Brief Political History

3. The name "Venezuela" is believed to have originated from Americo Vespucci who led a 1499 naval expedition along the northwestern coast's Gulf of Venezuela. • On reaching the Guajira Peninsula, the crew observed villages (palafitos) that the people had built over the water and this reminded Vespucci of the city of Venice (Italian: Venezia), so he named the region “Venezuela" meaning "little Venice" in Italian.

4. In Spanish, the suffix -zuela is used as a diminutive term (e.g., plaza / plazuela, cazo / cazuela); thus, the term's original sense would have been that of a "little Venice“

5. Brief Political History • The Spanish arrived at the end of XV century. • Venezuela gained its independence from Spain on July 5th, 1821. • Venezuela had dictatorships until middle of XX century. • From that point on Venezuela has had democratic governments.

6. Grupos Indígenas There are at least 26 indigenous groups in Venezuela: Ya̧nomamö, Pemon, Warao people, Baniwa people, Kali'na people, Motilone Barí and Ye'kuana.

7. Agriculture Sugar Cane Corn Rice Banana Coffee Potato and Yucca Tabaco Cacao

8. Folklore • December 28 is like April Fools Day! • Piñatas • Dance of Joropo • Burning of Judas during Easter Week

9. Celebrations • All Saints Day – November 1st • Independence Day – July 5th • Kings Day – January 6th • Carnival – Monday and Tuesday before Ash Wednesday

10. Contemporary Artists José Luis Aldana, Cruz Diez, Jesus Soto, Virgilio Arrieta, Néstor Carrera, Antonio Evies, Enrique Lobo, Freddy Ontiveros, Manuel Rivero y Victor de la Rosa

11. Film Directors • Jonathan Jakubowicz • Román Chalbaud • José Novoa

12. Music Gustavo Dudamel GUSTAVO DUDAMEL is a dynamic conductor whose passion for music making invigorates audiences of all ages worldwide. He is concurrently serving as Music Director of the Los Angeles Philharmonic, the Gothenburg Symphony Orchestra, and the Simón Bolívar Symphony Orchestra of Venezuela, and the impact of his musical leadership is felt on three continents.

13. TOURIST ATTRACTIONS • Caracas is the capital of Venezuela. It is located in the north of the country • Canaima has a unique landscape formed from the oldest rocks on Earth • The best-known feature are its characteristic flat-topped mountain formations known as tepuis from the local indigenous name. • The Angel Falls is the world's highest free-falling waterfall at 978 meters or 3,209 feet, with an uninterrupted drop of 807 meters, or 2,647 feet

14. TOURIST ATTRACTIONS • Margarita Island is a Caribbean island of Venezuela, located at the Northeast of Caracas, the country's capital. It is one of the most tourist places in Venezuela. • The Andes is a mountain system considered one of the great natural features of the Earth.

15. Venezuela’s Government Hugo CHAVEZ, president since 1998 until March 2013, promoted a controversial policy of "democratic socialism," which purports to alleviate social ills while at the same time attacking globalization and undermining regional stability.

16. Changes with Chavez • Under Chavez, Venezuela underwent enormous political changes such as new constitution, unicameral legislature and new name for the country: The Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela • In 2009 a controversial constitutional referendum was approved abolishing term limits and allowing Chavez to run for re-election in 2012

17. Changes with Chavez The government increased its efforts to suppress the political opposition and continued to threaten media critical of the government

18. After Chavez’s death: • After Chávez's death was announced on 5 March 2013, Maduro, a former bus driver, assumed the powers and responsibilities of the President. • A special election was held on 14 April of the same year to elect a new President, which Maduro won by a tight margin as the candidate of the United Socialist Party; he was formally inaugurated on 19 April.

19. Nicolas Maduro’s Government • The president has kept in place controversial Chavez-era currency controls and the black market price of dollars has soared to seven times higher than the official rate. • Inflation is at an annual 45 percent, and the restricted access to dollars has fueled a shortage of imported goods ranging from toilet paper, tooth paste, soap and motorcycle parts. • The government’s main response to the scarcity of food and other staples is a conspiracy theory. It blames an “economic war” waged by the United States and its “fascist” allies in the Venezuelan opposition

20. Nicolas Maduro • Maduro says Washington is helping the local opposition wage an "economic war" against Venezuela. He expelled three U.S. diplomats he accused of plotting with anti-government activists to damage the power grid and commit other sabotage. • In an attempt to curb the so-called “sabotage,” Maduro announced the creation of the “Superior Organ of the Economy," an organization charged with visiting private companies involved in food and basic consumption good. • Last month Maduro set up an army-backed task-force to tackle the supposed plot, with the help of 0800-SABOTAJE, a hot-line.

21. Nicolas Maduro • Maduro claimed recently that in meetings at the White House earlier this year a plan was hatched to engineer the “total collapse” of the Venezuelan economy in October. • Maduro said that a huge power cut affecting 18 (out of 24) states on September 3rd was due to sabotage, as well as a refinery explosion last year that killed 49 people. • Maduro was in Beijing, where he confirmed a fresh $5 billion credit line (with strings attached) and $15 billion in long-term oil and mining investments.

22. Venezuela’s Economy • Venezuela has the worst performing economy in the Americas even though it has the world’s biggest oil reserves and gets 94% of its export earnings from it. • Venezuela inflation is over 45% a year and supermarket shelves are bare of many staple goods. • Foreign exchange has been largely allocated by government fiat since 2003. On the black market, the dollar commands more than six times the official exchange rate of 6.3 bolivars.

23. Venezuela & US Relations The US officials have expressed concerns regarding human rights, Venezuela’s military arm purchases, its relationships with Cuba and Iran and its efforts to exports its brand of populism to other Latin American Countries.

24. Political Climate • A weakening of democratic institutions • Political polarization • A politicized military, drug-related violence along the Colombian border • Increasing internal drug consumption

25. Interesting Facts: • Venezuela is considered to be amongst the 17 most biodiverse countries of the world. • Venezuela holds the distinction of being one of the most urbanized countries in Latin America. • Kerepakupai-Meru, more popularly known as Angel Falls, makes up the world's highest free-falling waterfall. • Lake Maracaibo of Venezuela is regarded as the largest lake in South America.

26. More Interesting Facts… • The first European to find the coast of Venezuela was Christopher Columbus. • Capybara, the largest rodent of the world, is found inhabiting the grassy plains (llanos) of Venezuela. • The petroleum industry accounts for half of the revenue of the government of Venezuela. • Venezuela was the largest oil exporter in the world in the early twentieth century.

27. Interesting Facts • Venezuela has the largest proven oil reserves in the Western Hemisphere and the second largest natural gas reserves. • Venezuelans are very beautiful. Venezuela has had more Miss Universes and Miss Worlds than any other country. • Venezuela has the cheapest gasoline price in the world

28. Questions ?