1 00:00:01,810 --> 00:00:06,179 [Music] 2 00:00:12,200 --> 00:00:17,320 okay three I 3 00:00:29,540 --> 00:00:32,590 [Music] 4 00:00:35,719 --> 00:00:40,960 welcome to Sputnik orbiting the world 5 00:00:38,040 --> 00:00:43,039 with me George Galloway and me gri short 6 00:00:40,960 --> 00:00:45,360 of predictions of Russian soldiers with 7 00:00:43,039 --> 00:00:47,760 snow on their boots in Oxford Street 8 00:00:45,360 --> 00:00:50,280 you'd think we were entering a wintry 9 00:00:47,760 --> 00:00:52,800 phase of a new Cold War British 10 00:00:50,280 --> 00:00:56,079 politicians and their media Echo chamber 11 00:00:52,800 --> 00:00:59,239 are in overdrive trying to hang Russia 12 00:00:56,079 --> 00:01:01,879 out to dry first it was Riot then 13 00:00:59,239 --> 00:01:03,680 gay rights now is the Russian response 14 00:01:01,879 --> 00:01:06,360 to the Western provocation in the 15 00:01:03,680 --> 00:01:08,920 Ukraine although as the name suggest the 16 00:01:06,360 --> 00:01:11,080 G20 consist of more than the US and its 17 00:01:08,920 --> 00:01:14,040 usual satellites you would have thought 18 00:01:11,080 --> 00:01:16,240 that China India Brazil South Africa 19 00:01:14,040 --> 00:01:18,479 Indonesia turkey which together count 20 00:01:16,240 --> 00:01:20,840 for half the world's population hadn't 21 00:01:18,479 --> 00:01:23,159 shown up in Brisbane last week all the 22 00:01:20,840 --> 00:01:25,720 news was about the supposed Shir 23 00:01:23,159 --> 00:01:28,600 fronting of President Putin the aggro 24 00:01:25,720 --> 00:01:30,920 came from men while one woman with white 25 00:01:28,600 --> 00:01:33,600 faces but their B boots were a little 26 00:01:30,920 --> 00:01:35,960 threadbear teetering around bankruptcy 27 00:01:33,600 --> 00:01:38,640 as most of them are but what's it all 28 00:01:35,960 --> 00:01:41,520 about really why would the citizens of 29 00:01:38,640 --> 00:01:44,360 austerity Europe and the USA want to 30 00:01:41,520 --> 00:01:47,079 pick a fight with Russia and her friends 31 00:01:44,360 --> 00:01:50,360 helping us answer this riddle wrapped in 32 00:01:47,079 --> 00:01:54,159 a mystery inside an enigma is Alexander 33 00:01:50,360 --> 00:01:55,880 necrosoft former Kremlin adviser but 34 00:01:54,159 --> 00:01:57,360 first let's take a look at what the 35 00:01:55,880 --> 00:01:59,560 people in the streets had to say about 36 00:01:57,360 --> 00:02:02,399 Russia do they feel threatened by the 37 00:01:59,560 --> 00:02:05,799 Russian can bear yes I do think they're 38 00:02:02,399 --> 00:02:07,000 bad um I'm a gay person anyway so um 39 00:02:05,799 --> 00:02:08,479 just think it's really bad what they're 40 00:02:07,000 --> 00:02:12,959 doing to people like that and the whole 41 00:02:08,479 --> 00:02:14,920 Ukraine thing is a bit what pardon um 42 00:02:12,959 --> 00:02:16,840 the whole laws on homosexuality I don't 43 00:02:14,920 --> 00:02:19,480 find should 44 00:02:16,840 --> 00:02:22,319 be like something that's in forc in 45 00:02:19,480 --> 00:02:23,800 everyday life now so um yeah just think 46 00:02:22,319 --> 00:02:26,040 they're a bit behind and backwards at 47 00:02:23,800 --> 00:02:27,440 the moment there's a lot of violence or 48 00:02:26,040 --> 00:02:29,120 and the media here there's portrayed a 49 00:02:27,440 --> 00:02:30,519 lot of violence against homosexuals in 50 00:02:29,120 --> 00:02:32,239 Russia and 51 00:02:30,519 --> 00:02:33,640 uh it being made illegal although I'm 52 00:02:32,239 --> 00:02:35,319 not sure if that's correct in my 53 00:02:33,640 --> 00:02:36,800 understanding but um and that's 54 00:02:35,319 --> 00:02:40,000 something in when you live in quite a 55 00:02:36,800 --> 00:02:42,480 liberal westernized um Society kind of 56 00:02:40,000 --> 00:02:45,159 doesn't feel right no I'm ex-military 57 00:02:42,480 --> 00:02:48,000 and I don't really see it as 58 00:02:45,159 --> 00:02:49,280 a a threat it's a it's a big Power if it 59 00:02:48,000 --> 00:02:52,800 gets back in power it will be a big 60 00:02:49,280 --> 00:02:55,760 power but uh uh at the moment no the way 61 00:02:52,800 --> 00:02:57,599 Putin is thinking it's something like 62 00:02:55,760 --> 00:02:59,280 communist era yeah like you know can you 63 00:02:57,599 --> 00:03:01,080 explain their way of thinking yeah like 64 00:02:59,280 --> 00:03:03,959 he's doing what want because he want all 65 00:03:01,080 --> 00:03:06,319 the gas and the and the petrol and 66 00:03:03,959 --> 00:03:09,360 everything and the big poers from West 67 00:03:06,319 --> 00:03:13,480 um west countries they don't have enough 68 00:03:09,360 --> 00:03:17,560 um courage to go to him right there you 69 00:03:13,480 --> 00:03:21,440 see look you've done too much already I 70 00:03:17,560 --> 00:03:22,959 think America will have another war with 71 00:03:21,440 --> 00:03:25,360 they want the Cold War back but it's 72 00:03:22,959 --> 00:03:26,920 about arms it's about selling arms to 73 00:03:25,360 --> 00:03:30,159 different 74 00:03:26,920 --> 00:03:32,959 countries Alexander a mixed bag of 75 00:03:30,159 --> 00:03:36,439 popular uh reactions and it's hardly 76 00:03:32,959 --> 00:03:40,519 surprising I've got the daily mail from 77 00:03:36,439 --> 00:03:45,319 earlier this week almost a spoof 78 00:03:40,519 --> 00:03:49,159 headline it says Russians spy on UK 79 00:03:45,319 --> 00:03:52,319 families via their webcams