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zvaigzdelasas · 2 years

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Last week, Mexican President Andrés Manuel López Obrador declared that he will boycott this year’s Summit of the Americas, scheduled to take place June 6-10 in Los Angeles, if the Biden administration fails to invite the leaders of Cuba, Venezuela, and Nicaragua.

Lopez Obrador is not the only leader in the hemisphere who may not show up unless Washington extends invitations to all three countries. Last week, Bolivia’s president, Luis Arce, tweeted a similar intention, while several Caribbean leaders have suggested that at least some if not all members of CARICOM, which consists of 15 English-speaking Caribbean member-countries and five associate members, may decide to stay home. The newly elected president of Honduras, Xiomara Castro, has also suggested she won’t go if the three nations’ leaders are not invited.[...]

A summit with critical partners missing would also deliver a huge blow to Biden’s attempts to find solutions to U.S. domestic problems that range from border security to immigration flows to the rise in oil and gas prices.[...]

The Summit itself is not solely to promote U.S. interests [Citation Needed], but to promote the interests of all the countries in the Americas.[...]

The special irony of excluding Cuba and Nicaragua from this year’s Summit is that Washington went to great lengths during the Cold War, including providing critical support to armed insurgencies and imposing severe economic sanctions, to destabilize and eventually overthrow leftist governments in both countries, thus infusing their successor leaders with understandable skepticism about Washington’s insistence that their exclusion reflects Washington’s dedication to democracy and human rights throughout the hemisphere.

On top of this, the case of Venezuela presents the United States with a dilemma. If the United States invites Venezuelan opposition leader Juan Guaido, whom it recognizes as the legitimate president of the country, the Caribbean states, who have never recognized Guaido as Venezuela’s president, are more likely to boycott. Indeed, Washington is increasingly isolated by its continued loyalty to Guaido whose years-long efforts to unite the opposition against President Nicolas Maduro have come to naught. Even the European Union, which initially recognized Guaido as president after his election as president of the National Assembly, has reduced his status to one of privileged interlocutor” in an implicit acknowledgement of the abject failure of Washington’s de facto “regime change” policy. [...]

The Summit, which was initiated by former U.S. President Bill Clinton, is held every three years[...]

It was only just announced that Frank Mora, Biden’s nominee as U.S. ambassador to the Organization of American States, would be confirmed later this week, less than three weeks before the summit.[...]

On the campaign trail, Biden condemned Trump’s inhumane policies toward migrants, promising major changes if elected. [...] Vice President Kamala Harris, the point person in the administration’s Central America “root causes” strategy, famously telling Guatemalans, “do not come” during her June 2021 visit to Central America.[...]

its regional partners are less inclined to work with a northern giant they see as selfish, arrogant, and hubristic. The question is, can the United States momentarily put aside its domestic fixations and great power concerns for the greater good of the hemisphere? [Editors note: no.] [...]

The absence of Presidents López Obrador, Castro, and Arce, and the leaders of other regional partners would be keenly felt and damaging to the forum in future years. It would present China with new opportunities to assert its own growing influence. There is still time for the United States to create a relevant summit and promote successful partnerships in all the Americas, but it is running out.

18 May 22

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editoriadors-blog · 2 months

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Lula poupa Maduro e Putin, mas ataca Israel e põe em dúvida compromissos com democracia.

Depois das revelações que deixaram patentes certas intenções golpistas do ex-presidente Bolsonaro e sua turma, Lula estava, mais uma vez, com o caminho aberto para se consolidar como líder democrata tanto com a opinião pública interna quanto no cenário internacional. Mas, no lugar de confirmar essa tese, ofereceu três declarações que provocaram dúvidas sinceras. Lula de fato teria compromissos com a democracia?

Em entrevista na Etiópia, o presidente brasileiro comparou a ação de Israel em Gaza ao regime nazista ; poupou o presidente russo, Vladimir Putin, das suspeitas da morte do ativista Alexey Navalny e; também cinicamente, não condenou a expulsão dos funcionários da agência da ONU ligada aos direitos humanos na Venezuela, por condenar a prisão de uma integO presidente Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, durante entrevista em Adis Abeba, Etiópia

Foto: Ricardo Stuckert / PR

Nos três casos, em que se posicionou, na prática, a favor de governos ou movimento antidemocráticos, é possível uma linha mínima de defesa do presidente Lula que tem sido bastante utilizada por seus apoiadores nas redes. Israel, ao que tudo indica, tem cometido crimes de guerra na sua sanha vingativa contra o Hamas, deixa dezenas de milhares de mortos, inclusive crianças inocentes, e o exagero retórico teria uma base factual na violência desmedida. Mas, em uma situação tão antiga, complexa e nuançada como a da Palestina, estar assertivamente de um lado ou de outro é estar errado e cometer injustiças.rante da oposição, Rocío San Miguel, que acusou o governo de praticar tortura contra presos políticos.

No caso de Navalny, é acusado de xenofobia e do onipresente “fascismo”. De fato, o ativista russo participou de uma marcha contra o governo em que estavam neonazistas ao seu lado e deu declarações contra imigrantes de etnias não russas. Mas a morte do ativista não diminui o fato de que ele não é o primeiro, e talvez não seja o último, opositor russo envenenado em circunstâncias misteriosas. Nem o que aparece morto. Há uma lista de gente que morreu dessa maneira, inclusive uma repórter, Anna Politkovskaya, crítica de Vladimir Putin. O autocrata russo, inclusive, também é responsável por morte de crianças inocentes em bombardeios na Ucrânia, mas nesse caso recebe o beneplácito do colega sul-americano.

