VENEZUELA'S tropical climate, beautiful beaches, mountains, deserts, forests, jungles are not its most important attractions nowadays.
People from the farthest corners of the world are coming to this country to find out for themselves what is truly happening here: the construction of a new socialist model, within the unstoppable revolution.
Economic, social and educative models of development; elections, marches, festivals, forums, and many other events have been the perfect vehicles enabling progressive organizations of Latin America and other continents to familiarise themselves with this tumultuous country.
For some years, the intoxicating national and international mass media tried to cover up and isolate the revolutionary process that has been put into practice since a little before Hugo Chávez's election as President in 1998.
Nevertheless, the coup d'etat Obituary: Linda Smith (1958 - 2006) in April 2002 was the turning point, when the mass of the people rose up to re-affirm its support for the president.
This was an unexpected victory that pierced through the media smokescreen. It also allowed the people's resistance to converge with the growth across the world of leftist and progressive social movements and networks of solidarity with
From that point on, Venezuela has never been out of the news: the referendum of August 2003, the municipal and parliamentary elections, the 16th World Festival of Youth and Students, the World Festival of Poetry, even the World Circus Festival last year.
Then there was the sixth World Social Forum/second Forum of the Américas in January and the massive Chavista demonstration of February 4, signalling the start of the presidential campaign.
These events have motivated foreigners, whether integrated into progressive movements or not, to reside in Venezuela for months or even years. The great majority come with the intention of connecting the ideas and activities of their progressive organizations or movements to their counterparts here, be they governmental bodies or no.
The poorest and most disadvantaged countries of Latin America and other continents are following with great hope and expectation the emancipating example that Venezuela and its people is giving them, placing on the agenda the ending of centuries of repression and injustice.
Meanwhile thousands in the developed countries have been inspired by the level of enthusiasm and spontaneity of popular organization and wish to learn from the political and social economic models that are being tried out in so beautiful a coun try, steeped in history, culture and folklore.
But everything is not perfect, and visitors can see that there is still too much poverty, not only material but also mental.
There are still too many who expect others to do things for them, too many who do not articulate their socialist ideals in their actions, who follow a leader without changing their attitudes and ideas. These people are functional illiterates whose consciousness is asleep.
Even so, in spite of our mistakes, our disorganization and the internal sabotage, in spite of the uneven political consciousness and the inextinguishable bureaucratism; we have not been weakened.
We think that all these encounters, sharings, anecdotes, meetings with foreign comrades represent for many of us a rewarding and glorious support and a valuable process of learning which will not only help us now but in the future.
We neither feel alone nor ever will be thanks to you, to your visits, to your manifestations of support and solidarity and to your good wishes.
It only remains for me to say: feel welcome and free to visit us whenever you want to. Venezuela and its hard fight also belongs to you.