Michelle Fox's Travel Log

As it just so happens… Social Security was privitized here in Argentina 10 years ago. It led, among other things, to the economic crisis of Dec, 2001 and the huge Argentine government debt now incurred to the IMF/ World Bank/ and private investors world wide.

We, in the United States should think twice about any changes we make to the social security system. It is the legacy that we pass on to our parents, families, children. Privitization has not worked in other markets, why should it work with social security?

This article from the Center for Economic & Policy Research is quite telling and comes from someone who has researched extensively on the downfalls of the privitization of social security in other countries around the world. Maybe we should look at examples abroad before diving in to a system that will decrease our benefits and increase the costs.

Sacramento

The day of independence begins when you turn 15 years old. We live in a society that is constantly moving on wheels, and at age 15 you are finally ready to begin your journey into this driving world.

Driver’s Ed is the first milestone toward this social independence. Well, almost. The Driver’s Ed requirement is only necessary if you are younger than 18. If you’re willing to wait until then, you can eliminate this requirement from the process of acquiring a driver’s license. The goal of Driver’s Education is to teach the basic knowledge of highway safety and automobile operation. You can complete this course a number of ways, including through the classroom or online. If you choose to take driver ed online, the course runs as quickly as just 3 days.

Once you complete Driver’s Ed, you’ll receive a certificate that verifies the course completion. With this paper in hand, you’re ready to go to the DMV and arrange for a written permit examination. It is ideal to schedule an appointment ahead of time; otherwise, you may end up waiting in line for hours. The written test typically involves answering multiple-choice questions on paper or computer. Once you pass the examination, you will be issued a learner’s permit. Be sure to schedule your first hour of driving school for right after you receive the permit – don’t get behind the wheel with your mom right away. Get a certified trainer to deal with your first hour no matter how confident you are about your ability to handle the vehicle. That’s the law.

After the completion of driver’s training with a certified trainer, students start behind the wheel driving with a parent or guardian. After a total of at least 50 hours worth of driving, including 10 hours of nighttime practice, you are almost ready to drive by yourself. There is one last step. That’s to have the DMV staff give your examination.

If you survive the scrutiny of the road test, you will be rewarded a driver’s license. It can be exciting to see your efforts pay off.

Buenos Aires

“Por los suenos que se hundieron aca.”
For the dreams that drowned here. One sentance says a million words, images, emotions, lives. This tragedy is something that Buenos Aires will not soon get over. The city is in mourning. Mourning over something which should not have happened, but did. Over bad mistakes, made at the wrong time and almost 200 youths and their families have paid the price. Their dreams extenguished forever. Extenguished in the smoke and flames that took their lives.

Happy New Year to everyone, and my apologies for not updating this site for quite some time. The Green Festivals went great, drawing 15,000 people in DC and 24,000 for it`s third year in SF. We had enough volunteers for each event, so thanks to everyone who came out.

After a month of “clean-up” and some time with my family in Virginia, I have again headed south. This time to the Southern Cone, where I will be attending the World Social Forum at the end of the month. For now, I am in Buenos Aires, Argentina catching up with some friends, seeing how things have changed since I was last here and getting acquainted with a number of movements I am very interested in.

As for the future, we will see what it holds. There are multitudes of opportunities, but as for now, it looks like I will be back in SF in mid Feburuary to continue working with my friends from the Green Festival in some way or another.

Until later…

The Green Festival Needs You to Volunteer!

Washington DC: Sep 18th & 19th at the Washington Convention Center

Be a part of helping put on an amazing two-day event that will educate and activate people to make choices for a better world!

Receive free weekend admission to the event and get an organic cotton and sweatshop-free Green Festival Staff t-shirt!

The Green Festival, a joint project of Global Exchange and Co-op America, is a 2-day event committed to the movement towards a just and sustainable society. The festival features: Over 200 Socially and Environmentally Responsible Enterprises * Community Groups * Over 50 leading Speakers * Organic Food Court * Movement and Dance Workshops * Local Music * A Networking Center * And thousands of attendees who want to build a just and sustainable world and have opportunities to learn, be inspired, get active, & have fun!

