tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13333806305722518662011-07-26T11:55:30.273-07:00The international solidarity campaign Hands Off Venezuela has sent a delegation composed of activists from different countries to Venezuela to observe the December 3rd presidential elections. This is a report of their activities and impressions.JMnoreply@blogger.comBlogger381100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1333380630572251866.post-34904202709150619722006-12-19T08:57:00.000-08:002006-12-19T09:20:05.131-08:00

Dear all, Click on the pic below for a link to a photo gallery about the visit of the HOV delegation to Sanitarios Maracay on the 1st of December. Enjoy!More photo galleries coming soon.All the best!Espe Espigares (unfortunately, back in London now!)

Espe (for the HOV international delegation)http://www.blogger.com/profile/18099730109132801062noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1333380630572251866.post-5619276200776151832006-12-19T01:56:00.000-08:002006-12-19T02:03:36.130-08:00

Here´s a new video from the HOV team in Caracas. They covered the demonstration of Sanitarios Maracay workers for nationalisation under workers control on December 14th (see reports by William Sanabria and Rob Sewell). The delegation had visited Sanitarios before (see the video they produced), a couple of reports of the visit to Sanitarios Maracay by the delegation were published earlier in the

JMnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1333380630572251866.post-85900560828405341592006-12-14T08:58:00.000-08:002006-12-15T01:50:43.822-08:00

Una entrevista con Luis Primo de la UNT / FRETECO / CMR. Luis habla sobre las fabricas ocupadas, el control obrero, Sanitarios Maracay, las elecciones del 3 de diciembre, la democracia obrera y la democracia burgesa, la economia, el estado, y el camino a seguir despes de las elecciones.English transcript / subtitles coming soon!Enjoy!John P.

John Petersonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00339807464786436184noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1333380630572251866.post-49153394569024039092006-12-14T06:08:00.000-08:002006-12-14T06:28:04.629-08:00

Hands Off Venezuela visit to the Cotisa Housing Project. Wednesday 13th December 2006 Hands Off Venezuela went to Cotisa, a poor neighbourhood in the hills of Caracas, which was devastated by a flood 23 years ago. The then government of Luis Herrera Campins supplied tiny metal shelters that were supposed to serve as temporary protection for 120 homeless families. Almost three decades later, those

Espe (for the HOV international delegation)http://www.blogger.com/profile/18099730109132801062noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1333380630572251866.post-60443544305560251972006-12-12T13:20:00.000-08:002006-12-12T13:37:11.827-08:00

Election Day in Caracas went by in a whir of activity, reports, discussions, neighborhoods visited, fireworks and rain. Since then, we’ve had a chance to sit back and discuss the day’s events and come to some general conclusions.One thing I think needs to be highlighted is just how passionate and determined the Bolivarian masses are. Their enthusiasm and energy isn’t the naïve passion of a

John Petersonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00339807464786436184noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1333380630572251866.post-38380751593416832602006-12-08T05:17:00.000-08:002006-12-08T06:27:06.725-08:00

Venezuela recently saw Hugo Chavez re-elected in a landslide victory, with a 62 percent majority. The Hands Off Venezuela delegation tours some of the polling stations to learn more about the electoral process, the technology used, and interviews an international observer from Belgium, who oversaw the historical event.

JMnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1333380630572251866.post-37189805374247184072006-12-07T07:57:00.000-08:002006-12-07T08:16:43.982-08:00

The international Hands Off Venezuela Delegation to Venezuela that spanned from November 28th to December 5th has officially ended. But, for those staying behind, the work continues of course!Our media blitz here has been extensive. From a full-page article in one of the main Caracas newspapers “Ultimas Noticias” to interviews and guest appearances broadcast on Venezuela TV, Catia TV, Vive TV

JMnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1333380630572251866.post-34487457803779097652006-12-05T07:06:00.000-08:002006-12-05T08:02:21.297-08:00

Hands Off Venezuela tours Sanitarios Maracay, a factory in Venezuela under workers control, to learn more about the revolutionary process taking place there, and to offer solidarity to the workers.an impressive video which gives a taste of workers' democracy in action and how this is linked to the Bolivarian revolution: a couple of reports of the visit to Sanitarios Maracay by the delegation

JMnoreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1333380630572251866.post-55732659013832442012006-12-05T07:02:00.000-08:002006-12-05T07:06:36.042-08:00

With a shout of "Long live socialist revolution, long live the people, long live Bolivar" Chávez celebrated the peoples' victory in the presidential election on December 3rd and addressed the masses from the "People's Balcony" of the Miraflores presidential palace.We have two videos of the rally (only in Spanish), the short version:and the full 59 minute version (also only in Spanish):

JMnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1333380630572251866.post-86352985989384586942006-12-05T06:57:00.000-08:002006-12-05T07:01:51.929-08:00

Hands Off Venezuela visits Chavista and opposition Neighbourhoods in Caracas, Venezuela, to interview the people, and to learn more about the Electoral process taking place during the December 3rd Election Day.

JMnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1333380630572251866.post-42333037585725578532006-12-03T21:39:00.000-08:002006-12-03T23:55:08.943-08:00

I would have posted this earlier, but me and 3 others from the delegation have been out in the pouring rain about 20 yards from Chavez' victory speech!Video of that to come soon.Here's one hastily put together of footage taken earlier this afternoon.I'll write a few lines tomorrow on the elections, but I think the main mood is relief that it has all come off so well, combined with continued

John Petersonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00339807464786436184noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1333380630572251866.post-20786427038624470572006-12-03T20:42:00.000-08:002006-12-03T20:51:28.252-08:00

Today was the day that the delegation was building and waiting for. We got up very early in the morning because we had an interview in Vive TV (that went very well!) but we hardly sleep at all. At 3 in the morning the "cornets" start giving out the wake up call all around Caracas calling people to vote. After ViveTV we run to get into the mini bus that we had hired and we started the tour to the

JMnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1333380630572251866.post-23045783318532783022006-12-03T19:36:00.000-08:002006-12-03T19:48:20.050-08:00

Well the final tallies are still not in, but it is clear that Chavez is the winner. Some of the delegation is in the pouring rain right now watching the victory speech of Chavez, other have returned to report or to get other work done, or simply to rest after an incredibly busy week.the opposition today made no attempt to disrupt the election, but as has been reported they have made plans to

Shane Joneshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17567684797657841246noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1333380630572251866.post-23080224134055672942006-12-03T19:07:00.000-08:002006-12-03T20:56:09.263-08:00

Reports are now coming in from Venezuela and the international press showing that Chavez is well ahead in the election results. Reuters has said that he is on his way to a landslide victory.With 78% of the votes counted Chavez is ahead with 61% of the vote while Rosales has 38%.Reuters also reported that angry supporters of Rosales at his campaign headquarters were chanting "into the streets,

R Lyonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15954222591560447351noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1333380630572251866.post-85215635734782852132006-12-03T16:58:00.000-08:002006-12-03T20:42:20.456-08:00

The international HOV delegation has been busy since arriving in Venezuela. Reports have been sent detailing the coverage the HOV delegation has been given in the press, which you can find in the IMT site.We have also received reports on a public HOV meeting which took place on Friday, December 1, in Caracas. Details of the meeting can be found also on the IMT site.We can also see that the HOV

R Lyonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15954222591560447351noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1333380630572251866.post-10813515259883314062006-12-03T15:04:00.000-08:002006-12-03T20:39:31.877-08:00

The electoral centres are being closed at this moment. Both the CNE(Venezuelan electoral commission, in charge of the electoral process) and spokesmen of the FAN (the armed forces) have stated that everything is going normally and that the procedure is guaranteeing that voting is secret and free.However, the counter-revolutionary opposition has not wasting its time to begin their dirty campaign

Francesco Merlihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13339292134474035584noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1333380630572251866.post-19942856824635268562006-12-03T13:14:00.001-08:002006-12-03T16:38:59.021-08:00

Our wake up time of 5am was cut short by the horns and music, which started around 3am, we could here shouts from the streets in this early hour of “Viva Chavez!” these were then followed by another “Viva Chavez!”. Some polling places had lines as early as 2:30 am, and most started to fill by 3-4 am.We had a TV interview scheduled at Vive TV, which was cut a bit short because of the constant

Shane Joneshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17567684797657841246noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1333380630572251866.post-14837073029889056792006-12-03T12:42:00.000-08:002006-12-03T12:44:49.661-08:00

Report just in: the opposition is sending text messages saying that they are winning, and they are celebrating in the East of Caracas (an opposition stronghold). They avoid using the media as they can be shut down if they pre-empt the official accouncement of the CNE.More as we learn it!

John Petersonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00339807464786436184noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1333380630572251866.post-62061523675005007672006-12-03T12:31:00.000-08:002006-12-03T13:16:57.029-08:00

Since we left earlier today, we have seen and done a lot. Espe was interviewed for "Radio Libre Negro Primero", as was I once again, and I also spoke to "Radio Comunitario Barrio Sendero de Antimano". But the best discussions were with people in the poorest barrios. More on that in abit.[We're having proplems getting images uploaded - stay tuned!]We heard from someone that there are roughly 16

John Petersonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00339807464786436184noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1333380630572251866.post-35019914439879928592006-12-03T11:08:00.000-08:002006-12-03T11:09:20.426-08:00

John Petersonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00339807464786436184noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1333380630572251866.post-92230470257222875932006-12-03T11:06:00.000-08:002006-12-03T13:13:17.063-08:00

As we walk the streets of downtown Caracas, there are huge lines everywhere - by all accounts, participation is high. People have been lining up since 2:30 am in some areas. People from all walks of life are in line to vote - abstention is likely to be low. The streets are largely abandoned, little traffic is circulating, and the soldiers from the National Guard are posted at strategic

John Petersonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00339807464786436184noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1333380630572251866.post-29635444480069346802006-12-03T01:55:00.000-08:002006-12-03T02:00:57.509-08:00

The horns, music, fireworks, and even motorcycle caravans blasting the trumpet call to arms have continued intermittently for the past 3 hours. Polling booths open soon, we're heading out to report on them and will update the blog throughout the day as often as possible. We have a broad network of community media and political organizations working on exchanging information in order to get it

John Petersonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00339807464786436184noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1333380630572251866.post-16160753402105440722006-12-02T23:15:00.000-08:002006-12-02T23:39:01.950-08:00

It's just after 3 am in Caracas. Moments ago, the "get out the vote" festivities began in the militant 23 de Enero barrio and spread to the rest of chavista Caracas. Fireworks can be heard everywhere, along with the baying of all the neighborhood dogs. Cars honking their horns and fitted with loudspeakers speed by, blaring the military trumpet call to reveille, the call to wake up, the call to

John Petersonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00339807464786436184noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1333380630572251866.post-51869899108354791792006-12-02T20:14:00.000-08:002006-12-02T20:15:23.856-08:00

12/01/2006 today was a very important day for our delegation, as we got to visit the factory of Sanitarios Maracay, which is occupied and run democratically under workers control. There is much to report about this, my report can not capture all the aspects and details we were witness to, however I will try to present the general picture of the situation in the factory. As

John Petersonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00339807464786436184noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1333380630572251866.post-29530416118157988802006-12-02T17:08:00.000-08:002006-12-02T17:27:59.087-08:00

Hi all, today we "didn't do much". By this we mean that we didn't do any particular visit, we dicided to cancel a couple of things to finish some of the jobs that we have left half done and plan for tomorrow, the big day.Some of us, Espe and John got interviewed at Canal Sur on how the world sees Venezuela. We hope to get foottage of all this, but there's lots, so it will be difficult to collect

Espe (for the HOV international delegation)http://www.blogger.com/profile/18099730109132801062noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1333380630572251866.post-15656627882666337102006-12-02T16:40:00.001-08:002006-12-02T17:07:42.288-08:00

Sorry for this post being so delayed but we don’t seem to have a spare second at the moment! The fourth day of the delegation and we are feeling really positive about all the progress the delegation has made with many national television interviews and many contacts made with community groups and alternative media. The rumor over Chavez’s interest in meeting us is still running but I think how

Espe (for the HOV international delegation)http://www.blogger.com/profile/18099730109132801062noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1333380630572251866.post-88031272211664643182006-12-01T20:38:00.000-08:002006-12-01T20:43:20.132-08:00

11/30/06 (per the normal busy schedule and spotty Internet service, this report is a day late) Hey all!, Well after two very busy and productive days, which were also very hectic, we had a free morning to catch up a bit and get done some necessary errands and other small tasks, as well to make our plans for the next few days. Around 1pm we made our way through a busy open market

Shane Joneshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17567684797657841246noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1333380630572251866.post-63510532882282859942006-11-30T20:57:00.000-08:002006-11-30T20:59:20.723-08:00

Hello again to all. Well Thursday is with us, and day 3 of the international Hands Off Venezuela delegation to Caracas. After a well deserved restful morning the three international groups headed to West Caracas to visit what is known as a nucleus of endogenous development. This is a community development on the site on an old petrol filling station that had been abandoned for 12 years. Roughly

Espe (for the HOV international delegation)http://www.blogger.com/profile/18099730109132801062noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1333380630572251866.post-42763504167502823272006-11-30T06:28:00.000-08:002006-11-30T06:47:27.663-08:00

Dear all!Today, was again an excelent and busy day!All the sections of the delegation met at plaza Bolivar...We started by visiting the headquarters of UPV (Unidad Popular Venezolana)There we were welcomed by some of the organisers who explained to us the traditions of the movement and why they decided to participate in the electoral process and the reasons why they fully support the campaign of

