June 4, 2013 -- Links International Journal of Socialist Renewal -- Registrations are now open for the Australia-Venezuela Solidarity Network’s next brigade to revolutionary Venezuela.

The solidarity tour, to run from December 4 to 13 this year, will be the first AVSN brigade since the election of President Nicolas Maduro following the death of Hugo Chavez.

Since 1998, when Chavez was first elected president, the Bolivarian revolution has achieved remarkable gains by putting control of Venezuela’s politics and economy back into the hands of the poor majority. Despite the challenges created by Chavez’s death, in particular the United States-backed opposition’s campaign to undermine the new president and government of Venezuela, this people power driven revolution continues to flourish, defying all attempts to destroy it.

The December solidarity brigade will be a unique an opportunity to observe firsthand, learn about and be inspired by a grassroots mass movement that is transforming not only Venezuela, but all of Latin America, and is challenging the greed and destructiveness of global capitalism by showing that a better world is possible.

This is the 14th study tour organised by the AVSN. The exact itinerary is being planned in consultation with the AVSN’s partners in Venezuela, however, the 10-day tour will include visits to social missions, communal councils and communes, as well as production cooperatives, public health and education services, sustainable development projects, community-controlled media, and women’s and Indigenous people’s organisations and projects.

It will also include the opportunity to observe Venezuela’s democratic system at work, during the December 8 nationwide municipal elections.

Brigade participants will meet with a wide range of grassroots organisations, community activists, trade unions and government representatives to learn more about the participatory democracy and “socialism of the 21st century” being created by the Venezuelan people.

Accommodation and transport within Venezuela, and English-Spanish translation throughout the brigade, will be organised for all participants by the AVSN.

Participants will need to book their own international airfares. We advise that you talk to the AVSN before purchasing your tickets.

In addition to your international airfare, you will need to budget for approximately $1200. This will cover your brigade registration fee ($500 for waged workers or $350 for students/pensioners), and your food, transport and (shared) accommodation in Venezuela.

The registration deadline for the brigade is September 1, 2013.

For more information, email: info@venezuelasolidarity.org, or phone Jim on 0423 741 734, Roberto on 0425 182 994 or Lisa on 0413 031 108.

Visit http://www.venezuelasolidarity.org.