Já com relação à Venezuela, um líder tão boquirroto como nosso presidente, rápido em condenar inimigos políticos internos e externos, alegar desconhecimento tergiversa o cinismo. Lula segue na sua campanha de reabilitar o presidente venezuelano Nicolás Maduro. Pelo jeito, pode ser a pior pessoa do mundo, mas basta ser antiamericano ou mesmo antiocidental que contará com a boa-vontade lulista.

Fica a dúvida de quais são as intenções do presidente. Se é uma questão de assessoramento, de ideologia, ou pragmatismo. No último caso, entretanto, cada vez faz menos sentido. Porque além do apoio de seu rebanho mais fiel, que irá consentir e defender qualquer coisa que faça, Lula não agrega ninguém com suas declarações. No máximo perde apoios. De aplausos inesperados, até agora, só do grupo terrorista Hamas.

Por causa de suas posições internacionais, Lula agora está distante dos Estados Unidos do Partido Democrata e estará ainda mais longe dos Republicanos, em caso de vitória de Donald Trump. Está em rota de colisão com os países europeus que se posicionam contra a Rússia. E, mesmo no seu quintal, Lula não tem apoio da Argentina de Javier Milei, por óbvios motivos. Líderes esquerdistas do continente têm se distanciado da posição do petista, caso de Gabriel Boric, mandatário do Chile, e José Mujica, ex-presidente do Uruguai – ambos têm condenado ações autoritárias cometidas por Nicolas Maduro. Na verdade, hoje, que país ou grupos de países relevantes que o Brasil lidera? Neste momento, nenhum.

Lula então se distancia dos moderados e se isola no panorama internacional. O que ganha o Brasil em ser severo contra as posições das democracias ocidentais e estar no lado contrário de Joe Biden, dos EUA, Emmanuel Macron, da França, e Olaf Scholz, primeiro-ministro alemão? A necessidade da compra de fertilizantes da Rússia parece ser um argumento insuficiente no apoio velado a Putin (nesse caso, paradoxalmente, Lula tem a companhia algo desairosa tanto de Jair Bolsonaro como de Donald Trump).

Ao sair do governo em 2010, Lula tinha altíssimos índices de popularidade e certa relevância internacional. Agora enfrenta um país dividido, calcificado, e não conseguiu encontrar ainda seu papel na arena internacional. Há década e meia atrás ele era “o cara”, segundo o ex-presidente Barack Obama. Hoje não mais. Segundo Obama, em suas memórias, “Lula tinha os escrúpulos de um chefão do Tammany Hall e circulavam boatos de clientelismo governamental, negócios por debaixo do pano e propinas na casa dos milhões”. Está na Página 353 de Uma Terra Prometida, para quem quiser conferir. Tammany Hall, não por acaso, é uma quadrilha política que agiu por décadas no estado de Nova York.

Após a glória e o ocaso na prisão, e até mesmo com perda de prestígio internacional, Lula se reinventou politicamente como o salvador da democracia brasileira, líder de uma frente ampla que unia esquerda, centristas, moderados, empresários e muita gente que apertou o 13 para evitar os riscos e as bizarrices do governo Bolsonaro. Do ponto de vista internacional coloca tudo a perder ao apoiar, velada ou abertamente, ditadores e terroristas em diferentes locais do mundo.

Fonte: O Estadão.

#politics #israel hamas war #ONU #Nacional #President Lula

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workersolidarity · 1 year

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Watch "John Kerry Shakes Hands with Nicolás Maduro" on YouTube

youtube

John Kerry humiliating himself to shake hands with Nicolas Maduro at Cop27.

They'll beg for oil even as they make the Venezuelan people suffer under one of the most restrictive and extreme sanction regimes in the world.

#politics #socialism #communism #socialist politics #marxism leninism #socialist #marxism #communist #marxist leninist #progressive politics #Youtube

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allthebrazilianpolitics · 2 years

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Can Brazil Help Fill The Supply Gap Left By The U.S. Ban On Russian Oil?

Since President Joe Biden floated the idea of banning oil imports from Russia in response to President Vladimir Putin’s invasion of Ukraine there has been considerable speculation as to which countries can fill the supply gap. In early March 2022 Washington sent an official mission to Caracas to open negotiations with President Nicolas Maduro’s pariah authoritarian regime. The trip sparked fears that Biden’s administration would ease sanctions against Venezuela in a cynical attempt to boost U.S. petroleum supplies thereby easing domestic gasoline prices. Guyana, Ecuador, and Colombia have also been considered by analysts as well as industry insiders as potential sources of the additional crude oil needed to fill the supply gap. All three South American nations despite possessing burgeoning hydrocarbon sectors lack the capacity to rapidly ramp-up output to meet growing U.S. supply needs. Latin America’s largest petroleum producer Brazil, however, is a different story. Brazil’s hydrocarbon sector proved resilient to the COVID-19 pandemic which sharply impacted petroleum operations in other jurisdictions in the region including Colombia, Ecuador, and Argentina. Latin America’s largest oil producer was the only country in South America to report an increase in petroleum production during 2020, as the chart from the U.S. EIA shows.

#brazil #politics #economy #ukraine #russia #ukraine crisis 2022 #oil industry #brazilian politics #petrobras #international politics #mod nise da silveira #image description in alt

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sexypinkon · 2 years

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S E X Y P I N K

Luis Vasquez La Roche

Happy to finally see this work realized. @maripari9 and I have been talking about it since 2019.

