Venezuela Analysis

[news] Venezuela Bridges Diplomatic Fissures, Polishes Alliances in European Tour

James Suggett - Venezuelanalysis.com — Fri, 25 Jul 2008 20:54:27 -0430

Rounding off a diplomatic tour of Europe that began with Tuesday’s controversial visit in Russia, Venezuelan President Hugo Chávez mended relations with the Spanish government, set up a bi-national commerce commission with Portugal, and eliminated visa requirements to facilitate bilateral accords with Belarus this week. By James Suggett - Venezuelanalysis.com

[analysis] Which Way Venezuela?

Michael Albert - ZNet — Fri, 25 Jul 2008 09:54:40 -0430

Misrepresentations of Venezuela abound. Data is limited and people interpret it in quite contrary ways. Information deficit plus skewed interpretations cause many people who ought to support the Bolivarian Revolution to instead doubt or even reject it. Useful lessons from Venezuela go largely unreported and thus have less than their widest possible effect. By Michael Albert - ZNet

[analysis] The Facts about the List of “Banned Candidates” in Venezuela

Francisco Dominguez - Dissident Voice — Thu, 24 Jul 2008 22:26:06 -0430

Sections of the Venezuelan opposition are opposing a decision by Venezuela’s Comptroller General, who has submitted a list of 386 individuals to be banned from standing for public office for (being guilty of) corruption and/or misuse of public funds. In fact, the Comptroller General is merely implementing existing legislation — a great deal of which precedes the Chavez government. By Francisco Dominguez - Dissident Voice

[news] International Media Distorts Venezuelan Military Deals with Russia, says Chavez

James Suggett - Venezuelanalysis.com — Thu, 24 Jul 2008 22:22:37 -0430

In response to widely circulated international news reports that Venezuela plans to spend $30 billion on Russian weapons and host Russian military bases on its soil, President Hugo Chávez said Wednesday that the reports are false and denounced the international media’s consistent efforts to slander the Venezuelan government. By James Suggett - Venezuelanalysis.com

[news] Venezuela Strengthens Alliance with Russia to Promote “Polycentrism”

James Suggett - Venezuelanalysis.com — Wed, 23 Jul 2008 11:10:39 -0430

President Hugo Chávez of Venezuela met for the first time with Russian President Dimitri Medvedev on Tuesday, to strengthen bilateral relations and discuss economic and military cooperation, which could expand the relationship between Russia and Latin America as a whole. By James Suggett - Venezuelanalysis.com

[analysis] Encouraging Steps Forward for Venezuela's Union Movement

Federico Fuentes - Green Left Weekly — Tue, 22 Jul 2008 22:21:03 -0430

A series of recent events has opened up a new phase in Venezuela's labor movement. One of the most significant was the government’s decision to re-nationalise the Sidor steel works, one of the most important in Latin America, after an 18-month struggle by its work force. By Federico Fuentes - Green Left Weekly

[news] Food Production on the Rise, Venezuelan Producers and Government Say

James Suggett - Venezuelanalysis.com — Tue, 22 Jul 2008 11:09:19 -0430

The Venezuelan government’s agricultural policies and the efforts of national food producers have significantly increased national food production amidst global shortages, the Venezuelan Agriculture and Land Minister, Elías Jaua, and several food producer federations reported last week.
By James Suggett - Venezuelanalysis.com

[newsbrief] Venezuela Launches New Child Care Program

Xinhua — Tue, 22 Jul 2008 09:55:56 -0430

CARACAS, July 20 (Xinhua) -- Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez has announced the launch of a new child care social program designed to assist children in situations of risk or separation from their families.

Chavez announced the three-step social program at a ceremony here to mark the annual National Day for Children and Teenagers, observed on the third Sunday of July.

For the first nine-month step, Chavez has approved a budget of over 122 million U.S. dollars.

By Xinhua

[newsbrief] Brazil, Venezuela to Lend Bolivia US$530 Million for Cross-Continent Road

AP — Mon, 21 Jul 2008 22:38:30 -0430

RIBERALTA, Bolivia-- Brazil and Venezuela are promising US$530 million in low-interest loans for Bolivia to complete a highway linking the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans.

Brazil is pledging a 20-year, US$230 million loan to pave 315 miles (510 kilometers) of roadway, while Venezuela is promising US$300 million for the rest.

Presidents from all three countries inked the deal Friday in rural Bolivia.