Click here for a link to the Volunteer Form: Volunteer Form

Send questions to volunteer@greenfestivals.com

Visit the website at www.greenfestivals.org

8/22, Washington, DC,

I wish I had some insightful words. Some insane story. Some mystical
wisdom to relate. But I don’t. Just a hodgepodge of recent experiences that have touched me deeply, filled me with hope and affected me in many ways that I am sure I will never understand.

As for the Venezuelan Referendum, hopefully you are all up to speed with
the mighty results: Chavez ahead with 59%. Thank you all for your
inquisitiveness, your kind words and your connections. The experience was unforgettable, and the lines of voters ran down the streets in torrents, some waiting in line for 12 hours.

Check out www.aporrea.org,
www.venezuelanalysis.org or www.vheadline.com for more information.

As for me, I returned to SF last Wednesday, where I spent a quick couple
of days seeing friends and trying to get used to the US and ready for the
Green Festival. I arrived last night to Northern Virginia and after a day
at my parent’s house I head to the Coop America office in DC to start work again tomorrow on the Green Festival.

The date for the DC Festival is set for Sept. 18 & 19 and if anyone is
interested in volunteering (and getting a t-shirt and receiving free admission for the weekend), we could DEFINITELY use your help. You cancheck out the website, www.greenfestivals.org for more info.

Also, definitely check out the website of my good friend and fellow
musician, Jordan Klein. www.jordanklein.us. He spent last weekend
registering voters in Reno with the organization America Coming Together (ACT). It’s an excellent story and the site’s chalked full of great links and poignant political commentary focused on the upcoming elections. Go Jordan!

Aug. 17, 2004,

Caracas, Venezuela

The people awoke just before 4 in the morning to the sound of jubilant cheers and fireworks. The National Electoral Council (CNE) had announced the results of the Referendum to Revoke President Chavez. With 94% of the votes in, Chavez was ahead by 58% to 42%, with a total of 8 1/2 million citizens having voted to decide the fate of their President and their country.

Just after 4 am, President Chavez stepped to the balcony of the Presidential Palace, Miraflores, to speak to the sea of red shirts and waving flags that had gathered there over the past 12 hours. He declared victory and offered a hand to the Opposition, mentioning that “this is your victory as well. A victory for the people of Venezuela.”

But as the sun rose on the city of Caracas, certain sectors of the opposition were already suggesting fraud, and called on the people to hit the streets in demonstration against the false results. The mainstream media, led by Globovisión is carrying this banner, as always, in an attempt to destabilize the government. As has been the case for the past 5 years in Venezuela, the battle of the opposition is being fought by the media, unwilling to yield to the will of the people and the results of the elections.

The current media situation is reminiscent of the role that the media played in the April, 2002 Coup d’etat against Chavez. While members of the insurgent coup removed Chavez from power for 2 days, the major private TV networks showed movies, cartoons, or manipulated videos rather than inform the people about what was really happening.

At 12:30am Monday morning, Aug. 16, just minutes after the polls had closed, Venevision, one of the mainstream private TV networks, decided to play Cape Fear. As the election results were being announced, Raising Arizona was being shown, and as dawn broke on Monday morning, shining on the wet Chavez supporters still left outside Miraflores, Tom and Jerry were running across its screens.

At 7:30am, Televen, another mainstream private station, ran a program focusing on the elections entitled Opcion 2004. One member of their panel, already so convinced of fraud, declared that “From here on out, there remains no longer any doubt, that we are before an illegitimate regime.”

Later that day, however, The Carter Center, the Organization of American States, and other international observers declared the results of the Referendum to be accurate and fair. Jimmy Carter added that in 50 elections all around the world, he had never seen such participation by the citizens. Although these declarations of validity have assuaged some of the Opposition’s fears, they say there still remain doubts and are not willing to concede the victory until the ballot boxes are opened.

