Wendy's and Circle K pickets, hands off Venezuela demonstrations, Eno River hikes, and other events and notable anniversaries this spring

This calendar lists mostly local events of general left interest and cultural events, along with notable historical anniversaries.  More items will be added in coming weeks. 

Opposition to imperialist plans to overthrow the government of Venezuela

The US, Canada, EU, and others are carrying out a slow motion coup in oil-rich Venezuela, with the support of allegedly objective and neutral media like NPR and the BBC.  NPR's staff often talk about alleged Russian meddling in American elections using social media and revelations about the Democratic Party, but here is Trump and Co. conspiring with Venezuelan politicians and using economic pressure and threats of war to attempt to overthrow an elected government, and most NPR journalists seem to see nothing unusual about this.  NPR also rarely talks about US actions and other factors that have undermined the Venezuelan economy for years.  In 2011 NPR abetted the overthrow of the Libyan government and Libya is still in chaos. 

Very few national level politicians seem to be criticizing Trump's regime change plot, despite all of the talk about "The Resistance" and learning from previous foreign policy 'mistakes.'  Rho Khanna Ilhan Omar, and Barbara Lee are among the Congressional Democrats who spoke out.  Congresswoman Tulsi Gabbard from Hawaii might be the only prominent Democrat running for president in 2020 ( www.tulsi2020.com/ ) who has denounced foreign interference in Venezuela.  Bernie Sanders was critical eventually, but his first statements on Twitter condemned President Maduro, and February 23rd he condemned Venezuela for rejecting Trump's humanitarian aid stratagem, even though Venezuela is accepting aid from other countries and could get more food and medicine on its own if not for US economic warfare, providing "democratic socialist" cover for a rightist plot.  Democrats such as Senator Dick Durban fully back Trump on Venezuela.  As others have said, there has been so much talk about how dangerous, racist, white supremacist, and even fascist Trump is, but the Democratic Party and mainstream media portray a US-sponsored plot to topple the elected government of a Latin American country with huge oil reserves as selfless humanitarianism.  

There is an informative action kit and a petition at:  afgj.org/category/venezuela-2 and a range of articles on Venezuela at:  www.counterpunch.org

Venezuelan president Nicolas Maduro speaks directly to Americans in this 4-minute video (Spanish with English subtitles):  www.facebook.com/NicolasMaduro/videos/2069679193125346/

An open letter from President Maduro to the people of the USA:  www.globalresearch.ca/an-open-letter-to-the-people-of-theunited-states-from-president-nicolas-maduro/5668092

There will be a national demonstration in Washington, DC Saturday, March 16th:  www.counterpunch.org/2019/02/06/the-latest-coup-attempt/  and the plot against Venezuela will be a focus of the already planned demonstration against NATO in Washington Saturday, March 30th (see below).

The Chapel Hill peace vigil is/was Fridays 4:30 - 5:30pm DST (5 - 6pm EST) at the corner of East Franklin Street and Elliot Road (the Village Plaza Shopping Center, near University Mall).  It might have ended by now,  but a roadside protest only requires time and a sign or banner, and doesn't require a permit if it isn't in the roadway.

If a major event occurs protests with short notice will probably happen at Durham's CCB Plaza, Chapel Hill's Peace and Justice Plaza (in front of the old Post Office, opposite UNC), or possibly at Village Plaza.  Protests in Raleigh might be at the Terry Sanford Federal Building.  There are also the local Congressional offices.

Cuba:  Electric Sabotage Against Venezuela is Terrorism:  www.telesurenglish.net/news/Cuba-Electric-Sabotage-Against-Venezuela-is-Terrorism-20190311-0017.html

Reportedly a plan to weaken the Venezuelan government by attacking the electrical network (sure to kill civilians in the process) has existed since at least 2010.  This specific plan comes from the Stratfor company, but governments and Venezuelan rightists could easily know about it, or have invented it on their own:  www.counterpunch.org/2019/03/15/americas-puppet-meet-juan-guaido/     

Cracking down on free speech at the Johnston County Airport (JNX)

The public airport issued new rules that limit protests and other speech as well as filming February 18th:  afriendlyletter.com/mowing-down-free-speech-in-the-heart-of-carolina/   Johnston County Airport is a site of regular protests because it is home to Aero Contractors, a company involved in rendition for torture and connected to the CIA.  Reportedly the company has expanded at JNX.

Black Alliance for Peace is petitioning for US Africa Command (AFRICOM) to be abolished: www.change.org/p/house-armed-services-committee-put-an-end-to-the-u-s-africa-command-africom   (in 6 languages).

"40 Years After:  Posters from the Soviet - Afghanistan War"

This exhibit will be at Duke's John Hope Franklin Center until March 29th at 5:30pm, and presumably includes political posters from the PDPA government of Afghanistan and the USSR and maybe even the Maoist guerrillas, and not just propaganda put out by the USA and Islamists.  It also covers the US attack on Afghanistan:  mideast.unc.edu/event/exhibit-and-opening-reception-40-years-after-posters-from-the-soviet-afghanistan-war/

Lobbying for a bill in Congress to restore net neutrality:  www.battleforthenet.com/

Changes to public hearing notification policy in Durham

It was once possible for groups and individuals to request notification by mail of upcoming rezoning hearings, etc. before the Durham Planning Commission, City Council, County Commissioners, etc., but that was replaced by email notification in January.  By law people property owners within a certain distance of a proposed rezoning have to be notified and that has not changed.  Under the previous system people could specify what part of Durham they were interested in and would receive letters about any upcoming meetings, usually including a map showing the site in question and the current and proposed zonings.  People would also receive notices of informal community meetings called by developers before a rezoning hearing, to gauge public opinion and gather information.  Under the new system it looks like people will have to go through the agendas to find out if a rezoning has been requested in their area and the specifics, and they will only hear about community meetings if they live near the site and have to be notified by law.  It seems like this will benefit the "developers," by reducing community involvement in land use decisions, and possibly save a small amount of money for the Planning Department.  As of a few years ago rezoning requests in places like Wake County and Cary were publicized in the News & Observer and people could not request special notification, but I think Cary put community meeting information online, so if you uncovered a rezoning request you could find out about informal meetings.  Only putting notifications in newspapers or buried in possibly slow and cumbersome websites isn't going to encourage democratic participation, but zoning decisions can have far-reaching consequences, through increased stormwater runoff, traffic, etc. 

[So far, paper notifications are still being sent, but the policy change remains in place.]

This is a January 7th email from the City of Durham announcing the new policy:    

"The Planning Department will be expanding its public hearing notification service starting January 15, 2019. The Department will begin sending out email notification of all upcoming, Planning public hearings to anyone (individuals, neighborhood organizations, other entities, etc.) who signs up for the service.

