Chávez made his decision to visit the UK after Mr Blair called on
>Venezuela in February to "abide by the rules of the international
>community" and criticised his alliance with Cuba. In response, the
>president called Mr Blair "a pawn of imperialism, trying now to attack
us
>from Europe".
>
>
>Alfredo Toro Hardy, ambassador to the UK, said: "The purpose of the
trip is
>basically to thank the different sectors of British society that have
>supported the government of Venezuela." Mr Chávez was grateful for Mr
>Livingstone's "continual support", and the backing of Labour MPs and
the
>TUC, which last year congratulated the Venezuelan government on
reforms
>benefiting workers and the poor.
>
>
>Mr Toro Hardy added that invitations for the mayor's lunch had been
>extended to Harold Pinter, the Nobel prize-winning playwright and
>anti-American polemicist; Bianca Jagger, the anti-war campaigner; and
Bono,
>the singer and aid activist.

_________________________________________________________________

[andyb]

The Guardian had more details in the actual paper today. He is apparenlty appearing at a public meeting at Friends House on May 15, speaking alongside Tony Benn, Tariq Ali and Labour MP Colin Burgon. No time details I'm afraid

[flamesong]

Links:

The Guardian:
http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk_news/story/0,,1767555,00.html

The Times:
http://news.ft.com/cms/s/f63b8d92-db0a-11da-aa09-0000779e2340.html

[catfish]

I might have to actually come to London, anyone got a floor i can kip on?

[Annie]

Hi Catfish

Yes, we usually have. PM me.

Regards

Annie

[mason-free party]

Time to reclaim Labour and Dave Nellis types from the thugs ,spivs and warmongers that have infested this once CND, peace loving PARTY..

[prole art threat]

Dvd's to Tony Benn and Ken Livingstone and Tariq Ali??

[Pikey]

My intuition tells me this is a massive opportunity for the 911 truth movement.

Chavez could not have chosen a better time to make his visit, President BLIAR's popularity is at an all time low and the media are ready to satisfy what the public want.

Do we still have that marvellous "911 inside job" banner available?

Mobilisation of the troops is urgently required...........lets roll!

This really could be our finest hour!

Peace & truth

[Dr Hemp]

What an excellent idea; I will look into the idea of getting a minibus of people from Devon to come up to Totnes to participate in a pro-Chavez demo and to let him know there are many in the UK who agree with his comments on T Bliar & GW Bu$h

[freddie]

This does sound like it could be quite a turning a point if the issue of 9-11 is raised. Does anyone know if the talk is invitation only or can you get tickets? - Friends House is just round the corner from me and I'm pretty sure I'll be around on the 15th so will definately head down.

Friends House does seem like a strange venue, how many does the main hall hold? Also it's just opposite Euston so seems both the front and back entrances will have limited angles for TV crews to film so there is a good chance of getting a banner in the way!

A slight off-topic is, did he ever do that Alo Presidente episode with Walters and Rodriguez? - I haven't heard anything else about the announcement of their investigation - has anyone else? Just trying to work out if there's much chance of 9-11 getting a mention on this trip without any intervention from us

[Annie]

LONDON WELCOMES PRESIDENT HUGO CHAVEZ
>
>Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez will be in London on 15-16 May on a
>private
>visit, which will include meetings with the Mayor of London and the Trade
>Union Congress (TUC).
>
>
>SOLIDARITY MEETING
>
>To mark the visit of President Chavez, the Venezuela Information Centre is
>organising a public meeting to show support for the progressive social
>reforms of the Venezuelan government and for the right of the Venezuelan
>people to determine their own affairs free from foreign interference.
>
>Monday 15 May
>7.00pm, Friends House,
>173 Euston Road NW1, London (opposite Euston Station)
>
>Speakers include:
>
>Tony Benn
>Colin Burgon MP, Labour Friends of Venezuela,
>Diane Abbott MP
>Keith Sonnet, Deputy General Secretary, UNISON,
>Richard Gott
>Tariq Ali
>
>Organised by Venezuela Information Centre
>
>For further information visit www.vicuk.org
>Email: info@vicuk.org
>Call: 020 7607 4280
>
>

[Ben]

See you there! Please keep me informed about plans...


Ben

[andyb]

Good news about it being at 7, means I don't have to do a sickie. Will the campaign meeting occur afterwards or move to another night? What about something this week to get everything in place?

[Martin Conner]

I would be most interested in attending this event, but I need to travel down from the midlands. As Annie’s floor has been booked already, does anybody know of cheap accommodation?

[Dr Hemp]

Has anybody contacted the Venezuelan Embassy to ask for Venezuelan flags, pics of Chavez, etc., I'm sure they would supply free of charge if asked?

[andyb]

I'n sure that there will be a big contingent from 'Hands off Venezuela' and it may be worth contacting someone there. I bought a mag off someone at the last London Social. Annie will know who it was as I'm sure they will have banners etc.

[andyb]

I have just seen on http://www.vicuk.org/ that the meeting originally arranged for Monday has now been cancleed as there will be a 4 hour one starting at 3 on Sunday, details on the link above. Entry will be limited to the event and you need to email for tickets.