In an era of increasing global uncertainty and overlapping crises, Latin America continues to show that building a better world is possible. In recent years, the continent has shifted decisively to the left, with progressive governments being elected in Brazil, Bolivia, Mexico, Honduras and even Colombia, once the bastion of US-backed reactionary regimes. Cuba, Venezuela and Nicaragua continue to resist the blockades, sanctions and regime change efforts in the face of increasing adversity.
Nearly 300 activists and trade unionists from across the country and further afield gathered at the home of the National Education Union (NEU), Hamilton House in Central London, to hear about the latest developments in the region and take inspiration from the numerous mass movements, struggles for sovereignty and resistance to neoliberalism that have come to define Latin America.
Opening plenary
National Secretary of the Cuba Solidarity Campaign (CSC), Bernard Regan, chaired the opening plenary and encouraged delegates to learn as much as possible about the struggles for progressive change across the region and to build international solidarity.
“The world is in a kind of churning right now. Things are moving, things are changing.” Vijay Prashad, director of the Tricontinental Institute for Social Research, joined us via video and opened the conference setting out the global context of huge social, economic and political change. “The world of the imperialists is dying”, he said. “But an alternative world is yet to be born.” In this struggle to give birth to a new world, Prashad placed Cuba at its heart. “If the imperialist countries are successful in overthrowing the Cuban Revolution, our efforts to build a better world will be dealt a major blow.”
Counsellor of the Venezuelan Embassy, Maria Ceclia Toro, looked ahead to an important year in which the country’s struggle against sanctions continues. “The Bolivarian Revolution was born from the peoples’ votes in free elections and once again we are getting ready for elections in 2024”, she told attendees.
In a period of devastating conflicts across the world, editor of the Morning Star, Ben Chacko counterposed the priorities of the imperialist countries of the global north to the progressive and socialist countries in Latin America, in particular Cuba. “Where Britain and the US export bombs, Cuba exports doctors” he told attendees. “Cuba proves every day that another world is possible, but in the twenty-first century the entire region is associated with that struggle.”
While Argentina’s left has suffered a huge setback following the election of far-right libertartian Javier Milei, the fight back has already started, with hundreds of thousands of Argentine workers taking part in a general strike in protest at Milei’s reforms. Gabriel Mocho Rodriguez of International Transport Workers’ Federation told guests that international solidarity from unions and groups around the world was crucial for the strike and will be crucial in the weeks and months to come.
Closing the session, Kate Hudson of CND paid tribute to the Latin American governments that have been at the forefront of solidarity with the Palestinian people and have opposed Israel’s genocidal war. She placed Latin America at the heart of a changing world, noting that “while the global north loses economic power and increases militarisation, the global south is growing economically and demanding independence.”
Throughout the day more than 60 speakers took part in 22 seminars and film screenings, and delegates browsed stalls from solidarity campaigns, progressive organisations and publishers.
Final plenary
After a full day of seminars and films, the conference closed with the final plenary, chaired by Kevin Courtney, who emphasised the importance of the conference in building solidarity and inspiring hope.
President of the NEU, Emma Rose, celebrated her union’s commitment to international solidarity work, particularly in Latin America. Such work is “not just an add-on, but at the core of who we are”, she told the crowd, committing to continuing the union’s work on Cuba, Nicaragua, Colombia and others.
In what was her final public speech, Her Excellency Barbara Montalvo Alvarez, extended her solidarity to the Palestinian people. She told guests that the Latin America conference, throughout her time in the UK, has always been a special experience. Kevin Courtney paid tribute to her incredible commitment, presenting a farewell gift. “I take this opportunity to say goodbye. In a few days I return to Cuba. It has been an honour and a privilege to work with you. I say goodbye not as an Ambassador, but as a revolutionary woman”, she closed, to a standing ovation.
Chair of the All-Party Parliamentary Group on Cuba and MP for Easington, Grahame Morris, lauded the day’s event as “another brilliant example of international solidarity and one which I know will inspire us all to keep going and indeed to do more.” He highlighted how the US is becoming increasingly isolated, as it adheres to policies of “intervention, aggression and domination”, nowhere more starkly than in Cuba.
Jess Barnard, who sits on Labour’s NEC, described the inspiration that she, and others on the left, can take from Cuba’s commitment to internationalism and achievements in social justice. She set out what the position of the labour movement towards the whole region in this country should be. “No to interventions, blockades and sanctions. Yes to unity, peace and socialist change.”
Closing the session, Jeremy Corbyn MP sent thanks to the Henry Reeve Medical Brigades and all Cuba’s medical workers taking part in missions overseas, who embody the Cuban internationalism which Jess spoke about. Highlighting Lula’s re-election in Brazil, Corbyn said that socialists and progressives can draw so much from the recent successes in the region. “ It was nothing to do with support from the media and financial institutions and everything to do with hope and popular organisation.”
Latin America 2024 organisers would like to thank all the speakers, volunteers, delegates and supporting organisations who attended, especially the National Education Union, without whom the event would not have been possible.
Latin America Adelante! Conference 2026 