These notifications are separate from those sent by the Development Services Center. You must OPT-IN to the Public Notification Service in order to receive the notification emails.

Background

• The new email Public Notification Service is a continuation and expansion of the existing neighborhood notification mail-outs for zoning and other land use public hearings.
• These notifications go beyond state law requirements and have been determined by Durham’s elected officials to be a necessary method to help citizens stay informed about upcoming zoning and other land use public hearings.
• Notification will NOT be restricted to a certain distance from a site -- any individual or entity that requests this notification will receive notification for ALL scheduled hearings.
• The Public Notification Service notifications will only be performed through email -- no letters will be sent.
• The Public Notification Service emails will NOT change requirements for property owner notifications as required by Ordinance. Those notifications will continue as required.

Why did I get this email?

You received this email because you are currently receiving some public hearing notifications, either by letter or email, or your email was provided through the Development Services Center. In order to reach the most people, we are sending this email to all of our current email lists, so please forgive any duplicate emails. You only need to subscribe once.

What do I need to do?

You or your organization WILL NOT be automatically subscribed to the new Public Information Service list. All subscribers to the Public Information Service MUST Opt-In.

• All organizations and individuals will be removed from our current list on January 31^st. Therefore, if you want to receive email notifications, you must subscribe through this link: https://durhamnc.gov/list.aspx?ListID=340.
• The service is currently free and requires setting up an account on the DurhamNC.gov website. If you are already subscribed to at least one other notification service through the City’s website, you can easily add the Planning Public Notification Service to your subscriptions.
• If you do not want this service, do not subscribe.
• If you change your mind, you can subscribe or unsubscribe at any time.
• Please note that text messages (SMS) are not available for this subscription due to extra charges.

What should I expect after I sign up?

Email notifications will be sent approximately every two weeks, but at least once a month, and will provide basic information about upcoming Planning-related public or quasi-judicial hearings by the following boards or commissions:

• Board of Adjustment (special use permits, variances, appeals, reasonable accommodation requests).
• Historic Preservation Commission (certificates of appropriateness, new or expanding local historic districts).
• Planning Commission (rezonings, comprehensive plan amendments, future land use map amendments, ordinance text amendments).
• City Council and Board of County Commissioners (rezonings, comprehensive plan amendments, future land use map amendments, ordinance text amendments, major and transportation special use permits, major site plans).

For questions, please contact Teri Danner at Teri [period] Danner [at DurhamNC period gov] or 919-560-4137, ext. 28246."

The City of Durham is celebrating its sesquicentennial in 2019 ( durhamnc.gov/238/Boards-Committees-Commissions ). 

Chapel Hill was founded in 1819. 

March is Women's History Month in the USA and apparently also in Australia and the UK, while Canada marks it in October.

The Umstead Coalition is opposing the plan by the RDU Airport Authority (whose Board is appointed by Durham and Wake counties, and the cities of Durham and Raleigh) to sell 105 acres of forested public land originally intended for a runway to Wake Stone, which operates an adjacent rock quarry ( umsteadcoalition.org/StopRDUQuarry/ ) .  I have not looked into the issue, but on the positive side when the quarry is eventually closed it could potentially be a source of drinking water, reducing the need to dam waterways.  There could be a hearing very soon.

Library booksales

There will be a Friends of the Chatham County Community Library March 28 - 30th (9am - 7pm Thursday and Friday and 9am - 2pm Saturday; there will be discounts each day, and $5 for a grocery bag Saturday) in Pittsboro (197 NC 87 North, at the CCCC):  friendsccl.org/

The Friends of the Durham Library 2019 booksales will be April 6 - 7, June 1 - 2, August 3 - 4, October 5 - 6, and December 7 - 8, and the hours for all of these sales will be 10am - 12pm members only and 12 - 4pm open to all on Saturdays and 1 - 4pm $10 paper grocery bag sales open to all on Sundays.  The sales are at a space inside Northgate Mall, right next to Sears (enter through Sears or another Mall entrance).  There are small satellite sales inside the library branches daily ( durhamcountylibrary.org/friends/ ).   

The Friends of the Chapel Hill Public Library 2019 sales will be April 5 - 7, September 13 - 15, and December 6 -8 ( friendschpl.org/FCHPLevents ).

The Wake County Public Libraries' Annual Book Sale will be May 2 - 5 in the Expo Center at the NC State Fairgrounds in Raleigh ( www.wakegov.com/libraries/events/Pages/booksale.aspx ).  More than 11,000 people attended the 2018 sale, buying more than 210,000 books, and generating about $110,000 dollars for Wake County libraries.  This could be the biggest annual booksale in North Carolina. 

Friends of the Lee County Library has a continuous book sale:  library.leecountync.gov/friends

Eno River spring wildflower hikes

The Eno River Association ( www.enoriver.org ) organizes several hikes every spring from March through May (there are also winter hikes) along the Eno and Flat Rivers in Durham and Orange counties, covering what are probably the top locations for spring woodland wildflowers in the area ( www.enoriver.org/events-and-activities/hikes-and-outings/wildflower/ ).  There are species seen in southern Durham at sites such as Burdens Creek Bluff ( durhamspark.blogspot.com/2018/12/burdens-creek-bluff-and-surrounding.html ) and additional flowers, such as bloodroot, Dutchman's breeches, Atlantic Isopyrum in somewhat moist areas and trailing arbutus and mountain laurel in drier locations.  This could be due to factors like the very different geology and soils between the Eno River and areas at the south end of the County, but history might also be a factor. 

Creek Weeks in 2019

Durham County (March 16 - 23) - keepdurhambeautiful.org/creek-week/ ; durhamcreekweek.org

Forsyth County (March 23 - 31) - forsythcreekweek.squarespace.com/

Guilford County (March 23 - 31) - guilfordcreekweek.org/

Alamance County (April 6 - 13) - alamancecreekweek.wordpress.com

The Haw River Assembly's annual Clean-Up-A-Thon will be March 16th ( www.hawriver.org ). 

The HRA will be doing water testing March 23 - 24th.   

Caterpillars Count!, a citizen science project looking at the populations of caterpillars and other arthropods on tree foliage, an important food source for many songbirds, etc., is looking for more locations and volunteers:  caterpillarscount.unc.edu/getStarted/  There is also the older Firefly Watch program, run by the Museum of Science in Boston, A Tree's Life at NCSU, etc. that contribute to scientific research and give people a reason to go outside and examine the natural world more closely.

