The advance of the right across Latin America, US influence and the defence of national sovereignty will be central to a London debate marking 534 years since Columbus reached the Americas. Speakers will address political change, Operation Condor, extractivism, Cuba, Zionism and electoral politics on Monday 12 October.
This day, activists, thinkers and internationalists will gather to “commemorate 534 years of unbroken resistance since Christopher Columbus arrived in the Americas”. The meeting “comes at a critical geopolitical juncture”, addressing the Shield of the Americas and the rise of the right in the region.
This is the view expressed by the organisers of the event, Plataforma 12 de Octubre (P12O), a collective that has gathered in London for 14 consecutive years to “transform a date historically associated with colonial plunder into a powerful symbol of defiance”. The main objective of the event, under the slogan “534 Years weaving links of resistance“, is “to discuss effective strategies for resisting US imperialism’s attempts to reconquer Latin America”, says co-organiser Yonatan Mosquera. Mosquera notes that “while the tactics of domination have evolved, the threat remains as severe as it was during the initial invasion in 1492”.
Attendees will explore parallels between the current global landscape and historical interventions. “While the UK, the US and other Western nations experience a fierce attack on democratic rights, Latin America faces a direct and coordinated assault against its national sovereignty”, Mosquera adds.
To examine these interconnected struggles, the event features a panel of speakers from Cuba, Peru, Colombia and England, all of them members of P12O, addressing the specific themes of the gathering.
In her talk, “Operation Condor and its current relevance”, Betty Rhaza will address the legacy of Operation Condor in the 1970s, tracing its direct links to modern-day US strategies aimed at re-establishing control over the Americas. Similarly, in “Cuba, the beacon of socialism in Latin America”, Miriam Palacios will speak on Cuba’s role as a model of socialism, highlighting “how the island continues to inspire global resistance despite decades of hostility and economic warfare”.
For their part, César Burga and Fabio Maldonado will present “The advance of the right through electoral manipulation”, an analysis of the political mechanics behind the conservative resurgence, deconstructing electoral manipulation as a weapon of the right-wing advance and exposing how democratic systems are being subverted from within.
Likewise, under the title “Extractivism: A new plunder of natural resources”, Andy Higginbottom will address the economic drivers of this crisis, analysing an economic model based on the large-scale exploitation of natural resources as a new form of plunder of Latin American wealth.
To conclude the panel, Yonatan Mosquera will speak on “The advance of Zionism in the region”, analysing the role of Zionism in the current right-wing offensive in Latin America.
The presentations will be followed by an open question-and-answer session, allowing attendees to deepen the debate on these pressing topics and explore the shared aims of Latin American liberation and wider anti-colonial movements since 1492.
As Mosquera explains, “true to the spirit of grassroots solidarity, this event relies entirely on collective energy. Dedicated volunteers are organising and setting up the venue, and the evening will culminate in a social dinner. Attendees are warmly invited to bring food or drinks to share, turning the space into a hub of community, nourishment and shared purpose”.
Plataforma 12 de Octubre, the driving force behind the event, is a London-based activist and internationalist solidarity organisation.
Date and time: Monday 12 October, 5:00 pm to 9:00 pm. Venue: MayDay Rooms, 88 Fleet Street, London, EC4Y 1DH. For further information or media inquiries, visit Plataforma 12 de Octubre on Facebook or Instagram.
(Photos supplied by Plataforma 12 de Octubre)
.jpg)
