“Yes we can!” - great enthusiasm for the ideas of Marxism in Zulia

After the success of Alan Woods' tour in Eastern Venezuela, on Friday, June 27, the British Marxist presented his book 'Reformism or Revolution, Marxism and socialism of the 21st Century' in the state of Zulia. Zulia is still the most populated state in the country and the birthplace of its oil industry, of which 50% is still located here. On a bright and hot morning, the 'land that the sun loves' (as a popular song goes) seems intent on honouring its reputation. The impressive Lake Maracaibo (in reality more of a sea than a lake) turns the horizon blue and fills the whole of the landscape with its immensity. The feeling of any passenger crossing the eight and a half kilometre bridge over the Lake is one of flying above the water. The bridge connects Maracaibo, the most populated city in Venezuela and capital of Zulia, with the oil centres on the Lake's Eastern Shore: Cabimas, Ciudad Ojeda, La Grita... all of them associated with the first movement of organised labour in Venezuela, including the oil workers' general strike of 1936 - a bitter struggle that was met with harsh repression on the pat of the oil multinationals and the oligarchy - which gave birth to and spread the trade union movement across the oil industry and throughout the country. As one crosses over to the Eastern Shore, the view becomes one of oil fields, towers, wells and the naked flame burners.