The NPC has held screenings of the documentary The Revolution Will Not Be Televised, which shows how workers and peasants in Venezuela took to the streets in massive numbers in April 2002 to defeat a U.S.-backed military coup against the government of President Hugo Chávez. Their actions split the armed forces and led to the defeat of the coup.

The movie was shown at a community center in South London. After the film, a Venezuelan man spoke from the floor about the struggles by working people in his country. The event was hosted by New Generation, a group of youth who are mostly immigrants from Latin America, which plans to send 11 of its members to the festival.

The documentary was also shown at the School of Oriental and African Studies University. NPC representatives spoke at the end to the more than 40 students who attended.

Two days later, eight students took part in a similar meeting at a college in Eastbourne. Many of them had been involved in protests against attempts by the government to privatize large sections of the school. “This festival highlights the need for an internationally organized response against not only those who exploit the Venezuelan workers and farmers but those who exploit worldwide,” said Katan Alder, 18, who helped organize the event. “It’s a fantastic opportunity for those engaged in struggles to communicate and share their knowledge.”

On March 10, the NPC organized a film showing at a meeting room near Oxted School, Surrey, about two hours from London. “What was the effect of the overturning of the coup in 2002 on the rest of Latin America?” asked James Grogan, 17, after the film.

“It is unusual for an imperialist-backed coup to be defeated,” responded Julie Crawford, from the NPC. “The mobilizations by Venezuelan working people can only strengthen the confidence of others across Latin America who face the same conditions.”

“I’m hoping to go to the festival because I want to learn firsthand about Venezuela and meet revolutionaries from other countries and learn about what’s happening in every part of the world,” said Kyle McSporran, a student at Oxted who helped build the meeting. Participants decided to set up an Oxted Preparatory Committee for the festival, which will organize fund-raising to help those who need assistance to go to Caracas.

Students at Queen Mary College in east London are planning to hold a similar event too.

Paul Davies contributed to this article.  
 
 
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