The opposition claims that the results were manipulated do to the fact that their exit polls from the day of the Referendum showed that they were winning. Interestingly, most other exit polls showed Chavez ahead by between 5- 10%, and even the security check on the results from the Referendum done by the Opposition NGO Sumate showed Chavez the victory by 4%. Regardless, certain sectors of the Opposition remain unflinching despite the overwhelming evidence that the elections were legitimate.

Despite the opinion of the Opposition, the international community recognizes the legitimate and objective results of the referendum, and Chavez will finish out his last 2 years of his term in office.

The country is still greatly polarized however, and as Venezuelan journalist Andres Canizalez recently mentioned,

“The Aug. 15 referendum will not be the end of the political crisis in the country, but just another event in the many that will occur before the problem is resolved… and the radio and TV stations are the trenches from which each side are waging their battle.”

Moments, teetering on the breath of existence. Like a wounded sea-saw, like a distant storm, that we watch slowly rumble over the open plains. Slowly, silently, distantly awaiting its eminent arrival. Tonight is like Christmas Eve, only you don’t know if Santa will be shot, or if the presents will arrive late, or not at all.

Suspension. Time suspended, or moving so slowly, it seems as if nothing were afoot, and yet it is everything. Anxiety, tension, and the unknown, unknowing, hoping, awaiting and resting one last rest before tomorrow.

Tomorrow, almost today, charting unknown territories through the recent history or future of our times. These moments I will never forget. They are indelible. They are written on the tiny handkerchief that is this world and with them their images and fingerprints taken.

A small breeze rustles the trees amidst the dark night. Perhaps there is a star or two. Perhaps not, I forgot to look and it doesn’t often matter in a city this size, they are all but erased amidst the black-lit light pollution that increases with every new building, every neon sign.

A cool breeze, bringing hope? Bringing…? I can’t tell. It is mixed and confused, but it has been waiting a long time and it seems that the entire city is united this one night. United for tomorrow. United in this process. United in their relaxation. United in their dreams.

Or not…

And what was the US ambassador doing meeting with prominent leaders of the opposition late last night? Perhaps not everyone is sleeping soundly. Perhaps not everyone should be sleeping soundly. Nor do I believe they are. But perhaps they do. What will tomorrow bring? What will the future hold? What strange footsteps will Aug. 15, 2004, leave on the dusty trail that will be the history of our race? The human race.

It all seems so poignant. It seems so real, and if we were not here, would the game still be played. What would the present Venezuela be without Chavez? What would this referendum be without the Opposition? What would positive be without the negative? What would we be without our opposite? And perhaps that is the game. Perhaps that is the trick. To understand the rules, so that we can learn to play a fair game, or to make the rules so that the game is fair.

Regardless, both the rules and the game are set for tomorrow, and the whole world will be watching. We all just hope that they are fair. Or, at least, most of us do.

It is the eve of what appears will, and has already become one of the most historic events in the history of Venezuela, the Americas, and even the World.

Tomorrow, the people of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela will head to the polls to decide whether they will revoke President Chavez from office. A democratic referendum facilitated through the newly formed Constitution which will allow the people to decide the fate of their country. A participatory and democratic national process unknown and never before tried in the rest of the Americas (including the United States… ok not including California), and through much of the world.

The outcome is unknown. Most polls show Chavez ahead by between 5-10%, but it all depends on who you are speaking with. Each side is afraid of the other committing election fraud, and each side is equally capable or not.

Peaceful? Violent? Images from the coup d´etat on April 11, 2002 which took President Chavez out of office for two days, have left indelible marks on the hearts and minds of Venezuelans across the country. And it seems that very little would surprise these resilient and impassioned citizens after so many attempts to remove the President from office.