Monthly tours of the South Wake Landfill and Sonoco Recycling Facility

There will be free one hour tours of these facilities near Apex once a month through May on Wednesdays or Saturdays (and private tours for groups with 5 to 14 people can be arranged).  For more information and registration see:  www.wakegov.com/recycling/outreach/Pages/tours.aspx 

24 Hours of Reality

This streamed documentary on the impact of climate change on human health around the world is online at:  http://www.24hoursofreality.org/

Congressman Walter Jones, a Republican representing parts of Eastern North Carolina, passed away February 10th.  He voted for the Iraq War and was one of the people behind renaming French fries "freedom fries" but later voted for bills to begin withdrawing starting in 2006.  He also supported bills limiting presidential power to start an unprovoked war with Iran in 2007, criticized US involvement in Yemen in 2017, supported raising the minimum wage and legalizing medical marijuana and industrial hemp, and wanted Congress to examine Trump's taxes, among other issues.

National Invasive Species Awareness Week is February 25th - March 3rd this year:  www.nisaw.org/   Examples of harmful non-native species around here include emerald ash borer ( durhamspark.blogspot.com/2016/04/emerald-ash-borer-unnecessary.html ), laurel wilt ( durhamspark.blogspot.com/2017/01/redbay-sassafras-and-harm-caused-by.html ), Japanese stiltgrass, kudzu, chestnut blight, and Dutch elm disease.    

February 25th the International Court of Justice made a non-binding determination that the UK illegally separated the Chagos Archipelago from what was then its colony of Mauritius in the western Indian Ocean:  www.counterpunch.org/2019/02/27/diego-garcia-un-court-calls-on-britain-to-decolonize-chagos-islands/ and  en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Diego_Garcia  and  www.bbc.com/news/uk-47358602  The Chagossians were driven from their homes, such as by killing their pets, not allowing people who left for medical treatment back in, limiting vital imports, etc.  The UK gave the islands to the US for military use, such as the base on Diego Garcia, from which the US can carry out its adventures in the Middle East and possibly carry out torture and rendition as well; the military  also dumped waste there.  In 2010 the UK tried to maintain its control by declaring the ocean around the islands a marine reserve, greenwashing imperialism.  Supposedly the UK will return the islands someday, when they are no longer needed by the military, similar to the declaration that the nuclear powers will disarm, at some undetermined time far in the future.

Russian revolutionary Nadezhda Krupskaya was born February 26, 1869 and died February 27, 1939.   

International Polar Bear Day is February 27th.

There will be several events honoring the beginning of a sit-in at the Colonial Drug Store February 28, 1960:  www.townofchapelhill.org/Home/Components/News/News/14224/22?backlist=%2f  See also:  www.facebook.com/events/327419597899736/

Former Secretary of State Madeleine Albright, remembered for her support for the sanctions that killed many Iraqi civilians, will be at Duke's Sanford School of Public Policy in Durham Thursday, February 28th 5:30 - 7pm:  www.facebook.com/events/2243126779303839/

A discussion with David Roussève and Mandy Carter - February 28th 6:30 - 8pm at VAE Raleigh:  www.facebook.com/events/2278269029055584/

Annual Vigil Against Violence - February 28th 7 - 8pm at Shepherds House UMC in Durham (107 North Driver Street):  www.facebook.com/events/265926944309668/

The March 1st Movement for independence from Japan began in 1919:  koryogroup.com/blog/the-march-1st-movement

Castle Bravo, the USA's biggest nuclear weapon test and the 5th largest ever, was March 1, 1954 in the Bikini Atoll, part of the Marshall Islands in the Pacific Ocean.  It tested a new type of fusion-based hydrogen bomb or thermonuclear weapon, more powerful than the fission-based atom bombs dropped on Japan.  The US tested the first hydrogen bomb at a nearby atoll in 1952, escalating the arms race that could still lead to human extinction.  The Castle Bravo test was much more powerful than expected and radioactive fallout fell on up to 100 fishing boats outside of the area that had previously been announced as dangerous, including the Japanese tuna fishing ship Daigo Fukuryū Maru.  Its 23 crewmen got radiation sickness and one died September 23rd, though not directly from radiation sickness, and this caused a diplomatic incident.  The fallout also sickened nearby islanders and US military personnel, and blanketed the world in smaller amounts.  Bikini was left contaminated, though there is an effort at remediation.  The atoll's original inhabitants were shuffled around to different islands and at one point were left starving to death.       

5th annual NC Climate Justice Conference

March 1 - 3rd at the Haw River State Park Conference Center in Browns Summit ( climatejusticealliance.org/north-carolina-climate-justice-collective/ ).

The Arab-American anti-Discrimination Committee's 39th Annual National Convention will be March 1 - 2 in Washington, DC (register at: support.adc.org/37th-adc-national-convention-sponsorship ). 

Voter ID community forums in several cities

Several groups are holding meetings across the state to discuss yet another voter ID law, what voters will need to present at the polls, and how to get what is required.  The Raleigh forum will be March 9th 10:30am - 12:30pm at the Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of (3313 Wade Avenue): www.facebook.com/events/483435108851733/  There will be a forum in Wilmington March 2nd 10:30am - 12pm at the CFCC Union Station Auditorium ( 502 North Front Street):  www.youcanvote.org/drhm_forum_20190302   The forum in Greensboro will be March 14th:  www.facebook.com/events/1987985731508439/

The Comintern, the third international organization of revolutionary communist and socialist parties and organizations, was founded in a congress held in Moscow March 2 - 6, 1919 with 34 groups participating.

Community Event: Support for José Chicas - March 2nd, 9am - 4pm at 923 Onslow Street in Durham:  www.facebook.com/events/328638574444127/

The 3rd annual KoreaFest will be March 2nd 10am - 7:30pm at the NC State Fairgrounds (Kerr Scott Building):  nckoreafest.com and www.facebook.com/events/319489035483333/

Carrboro Really Really Free Market

There will be a Really Really Free Market Saturday, March 2nd 2 - 4pm in the park next to Carrboro's Town Hall ( 301 West Main Street):  www.facebook.com/events/551820285331118/

Rally Against White Supremacy March 2nd 4:30 - 7:30pm in Raleigh's Nash Square:  www.facebook.com/events/246484482951862/

March 3rd is the UN's World Wildlife Day:  www.un.org/en/events/wildlifeday/

Polish revolutionary Rosa Luxemburg was born March 5, 1871 in Zamość, in southeastern Poland.  Luxemberg and Karl Liebknecht founded the Communist Party of Germany January 1, 1919.  They were tortured and killed by the rightist Freikorps later that January, with the involvement of the Social Democratic Party.      

Georgian revolutionary and CPSU leader Joseph Stalin passed away March 5, 1953, though it is possible the official date isn't completely accurate.  Revisionist control of the USSR is usually dated to the mid-50's and ultimately led to the destruction of the USSR in 1991.   

