Irish Labour Youth supports Venezuelan revolution and Hands Off Venezuela campaign

The conference of Irish Labour Youth passed a motion (no. 37) in support of the Venezuelan Revolution last Saturday, 27th October. The motion also called on Labour Youth "to build links with the Irish branch of the ‘Hands Off Venezuela Campaign’."

Resolution 37: Socialism in Venezuela

"Conference recognizes:

The work done by the people of Venezuela in bringing about a democratic socialist revolution in their country.

"Conference resolutely believes:

That this is an example of twenty first century socialism, and that it is a socio-economic model that is worth aspiring to. While not being faultless, its approach to redistributing wealth, democratising the workplace and the providing social services is evidence that socialism can be implemented democratically.

"Conference condemns the former TV station RCTV and the Venezuelan oligarchy in Their attempts to organise a military coup against the democratically elected government in 2001.

"Conference further condemns: The forces of U.S. imperialism which have continually sponsored and encouraged right wing terrorists in Latin America in their attempts to topple popular democratically elected government and replace them often with a military junta.

"Conference welcomes: The attempts by President Hugo Chavez to initiate the economic transition from a Capitalist state to a Socialist state, which is to be brought about democratically through a ballot of the entire populace in the coming months.

"Conference further welcomes: The nationalisation of the largest telecommunications company, the electrical power companies and the four largest oil companies in the Orinoco River basin, which had previously been controlled by foreign multinationals. This is in turn has significantly reduced the cost of electricity and fuel for the ordinary citizens of Venezuela.

"Conference calls on: Labour Youth to build links with the Irish branch of the "Hands Off Venezuela Campaign" in the hope of creating awareness and solidarity for the Venezuelan nation and its people in Ireland.

"Conference mandates: The international Officer to investigate the possibility of organising a delegation of Labour Youth activists to visit the country over the coming year."