Thousands of press, and internationally know election observers have spilled over the country, ready to witness this revolutionary process. Revolutionary regardless of the outcome. Revolutionary because it involves the voice of the people regardless of political party, race, size, or religious denomination. Revolutionary because if it where not for the creation of the new Constitution signed and ratified in to power by popular vote just a few years ago, this Referendum would not be taking place. Revolutionary, because if it were not for Chavez, the new Constitution would never have been reformed, and there would be no Referendum.

I know not what the next few days hold. No one does. What I do know is that the things I have seen in Venezuela over the past month and a half have warmed my heart and my soul, and filled me with glimmer hope oftentimes lost somewhere amidst the mercantilist world market, the polluted waters, the neon signs, the oil rigs, the 2-ton bombs, the invasions and the “good intentions.”

The programs and the projects, not just promoting education, but educating. Not just purporting health, but curing. Not just offering, but revamping. Built from the community level, upwards. Rather than being told what to do, people are deciding and doing it on their own. And I have never seen a more emotional, united, and conscious people. As many told me, “President Chavez has opened our eyes, and now that we are conscious, we will not return to the past.”

I could carry on forever and yet when they ask me, all I can say is that I am speechless. And just when I think it all makes sense, I realize that I am more confused than ever. The people are united, one against the other. The situation is complex and the answers are not simple. The Opposition is large. Corruption does exist, and it is institutionalized within the Venezuelan government, left over from former administrations and leaders. Yet it remains, and the problems have been instigated through the mainstream press and media to a point at which in order to get any semblance of an independent point of view you must watch at least 2 news programs, read 2 newspapers, listen to 2 view points (one supporting Chavez, one supporting the Opposition).

And so tomorrow, the people will get up early and walk down from the hills or take the elevator down from their apartments to the voting centers. And the city, the country, the people and the government only hope that it is peaceful. They only hope that the results are respected by all parties. They only hope and work to ensure so, and that is all that can be done in this unpredictable world in which we live.

One thing for sure. Tomorrow will be the making of history, and Venezuela already is mapping the way through uncharted seas for millions of curious onlookers and hundreds of poorer or richer countries. Populism or not? Social Democracy or not? Locally grown grassroots movements, supported by the government, usually, but not always. And all the while, Chavez.

And regardless of the decision tomorrow, whoever takes power will need to find the way to increase the dialogue, the communication, and the exchange of ideas. And regardless, it is the process that matters. This process, the referendum, democracy and participation. Not just 1 vote every four years. But actual participation and discussion. Democracy, as has been created in Venezuela in the past 6 years, with over 7 popular votes and election, when the time is necessary. Making decisions for the country. Making decisions for the community. Us, you, me, everyone. Participation and Democracy that we in the United States always claim we have and yet when it comes down to it, like in 2000, we remember that we are really a Republic when the candidate who gets the majority of votes losses the election.

And with that, I´ll see you soon, as I will be heading back to the States on the morning of Aug. 18. I will be in San Francisco from that afternoon until Saturday the 21st, when I will be heading to DC to help prepare for the Green Festival.

Just over 1 month ago, in Caracas, Venezuela, it was celebrated that approximately 1.2 million people had learned to read in the one year since the creation of the first Robinson Mission, a program which was set-up in order to eradicate illiteracy across the country.

The Robinson Mission was one of the first of many programs created in order to bring education, health, food and employment to the poor barrios of Venezuela. The missions where formed by President Chavez, and facilitated by the new Constitution, which was passed by popular vote in 1999. The results of these missions after a little over 1 year of existence have been astounding and account for the huge support for President Chavez in the poorer communities of Venezuela.

FSRN Correspondent Mike Fox has more from Caracas

Through the Barrio Adentro Mission, 20,000 medical professionals mainly from Cuba, have been placed in poor neighborhoods throughout the country, enabling them to have already carried out close to 40 million free consultations since last fall.

Approximately 1.4 million students are enrolled in the Ribas Mission, which enables students of any age to acquire their high school diploma free of charge.