enough to 80 00:03:49,159 --> 00:03:54,040 chill the bone of every parent in the 81 00:03:52,319 --> 00:03:57,280 land that 82 00:03:54,040 --> 00:04:00,040 Boris with snow on his boots is watching 83 00:03:57,280 --> 00:04:03,000 their children in their bedrooms are 84 00:04:00,040 --> 00:04:05,159 watching their kids brushing their teeth 85 00:04:03,000 --> 00:04:07,360 this is becoming almost hysterical isn't 86 00:04:05,159 --> 00:04:10,680 it well it is hysterical I think it's 87 00:04:07,360 --> 00:04:12,560 been hysterical since last November uh 88 00:04:10,680 --> 00:04:15,920 in when when the events started to 89 00:04:12,560 --> 00:04:18,160 unravel in Ukraine I think that uh what 90 00:04:15,920 --> 00:04:20,040 we are witnessing here is Soviet style 91 00:04:18,160 --> 00:04:21,959 propaganda strangely enough against 92 00:04:20,040 --> 00:04:24,080 Russia against Russia so it turns 93 00:04:21,959 --> 00:04:28,199 against Russia and the interesting thing 94 00:04:24,080 --> 00:04:30,520 is everyone is avoiding the main point 95 00:04:28,199 --> 00:04:33,560 what happened in February when a 96 00:04:30,520 --> 00:04:36,000 legitimate government was overthrown 97 00:04:33,560 --> 00:04:38,120 basically in an armed CP yes by violence 98 00:04:36,000 --> 00:04:40,400 and that is where the whole thing 99 00:04:38,120 --> 00:04:42,759 started but nobody remembers that for 100 00:04:40,400 --> 00:04:46,280 some reason in the western media it's 101 00:04:42,759 --> 00:04:49,479 always the events move forwards and we 102 00:04:46,280 --> 00:04:52,440 talk about Crimea only as if Crimea was 103 00:04:49,479 --> 00:04:54,680 something that uh Putin decided guys 104 00:04:52,440 --> 00:04:57,080 let's take over Crimea there was nothing 105 00:04:54,680 --> 00:04:59,800 like that first of all what they don't 106 00:04:57,080 --> 00:05:01,960 understand these hex I mean is that 107 00:04:59,800 --> 00:05:04,639 Putin reflects what the Russian people 108 00:05:01,960 --> 00:05:06,880 want he's not Cameron or Obama who 109 00:05:04,639 --> 00:05:08,960 decide let's go into Libya or let's go 110 00:05:06,880 --> 00:05:11,360 into Iraq or let's go I don't know where 111 00:05:08,960 --> 00:05:13,120 else they're going to go Syria probably 112 00:05:11,360 --> 00:05:15,520 and uh they are there already well 113 00:05:13,120 --> 00:05:17,919 they're probably going to go in big time 114 00:05:15,520 --> 00:05:21,120 and the point here is that it's always 115 00:05:17,919 --> 00:05:23,880 Putin did that Putin did this and he 116 00:05:21,120 --> 00:05:25,600 decided and so on and this I think is a 117 00:05:23,880 --> 00:05:28,199 very important point that is being 118 00:05:25,600 --> 00:05:31,440 missed it's the people of Crimea who 119 00:05:28,199 --> 00:05:34,360 decided to go back to Russia it's not 120 00:05:31,440 --> 00:05:37,919 that Putin said to them to come back not 121 00:05:34,360 --> 00:05:40,080 quite now we'll come in a minute to that 122 00:05:37,919 --> 00:05:43,720 very last point that the former military 123 00:05:40,080 --> 00:05:45,759 man in your Vox pops uh said that it's 124 00:05:43,720 --> 00:05:48,919 it's about selling arms it's about 125 00:05:45,759 --> 00:05:51,479 creating uh tension uh in the in the 126 00:05:48,919 --> 00:05:53,840 world for political and uh even uh 127 00:05:51,479 --> 00:05:58,639 military industrial uh reasons what come 128 00:05:53,840 --> 00:06:02,080 to that you say the hacks have forgotten 129 00:05:58,639 --> 00:06:05,080 that well for yeah I mean it isn't true 130 00:06:02,080 --> 00:06:07,360 they haven't these are educated fellows 131 00:06:05,080 --> 00:06:10,680 uh they are in many cases Highly 132 00:06:07,360 --> 00:06:14,039 Educated people uh they know very well 133 00:06:10,680 --> 00:06:18,199 the sequence of events it's willful 134 00:06:14,039 --> 00:06:23,240 Distortion of the truth I mean Russians 135 00:06:18,199 --> 00:06:23,240 spy on UK families via their 136 00:06:23,280 --> 00:06:28,680 webcams I mean why wasn't that thrown 137 00:06:25,680 --> 00:06:31,800 out as an April Fool joke instead of 138 00:06:28,680 --> 00:06:34,360 being on the front page of almost the 139 00:06:31,800 --> 00:06:36,479 biggest selling newspaper in the country 140 00:06:34,360 --> 00:06:38,720 you know what they forgot to mention 141 00:06:36,479 --> 00:06:41,960 that this website this Russian website 142 00:06:38,720 --> 00:06:46,360 actually revealed these clips from what 143 00:06:41,960 --> 00:06:49,000 120 countries Russia sorry Britain is 144 00:06:46,360 --> 00:06:51,479 just a small part of it and these are 145 00:06:49,000 --> 00:06:54,360 all webcams sort of private ones which 146 00:06:51,479 --> 00:06:56,800 are showing rooms and baby uh webcams 147 00:06:54,360 --> 00:06:59,000 and so on which make no sense of course 148 00:06:56,800 --> 00:07:01,160 the moment you read the article you 149 00:06:59,000 --> 00:07:04,000 realize it's the headline the people who 150 00:07:01,160 --> 00:07:06,840 are spying on all UK families is the 151 00:07:04,000 --> 00:07:10,160 British government 152 00:07:06,840 --> 00:07:12,599 gchq my six Edward Snowden told us all 153 00:07:10,160 --> 00:07:14,720 about it read all about it I mean that 154 00:07:12,599 --> 00:07:17,879 headline should have said British 155 00:07:14,720 --> 00:07:20,280 Authority spy on UK families via their 156 