Update

The last few weeks have been busy! I have been putting aside a few bits and pieces of the news, however, when something particularly interesting or concerning has happened.

Yesterday, I heard of a case of three Colombian women, with five children between them, picked up in what seems to be, from the vague information I was given, a case of human trafficking. It is unclear if the women are refugees. They were picked up in San Francisco, which is a separate municipality from that of Maracaibo but is part and parcel of the city because it is where the bridge connects from across the lake. From what I hear, there seem to be more cases of human trafficking in Venezuela.

About a week ago, the Venezuelan came out criticizing the U.S. for saying that Venezuela is not doing enough to combat drugs. It added that the United States is in no position to criticize another country about its human rights status seeing as though the U.S. still runs Guantanamo Bay. In addition, someone came out with the headline “Illegal U.S. Consulates in Venezuela: Propaganda and conspiracy centers.” It claims that “American Corners”—which are like mini-libraries housed in areas like universities, schools, etc. (there are a handful throughout the country) –are Washington’s instruments of propaganda. Not only that, but they subvert and violate diplomatic regulations because they do not have authorization from the host government. In fact, the corner in the university where one of the Fulbrighters is working has been shut down. While the books in these corners are often about democracy, voting, U.S. politics, etc. (I know that we have the same books donated by the embassy sitting in CEVAZ’s library), they are in no way propaganda. If anything, the centers are there to promote reading and learning. I would say most, if not all, are hardly substantial, or places that anyone visits or uses very much.

In other news, Chavez has taken over the ports and airports here, in areas under opposition governments. Last week, I saw the national military at the port. For better or worse, I have heard that this hasn’t meant any changes in the functioning of the airport. As it is, the military does a revision of everything going out on a flight before you even check in. While Chavez says that it is all an effort to “unify” the country, it really just means that the national government, rather than state or municipal government, will be able to reap the financial benefits of taxing of departures or arrivals. I can hardly imagine that this will mean that the highly chaotic airport will be more streamlined or make any more sense with a national government company running it (you have to arrive three hours early and the last time, I spent those three hours in a total of six different lines).

As you all may have heard, Obama has talked about trying to buy more oil from Brazil instead of Venezuela, if Brazil can guarantee a certain level of production. Anti-chavistas here are hopeful…they say that they think things will have to get worse, much worse (economically and perhaps otherwise), before things get better.

Just before, Chavez called the Colombian Defense Minister a threat to the region and assured that world that Venezuela is ready for war with Colombia, if it should provoke it.

Never a dull moment here in Venezuela, huh?

Economics & a taxi driver

Venezuela‘s hard truth; Hugo Chavez built his revolution on the back of the oil boom. But crude’s slide has him backtracking, Marina Jiménez writes

http://business.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/RTGAM.20090303.wibvenezuela03/CommentStory/Business/home

By Marina Jiménez

3 March 2009

The Globe and Mail

“…Mr. Merendes, the former finance minister, believes the government would rather run up a big deficit than cut social spending. “Chavez will lose some support during economic hard times but not as much as other leaders,” he predicts, quoting the popular refrain: Con hambre, sin empleo, con Chavez me resteo. With hunger, and without work, with Chavez I struggle.”

By the numbers

$90-billion

Amount the Venezuelan government received in oil revenue last year, a figure that is expected to decrease by two-thirds in 2009.

$42-billion

Venezuela’s foreign reserves, which may be used to cover the lack of oil revenue this year. If that’s the case, the fund will run out by the end of this year.

$20-billion

Amount of investment needed to develop Venezuela’s Orinoco Basin projects.

$700

Average monthly wage in Venezuela

(All in U.S. dollars.)

I came across this story today and felt it would be good to pass along so that people can get a sense of how the low oil prices affects Venezuela, the 5^th largest producer. Chavez was able to spend large amounts of money on social spending when oil prices went sky high. As the economic crisis started to hit, he denied that Venezuela would be affected. Swore up and down that the Venezuelan economy, with the “bolivar fuerte” (strong Bolivar) as its currency, was practically immune. Then oil prices began to plummet. Only then did the illusion (self-delusion) start to fade and he admitted that Venezuela would be affected. But the U.S. was to blame of course (fair point), so he was able to rally against that. The rest—earning top spot in terms of highest inflation in the region, shortages of foods that Venezuela is less and less able to import, not planning on reducing spending substantially (while still maintaining a social program)—Chavez can’t really blame on something, or someone, else. We’ll see if low oil prices does force Chavez reduce spending, if not this year, then next, when he exhausts foreign reserves. Friends of mine joked that it’s all over for him if he raises the price of gas here. They just may be right. However, Chavez, while many things, isn’t stupid. A lot of people say he’ll have to devalue the bolivar fuerte at some point. I’m sure he’ll wait that out too. Most predictions claim he’ll wait until the end of this year. I’d rather not be around for it.