By AP

[analysis] The Hard Battle for Socialism in Venezuela

Rafael Ramirez - Punto Final — Mon, 21 Jul 2008 22:17:18 -0430

In our country the issue of socialism is very complex. We have always been clear that there are no manuals or pamphlets that can resolve the numerous theoretical and practical problems that the socialist project puts in front of us. Similarly, there are no models, no revolution is identical to another. By Rafael Ramirez - Punto Final

[analysis] Ten Years On, Bolivarian Revolution at Crossroads

Nikolas Kozloff - NACLA — Mon, 21 Jul 2008 22:09:04 -0430

In 1998, when he was first elected president, Chávez was viewed by many throughout the region as a kind of ideological throwback. But as social movements gained strength over the next several years and new progressive leaders took power in the neighborhood, Chávez seemed to be at the forefront of social struggle against corporate free trade. By Nikolas Kozloff - NACLA

[news] Hospitals Federalized, Health Care Salaries Boosted in Venezuelan Capital

James Suggett - Venezuelanalysis.com — Sat, 19 Jul 2008 09:37:15 -0430

The President of Venezuela, Hugo Chávez, transferred the administration of public hospitals in the country’s capital from the municipal to the federal government Thursday, increased the salary of doctors on the public payroll, and allocated bonuses and permanent positions to public health care workers.
By James Suggett - Venezuelanalysis.com

[news] U.S. to Send Envoy for Counternarcotics Cooperation, Chavez Responds to Obama

Venezuelanalysis.com — Fri, 18 Jul 2008 15:52:21 -0430

As a U.S. government official announced new negotiations over drug control cooperation, relations between President Chavez and U.S. Presidential nominee Barak Obama cooled when Obama called Venezuela “a destructive force” earlier this week. By Venezuelanalysis.com

[audio] Venezuela News Summary #59

Michael Fox - Venezuelanalysis.com — Fri, 18 Jul 2008 12:23:40 -0430

Venezuela News Summary #59, July 4-16, 2008 By Michael Fox - Venezuelanalysis.com

[news] Amnesty International: Venezuela’s Record Mixed on Eliminating Violence Against Women

James Suggett - Venezuelanalysis.com — Fri, 18 Jul 2008 11:02:21 -0430

Amnesty International called Venezuela’s 2007 Law on the Right of Women to a Life Free of Violence “an example for the rest of the region,” but said practical implementation of the law has been slow. Meanwhile, the Venezuelan Supreme Court created a special tribunal to manage domestic violence cases. By James Suggett - Venezuelanalysis.com

[news] Venezuelan Opposition Parties Nominate Seven Unity Candidates Despite Discord

James Suggett - Venezuelanalysis.com — Thu, 17 Jul 2008 12:07:07 -0430

The President of the Venezuelan opposition party Un Nuevo Tiempo announced Tuesday that a coalition of opposition parties has selected unified candidates for governor in seven of Venezuela’s 23 states. However, only four of the nine parties in the coalition were present during the announcements, indicating internal strife. By James Suggett - Venezuelanalysis.com

[newsbrief] Ecuador, Venezuela Build Oil Refinery on Pacific

AFP — Wed, 16 Jul 2008 21:28:59 -0430

EL AROMO, Ecuador - Venezuela and Ecuador plan to build the biggest oil refinery on South America's Pacific Coast, to wean Venezuelan crude away from US refineries, Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez announced here Tuesday.

"Instead of having refineries in the United States, we decided to keep them here in our geopolitical context," Chavez said as he launched the project together with Ecuadoran President Rafael Correa.
By AFP

[analysis] Mercosur Confronts Global Crises

Federico Fuentes - Green Left Weekly — Wed, 16 Jul 2008 20:17:41 -0430

In stark contrast to the thumb-twiddling of the G8 overlords, who decide on taking as little action as possible on climate change and the developing global food and fuel crises, the summit of the Common Market of South America (Mercosur) was one more demonstration of the role being played by Venezuela — together with other South American countries — in charting a way out of these crises. By Federico Fuentes - Green Left Weekly

[news] Venezuela to Give Energy-Saving Light Bulbs to Low-Income U.S. Communities

Venezuelanalysis.com — Wed, 16 Jul 2008 18:33:51 -0430

The Venezuelan-owned Oil Company Citgo, together with the organization Citizen’s Energy, will provide about 460,000 energy efficient light bulbs to low-income households throughout the U.S., according to Citgo’s CEO Alejandro Granado.
By Venezuelanalysis.com

[letter] Could an Obama win Hurt Chavez? (CS Monitor)

Jonathan — Tue, 15 Jul 2008 22:17:05 -0430

Chavez profits off of an easy target such as Bush.

