The Fire Brigades Union, FBU, held its annual National School Day 2009 near Sheffield where approximately 100 members gathered to participate and learn about various topics ranging from management and equality to international politics and solidarity.

As part of this educational programme, Alvaro Sanchez from the Venezuelan Embassy in London was invited to speak about the 10 years of the Bolivarian Revolution and also about the current situation in Venezuela.
Sanchez referred to ‘El Caracazo’ in 1989 as a major historical event that shaped future developments in Venezuela and the whole region:

“Venezuelans took to the streets spontaneously to protest against the the introduction of draconian neo-liberal reform of the economy” and hundreds of peacefully demonstrating citizens were shot dead by the armed forces of the government, said Sanchez who added: “Nevertheless you hardly ever hear about ‘El Caracazo’ in the news or the media, whereas we are always reminded of the fall of the Berlin Wall and the incidents in Tiananmen Square in China, which also took place 20 years ago, in 1989,”.

After illustrating the social achievements brought about by the Bolivarian Revolution, Sanchez explained that Venezuela feels its sovereignty is seriously threatened by the installation of seven US military bases in neighbouring Colombia.
At the end of the event, Mick Shaw, President of the FBU, presented Sanchez with a plaque in recognition of his participation at the FBU National School 2009.