#231: NELSON DAVILA - VENEZUELAN DIPLOMAT IN HAMILTON & AUCKLAND
NELSON DAVILA - VENEZUELA'S TOP DIPLOMAT IN OUR REGION:
Nelson Davila, Venezuela's Canberra-based charge d'affaires for Australia, New Zealand and Fiji, is not your traditional diplomat. He started out as a student activist during a period of mass mobilisations in Venezuela. He then became an indigenous rights activist, and later was a founding member of Hugo Chavez's revolutionary group Bolivarian Revolutionary Movement inside the Venezuelan armed forces. Nelson will speak at meetings in Wellington, Christchurch, Ruatoki, Rotorua, Hamilton & Auckland about where the Venezuelan revolutionary process is heading, including:
• The recent formation of the 5 million strong United Socialist Party of Venezuela in response to president Chavez's call for "socialism of the 21st century".
• The Chavez government's strong support for indigenous rights in Venezuela.
• The explosive growth of Communal Councils which have the power to decide on local and regional priorities, along with a huge chunk of state funding to implement their own grassroots plans.
WEDNESDAY MARCH 19 - HAMILTON & AUCKLAND
• 1-2pm public meeting at student union building at Waikato University, hosted by Waikato Students Union.
• 6pm public meeting at Auckland University co-hosted by three student clubs. Venue: lecture theatre LibB28, in the basement of the University Library, Albert St. If you need directions, contact Oliver oliver.woods@gmail.com or 021 072 4647.
THURSDAY MARCH 20 - AUCKLAND
• 10-11.30am meeting with academics at Auckland University. Limited seating, if interested, contact Kathryn k.lehman@auckland.ac.nz or 021 0613 406.
• 6pm till late, pot-luck dinner at Unite Workers Union, 6A Western Springs Rd, Kingsland, all friends of Venezuela welcome. If you need directions, contact Mike 027 5254 744.
FRIDAY MARCH 21 - AUCKLAND
• 12 noon-2pm Question & Answer session with social justice activists over shared pizzas, hosted by RAM. Limited seating, with preference given to RAM members, if interested contact Oliver oliver.woods@gmail.com or 021 072 4647. Meet at main entrance of Auckland University Library, Albert St, to be guided to adjacent venue.
• 7.30pm till late, public meeting at Trades Hall, 147 Great North Rd, Grey Lynn, co-hosted by VAST (Venezuela Aotearoa Solidarity Team) and GPJA (Global Peace & Justice Auckland). Followed by live music & social. Bring your guitar!
SATURDAY MARCH 22 - AUCKLAND
• Evening gathering of Latin American friends of Hugo Chavez. If interested, email Esteban at fideluna@gmail.com.
NZ supporters of Venezuela can convey suggestions about building a Venezuela solidarity network to Nelson's tour organiser Grant Morgan, grantmorgan@paradise.net.nz or 021 2544 515.