The Vuelvan Caras Mission provides training in construction, agriculture, tourism, development and other services, to approximately 1 million people currently enrolled in its programs. William Alberto Pacheco is a student in Catia, one of the poor barrios of Caracas,

William:

“We were excluded and now we are being included in a project that provides work and training. They are giving us the tools so that we, as human beings, can find our way of advancing in the world.”

Narrator:

The missions, while supported by the government, are actually organized and run by the residents of the community. Daisy Josefina Rojas, works with a number of missions in the barrio of Antimano, Caracas.

Daisy:

“Before we didn’t participate, and they didn’t take us in to account. And the beautiful thing is that now they take us in to account, we are the people…. Now we are very conscious, now we are very clear. Before the people didn’t talk about politics, now we talk about politics. Before, the people didn’t talk about petroleum, now we talk about petroleum. And many other things.”

Narrator:

But with the Referendum vote less than 2 weeks away, which will decide whether President Chavez will be revoked from office, many fear that these programs would be taken away from them, in the event that Chavez losses. Yamira Argueyes, is a student in the Ribas mission located in Antimano.

Yamira Argueyes:

“During the coup d’etat, on April 11, 2002, when Carmona took office, the first thing he did was change the name from the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela. That was the first thing he did. Then he eliminated the congress. He eliminated this and that. He arrested the people who had worked with Chavez, beating them and throwing them in prison. If that was just one day, can you imagine if these people return? We will lose everything that we have obtained.”

Narrator:

Antonio Jose Herrera, professor of political science and member of the opposition, says that due to the overwhelming popularity of the projects, if the opposition were to gain control, they would be forced to keep the missions in place.

Because much of the benefits of the missions have gone primarily to the poorer communities, the majority of the middle- upper class opposition has not whitnessed the results first hand. Their principal source of information has come from the mainstream media which are openly biased against Pres. Chavez and his policies.

Since the opposition appears to be united only in its discontent with Present Chavez, it is difficult to say exactly what would happen to the missions if the President were to lose the referendum.

Juan:

“The most important thing, regardless of what happens in the country, is that the people will never be the same. Today, the people in the barrio are much more conscious than even the members of the Congress or the National Assembly.”

Narrator:

Juan Contreras member of the Coordinadora Simon Bolivar, community organization.

And so, Venezuela and the world, anxiously await Aug. 15, when the choice to revoke Chavez will be made. The polls taken over the past week either show Chavez ahead or behind by as much as 10- 20% depending on the polling agency.

The country is polarized over Chavez, and each side is convinced they are going to win.

One thing is for sure, the people are engaged with the democratic process, be it with Chavez or against him. And on Aug. 15, they will be participating in it like never before.

Mike Fox, Free Speech Radio News, Caracas, Venezuela

(This is the script for the piece prepared for Free Speech Radio…
You can listen to it on www.fsrn.org, in the archive from the Thursday, Aug. 5 broadcast)

Voces Por La Unidad

Last night, a sea of red shirts and Venezuelan flags covered the area just outside Fort Tiuna, one of the very places where a mass of citizens had likewise converged to demand the release of President Chavez during the coup d’etat attempt of April, 2002.

But the crowd, yesterday, was there to celebrate, not to protest. Before the thousands of people stood a stage, on the other end, a giant Venezuelan flag hung from the Proceres monument in honor of the fathers of Venezuelan Independence. As always Mount Avila stood silently towards the north, eternally watching over Caracas.

Like most things in this part of the world, the event would start over 2 hours late, but the multitudes would not mind.

Voices for Unity. Unity with Chavez.
Artist after artist took to the stage, chanting…
“No Volveran!”
(They -the oligarchy- will not return!)

The slogan that Chavez´ supporters have made in support of the “NO” vote (ie. No we don´t want to take Chavez out of office) for the upcoming Aug. 15 referendum.

