On March 5th, 2013, the world lost a
forefront leader and fighter in the struggle
for a better world, when Venezuelan
President Hugo Chávez passed away.
Now four years later, the anniversary of
Comandante Chavez’s passing is a time
to reflect on his enormous contribution
towards the betterment of humanity, and his
ongoing legacy. On March 2nd, the Hugo
Chávez Defense Front - Southwest Canada
Chapter organized a forum at the Chilean
Housing Coop in Vancouver. Fire This Time
Editorial Board member Tamara Hansen
was invited to speak, alongside Venezuelan
Consul General Wilfredo José Pérez Bianco and writer and researcher
Nino Pagliccia.
Consul General Wilfredo
Bianco gave an overview
of the life of Hugo
Chavez, focusing on his
political development
and growing
consciousness that led
to him becoming the
leader the world knows
him for. Nino Pagliccia spoke on Chavez’s
childhood and relayed stories from his early
life. Tamara Hansen, on behalf of Vancouver
Communities in Solidarity with Cuba
(VCSC) spoke about the legacy of Hugo
Chavez alongside the legacy of the great
revolutionary Fidel Castro who also recently
passed away on November
25, 2016. Chavez often
referred to Fidel as his
political father, and their
legacy together is one of
a continued and growing
revolutionary movement,
especially in Latin America,
against imperialism, for
self-determination and for
the construction of a better
and more just world.
The program of the event also featured
greetings from various organizations
including Maria Luisa Melendez on behalf
of the FMLN Vancouver (Farabundo Martí
National Liberation Front), Victor Pardo
on behalf of URNG Maiz (Guatemalan
National Revolutionary Unity), and Mayra
Climaco, Nicaraguan activist. The evening
also included the beautiful poetry of
longtime Chilean activist Oscar Villalobos.
In the four years since the passing of
Comandante Chavez and just a few short
months since the passing of Comandante
Fidel Castro, their legacy lives on in the
struggle of people around the world against
injustice and for creating a better world!
Follow Janine Solanki on Twitter: @janinesolanki
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