00:07:17,879 --> 00:07:21,840 mobile phone their internet their webcam 157 00:07:20,280 --> 00:07:24,360 and everything else probably got 158 00:07:21,840 --> 00:07:26,360 somebody up your chimney not forgetting 159 00:07:24,360 --> 00:07:28,280 the Americans by the way who are spying 160 00:07:26,360 --> 00:07:30,759 after everyone on everyone even on 161 00:07:28,280 --> 00:07:33,879 Angela merel now here's the point why 162 00:07:30,759 --> 00:07:37,240 did all these uh the the the anglosaxon 163 00:07:33,879 --> 00:07:41,319 governments we can understand the famous 164 00:07:37,240 --> 00:07:45,520 five uh of the former settler States 165 00:07:41,319 --> 00:07:47,159 plus Britain uh the that Unity is always 166 00:07:45,520 --> 00:07:51,039 why does 167 00:07:47,159 --> 00:07:53,039 angeler tamely go along behind Barack 168 00:07:51,039 --> 00:07:55,240 Obama's policy when it is deeply 169 00:07:53,039 --> 00:07:58,039 damaging to the German economy which is 170 00:07:55,240 --> 00:08:00,919 already now moving into slump and when 171 00:07:58,039 --> 00:08:02,199 the Americans were tapping her own 172 00:08:00,919 --> 00:08:04,240 personal 173 00:08:02,199 --> 00:08:06,080 telephone well I think it's a bigger 174 00:08:04,240 --> 00:08:07,759 game here first of all we must 175 00:08:06,080 --> 00:08:10,960 understand that America is trying to 176 00:08:07,759 --> 00:08:13,400 drive a wedge between Russia and Europe 177 00:08:10,960 --> 00:08:16,479 this has got a political and Commercial 178 00:08:13,400 --> 00:08:19,800 side to it th this is the whole game of 179 00:08:16,479 --> 00:08:23,479 this uh uh crisis in in Ukraine it needs 180 00:08:19,800 --> 00:08:25,240 to cut Russia off and flood the European 181 00:08:23,479 --> 00:08:27,680 markets with its own Goods because it's 182 00:08:25,240 --> 00:08:30,520 sinking America is bankrupt let's face 183 00:08:27,680 --> 00:08:32,360 it it's the only way it can save itself 184 00:08:30,520 --> 00:08:34,880 is if it takes over Europe with through 185 00:08:32,360 --> 00:08:38,120 that dodgy Free Trade Agreement which is 186 00:08:34,880 --> 00:08:41,760 trying to impose on them with Merkel now 187 00:08:38,120 --> 00:08:44,360 here is a difficult one because um her 188 00:08:41,760 --> 00:08:47,399 own party is actually up in arms against 189 00:08:44,360 --> 00:08:49,279 her not all of them but some of them and 190 00:08:47,399 --> 00:08:52,240 I think she's playing a dangerous game 191 00:08:49,279 --> 00:08:55,240 here because the German economy is The 192 00:08:52,240 --> 00:08:58,240 Biggest Loser of them all if if if they 193 00:08:55,240 --> 00:08:59,959 cut off Russia completely so I don't 194 00:08:58,240 --> 00:09:02,079 really it's like a death wish 195 00:08:59,959 --> 00:09:03,920 you know she has a death wish I think 196 00:09:02,079 --> 00:09:06,480 because I maybe they found something 197 00:09:03,920 --> 00:09:09,079 compromising on her telephone well 198 00:09:06,480 --> 00:09:10,600 that's that something I thought about as 199 00:09:09,079 --> 00:09:12,880 well and you know why I thought about 200 00:09:10,600 --> 00:09:14,880 this remember when she went to to the 201 00:09:12,880 --> 00:09:17,399 United States before that when she met 202 00:09:14,880 --> 00:09:19,800 Obama before that she was a bit you know 203 00:09:17,399 --> 00:09:21,839 she was a bit restrained she was sort of 204 00:09:19,800 --> 00:09:23,440 saying no no we should find the way 205 00:09:21,839 --> 00:09:26,040 around it there were 206 00:09:23,440 --> 00:09:30,480 actually uh negotiations going on 207 00:09:26,040 --> 00:09:34,360 between Germany uh Russia and CR behind 208 00:09:30,480 --> 00:09:36,640 the scenes and um so it she she was in a 209 00:09:34,360 --> 00:09:39,399 different and then suddenly after that 210 00:09:36,640 --> 00:09:42,079 visit and meeting Obama she changed 211 00:09:39,399 --> 00:09:45,640 completely now I was thinking at the 212 00:09:42,079 --> 00:09:47,240 time it's my my my my suspicions but 213 00:09:45,640 --> 00:09:50,720 maybe you know they found something in 214 00:09:47,240 --> 00:09:52,440 her past when she was living in gdr that 215 00:09:50,720 --> 00:09:54,240 that they could use against because I I 216 00:09:52,440 --> 00:09:57,279 couldn't understand the transformation 217 00:09:54,240 --> 00:09:59,680 and the logic not that stupid another 218 00:09:57,279 --> 00:10:01,560 way yeah what's about the Russian people 219 00:09:59,680 --> 00:10:04,560 themselves the population are they aware 220 00:10:01,560 --> 00:10:05,600 of this whole Cold War rhetoric that's 221 00:10:04,560 --> 00:10:08,760 being 222 00:10:05,600 --> 00:10:11,839 resurrected um well here in the west how 223 00:10:08,760 --> 00:10:13,760 how is it how is it being received there 224 00:10:11,839 --> 00:10:15,959 well I've been watching the Russian 225 00:10:13,760 --> 00:10:17,480 websites and and in particular Russian 226 00:10:15,959 --> 00:10:19,680 bloggers you know who respond 227 00:10:17,480 --> 00:10:22,440 immediately to everything and they will 228 00:10:19,680 --> 00:10:25,120 respond to that story as well and I can 229 00:10:22,440 --> 00:10:27,040 tell you that yes of course they realize 230 00:10:25,120 --> 00:10:30,279 the situation and they realize the 231 00:10:27,040 --> 00:10:32,440 massive massive propaganda that's going 232 00:10:30,279 --> 00:10:36,000 in the