Caracas, July 23, 2024 – “This Meeting for a World Social Alternative is an opportunity for us to go around the world building and demanding justice, in the economic, social, and communication fields.”
This is how the Secretary of the Bolivarian Alliance for the Peoples of Our America- Peoples’ Trade Treaty (ALBA-TCP), Jorge Arreaza, began the 2nd Meeting for a World Social Alternative, from Bolívar to Chávez, which brought together social movements and guests from more than 60 countries at the Bolívar Theater of Caracas.
“We are in a moment of decline of imperialism, that is why we must get involved, those of us who believe in humanity, in Mother Earth, in justice, in equality,” he highlighted.
He expressed that this second meeting should serve to design proposals for debate on new technologies, artificial intelligence, among other means to spread the reality of the region.
Communication and resistance: the role of the media in current geopolitics
Telesur’s president, Patricia Villegas, opened the panel on the communication topic, stating that it is essential for the information sources in the region and the Alliance to work together and responsibly.
Villegas spoke about the media coverage of the presidential elections in Venezuela on July 28, emphasizing the need to work with reliable sources. She highlighted that “this election has a global and continental impact,” and called for real coordination between media outlets and networks.
Villegas stressed the importance of a new literacy in communication, stating that “our governments must work on this issue; the challenge is here. We have to learn how to read social networks, we have to learn how to interpret the content that is at our fingertips.”
She proposed ALBA-TCP to create “our own social networks” and develop new technological tools to strengthen regional communication.
Believe in resistance
On the other hand, Dyron Roque, member of the Secretariat of ALBA Movimientos, emphasized that talking about resistance “puts us on the right path” in the face of the intentions of the American empire and a certain type of hegemony.
He highlighted: “Resistance must occur in the face of force and consensus (of powers). The Cuban Revolution has been an example of resistance for breaking coercion and challenging the consensus of capitalism.”
Creating a new discourse
Vivian Fernandes, representative of Brasil de Fato, mentioned that communication should break with the concept of news as a commodity and combat the lies of the major media outlets linked to the global far right.
On the other hand, Fernandes called for creating a new discourse that allows us to counteract capitalism, as well as “building our own communication with aspects that unite us; and building news with the truth of what is happening in our countries.”
Similarly, Alan McLeod, editor of Mint Press (United States), warned that “there is a media war against Venezuela being waged in London, Washington, New York, and Madrid.”
He also warned that the media do not question power, but are power themselves, “they are the voice of the powerful. They are the spokespeople of the oligarchs.”
Venezuela and the presidential elections
Journalist William Castillo, leader of Venezuela Nuestra International Campaign Team, stated that, in the case of the presidential elections in the Bolivarian country, communication is a priority and must be handled carefully, as it can be used to generate misinformation and fear among the population.
In his opinion, right-wing media outlets can be “generators of chaos,” which is why he urged to be alert from all informative spaces in the region.
Castillo concluded this presentation by stating that media outlets and television operators often come together during electoral processes to create false narratives that confuse citizens and provoke violent events.
The first Meeting for a World Social Alternative took place in Caracas from April 18th to 20th, organized by the Bolivarian Alliance for the Peoples of Our America- Peoples’ Trade Treaty (ALBA-TCP) and the Simon Bolivar Institute (ISB).
