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Children grow taller under Chavez socialism (photo)

This photo was taken in the arriving immigration section at the Caracas airport. The entire hall is filled with banners stressing the sucesses of Venezuela under socialist rule.

The banner in the foreground boasts that children grow taller under socialism in Venezuela. I am curious not only how this was proven statistically, but also why this indicates that life is better under socialism. It seems relatively clear that this is an attempt to tug at the heart strings of Venezuelans.

The utulization of images of children in what are clearly political messages is also quite disturbing.

Also noteworthy is that while there was clearly a budget for these new and shiny propaganda items, the signage for the immigration lines is old, deteriorating and incorrect in its grand majority. It is clear where the priority lies with government spending:

Maintaining power is much more important than providing services to Venezuelan citizens and visiting foreigners.
@robertosilvers
robertosilvers@gmail.com

Chavez continues to abuse power and violate electoral regulations in Venezuela legislative election campaign

This post is a response to an article posted on transd[e]uce: electoral controversy in Venezuela: can elected officials campaign? (part 1)

As you state, Venezuelan law does not prohibit public officials from participating in the campaign. However, it does prohibit the use of:

1) public resources (including state media); and
2) the advantages of public office.

Electoral Commission rector denounces use of State media in electoral campaign (video w/ English subtitles)

Electoral Commission Rector Vicente Diaz denounces use of State media in electoral campaign (w/ English subtitles)

Venezuelan President Hugo Chávez and others government officials use government media outlets (TV and radio) for political campaigning. This activity is clearly prohibited by Electoral Commission (CNE) regulations. Regardless, similar activity continues and has been excused by the Electoral Commission President Tibusay Lucena and President Hugo Chávez himself. In addition, Chávez has threatened Rector Diaz with legal action if he chooses to continue denouncing use of government media for political purposes.

Violence in Guarenas: Notice posted in Civil Registry for murder suspect

Violence in Venezuela

"Friends, if you see this man, please let me know. He killed my 15 year old girlfriend. Call me or send me a text message."

Violence is everywhere here. Everyone is impacted. Everyone is scared.

Venezuelan Minimum Wage Not Sufficient for Average Cost of Living (cost breakdown): Inflation and Stagnant Incomes to Blame

Venezuelan basic food supply

Venezuelan minimum wage = BsF 1,224 per month.
BsF 14,688 per year or approximately  $3,400 USD per year.

Reasonable Average Costs (August 2010)
BsF 140,000 = New economy car
BsF 5,500 = Full size orthopedic mattress
BsF 4,500 = Basic food budget
BsF 5,500 = Refrigerator

Chavez mask wearers on motorcycle in PSUV rally opening campaign (photo)

Chavez impersonators in PSUV rally.

People, wearing masks depicting Venezuela's President Hugo Chavez, ride a motorcycle as they take part in a rally held by Chavez's allies in Caracas, Venezuela, Wednesday, Aug. 25, 2010. Chavez's allies launched their campaigns Wednesday for crucial congressional elections that come just as recession, crime and inflation have pushed the socialist leader's popularity to a seven-year low.

Murders per 100,000 Inhabitants in the Americas (78 in Venezuela) - Excellent comparative graphic

Number of Murders per 100,000 Inhabitants

78 in Venezuela
16 in Ecuador
11 in Haiti
5 in the USA
5 in Peru
5 in Argentina
5 in Uruguay
2 in Bolivia
1 in Chile

Source: Tal Cual, August 25, 2010
Link: http://noticiascentro.com/noticias/detalle/4197

Facing sure defeat, PSUV opponent calls for disqualification of legislative candidate Maria Corina (Tal Cual, Universal, VNewsViews)

Image via Wikipedia

In a sign that Chavez candidates are learning from their leader, PSUV candidate Iris Varela has called for the disqualification of her Unity Table opponent Maria Corina Machado in upcoming legislative elections.

PSUV uses public university as campaign headquarters (La Voz, Tal Cual)

Tal Cual, 7/30/10

For those who may find the intentions of the Education Ministry suspect, you will find suficient evidence if you enter the main courtyard of the Venezuelan Bolivarian University[1] of Eje-Valles del Tuy, where PSUV has set up its campaign headquarters for the Tomas Lander municipality[2].


The headquarters is also utilizing seminar room 22 and several university computers. It would be a idea to ask the pertinent authorities if they
would also permit the opposition Unity Table to operate their campaign from the university campus.