Through pandemics / zoom meetings / really short visits to @maripari9 studio in VA. Glad to see it in New York (@cueart )and Kassel at the same time. (@documentafifteen )

Repost @maripari9 “En Función del Interes Nacional” (In Function of National Interest) made in collaboration with @vasquezlaroche is a series of six screen printed light boxes.

These two are currently up on view at @cueart until September 2nd! The screen-printed surfaces depict iconic logos from Venezuelan companies that were expropriated during the regime of the former president of Venezuela Hugo Chavez and current President Nicolas Maduro.

Through the works, we consider the way that products and their branding are an integral part of national identity as it has been built over the past few decades. Through the use of cardboard, we make reference to the distribution of products, particularly to the way many of these Venezuelan goods are no longer made in Venezuela and many Venezuelans travel to other countries to find traditionally Venezuelan products. On top of the screen printed logos are laser cutouts of images of Simon Bolivar, known as the liberator.

The images are taken from Venezuelan currency called the Bolívar which has reached record-breaking high levels of inflation. Seen as a series, racialized differences in the representations of Simon Bolivar become apparent. His image and association with liberty are used as a political tool for garnering support.

Multimedia components including LED taxi/rideshare lights reading “libre” (free), can be seen through the cutouts in the cardboard. Through their various layers, the works draw connections between the use of the notion of liberty as a political tool from the colonial times of Simon Bolivar all the way to contemporary times of globalized neoliberal markets and economies. They ask audiences to consider the meaning of and access to liberty and authoritarianism across political spectrums.

#sexypink/Luis Vasquez La Roche #tumblr/Luis Vasquez La Roche #sexypink/realized work #sexypink/Venezuela/Trinidad and Tobago #tumblr/Venezualian/Trinidad and Tobago #silkscreen printing #Venezuelan politics #cueart #Hugo Chavez #Nicholas Meduro #Simon Bolivar #multimedia

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guiadoinvestidor-blog · 2 months

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Técnicos da Petrobras visitam Venezuela a pedido de Maduro Recentemente, o regime ditadorial da Venezuela tem recebido grandes petroleiras, apesar das sanções dos EUA. Em meio a resultados ruins reportados no trimestre e a interferência de Lula na política de dividendos na estatal, a Petrobras (PETR4) conduziu uma visita significativa aos campos de petróleo no Lago Maracaibo, na Venezuela, marcando um momento crucial para as tentativas do país de revitalizar sua base econômica. Esta ação vem em um período de promessas políticas não cumpridas e uma complexa teia de expectativas geopolíticas e em meio a sanções ao regime Ditadorial de Nicolas Maduro. O ministro venezuelano do petróleo destacou recentes encontros com representantes de importantes entidades petrolíferas globais, iluminando a urgência em reavivar a produção petrolífera da PDVSA, marcada por anos de desinvestimento, sanções e declínio econômico, fruto dos governos de Chavez e Nicolas Maduro. Venezuela não cumpriu promessas de eleições livres A Venezuela não cumpriu suas promessas, ao prometer realização de eleições justas e livres. Isto porque os EUA Unidos amenizaram as sanções à indústria petrolífera do país como parte deste acordo. Aadministração do ditador Maduro perseguiu e proibiu o principal candidato da oposição de concorrer, e com isso os EUA podem retomar as sanções a qualquer momento. Presidentes do Chile e Uruguai criticam apoio de Lula à regime da Venezuela: "violação de direitos humanos na venezuela é realidade" Em uma declaração pública, Boric criticou a afirmação de Lula de que há uma "narrativa construída de antidemocracia e autoritarismo" na Venezuela. Esse comentário de Lula foi feito durante um encontro com Maduro em Brasília. “Na verdade, nos alegra que a Venezuela retorna às instâncias multilaterais, porque cremos que é nesses espaços onde se resolve os nosso problemas, e não com declarações onde somente nos atacamos”, considerou Boric. “No entanto, isso não pode significar colocar debaixo do tapete ou fazer vista grossa frente a temas que, para nós, são de princípios e importantes.” Gabriel Boric, presidente do Chile

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marklakshmanan · 2 months

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Scotts Thoughts

February 22, 2024

I spend almost no time watching, or getting worked up about, Tucker Carlson. The former Fox News personality has drawn criticism for his recent interview with Vladimir Putin, which took place just days before opposition leader Alexei Navalny was found dead in a Russian penal colony.

Of course western journalists should try to interview Vladimir Putin. Or for that matter, Nicolas Maduro, Xi Jinping and Kim Jong Un.

But over two hours, Tucker Carlson did not ask Putin about how so many of his opponents wind up imprisoned and murdered, or the warrant the International Criminal Court has out for his arrest for war crimes in Ukraine.

Russia's President Vladimir Putin gives an interview to Tucker Carlson at the Kremlin in Moscow.

(Photo by GAVRIIL GRIGOROV/POOL/AFP via Getty Images)

Yet I did see the three-minute celebration Tucker Carlson posted of the Kiyevskaya metro station in Moscow.

"One of the ways you understand a place is through its infrastructure," he declared. "What we found shocked us…No graffiti, there’s no filth, there are no foul smells…or people waiting to push you on the train tracks and kill you….How do you explain that?"

"How does Russia," Carlson goes on, "have a subway station…that’s nicer than anything in our country?"