western press in the western 233 00:10:32,440 --> 00:10:38,800 world uh politic politicians as well but 234 00:10:36,000 --> 00:10:41,120 the point is and this is my opinion 235 00:10:38,800 --> 00:10:43,560 personal opinion I don't think that the 236 00:10:41,120 --> 00:10:47,480 Cold War has actually gone had actually 237 00:10:43,560 --> 00:10:50,760 gone the reason being if if it did NATO 238 00:10:47,480 --> 00:10:53,760 would not have existed but once NATO 239 00:10:50,760 --> 00:10:56,200 started to move eastwards that meant the 240 00:10:53,760 --> 00:10:57,760 Cold War in a in a different type in a 241 00:10:56,200 --> 00:11:01,639 different way I'm not saying it's the 242 00:10:57,760 --> 00:11:04,480 same cold war but it started to sort of 243 00:11:01,639 --> 00:11:06,600 get back on the cards again and when 244 00:11:04,480 --> 00:11:09,360 they went into Ukraine and they did go 245 00:11:06,600 --> 00:11:11,959 into Ukraine let's let's let's face it 246 00:11:09,360 --> 00:11:14,880 that was basically the beginning of the 247 00:11:11,959 --> 00:11:17,000 Cold War again Russia could not allow 248 00:11:14,880 --> 00:11:19,959 NATO to be in Ukraine no of course it's 249 00:11:17,000 --> 00:11:22,680 as simple as that Putin had no choice 250 00:11:19,959 --> 00:11:26,040 but to respond I think the West 251 00:11:22,680 --> 00:11:28,600 misjudged Russia's reaction I think they 252 00:11:26,040 --> 00:11:31,760 thought they could swallow them like the 253 00:11:28,600 --> 00:11:34,079 baltics so Bulgaria Romania and you know 254 00:11:31,760 --> 00:11:35,920 pay nothing for it just take it over and 255 00:11:34,079 --> 00:11:38,959 it didn't work and then they were 256 00:11:35,920 --> 00:11:42,079 absolutely astonished with Crimea they 257 00:11:38,959 --> 00:11:44,560 did not realize that this could happen 258 00:11:42,079 --> 00:11:46,000 and what they also didn't understand is 259 00:11:44,560 --> 00:11:48,519 that when they were saying but yes but 260 00:11:46,000 --> 00:11:50,639 Putin sent sent his troops there you 261 00:11:48,519 --> 00:11:53,760 know to to to take over 262 00:11:50,639 --> 00:11:56,360 Crimea the troops were there already an 263 00:11:53,760 --> 00:11:59,240 agreement with Ukraine 264 00:11:56,360 --> 00:12:03,399 25,000 soldiers and officers at the 265 00:11:59,240 --> 00:12:05,800 naval base in sast and that base is the 266 00:12:03,399 --> 00:12:08,800 pride of Russia and the guys I you know 267 00:12:05,800 --> 00:12:10,959 I know these people these are real real 268 00:12:08,800 --> 00:12:12,760 Patriots of Russia they were always 269 00:12:10,959 --> 00:12:15,680 saying you know crime has always been 270 00:12:12,760 --> 00:12:19,279 Russian you know 80% well 70 something 271 00:12:15,680 --> 00:12:22,160 per are Russian ethnic Russians and that 272 00:12:19,279 --> 00:12:24,399 was not Putin sending troops that were 273 00:12:22,160 --> 00:12:27,079 the troops and the Russians there 274 00:12:24,399 --> 00:12:29,399 deciding to take it back to Russia 275 00:12:27,079 --> 00:12:32,440 Alexander it's been a pleasure talking 276 00:12:29,399 --> 00:12:35,040 to you on board the Sputnik coming up 277 00:12:32,440 --> 00:12:39,279 after the break we'll up the temperature 278 00:12:35,040 --> 00:12:39,279 and go Latino don't miss 279 00:12:40,310 --> 00:12:45,279 [Music] 280 00:12:41,959 --> 00:12:46,720 it welcome back to Sputnik at the end of 281 00:12:45,279 --> 00:12:49,839 this month in the prestigious 282 00:12:46,720 --> 00:12:52,600 headquarters of the TU in London a 283 00:12:49,839 --> 00:12:55,079 galaxy of star speakers yes including 284 00:12:52,600 --> 00:12:58,440 yours truly will gather for a conference 285 00:12:55,079 --> 00:13:01,279 on Latin America Prime among this August 286 00:12:58,440 --> 00:13:03,880 lineup will Dr ala gavara she's the 287 00:13:01,279 --> 00:13:06,120 daughter of CH gavara a man whose star 288 00:13:03,880 --> 00:13:08,360 shines even brighter in Argentina than 289 00:13:06,120 --> 00:13:11,639 lonel Messi even though Chay hasn't been 290 00:13:08,360 --> 00:13:13,760 around to score a goal for 47 years one 291 00:13:11,639 --> 00:13:16,399 of the conference organizers is Matt 292 00:13:13,760 --> 00:13:18,959 wilgis of the Venezuela solidarity 293 00:13:16,399 --> 00:13:21,440 campaign and we're glad to welcome him 294 00:13:18,959 --> 00:13:24,040 on board the Sputnik Matt we'll talk 295 00:13:21,440 --> 00:13:26,600 about Venezuela in a minute but tell us 296 00:13:24,040 --> 00:13:29,680 about this Latin America conference 297 00:13:26,600 --> 00:13:32,040 what's the range of subjects speaker 298 00:13:29,680 --> 00:13:34,480 organizers and how do people even at 299 00:13:32,040 --> 00:13:36,160 this late hour get to it thanks George 300 00:13:34,480 --> 00:13:38,959 um the Latin America conference is on 301 00:13:36,160 --> 00:13:40,760 Saturday November 29th at Tu Congress 302 00:13:38,959 --> 00:13:44,680 house in central London you can register 303 00:13:40,760 --> 00:13:47,920 or get the program at ww. Latin Amica 304 00:13:44,680 --> 00:13:50,079 2014.org do.uk in terms of the agenda of 305 00:13:47,920 --> 00:13:52,040 the day there's over 25 different 306 00:13:50,079 --> 00:13:54,360 workshops covering all aspects of Latin 307 00:13:52,040 --> 00:13:56,320 America country specific workshops on 308 00:13:54,360 --> 00:13:58,800 Cuba Colombia