Is there anyone out there with information regarding active Bolivarian circles in the United States?
Please link me to any websites or pages that you are aware of. It would also be nice to know how these circles get established and whether they require approval from the Venezuelan government or whomever.
There's a vanity project version of a Bolivarian Circle run out of Salem by Gunnar Gunderson and his Venezuelan wife Xiomara Gunderson Garcia, and their kids, family members, etc. They call themselves the Bolivarian Circle of Oregon, but they represent only themselves, maybe about five people total. They have given Bolivarian Circles a bad name here. Most involved with Venezuelan solidarity have distanced themselves from the Bolivarian Circle of Oregon and tend not to use the term "Bolivarian Circle" because of Gunnar and company.
There is Venezuelan solidarity in Portland Much of the true Bolivarian effort is done by a much less pretentious group. Seek it out if you truly are interested. It will be obvious. There also are vehement Venezuelan expatriots here who lost their political and economic 'legitimacy' due to the Chavez regime.
Sorry to disappoint those who thought there was something steaming here. The simple fact is that we formed the Oregon Bolivarian Circle in April 2002.
Our only goal has been to support the Venezuelan people and speak out against U.S. intervention - as we did during the fateful days of April 11 and 12.
Recently, our main effort has been to help with the establishment of the Venezuela Solidarity Network.
Unfortunately, the VSN still does not have an active website, but will soon at vensolidarity.org.
In the meantime, we are trying to draw attention to the ridiculous and imperialist game called, "Mercenaries 2" - funded by Bono and associates, which we should all try to block.
This is the Austrualian Venezuela Solidarity Site - but it is useful because it has links to the letter to Bono, the flyer/factsheet for follow-up, and the original press release.
Please note that you can connect to the Venezuela Solidarity Network via:
vensolidarity.org
No one in the Oregon Bolivarian Circle has any idea who "Gumberto" is. It would be nice if someone who is so critical would identify himself more clearly. We would also like to note that we never portrayed ourselves as being anything other than a local close-knit organization. Gumberto, have you ever contacted us about joining? No. So, on what basis do you make your statements? You do not know us and we do not know you. It seems strange that you should attempt to describe us since you have never met us.
I can be contacted anytime by anyone at ggunders@willamette.edu. Gumerto. Who are you and how may we contact you?
There is Venezuelan solidarity in Portland Much of the true Bolivarian effort is done by a much less pretentious group. Seek it out if you truly are interested. It will be obvious. There also are vehement Venezuelan expatriots here who lost their political and economic 'legitimacy' due to the Chavez regime.
Somewhere in the midst of all this is some truth.