The last time I had the opportunity to speak in Caracas—at long-distance that time—was about a year ago, right after the UNASUR (Union of South American Nations) meeting in Santiago in September 2008. That meeting was called "with the purpose of considering the situation in the Republic of Bolivia," after an uprising backed by the traditional elites who had lost power in the impressive democratic elections of 2005.

Read more...

 

On Thursday, Venezuela announced the expansion of military operations along its western border in order to fight drug trafficking and protect a recently discovered reserve of coltan from illegal mining. In what is titled Operation Blue Gold, 15,000 Air Force, Army, and Navy personnel will protect the coltan reserve, which straddles the states of Bolivar and Amazonas.

 

Read more...

Since Chavez came to presidency, Venezuela’s economy has grown to fulfil the increasing demand for human dignity. More people are able to access the country’s economic wealth and, at the same time, Venezuela has opened its markets to China and other significant manufacturing leaders. Today, more poor people are able to buy very cheap Chinese fans, refrigerators and TV sets as the least material possessions that many treasure in land where it is hotter each year, and where public runs until 10-11pm.

Read more...

On Wednesday, the Venezuelan government announced a series of new measures to reduce the consumption and increase the production of electricity, which has been rationed over the past two months through daily, one to two-hour rolling poweroutages in much of the country.

Read more...

Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez said Colombia became colony when it granted the U.S. permission to expand its military presence in Colombian territory in an accord signed on October 30th, the details of which became public on Tuesday.

Read more...

An August directive by Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez to “reduce to zero” bi-national trade with neighbouring Colombia has begun to bite, with imports from the neighbouring country falling dramatically. Chavez issued the directive in protest against a military agreement signed between Bogotá and Washington allowing US military troops access to Colombian bases. According to a report by Colombia’s National Department of Statistics, exports to Venezuela fell 49.5% in September. Trade between the two countries is expected to decline even further, after Venezuela imposed a blockade on Colombian agricultural products.

Read more...

Venezuelan Vice President and Defence Minister Ramón Carrizales claimed on Sunday that he had evidence that a group of Colombians who were kidnapped and assassinated a week earlier in Venezuelan territory were part of a “paramilitary infiltration plan” that aimed to destabilise the socialist government of President Hugo Chavez.

Read more...

In November lastyear, at the third extraordinary Summit of Heads of State and Government of theBolivarian Alternative for the Peoples of Our America (ALBA) - Peoples' TradeAgreement (TCP), the presidents came together with the intention to confront thecrisis of the global capitalist system.

Read more...