Aff for Venezuela Infastructure

8/13/2019 Aff for Venezuela Infastructure

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Plantext

Plan: The United States federal government should substantially increase its economicengagement ith !ene"uela through infrastructure investment#


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Agriculture Advantage

Chave"$s death ma%es the future of !ene"uela$s agriculture sector uncertainFarm Futures, 13(Farm Futures staff writers, Farm Futures provides information on farming finance, "USGC: Venezuean !gricutura Future Uncertain", arc# 1$, %&13,farmfutures'comstor)*usgc*venezuean*agricutura*future*uncertain*&*+&&-. /

!fter a 1$ )ear rue as president of Venezuea, t#e passing of 0ugo C#avez eaves t#e countr)s agricutura sector in a state ofuncertaint), according to t#e U'S' Grains Counci' USGC 2egiona irector 4urt S#utz sa)s misguided agricutura poicies #ave"destro)ed agricutura outputs" in Venezuea' "5#e countr)s poic) of e6propriating or nationaizing domestic industr) #as aso #urt privateinvestment and reduced t#e productive capacit) of t#e private sector," S#utz sa)s' USGC staff was in Venezuea t#is mont# presenting resuts from t#eUSGC Corn 0arvest 7uait) 2eport %&1%*13' ue to t#e ow agricutura output, Venezuea #as 8ecome t#e second*argest corn mar9etafter e6ico in t#e /atin !merica region, importing more t#an 1 miion metric tons (3+ miion 8us#es. of U'S' cornannua)'S#utz said t#at C#avezs successor coud 8e up against a period of poitica infig#ting creating additionauncertaint) and ris9 for t#e ivestoc9 industr), w#ic# is aread) faced wit# price contros, corruption, and foreign e6c#angeimits'

Underutuali"ation of the land ma%es colla&se of the sector inevitableCarson, 13(C#ris, master;s degree in /atin !merican studies from t#e Universit) of ut various officias #ave pointed to a deeper pro8em t#at goes 8ac9 decades inVenezuea: t#e poor utiization of Venezuea;s agricutura ands'@Venezuea #as arge e6panses of and and favora8e conditions for

agricutura deveopment' Af t#e) ta9e advantage of it, t#e countr) #as t#e capacit) to 8e sef*sufficient in agricutura products,B #esaid' >ut an9 statistics seem to confirm t#e view t#at muc# of Venezuea;s and is vast) underutiized' oivarian sc#oo for t#e communit) to t#e inistr) of Hducation, w#o granted a t#ree )ear tria period w#ic# went successfu) enoug# to ma9e t#esc#oo a permanent institution' !t t#eir twent) five )ear reunion, mem8ers of !ianza met to review t#eir progress as we as reaffirmt#eir goas for t#e future, pedging t#eir commitment to education, #eat#, deveopment of oca economies, andparticipator) democrac)'$ Sti, some structura and cutura o8staces stand in t#e wa) of !ianza;s success' Forinstance, no Venezuean compan) #as deveoped a oca source of seed, so ever) farm must depend on t#e UnitedStates and Hurope for t#is necessit)' !so, t#e vast maorit) of consumers do not appreciate t#e #eat# and communit)8enefits of organic agricuture since it #as 8een ong dispaced from cutura memor)'Seeing no difference 8etween cean) raisedand conventiona) raised food, consumers are unwiing to pa) more for products wit# #ig#er nutritiona vaue, even t#oug# t#ese goods reuire moreintensive a8or to produce t#an c#emica farming'

'ey to !ene"uelan economyiaz, 13iaz, an Anteigence Communit) !ssociate at t#e U'S' epartment of State, %&13 (igue, a former mem8er ofprofessiona staff of t#e 0ouse Anteigence Committee, w#ere #e ed oversig#t of t#e U'S' inteigence communit);sactivities in /atin !merica, @=oic) iscussion and /unc#eon * !fter C#avez: ut, wi t#is astJ espite a reative) cear ine of succession, t#e sta9es for t#e countr) of %+ miion peope are #ig#' >e)ondt#e sometimes*#eated (and at times 8izarre. r#etoric 8etween C#avez and t#e U'S' government, a ro8ust trade reations#ip 8etween t#e twocountries e6ists' Venezuea is current) t#e t#irteent# argest oi*producing nation in t#e word M and one of t#e top fourforeign oi suppiers to t#e U'S' !ccess to t#e U'S' mar9et is essentia for Venezuea: !merican*produced mac#iner),
https://www.globalpittsburgh.org/node/563https://www.globalpittsburgh.org/node/563


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agricutura products, and medica tec#noog) are 8ut a few maor imports critica to t#e Venezuean econom) ' NetVenezuea;s reations#ip wit# countries on t#e U'S';s prover8ia @8ac9 istB M most nota8) Aran M #as c#ied dipomatic reations'