The "crisis at the border is a hoax - Tuesdays with Tillis

Every Tuesday, 11:30am - 12:30pm, there is a rally outside of Senator Thom Tillis' Raleigh office (310 New Bern Avenue), and the March 5th rally will focus on the so-called emergency at the southern border ( www.facebook.com/events/303533523695034/ ).

4 for Fair Food Tour

Kicking off the 4 for Fair Food Tour in support of the Florida-based Coalition of Immokalee Workers' Wendy's boycott there will be a march and rally in Carrboro and Chapel Hill Tuesday, March 5th 2 - 4:15pm ( www.facebook.com/events/598966007210008/ and www.allianceforfairfood.org/ ).  It will start at 101 West Weaver Street (the Southern Centurion Post Oak) in Carrboro (a free town parking lot is at 370 East Main Street).  The march is supposed to be about 1 1/2 miles and will start around 2:30, reaching UNC around 3:15, and going to the Wendy's on Campus (I assume in Lenoir Hall, next to The Pit and Davis Library).  The march will return to South Building (the administrative building) around 3:45 for a rally.  Chapel Hill Transit buses are free and there are routes that head back to Carrboro from UNC.  See the Facebook event page to RSVP. 

There will be a religious activist vigil Sunday, March 3rd at 6pm at 209 South Road in Chapel Hill with Julie Taylor, Executive Director of the National Farm Worker Ministry, and others. 

There will be other Fair Food Tour events at Ohio State March 8th, the University of Michigan and in Atlanta March 11th, and the University of Florida March 14th.   

Triangle Friends of Farmworkers events in February

There will be a picket in Chapel Hill March 5th 5 - 5:45pm at the 201 South Estes Drive Circle K.

There will be a picket in Durham for Farmworker Awareness Week March 25th 5:30 - 6:15pm, location TBA.  TFF will meet afterward (food provided), 6:30 - 8:30pm at 130 Hunt Street.   

The college now called NC State University was founded March 7, 1887 and it opened October 3, 1889.

Nakba Tour 2019

Hear from people driven from their homeland so Israel could be created Thursday, March 7th 7 - 10pm at the Church of Reconciliation in Chapel Hill (101 North Elliott Road):  www.facebook.com/events/315880448931249/

From the Facebook event page:

"The 2019 North America Nakba Tour
71 Years without a Country
Stateless Palestinians from Lebanon

In some ways time stopped in 1948 for the Palestinian refugees in Lebanon. Many of them and their descendants are living in the same refugee camps created when the Zionist forces expelled them from Palestine in that year.

Israel expelled most of the majority Palestinian population in 1948, and has prevented them from returning to their homes ever since. Hundreds of towns and villages were leveled to the ground, a crime that Palestinians call al-Nakba (the Catastrophe). But Israel did not stop there. It repeatedly attacked Palestinian refugees in Lebanon, killing thousands more.

Suddenly stateless and without the benefits of citizenship, Palestinian refugees were extremely vulnerable and had very few rights starting in 1948. 71 years later, not much has changed for Palestinian refugees in Lebanon, who continue to be denied basic civil rights as well as their most fundamental right: to return to their homeland.

These Palestinians have different experiences than other Palestinians, even as they share a common struggle and identity. They are not living under Israeli occupation. Israel does not allow them to visit their homes, much less live there. As exiles, they have a different perspective from Palestinians in Jerusalem, the West Bank, Gaza and the part of Palestine that became Israel.

In 2016 the Nakba Tour brought 21-year-old Amena Elashkar and 86-year-old Nakba survivor Mariam Fathalla to 26 venues in North America. In 2017, Amena journeyed with 85-year-old Khawla Ibrahim to another 29 venues. This year, Amena is returning with another stateless Nakba survivor to share her personal story of the most tragic event in Palestinian history.

Co-Hosted by CPWJ and AIME"

International Women's Day is Friday, March 8th.

Potluck and showing of documentary "Tomorrow:"

Announcement from the EcoLounge:

"Friday Mar. 8, 5:30 pm –Carpool leaves for Potluck & a Film: “TOMORROW”  – 6 pm plant-based potluck dinner with the Eno River Earth Justice Team at ERUUF Fellowship (please bring a dish), then from 6:30 – 8:30 pm we’ll watch this award-winning documentary that showcases alternative, creative approaches to agriculture, economics, energy and education. Filmmakers Mélanie Laurent and Cyril Dion travel worldwide investigating constructive solutions to environmental and social challenges, with a focus on what can scale up from the local to the global to make a real difference. No other documentary has gone down such an optimistic road... Paul Hawken calls it “Without question . . . the best and most creative film on the future of humanity and the environment.”  Note: Location: At Eno River Unitarian-Universalist  Fellowship, 4907 Garrett Rd., Durham, NC 27707.  Carpool leaves from the EcoLounge parking lot at 2811 Hillsborough Rd. at 5:30 sharp. Or meet us there!"

The US firebombing of Tokyo the night of March 9 - 10, 1945 is thought to have killed 100,000 people, injured a million more, and left one million homeless, and levelled 16 square miles of the densely inhabited city.  There were other bombing raids on Tokyo, but this was the most destructive and resulted in more immediate deaths than any other attack during World War II, including the atomic bombings:  www.commondreams.org/headlines05/0310-08.htm and Wikipedia. 

Anti-torture events from an activist calendar:

Sat., Mar. 9, 9:00 am to noon --  Conference, NC’s Role in Torture: A Faith Response, at Western Boulevard Presbyterian Church, Raleigh.  Keynote:  Rev. Ron Stief, Executive Director of the National Religious Campaign Against Torture.  Stief is a national leader and faith strategist on ending CIA torture and solitary confinement in U.S. prisons.  The conference will feature both learning and action components.  Other speakers include Rev. Jennifer Copeland, Executive Director of the NC Council of Churches, Allyson Caison, and a speaker on the findings of the NC Commission of Inquiry on Torture (NCCIT).  There will be an opportunity to experience virtual solitary confinement.  Direct action includes the availability of candles bearing the names of each of the 49 who experienced torture in NC jets, postcards to sign for delivery to elected officials, and petitions calling for a governmental investigation into the activities already examined by NCCIT.  (www.www.nccit.org) A sample resolution, as well as a curriculum, will be available.  Sponsors:  The NC Council of Churches and the Board of Church and Society of the NC Conference of the United Methodist Church. Preregistration by March 6 is required to receive lunch at no charge; on-site child care by certified workers is provided at no charge. Registration:  https://www.ncchurches.org/event-single/justice-and-mercy-a-faith-response-to-torture-in-nc/  [On Facebook at:  www.facebook.com/events/242457013296386/ ]

Thurs., Apr. 18, approx. 8:00 am -- Gathering at the gates of Aero Contractors, Johnston County Airport.  Foot-washing as part of the Witness for Peace annual pilgrimage.  

