Reporting on Revolution national tour

Venezuela – Another world is happening! 

If you only read the mainstream media, you would think that Venezuela is run by a dictator who suppresses democracy and violates human rights. But the opposite is true.  

Contrary to media reports, a widespread social transformation is underway in Venezuela, led by a revolutionary government elected by the people with the aim of eradicating poverty and inequality by giving power to the poor.  

In less than a decade, the revolution has already achieved free education at all levels for all citizens, free healthcare for 17 million Venezuelans who never previously had access, and millions of people have become direct participants at the grassroots of a radically new political process. 

This process has given confidence to the poor majority across Latin America that not only is a better world necessary, it is possible.  

Kiraz Janicke has just spent 12 months living in Venezuela reporting on the revolution for the independent news website Venezuelanalysis.com and the alternative newspaper Green Left Weekly.  

Hear first hand what the corporate media don’t want you to know! 
 
The below forums are initiated by Resistance – socialist youth organization - and is supported by the Australia-Venezuelan Solidarity Network.

Brisbane
University of Qld
Mon Sept 1, 1pm
Open air meeting on Grassy Noll
Ph: Paul 0410 629 088

Griffith Uni Nathan campus
Wed Sept 3, 12noon
Building N06 Rm 0.14
Ph: Carmel 0423 461 652

AVSN forum
Tues Sept 2, 7pm (Latin American dinner from 6:30pm)
Brisbane Activist Centre, 74B Wickham St, Fortitude Valley

Geelong
6.30pm Thurs Aug 21
Geelong Activist Centre
127 Myers St
Melbourne

Latrobe University
1pm Wednesday Aug 20
Rm Hu3 421

Melbourne Uni
12pm Thurs Aug 21
Public Lecture Theatre A
Old Arts building


Seminar: Venezuela & Latin American Revolution. Join the Australia-Venezuela Solidarity Network in an afternoon of discussion, debate and reflection about the history-making developments taking place in Venezuela and Latin America. Special guest speaker: Kiraz Janicke, recently returned from a year working in Venezuela as a journalist. Saturday Aug 23 1pm. Old ETU Office, cnr Swanston & Queensberry Sts, Carlton. For more info ph Jody 0418 691 403 or Roberto 0425 289 394.

Sydney
University of Western Sydney
Thurs Aug 28  @ UWS student Association
Ph 0448 605 203

www.resistance.org.au     www.venezuelasolidarity.org 
 

Profile of Kiraz Janicke – Journalist for Green Left Weekly and Venezuelanalysis.com 

Kiraz Janicke is a Resistance member who has been based in Venezuela for the last 12 months. There she worked as a staff writer for Venezuelanalysis.com and was a member of Green Left Weekly's bureau in Caracas. Venezuelanalysis.com is the leading source of English news and information from Venezuela in the world, and Green Left Weekly is Australia’s only alternative and independent weekly newspaper, which has maintained a bureau in Venezuela since 2005, reporting on people’s struggles for justice in Venezuela and the rest of Latin America. 

Kiraz joined Resistance in 2003, when she helped organise actions against the invasion of Iraq. She has been active in many campaigns since then, including helping to organise the June 1 student strike against Work Choices in 2006. She also participated in the first ever solidarity brigade to witness the Venezuelan revolution, organised by the Australia-Venezuela Solidarity Network. 

As a journalist in Venezuela, Kiraz covered topics ranging from the Venezuelan economy, Venezuela’s ties with other Latin American countries, Indigenous rights, food scarcity problems, workers' rights and, more recently, the nationalisation of the large Sidor steel company.  

Working as an independent journalist, Kiraz obtained a very different perspective on the revolution to that being pushed by the corporate media. Instead of being an undemocratic corrupt dictatorship, Venezuela is one of the most democratic countries in the world with a government that has been re-elected 11 times and has implemented greater community control of the country’s resources and government decision-making.  

"As a member of Resistance I have followed the radical changes in Venezuela for some time. What I have learnt from my time here is that there are very few countries that demonstrate, like Venezuela does, that another world is not only necessary, it is absolutely possible. I have been really fortunate to have been able to spend the last year in Venezuela", Kiraz told Green Left Weekly on May 17.  

"It is important that those of us who live in Australia to pay attention to, study and get enthusiasm from revolutionary struggles overseas. It is also our responsibility to give people struggling around the world practical solidarity. But even more importantly, we learn lessons from struggles overseas so we can struggle for change here." 

Kiraz will be touring Australia from August to October to present eyewitness reports on Venezuela’s revolution and the wider rebellion it has inspired throughout Latin America.  

The tour is being organised by Resistance and is supported by the Australia-Venezuela Solidarity Network.  

For details of Kiraz’s tour call Brianna or email pike.brianna@gmail.com

To read Kiraz’s articles visit