REPORT BACK FROM VENEZUELA (Q&A)

Answers provided by Carlos Ron, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs for North America and President of the Simon Bolivar Institu…

QUESTION: Lance: What important challenges would you say Venezuela still faces? What successes would you describe that Venezuela has achieved?

ANSWER: Overall, Venezuela still faces a number of challenges, primarily those imposed by the US blockade and Unilateral Coercive Measures against our country. There is still a prohibition for Venezuela to freely export its oil or any other products, such as raw materials, gold, and other minerals that Venezuela possesses. This capability has been blocked by the US. Additionally, there is a blockage of access to the financial system in the US. Moreover, there’s an illegal takeover of one of Venezuela's most important assets outside of the country, which is CITGO. CITGO belongs to PDVSA, a state company of Venezuela. Therefore, all these actions are important in hindering Venezuela's capability to produce more wealth for the state. This would also be significant in raising the salaries of state workers because what is financed by oil production, mineral production, and other businesses that Venezuela has been prohibited from participating in precisely affects the salaries and infrastructure of state enterprises and government offices. Right now, this is one of the biggest and most serious challenges for Venezuela's future. Nevertheless, Venezuela has been able to achieve important economic growth at least in comparison to the years 2017 to 2018. However, when we compare income in 2014 to the income in 2020, there was a loss of about 95% of that income. Today, there has been an improvement in the economy, but it’s not yet at the levels that it used to be before the blockade and sanctions started. So even though there is improvement, we are still not at the level of Venezuela's potential due to the measures taken by the US against the people and the state.

QUESTION: Roger Harris: Do the communes operate as units of production, given the extreme blockade that is denying the people -- especially the poorest -- of basic material goods?. In particular, what percent of the national GDP is contributed by communes?

ANSWER: In Venezuela, communes operate as both units of production and centers for social welfare. Due to the extreme blockade and sanctions imposed on the country, basic material goods have been scarce, leaving the poorest communities struggling to access necessities such as food, medicine, and electricity. As a result, communes have become crucial hubs for community organizing, local production, and collective action to address these urgent needs. They are often comprised of grassroots groups of farmers, workers, and residents, who pool resources, skills, and knowledge to establish community-owned cooperatives, local markets, and other social programs. They also exercise direct democracy in a given territory. Despite these efforts, however, it is difficult to estimate the exact percentage of the national GDP contributed by communes. The government has acknowledged their importance in the economy, and has provided support and funding to certain initiatives. There is an ongoing effort to fully integrate these alternative economic models into the overall national system. While communes face many challenges and obstacles, they remain a vital force for resilience and social change in Venezuela. Through their commitment to solidarity, collective decision-making, and sustainable development, they are building a new economy from the bottom up, and demonstrating that another world is possible.

QUESTION: Did the people who left Venezuela have the opportunity to join a commune or were they just or interested in building socialism and prefer to leave?

ANSWER: Venezuelan society is in transition from a capitalist system to a socialist system. Therefore, many people currently living under the current system and who have developed their lives under capitalism are bound by the constraints that capitalism has imposed on us. Consequently, there are many individuals burdened with debt and social responsibilities that need to be met. During this moment of transition, when we are facing US sanctions, it is not easy for everyone to choose the path of building socialism or participating in a commune. This is because there may have been previous conditions and obligations that have forced people to seek other economically satisfying solutions that cater to their specific needs at this time. Hence, like in other parts of Latin America, many people in Venezuela have opted to migrate elsewhere in search of economic opportunities that can provide them with a faster cash flow. The conditions created by US sanctions have somewhat pushed many people towards economic migration rather than attempting to build a self-sustainable system within Venezuela based on a social vision.

QUESTION: Marla Hoffman: Have all the Cuban doctors left Venezuela?

ANSWER: Venezuela has a Cuban medical brigade comprising tens of thousands of doctors who actively engage in government-sponsored programs for primary healthcare and preventive care. During the pandemic, they played a pivotal role in identifying high-risk communities and providing prompt healthcare services to them.

QUESTION: Marla Hoffman: 3000 communes! Please explain how much of Venezuelan territory is communized. Are there vast stretches of Venezuela without communes?

ANSWER: Venezuela has more than 3000 communes; but we should look more at the building blocks these communes, namely the communal councils. While not all communal councils have joined a commune yet, every commune comprises communal councils. Presently, an estimated number of 45,000 communities exist nationwide with about 49,000 communal councils within these communities. That being said, some communities have more than one communal council. Thus, as a whole, we can assert that approximately 93% of the country has established a basis for communal councils and local structure. However, there is still a lot of work required to put together those building blocks of the communal councils into strong, very well, integrated communes

QUESTION: Asistente anónimo: Communes can’t be evicted by the state?