Sun. Apr. 28, 2:00 to 5:00 pm:  Faith and Convocation:  A Call for Accountability for Torture is a conference at UNC-Asheville.  Speakers include Bill Ramsey (2005 participant in non-violent civil disobedience at Aero Contractors), Frank Goldsmith, Col. Larry Wilkerson, David Crane, and Christina Cowger.  Join others in community to learn the facts recorded by the NC Commission of Inquiry on Torture, to advocate for the release of the full Senate Torture Report and a state investigation of the activities in NC, and to act on behalf of those who have been wrongfully tortured and abused.  

Rep. David Price constituents:   sign a post card to Rep. Price, asking him to act in response to the NCCIT report.  For cards, stop by the NC Council of Churches or reply to Christina Cowger, cowgerchristina /at] /gmail period com]"

Balance and Accuracy in Journalism with the Witness for Peace Honduras Delegation

From BAJ's email announcement:

"7:30 PM Wednesday March 13, at the 

Community Church of Chapel Hill, 106 Purefoy Road

          Balance & Accuracy in Journalism

                           presents

    Witness for Peace travelers just returned

                             from 

     Feb 27 - Mar 7 Honduras Delegation

Gail Phares and Jeff Boyer, co-founders of Witness for Peace

during the US-sponsored contra war in Nicaragua, are now

in Honduras leading a delegation with these goals:

*Explore the US role in the Honduras human rights crisis.

*Learn directly from leaders of human rights and grassroots organizations.

*Stand in solidarity with the Honduran people and study the roots of migrations. 

  We will begin in San Pedro Sula and visit the place where Berta Caceres

 - the Honduran environmental activist was killed. 

  We go to study why thousands of Hondurans - men, women and children

 have fled north in search of sanctuary. 

 We will investigate the drug war and the gangs which thrive there. 

We will explore the impact of US military and police aid. 

We will return home and report to our US Representatives 

& hopefully play a role in changing US foreign policy.

At this third anniversary of environmental leader Berta Caseres’ 

assassination, Rights Action director Grahame Russell writes

from Honduras a list of the factors in her killing, adding that

'Every year, tens of thousands of Hondurans are forced 

to flee their homes and country and try desperately to 

get refugee status in the U.S., …

… and yet, the main stream international media has, 

for the most part, failed to report on just why so many 

are forced to flee, year after year.' "

Karl Marx passed away March 14, 1883 and is buried in London's Highgate Cemetery.  The tomb was recently vandalized with red paint. 

UNC is supposed to present a second proposal on what to do with the Silent Sam monument March 15th. [Postponed again, to sometime in May.]

Durham Arbor Day Celebration

A March 7th press release from the City of Durham:

Durham Hosts Arbor Day Celebration March 15

Volunteers Needed for Tree Planting & Burton Park Litter Clean-Up

 

DURHAM, N.C. – If you appreciate trees for all the benefits they bring to Durham, and are looking for a chance to help beautify the Bull City, we have just the event for you.

 

Join the City of Durham General Services Department’s Urban Forestry Division, Keep Durham Beautiful, Durham Parks and Recreation, and the Durham Housing Authority to celebrate Arbor Day in Durham. This free event is open to the public and will take place on Friday, March 15 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Burton Park, located at 1100 Sima Avenue, which is also adjacent to McDougald Terrace.

 

Spectators and volunteers are invited to learn about trees and tree care as well as to help beautify the neighborhood park. A reading of the Arbor Day Proclamation by Durham City Councilmember Javiera Caballero will take place at 10:30 a.m., and brief comments will also be made by a representative from the North Carolina Forest Service followed by a tree planting of 10 large ball-and-burlap trees.

 

In addition to helping plant trees and learning about trees and their care, volunteers will also meet at the corner of Sima and Ridgeway Avenues to help pick up litter and cut back invasive plants and vines in Burton Park to improve usability of the park and make it safer and more accessible. Gloves, vests, tools, and supplies will be provided to all registered volunteers. Volunteers should dress in long pants, wear layers for the weather, wear sturdy closed-toe shoes, and bring a water bottle. Event parking is available in any legal on-street space along nearby streets. To volunteer for this event, visit https://keepdurhambeautiful.org/arborday19.

 

About the City of Durham General Services Department

The General Services Department builds and maintains City properties to make Durham a great place for people to live, work, and play. Guided by the City’s Strategic Plan, the department’s core functions include the acquisition and sale of properties, design and management of new construction and renovation projects, building maintenance, landscaping and urban forestry services, cemeteries management, sustainability and energy management, cultural and public art program management, and supporting the nonprofit Keep Durham Beautiful.

 

About Keep Durham Beautiful
Keep Durham Beautiful is a nonprofit, volunteer organization working in partnership with the City of Durham General Services Department and Durham County to encourage residents, businesses, and community organizations to protect the environment and enhance the appearance of Durham through cleanup events, beautification projects, waste reduction, and educational activities. To learn more, visit the website, like on Facebook, and follow on Instagram, flickr, and Twitter.

 

About Durham Parks and Recreation

The Durham Parks and Recreation (DPR) provides opportunities for the Durham community to ‘Play More’ by connecting the whole community to wellness, the outdoors, and lifelong learning. To learn more about Durham Parks and Recreation, follow on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram, or call (919) 560-4355.

 

About Durham Housing Authority

The Durham Housing Authority's mission is to develop, own, manage, and contribute to diverse communities of choice. For more information, follow on Facebook and Twitter or call (919) 683-1551.

 

###

Chapel Hill Climate Strike

As part of a day of action, there will be a rally at Peace and Justice Plaza (in front of the Post Office on Franklin Street) Friday, March 15th 12 - 4pm:  www.facebook.com/events/2379265475692929/

The My Lai Massacre happened March 16, 1968, in which US soldiers killed up to about 500 Vietnamese civilians and also committed rape, mutilated bodies, and burned houses. 

A traveling exhibit by Veterans for Peace will be at Chapel Hill's Church of Reconciliation (110 North Elliott Road) March 14 - 16th (11am - 9pm March 14 - 15th and 11am - 6pm March 16th).  There will be a panel discussion March 14th at 7pm and the documentary Sir! No Sir! will be screened March 15th at 7pm. 

Rachel Corrie, an American volunteer in the International Solidarity Movement, was killed, intentionally or unintentionally, by an Israeli military Caterpillar D9 bulldozer on March 16, 2003, during a campaign to resist the demolition of Palestinian homes in Rafah in the Gaza Strip.  Corrie was born April 10, 1979.  There is a boycott against Caterpillar because it does business with Israel and other countries, knowing their machines will be used in criminal acts ( www.ethicalconsumer.org/ethicalcampaigns/boycotts/israel-boycott ).

