Another Hugo Chavez thread that was locked but it has

[Cleita]

a lot of good information as well as some clown with all his right wing BS "facts" about Latin America and US imperialism. I thought I would put it here for future reference since it won't get archived as fast.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=132x3283670

I think it's time for us to start taking apart all the anti-Chavez BS being spewed and just look for the truth for the next time this subject comes up. There is a link to a book about Chavez, which seems like a good start to me.

[Cleita]

1. Sources of facts about Hugo Chavez.

Here is the article cited in the original post by IndianaGreen:

Published on Friday, May 25, 2007 by The Guardian/UK
We Should Back Chávez
It’s Not Too Late For Britain To Stand Against The Washington Consensus On Latin America

by Colin Burgon
Neoconservative forces, via compliant media outlets and Christian right groupings within the European parliament, are preparing their latest attack on Hugo Chávez and the government of Venezuela. The latest focus of the campaign is the decision of Venezuela’s broadcasting authorities not to renew the licence of the private television channel RCTV. The anti-Chávez apparatus once again presents a test for Foreign Office ministers.

Washington’s outriders characterise the decision as an affront to freedom of speech, yet the facts speak in louder tones. Over 80% of Venezuelan television and radio outlets are privately owned; this excludes a number of cable and satellite television networks that are widely available. Of this 80%, significant sections are owned by corporate groups. According to a recent New York Times editorial, this has led to a situation in which “even the best news outlets tend to be openly ideological…so the owners’ views can permeate reporting”.

Almost all Venezuelan newspapers remain in private hands. The press is free to report, and express opinions, without government interference. Most do so with considerable brio on a daily basis. No media outlet has encountered licensing problems for the expression of political views. No journalist has been imprisoned or punished for report or comment.

More at: http://www.commondreams.org/archive/2007/05/25/1453

[Cleita]

2. The Movie

"The War on Democracy" by John Pilger

Trailer here: http://youtube.com/watch?v=J1zZNbqi53o

[Cleita]

7. Accompanying article by John Pilger.

Chávez is a threat because he offers the alternative of a decent society

Venezuela's president is using oil revenues to liberate the poor - no wonder his enemies want to overthrow him

John Pilger
Saturday May 13, 2006
The Guardian


I have spent the past three weeks filming in the hillside barrios of Caracas, in streets and breeze-block houses that defy gravity and torrential rain and emerge at night like fireflies in the fog. Caracas is said to be one of the world's toughest cities, yet I have known no fear; the poorest have welcomed my colleagues and me with a warmth characteristic of ordinary Venezuelans but also with the unmistakable confidence of a people who know that change is possible and who, in their everyday lives, are reclaiming noble concepts long emptied of their meaning in the west: "reform", "popular democracy", "equity", "social justice" and, yes, "freedom".

The other night, in a room bare except for a single fluorescent tube, I heard these words spoken by the likes of Ana Lucia Fernandez, aged 86, Celedonia Oviedo, aged 74, and Mavis Mendez, aged 95. A mere 33-year-old, Sonia Alvarez, had come with her two young children. Until about a year ago, none of them could read and write; now they are studying mathematics. For the first time in its modern era, Venezuela has almost 100% literacy.
This achievement is due to a national programme, called Mision Robinson, designed for adults and teenagers previously denied an education because of poverty. Mision Ribas is giving everyone a secondary school education, called a bachillerato. (The names Robinson and Ribas refer to Venezuelan independence leaders from the 19th century.) Named, like much else here, after the great liberator Simon Bolivar, "Bolivarian", or people's, universities have opened, introducing, as one parent told me, "treasures of the mind, history and music and art, we barely knew existed". Under Hugo Chávez, Venezuela is the first major oil producer to use its oil revenue to liberate the poor.