Carlson is careful to say the video is not an endorsement of Putin, or Josef Stalin, whose government built the station. But the clear implication of the video, scored with dreamy music and swelling strings, is that even though Vladimir Putin’s regime imprisons and kills political opponents, and invades neighboring countries without provocation, it’s all worthwhile because Moscow has an immaculate metro station. No grime! No graffiti!

And the Kiyevskaya station does appear handsome, with gold-trimmed marble pylons, and large mosaics that herald Russian-Ukrainian unity in the old Soviet Union. A portrait of Vladimir Lenin presides over the platform.

Many commentators compared Tucker Carlson’s enthusiasm for Moscow’s metro to the boast of Italians fascists of the 1930’s that Benito Mussolini "made the trains run on time" (a claim historians dispute).

But that homage to the Moscow metro reminded me of another legend from Russian history. Field Marshall Grigory Potemkin was said to have built facades of phony, idyllic-looking villages along the route that Empress Catherine II took to Crimea in 1787, to improve her view. The term "Potemkin village" now describes constructions that obscure reality.

Subway stops have been a favored place of mine to find people to interview in a great city — Chicago, New York, Paris — because you encounter people in transit from a cross-section of neighborhoods. Many are in a hurry, and shake you off. But many make time to share sharp opinions about the mayor, the president, and life in general.

I notice Tucker Carlson did not interview anyone in the Moscow metro station. They were in town to interview Vladimir Putin, but he didn’t ask any Muscovites to say what they thought of their president, or the elections in March, the invasion of Ukraine, Alexei Navalny, or other imprisoned dissidents. They didn’t ask anyone, "What would you like to ask President Putin?"

Even Tucker Carlson must know that asking Russians their opinions might be dangerous. Do you think there might be no graffiti in a Moscow metro station because anyone who considers spray-painting a slogan knows they could wind up in a gulag? Is the immaculate beauty of that metro station a Potemkin village glossing over the fear with which many Russians live?

Charles Maynes, NPR’s Moscow correspondent, confirms, "The metro is a jewel." But he also told us that he interviews people on the street only without using their last names, for their safety. And — "if you don’t talk about the war."

#Putin Tuckercarlson scottsimon

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andronetalks · 6 months

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Biden Chose Venezuela Over Canada For Oil

Zero Hedge By Tyler Durden – October 28, 2023 Authored by Brian Lee Crowley via RealClear Wire, The United States needs more heavy oil for a whole series of reasons. President Joe Biden could have chosen to have that oil come from a close friend and ally, environmentally-conscious Canada, or from one of the world’s nastiest regimes, Nicolas Maduro’s Venezuela, which doesn’t give a toss about the…

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#Alternative #Business #News #Politics #World

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roamanddiscover · 9 months

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Venezuela

Venezuela, officially known as the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela, is a country located on the northern coast of South America. The country has a rich and diverse history, culture, and natural resources that make it an attractive destination for tourists and visitors from around the world. The name "Venezuela" originated from the word "Veneciuela," which means "little Venice," given by Spanish explorers in the 16th century when they discovered the stilt houses built by the indigenous people on Lake Maracaibo. The name later evolved to become Venezuela. Venezuela has a rich history that dates back to pre-Columbian times when the indigenous peoples lived in the vast plains of the country. Later, the Spanish came to Venezuela in the 16th century and colonized the region, leading to the introduction of Christianity, the Spanish language, and the fusion of the Spanish and indigenous cultures. In 1811, Venezuela declared independence from Spain, and Simon Bolivar, a Venezuelan military and political leader, played a crucial role in the country's liberation. After a turbulent period of coups and revolutions, Venezuela became a democratic country in 1958. Venezuela is a geologically diverse country, with a landscape that ranges from snow-capped Andean peaks to tropical rainforests, coastal plains, and sandy beaches. The country also has abundant mineral resources, including iron, gold, coal, and diamonds. Venezuela is a country with a diverse topography that includes the Andean mountains, the Maracaibo lowlands, the Orinoco River basin, and the Guiana Highlands. Some of the country's natural wonders include Angel Falls, the highest waterfall in the world, and the Mochima National Park, a paradise of beaches and coral reefs. Venezuela has a rich ecological diversity that includes tropical rainforests, Andean cloud forests, and coral reefs. The country is home to many endangered species, such as the jaguar, the giant otter, and the Orinoco crocodile, and has a vast array of plant species, including orchids, bromeliads, and cacti. Venezuela's biodiversity is exceptional, with over 25,000 species of plants, 2,000 species of fish, and 1,400 species of birds. The country is also home to unique animals such as the giant anteater, armadillos, and capybaras. Venezuela has a tropical climate that varies depending on the altitude and region. The country has four main climate zones: the hot and humid equatorial climate zone, the tropical monsoon climate zone, the dry climate zone, and the mild climate zone found in the Andean mountains. Venezuela faces various environmental challenges, such as deforestation, air and water pollution, and illegal wildlife trade. The government has launched initiatives to protect the country's natural resources, but many of the efforts have not been effective due to lack of funding and corruption. Venezuela has been a politically unstable country in recent years, with a history of coups, corruption, and political unrest. The current government is a socialist regime led by President Nicolas Maduro, which has been facing international controversy over violations of human rights and democracy. Venezuela's economy is dependent on its vast oil reserves, which make up 95% of the country's exports. However, the country's economic situation has been in decline due to corruption, mismanagement, and sanctions placed by the United States and other countries. Venezuela has a well-developed infrastructure that includes transportation, energy, and communication systems. The country has a network of highways, railways, and airports that connect its major cities, and a modern telecommunications system that provides internet and mobile phone services to most of the population. Venezuela has made significant contributions to science, particularly in the fields of astronomy, medicine, and genetics. The country has several advanced research centers, including the Venezuelan Institute for Scientific Research, which conducts cutting-edge research in various disciplines. Venezuela is the birthplace of many famous and accomplished individuals, including Simon Bolivar, who led the country in its struggle for independence, and actress and singer, Maria Conchita Alonso, who gained international recognition for her work in film and music. Venezuela has a population of approximately 28 million people, with a diverse mix of ethnic and cultural groups. The majority of the population is of mixed European and indigenous ancestry, with significant Afro-Venezuelan and indigenous populations. Venezuela is a country with a diverse cultural and ethnic makeup. The most significant ethnic groups are mestizo, which is a mix of European and indigenous ancestry, Afro-Venezuelan, and indigenous populations. Religion in Venezuela is diverse, with the majority of the population identifying as Roman Catholic. Other religions practiced in the country include Protestantism, Judaism, Islam, and indigenous religions. The official language of Venezuela is Spanish, with several indigenous languages spoken in various regions of the country. English is commonly spoken by the tourism industry and in certain parts of the country. Venezuela's healthcare system has been in decline in recent years due to political and economic instability. The country faces public health concerns such as the Zika virus, malaria, and shortages of medical supplies and personnel. Venezuelan culture is a mix of European, indigenous, and African influences. The arts, music, literature, and traditions are vibrant and diverse. Some of the country's most notable contributions to world culture are in the fields of music, including salsa music, and literature, such as Gabriel Garcia Marquez's 'One Hundred Years of Solitude.' Venezuela offers a wide range of recreational activities for tourists and visitors, such as hiking in the Andes, birdwatching in the rainforest canopy, and sunbathing on the Caribbean coast. Venezuela has several major cities, including Caracas, Valencia, and Maracaibo, each with a unique character and charm. Some of the most scenic cities in Venezuela include Merida, known for its colonial architecture and mountain scenery, and Ciudad Bolivar, renowned for its historic center and riverside location. Venezuela has numerous tourist attractions and destinations, such as the Canaima National Park with its unique tepui landscape and Angel Falls, the Los Roques archipelago with its pristine beaches and coral reefs, and the historic center of Coro, a UNESCO world heritage site. Venezuela's distinctive cuisine is a reflection of the country's cultural and regional diversity. Some of the most famous dishes include arepas, cachapas, and hallacas, and the national beverage is rum. Venezuela can be accessed by direct flights from major cities in North and South America, Europe, and the Caribbean. Venezuela has various types of accommodation available, ranging from budget hostels to luxury hotels, and eco-lodges in the national parks. Despite its natural beauty and cultural richness, Venezuela has faced negative perceptions from the international community due to its political instability, crime rates, and economic hardships.