Espe (for the HOV international delegation)http://www.blogger.com/profile/18099730109132801062noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1333380630572251866.post-27815069109955140202006-11-29T20:55:00.000-08:002006-11-29T20:57:02.965-08:00

Hey all!This is Shane Jones from the US HOV delegation, I'm just making a brief report about today and yesterday’s events events using John's blog account. We had a rather hard time with the Internet connection here last night so much of this report is one day old.11/28/2006First off let me say, this was my first day in Venezuela, we arrived late last night and drove through Caracas. Every block

Shane Joneshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17567684797657841246noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1333380630572251866.post-33995407995779762752006-11-28T20:05:00.000-08:002006-11-28T20:43:31.172-08:00

Hi all - another very busy day! The British delegation has already posted part of our activities, and Shane from HOV in Rhode Island is writting as well, so I'll focus on a few observations and some additional photos.First of all, it really hit home today that for all the talk and enthusiasm for "deepening the revolution" after the elections, there are no really concrete proposals for doing so

John Petersonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00339807464786436184noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1333380630572251866.post-78400299244366905812006-11-28T14:21:00.000-08:002006-11-28T15:02:51.741-08:00

Wilco speaking to the HOV delegation about the work of "Radio Libre Negro Primero"Hi all, The official delegation has started today but it has already been a packed and revolutionary schedule for the previous few days as you have seen in reports by the previous logs! We have been through some weird and wonderful adventures,experiences and downright crazy situations but instead of taking all the

Espe (for the HOV international delegation)http://www.blogger.com/profile/18099730109132801062noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1333380630572251866.post-49084690277882555102006-11-28T04:53:00.001-08:002006-11-28T05:44:32.660-08:00

"Hands Off Venezuela" internationalists to observe electoral process till December 7: Members of the International "Hands of Venezuela" group are in Venezuela to observe presidential elections. British member, Alan Woods has already given several talks in Merida and Caracas as part of the organization's attempt to set up a section of the Hands Off Venezuela. Woods has written extensively about

JMnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1333380630572251866.post-23220069011267504812006-11-27T14:54:00.000-08:002006-11-27T16:31:34.338-08:00

This morning the HOV delegation attended a rally at Plaza Bolivar in support of TeleSur journalist Freddy Muñoz who has been detained and is being accused of supporting terrorist. There is some background information available here.The heart of Plaza Bolivar: A Statue of El LibertadorSeveral of us from the HOV delegation were interviewed by Venezuelan State Television (Channel 8), the Bolivarian

John Petersonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00339807464786436184noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1333380630572251866.post-5086390035182052132006-11-26T17:22:00.000-08:002006-11-27T02:18:08.452-08:00

Whether it was or not, this was something else. If you've never been on a demonstration of an estimated 2 million-plus, I highly recommend it!Today, November 26. 2006 was the "closing of the electoral campaign" for Chavez. The Venezuelan people poured into the streets by the millions, completely filling Avenida Bolivar (the widest and most important thoroughfare), as well as dozens of

John Petersonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00339807464786436184noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1333380630572251866.post-31433855352834006322006-11-25T06:56:00.000-08:002006-11-26T17:22:26.236-08:00

Hi everyone, John Peterson here with the U.S. HOV delegation.Just some first impressions of my first morning ever in Venezuela (November 25, 2006), which will mostly be photographs with a little commentary.Wow - Venezuela - the front line of the world revolution! Excited to be here to say the least! The contradictions are everywhere...The airport is modern and clean, full of European-style

John Petersonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00339807464786436184noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1333380630572251866.post-18643440211126951792006-11-24T04:28:00.000-08:002006-11-24T04:31:14.273-08:00

Hi all,The first HOV activists to go to Venezuela for the delegation are alrady on a plane over the Atlantic and will be soon meeting with others who have gone there early to prepare the logistics. Others will leave between today and Monday. Good luck to you all, and keep watching this space where they will be reporting on the elections, their impressions, the revolutionary activists they meet

JMnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1333380630572251866.post-7603166151552867532006-11-24T03:57:00.000-08:002006-11-24T04:00:49.113-08:00

Dear Friends, The December 3rd Presidential elections in Venezuela are already the target of a mass campaign of lies and deception sponsored by the U.S. State Department and its allies. The revolutionary movement in Venezuela, with massive health and education programmes funded by the democratically elected Chavez government, has succeeded in providing free health care for millions, in

JMnoreply@blogger.com1