ANSWER: No, because communes are a form of government in themselves. They are a form of self-government contemplated under Venezuelan law, and as such, are not separated from the State. They exist as an organized expression of a territorial arrangement, so it's not something new that you can just create, take over or erase. The government actually supports the building of the communes and promotes organizing and the communal model throughout the country.

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REPORT BACK CHAT

De Sally Campbell a Anfitrión y panelistas (6:37 p.m.)

Laura, that was truly wonderful, thank you!

De Jodi S a Anfitrión y panelistas (7:09 p.m.)

I want to go next time!! Thank you so much for this incredible presentation!

De susanscott a Anfitrión y panelistas (7:11 p.m.)

Wonderful slide show and presentation, Adrienne! Will there be a series of Kevin Zeese brigades? Has the planning begun for the next one?

De Anna Maria Roy Tamayo a Anfitrión y panelistas (7:11 p.m.)

She was cutting out a tiny bit in the beginning, but overall now she isn’t cutting out!

De Adrienne Pine a Todos (7:16 p.m.)

Thank you Susan. Yes! We plan to continue the Kevin Zeese Brigades with the aim of increasing solidarity with and continuing to learn from Venezuelan communes and apply those lessons in our organizing back home (wherever that is). We don’t have a date for the next one, but plan to organize it within the next year.

De Brian Higgins a Anfitrión y panelistas (7:20 p.m.)

How do we start building these communes here? I know that's a big question.

De Elizabeth Lee a Todos (7:24 p.m.)

Yes the same in Cuba - it is mindboggling how people live with less, but are able to because they are not going tyo be hungry, homeless, have schooling, art, music, employment and working together as 1 body, yet distinct

De susanscott a Anfitrión y panelistas (7:32 p.m.)

Focusing on the communes is what US delegations/brigades should be doing, for sure! We can all use the inspiration and example. We’ll all need mutual aid as climate change continues to drive critical our system and infrastructure falls apart but communes provide a systemic response to inspire us all. The US government sanctions Vz because they provide an alternative — to the neo-lib system and a different kind of “democracy”.

De Sally Campbell a Todos (7:32 p.m.)

Bravo Sachi!

De mí a Todos (7:34 p.m.)

EN: https://thetricontinental.org/dossier-68-the-coup-against-the-third-world-chile-1973/

ES: https://thetricontinental.org/es/dossier-68-golpe-contra-tercer-mundo-chile-1973/

De Alison Bodine a Todos (7:34 p.m.)

Greetings and solidarity from the Fire This Time Movement for Social Justice Venezuela Solidarity Campaign in Canada! Thanks to the organizers of the Brigade and everyone who spoke today. This has been a beautifully inspiring report back! ✊ We look forward to continuing our work together to build a united and stronger movement end the cruel US sanctions and blockade on Venezuela and free Alex Saab, political prisoner held in U.S. jail!

De Abena Disroe-Morris(A-APRP) (A-AWRU) (BAP) a Todos (7:36 p.m.)

I remember one year in the U.S. where I lived as a single mother on $10,500. Where I had to pay rent, electric, daughter in school, etc.... It was during this time that I relied on programs, etc... I can write a book on How to Survive on $10,500 or less with a household of 1 adult, 1 child.

De mí a Todos (7:36 p.m.)

CODEPINK petitions: President Biden: Lift the Venezuela sanctions! www.codepink.org/venezuela

Tell Congress to Cease Hostility Toward Venezuela: https://www.codepink.org/congressvn

De mí a Todos (7:38 p.m.)

https://givebutter.com/jrR0E4

Donation link: https://givebutter.com/jrR0E4

De Abena Disroe-Morris(A-APRP) (A-AWRU) (BAP) a Todos (7:38 p.m.)

Will this link be shared later with others?

De Celina della Croce a Todos (7:43 p.m.)

You can also read more about the Plan de la Patria in a joint dossier between the Simon Bolivar Institute and Tricontinental here (which has embedded links to the full plan): https://thetricontinental.org/dossier-61-chavez/

De Laura Franco a Todos (7:46 p.m.)

https://thetricontinental.org/es/resena-exposicion-guerra-hibrida/

De Abena Disroe-Morris(A-APRP) (A-AWRU) (BAP) a Todos (7:54 p.m.)

Please copy the CHAT and the Q/A. send to peacelovehumanity1@gmail.com

De Abena Disroe-Morris(A-APRP) (A-AWRU) (BAP) a Todos (7:54 p.m.)

THANKS. Abena Disroe. I look forward to SHARING

REPORT BACK FROM VENEZUELA (Q&A)

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