Venezuela which I'm 309 00:13:56,320 --> 00:14:01,079 involved in Ecuador Nicaragua Bolivian 310 00:13:58,800 --> 00:14:02,240 so on but also topics on themes so 311 00:14:01,079 --> 00:14:04,600 looking at things like the role of Latin 312 00:14:02,240 --> 00:14:06,160 americ providing solidarity to the 313 00:14:04,600 --> 00:14:08,480 Palestinians and working for peace in 314 00:14:06,160 --> 00:14:09,959 the world did world of free education 315 00:14:08,480 --> 00:14:12,320 and the student movements in Latin 316 00:14:09,959 --> 00:14:13,759 America Shay G's daughter ala G is like 317 00:14:12,320 --> 00:14:16,120 the keynote speaker of the conference 318 00:14:13,759 --> 00:14:19,240 this year and she's speaking in um I 319 00:14:16,120 --> 00:14:20,639 think four different sessions one um a 320 00:14:19,240 --> 00:14:22,920 sort of a plenary session to the whole 321 00:14:20,639 --> 00:14:24,639 conference two um organized by the Cuba 322 00:14:22,920 --> 00:14:26,800 solidarity campaign one I think with 323 00:14:24,639 --> 00:14:28,360 your good s and then she's also 324 00:14:26,800 --> 00:14:30,560 introducing a film that she made about 325 00:14:28,360 --> 00:14:32,839 the late who go chz in another session 326 00:14:30,560 --> 00:14:35,279 as well which um I'll be introducing 327 00:14:32,839 --> 00:14:39,120 alongside her well that allows us to 328 00:14:35,279 --> 00:14:41,480 segue into Venezuela it's two years ago 329 00:14:39,120 --> 00:14:44,240 uh you and I were on the streets 330 00:14:41,480 --> 00:14:46,360 campaigning in Chavez last uh Victory 331 00:14:44,240 --> 00:14:48,680 and you know this one scene that we 332 00:14:46,360 --> 00:14:50,000 witnessed that stays in my mind so 333 00:14:48,680 --> 00:14:52,360 strongly when we were walking the 334 00:14:50,000 --> 00:14:55,440 streets of kakas there was this argument 335 00:14:52,360 --> 00:14:59,079 between this elderly lady and a young 336 00:14:55,440 --> 00:15:02,120 school student and they were quite loud 337 00:14:59,079 --> 00:15:05,279 L about it and it turns out that she was 338 00:15:02,120 --> 00:15:08,519 angry at the young boy for calling her a 339 00:15:05,279 --> 00:15:10,120 capitalista amazing only in Venezuela 340 00:15:08,519 --> 00:15:11,600 only in Venezuela I thought I think he 341 00:15:10,120 --> 00:15:14,560 called her out cuz she had a nice quot 342 00:15:11,600 --> 00:15:18,160 on her was quite quite an unfair uh 343 00:15:14,560 --> 00:15:22,360 allegation but the one I remember is as 344 00:15:18,160 --> 00:15:26,880 we stood in fact I I shed a tear uh this 345 00:15:22,360 --> 00:15:31,040 large group of very poor women uh moving 346 00:15:26,880 --> 00:15:34,199 along the street joyously singing Chavez 347 00:15:31,040 --> 00:15:37,800 Corazon Del Pueblo the heart of the 348 00:15:34,199 --> 00:15:42,160 people it was simply Unforgettable visit 349 00:15:37,800 --> 00:15:46,240 and he seemed like a a bull yeah uh that 350 00:15:42,160 --> 00:15:50,240 day in the rain in the rain uh and yet 351 00:15:46,240 --> 00:15:53,079 he was taken from us so uh so swiftly 352 00:15:50,240 --> 00:15:55,959 how's the country coped with the loss of 353 00:15:53,079 --> 00:15:57,440 President Chavez well I think um the 354 00:15:55,959 --> 00:15:59,880 immediate after after of President 355 00:15:57,440 --> 00:16:03,240 Chavez's death obviously saw a great 356 00:15:59,880 --> 00:16:05,000 outpour of grief and sympathy and you 357 00:16:03,240 --> 00:16:06,440 know literally hundreds of thousands of 358 00:16:05,000 --> 00:16:09,160 people on the streets they had to keep 359 00:16:06,440 --> 00:16:10,360 the cofin open for days and days on end 360 00:16:09,160 --> 00:16:13,839 so everyone could go and pay their 361 00:16:10,360 --> 00:16:15,480 respects but I think what is concerning 362 00:16:13,839 --> 00:16:16,920 is that people who opposed to the sort 363 00:16:15,480 --> 00:16:18,759 of elected government in Venezuela and 364 00:16:16,920 --> 00:16:20,160 the chavista project if you like have 365 00:16:18,759 --> 00:16:23,279 seen the death of shavis as an 366 00:16:20,160 --> 00:16:25,560 opportunity to um opportunity to 367 00:16:23,279 --> 00:16:27,959 destabilize and undermine the Revolution 368 00:16:25,560 --> 00:16:30,279 and in their eyes ultimately overthrow 369 00:16:27,959 --> 00:16:31,920 the success to Shas The elected former 370 00:16:30,279 --> 00:16:35,120 Trade union leader and foreign minister 371 00:16:31,920 --> 00:16:36,880 Nicholas Maduro and so in the last year 372 00:16:35,120 --> 00:16:39,720 basically since last year and a half 373 00:16:36,880 --> 00:16:41,199 maduro's been elected and since January 374 00:16:39,720 --> 00:16:42,480 we've seen different attempts from the 375 00:16:41,199 --> 00:16:44,680 sort of extreme elements of the right 376 00:16:42,480 --> 00:16:47,079 bring opposition in Venezuela to um 377 00:16:44,680 --> 00:16:48,959 undermine and destabilize the elected 378 00:16:47,079 --> 00:16:51,519 government and I think we should also 379 00:16:48,959 --> 00:16:53,720 remember um on a show like this that the 380 00:16:51,519 --> 00:16:55,399 US role in supporting and funding to the 381 00:16:53,720 --> 00:16:58,160 tunes of millions of dollars those 382 00:16:55,399 --> 00:17:00,519 extreme ring elements in Venezuela so as 383 00:16:58,160 --> 00:17:01,959 a campaign we've um T sort of titled 384 