TeleSur: Restored Venezuela-Colombia Ties a Blow to US Venezuela and Colombia’s restoration of diplomatic ties clearly illustrates the United States’ waning influence in Latin America. The restoration of relations between the two countries is a “strong and convincing sign that the foreign policy of the United States has experienced an undeniable setback in Latin America and the Caribbean,” Fernando Rivero pointed out. President Maduro received the credentials of Colombia’s Ambassador to Venezuela Armando Benedetti, marking the full restoration of diplomatic relations. Washington’s interests in the region have recently suffered innumerable setbacks, said Rivero, highlighting the notorious public failure of the last Summit of the Americas.
Orinoco Tribune: Untold Truth About Venezuelan-Iranian Airplane and Crew Seized in Argentina: FBI Running the Show “It is something unprecedented because I believe that for the first time in history a situation like this is experienced, of a kidnapping not only of the asset, but also of human beings, yes, directly affecting people,” said Mario Arraga, a manager of the Venezuelan airline EMTRASUR. Arraga is one of the 19 crew members —14 Venezuelans and five Iranians— of the Venezuelan Boeing 747-300 cargo plane held since June at the request of the United States on Argentine soil.
Venezuelanalysis: Maduro Expresses Solidarity with Argentina’s Cristina Fernández Against ‘Abominable’ Lawfare “It is no coincidence that this new right-wing offensive against you is unleashed precisely when renewed projects of unity Our America have begun to take shape,” said Maduro. “I want to express my absolute solidarity in the midst of this fierce combat you are waging against the enemies of your country.” Video of assassination attempt on Christina
Kawsachun News: Joint Statement in Support of Cristina Fernández de Kirchner by President of Argentina, Alberto Fernandez; President of Bolivia, Luis Arce; President of Colombia, Gustavo Petro; and President of Mexico, Andrés Manuel López Obrador.
Granma: Venezuela will help rebuild oil facility damaged by the fire in Matanzas “Cuba knows that it can count on our scientific, technical, engineering and workforce’s support,” Maduro ratified. After ruling out the possibility that Cuba will be alone under any circumstances, he assured that Cuba will always have “the support of the peoples of the world and of the sensitive, brave and humanist governments.”
NicaNotes: The Catholic Church and Nicaragua A deluge of headlines about the Catholic Church in Nicaragua has appeared in international media – but not one of the articles has accurately explained what is happening. Below I’ll break down Nicaragua’s relationship with the Catholic Church and recent events; all links are to excellent articles for more info. Bishop Alvarez isn’t the only priest to be arrested in Nicaragua in recent months – Nicaraguan authorities have arrested, tried and convicted a priest who raped a 12 year old girl and another who beat his partner. We have not seen international media using the cases of the rapist and wife-beating priests of Nicaragua to claim religious persecution the way that they are for Alvarez, but all three are cases of Nicaraguan authorities holding Catholic priests accountable for their individual actions, just as they would anyone else.
Sputnik News: ‘It’s Off-the-Charts Rich’: US General Caught Pining for Latin America’s Resources in Viral Video A video of US Army Gen. Laura J. Richardson, commander of US Southern Command, gushing about Latin America’s “off-the-charts” natural resources at the Aspen Forum. Video clip of General’s talk
Peoples Dispatch: Over one million Bolivians mobilize in support of President Luis Arce’s government Workers from diverse sectors, peasants, students, and members of various Indigenous organizations and social movements from all nine departments of Bolivia arrived in capital La Paz to ratify their support for President Luis Arce and Vice President David Choquehuanca.The call for the march was given by the Pact of Unity (PU), a national alliance of grassroots organizations, and the Central Obrera Boliviana (COB), the country’s trade union center, in the face of attempts by far-right opposition sectors and capitalists to destabilize the national government and the country’s economy. The executive secretary of the COB, Juan Carlos Huarachi, said that “all over the world, capitalism wants to destabilize progressive governments that protect the wealth of nations. Meanwhile, the oligarchies play into the Empire’s game.” Huarachi warned that “the COB will not allow a new coup in the country.”
Help Us Raise $60,000 for Victims of Cuba’s Disastrous Fire, Code Pink, Puentes De Amor
On August 5, an oil tank in Matanzas, Cuba, was hit by lightning, causing an enormous fire that has left people missing (including firefighters), dozens injured with severe burns, and hundreds evacuated from their homes. There are broken families who need our help. This tragedy also has immediate repercussions for the entire population in that province, since it affects their electricity supply and health facilities.
Events and Delegations
Wednesdays: WTF is Going on in Latin America & The Caribbean with Teri Mattson
Ben Linder Solidarity School August 27-October 1 and October 8-29
September 3: Ben Linder Solidarity School with Dan Kovalik and Magda Lanuza, 9am-11am US Pacific / 12pm-2pm US Eastern / 5pm-7pm UK
September 13: Current Developments in Venezuela and the New Pink Tide
September 24: Democracy Beyond the US Empire: Foreign Ministers Bruno Rodriguez of Cuba and Carlos Faria of Venezuela, Vijay Prashad
Travel to Venezuela with Code Pink October 7-17 (postponed)
If you have events to publicize or find helpful articles for readers on the ALBA countries you can post them on Facebook here: Venezuela; Nicaragua; Bolivia; Latin America in general (here or here) Or send them to [email protected]
