Despite the demarcation of indigenous territories in Venezuela, and the Decree issued last year (see comment) by President Hugo Chavez that prohibited new coal mines from being built in the Sierra de Perija — and even though no more bombs are being tossed into their communities — the indigenous People of Venezuela, especially the Bari, continue to find themselves surrounded by the prospect of their own demise.

Unless the government designs (and implements) specific plans for each of Venezuela’s 32 distinct Peoples—plans that account for their land and resource needs above all …

Over the weekend, Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez was informed that Agroflora, an affiliate of the British Vestey Group, illegally set up a fence that encircled 200 Yaruro indigenous people. According to the denunciations filed by Representative Cristóbal Jiménez, “the farm put up a fence around them and they can’t get out without permission from the farm owners.” Another 800 People remained outside of the fence.

After learning this on Sunday, Chavez quickly ordered the National Guard to demolish the fence, allowing the indigenous people to once again move freely. “If they want …

Coinciding with the launch of the First International Congress of the Anti-imperialist Indigenous Peoples of Latin America (Abya Yala), yesterday, Venezuelan vice-president Jorge Rodriguez handed over eleven communal titles to the lands belonging to the Pume, Yaruro, Karina and Warao peoples of Apure, Anzoategui and Bolivar States. The Vice President also handed over credits to indigenous communities for a series of projects to improve community standard of living.

The congress itself, which took place from August 7 to 9 in San Tome (see image) brought together more than a thousand delegates from 22 different countries…

…

There was an important gathering in Caracas last week—Indigenous People from all over Venezuela came together for the First Meeting of Indigenous and Socialist Indigenous Warriors.

The focus of the gathering was to build a movement of people who hold a “Revolutionary Conscience and Spirit of Real Solidarity.”

Among many attendants, was Nicia Maldonado, the Minister of “People’s Power for Indigenous Peoples” who explained in an interview that indigenous communities have begun creating groups called “seed” indigenous warriors– young people between the ages of 7 and 15 years old. These groups must …

Here’s an upcoming event in Melbourne, Australia. Thanks Anna for posting this on Toske. For anyone wanting more info, see http://humanrightsinfo.net or the contact info at the bottom of this post

October 11-14, 2007, Melbourne - Australia
Fighting and organising globally against neoliberalism!

A global call for participation
We call on all activists, organisations and communities who are committed to building a better world to join together at the Latin American and Asia Pacific International Solidarity Forum to be held in October 2007, in Melbourne Australia.

The forum has been initiated by the organisers of several successful conferences and gatherings in solidarity with …

Convocation for Congress of Government and the Peoples
Cochabamba, Bolivia, 2-4 June, 2007
Evo Morales Ayma and Hugo Chavez

Considering that our continent is passing through a time of change towards a real integration based on sovereignty, dignity, harmony with nature and with the full participation of our peoples;

Committed to the process of social and structural transformation for the recuperation of our natural resources and the strengthening of our states in regards to the management of economic, social and cultural policies for the well being of the population;

Convinced that it is necessary to assume concrete measures between national, local and municipal governments, social …

Chávez and Venezuela: Duty, not Charity, to Haiti
By: Wadner Pierre. HaitiAnalysis.com
March 20, 2007

On Monday March 12, 2007, beginning at about 7:30 AM throughout the streets of the capital the cry of “Chávez” was heard. In front of the airport in Port-au-Prince legions of supporters arrived minute after minute. “Chávez, Chávez, it is you whom we seek… President Préval needs your help to return Aristide” people sang joyfully on their way to greet Venezuelan President Hugo Chávez.

By 10:00 AM supporters had set up signs and streamers praising Chávez and denoucing Bush.: “Viva Chávez, Down Bush”, “President Aristide must return to …

Venezuela’s Banco del Sur: The End of the IMF in Latin America
by Paul McIvor, www.upsidedownworld.org
March 21, 2007

Speaking to an audience at Columbia Business School in February, Rodrigo de Rato, Managing Director of the International Monetary Fund, sketched out his vision for Latin America. Optimistically titled “The Way Forward,” Mr. de Rato called on the countries of the region to stay the course laid out by the IMF – structural adjustments, trade liberalization and privatization.

He dismissed the shift to the left in Chile, Argentina and Bolivia as an “apparent inconsistency of economic and political developments,” suggesting that voter dissatisfaction has …

Venezuela Bolivariana: People and Struggle of the Fourth World War (2004)
By Marcelo Andrade Arreaza

The following film examines the Bolivarian Revolution of Venezuela as connected to the world-wide movement against capitalist globalization. The film shows the evolution of the popular movement in Venezuela from the ‘Caracazo’ riots of 1989 to the massive actions that brought revolutionary president Hugo Chavez back to power, 48 hours after a U.S.-led military coup in 2002. The film ends with an epilogue that show the next steps that the Venezuelan people are taking, not only to fight against the oligarchy and imperialism, but to exercise …

Venezuela: we denounce the forced delocation of indigenous
by wayùu of the Perija Mountains
March 21, 2007

We, the indigenous Wayúu inhabitants of the Socuy, Mache and Cachirí river baisns in the Sierra de Perijá, in the western state of Zulia, in the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela, inform all women and men of the world that our humble community, just as the Yukpa and Barí communities, will be forcefully relocated by the national government so that it may hand over our territories to multi-national coal companies, because the innards of the imperial monster needs more cheap coal to continue plaguing the peoples …