Etymology

Venezuela derives its name from its geographical location. It was originally inhabited by several indigenous tribes, including the Caribs, Arawaks, and the Timoto-Cuicas. When the Spanish explorers arrived in 1498, they encountered the Timoto-Cuicas tribe, who referred to their land as "Abya-Yala." The term meant "the land where the sun rises" in their language. The name "Venezuela" was given to the region by the Italian explorer, Amerigo Vespucci. Vespucci was part of an expedition to the area in 1499. He named the region "Venezuela," meaning "Little Venice" in Italian, due to the villages that the indigenous people built on stilts over Lake Maracaibo, which reminded him of the Italian city of Venice. However, the use of the name "Venezuela" wasn't officially recognized until 1520. The Spanish conquistador, Ambrosio Alfinger, used it in his reports back to Spain. The name gained popularity when the region became a captaincy-general of the Spanish Empire in 1777. The name Venezuela has gone through several variations over the years. During the colonial era, it was known as "Provincia de Venezuela" or "Province of Venezuela." The country gained independence from Spain in 1821, and it became known as the "Republic of Venezuela." Today, the name Venezuela remains significant to its people and its heritage. It signifies the country's unique history and diverse cultural identity. Understanding the origin and meaning of the name Venezuela is essential to understanding the country as a whole.

History

Venezuela has a rich history that dates back to pre-Columbian times. The country was inhabited by various indigenous tribes such as the Caribs, Timoto-Cuicas, and Cumanagotos. These tribes established their own unique cultures and customs, which were later impacted by the arrival of European explorers. In 1498, Christopher Columbus arrived on the shores of Venezuela during his third voyage. However, it was not until the early 16th century that Spanish conquistadors led by Alonso de Ojeda and Amerigo Vespucci began colonizing Venezuela. Over the following centuries, Venezuela was ruled by Spain and was subjected to forced labor and exploitation of natural resources. The struggle for independence from Spanish rule started in the early 19th century, with notable leaders such as Francisco de Miranda and Simon Bolivar leading the charge. In 1811, Venezuela declared its independence, but it was not until 1821, after the Battle of Carabobo, that the country was officially freed from Spanish control. After gaining independence, Venezuela experienced various political and economic challenges. Throughout the 19th and 20th centuries, the country saw multiple changes in leadership and political systems, including military dictatorships and democratically elected governments. In 1958, Venezuela saw the establishment of a democratic government, which lasted until the late 20th century. During this time, the country experienced an oil boom and saw significant economic growth, making it one of the most prosperous countries in South America. However, the country's political stability took a turn in the late 1990s when Hugo Chavez was elected president. Chavez's presidency was marked by controversial policies and an emphasis on socialism, which polarized the country's political landscape. After Chavez's death in 2013, Nicolas Maduro took over as president and continued to implement socialist policies. Today, Venezuela is experiencing significant political and economic turmoil, with hyperinflation, food and medicine shortages, and political unrest plaguing the country. Despite these challenges, Venezuela continues to be a fascinating country with a rich cultural history and a resilient spirit.

