['The War on Democracy' by John Pilger was released today on DVD - more info below. Set in Latin
America and the US, 'The War on Democracy' explores the historic and current relationship of Washington with countries such as Venezuela, Bolivia and Chile. The DVD release has both Spanish and Portugese subtitles. Click here to see the film's trailer. To read an interview with Pilger about the film by Venezuelanalysis.com click here. For a Spanish version of the interview click here.]
[Pascual Serrano reports on the NGO Latinobarómetro's annual poll surveying the development of democracies, economies, and societies in Latin America, which shows that Venezuelans view their economy and democracy more positively than other Latin Americans. For a Spanish version of this article click here.]
[Letting the grassroots lead is the only way forward from referendum defeat, says Reinaldo Iturriza Lopez. For a Spanish version of this article click here. This article is one of two included in the February/March 2008 issue of Red Pepper magazine that analyses the prospects for the Bolivarian process following the narrow defeat of President Hugo Chávez’s constitutional reform proposals in December’s referendum.]
[The Gringo In Venezuela blog has provided English subtitles to a documentary on Venezuela's opposition student movement by
Spanish journalist David Segarra Soler entitled 'New Faces, The Same Objective'. In the documentary Soler reveals the connections that
Venezuela's opposition student movement has with various CIA front organisations,
and right-wing political groups from around Europe.]
[In a briefing for the Transnational Institute (TNI) Edgardo Lander and Pablo Navarrete argue that Venezuela has undergone profound political and social changes since
Hugo Chávez assumed the presidency in February 1999, which have been
reflected in a fundamental shift in the country's economic policy. The
briefing offers a historically grounded account of how, in three
distinct stages, the Chávez government has put an end to neo-liberal
policymaking in the country and instituted various structural changes
to the Venezuelan economy.]
[Le Monde Diplomatique editor Ignacio Ramonet argues that given
the results acheived by the Chavez government in Venezuela, is it not surprising that President Chávez has
become a target that "the owners of the world and their agents want
to shoot". Click here for a Spanish version of this article.]
[Justin Delacour, editor of the blog, Latin America News Review, argues that a recent Associated Press report
quoting Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez as referring to Spain's former
Prime Minister Jose Maria Aznar as a "fascist" at the Ibero-American
summit in Santiago, Chile, fails to include the relevant background
information. Consequently, the report makes Chavez's statements appear so bizarre and
undiplomatic as to be inexplicable. During closing
speeches by Latin American leaders on Saturday, King Juan Carlos of Spain told Chavez to "shut up", therebye bringing the
Ibero-American summit to an acrimonious end. Click here for an update by Delacour on this story. Click here for an account of this news in Spanish and to see a video of the exchange between Chavez and the Spanish king.]
A combination photo shows Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez addressing
the closing session of the XVII Ibero-American Summit (right photo) and
Spain's Prime Minister Jose Luiz Rodriguez Zapatero (L) and King Juan
Carlos protesting over Chavez's speech (left photo) in Santiago
November 10, 2007. King Juan Carlos told Chavez on Saturday to "shut
up" during closing speeches by leaders from the Latin world that
brought the Ibero-American summit to an acrimonious end. Credit: Reuters
[Venezuelanalysis.com's Chris Carlson reports on the Venezuelan government's response to US President George W. Bush's threats towards Cuba on Wednesday. Both Venezuelan and Cuban
authorities rejected the statements, labeling them "imperialist
aggression." For an account in Spanish of this news click here.] An anti-Bush poster in front of the U.S.diplomatic mission in Havana reads
"Coming soon to a court in North America: 'The
murderer' starring Posada Carriles and George W. Bush." Havana, Cuba, March 1, 2006. Credit: Pablo Navarrete
[MRZine report on the invitation made by Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez to parties and movements of the Left of Latin America and the Caribbean
to have a
meeting in 2008 to create an international organisation. For a Spanish version of this article click here.]
[For John Pilger, democracy and hope in Latin America have been revived by Venezuela's leader. But the forces allied against him are formidable. Click here to watch an extract from John Pilger's new film 'The War on Democracy'. For a Spanish version of this article click here.]
