| U.K. trade unionists and social justice activists have issued statements in solidarity with Venezuela. Fifty of the United Kingdom's top trade unionists signed a joint statement of solidarity with Venezuela Tuesday. “Venezuela is not a threat to the U.S. or any other country – instead it offers hope, including through some of the most advanced legislation regarding trade union and labor rights in the world,” the statement read. In the statement, representatives from organizations including Unite the Union, the Trade Union Congress, Maritime & Transport Workers Union, the National Union of Teachers, among others, call on U.S. President Barack Obama to repeal a controversial executive order declaring Venezuela a “threat” to Washington. “We support the international Obama – Repeal the Executive Order campaign and will continue to both support the advances in social progress and workers’ rights that have taken place in Venezuela in recent years, and oppose U.S. sanctions against Venezuela,” they stated, referring to a campaign launched by the Venezuelan government to protest Obama's executive order. The Venezuelan government's campaign has included a petition against the executive order, which so far has garnered more than 9 million signatures internationally. In a separate statement, the U.K. Movement for Peace and Against War said international opposition to the executive order is growing. “We are very pleased to see so many prominent activists ... joining the growing international movement against Obama's executive order against Venezuela,” said the movement's Venezuela solidarity coordinator, Matt Willgress. |