Many of us have been watching with alarm as the Bush administration moves to classify Venezuela as a "terrorist" nation, Colombia bombs an encampment in Ecuador, U. S. funded NGO's sponsor right-wing separatist movements in Bolivia, a dubious "scandal" involving the presidents of Argentina and Venezuela unfolds in North American courtrooms…and the list goes on.

And it is not just the Bush administration that is looking forward to increased intervention. McCain has described Chavez as a "wacko". Clinton has called him a "dictator". Obama's favorite foreign policy advisor speaks of "human rights" problems in Venezuela. As the countries of Latin America continue to repudiate imperialism and neoliberalism, increased intervention by the United States becomes ever more likely.

What can we do to as a community to resist the propaganda barrage that will accompany the inevitable effort to "restore order" in our "backyard"?

In the spirit of thinking globally while acting locally, we would like to propose that we put our heads together to plan an ongoing series of events to spread information and to take action regarding both the positive things happening in the region and the problems and dangers of US intervention.

Speakers, films, debates, lobbying, demonstrations, cultural events, support work--there are many ways to increase understanding of contemporary Latin American reality and to put forward some basic messages, such as:

1) There are some very positive things happening in Latin American, with the election of progressive leaders, popular movements growing, rejection of neoliberalism, and increased international solidarity.

2) The U.S. government and the corporate media are telling lies to provide cover for intervention intended to stamp out resistance to imperialist domination.


We have reserved the meeting space of the Peace and Justice Center for Wednesday, April 9, at 7 PM. Please join us if you would like to participate in this effort.


For more information contact Peter Lackowski at petervt (at) comcast.net 802 881 3293


Hasta luego!