That$s %ey to the global economy>>C, %$>>C Iews, !ccessed on 3$%&13,Specia 2eports*Di Hconom), @Venezuea: 4e) FactsB#ttp:news'88c'co'u9%s#aredsp#iguides$?+&&$?++#tmnn3page1'stmDi is t#e ife8ood of Venezuea and ensures an important position in t#e go8a econom) ' O At is one of t#e founding Dpecnations and is estimated to #ave t#e argest oi reserves in t#e


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Simon Cunic#s documentar) fim Growing C#ange: ! Kourne) Anside Venezueas Food 2evoution investigates our current food s)stem as #e tries tounderstand w#) #undreds of miions of peope go #ungr) eac# da)' As it true t#at t#eres simp) not enoug# to go aroundJ !nd as t#e word faces anincreasing num8er of environmenta c#aenges, #ow wi we feed a go8a popuation of more t#an seven 8iion peopeJ Can ut is arge*scaeGH farming rea) going to sove t#e pro8emJ Hvidence suggestst#e answer is a resounding ID' An fact, our modern agricutura s)stem is t#e ver) #eart of t#e pro8em''' ) causing widespread e6tinctions,#umans #ave artificia) simpified man) ecos)stems' !s 8ioogic simpicit) increases, so does t#e ris9 of ecos)stemfaiure' 5#e spreading Sa#ara esert in !frica, and t#e dust8ow conditions of t#e 1+3&s in t#e United States are reative)mid e6ampes of w#at mig#t 8e e6pected if t#is trend continues' 5#eoretica), eac# new anima or pant e6tinction, wit# aits dim) perceived and intertwined affects, coud cause tota ecos)stem coapse and #uman e6tinction' Hac# newe6tinction increases t#e ris9 of disaster' /i9e a mec#anic removing, one 8) one, t#e rivets from an aircrafts wings, -&man9ind ma) 8e edging coser to t#e a8)ss

US infrastructure assistance solvesCarson, 1%(C#ris Carson, Iov 3&t# %&1%, Venezueaana)sis'com, C#ris Carson is from t#e United States, w#ere #e #as ong 8eena student of /atin !merican #istor) and poitics wit# a masters degree in /atin !merican studies from t#e Universit) of


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mar9et woud reduce its dependence on imports' >ut at#oug# t#e C#avez government #as paced muc# emp#asis on t#e ocaproduction of manufactured goods wit# t#e inauguration of variousfood processing,transport euipment and eectronicsfactories, manufacturing #as not grown as a percent of gross domestic product#OTomitted figureO!t#oug# t#ese statistics on) s#owup to %&&, t#e percentage #as not c#anged significant)since t#en'O!dditiona), if we oo9 at gross capita formation, w#ic# measuresinvestment in fi6ed assets and is often a good indicator of a significant process of industriaization, we see t#at Venezuea;s gross capita formation is nosignificant) different t#an t#e regiona average' Andeed, if we compare it to a countr) t#at is cear) undergoing a significant @catc#ing*upB process suc#as C#ina we can see t#at Venezuea;s gross capita formation is pro8a8) not w#ere it needs to 8e if it is going to diversif) its econom) awa) from oi'OTomitted figureOFina), it s#oud 8e mentioned t#at at#oug# Venezuea;s agricutura production #as increased significant) undert#e C#avez government, more important for economic deveopment in genera is agricutura productivit)' 0ig#productivit) in t#e primar) sector pa)ed an essentia roe in t#e industriaization and diversification of t#e economies of

t#e deveoped word' An t#is respect, t#e statistics seem to indicate t#at Venezuea;s agricutura productivit) is sow)improving, at#oug# it remains far 8eow t#at of t#e deveoped word'
http://venezuelanalysis.com/news/4102http://venezuelanalysis.com/news/7028http://www.fedeagro.org/economia/pib%2097-2.asphttp://www.fedeagro.org/economia/pib%2097-2.asphttp://venezuelanalysis.com/news/4102http://venezuelanalysis.com/news/7028http://www.fedeagro.org/economia/pib%2097-2.asp