Mavis Mendez has seen, in her 95 years, a parade of governments preside over the theft of tens of billions of dollars in oil spoils, much of it flown to Miami, together with the steepest descent into poverty ever known in Latin America; from 18% in 1980 to 65% in 1995, three years before Chávez was elected. "We didn't matter in a human sense," she said. "We lived and died without real education and running water, and food we couldn't afford. When we fell ill, the weakest died. In the east of the city, where the mansions are, we were invisible, or we were feared. Now I can read and write my name, and so much more; and whatever the rich and their media say, we have planted the seeds of true democracy, and I am full of joy that I have lived to witness it."

More at http://www.guardian.co.uk/comment/story/0,,1773908,00.html

Do visit John Pilgers website http://www.johnpilger.com/

[Cleita]

3. The book.

http://www.amazon.com/Hugo-Chavez-Politics-Challenge-U-S/dp/1403973156/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1/002-7593254-8792836?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1178346724&sr=8-1

[Cleita]

4. What the anti-Chavez camp says. Is this true? n/t

[Cleita]

5. Chavez packs the Supreme Court.

Source:

Human Rights Watch

Venezuela: Chávez Allies Pack Supreme Court
(Washington D.C., December 14, 2004) The Venezuelan Congress dealt a severe blow to judicial independence by packing the country’s Supreme Court with 12 new justices, Human Rights Watch said today. A majority of the ruling coalition, dominated by President Hugo Chávez’s party, named the justices late yesterday, filling seats created by a law passed in May that expanded the court’s size by more than half.

“Five years ago, President Chávez’s supporters helped to enshrine the principle of judicial independence in a new democratic constitution,” said José Miguel Vivanco, Americas director at Human Rights Watch. “Now, by packing the country’s highest court, they are betraying that principle and degrading Venezuelan democracy.”

The law passed in May expanded the court from 20 to 32 members. In addition to the justices named to the 12 new seats, five justices were named to fill vacancies that had opened in recent months, and 32 more were named as reserve justices for the court. Members and allies of President Chávez’s Fifth Republic Movement (Movimiento V República, or MVR) form a majority in Congress.

In 1999 a constituent assembly convoked by President Chávez drafted a constitution that guarantees the independence of the judicial branch and the autonomy of the Supreme Court. The Constitution specifically seeks to guarantee the independence of Supreme Court justices by establishing an impeachment process according to which justices may only be removed for “serious offenses” by a two-thirds majority vote by Congress.
More at http://hrw.org/english/docs/2004/12/14/venezu9864.htm

[Cleita]

6. "You have double the chance of being murdered in Caracas than you would in Baghdad,"

USA TODAY

Safety and security misconceptions and myths

Updated 9/5/2006 2:25 PM ET

Editor's note: A previous version of this column cited an incorrect statistic concerning the murder rate in Aruba.

Which city is more dangerous: Baghdad or Caracas, Venezuela? If your answer is Caracas, you are correct according to Dr. Peter E. Tarlow, an expert in crime, terrorism, and risk management in the travel industry. Though similar in population, Baghdad is on pace to have 7,000 murders this year, while 15,000 will be killed in Caracas.

"You have double the chance of being murdered in Caracas than you would in Baghdad," Tarlow told a surprised audience at a session on "safe" travel at the recent National Business Travel Association annual conference. Protecting personnel on the road is a growing concern among corporate travel managers.

Many people say they feel safe when traveling. But our sense of "safe" is often distorted by media coverage (or the lack of it) and distance, according to Tarlow. For example, the disappearance of Natalee Holloway gained worldwide attention and caused a decline in visitors to Aruba, even though it is the safest island in the Caribbean with only a handful of murders each year.

More at http://www.usatoday.com/travel/columnist/grossman/2006-08-04-grossman_x.htm

[Cleita]

19. The Alexander Boyd website who opposes Chavez.

http://vcrisis.com/index.php?content=home

It seems a lot of the hyperbole we get on GD about Chavez originates here.

[Cleita]

8. Some history and political commentary starting with wikipedia. n/t

[Cleita]

9. Wikipedia article on the History of Venezuela.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_Venezuela

[Cleita]

10. From infoplease.com

http://www.infoplease.com/ipa/A0108140.html

[Cleita]

11. From Venezuelatuya.com

http://www.venezuelatuya.com/historia/resum1eng.htm

[EFerrari]

12. Thank you for this thread, Cleita. I sort of don't understand

why so many people are so quick to abuse Chavez.