Benefit Sale for the NC Women's Prison Book Project

Plants (outside and houseplants), books, bookmarks, and baked goods will be sold to benefit the NC Women's Prison Book Project (previously called the Durham Prison Books Collective) March 16th 9a.m. - 12p.m. at 407 Swift Avenue, Durham:  www.facebook.com/events/526270854563287/

There will be a demonstration in DC Saturday, March 16th against the Venezuela coup plot:  www.counterpunch.org/2019/02/06/the-latest-coup-attempt/

There will be a bus from Atlanta, with stops along the way, including in Durham:  www.answercoalition.org/atlantabus?utm_campaign=vz_dc_s_bus

There will also be buses from Bronx, Philadelphia, and Pittsburgh:  www.answercoalition.org/calendar  ANSWER is also seeking donations for the transportation costs.

Town hall meetings with Congressman David E Price

The first town hall meeting will be March 16th 10 - 11:30a.m. at the Southern Orange Human Services Building in Chapel Hill (2501 Homestead Road, near the intersection with MLK).

The second will be Monday, March 18th 7 - 8:30p.m. at the Barwell Community Center in Raleigh (5857 Barwell Park Road). 

Seating on a first come, first served basis; RSVPing doesn't guarantee a seat.  People can also get help from Price's staff in dealing with Federal agencies.  Congressional website:  price.house.gov/

Emergency Protest Against Islamophobia and White Supremacy

March 17th 2 - 4p.m. at the State Capitol (1 East Edenton Street, Raleigh):  www.facebook.com/events/367301913868932/

Memorial Program for William Blum (1933 -2018)

For people in Washington, DC, or staying after the Hands Off Venezuela demonstration, the memorial for this anti-imperialist writer will be March 17th 4 - 7pm at the Washington Ethical Society:  covertactionmagazine.com/

March 18th is the Day of Political Prisoners.

The Paris Commune began March 18, 1871. 

March 18th 1965 Soviet cosmonaut Alexey Leonov became the first person to leave a spacecraft while in space (an EVA or extravehicular activity), and the Soviet space program was also the first to transfer people between spacecraft, carried the first EVA by woman, female and male cosmonauts carried out the first metalworking in the vacuum of space, and Soviet cosmonauts hold records for number of EVAs and duration.  The first EVA by someone other than a Soviet or an American was by a French astronaut based on Mir in 1988.  The first American EVA was June 3rd of that year and the US holds some records as well. 

Jiang Qing, also known as Madame Mao, was born March 19, 1914. 

The Iraq War began March 19, 2003, though the US and UK carried out actions before the 19th and Iraq had been sanctioned and sometimes bombed ever since the 1990-91 Persian Gulf War, killing or weakening many civilians and reducing Iraq's ability to defend itself against the US-led war of aggression.   

The US, Canada, and European countries attacked Libya March 19, 2011.  Russia and others abstained in the enabling UN Security Council vote, but Russia could have vetoed if they were really opposed and it seems obvious what was going to happen once the UN approved a no-fly zone and 'protection' of civilians.  Libya is now another "failed state" created by US and European imperialism and Europeans complain about migration through Libya.  Obama received the Nobel Peace Prize in 2009, but launched a new war during his first term in addition to the ongoing War on Terror.  Trump still has some time to catch up to Obama in warmongering and toppling foreign governments.    

March 20th is the spring equinox.

1969 UNC Food Workers Strike highlighted in the Gladys Coates University History Lecture

There will be a dramatic retelling of the 1969 strike (which began February 23rd and also involved the Highway Patrol, National Guard, and Durham) Wednesday, March 20th at 5:30pm in the Pleasants Family Assembly Room, off the lobby of Wilson Library on South Road opposite the UNC Bell Tower (most parking at UNC is free and open to the public after 5pm and there is paid parking):  calendar.lib.unc.edu/event/5014046?hs=a  There will be a reception at 4:30 and people can view an exhibit on the strike.  There is also an online exhibit (see the link).  There were still problems with how university workers were treated when I was a student at UNC (arbitrariness, retaliation, health and safety issues, etc. ) and it probably continues today.  Students for Economic Justice, Students United for a Responsible Global Environment, Student Action with Workers, and other groups organized educational events, demonstrations, and lobbied the Administration.  Food service workers are probably still employed by a private contractor, Aramark, while UNC claims it can't negotiate with workers it employs directly, due to a State law targeting public worker unions.  On another issue I'm reminded how SEAC won green energy concessions from the Administration, but then the University seems to have put off what it agreed to do.  Students supported workers in taking action in 1969 to improve their working conditions and the overall University environment and won more than just symbolic victories, but more organizing and protest is necessary today. 

March 21st is the UN's International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination:  www.un.org/en/events/racialdiscriminationday/ and the Week of Solidarity with the Peoples Struggling Against Racism and Racial Discrimination is March 21 - 27:   www.un.org/en/sections/observances/international-weeks/index.html

March 21 is also the International Day of Forests. 

Act Locally:  Climate Change Workshop

Thursday, March 21st 5:30 - 7:30pm at the Chapel Hill Public Library (?).  For details contact info at chalt period org. 

March 22nd is Arbor Day in North Carolina (the first Friday after March 15th): www.arborday.org/states/state.cfm?state=nc

March 22nd is World Water Day, which started in 1993.  This year's theme is "Leaving no one behind" in clean water access. 

Conference:  Conflict Over Gaza:  People, Politics, and Possibilities at UNC March 22 - 24:  mideast.unc.edu/event/conference-conflict-over-gaza-people-politics-and-possibilities/

There will be a party to honor prominent Chapel Hill peace and justice activist Margaret Misch March 22nd at 7pm at the Community Church of Chapel Hill (106 Purefoy Road). 

Celebrate World Water Day

Saturday, March 23rd 10am - 12pm at Chapel Hill's Umstead Park.  For details contact info at bolincreek period org. 

March 24th is World Tuberculosis Day.  March 24th is also the International Day for the Right to the Truth Concerning Gross Human Rights Violations and for the Dignity of Victims, commemorated March 24th because Monsignor Óscar Arnulfo Romero was assassinated that day in 1980 in El Salvador.    

Support Palestine in DC 2019 will be March 24th in Washington: www.facebook.com/events/322305558560731/  

March 25th is the International Day of Remembrance of the Victims of Slavery and the Transatlantic Slave Trade.

Farmworker Awareness Week is March 25 - 31st:  www.saf-unite.org/content/partner-saf-farmworker-awareness-week

Sergei Kirov was born March 27, 1886. 

The North Carolina Green Party gained official recognition March 27, 2018, meaning people can register as Greens and the Green Party can appear on ballots, making it easier for Greens to run for office ( www.ncgreenparty.org/sb656 ).

