Programme for Latin America Conference 2021 – ¡Adelante!

The Programme for Latin America Conference 2021 can be dowloaded below.

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HIGHLIGHTS OF SEMINARS COMING UP AT LATIN AMERICA 21

See the latest programme for times and speakers.

ON CUBA

Manufacturing Dissent – US funding and media reporting
The impact of 60 years of economic warfare against Cuba has been exacerbated in the last two years by increased US sanctions and the impact of COVID-19.  In addition, Cuba is now fighting a relentless and well-funded campaign of disinformation and subversion from the US. Just like the blockade, this aggressive policy aims to provoke violent unrest, destabilise the government and create the conditions for US intervention. 

Innovation from adversity – advances in science, culture, environmental protection and popular participation
In the face of a vicious blockade Cuba continues to develop its society for the good of all. This seminar explores some of Cuba’s achievements in more detail including impressive advances in healthcare and particularly Cuba’s development of its own national vaccines for COVID-19 and Tarea Vida (Life Task) an ambitious 100-year project to comate climate change.

Unhappy Birthday – US intensifies its economic warfare as blockade enters 60th year
Despite his election promises, President Biden has done nothing to reverse the 243 extra sanctions and punitive measures imposed against Cuba under Donald Trump.  As the blockade enters its 60^th year how can Cuba emerge from the economic and health crisis of the pandemic and build a better world for its people in the face of renewed threats from its powerful neighbour?

ON NICARAGUA

Nicaraguan elections and beyond

On 7 November, the FSLN and President Daniel Ortega won a landslide election victory in spite of consistent efforts by the US to sabotage the elections through a mixture of economic, social and psychological warfare. The US has since refused to recognise the result and is advancing its regime change agenda through the imposition of a raft of new, illegal coercive measures (sanctions) on the country. Its ally the Organisation of American States (OAS), has called for the elections to be nullified and for new elections to be held and there are fears that another attempted coup may be likely. Speakers will discuss the significance of the election results and what the future now holds for Nicaragua.

ON NICARAGUA & BRAZIL

Beyond COP26: La Via Campesina, food sovereignty, agroecology, and land rights

Using the examples from the Landless People’s Movement (MST) in Brazil and the Rural Workers Association (ATC) in Nicaragua, this seminar will highlight the work of La Via Campesina (LVC).

A handful of transnational corporations that control our globalised food chains make a major contribution to the climate and biodiversity crisis and deepen the concentration of power, wealth and land in the hands of the few.

The LVC is a global social movement of millions peasants and indigenous peoples that believes that food is a basic human right, the problem is systemic, the solution must be systemic and based on fighting for food sovereignty, agroecology, land rights, and gender equality. Find out more about what this means in practice in Brazil and Nicaragua.

ON VENEZUELA

Venezuela – End the sanctions, Give back the gold

The US’s illegal sanctions on Venezuela – introduced by Trump and now maintained by Biden – have created a blockade of the country that aims to asphyxiate its economy and achieve regime change.

The UK government endorses these sanctions and is currently supporting the Bank of England which is refusing to return to the Maduro government over £800m of Venezuela’s gold held in its vaults.

As the position of self-declared ‘interim president’ Juan Guaidό crumbles and Venezuela’s opposition parties return to contesting elections, more pressure on the US and UK governments is needed to end the sanctions and give back the gold.

After the elections in Venezuela – tackling the media war, building a peaceful future

The successful holding of regional and local elections in Venezuela on 21 November marks a significant victory for Venezuela’s sovereignty and democratic institutions in the face of Washington’s illegal blockade and the ravages of the pandemic.

But while major opposition candidates have voiced support for the electoral process as the appropriate path for settling political differences, Venezuela still faces hostile reporting from most of the Western media, attuned to a neoliberal view of the world and taking its cue from the US State department. How can the Venezuelan government continue to build a peaceful future.

Remembering Hugo Chávez – spark for 21st century socialism

When Chávez was elected president in 1998, up to 7 in 10 Venezuelans lived in poverty. The country’s oil wealth enriched a tiny domestic elite and multi-nationals abroad. By bringing resources under public control to fund massive social programmes in areas such as health, education and housing, and stimulating popular participation, the lives of ordinary Venezuelans were transformed.

By rejecting neoliberalism at home and pursuing a regional Latin American approach to challenge the dominance of the United States, Chávez lit a spark for 21st century socialism.

What lessons can we draw from this inspirational example in our future work?

ON COLOMBIA

Can the people win peace and justice?

On 24 November, Colombia marks the fifth anniversary of its historic peace agreement between the government and the FARC guerrilla movement. But despite the FARC’s full compliance with the agreement and the immense peace-building efforts of communities, grassroots activists and trade unionists, the peace process remains under threat. Since the agreement was signed, more than 1,200 social activists and almost 300 FARC former guerrillas have been murdered. Yet the right-wing government of Iván Duque has denied the scale of the violence, sought to impede implementation of the agreement, and embarked on a global ‘greenwashing’ exercise over its supposed environmental credentials – even though Colombia is by far the world’s deadliest country for environmental defenders. With a presidential election in six months’ time, what does the future hold for the Colombian people? Join JFC for an update on the struggle to defend human rights and peace.

ON BOLIVIA

Bolivia – justice for the victims of the defeated coup regime.

When the Bolivian people demonstrated against the US-backed coup in 2019, far-right self-proclaimed president Jeanine Anez responded with violent suppression of dissent, with particular emphasis on the majority indigenous population. Supporters of the Movement Toward Socialism (MAS), ministers and former ministers were persecuted, their homes attacked, lives threatened and many arrested or forced into exile. Journalists and doctors were also targeted. Violent clashes between indigenous protestors and police and military patrols resulted in several deaths and dozens of people injured, with particularly shocking murders at Sacaba and Senkata.

This session will hear how following the restoration of democracy in 2020, the new government under President Louis Arce undertook to investigate the violence and repression against anti-coup protestors. Those in the coup regime who were responsible for these crimes, including their leader Jeanine Anez, must now be brought to justice.

Bolivia shows there is an alternative – people’s power, hope and solidarity.

Despite winning the most votes in the 2019 presidential election, Evo Morales was forced out by the military in a coup backed by the USA. What followed was a year of repressive far-right government, led by extremist Jeanine Anez, and an adoption of neoliberal policies, privatisation of state-owned companies and persecution of opposition groups.

However, the Bolivian people refused to be cowed. During 2020, whilst enduring the effects of not only the covid crisis, but also the effects of a repressive, corrupt and incompetent government, there was a wave of resistance against the coup regime, with a general strike, roadblocks, mass marches and much more.

Bolivian trade unionists, MAS supporters and workers up and down the country protested against the coup regime and forced Anez to hold elections. In October 2020, thanks to the courage and determination of the Bolivian people, the far-right coup regime was democratically removed and replaced by the progressive government of President Louis Arce.

Now they are building a better society – give them your solidarity!

ON CHILE

The Battle to Bury Neoliberalism

In late 2019, massive public protests over economic inequality engulfed Chile and were met with brutal repression by the rightwing Piñera government.

October 2020 saw Chileans vote in favour of a new people’s constitution to replace the one imposed during the brutal US-backed Pinochet dictatorship which violently implanted neoliberalism in the region.

With presidential elections in late November, the Left has a chance to take back the presidency. Whatever the result, the battle to bury neoliberalism, Pinochet’s enduring legacy, will carry on in Chile. This session examines the latest developments.