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+rug Cartel Advantage

,oer-income communities in !ene"uela are a haven for drug traffic%ing)the governmentisn$t doing anything=ac#ico, 1%(H)ssa, AnSig#t Crime, a t#in9 tan9 a8out organized crime in t#e !mericas' "Venezuea >order State a rug 5raffic9ing 0aven: IN5", Ku) %,www'insig#tcrime'orgnews*8riefsvenezuea*8order*state*a*drug*traffic9ing*#aven*n)t.I/5#e Venezuean 8order state of !pure is one of t#e 8usiest transit areas for cocaine #eading to t#e Cari88ean, wit# muc# oft#e drug trade controed 8) Coom8ian re8es, according to a Iew Nor9 5imes report' 5#e 5imes reportedt#at oca residents sa) t#e) are accustomedto t#e sound of ow*f)ing drug fig#ts over#ead and t#e sig#t of patros 8) t#e 2evoutionar) !rmed Forces ofCoom8ia (F!2C., w#o protect drugs#ipments' 5#is evidence of #ow open) t#e drug trade is conducted in !pure, one of Venezuea;s poorest states,contradicts assertions 8) government officias t#at t#e) are doing ever)t#ing t#e) can to com8at organized crime in t#eregion, t#e 5imes report said' An a a) news conference, t#e governor of !pure said t#e aut#orities #ad destro)ed 3 #idden airfieds in t#e state and#ad reduced t#e num8er of iicit fig#ts detected 8) #af' 5#e 5imes visited one airstrip t#at #ad reported) 8een destro)ed 8) t#e arm), and noted t#at@t#ere were no signs t#at sodiers #ad 8asted #oes in t#e runwa) or ta9en ot#er steps to prevent it from 8eing usedagain'B Coom8ia #as ong accused Venezuea of toerating re8e presence in 8order states i9e !pure, uia, and 5ac#ira' 5#e F!2C and t#eIationa /i8eration !rm) (H/I. 8ot# 9eep encampments in t#ese regions'

,ac% of infrastructure fuels the drug trade5#e Hconomist, 13("Venezuea after C#Lvez Iow for t#e rec9oning", ar ?, www'economist'com8ogsamericasview%&13&3venezuea*after*c#Lvez. I/ost of t#e mote) coection of parties t#at 8ac9ed t#e >oivarian revoution were merged into t#e Venezuean United Sociaist =art) (=SUV.' r C#Lvezaso created two ot#er instruments of contro: a miitia of around 1%?,&&&, answera8e direct) to #im rat#er t#an t#e arm) commandR and a networ9 ofcommunit) councis w#ic# too9 over man) of t#e functions (and revenues. of oca government' Foreign eftist academics caimed t#at a t#is added up

to an empowering @direct democrac)B, superior to t#e incipient wefare state set up 8) /atin !merica;s socia democratic governments' >ut to ot#ers, itoo9ed i9e a top*down c#arade of participation, in w#ic# a power a) wit# t#e president' >e#ind t#e propaganda, t#e >oivarian revoution was acorrupt, mismanaged affair' 5#e econom) 8ecame ever more dependent on oi and imports' State ta9eovers of farms cut agricutura output'Contros of prices and foreign e6c#ange coud not prevent persistent infation and engendered s#ortages of stape goods' Anfrastructure crum8ed:most of t#e countr) #as suffered freuent power cuts for )ears' 0ospitas rotted: even man) of t#e missions anguis#ed' Crime soared: Caracas isone of t#e word;s most vioent capitas' Venezuea #as 8ecome a conduit for t#e drug trade, wit# t#e invovement ofsegments of t#e securit) forces'

!ene"uela is %ey)it$s the &referred destination for drug traffic%ingSuivan, 13(ar9, Speciaist in /atin !merican !ffairs for t#e Congressiona 2esearc# Service, @Venezuea: Assues for CongressB, Kan 1&,#ttp:www'fas'orgsgpcrsrow2$&+3-'pdf. I/An its arc# %&1% Anternationa Iarcotics Contro Strateg) 2eport (AICS2., t#e State epartment contended t#at Venezuea was one of

t#e preferred traffic9ing routes for t#e transit of cocaine out of Sout# !merica 8ecause of a porous 8order wit# Coom8ia,a wea9 udicia s)stem, inconsistent internationa counternarcotics cooperation, genera) permissive aw enforcement,and a corrupt poitica environment' 5#e iicit drugs transiting Venezuea are destined for t#e Hastern Cari88ean, Centra !merica, UnitedStates, air, &-
http://www.insightcrime.org/news-briefs/venezuela-border-state-a-drug-trafficking-haven-nythttp://www.nytimes.com/2012/07/27/world/americas/venezuela-is-cocaine-hub-despite-its-claims.html?_r=2&pagewanted=allhttp://www.insightcrime.org/colombia-organized-crime-newshttp://www.insightcrime.org/groups-colombia/farchttp://www.insightcrime.org/groups-colombia/farchttp://www.insightcrime.org/groups-colombia/elnhttp://www.economist.com/blogs/americasview/2013/03/venezuela-after-ch%C3%A1vezhttp://www.fas.org/sgp/crs/row/R40938.pdfhttp://www.fas.org/sgp/crs/row/R40938.pdfhttp://www.insightcrime.org/news-briefs/venezuela-border-state-a-drug-trafficking-haven-nythttp://www.nytimes.com/2012/07/27/world/americas/venezuela-is-cocaine-hub-despite-its-claims.html?_r=2&pagewanted=allhttp://www.insightcrime.org/colombia-organized-crime-newshttp://www.insightcrime.org/groups-colombia/farchttp://www.insightcrime.org/groups-colombia/farchttp://www.insightcrime.org/groups-colombia/elnhttp://www.economist.com/blogs/americasview/2013/03/venezuela-after-ch%C3%A1vezhttp://www.fas.org/sgp/crs/row/R40938.pdfhttp://www.fas.org/sgp/crs/row/R40938.pdf