Geology

Venezuela, a country located on the northern coast of South America, stands out for its exceptional geological features. The terrain of the country is characterized by the presence of the Andes mountain range, the largest on the continent, which runs through the western states. In addition, Venezuela has two main sedimentary basins: the Maracaibo and the Eastern basins, separated by the Cordillera de la Costa mountain range. The Maracaibo basin, located in the northwest of the country, is particularly rich in oil and natural gas, which have been the main drivers of the country's economy for several decades. The Guiana Shield, a region of ancient rocks and dense forests, covers most of the southern portion of the country. This geological formation is one of the oldest in the world and contains valuable reserves of bauxite, diamonds, and gold, among other minerals. The Orinoco River basin, which covers approximately 40% of Venezuela's territory, is another important geological feature of the country. It is known for its vast reserves of oil, natural gas, and other minerals such as copper, iron, and coal. The basin itself is a vast plain region with marshes, savannas, and forests. Due to its location near the Caribbean Sea, the Venezuelan coastline is characterized by unique geological formations, such as the Morrocoy National Park, which is home to a large variety of coral reefs and islets. The park is also known for its mangrove swamps and its extensive beaches. Venezuela's diverse geology is also reflected in its various natural resources, including iron ore, diamonds, gold, bauxite, and uranium. In addition to oil and gas, the mining industry plays a significant role in the country's economic growth. The natural wonders of the Venezuelan geography attract tourists from all over the world. Venezuela has several national parks, such as Canaima National Park, home of Angel Falls, the highest waterfall in the world. The park is also famous for its unique geological formations called tepuis. The diversity of Venezuela’s geological features reflects the country's rich history and culture, as well as its promising economic future.

Geography

Venezuela has a diverse geography, with a wide range of topographical features and natural wonders. The country is situated on the northern coast of South America and is bordered by Brazil to the south, Guyana to the east, and Colombia to the west. The Caribbean Sea lies to the north of Venezuela. The landscape of Venezuela is a combination of mountains, valleys, tropical rainforests, and deserts. The Andes mountain range runs through the western part of the country, culminating in the highest point in Venezuela, Pico Bolivar, which stands at 5,007 meters. The central part of the country is dominated by the Llanos, an expansive grassland region that stretches across the Orinoco River basin. The Guiana Highlands to the east of Venezuela is a plateau-topped region that includes dense rainforests, high waterfalls, and table-top mountains, known as tepuis. The Canaima National Park in this region is one of the largest national parks in the world and is home to the famous Angel Falls, the tallest waterfall in the world with a height of nearly 1,000 meters. Geographical Features Description Llanos Lowland plains that stretch across the Orinoco River basin Andes Mountain range that runs through western Venezuela and includes Pico Bolivar, the highest point in Venezuela Guiana Highlands Plateau-topped region to the east of Venezuela that includes rainforests, waterfalls, and tepuis Orinoco River The fourth longest river in South America, which flows through the Llanos and eventually empties into the Atlantic Ocean Angel Falls The tallest waterfall in the world, located in the Canaima National Park in the Guiana Highlands The Orinoco River, the fourth-longest river in South America, flows through Venezuela, emptying into the Atlantic Ocean. The river basin is home to a diverse array of flora and fauna, including river dolphins, anacondas, and the rare Orinoco crocodile. The river also serves as an important transportation route for the country's agricultural products and minerals. The beaches along the Caribbean coast of Venezuela are a popular tourist destination, with crystal clear waters and abundant marine life. The Los Roques archipelago, located off the coast of Venezuela, is a designated national park and marine reserve, famed for its coral reefs and numerous species of fish. Venezuela has a varied geography that includes mountains, plains, rainforests, waterfalls, and beaches. The natural wonders of the country, such as Angel Falls and the Los Roques archipelago, attract tourists from all over the world, making Venezuela a top destination for nature lovers.

Ecology

Venezuela is a country endowed with a rich ecological diversity that is a source of wonder. Its diverse ecosystems range from the rainforests in the south to the grasslands in the central region. The diverse landscape of the country is home to a wide variety of plant and animal species found in different conditions. Venezuela ranks among the most bio-diverse regions on the planet, with over 40,000 recorded species of plants and animals. The highest part of the country, the Andean region, features several ecological zones like cloud forests and alpine tundra that are of great significance. The area is known for its unique species such as the spectacled bear, the torrent duck, and the Andean condor. The forests of Venezuela contain some of the densest and most extensive woodlands on the planet, and the Amazon basin holds the greatest number of freshwater fish species in the world. Venezuela is also home to several protected areas that boast of spectacular wildlife. The country has a total of 43 national parks, including Canaima, which is famous for its waterfalls, such as the Angel Falls, the highest waterfall in the world. Other protected areas of interest include the Morrocoy National Park, Mochima, and Henri Pittier, which feature beautiful beaches, coral reefs, and mangroves. In addition to this, Venezuela's ecology adds significant value to the country's economy through the production of goods like cocoa and coffee, which are major export crops. The rainforests located in the south of the country also have timber reserves that are of interest. Venezuela's ecology is thus of great importance to the country's people and the global community, as it has significant implications for conservation and the preservation of the world's biodiversity. However, Venezuela's ecological systems face a range of environmental problems that threaten their stability. The dominating concerns include deforestation, soil degradation, pollution of rivers and seas, and habitat destruction. A comprehensive effort is necessary to safeguard the ecology of the country and maintain its significance for the generations to come.

