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It’s an important time to write about Venezuela but it’s also terribly difficult – it’s complex, convoluted, combated and controversial. There’s so much crossfire around this country that it’s difficult to make any sense of what’s really going on. But there is bright light in this turbulent tunnel, light toward which an owl of Minerva files, at the dusk of one century and toward the dawn of the next, there to rendezvous with eagles and condors. The metaphors are mixed, like the magic, like the oil and the water and the revolution. I hope this short story of a few chapters from the end of a century of oil in Venezuela, might open some windows through which that bright light might shine – from other side of the sanctions, live from the revolution that won’t be televised.

https://venezuelanalysis.com/opinion/venezuela-2023-oil-and-water-and-untelevised-revolution/

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Biden's recent easing of Venezuelan restrictions has elicited diverse responses. Despite talks of lifted constraints in banking, mining, and debt, the US Treasury's General License 44 seemingly facilitated engagement in Venezuela’s energy sector. However, nuances are crucial.

While there's heightened energy activity, limitations persist. Recent deals reflect a pattern of foreign partnerships, akin to the 'Chevron model.' These partnerships promise production increases but fall short, barely impacting Venezuela’s output—casting a shadow on hopes for economic recovery.

Ventures in natural gas show promise but remain constrained. Trinidad and Tobago's Dragon project exemplifies partnerships sidelining Venezuela, tied to intricate licenses.

Sanctions erode Venezuela's negotiating power, hurting its sovereignty. The struggle for autonomy continues.

Explore more at: bit.ly/48pcDM3

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Thierry Deronne is a Belgian-born filmmaker who has long accompanied working-class and campesino struggles in Latin America. In the mid-1990s in Venezuela, he fostered popular media and educational projects and later played a key role in the community television movement during the Bolivarian Revolution. Deronne is currently a professor at the National University of the Arts [Unearte]. His most recent documentary is “Nostálgicas del futuro”, a film about working-class feminism in Venezuela.

In Part One of this two-part interview, Deronne talks about the philosophy driving the community media movement earlier this century and the different experiments in communication that went along with it.

Read the complete interview by clicking here: https://bit.ly/3TP4wE6

General Domingo Antonio Sifontes, a courageous military leader from the 19th century, has been elevated to the National Pantheon for his valor in defending Venezuelan territory against British expansion. His legacy resonates as tensions rise over the Essequibo Strip.

Who was Sifontes and how does he relate to the current Essequibo dispute between Venezuela and Guyana (a former British colony)?

Read more and explore the gallery here: https://venezuelanalysis.com/images/venezuela-19th-century-general-elevated-to-national-pantheon/

Venezuela has issued a statement backing South Africa’s genocide case against Israel at the International Court of Justice (ICJ).

“Venezuela, as a country committed to diplomacy for peace, recognizes South Africa’s firm and historic step in defense of the Palestinian people and international law,” stated the communique released by the Venezuelan Foreign Ministry on Tuesday.

The text also encouraged the international community to support South Africa’s legal action and urged multilateral justice institutions to “act in accordance with international law” and “rise to the seriousness” of the current events in the Gaza Strip “that constitute a clear aggression against humanity.”

Venezuela has consistently condemned Israel’s US-backed occupation, military attacks and apartheid regime against the Palestinian people since the Hugo Chávez era. In 2009, the former president broke diplomatic ties with Israel after a deadly assault on Gaza.

https://venezuelanalysis.com/news/venezuela-backs-south-africas-icj-genocide-case-against-israel/

Thierry Deronne, the visionary filmmaker and professor at the National University of the Arts [Unearte], shares his journey within the Bolivarian Revolution and discusses his current project, the Hugo Chávez Popular Cinema and Theater School.

"Dreams of a revolution need to be documented and shared. Our school is a space for studying reality through documentary filmmaking and theater," says Deronne.

In this interview, explore the challenges of fostering a new narrative and breaking away from conventional storytelling. Discover the transformative potential of theater workshops and the school's collaboration with Brazilian experts.

Read the complete interview here: bit.ly/3tVY0AL

Venezuela's National Assembly President, Jorge Rodríguez, condemns the country’s asset dispossession by the US-backed opposition. "The National Assembly must remind them that this is a country of laws," Rodríguez said.

Amid legal battles and the looming CITGO auction, Venezuela’s parliament launches a probe against opposition politicians jeopardizing national heritage. “Political parties have assets subject to the Domain Extinction Law," stated Rodríguez.

Explore the intricacies of this pivotal moment in Venezuela and understand the challenges the National Assembly faces by clicking here: bit.ly/3SrNY49

The Venezuelan economy wrapped up 2023 on a positive note, boasting reduced inflation and a stabilizing exchange rate. According to the Venezuelan Central Bank, monthly price increases have been in single digits for the past nine months, culminating in an accumulated inflation of 190%

President Nicolás Maduro attributes this economic upswing to coordinated efforts among various sectors. In an exclusive interview with Ignacio Ramonet, he highlighted growth in agriculture (5%), manufacturing (4%), retail (4%), fishing (25%), and aquaculture (20%). The positive momentum also showed in a 25.8% increase in tax collection.

Despite these strides, challenges persist, including a lingering threat of sanctions limiting foreign investment. The Maduro administration has pursued liberal economic policies, including tax breaks and state asset concessions, to attract private capital. However, skepticism remains among foreign investors.

Economist Juan Carlos Valdez warns of increasing inequality in the recovery and advocates for an indexation policy, tying public sector wages to inflation markers. He argues that enhancing spending power can stimulate economic growth.

Read the full article at https://bit.ly/3S1tayI

President Maduro outlines a major political initiative for Venezuela's sustainable economic recovery in his annual address to the National Assembly. The plan focuses on economic modernization, political independence, safety, social issues, political participation, the environment, and geopolitics.