I will try to dig up some links and post them here later this evening.

:hi:

[Cleita]

13. Thanks. I put it up so that we can keep adding to it.

However, I was having browser problems and didn't get a lot of information up I wanted to, but I think we can keep this as an ongoing information thread about all things Chavez and Venezuela so that the next time the Hugo Chavez hit squad arrives on GD, we can have the information at our fingertips. So often really good information gets archived because it's scattered around.

[Cleita]

14. Another thread in GD with informative links.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=389&topic_id=985576&mesg_id=985576

[Cleita]

15. Articles of interest.

[Cleita]

16. CNN Accused of Lying about Venezuela

Caracas, May 28 (Prensa Latina) The Venezuelan Government accused CNN on Monday of lying about Venezuela and producing political propaganda, and requested an investigation into local Globovision channel for possible incitement to assassination.

Communication and Information Minister William Lara made the denunciation after presenting the Attorney General's Office with a demand to investigate Globovision.

Lara said CNN had gone to the extreme of violating the code of ethics of any social communicator in the world, and accused the station of dealing in lies.

More at http://www.plenglish.com/Article.asp?ID={453B94FC-EE53-4B2F-BE1C-EF767C6B92E2}&language=EN

[Cleita]

17. pdf: US Invervention In Venezuela: A Clear and Present Danger.

http://www.globalexchange.org/countries/americas/venezuela/USVZrelations.pdf

Thanks to a post by prolesunited in GD for this document by Deborah James of Global Exchange.

[EFerrari]

34. Who is Pulling the Strings

A description of the student protests by someone on the ground in Caracas. Summary: Rich kids being scripted by the oligarchy. (What a surprise.)

http://www.counterpunch.org/maher06092007.html

[Cleita]

35. AP Interview: Chavez Connects With The Poor'

Thanks to Cal04
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=103x287409

AP INTERVIEW: Chavez Connects With Poor

Monday June 11, 2007 4:31 AM


AP Photo XCAR105, XCAR103, XCAR106

By IAN JAMES

Associated Press Writer

MANTECAL, Venezuela (AP) - The Toyota 4Runner pulled to a stop on the country road and a tinted window rolled down. Passers-by gawked, then broke into a run, screaming ``president!'' when they realized Hugo Chavez was at the wheel. ``I love you!'' cried a middle-aged woman with tears in her eyes, thrusting a fistful of flowers into the car.

The president clasped hands and planted kisses on cheeks, heads and hands of the people who turned out in the pouring rain to see him - an emotional connection that he called the driving force behind the socialist revolution that has pitted him against Washington.

``What hurts me most is poverty, and that's what made me a rebel,'' Chavez said during six hours of conversations with The Associated Press on Saturday during a road trip across the southern plains, a helicopter flight and a visit to a cattle ranch.

Throughout the trip, as he sipped coffee and sang folk songs, he stopped to talk with poor men and women of all ages who crowded around his car. Many asked Chavez for help - to build a home, to arrange medical care - and Chavez barked out instructions to his aides, who jotted them down.

At one stop, a boy peered into the car and asked Chavez for money.
More at http://www.guardian.co.uk/worldlatest/story/0,,-6699483,00.html

[Cleita]

18. Websites

http://www.venezuelafoia.info/
http://www.venezuelanalysis.com/
http://www.rethinkvenezuela.com/index.html
http://lanic.utexas.edu/la/venezuela/
http://www.talcualdigital.com/
http://www.eluniversal.com/index.shtml
http://www.vtv.gob.ve/
http://www.abn.info.ve/

[EFerrari]

20. This thread has some good links in it. I don't know the OP but

several people posted good info on it.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=389x1003321

[EFerrari]

21. High Plains' thread on the FAIR statement re RCTV:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=389x1005404

[Cleita]

22. Thank you.

I was already able to use the information on this thread.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=389&topic_id=1002383&mesg_id=1006734

[Cleita]

23. Videos n/t

[Cleita]

24. RCTV- Reportaje

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-5Nt0Qdel6c

[Cleita]

28. My opinion of this video.

Hugo is pretty much saying the same things about RCTV that AAR hosts say about Fox News and even CNN. He threatened them saying that since they are able to dish it out, they should be able to take it when he uses legal means to stop their lying. I think he crossed the line when he threatened military action. But in the context that it is in South America, it's not such a big stretch really.