00:17:00,519 --> 00:17:05,600 what's going on this after Chavez The 385 00:17:01,959 --> 00:17:07,799 Empire Strikes Back and um so there's 386 00:17:05,600 --> 00:17:09,439 number of concerning elements of the 387 00:17:07,799 --> 00:17:11,160 situation at the moment for people who 388 00:17:09,439 --> 00:17:13,079 support democracy and social progress in 389 00:17:11,160 --> 00:17:15,160 Venezuela well the United States 390 00:17:13,079 --> 00:17:18,400 supports democracy so much they're ready 391 00:17:15,160 --> 00:17:20,799 to spend billions to overthrow the 392 00:17:18,400 --> 00:17:24,799 product of it they have done in the 393 00:17:20,799 --> 00:17:26,919 Ukraine successfully uh and they are 394 00:17:24,799 --> 00:17:30,600 trying so far unsuccessfully to do the 395 00:17:26,919 --> 00:17:34,520 same in Venezuela what about the local 396 00:17:30,600 --> 00:17:36,559 uh actors uh there appears now I'm sorry 397 00:17:34,520 --> 00:17:40,200 to say to be the development of a kind 398 00:17:36,559 --> 00:17:43,720 of Death Squad uh potential I lived 399 00:17:40,200 --> 00:17:46,480 through the death squads in El Salvador 400 00:17:43,720 --> 00:17:50,080 and in Nicaragua and I saw for myself 401 00:17:46,480 --> 00:17:53,799 with my own eyes some of their Grizzly 402 00:17:50,080 --> 00:17:56,120 handiwork uh a very young uh chavista 403 00:17:53,799 --> 00:17:59,840 parliamentarian was murdered 404 00:17:56,120 --> 00:18:02,200 horrifically with his partner at home 405 00:17:59,840 --> 00:18:04,440 uh tell us about that um well recently 406 00:18:02,200 --> 00:18:06,960 on the 1st of October there was a murder 407 00:18:04,440 --> 00:18:08,400 of um Roberto Sarah who was the youngest 408 00:18:06,960 --> 00:18:11,720 member of the National Assembly in 409 00:18:08,400 --> 00:18:13,360 Venezuela um a young lawyer and the 410 00:18:11,720 --> 00:18:14,960 leader of the youth wing of the 411 00:18:13,360 --> 00:18:17,360 Socialist Party which is the governing 412 00:18:14,960 --> 00:18:19,159 main political party in the parliament 413 00:18:17,360 --> 00:18:22,080 in Venezuela to which the president 414 00:18:19,159 --> 00:18:25,400 belongs and um he was found murdered 415 00:18:22,080 --> 00:18:27,159 alongside his assistant in his home um 416 00:18:25,400 --> 00:18:29,120 and obviously there's police 417 00:18:27,159 --> 00:18:31,760 investigations and so on criminal 418 00:18:29,120 --> 00:18:33,799 proceedings are ongoing but the um 419 00:18:31,760 --> 00:18:36,200 former president of Colombia anesto 420 00:18:33,799 --> 00:18:38,840 sampa who isn't a man of the left um but 421 00:18:36,200 --> 00:18:41,080 is now in a leading figure in unau which 422 00:18:38,840 --> 00:18:43,320 is in a simplistic ways a bit like the 423 00:18:41,080 --> 00:18:45,760 Latin American European union he said 424 00:18:43,320 --> 00:18:47,919 that it showed a worrying infiltration 425 00:18:45,760 --> 00:18:49,600 of Colombian paramilitarism into 426 00:18:47,919 --> 00:18:51,520 Venezuela and obviously farri 427 00:18:49,600 --> 00:18:53,520 paramilitaries in Colombia have been a 428 00:18:51,520 --> 00:18:56,880 concern to supporters of democracy and 429 00:18:53,520 --> 00:18:58,559 the left for a long time um but also 430 00:18:56,880 --> 00:18:59,280 this you know this tragedy comes within 431 00:18:58,559 --> 00:19:01,280 a 432 00:18:59,280 --> 00:19:02,919 historical context of the elements of 433 00:19:01,280 --> 00:19:05,159 the Venezuelan opposition consistently 434 00:19:02,919 --> 00:19:06,960 trying to do things outside the sort of 435 00:19:05,159 --> 00:19:08,880 electoral game basically because they 436 00:19:06,960 --> 00:19:10,280 keep losing elections and they've lost 437 00:19:08,880 --> 00:19:12,840 two elections national elections it 438 00:19:10,280 --> 00:19:15,640 should be remembered since Chavez died 439 00:19:12,840 --> 00:19:18,400 so if they were banking on Chavis dying 440 00:19:15,640 --> 00:19:20,600 to mean they would come back immediately 441 00:19:18,400 --> 00:19:22,200 to power the Electoral route didn't 442 00:19:20,600 --> 00:19:24,080 provide that so some elements obviously 443 00:19:22,200 --> 00:19:25,360 the opposition in Venezuela are looking 444 00:19:24,080 --> 00:19:26,760 at all sorts of different things so 445 00:19:25,360 --> 00:19:28,360 earlier in the year they we had the 446 00:19:26,760 --> 00:19:30,840 Lasser movement which I think you 447 00:19:28,360 --> 00:19:33,039 covered on on this very program um which 448 00:19:30,840 --> 00:19:35,280 was a sort of serious of violent Street 449 00:19:33,039 --> 00:19:36,840 actions aimed at destabilizing the 450 00:19:35,280 --> 00:19:39,480 situation in Venezuela but that sort of 451 00:19:36,840 --> 00:19:40,760 died out they've died out now but um you 452 00:19:39,480 --> 00:19:42,280 know a number of innocent people lost 453 00:19:40,760 --> 00:19:44,360 their lives as a result of that and the 454 00:19:42,280 --> 00:19:46,120 stated aim of that campaign political 455 00:19:44,360 --> 00:19:48,039 aim was the outing of the Constitutional 456 00:19:46,120 --> 00:19:50,679 elected government before the end of its 457 00:19:48,039 --> 00:19:54,600 term so um we need to be very Vigilant 458 00:19:50,679 --> 00:19:58,159 about the situation in Venezuela and CH 459 00:19:54,600 --> 00:20:00,039 Vigilant I think so I think um a lot of 460 