INTELLIGENCE: Eva Golinger: A Union is Born: Latin America in Revolution

Saturday, December 10, 2011

Eva Golinger: A Union is Born: Latin America in Revolution

CHAVEZ CODE/Eva Golinger: A Union is Born: Latin America in Revolution

A Union is Born: Latin America in Revolution
By Eva Golinger

<http://www.chavezcode.com/2011/12/union-is-born-latin-america-in.html>

While much of the world is in crisis and protests are erupting
throughout Europe
and the United States, Latin American and Caribbean nations are building
consensus, advancing social justice and increasing positive cooperation in the
region. Social, political and economic transformations have been taking place
through democratic processes in countries such as Venezuela, Bolivia, Ecuador,
Nicaragua, Uruguay, Argentina and Brazil throughout the past decade, leading to
a massive reduction in poverty and income disparity in the region, and a
substantial increase in social services, quality of life and direct
participation in political process.

One of the major initiatives of progressive Latin American governments this
century has been the creation of new regional organizations that promote
integration, cooperation and solidarity amongst neighboring nations. Cuba and
Venezuela began this process in 2004 with the founding of the Bolivarian
Alliance for the Peoples of Our America (ALBA), that now includes Bolivia,
Ecuador, Nicaragua, Dominica, St. Vincent's and the Grenadines and Antigua and
Barbuda. ALBA was initially launched in response to the US government's failed
attempt to impose its Free Trade Agreement of the Americas (FTAA)
throughout the
region. Today ALBA is a thriving multilateral organization with member nations
that share similar political visions for their countries and for the
region, and
includes numerous cooperation agreements in economic, social and
cultural areas.
The fundamental basis of trade amongst ALBA nations is solidarity and mutual
benefit. There is no competition, exploitation or attempt to dominate amongst
ALBA states. ALBA even counts on its own currency, the SUCRE, which allows for
trade between member nations without dependence on the US dollar.

In 2008, the Union of South American Nations (UNASUR) was formally established
as a regional body representing South American states. While ALBA is much more
consolidated as a unified political voice, UNASUR represents a diversity of
political positions, economic models and visions for the region. But UNASUR
members share the common goal of working towards regional unity and
guaranteeing
the resolution of conflicts through peaceful and diplomatic means. UNASUR has
already played a key role in peacefully resolving disputes in Bolivia,
particularly during an attempted coup against the government of Evo Morales in
2008, and has also successfully moderated a severe conflict between
Colombia and
Venezuela, leading to the reestablishment of relations in 2010.

Two hundred years ago, South American Independence hero Simon Bolivar, a native
of Venezuela, dreamed of building regional unity and creating a "Patria Grande"
(Grand Homeland) in Latin America. After achieving independence for Venezuela,
Bolivia, Ecuador and Colombia, and fighting colonialists in several Caribbean
nations, Bolivar attempted to turn this dream of Latin American unity into
reality. His efforts were sabotaged by powerful interests opposing the creation
of a solid regional bloc, and eventually, with the aid of the United States,
Bolivar was ousted from his rule in Venezuela and died isolated in Colombia
several years later. Meanwhile, the US government had proceeded to
implement its
Monroe Doctrine, a decree first declared by President James Monroe in 1823 to
ensure US domination and control over the newly-freed nations in Latin America
and the Caribbean.

Nearly two hundred years of invasions, interventions, aggressions, coup d'etats
and hostilities led by the US government against Latin American
nations shadowed
the 19th and 20th centuries. By the end of the 20th century, Washington had
successfully imposed governments in every Latin American and Caribbean nation
that were subordinate to its agenda, with the exception of Cuba. The Monroe
Doctrine had been achieved, and the US felt confident in its control over its
"backyard".

The unexpected turn at the beginning of the 21st century in Venezuela, formerly
one of Washington's most stable and subservient partners, came as a
shock to the
US. Hugo Chavez had been elected President and a Revolution had begun. A coup
d'etat attempt in 2002 failed to subvert the advancement of the Bolivarian
Revolution and the spread of revolutionary fever throughout the region. Soon
Bolivia followed, then Nicaragua and Ecuador. Argentina, Brazil and Uruguay
elected socialist presidents, two of them former guerrilla fighters. Major
changes began to occur throughout the region as the peoples of this vast,
diverse and rich continent assumed power and made their voices heard.

Social transformations in Venezuela that gave voice to people's power became
exemplary for others in the region, as did President Chavez's defiance of US
imperialism. A powerful sentiment of Latin American sovereignty and
independence
grew stronger, even reaching those with governments aligned with US interests
and multinational control.

On December 2-3, 2011, the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States
(CELAC) was born and the overwhelming force of a continent nearly 600 million
strong, achieved a 200-year dream of unity. The 33 member nations of CELAC all
agree on the unquestionable necessity to build a regional organization that
represents their interests, and that excludes the overbearing
presence of the US
and Canada. While CELAC will take time to consolidate, the exceptional
commitment evidenced by the 33 states present at its launching in Caracas,
Venezuela, cannot be underestimated.

CELAC will have to overcome attempts to sabotage and neutralize its expansion
and endurance, and the threats against it and intents to divide member nations
will be numerous and frequent. But the resistance of the peoples of Latin
America and the Caribbean who have resumed this path of unity and independence
after nearly two hundred years of imperialist aggression, demonstrates the
powerful force that has led this region to become an inspiration for those
seeking social justice and true freedom around the world.

About the Author

Eva Golinger, winner of the International Award for Journalism in
Mexico (2009),
named "La Novia de Venezuela" by President Hugo Chávez, is an Attorney and
Writer from New York, living in Caracas, Venezuela since 2005 and author of the
best-selling books, "The Chávez Code: Cracking US Intervention in Venezuela"
(2006 Olive Branch Press), "Bush vs. Chávez: Washington's War on Venezuela"
(2007, Monthly Review Press), "The Empire's Web: Encyclopedia of
Interventionism
and Subversion", "La Mirada del Imperio sobre el 4F: Los Documentos
Desclasificados de Washington sobre la rebelión militar del 4 de febrero de
1992" and "La Agresión Permanente: USAID, NED y CIA". Since 2003, Eva, a
graduate of Sarah Lawrence College and CUNY Law School in New York, has been
investigating, analyzing and writing about US intervention in Venezuela using
the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) to obtain information about US Government
efforts to undermine progressive movements in Latin America. Her
first book, The
Chávez Code, has been translated and published in 8 languages
(English, Spanish,
French, German, Italian, Russian, Farsi & Turkish) and is presently being made
into a feature film.