Already, our response to the US war mongers & coup plotters has been internationally praised & extremely effective. Now, reaching our £10,000 target has the potential to significantly increase everything we are able to achieve, & launch a range of new, hard-hitting initiatives, just when we need it the most.
All of this happened & our campaign is effective because we are ordinary people & activists willing to stand up for Venezuela. Unsurprisingly, we don’t get hand-outs from big corporates or wealthy individuals. We rely on everyone
contributing what they can to make it work & ensure we have the maximum impact.
Together we have ensured:
· 187,000 Guardian readers in addition to 100,000s online saw our statement signed by more than 100 leading figures from across society supporting peace & dialogue, getting coverage from Latin America’s premier progressive news outlet Telesur.
· Our FAQs document was internationally circulated & acclaimed, including by Eva Golinger & Oliver Stone as a must read - the latest example of us producing the best information available.
· The challenging of media misrepresentation, including by bringing together academics from 14 universities to challenge misrepresentation through an Open Letter to theGuardian.
· 10,000s of new people have found out what is really happening through our Facebook & Twitter pages.
· Packed meetings in our No More Pinochets tour have seen hundreds hear about what’s really happening.
But now, as the wave of extreme right-wing, anti-democratic violence in Venezuela continues, we need to do more. So please take a minute to give what you can, to directly fund the work you want to see to defend the amazing legacy of Hugo Chavez.
Now we want to:
· Ensure that as many MPs as possible sign our European statement supporting Latin America’s work for peace & dialogue & opposing proposed US sanctions.
· Roll out our ‘No More Pinochets ‘ tour, organising a dozen more meetings.
· Send regular myth busting briefings to journalists, MPs & opinion formers.
· Make our May 10 national conference the most successful solidarity event yet.
· Create new & innovative social media content to get the message out to 10,000s of new people.
We get a lot done with surprisingly little money. We are extremely efficient. But it isn't free. Funding can be a problem for organisations like us.
Please therefore donate what you can today.Regardless of whether or not you’re able to donate right now, thank you for everything you do for Venezuela – it is greatly appreciated both here & in Venezuela.
Matt Willgress
National Co-ordinator, VSC
PS: You can also donate by cheque made out to ‘Venezuela Solidarity Campaign’ & marked ‘Emergency Appeal’ to VSC c/o Unite London & Eastern Region, 33-37 Moreland Street, London, EC1V 8BB.
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