By Jonathan

[news] Venezuelan Newspaper: Most Candidate Disqualifications Are Not of Opposition Supporters

James Suggett - Venezuelanalysis.com — Tue, 15 Jul 2008 21:47:18 -0430

Comptroller General Clodosbaldo Russián presented a revised list of people sanctioned for corruption during their terms in public office and who have been disqualified from running for office in the upcoming regional and local elections. According to Venezuela's largest newspaper, a majority of these are not opposition supporters. By James Suggett - Venezuelanalysis.com

[analysis] Venezuela's Women's Development Bank - Creating a Caring Economy

Kristen Walker - COHA — Tue, 15 Jul 2008 13:44:01 -0430

What makes Banmujer unique is that it loans only to women; in fact, it is the only state-sponsored women’s micro-credit bank in the world. Since its inception on March 8, 2001, Banmujer has been commended for its successes in helping women escape poverty and in instilling a new economic model of cooperation instead of competition. By Kristen Walker - COHA

[news] Venezuela Increases Oil Financing for Petrocaribe Nations

James Suggett - Venezuelanalysis.com — Tue, 15 Jul 2008 13:12:05 -0430

Member countries of Petrocaribe, the Caribbean energy integration organization that Venezuela initiated in 2005, agreed Sunday to adjust the terms of financing for the purchase of Venezuelan oil in order to lower the impact of soaring oil prices on Caribbean countries. Also, Guatemala joined the association as its 18th member. By James Suggett - Venezuelanalysis.com

[news] Anti-Chávez Student Group Attacks Police, Creates Chaos in Mérida, Venezuela

James Suggett - Venezuelanalysis.com — Sun, 13 Jul 2008 09:39:28 -0430

Students opposed to the Chavez government fired gunshots and threw Molotov cocktails at police officers, blockaded streets using seized university buses, and ransacked sections of the Andean town of Mérida on Thursday and Friday, to protest crime and insecurity in the city. By James Suggett - Venezuelanalysis.com

[news] Venezuelan and Colombian Presidents Mend Fences

Venezuelanalysis.com — Sat, 12 Jul 2008 15:14:34 -0430

Venezuela’s President Hugo Chavez and Colombia’s President Alvaro Uribe reconciled and said they “moved on” to overcome differences, following a two-hour private meeting on Friday. By Venezuelanalysis.com

[news] Chávez Criticizes Divisions, Urges Dialogue within Venezuela’s Bolivarian Alliance

James Suggett - Venezuelanalysis.com — Fri, 11 Jul 2008 11:56:19 -0430

Venezuelan President Hugo Chávez criticized allies in the Patriotic Alliance - a coalition of political parties which support the “Bolivarian Revolution” led by Chávez - for supporting candidates in the upcoming regional and local elections who will compete with PSUV candidates. By James Suggett - Venezuelanalysis.com

[analysis] The Spectre of Socialism for the 21st Century Haunts Latin America

Michael Lebowitz - Links — Thu, 10 Jul 2008 15:44:19 -0430

A spectre is haunting capitalism. It is the spectre of socialism for the 21st century. Increasingly, the characteristics of this spectre are becoming clear, and we are able to see enough to understand what it is not. The only thing that is not clear at this point is whether the spectre is real – i.e., whether it is actually an earthly presence. By Michael Lebowitz - Links

[analysis] Latin America Experts Condemn U.S. Detention and Search of Colombian Senator Piedad Cordoba

Various Authors — Thu, 10 Jul 2008 15:41:05 -0430

The following letter was sent to members of relevant committees in the U.S. Congress today in reaction to the recent detention and search of Senator Piedad Cordoba of Colombia upon her arrival at JFK International Airport on June 27, 2008. By Various Authors

[news] Venezuelan Consumption Increases and Inflation Remains High

James Suggett - Venezuelanalysis.com — Wed, 09 Jul 2008 15:16:18 -0430

According to the Central Bank of Venezuela (BCV), consumer prices rose by 2.4% in June, bringing total accumulated inflation for the first half of this year to 15.1%. Meanwhile, Venezuelans are spending more with their credits cards, while new car sales have cooled off relative to the 2007 boom. By James Suggett - Venezuelanalysis.com

[analysis] Suitcasegate - A Politically Motivated Prosecution Directed Against Venezuela?

Revolter - BoRev.net — Tue, 08 Jul 2008 15:55:40 -0430

Since December, three Venezuelans and a Uruguayan have been detained in Miami without bail. Their alleged crime involves the supposed cover-up of the delivery of money between the Venezuelan and Argentine governments. Does it sound like something the U.S. justice system should be involved in? Probably not. Even worse, the U.S. case is sort of laughable. By Revolter - BoRev.net