The concert was like none imagineable, and I thought I had seen it all when President Chavez walked on stage just as Silvio Rodriguez began to sing “Te Doy Una Cancion.” But I was wrong, because suddenly before my very eyes, the infamous Cuban guitarist was accompaning Hugo in a poem about Simon Bolivar…

“Por aqui paso compadre, hasta aquellos montes lejos…”
Bolivar pased by here, towards those far away mountains…

From Grupo Madera to Orquestra Aragon, to Ibrahim Ferrer and the Buena Vista Social Club, and countless others. It was a concert like none other I could have imagined. And one, which I will not soon forget.

For the final song, performers from the whole evening joined Ibrahim Ferrer in singing “Guantanamera”, which suddenly turned in to “Chavez no se va…” just as the fireworks display was set off from the Proceres Monument.

Puerto Rican Salsa meets Cuba meets Venezuela.

Unity for Chavez,
Voices for Unity,
Solidarity,

and I don´t care whether you support Chavez or not,
it was one heck of a concert.

—
And as you can tell. I have not yet returned to the States. I got the go ahead from my friends with the Green Festival and decided to stay in Venezuela until after the Aug. 15 referendum.

My experience, over the past weeks has been exciting and full. I am still finishing the english translation and narration of this important documentary about the events of the April 11, 2002 coup d´etat. 2 weeks ago I helped with the Global Exchange delegation to Caracas, where I felt as though we able to get a good feel for the present situation. I made some good contacts and am finishing a report for Free Speach Radio News which should air sometime later on this week. I´ll let you know the exact date and you can visit www.fsrn.org to find out which station near you broadcasts the program. You can also listen in over the web.

And that´s about all for now. There is another GX delegation coming down on the 10th which I will also be helping on, and I should be flying back to the states around Aug. 18, and heading to DC on the 20th.

If you are in SF or DC. I look forward to seeing you soon. If you are on the East Coast, get ready to be recruited to help at the Green Festival on Sept. 18-19, as I will again be helping with the volunteers at the event.

Until then, for more info. on the Green Festival you can visit, www.greenfestivals.org.. As for info on Venezuela, I recommend www.venezuelanalysis.org or www.veninfo.org. If you would like to travel to Venezuela on one of the reality tours with which I have been helping on, you can visit www.globalexchange.org. for more info.

I can`t believe it`s already been a week. Busy with translations, narrations, delegations, and crazy life in Caracas.

I made it to the main teatro in Caracas in time to acquire 2 free tickets to the a special celebration tonight of the 100 year anniversary of the birth of Pablo Neruda.

Should be good. Working on translations. Tomorrow we start recording.

Happy Birthday Pablo!

I just returned from a brief camping trip to Avila National Park, which is basically all that stands in between Caracas and the Caribbean. It was a gorgeous overnight amidst the stars and the vegetation. At one point this morning after the clouds cleared a bit and before the fog rolled in, you could see the ports down one side and the great city of Caracas down the other. A pleasure.

This week I will be doing the English narration to a video entitled “Llaguno Bridge: Clues to the Massacre.” The video is full length and was finished several months ago by an independent group of film makers who spent a year researching the actual events of April 11, 2002.

April 11, 2002, was the date of the mass marches in Caracas in which 19 people where killed and many wounded. The deaths led to the coup which overthrew Chavez for 2 days. The media pinned the deaths and injuries on a small group of Chavist supporters who where filmed by a major local news station firing their firearms. Using countless facts, accounts, films and photos, the video is able to piece together what really happened that day.

The results are astounding, and clearly show how the mainstream media stations altered their reports or left out important information, in order to make it seem as though the Chavez Administration was supporting the massacre of innocent civilians of the opposition. In reality, both Chavez and Opposition protestors died that day. The group filmed with their guns, where actually firing in self-defense at the snipers stationed in the building next door. The coup d´etat, it seems, had been planed from the beginning. When I get back to the states, if interested, you can get a copy from me.

Anyway, that is my plan for this week and it is amazing how things can change from one day to the next.

