Venezuela

NOVANEWS by jodymcintyre After seeing the reality of life in Venezuela, even if only for a short period of time so far, it seems strange for the title of this article to be posed as a serious question.  Nevertheless, with Presidential elections just ten days, and with an avalanche of misinformation allocated by certain sections of the media, it seems like an important issue to address.  Just last week, former US President Jimmy Carter said that, out of the 92 elections the Carter Center had observed, 'the election process in Venezuela is the best in the world.'  He went on to say that his own country, the United States, had 'one of the worst electoral processes in the world.' Nevertheless, it would be short-sighted to accept the rhetoric of US Presidents, past or present, without ...

NOVANEWS by jodymcintyre   From the New Internationalist:   The Presidential elections truly are a national event in Venezuela.  There are rallies to attend, public statements and press releases by the candidates, mini-newspapers containing plans for the next six years of government, and everyone has an opinion.  The posters are the easiest to spot.  On every street corner, two faces are prevalent; Hugo Chavez, and his main opponent, Capriles Radonski.  Chavez, corazon de mi patria.  Heart of my country.  Capriles, hay un camino.  There is a way.  Where this way will lead us, exactly, we are not told.   With just two weeks to go until voting takes place, the candidate who tops the polls is difficult to miss.  Hugo Chavez is a larger-than-life character, and has...

NOVANEWS by Stephen Lendman   Bolivarianism remains overwhelmingly popular. So is Chavez. He heads the United Socialist Party of Venezuela (PSUV). In 1999, he transformed the nation into a Bolivarian republic. It’s based on “solidarity, fraternity, love, justice, liberty and equality.” He changed it politically, economically and socially. He established participatory democracy. Venezuela’s process shames America’s, Britain’s, France’s, and other Western states. He constitutionally instituted basic social rights for everyone. They include universal health care, education, affordable housing, land reform, indigenous rights, and much more. Venezuala’s oil wealth is used responsibly. It’s elections are free, open and fair. Freedoms of speech, the press, and assembly are institutionalized...

NOVANEWS By IAN JAMES   Venezuela's president Hugo Chavez blows kisses to supporters during a campaign rally in Maracay, Venezuela, Sunday, July 1, 2012. (AP Photo/Ariana Cubillos) CARACAS, Venezuela -- Venezuela's presidential campaign officially began Sunday with President Hugo Chavez and opposition leader Henrique Capriles rallying their supporters for what promises to be a hard-fought contest leading up to the October vote. Chavez wore his red beret, waving and blowing kisses as he greeted crowds of supporters from atop a truck that rolled from north-central Carabobo state to the nearby city of Maracay, where he spoke from a stage. "The Bolivarian hurricane has gotten started!" Chavez told a crowd, referring to his leftist movement, the Bolivarian Revolution. "We're going ...

NOVANEWS   Chavez Turns Right Towards State Realism Leaving International Solidarity Behind by Prof. James Petras The recent ‘turn’ in Venezuela politics, from expressing sympathy and even support for revolutionary struggles and movements in Latin America to its present collaboration with pro-imperial rightwing regimes, has numerous historical precedents.  Prof. Petras examines the contexts and circumstances of these collaborations. Introduction The radical “Bolivarian Socialist” government of Hugo Chavez has arrested a number of Colombian guerrilla leaders and a radical journalist with Swedish citizenship and handed them over to the right-wing regime of President Juan Manuel Santos, earning the Colombian government’s praise and gratitude.  The close on-going collaboration between...