Emergency Response Network / April Week of Actions

Venezuela Emergency Response Network Formed – April Week of Grassroots Venezuela Solidarity Actions – Appeal for Endorsements

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Emergency Response Network (ERN)

On the weekend of March 4-6, 2006, over 400 people gathered at the Venezuela Solidarity Conference in Washington, DC to form a Venezuela Solidarity Network (VSN). One of the decisions taken by acclamation of the delegates present was the formation of a Venezuela Emergency Response Network (ERN). (http://www.ushov.org/ern_petition.pdf)

Several organizations and individuals are already working to coordinate and develop the ERN. We invite others to join us in this effort in order to build a broad and far-reaching network.

The ERN will link up tens and hundreds of thousands of people in the US and around the world in order to respond to provocations against Venezuela both large and small.

The first tier of response would be the coordination of email, phone, and related campaigns in response to Venezuela-related legislative initiatives, media disinformation, and inflammatory rhetoric from persons in the public eye.

The second tier would involve calls for and the organization of public demonstrations in response to critical provocations and interventions such as coup or assassination attempts, electoral manipulation, economic sabotage, or invasion by either the U.S. or its proxies.

For example, if Pat Robertson were to again call for Chavez' assassination, we could coordinate a massive email / fax / phone call / letters-to-the-editor response. If there are more serious provocations, we will have a network and plan in place in order to mobilize on the streets against it.

We encourage everyone who opposes US intervention in Venezuela to get in touch with us in order to start building a far-reaching ERN in order to respond to any and all provocations. For more information, please contact This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Click here for a printable petition for use in building the ERN.

Calendar of Grassroots Venezuela Solidarity Actions

As part of doing local outreach to build the ERN, and following on the success of the December 2, 2005 international day of action to mark the anniversary of the Monroe Doctrine, the Venezuela Solidarity Conference also approved a Grassroots Calendar of Actions in order to coordinate solidarity activities around the country and around the world. The first action is:

April 11-19, 2006
WEEK OF ACTION TO COMMEMORATE THE REVERSAL OF THE APRIL 2002 COUP AND VENEZUELA\'S STRUGGLE FOR INDEPENDENCE: April 11 is the anniversary of the 2002 U.S.-backed coup against the democratically-elected government of Hugo Chavez. By April 14, in an unprecedented example of the power of the grass roots, the Venezuelan masses had reversed the coup and brought President Chavez back to power. This event marked a decisive turning point in the revolutionary process. March 19 is the anniversary of the start of Venezuela\'s Struggle for Independence. During this week, we will organize demonstrations, vigils, educational, and cultural activities in solidarity with Venezuela.

See the full calendar here: http://www.ushov.org/actions_calendar.pdf

We encourage all those who oppose US intervention in Venezuela to build for this and the other Calendar of Actions events. By coordinating our activities around certain key dates, we can maximize our impact on a national and international scale.

April is coming soon, but there is still plenty of time to organize a public film showing, a discussion on Venezuela, a house party to raise money for the development of the ERN, etc. on at least one of these days. In some cities, events are already being planned for several if not all of those days. Be sure to contact the local media to inform them of your events, as there is nothing better to combat the normally negative coverage of Venezuela than positive grassroots actions. Please contact us at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. to endorse the April Week of Action and to give us the details of your local events. A list of endorsers will be available soon. 

A variety of excellent introductory films are available at:

http://www.ushov.org/content/view/17/30/

Coordinating the ERN and the Calendar of Actions will require tremendous effort and collaboration by hundreds of organizations and individuals across the US, Canada, and the world. We are raising money in order to hire someone part-time to coordinate this important work. We invite you to make a donation of any amount through the Hands Off Venezuela Campaign in order to build the ERN. All donations are tax-deductible, please feel free to contact us for more information.

Donations can be sent to:

HOV
PO Box 4244
St.Paul, MN 55104

We also accept donations online at:

http://www.ushov.org/content/view/16/27/

For more information, please write us at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or call (651) 373 7609.

On Behalf of the Venezuela Solidarity Conference Actions Committee