Despite economic challenges and US sanctions, Venezuela saw a 5% GDP increase in 2023 and has a target of 8% growth in 2024. Efforts include economic diversification to reduce reliance on oil.

Acknowledging inflation's impact, Maduro doubled the "economic war bonus" for public sector workers, indexed to the US dollar, although facing criticism for not impacting formal wages.

Read the full article at https://bit.ly/3S2zANZ

Next in line to ramp up purchases of Venezuelan crude is India. ONGC Videsh Limited (OVL), the overseas arm of India’s state-owned Oil and Natural Gas Corporation Ltd. (ONGC), is currently in negotiations with PDVSA to receive cargoes between January and March.

The shipments will offset a reported $600 million debt, including interests, accrued during the US sanctions period. According to India’s petroleum secretary, Pankaj Jain, the company is waiting for date confirmation to begin lifting oil.

OVL holds a 40 percent stake in the San Cristobal field, located in the Orinoco Oil Belt, with PDVSA holding the remaining 60 percent. Before US sanctions, India was an active buyer of Venezuelan crude, importing approximately 300,000 barrels per day, mostly by India’s largest refiner Reliance Industries. Since 2021, the company has been pressing the US government for a license to resume imports.

Read more 👇

https://venezuelanalysis.com/news/venezuela-boosts-crude-exports-as-india-resumes-oil-purchases/

Two years ago Ángel Prado, the main spokesperson of El Maizal, won a difficult battle to become mayor of Simón Planas, which is the municipality comprising most of El Maizal along with 11 other communes.

"El Maizal embodies the communal way of life, which is based on seeking innovative methods and political approaches to create a better world," says Prado.

In this interview, Prado discusses his efforts in conjugating constituted power with the longstanding project of developing communal power.

Read the full interview here 👇🏽

https://venezuelanalysis.com/interviews/the-dialectics-of-constituted-and-communal-power-a-conversation-with-angel-prado/

Los Tramojos campesinos face devastation following a widespread fire. They point the finger at a powerful local landowner.

The Ezequiel Zamora Campesino Council has had a longstanding fight against Elías Chirimelli to secure its right to Los Tramojos. The rural organization demands justice and support from the Nicolás Maduro government.

“We have no doubt that this fire was intentional to hurt us, and it ended up destroying a lot of infrastructure and pasture in the area.” council spokesperson Ramón “Niño” Soto told Venezuelanalysis on Sunday.

Read the full article here 👉🏽 https://venezuelanalysis.com/news/venezuelan-campesinos-call-for-support-investigation-after-massive-fire/

At the recent Non-Aligned Movement (NAM) summit in Kampala, Uganda, Venezuela joined 120 nations in condemning Israel's military campaign against the Palestinian people in Gaza. In a powerful 47-point statement, the NAM denounced the illegal aggression, calling for an immediate ceasefire and an end to the occupation.

Venezuelan Minister for Foreign Affairs, Yván Gil, expressed deep concern, stating that Israel's actions aim to "exterminate the Palestinian people," jeopardizing the possibility of a two-state solution. Venezuela has been an unwavering supporter of Palestinian rights, even sending humanitarian aid to Gaza.

Read the full article at https://venezuelanalysis.com/news/venezuela-non-aligned-movement-condemn-israels-illegal-assault-on-gaza/

VA columnist Reinaldo Iturriza revisits the insights of Alí Rodríguez Araque to put Venezuela's political dilemmas in perspective.

“If there’s one thing Rodríguez Araque teaches us, it’s that, under no circumstances, no matter how adverse, should a revolutionary entertain the false dilemma: serve capital or serve the people. Opting for the first option, claiming it’s the only ‘viable path,’ to put it in Rodríguez Araque’s words, is to enter a historical dead-end with no way out.”

Read the full article here 👉🏽 https://bit.ly/42bDB7C

International tensions rise as Venezuela points the finger at US-backed plots to destabilize the country. In a televised address on Monday, Venezuelan Attorney General Tarek William Saab announced the arrest of 32 people, including civilians and military officers. Additionally, 11 arrest warrants have been issued for opposition activists living abroad and exiled military.

“From May 2023 until now, five violent actions have been attempted against Venezuela. The military officers involved were summoned directly from Colombia, in collaboration with the US Central Intelligence Agency (CIA), the Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) and the Colombian army at the time,” the attorney general told the press.

Learn more at https://bit.ly/3udkMEo

Hindu Anderi, a Lebanese-Venezuelan journalist and longstanding Palestinian solidarity activist, discusses the ongoing Israeli genocide in Gaza, Hugo Chávez’s unwavering support for the Palestinian cause, and her own efforts to build a robust solidarity movement against the occupation of Palestine.

“Chávez displayed a great deal of solidarity with the peoples of the world who endure injustices, and particularly the people of Palestine. He was very brave because he didn’t let himself be controlled by the historical blackmail that equates anti-zionism with antisemitism, holocaust denialism, or Nazism. He understood that it’s the other way around: Israel is actually a fascist entity.”

Read the full interview here 👉🏽 https://bit.ly/4bq55uD

Venezuela's Economic Landscape: From newfound stability to the pressing challenges ahead.

#VenezuelaEconomy #EconomicInsights

Recent updates from Venezuela's political scene!

The Supreme Court stands firm on María Corina Machado's 15-year disqualification, pointing to alleged corruption ties with former "Interim President" Juan Guaidó. The court emphasized the risks posed to foreign assets, including US-based refiner CITGO and Colombia-based agrochemical firm Monómeros. The ruling also highlighted Machado's support for US-led sanctions.

Learn more at https://bit.ly/3HyWQys