A session on 'There is No Progressive Imperialism' will discuss what progressives in Britain can learn from the social progress being made in Venezuela, Cuba and other countries in Latin America at the Progressive London conference on January 30. Speakers at the session will include Samuel Moncada (Ambassador of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela in Britain,) George Galloway MP and Richard Gott, writer and author of 'Hugo Chavez and the Bolivarian Revolution.'

The event is being hosted by Ken Livingstone, former Mayor of London and VSC President.

Venezuela has expressed deep disappointment with the Copenhagen talks on climate change. President Chavez stated that developed countries - especially the US – should have acted more decisively as they bear the major historic responsibility for causing climate change.

In his speech to the Copenhagen conference (which can be viewed here or read here) Hugo Chavez highlighted that “the 500 million richest people.. seven percent of the world’s population.. is responsible for 50 percent of emissions, while the poorest 50 percent accounts for only seven percent of emissions.”

As a result, President Chavez added, "Developed countries should set binding, clear and concrete commitments for the substantial reduction of their emissions and assume obligations of financial and technological assistance to poor countries to cope with the destructive dangers of climate change."