Biodiversity

Venezuela's biodiversity is truly remarkable, with over 50,000 plant species and thousands of animal species calling the country home. In fact, Venezuela ranks among the top ten most biologically diverse countries in the world. This incredible array of flora and fauna is due to the country's diverse range of habitats, from the Amazon rainforest to the Andes Mountains and the Caribbean Sea. The country's plant life is particularly exceptional, with hundreds of medicinal plants and herbs used by traditional healers and modern medicine alike. Some of the most well-known plants include the cacao tree, the source of chocolate, and the rubber tree. Venezuela is also home to numerous orchid species, many of which are unique to the country. The country's animal life is just as diverse, with many endangered and rare species. One of the most famous is the giant otter, which can be found in the Amazon rainforest. Other notable animals include jaguars, capybaras, and armadillos. Venezuela also has a large bird population, including the scarlet ibis, the national bird of the country. The country's marine life is equally diverse, with numerous species of fish, sharks, and other aquatic animals found in the Caribbean Sea and nearby waters. Dolphins, whales, and sea turtles are also commonly spotted in Venezuelan waters. Read the full article

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warningsine · 10 months

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2023 will mark the centennial of the founding of the Turkish Republic and the dissolution of the Ottoman Empire. In just the past two decades, one party led from its inception by one leader (excluding the period between August 2014 and May 2017), the Justice and Development Party (AKP) under Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, has made Turkey reverse course from the eight-decade order sustained by secular Kemalists who founded Turkey.

Dimitar Bechev, a Lecturer at the Oxford School of Global and Area Studies who is of Bulgarian descent with a specialty in the Balkans, Turkey, and Russia, has produced a masterful and balanced long view of how Turkey “succumbed to authoritarianism, took to nationalism and turned away from the West” in his recent book, Turkey Under Erdoğan: How a Country Turned from Democracy & the West.

In 2004, then-Prime Minister Erdoğan pledged to an audience of Western academics, students and journalists gathered at St. John’s College, Oxford, “to make European Values Ankara’s Values.” This was the era of Old Turkey, when, in 2002, the ruling AKP had just won their first of four consecutive elections in the past two decades, marketed themselves as “Muslim Democrats” for leading democratic reforms at home, retained an isolationist foreign policy, and participated in accession talks to join the European Union (EU) starting in 1999.[1]

Fast forward to October 2016: after having won three consecutive elections, expanded the judiciary, deployed military interventions in three continents, and consolidated draconian control over the media, law enforcement, and national institutions, Erdoğan invited Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev, Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro, and Russian President Vladimir Putin to his recently finished Beștepe Mansion complex—the lavish, new, Ottoman and Seljuk-style residence of the President of Turkey.[2] The Beștepe Mansion represents New Turkey and is built on Atatürk Forest Farms, land held sacred to secular Kemalists who led the prior “eight-decade order” and now find themselves uprooted by the AKP and living in a Turkey that is richer and more influential, but whose citizens enjoy less freedoms and whose foreign policy is increasingly confrontational.[3]

Bechev provides a chronological assessment of Erdoğan’s rise to power—from the AKP’s early economic successes in the 2000s to its later muscular foreign policy that allowed Turkey to re-emerge as a considerable power broker in the region. As a power vacuum in the Middle East opened up with the United States’ gradual retreat from policing the region, Erdoğan’s AKP decided that Turkey would fill in the void, having accumulated a robust economic base from its perfection of the market economy and multi-party politics, earning Western support in the process. While Western criticism of how Erdoğan “duped the United States and EU” during this period is commonplace in explaining Turkey’s later democratic backsliding, Bechev explains how the West crying foul play on Turkey evades accountability.[4] He further elaborates that “Western allies are seen as complicit in the molding of Turkey in Erdoğan’s image,” for having encouraged Turkey to join the EU before eventually ceasing the talks.[5]

Bechev narrates the rise of the AKP as long-coming and Erdoğan as the exceptional leader who installed a one-man regime using the AKP’s profound electoral success. The AKP’s predecessor, the Motherland Party (ANAP), and Erdoğan’s predecessor, former Turkish President Turgut Özal, assured Turkey served a strategic role for the West as a “poster boy for the benefits of the market economy.”[6] ANAP, the first departure from the Kemalist-dominated establishment, provided the formula for the successful combination of domestic prosperity and more holistic neighborhood policy prioritizing engagement with the Middle East, the Balkans and post-Soviet Central Asia. A technocrat who had previously worked at the World Bank and Turkish State Planning Board, Özal spearheaded Turkey’s transition to a neoliberal development state through structural reforms such as privatizing state-owned enterprises, abolishing quotas, cutting import tariffs and opening financial flows from Western countries, which expanded the Turkish GDP by 7% in 1986 and then 9.5 % in 1987.[7]

