2013 Launch of Viva!

At the fourth event of solidarity with Venezuela held at Shipley’s Kirkgate centre, a new organisation was launched. Viva! will keep a focus on Venezuela but learn from movements for social change throughout South America.

There was a discussion of future activities and a talk and discussion with the acting Ambassador of Venezuela in Britain, Alvaro Sanchez, who also held meetings with local organisations the next day. Reports of these can be found here.

Activities of Viva!

The ten people who have organised the events thanked the hundred who have been to one or more of the events and invited them to get involved in the activities they wanted to give priority to. The group would educate itself and others about progressive social change in Latin America, show solidarity with those who are working for that change, and make direct links with communities. While having a current focus on Venezuela, the group would try to respond to events in other parts of the region, much as previous organisations in Bradford had linked with movements in Cuba, Grenada, Chile, and Nicaragua and others.

Ideas for activities included

School Linking project – Woodcraft groups – more films with Skype links, in liaison with other groups including Cuba Solidarity in Leeds – supporting Venezuelan students/visitors in this area including meal or walk – adding ourselves and others in Bradford to the Embassy’s news and cultural events email list – offering Venezuelan films and/or an information ‘desk’ to local organisations with speakers – working with BCB with any interest in Latin American music – making use of the Peace Studies experts on Latin America – links with trade unions locally through offering speakers – Co-operative group may be able to help – affiliation to national solidarity groups (Cuba, Nicaragua, Venezuela, Bolivia information, Columbia …) and working with other groups in the North – learning Spanish/English via Skype – BIASAN/Coalition Against Cuts/Other local groups – concert of local bands and singers – Facebook page – work with Citizenship tutors and co-ordinators – find sympathetic bars/restaurants to hold events – with environmental groups highlight Ecuador’s campaign against Chevron – organise a study group

.