At a public meeting organized by
various trade union, political organizations, and solidarity campaigns
(including Hands Off Venezuela), more than 3,000 people in Copenhagen
heard President Hugo Chávez correctly point out that a socialist
revolution is the only solution to the problems of humanity.
stressed the need for a worldwide revolution and repeated his proposal
for the Fifth International to be an instrument for this purpose. He
said that Karl Marx had started the First International, Engels and
Rosa Luxemburg participated in the Second International, Lenin took the
initiative for the Third International, and Trotsky set up the Fourth
International. None of these organisations exists anymore, but Chávez
said that a Fifth International would help the process of revolution
all over the world.
At the meeting, President Evo Morales of Bolivia also gave a speech
condemning capitalism. Other speakers included the Cuban vice
president, Estaban Lazo, and the Nicaragua’s foreign minister, Samuel
Santos.
began his speech by condemning the repression in the streets of
Copenhagen during the UN climate summit. Mentioning the climate summit,
he said, “Some do not want to discuss the causes of climate changes. I
will tell you the cause: capitalism. Capitalism is the worst enemy –
for life and for the climate.”
A delegation from Hands Off Venezuela met Chávez shortly before his speech and handed the president two letters from the workers at the Gotcha and Vivex factories in Venezuela. We expressed our solidarity with the president and the idea of a Fifth International.
his speech, Chávez underlined the point that the Venezuelan revolution
is only the beginning of the world revolution, and that the Venezuelan
revolution is not complete yet; the task of building socialism in
Venezuela is still ahead. He said that he is certain that the
revolutionary events in Venezuela and other Latin American countries
will repeat themselves in the countries in the North – in Europe and in
the USA.
audience – left wing activists, youth, and trade unionists –
interrupted the speech several times with loud applause and chants such
as “el pueblo unido, jamás será vencido.” The biggest
applauses came when Chávez spoke of Fidel Castro and the fight against
US imperialism, and of socialism being the only way to end global
misery and ensure a future for humanity.
In his speech, Chávez thanked Hands off Venezuela and other groups
for arranging this meeting. He stressed the fact that all change comes
from below – from the organization and political education of the
masses.
Activists from Hands off Venezuela intervened in the meeting with a
stall, selling t-shirts, books and other materials, and handing out
leaflets.
