On Venezuela’s 206th birthday, we celebrate the strength of a nation that does not submit to a tyrant or to foreign influence. We also mourn the lives lost in the last three months, 90 deaths, almost one per day of protest. They have fallen victims of the National Guard, El SEBIN, or the Colectivos, a paramilitary gang armed by Chavez early in his tenure to defend the so-called revolution.
From abroad we try to create awareness in the general public of the countries we now live in and the international organizations to increase the pressure to sanction the regime for its brutality. But we need to do more. Apart from using social media as platform to broadcast what’s happening inside Venezuela, we can also do one or several of the following actions to help reestablish democracy in the once thriving nation:
- Write letters to your representatives, and to human rights organizations to request they demand the Venezuelan authorities to open a humanitarian channel to ease the food and medicine shortages in the country.
- Avoid filling up your tank in Venezuela owned CITGO gas stations.
- Organize events to benefit Venezuela. Instead of charging money for the ticket, request specific medical supplies or non-perishable food items.
- Most importantly, Venezuela needs food and medicine. The non-profit organization Giving Children Hope (GCH) will send your donations to Venezuela in a 40” container. Donate either money to pay for the shipment or donate food and medicine. A 40” container costs $20,000, and can hold $400,000 worth of supplies to serve 2800 people. Learn more about this California based humanitarian effort in this youtube video. This is what’s most needed:
- First Aid medical supplies
- Prescription blood pressure and anticonvulsant medication, and antibiotics.
- Non perishable food
- Baby formula
- Personal Hygiene items
- Diapers for babies and for the infirm
- Sanitary pads
- Items needed for paramedics: green, yellow, and blue helmets. @primerorsauxiliosucv. Do NOT send gas masks as they will not be allowed in the country.
- Continue using social media to inform the general public about the Venezuelan crisis. To join the conversation use the hashtags #SOSVenezuela, #VenezuelaSINDictadura, #FUERZAVenezuela, #VenezuelaLIBRE
But if all you can do is pray, pray for Venezuela today. Pray for human rights, for food and medicine, and for peace. Pray for independence and freedom.
