We want Chavez, not Bush

Open letter to Hugo Chavez, initiated by Australia Venezuela Solidarity Network To: The President of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela, Hugo Rafael Chávez Frias Dear President Chávez, We, the undersigned citizens of Australia, would like to extend a warm invitation for you to visit our country. We have watched developments in Venezuela with great interest. We have been impressed by the great effort that your government has taken to improve the living standards of the majority of Venezuelans. We have also noted with keen attention the moves that your government has begun to make to create a society based on popular participation in all spheres of society—from the workplace up to the national government. Although we are on the opposite side of the globe we feel that our shared ideals of social justice and democracy bring us close together. Every country has its own traditions and culture and has to find its own solutions, but what Venezuela has been able to achieve in so little time will be a source of inspiration and ideas for many in Australia. In this light we believe that a visit to our country by yourself would not only help to improve the awareness of the Australian people of developments in Venezuela, but also be an unparalleled opportunity to strengthen the ties of friendship and solidarity between our two peoples. All signatures will be posted to Nelson Davila, Venezuela’s charge d’affaires in Australia, Canberra. (Todas las firmas de invitación serán enviadas a Nelson Dávila, Encargado de Negocios de Venezuela en Australia, Canberra) Initial signatories: Warren Mundine, National President of the ALP in 2006 Dave Robinson, Secretary, Unions WA Lee Rhiannon, Member of the Legislative Council NSW (Greens) Sylvia Hale, Member of the Legislative Council NSW (Greens) John Pilger, Independent Journalist Tim Anderson, Lecturer, Faculty of Economics and Business, University of Sydney Dr Meredith Burgmann, President of the Legislative Council of NSW Kerry Nettle, Australian Greens Senator for NSW Jack Mundey, Environmentalist Dr Alastair Grieg, Senior Lecturer, Australian National University: Faculty of Arts Scott Poynting, Senior Lecturer in Sociology of Education, UWS Phillip Adams, Journalist, Republican of the Year 2005 Andrew Ferguson, NSW Secretary, CFMEU Construction and General Division Antony Loewenstein, Independent Journalist Keysar Trad, Islamic Friendship Association Susan Price, UNSW National Tertiary Education Union Branch President Mick Baker, MUA WA Organiser Joel Asphar, AMWU WA Organiser Shelley Watson-Harris, Executive Officer, Unions WA Clare Ozich, Industrial Officer, Unions WA Brendan Hewson, President, CPSU/CSA Thirza White, Campaign Coordinator, Unions WA Carolyn Smith, Childcare Union Assistant Secretary, WA LHMU Ian Bray, WA Assistant Branch secretary, MUA WA Paul Halfpenny, WA Organiser, NTEU Mick Campion, President, NTEU Murdoch Uni branch Joe McDonald, Assistant Secretary, CFMEU WA Jim Mellor, Communications/Projects, CFMEU WA Mick Buchan, Organiser, CFMEU WA Kevin Ennor, Organiser, CFMEU WA Vinnie Molina, Organiser, CFMEU WA Graham Pallot, Organiser, CFMEU WA Jim Reid, Organiser, CFMEU WA Steve McCartney, State President, AMWU WA Keith Peckham, Industrial Development Officer, Unions WA Linda Briskman, Professor, Curtin Centre for Human Rights Education Warren Smith, Assistant, Sydney Branch Secretary, MUA If you would like to sign onto the petition or confirm the signature of yourself or your organisation for identification and for promotion of President Chavez' visit please contact: Fred Fuentes 0432 333 806 or fred@venezuelasolidarity.org