00:19:58,159 --> 00:20:01,720 people obvious the situation you get a 461 00:20:00,039 --> 00:20:03,960 lot of media misrepresentation here in 462 00:20:01,720 --> 00:20:06,080 Britain about it but the situation early 463 00:20:03,960 --> 00:20:07,880 in the year all things considered you 464 00:20:06,080 --> 00:20:09,640 know at the end of that President Mador 465 00:20:07,880 --> 00:20:10,640 still had much higher approval ratings 466 00:20:09,640 --> 00:20:13,640 than the 467 00:20:10,640 --> 00:20:16,159 opposition the um country sort of got 468 00:20:13,640 --> 00:20:18,360 back to normal and you know continues to 469 00:20:16,159 --> 00:20:20,520 try and announce a whole wave of new 470 00:20:18,360 --> 00:20:23,320 programs and social progress in a number 471 00:20:20,520 --> 00:20:25,080 of issues um so I think you know weeking 472 00:20:23,320 --> 00:20:26,919 personally I've been immensely impressed 473 00:20:25,080 --> 00:20:28,720 with President maduro's leadership in 474 00:20:26,919 --> 00:20:30,120 what obviously was shavis dying first 475 00:20:28,720 --> 00:20:31,960 then this violent campaign and now 476 00:20:30,120 --> 00:20:35,720 things like this assassination is not an 477 00:20:31,960 --> 00:20:39,039 easy time no no no uh he's been uh 478 00:20:35,720 --> 00:20:42,480 towering uh presence uh in the last year 479 00:20:39,039 --> 00:20:46,840 and a half Lally I'm wondering yes 480 00:20:42,480 --> 00:20:49,440 literally uh I'm wondering uh how United 481 00:20:46,840 --> 00:20:52,000 the left is in Venezuela one hears or 482 00:20:49,440 --> 00:20:54,600 reads stories admittedly in hostile 483 00:20:52,000 --> 00:20:58,600 newspapers and I don't read Spanish so I 484 00:20:54,600 --> 00:21:01,320 don't really get the other side uh I'm 485 00:20:58,600 --> 00:21:05,799 I'm wondering we we hear these stories 486 00:21:01,320 --> 00:21:07,640 about uh Pro Chavez revolutionary people 487 00:21:05,799 --> 00:21:10,080 sort of taking the Law into their own 488 00:21:07,640 --> 00:21:12,200 hands and not being happy with this or 489 00:21:10,080 --> 00:21:14,799 that aspect of the new government tell 490 00:21:12,200 --> 00:21:17,000 us about that I think um you're right 491 00:21:14,799 --> 00:21:18,720 there people obviously who have a 492 00:21:17,000 --> 00:21:21,279 interest in opposing the Revolution and 493 00:21:18,720 --> 00:21:23,440 the government exaggerate divisions in 494 00:21:21,279 --> 00:21:25,640 Venezuela on the left but equally 495 00:21:23,440 --> 00:21:27,039 Venezuela isn't um you know it's it's a 496 00:21:25,640 --> 00:21:28,200 new sort of former 21st century 497 00:21:27,039 --> 00:21:31,240 socialism in its own is which is 498 00:21:28,200 --> 00:21:33,080 evolving so it isn't um a one party 499 00:21:31,240 --> 00:21:34,640 State and within the left although 500 00:21:33,080 --> 00:21:35,799 nearly everyone is in the united 501 00:21:34,640 --> 00:21:38,320 Socialist Party has brought together 502 00:21:35,799 --> 00:21:39,720 over 40 organizations there are other 503 00:21:38,320 --> 00:21:41,840 organizations like the Communist Party 504 00:21:39,720 --> 00:21:43,000 of Venezuela and some the PPT and others 505 00:21:41,840 --> 00:21:45,080 that support the government that aren't 506 00:21:43,000 --> 00:21:47,480 in that so there will be disagreements 507 00:21:45,080 --> 00:21:50,400 on a political level between those 508 00:21:47,480 --> 00:21:51,760 parties for example um but at the 509 00:21:50,400 --> 00:21:54,679 Congress of the governing party which 510 00:21:51,760 --> 00:21:56,760 was quite recently I the reports I read 511 00:21:54,679 --> 00:21:58,640 in Spanish the majority of them like the 512 00:21:56,760 --> 00:22:01,000 main people who organized their sort of 513 00:21:58,640 --> 00:22:03,000 opposition press conference saying they 514 00:22:01,000 --> 00:22:05,000 were sort of opposed to madur but was 515 00:22:03,000 --> 00:22:08,279 Chev stad weren't even delegates to the 516 00:22:05,000 --> 00:22:09,600 conference um they oriz a sort of you 517 00:22:08,279 --> 00:22:12,240 know I think a very small group of 518 00:22:09,600 --> 00:22:13,279 people um and also I think we have to be 519 00:22:12,240 --> 00:22:15,200 very wary of a lot of these media 520 00:22:13,279 --> 00:22:16,360 stories about people taking the Law into 521 00:22:15,200 --> 00:22:20,600 their own hands unless we know the 522 00:22:16,360 --> 00:22:22,000 specifics of the case um but I think in 523 00:22:20,600 --> 00:22:24,679 terms 524 00:22:22,000 --> 00:22:26,159 of the discussions going on since Chavez 525 00:22:24,679 --> 00:22:27,320 and shave it's also important to 526 00:22:26,159 --> 00:22:28,840 understand that and going back to the 527 00:22:27,320 --> 00:22:30,760 conference that we discussed that 528 00:22:28,840 --> 00:22:32,440 there's also a regional Unity emerging 529 00:22:30,760 --> 00:22:34,440 in Latin America man to left which 530 00:22:32,440 --> 00:22:37,240 strengthens mad's hand in that situ yes 531 00:22:34,440 --> 00:22:40,480 it does and uh and indeed even unites uh 532 00:22:37,240 --> 00:22:43,080 people who are not all entirely of the 533 00:22:40,480 --> 00:22:47,000 of the left but who could be described 534 00:22:43,080 --> 00:22:49,120 as patriotic uh Latin Americans tell us 535 00:22:47,000 --> 00:22:51,240 finally about the venez Venezuela 536 00:22:49,120 --> 