When I arrived in Caracas, I was prepared to start helping a friend of a friend working with Social Movements. Unfortunately, we soon ended up playing phone tag or not connecting at all. One day at the beach, staring out at the Caribbean waters, missing my El Salvadorian friends, and I was back in Caracas slowly getting involved through other channels.

I met with an NGO entitled “Conciencia Nacional”, which works with over 2500 cooperatives (nearly all of which have just spring up in the past 4 years). A day later, I visited the Bolivarian University, which is providing free advanced education to almost 10,000 economically deprived students (They are, incidentally celebrating their one year anniversary this month). A day later I visited a friend´s sister´s used bookstore, and got a tour of the largest Venezuelan University. Yesterday I visited my first community radio station in Caracas.

Excellent!! and I can honestly say that I am not at a loss for things to do.

This weekend I had plans to travel to some nearby states with Conciencia Nacional, in order to observe some of their workshops, but things got flipped upside down again, and again, and again…
As they almost always seem to.

And c´est la vie. So it was off to the mountain and now planning this week until the delegation from Global Exchange (www.globalexchange.org) arrives on Friday. I will be translating for the group while they are here.

and it seems as though my time for now in Latin America is running short.
and so it is.
and so it is.
and so it is…

for now

Wandering amidst the tunnels,
the metal, the people, the trains
amidst the buzzers, and buzzes, and swoops
swiftly carrying me to you,
or away.

Smells drift from the past
colors on this palleted air
drawing me towards memories,
of time…
of place…
when there was where.

and I see me standing,
waiting,
wating to catch my train
drawing images of past upon my mind,
of me waiting for the train.

the train that never arrives…
and people, invisible, wander by
lost or too focused
in their crystaline moment of time.

and I still waiting
ever waiting
slowly
writing
until this time,
I climb aboard
and join the masses
struggling,
confused,
hanging on for their lives.

The cooperative movement has been huge here in Venezuela, since the creation of the new constitution which actually gives cooperatives important rights which support them in government and nongovernemtal business.

I am off, more later.

But you might want to check out these sites for more information on the current situation in Venezuela…
Venezuela News & Action, newsandaction@veninfo.org
their website will be up soon, www.veninfo.org
(they have an excellent weekly email newsletter and are based out of DC)
www.venezuelanalysis.com
(An excellent resource in English, focusing on the political situation)
I recommend the article entitled:
The Economics, Culture, and Politics of Oil in Venezuela

The following are websites to the 3 major mainstream news sources in Venezuela (definately Anti-Chavez, all are in Spanish)…
www.el_nacional.com
www.globovision.com
www.eluniversal.com

I have now been in Venezuela about 5 days and it is an experience like none other. Politically, socially, economically, etc… everything has its pro-chavez and anti-chavez point of view. And citizens are not often willing to compromise that. I am staying with a good friend´s cousin and his family. They are amazing and have been overly welcoming and warm. They are also Anti-Chavez which means that much of their information comes from the major news networks, which refuse to broadcast any pro-chavez marches and put and anti-chavez spin on everything that comes across the screen.

On the flip-side, the government also has its own station which is used to broadcast its own info… all pro-chavez.

The truth, like always, perhaps lies in between, or perhaps somewhere else. Who is to say?

What I can say is that beyond Chavez himself, my brief investigations in to cooperatives, citizen assemblies, the new consitution, and reforms of all types including things like the urban agrarian land reform, has totally amazed me. In a good way.

The new laws and community supported movements are the most progressive thing I´ve seen since sliced bread.

That´s all for now… off to physical therapy.

Caracas is big. Tall skyscrapers shoot to the sky like grey blades of grass amidst a sea of traffic and houses. They are, however, dwarfed by the immense Mount Avila National Park which flanks the city towards the north. familiarly refered to as the “lungs of Caracas”, a term used by residents to describe its ever present green expanses that stretch on into the clouds.

Luna llena
peinso en ti
linda, clara
llamandome
acordandome
de grandes amigos míos
en aquel rincon
al otro lado del mundo…
…del universo
…de la tierra
…del mar