Change and Struggle in Latin America Meeting at Leeds University

Darrall Cozens

On Thursday 7th February, having recently returned from a speaking tour of Latin America, Darrall Cozens visited Leeds University to share his experiences with more than 20 students and “Hands off Venezuela!” activists.

Darrall began by explaining the conditions which have defined every revolution in history: the ruling class becomes divided and enters into crisis, unable to see a way forward; the middle class goes through a state of ferment; and finally the workers and the poor enter the political arena, determined to change their conditions. He went on to describe how for the past 9 years Venezuelan workers have struggled tirelessly to take their destinies into their own hands, seeing in Chavez the embodiment of their ambitions. Despite this Darrall noted how millions of Chavez supporters and PSUV members had simply stayed at home during the constitutional referendum. On the one hand he pointed to the existence of a “Fifth Column” in the Bolivarian movement – a bureaucracy which pays lip-service to “Socialism of the 21st Century” whilst actively sabotaging the “Si” campaign by removing any political content from it – and the abstention of thousands of workers who have become demoralised by the economic sabotage of the capitalists and landlords.

Following the talk was a discussion which was marked by a high political level and a focus on what we, as socialists, can do to participate in the revolutionary process. One student, who had recently travelled to Bolivia, spoke about her experience talking to miners. She described how entire generations died in their twenties and thirties, under the rock face, for the profits of a few multinational companies. As a western tourist she explained how the only charity she could offer was to buy the workers dynamite so that they could continue to mine the rocks, whilst their health deteriorated under intolerable conditions.

Everyone present agreed that the only way to support the Venezuelan Revolution was to struggle for a revolutionary transformation of British society. The discussion continued for a long time after the meeting had ended, with a number of eager students asking how they could join and get involved in Hands off Venezuela.

To find out more about Hands off Venezuela in your area contact This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.