00:22:53,559 solidarity campaign how do people join 537 00:22:51,240 --> 00:22:55,760 it what does it do so um the Venezuela 538 00:22:53,559 --> 00:22:57,760 solidarity campaign next year will be um 539 00:22:55,760 --> 00:22:59,799 celebrating our 10th anniversary I think 540 00:22:57,760 --> 00:23:00,960 George is doing one of these events in 541 00:22:59,799 --> 00:23:04,279 February I don't know if he knows that 542 00:23:00,960 --> 00:23:05,799 yet but um we' be having a season of 543 00:23:04,279 --> 00:23:07,480 events to celebrate our 10y year 544 00:23:05,799 --> 00:23:08,840 anniversary um if people want more 545 00:23:07,480 --> 00:23:12,320 information or to join they can go to 546 00:23:08,840 --> 00:23:14,400 ww. Venezuela solidarity. co.uk we've 547 00:23:12,320 --> 00:23:16,080 got a wide spectrum of support um we 548 00:23:14,400 --> 00:23:17,799 work closely with a group of people in 549 00:23:16,080 --> 00:23:20,320 Parliament we've had backing from the 550 00:23:17,799 --> 00:23:22,480 Tec and most of the Trade union movement 551 00:23:20,320 --> 00:23:23,919 and um we see our AIMS in a lobbying 552 00:23:22,480 --> 00:23:25,480 sensus to Lobby that the British 553 00:23:23,919 --> 00:23:28,480 government doesn't follow the hostility 554 00:23:25,480 --> 00:23:29,799 of the US Administration towards 555 00:23:28,480 --> 00:23:31,880 Venezuela which is very real and the 556 00:23:29,799 --> 00:23:33,279 threat of us sanctions is not just on 557 00:23:31,880 --> 00:23:35,039 the table but it's slowly being rolled 558 00:23:33,279 --> 00:23:37,919 out now as Obama reacts to the 559 00:23:35,039 --> 00:23:39,480 Republicans going to a senate and so on 560 00:23:37,919 --> 00:23:40,919 um but also to tell the truth about 561 00:23:39,480 --> 00:23:42,360 Venezuela and to present a picture that 562 00:23:40,919 --> 00:23:44,200 we regard as a more real picture of 563 00:23:42,360 --> 00:23:46,320 Venezuela and you see on the media a 564 00:23:44,200 --> 00:23:48,320 picture of you know mentions the gains 565 00:23:46,320 --> 00:23:49,799 in health and education and poverty 566 00:23:48,320 --> 00:23:51,880 reduction and so on which isn't to say 567 00:23:49,799 --> 00:23:54,200 there isn't problems in any country of 568 00:23:51,880 --> 00:23:55,559 course um but it doesn't give you know 569 00:23:54,200 --> 00:23:57,360 gives a counter to the Relentless 570 00:23:55,559 --> 00:23:59,520 negative coverage that sadly we've seen 571 00:23:57,360 --> 00:24:03,120 so much of the media fairness in the 572 00:23:59,520 --> 00:24:06,080 British media I saw a pig flying by Matt 573 00:24:03,120 --> 00:24:07,790 wilgis thanks for joining us on board 574 00:24:06,080 --> 00:24:09,760 the 575 00:24:07,790 --> 00:24:12,080 [Music] 576 00:24:09,760 --> 00:24:14,400 Sputnik and now it's your turn to tell 577 00:24:12,080 --> 00:24:16,840 us what you think through the portals of 578 00:24:14,400 --> 00:24:19,039 social media what's rattling Guri well 579 00:24:16,840 --> 00:24:22,600 when we tweeted uh the daily mail's 580 00:24:19,039 --> 00:24:24,679 headline uh of Russian spying on our 581 00:24:22,600 --> 00:24:27,159 activities in and out of the house we 582 00:24:24,679 --> 00:24:29,120 received an such a funny response so 583 00:24:27,159 --> 00:24:31,240 much funny responses to it Alistair 584 00:24:29,120 --> 00:24:34,720 McIntyre says well it must be right it's 585 00:24:31,240 --> 00:24:37,320 in a daily fail and Rachel devoy 586 00:24:34,720 --> 00:24:39,200 responds well when the US and UK spy 587 00:24:37,320 --> 00:24:42,120 it's for our own good but when Russia 588 00:24:39,200 --> 00:24:46,520 spy it's bad give me a break it's not 589 00:24:42,120 --> 00:24:49,520 even true I mean the idea that Russia 590 00:24:46,520 --> 00:24:53,320 with the all its many problems is over 591 00:24:49,520 --> 00:24:55,399 here looking at people in Milton Kings 592 00:24:53,320 --> 00:24:56,919 what they're doing in their kitchen but 593 00:24:55,399 --> 00:25:00,080 but as you said it should have been on 594 00:24:56,919 --> 00:25:02,000 April 1 as an April fool joke yeah but a 595 00:25:00,080 --> 00:25:04,679 lot of fools fall for it and there are 596 00:25:02,000 --> 00:25:07,120 millions of fools read The Daily Mail or 597 00:25:04,679 --> 00:25:10,039 the daily fail as she called it on 598 00:25:07,120 --> 00:25:13,360 Venezuela will commandante Chavez Legacy 599 00:25:10,039 --> 00:25:15,880 survive J Brand answers he changed the 600 00:25:13,360 --> 00:25:17,559 world so how could he' not well that's 601 00:25:15,880 --> 00:25:19,679 no guarantee because the world can 602 00:25:17,559 --> 00:25:22,799 change and change back and change again 603 00:25:19,679 --> 00:25:25,360 two steps forward one step back let's 604 00:25:22,799 --> 00:25:27,320 hope it's only one step back well that's 605 00:25:25,360 --> 00:25:29,360 it that we have for this week which 606 00:25:27,320 --> 00:25:32,000 means that's the end end of the show 607 00:25:29,360 --> 00:25:34,200 stay in touch with us on Twitter at rtor 608 00:25:32,000 --> 00:25:36,799 Sputnik and on Facebook on Sputnik on 609 00:25:34,200 --> 00:25:38,840 Russia today it's goodbye from me G and 610 00:25:36,799 --> 00:25:41,840 from me George Galloway it's been 611 00:25:38,840 --> 00:25:41,840 marvelous 612 00:25:45,380 --> 00:25:48,449 [Music] 613 00:25:51,860 --> 00:25:54,910 [Music]