VenezueLa

1. Presented by: Britney Kolodziej September 18th, 2008 First-Year Seminar PSU 009 VenezueLa

2. HOME Click on a link to view information concerning Venezuela and the topic addressed Background Cultural News Economical News Political News Photo Gallery Social News End Show

3. Background HOME Information last updated September 4, 2008 on https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/ve.html#People Population: ~ 26.4 million (ranked 47th most populated in the world) Size: slightly more than twice the size of California Life Expectancy: ~ 73.45 years Literacy: ~ 93% Population Under Poverty Line: ~ 38% Gov’t Type: federal republic Capital: Caracas Constitution Date: December 30, 1999 Agriculture: corn, sorghum, sugarcane, rice, bananas, vegetables, coffee; beef, pork, milk, eggs; fish Industries: petroleum, construction materials, food processing, textiles; iron ore mining, steel, aluminum; motor vehicle assembly

4. Political News HOME Venezuelan Government to Investigate Coup Plot September 12, 2008 Mérida(venezuelanalysis.com) “Venezuelan President Hugo Chávezconfirmed that several people have been detained for suspected involvement in a recently foiled plot to assassinate him and to take over federal government buildings.   • ‘The silence of the private media is the expression of its participation in the coup d'état attempt,’ Jorge Rodríguez commented.“ • http://www.venezuelanalysis.com/news/3792

5. Social News NEXT Russian bombers in Venezuela amid tension with U.S. September 11, 2008 CNN “Two Russian bombers have landed at a Venezuelan airfield where they will carry out training flights for several days, the Russian defense ministry said Wednesday. The declaration came amid increased tension between Russia and the United States over Russia's invasion last month of Georgia, a U.S. ally that aspires to join NATO. ‘If Russian long-range bombers should need to land in Venezuela, we would not object to that either. We will also welcome them,’ Chavez said on September 1, according to Novosti.” http://www.cnn.com/2008/WORLD/americas/09/11/russia.venezuela/index.html?iref=newssearch

6. Social News NEXT Honduras delays accrediting U.S. ambassador September 13, 2008 CNN “The U.S. decision to expel the Venezuelan ambassadoris the latest move in an escalating diplomatic battle that pits the United States against two of Latin America's leftist leaders. ‘He has 72 hours, from this moment… to leave Venezuela,’ Chavez told a crowd of supporters. ‘When there's a new government in the United States, we'll send an ambassador. A government that respects Latin America.’ • He said also that the presence of two Russian warplanes on Venezuelan soil for a training exercise ‘is a warning’ to the rest of the world that Venezuela's allies include Russia.” • http://www.cnn.com/2008/WORLD/americas/09/12/venezuela.us/index.html?iref=newssearch

7. Social News HOME Venezuela Assists Hurricane Affected Countries September 1, 2008 Mérida (venezuelanalysis.com) “On Sunday Hugo Chavez announced that the Venezuelan government would send water and food to the Dominican Republic and Haiti, and also offered help to Cuba since Hurricane Gustav passed through these countries. Chavez also took the opportunity to urge the US authorities to take preventative measures for the population of New Orleans, where the Hurricane was heading.‘We hope that Gustav dies before arriving in New Orleans and that the Washington government attends to these people so that what happened in 2005 with hurricane Katrina isn’t repeated,’ he said.” http://www.venezuelanalysis.com/newsbrief/3769

8. Cultural News HOME The Arangues Festival: Cultural Resistance in Rural Venezuela September 12, 2008 Arangues, Lara State “Dry heat fills the lungs of thousands of cultural workers from distant and dispersed nooks of Venezuela. For the 27th consecutive year, they have gathered in the rural village of Arangues in the state of Lara, Venezuela to create a vibrant and diverse space of cultural resistance by filling the streets with fervent dancing, singing, artisan foods and crafts, and time-worn rituals for one long weekend.  ‘In this town, cultures from outside were always imposed on the native traditions. This festival is a resistance to this, to make it so these traditions never die and are vindicated by the community, despite the policies of cultural alienation and transculturalization that the Empire has imposed for many years,’ the local Mayor, Julio Chávez told.” http://www.venezuelanalysis.com/analysis/3791

9. Economical News HOME Venezuela to Control Fuel Distribution September 4, 2008 CARACAS, Venezuela (AP) “Lawmakers loyal to President Hugo Chavez gave final approval on Thursday to a bill allowing the Venezuelan government to seize total control of the nation's fuel distribution. Under the law, distributors including subsidiaries of British Petroleum, Exxon Mobil Corp. and Chevron Corp., will have 60 days to negotiate the sale of their businesses to the government or face expropriation. • Critics say the move could cause shortages at gas stations because the government is not prepared to take full control over distribution. But Chavez has defended the law, accusing operators of making an easy buck at the country's expense.” • http://www.cnn.com/2008/WORLD/americas/09/04/venezuela.fuel.ap/

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