Hugo ChávezChávez stressed the need for a worldwide revolution and repeated his proposal for the Fifth International to be an instrument for this purpose. He said that Karl Marx had started the First International, Engels and Rosa Luxemburg participated in the Second International, Lenin took the initiative for the Third International, and Trotsky set up the Fourth International. None of these organisations exists anymore, but Chávez said that a Fifth International would help the process of revolution all over the world.

At the meeting, President Evo Morales of Bolivia also gave a speech condemning capitalism. Other speakers included the Cuban vice president, Estaban Lazo, and the Nicaragua’s foreign minister, Samuel Santos.

Evo MoralesChávez began his speech by condemning the repression in the streets of Copenhagen during the UN climate summit. Mentioning the climate summit, he said, “Some do not want to discuss the causes of climate changes. I will tell you the cause: capitalism. Capitalism is the worst enemy – for life and for the climate.”

A delegation from Hands Off Venezuela met Chávez shortly before his speech and handed the president two letters from the workers at the Gotcha and Vivex factories in Venezuela. We expressed our solidarity with the president and the idea of a Fifth International.

In his speech, Chávez underlined the point that the Venezuelan revolution is only the beginning of the world revolution, and that the Venezuelan revolution is not complete yet; the task of building socialism in Venezuela is still ahead. He said that he is certain that the revolutionary events in Venezuela and other Latin American countries will repeat themselves in the countries in the North – in Europe and in the USA.

The audience – left wing activists, youth, and trade unionists – interrupted the speech several times with loud applause and chants such as “el pueblo unido, jamás será vencido.” The biggest applauses came when Chávez spoke of Fidel Castro and the fight against US imperialism, and of socialism being the only way to end global misery and ensure a future for humanity.

In his speech, Chávez thanked Hands off Venezuela and other groups for arranging this meeting. He stressed the fact that all change comes from below – from the organization and political education of the masses.

Activists from Hands off Venezuela intervened in the meeting with a stall, selling t-shirts, books and other materials, and handing out leaflets.