The Inaugural Joint Symposium of the Southeast - Exotic Plant Pest Councils Carolinas Chapters will be March 27 - 29th in Gastonia:  nc-ipc.weebly.com/2019-joint-symposium.html

Regional Circle K VUSE Boycott Rally

Triangle Friends of Farmworkers will meet Monday, March 25th at 7pm at 130 Hunt Street in Durham to prepare for the picket Thursday at Circle K's regional headquarters in Raleigh.  There will be carpools from Chapel Hill [University Mall] and Durham [130 Hunt Street] [and Raleigh, see Facebook contacts.

Thursday, March 28th 4:30 - 5:30p.m. at 1100 Situs Court, Raleigh:  www.facebook.com/events/706270416436755/ and www.facebook.com/events/327932331193327/

Triangle Friends of Farmworkers meets in Durham Monday, March 25th 7 - 8:30p.m.:  www.facebook.com/events/2114071175507728/

American Airlines Informational Picket in Charlotte

IAMAW Victory Lodge 1725 is asking for people to join an informational picket March 28th 8 - 11am and 3 - 6pm at Charlotte Douglas International Airport (meet at the corner of Wilkinson Boulevard and Little Rock Road and a few people will be in front of the terminal).  This is a picket to talk about the workers' three year struggle with American Airlines.  For more information call 704 357 0027 or see:  www.facebook.com/events/419255232175595/

Harvest of Dignity film screening

There will be a showing of Harvest with Dignity followed by a discussion with Melinda Wiggins, Executive Director of Student Action with Farmworkers, March 28th 7 - 8pm in UNC's Gardner Hall, Room 10:  saf-unite.org/content/farmworker-awareness-week-events

The Harvest / La Cosecha film showing

The Harvest / La Cosecha will be shown in Winston-Salem March 28th at 7pm (registration is required):  saf-unite.org/content/farmworker-awareness-week-events

One World Market Stop and Shop Percentage Day

Friday, March 29th 10am - 7pm One World Market (a fair trade non-profit store; 811 Ninth Street Suite 100) will donate 10% of purchase prices to Student Action with Farmworkers:  saf-unite.org/content/farmworker-awareness-week-events   

A Call for a Mass Mobilization to Oppose NATO, War and Racism

Gather in Washington, DC's Lafayette Square, across Pennsylvania Avenue from the White House, at 1pm Saturday, March 30th and there will be other events Wednesday, April 4th at the start of the NATO summit in DC.  For more information or to endorse the United National Antiwar Coalition's call to action, see:  nepajac.org/april4rally.html

The focus was originally on NATO, but then the machinations against Venezuela began, and now there is talk from the government side about South American countries led by rightists being involved in NATO. 

There will be a bus from Durham leaving at 6:30am and back by about 10pm ($15 to $25 dollars, but people may be able to get subsidized seats):  solidaritycenter.ourpowerbase.net/civicrm/event/info?reset=1&id=5  There are also the regular Greyhound and Amtrak routes going from Durham and Raleigh to the same station in Washington, within walking distance of the White House and connecting to the metro system. 

For transportation from other cities (so far no other locations in NC) see:  no2nato2019.org/

Start Your Garden Sale at SEEDS

March 30th 10a.m. - 12p.m. at SEEDS, 706 Gilbert Street, Durham:  www.facebook.com/events/2266547136903431/ and www.seedsnc.org/

Jordan Lake's annual Family Fishing Fiesta (not only about fishing) will be April 7th 11am - 3pm at the White Oak access (north side of NC 64, east of the Lake):  www.ncparks.gov/jordan-lake-state-recreation-area/events-and-programs

North Carolina Statewide Star Party and the NC Festival of Science

The 7th annual Statewide Star Party will be celebrated with stargazing events at over 50 locations across North Carolina the evenings of April 12 - 13.  This year's theme is "The Moon and Beyond," commemorating the 50th anniversary of the Apollo landings ( www.ncsciencefestival.org/starparty ).  This is part of the 9th annual NC Festival for Science, April 1 - 30. 

The annual Party for the Pine will be April 13 10am - 3pm at Weymouth Woods - Sandhills Nature Preserve in Southern Pines: www.partyforthepine.org/  

The annual Pilgrimage for Peace and Justice will be April 14 - 19th, details to be released soon (Witness for Peace Southeast)

Rivercane Rendezvous 2019 will be April 15 - 21 in Westminster, South Carolina:  www.facebook.com/events/2041772256045247/ 

Pyongyang Blockchain and Cryptocurrency Conference April 18 - 25 (register by February 10th; this is an international conference and Americans and others are welcome to attend):  www.korea-dpr.com/dprk-blockchain-conference-2019.html

The 2019 National Cannabis Festival will be Saturday, April 20th 12 - 8pm at the RFK Stadium in Washington, DC ( www.facebook.com/events/143259523190795/ ).

Earth Day is April 22nd, also Easter Monday, and VI Lenin was born April 22, 1870. 

April 26th is World Intellectual Property Day, with the theme Reach for Gold, focusing on intellectual property relating to sports, this year.

Save the Frogs Day is April 27th:  www.savethefrogs.com/d/day/index.html

April 28th is World Day for Safety and Health at Work.

International Workers' Day / May Day is Wednesday, May 1st. 

World Tuna Day is May 2nd:  www.un.org/en/events/tunaday/index.shtml

Victory Day is May 9th and marks the end of WWII in Europe in 1945. 

International Migratory Bird Day is May 11th in the USA and Canada (the second Saturday in May).  It is celebrated the second Saturday in October elsewhere in the Americas. 

Harris Lake County Park's 10th annual Longleaf Festival (and the Park's 20th anniversary) will be Saturday, May 18th 10am - 2pm:  www.wakegov.com/parks/harrislake/Pages/Longleaf-Festival.aspx

World Turtle Day is May 23rd. 

PCMLV: What does the situation in Venezuela demand from the revolutionaries?

This is a statement in English and Spanish from the Marxist-Leninist Communist Party of Venezuela (PCMLV; the original statement is posted at: pcmlv.blogspot.com/2019/02/que-exige-la-situacion-en-venezuela-de.html ). The translation is signed by Red Star Publishers ( redstarpublishers.org/ ), but they say organizations joining the day of action against the coup plot Saturday, February 23^rd are free to make leaflets and put their names there instead. There is information about demonstrations here in North Carolina on the 23^rd and national demonstrations in Washington, DC March 16^th and 30^th at: durhamspark.blogspot.com/2019/01/some-events-and-notable-anniversaries_29.html     

Marxist-Leninist Communist Party of Venezuela

Saturday, February 16, 2019

 

What does the situation in Venezuela demand from the revolutionaries?