During this period, what stood out domestically was ANAP’s practice of “big tent politics” that “captured the center ground” in the country’s electorate, attracting a wide array of the Turkish polity including conservatives, nationalists, and liberals. In its foreign policy, Turkey under Özal approached both the East and Europe for trade and cooperation, much like Erdoğan’s Turkey.[8] Özal’s reign coinciding with the collapse of the Soviet Union brought ANAP and the West a window of opportunity to sell Turkey as a model to the rest of the Islamic world. Post-Soviet Central Asian states saw Turkey as agabey (“big brother” in Turkish) and as a “model of political and economic development of other Muslim majority countries” since the 1920s.[9] While Özal himself assured that, “we have a free market, pluralistic democracy, a secular state and provide a good example for the rest of the Islamic World,” Gorbachev lauded Turkey’s “balancing effect” and Kissinger stressed Turkey’s role as a “bridge.”[10]

Bechev explains Turkey as a “double gravity state”, using this formulation to describe its predicament of being anchored in the Middle East whilst waiting at the gates of the EU.[11] In Bechev’s analysis of the AKP’s first election victory in 2002, the AKP “perfected the formula” in retaining a voting bloc of Islamist Conservatives while being welcomed by the United States and the EU. Western think-tanks praised the AKP as “Islamic Calvinists” for their integration of Islam and industriousness, while the Western intelligentsia living in Turkey saw the AKP as a “vehicle to Turkey’s liberalization, integration with Europe, and ability to come to terms with the past.”[12] In only the first decade of AKP rule, Turkey witnessed unprecedented economic growth as GDP per capita tripled from $3,600 in 2002 to $12,600 in 2013, and the GDP growth rate increased from 8% to 11% from 2010 to 2011 while the United States dealt with the aftershock of the financial crisis.[13]

Born out of Özal’s economic and diplomatic embrace of Turkey’s immediate neighborhood, the AKP’s foreign policy under Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoğlu envisioned Turkey “as the center of the universe,” rather than a Western periphery.[14] A former professor of international relations elevated to the Foreign Ministry by Erdoğan, Davutoğlu stressed that Turkey “did not have to choose” between EU membership and engagement with the East.[15] As outlined in his visionary book, Strategic Depth, Turkey enjoys multiple identities and the unique combination of their history and geography brings a sense of responsibility to contribute actively toward peace and security. The “Zero Problems with Neighbors” policy created by Davutoğlu showed how the “flag followed trade”, as between 1999 and 2008, trade with the Middle East grew tenfold, trade with Iran grew thirteen fold, trade with Russia grew twelve fold, and Turkish exports to the Balkans and the Middle East outpaced imports.[16]

However, Turkey’s foreign policy after the Arab Spring failed to achieve the country’s hegemonic goals that had seen some progress in the Balkans, as regime change efforts in the Middle East and North Africa brought limited success. After nearly a decade of exponential trade and mobility gains in the early 2000s, Egypt, Syria, and Libya became realms for power competition. Davutoğlu decided at this moment that Turkey would be on the right side of history as the revolution’s standard bearer by supporting the masses against their authoritarian leaders. In refusing to maintain ties with the oppressive rulers and supporting popular uprisings to secure basic democratic rights, Erdoğan declared that the “Turkish state is in its core a state of freedoms and secularism.”[17]

Despite these professed values, in the decade following the Arab Spring Turkish democracy itself proved to be eroding from internal factors under Erdoğan’s watch. The expansion of the judiciary in 2010, the Gezi Park protests in 2013, the 2016 failed coup attempt, and finally, the abolishment of the Office of Prime Minister in 2017 all marked important steps in the decline of democracy in Turkey. In the meanwhile, the Turkish state also cracked down on the media based on allegations of ties to the plotters of the 2016 coup. This dropped Turkey’s media freedom ranking from 101 in 2007 to 157 in 2019. Even worse, as a result of Erdoğan’s abolishment of the Prime Minister, Freedom House to designate Turkey as “not free.”[18] The effects of rolling back institutions will undermine Turkey’s practice of multi-party politics, which to Bechev is the one thing that keeps Turkish democracy from devolving into autocracy like its neighbors Azerbaijan and Russia.

Turkey Under Erdoğan does an admirable job overall describing Erdoğan’s political rise and consolidation of power, but it neglects one important aspect—the development of its defense industry into one of the most powerful players in the region. While Bechev explains how internal factors such as Turkish nationalism and a strong market economy fueled military interventions in three continents over the course of two decades, he does not describe how the Turkish state became a regime with an indispensable capacity for hard power. From proxy forces to drone capacity, how exactly the Turkish defense industry prepared itself for its military forays abroad deserves attention. This question is even more important considering Erdogan’s declaration in October 2020 that Turkey has reduced their external dependency in the defense industry from around 70% to around 30%.[19]

Ultimately, Turkey Under Erdoğan illustrates the shift in domestic and foreign policy to the “new Sultan’s imperial designs” as well as external challenges.[20] “Neo-Ottomanism” is a label of increasingly common use in the Western media for Turkey’s foreign policy whether in the Eastern Mediterranean Sea or Syria.[21] While Erdoğan’s claim to global leadership of Muslims is acknowledged by Bechev, irredentism, pan-Turkism and Ottoman nostalgia are all actively present in AKP rhetoric as well as in Western and Kemalist media outlets. The AKP’s decision to increase Turkey’s regional stature rests on a larger narrative to rise in the region built upon Turkish nationalism and demolition of checks and balances, with much socioeconomic and political risk.

Turkey's role in the global response to the Russian invasion of Ukraine earlier this year has underlined its status as a regional superpower: with the eyes of the world now on Eastern Europe and Central Asia, Bechev's book provides an essential crash course to the politics of one of the region's most complex, ambitious and influential actors.

#Dimitar Bechev #Turkey Under Erdoğan #books #reviews

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