The Venezuela Solidarity Campaign, the Embassy of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela and Freud Communications hosted a successful pre-screening of Oliver Stone's South of the Border last night at a packed Bolivar Hall, with guests including H.E. Ambassador Samuel Moncada, parliamentarians, journalists from numerous national publications, cultural figures, leading academics and writers, representatives of BME and community organisations, trade union leaders and many others.

The new documentary film was well received, and profiles Hugo Chavez, along with the heads of several other South American countries, giving an incredible insight into the progressive shifts in Latin America that Venezuela is at the centre of. 

You can find out more about the film - which will be coming to cinemas in July - and win tickets to the premiere, where Oliver Stone will conduct a Q&A, on July 19th by joining the facebook page at http://www.facebook.com/southoftheborderuk

* VSC will also be co-organising, with the film company dogwoof and others, a national tour of numerous showings across the country at a later date – please contact us on if you are wanting to try and put on a screening locally or through your organisation.

This interview with Hugo Chávez focused entirely on the negative

By Mark Weisbrot

Stephen Sackur provides a misleading and one-sided picture of Venezuela after a brief visit there, during which he interviewed President Hugo Chávez (A chat with Chávez — Oliver Stone's new lead tells all, 14 June). I am the co-writer of Oliver Stone's forthcoming documentary on Chávez, South Of The Border, and was present throughout the interview.

Sackur says that Chávez "categorically denied claims frequently aired in the US that Venezuela is supplying Iran with uranium". But Venezuela does not even produce uranium, as Chávez told him during the interview.

An Invitation to See Venezuela’s Inspiring Social Progress Firsthand – Why You Should Join our Solidarity Delegation for Trade Unionists in August (13-23) 2010!

VSC is writing to ask you to participate in this summer’s solidarity delegation, which comes at a crucial time as the country faces an international media campaign of disinformation and the new US militarization of the region. Venezuelan colleagues have expressed to us the great need to counter this by supporting social progress and alternatives to neo-liberalism, building links between progressive organisations and seeing firsthand the inspiring changes that have taken place. Joining this delegation is a key chance to do this.

A Comprehensive Agenda Developed in Partnership with the Venezuelan Foreign Ministry and Progressive Organisations Will Include:

· Visits to the new schools, hospitals (including ALBA’s amazing Latin American Children’s Heart Hospital) and other social programmes which are transforming the lives of millions, in addition to the community councils which are enhancing democracy and people’s control of their own lives.

· A visit to the National Centre of the renowned Simon Bolivar Youth Orchestra, personally guided by El Sistema’s International Director.

· Meetings with the ministries for Education, the Environment and Labour.

· Workplace visits – including to enterprises managed by their workforce – and meetings with unions at a national conference, in addition women’s organisations, Afro-Caribbean groups and other social movements.

· An opportunity to enjoy the unique culture Venezuela has to offer, including an optional history and sightseeing tour of Caracas and visit to the National Park.