Taxi driver

Taxi drivers here have not been as chatty as other countries I have lived in. I really believe that most are pretty skeptical that I speak Spanish. I find that here, more than in other Latin American countries, people get too caught up in how foreign I look and expect to hear an equally foreign language pouring out of my mouth. Seems that they don’t really realize I’m speaking to them in their language. Listen to me! Anyway, as a result cab rides tend to be rather quiet then (except with the couple of cabbies that I know; I met one through a friend).

Today, on the way home from the UNHCR, a driver from the cab company I trust asked if I spoke English. I said yes, and Spanish, too. He knew some English from living in Miami and Spain. That began an interesting conversation in Spanglish, which was mostly Spanish with a few choice words in English and a few gestures on his part when he didn’t want me to just provide him with a word in English.

In Spain he got to know “ingleses,” or some English people. Apparently, he worked with some English motorcycle design (artistic body work) company. He races a motorcycle himself. I commented that it was dangerous, to which he admitted it can be. “But las mujeres!” (the women!) and he kissed his fingertips as if he was a French chef serving a meal with “Bon appétit!” He has high hopes for his 9-year old son to speak English. Then “he have two idiomas” (languages). He motioned his hands to show eating. “Two way eat,” he explained. “English is dollar,” he continued. The dollar is valued everywhere (I nearly added, “Almost”, given the Venezuelan economy’s relationship with the dollar). He apparently lost a very good job opportunity because he didn’t speak English, which is common among middle-aged individuals I learned through some of my adult students, and he doesn’t want that for his son. Unfortunately, they live in a municipality south of the city, San Francisco, so he hasn’t been able to enroll his son at CEVAZ; it’s just too far. I encouraged my taxista to encourage his son. He insisted on discounting my fare for that ride and even waited to see that I entered my house all right…

New month, old rhetoric

Today’s news carried some interesting headlines. One of the local regional newspapers, La Verdad, reported that the National’s Assembly’s Education Commission will soon begin reviewing text books to see which authors “distort” history (by simplifying U.S. imperialism or foreign affairs since 9/11). They will also think about ways to give expression to socialism and communism. One of the teachers here said that if Chavez’s administration wants to say that imperialism is bad, they must also admit that communism has failed in every country where it’s been attempted, or even that socialism is the quickest path to capitalism, like Winston Churchill said.

While it is not surprising to read that Chavez has begun to compare Obama to Bush, it is remarkable to read that he is essentially telling Obama to mind his own business. In fact, “Venezuela no es su problema, ese es nuestro problema” (Venezuela isn’t his problem, it’s our problem). It certainly is a problem these days. After hearing about another of my good friends here being robbed (and not just your standard on the street mugging)—the fourth, in fact—I can’t help but feel that Chavez isn’t dealing with some of Venezuela’s biggest problems. Spare us the anti-Obama (or Bush or U.S. or whatever is his fancy on a given day) rhetoric. I think all Venezuelans, chavista or not, should not be complacent about the problems of violence and insecurity here, among others.

Facetas

http://www.panorama.com.ve/10revistas/facetas22-02-2009/08.jpg

It is a little strange, I have to admit, to see a picture and article about myself in the same magazine with Juanes, a Colombian pop star, on the cover. But it’s there…check it out. The local Zulia published newspaper Panorama puts out a Sunday magazine called Facetas. Our press & media guy at CEVAZ was contacted by the reporter who did the story. She was looking for women from other countries who are currently living in Maracaibo and he suggested me, especially given that it would help to promote CEVAZ.  For those who don’t read Spanish, don’t worry. The article, short as it is, confuses the details of my life, but I’m not too concerned. My students at CEVAZ were very excited to see me in the magazine and think I’m famous. Hardly!