[Cleita]

25. RCTV muestra que TIENE CON QUE, SU GENTE!!!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f4vc5sY6YOA&mode=related&search=

[Cleita]

26. Cierre de RCTV - RCTV is gone

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VpK6uXYKLts&mode=related&search=

[Cleita]

27. About RCTV, a new post in GD

By LynnTheDem
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=389&topic_id=1025893&mesg_id=1025893

[Cleita]

29. More RCTV information from burrowowl

http://www.embavenez-us.org/RCTVFactSheetFinal_2007.pdf

[Cleita]

30. Thanks to leftchick more on pro-Chavez demonstrations.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=389&topic_id=1028959&mesg_id=1028959

snip

CARACAS, Venezuela - Thousands of red-clad supporters of President Hugo Chavez strode through the Venezuelan capital Saturday seeking to counter a national outcry over the government's removal of an opposition TV station from the air.

The march was in response to a week of large, sometimes violent protests by students who warned that freedom of expression is threatened by Chavez's refusal to renew Radio Caracas Television's broadcast license, which forced it off the air May 27.

Reggaeton music blared and fireworks crackled as thousands of "Chavistas" gathered at an opposition stronghold in wealthy eastern Caracas before converging with other marches in the capital.

Information Minister Willian Lara said the march would "demonstrate before the world that the non-renewal of (RCTV's license) ... is a democratic conquest," claiming the private media has been "held ransom by a small economic group."

I can't help but notice the difference in color of the anti-Chavez protesters in those videos I posted above (mostly white) and the pro-Chavez crowd here, who are decidedly much browner. It appears to me more and more that it is real class warfare. Of course in most Latin Amrican countries the well off and rich are white and the poor, who are poor working or starving poor are made up of the indigenous people or blacks who were brought there as slaves.

[EFerrari]

31. Answer from the VIO regarding the "seizure" of RCTV's equipment

Hi Elizabeth, thank you so much for contacting Pelosi.

:snip:

regarding RCTV's equipment, unfortunately I don't have the explanation in
English, but if you can read Spanish please go over this article:
http://www.abn.info.ve/go_news5.php?articulo=93068

It basically explains that under the Venezuelan Ministry of Agriculture
and Grow, Article 88 (passed in the year of 1969), the government of
Venezuela allowed the installation of telecommunication equipment and
other necessary equipment to transmit electro-waves in a STATE PARK (which
are protected by this Ministry), in order to guarantee a good service.
Then, in 1973, this article was amended to say that RCTV was going to
build telecommunication networks in the STATE PARK under their OWN
expenses and with the understanding that ALL the equipment, the land, and
every single infrastructure created in this STATE PARK shall always belong
to the STATE.

This is the "price" that the corporation of RCTV paid when they lobbied to
build in areas that are part of the State, in this case a
STATE PARK named AVILA located in Caracas.

This is an agreement made by RCTV and the government in 1973 (way before
Chavez). The Venezuelan Supreme Justice Tribunal went over this case on
May 25, 2007, and ordered, according to the law, that the
RCTV equipment indeed belongs to the State. This is totally legal.

, , , ,

I KNEW this was going to turn out to be bs. :mad:

[Cleita]

32. WooHoo!

Real ammunition the next time someone posts crap in GD.
:bounce:

[EFerrari]

33. eridani has posted great posts comparing Venezuela to Peru

and how one leader is vilified but not the other because of, um, political affiliations. I'll see if I can find one and put the link here.


And here it is:
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=389&topic_id=1039702&mesg_id=1051169

[roody]

36. It's time to start planning a DU meetup in Venezuela.