The people of Venezuela have been subjected to an attack that is expressed in different ways and with different tactics in order to undermine their ability to fight. The imperialist hawks know that this is a people that resists and fights from different political, organizational and economic trenches. It has largely identified its main enemy, which is the US and the EU against whom it must direct the central blows, avoiding the distractions that the vacillating petty bourgeoisie and sectors of the bourgeoisie try to impose. They try to focus the central attention on other phenomena, to diminish the willingness to fight necessary at this moment.

The consequences of the imperialist aggression led by the US, with the support of its EU allies as well as some lackey governments in Latin America, particularly Brazil and Colombia, have been progressively accentuated. This is shown in the increase in hardships that the exploited and oppressed must suffer day by day. They are the center of the attack of the speculators, the mercenaries of the paramilitary bands financed by the right. Added to this is the ineffectiveness of government institutions that are responsible for price control, guaranteeing public services and food supply, which have been deteriorating in an accelerated manner to the detriment of a significant part of the population.

It is clear that one cannot overcome the current situation through the pro-imperialist puppets of the opposition; to overcome the current situation requires among other things increasing production, which can be guaranteed precisely by those who produce, that is, the workers and peasants. It is also necessary to combat acts of corruption in the chains of marketing, distribution and consumption. But this also requires the organizational strengthening of the revolutionary popular movement, which must continue to work intensively to consolidate the agreements and alliance between men and women who express their firm will to face the imperialist aggression to the end. For this it is necessary in turn that the meeting spaces for debate, analysis of the situation and concrete proposals be put forward in a coordinated manner, consistent and in unison can be multiplied and accelerated.

We are in a race against time in complex circumstances. This in turn requires a militant discipline, conscious that it is an instrument for our skills as anti-imperialist and anti-fascist men and women. The enemy will multiply its actions, through psychological warfare, sabotage, sharpening the economic siege and its attempt to materialize a military intervention supported by mercenary armies of the region.

All this shows the hypocrisy of the sectors of the national and international right wing that try to use the difficult situations that the Venezuelan people are experiencing in their favor and that they have helped to create to an important degree.

Let us not be confused by the message that the imperialist propaganda machinery spreads by its media; the solution to the current situation will take place when the exploited and oppressed majority takes in their hands the development of the historical task that corresponds to production, the anti-imperialist struggle, that is, the economic and political leadership of the country. History shows that only the willingness to fight, strength in organization and clarity in political objectives in the development of the class struggle can mean the difference between catastrophe or the possibility of victory against capitalist misery.

In addition to our willingness to fight, it is important to consolidate international revolutionary support as an expression of proletarian internationalism. The peoples of the world must be mobilized, so that there can be no respite from the imperialist enemy anywhere, that there be a willingness to fight to the end, that the victory over the imperialist armies is possible with the correct revolutionary political leadership.

Translation by Red Star Publishers, www.RedStarPublishers.org

Partido Comunista Marxista Leninista de Venezuela

Sábado, 16 de febrero de 2019

¿Qué exige la situación en Venezuela de los revolucionarios?

El pueblo de Venezuela ha sido sometido a un ataque que se expresa en diferentes formas y con diferentes tácticas con el fin de doblegar su capacidad de combate. Sabe los halcones imperialistas que este es un pueblo que resiste y lucha desde diferentes trincheras políticas, organizativas y económicas, que en gran medida ha identificado a su enemigo principal que no es otro que los EE.UU y la UE en contra de quienes debe dirigir los golpes centrales evitando las distracciones que intentan imponer la pequeña burguesía vacilante, sectores de la burguesía quienes intentan ubicar la atención central en otros fenómenos, tratando de disminuir la disposición de lucha y combate necesaria para estos momentos.

Las consecuencias de la agresión imperialista encabezada por los EE.UU y con apoyo de sus aliados de la UE además de algunos gobiernos lacayos de América Latina entre los que destacan Brasil, Colombia se han venido acentuando progresivamente, manifestándose esto en el aumento de las penurias que día a día debe sufrir los explotados y oprimidos que son el centro del ataque de los especuladores, de los mercenarios de las bandas paramilitares financiadas por la derecha. A esto se suma la ineficacia de las instituciones gubernamentales que le corresponde el control de precios, garantizar los servicios públicos, abastecimiento de alimentos elementos que se han venido deteriorando de manera acelerada en detrimento de importante parte de la población.

Es claro que para superar la actual situación no se hará a través de las marionetas pro imperialista de la oposición, para superar la actual situación se requiere entre otras cosas elevar la producción, lo que puede ser garantizado precisamente por quienes producen, es decir los obreros y campesinos. Así mismo es necesario el combate a los actos de corrupción en las cadenas de comercialización, distribución y consumo. Pero para esto también se hace necesario el fortalecimiento organizativo del movimiento popular revolucionario, el cual debe seguir trabajando de manera intensa por consolidar los acuerdos y alianza entre los hombres y mujeres que expresan su firme voluntad de enfrentar hasta las últimas consecuencias la agresión imperialista. Para esto es necesario a su vez que los espacios de encuentro para el debate, análisis de la situación y concreción de propuestas que sean impulsadas de manera coordinada, consecuente y al unísono puedan ser multiplicados y acelerados.

Estamos en una carrera contra el tiempo lo cual nos imponen una circunstancias complejas, que a su vez requiere de una disciplina militante, consciente que sea instrumento para la cualificación nuestra como hombres y mujeres anti imperialistas y anti fascistas. El enemigo multiplicara sus acciones, expresadas en guerra psicológica, en sabotajes, agudización del cerco económico y en su intento de concretar una intervención militar apoyados en ejércitos mercenarios de la región.

Todo esto devela la hipocresía de los sectores de la derecha nacional e internacional que tratan de utilizar en su favor las difíciles situaciones que vive el pueblo venezolano y que ellos han contribuido a crear en importante medida.

No nos dejemos confundir por el mensaje que la maquinaria de propaganda imperialista difunde por sus medios, la solución a la actual situación pasa porque las mayorías explotadas y oprimidas tomen en sus manos el desarrollo de la tarea histórica que corresponde en la producción, en la lucha anti imperialista, es decir en la dirección económica y política del país. La historia demuestra que solo la disposición de combate, fortaleza en la organización y la claridad en los objetivos políticos en el desarrollo de la lucha de clases pueden significar la diferencia entre la catástrofe o la posibilidad de triunfo contra la miseria capitalista.

Además de nuestra disposición para el combate es importante consolidar el apoyo internacional revolucionario como expresión del internacionalismo proletario; que los pueblos del mundo se movilicen, que no deje respiro al enemigo imperialista en ningún lugar, que haya disposición de lucha hasta las últimas consecuencias, consientes que la victoria sobre los ejércitos imperialistas es posible con la acertada dirección política revolucionaria.

https://pcmlv.blogspot.com/