Democracy News from Venezuela - Biweekly News Summary (English only) #vzeng

Biweekly TOP 10 News Stories
More stories below

National Electoral Council (CNE)

Always more at http://twitter.com/robertosilvers

1) Elections: Venezuela bans Chilean Senators as electoral observers > http://english.eluniversal.com/2010/07/15/en_pol_esp_venezuela-bans-chile_15A4190051.shtml

2) Freedom of speech: Venezuela: Close Chavez’s New Censorship Office > http://www.hrw.org/en/news/2010/07/21/venezuela-close-chavez-s-new-censorship-office

3) US funding: Opinion: The Right to Receive International Cooperation (Provea) > http://robertosilvers.blogspot.com/2010/07/opinion-right-to-receive-international.html?utm_source=twitterfeed&utm_medium=twitter

Another Chavez Lie: "Colombia is more dangerous now than eight years ago"

President Hugo Chavez is quoted in a Foreign Ministry press release today as follows:

President Chávez noted that the Uribe government leave office defeated, because the Colombian president did everything to develop an aggressive and militaristic policy, but failed to bring peace to the country. “Today Colombia is more violent and [there is] more drug-trafficking than eight years ago, so he tries to shoot into us (…) and say that he couldn’t defeat it because Chávez protects them.”

Why Oliver Stone Is Wrong About Venezuela (Leopoldo Lopez, Huffington Post)

Stone misrepresents Vzla reality

The filmmaker Oliver Stone's documentary of Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez has re-energized a long-running debate about the future of Venezuela and what it means for democracy in other countries.

Mr. Stone argues the assault on human rights is of secondary concern, saying: "Why do you seek out the dark side when the guy is doing good things?" After all, "Most peoples' lives in this country have improved under Chavez."

NGOs are target of Venezuelan revolutionaries' fury

VenEconomy: The government's numbers don't tally, and it's by no means certain that, on September 26, it will manage to keep the control over parliament it needs in order to impose communism.

That is what is behind the government's strategy of customizing its attacks on and persecution of any sector or organization that has sufficient credibility to combat its Castro-Chavista communism.

Chavez cites report listing Venezuela as murder capital

"Caracas has become the murder capital of South America – registering a homicide rate that exceeds that of Bogotá, Colombia" [1].

In a blanket broadcast (cadena) yesterday, President Hugo Chavez cited a recent report on murder rates to support his argument that the United States is incredibly violent. The argument goes like this:

Capitalism in the US allows for rampant gun ownership and therefore high murder rates in US cities. Venezuelan socialism, on the other hand, prevents such violent behavior and makes Venezuela a much safer place to be.

Former UN ambassador Milos Alcalay: US-Venezuelan lawyer-cum-journalist Eva Golinger is "an out-and-out fraud" (VHeadline)

Milos Alcalay exposes Eva Golinger

Former Venezuelan Ambassador to the United Nations (UN) Milos Alcalay is scathing in his criticism of US-Venezuelan lawyer-cum-journalist Eva Golinger who he describes as "an out-and-out fraud" in recent allegations that large chunks of Venezuela's opposition media is funded entirely or in part by United States intelligence services and/or other organizations disguised as "agents" of United States imperialism. "Golinger goes to the National Endowment for Democracy (NED) webpage and selectively picks out a few examples to bolster her own (and Chavez') conspiracy theory that the "big bad United States" is out to assassinate him ... nothing could be further from the truth!"

Eva Golinger exposed for false claims as early as 2005: Conspiracy theories based on manipulated selective facts

Eva Golinger exposed as a fraud.

And so Eva Golinger strikes back...

London | Not two hours have come to pass since the posting of my latest article on Eva Golinger's false claims for yet another hate message to arrive in my inbox. Here's what she had to say this time:

Mr. Boyd, your ridiculous ranting yet again proves shallow and false, yet you try with all your conviction to make yourself sound believable and capable. The truth is, were I to have violated any laws in the State of New York, the appropriate authorities would have made sure to resolve the matter.

Opinion: The Right to Receive International Cooperation (Provea)

For more than two years, the federal government and some PSUV[1] leaders have regularly criminalized the international cooperation (support) that political parties and non-governmental organizations receive in Venezuela. Their argument is that the funds received are used for conspiracy and to destabilize the government. In Provea’s[2] case, in particular, we should note that we have been receiving international cooperation funding for 21 years.

Chávez' war on Twitter continues (Devil's Excrement, image) #chavez #twitter #freemediave #freevenezuela

What are we to make of the war on Twitter, which was started this week by the Chavez Government?

I mean, up until a couple of days ago, we were told that the co-founder of Twitter was praising Chavez for “revolutionizing” the social network and not two days later, two people are arrested for spreading rumors about the Venezuelan banking system and fifteen more are being threatened with arrest.

Their crime? Suggesting that a local bank, which shall remained unnamed, was in trouble.

#PSUV members train with Russian anti-aircraft missiles in #Caracas barrios (#video)

The octopus selected Spain to win the World Cup. He also selected the opposition to win in September elections!

Photo taken from:
http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?pid=31036312&id=1579580311

In Venezuela one week and the blog is LIVE!

All is well in Caracas and Guarenas! Soon I will begin posting some observations and experiences from my new life here in Venezuela. Stay tuned!