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(avid >air, ipomatic Hditor of 5#e 5eegrap# (news service., @Coom8ian drug cartes 8amed for t#e destruction of rainforest'B &?%%%&&-'#ttp:www'teegrap#'co'u9news%&&+$-1Coom8ian*drug*cartes*8amed*for*t#e*destruction*of*rainforest'#tm.So far, Coom8ias coca producers #ave destro)ed ?'? miion acres of rainforest an area arger t#an issau, Senega and Guinea*Cona9r), are rapid) 8ecoming narco*states'Ancapa8e of poicing t#eir coastines or airspace, t#ese countries are convenient staging posts for traffic9ing drugs to Hurope' "Ats a #uge c#ange and it#as #appened ver) uic9) and A t#in9 more c#anges are to come," said r Santos' 0e pointed out t#at ut Coom8ias controversia, US*funded poic) of eradicating coca fieds is aso infictingimmense environmenta damage' /ast )ear, t#e aut#orities destro)ed a8out $&&,&&& acres, most) wit# indiscriminate aeria spra)ing'Coom8ias peasant farmers grow coca aongside norma food crops' !eria spra)ing destro)s ever)t#ing, forcing t#em to move to new and and cearmore forest' r Santos, $, urged Hurope to #ep t#e farmers 8) reforming t#e Common !gricutura =oic)' "Af our farmers and our peasantswere a8e to e6port to t#e Huropean Union wit#out t#e tariffs and wit#out t#e 8arriers, we woud #ave a farming sector t#atwoud 8e more competitive and a ot of peasants woud not go into drug*growing," #e said'

+estruction of the rainforests destroys oxygen su&&lies and causes runaay armingSeig#t, 13(4en, aut#or at ecopedia, "


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5#erma a6imum, w#en a go8a temperature increase of C coincided wit# t#e reease of a8out ?,&&& gigatonnes of car8on into t#e atmosp#ere, 8ot#as CD% and as met#ane from 8ogs and sea8ed sediments' /us# su8tropica forests grew in poar regions, and sea eves rose to 1&&m #ig#er t#antoda)' At appears t#at an initia warming puse triggered ot#er warming processes' an) scientists warn t#at t#is #istoricaevent ma) 8e anaogous to t#e present: t#e warming caused 8) #uman emissions coud prope us towards a simiar#ot#ouse Hart#'


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Solvency

!ene"uelan infrastructure fails no)total colla&se absent hel&/atin !merican 0erad 5ri8une, %3C!2!C!S, &%3%&13, @Venezuean >uiders urge X& 8iion for infrastructure'B 5#e /atin !merican 0erad 5ri8une aims to 8e t#e main source ofnews for t#e Hngis#*reading pu8ic a8out /atin !merica and to satisf) t#e need for fair and 8aanced information a8out poitics, economics, 8usiness,sports, iterature, t#e communit) and ot#er topics of interest' #ttp:www'a#t'comartice'aspJ!rticeAdY$+%-1QCategor)AdY1&15#e association representing Venezuea;s construction industr) said 5uesda) t#at t#e countr) needs to spend X& 8iion onmaintaining e6isting infrastructure and to dou8e investment in new proects' @! countr);s deveopment cannot 8epromoted wit#out investment in infrastructure,Bt#e group;s #ead, Gi8ert ao, said, noting t#at Venezuea is current) devoting nomore t#an 3 percent of gross domestic product to infrastructure' uring one of t#e organization;s seminars, ao emp#asized t#at ot#ercountries in t#e region suc# as C#ie, Coom8ia and =anama invest @at rates euivaent to percent of G=B in new infrastructure' @Af, on t#e one #and,investment in new infrastructure is not 8eing made and, on t#e ot#er, more and more mone) is needed to repair e6istinginfrastructure, we #ave an idea of t#e magnitude of t#e crisis,B #e said' An addition to t#e investment pro8ems, #e said t#att#e sector @is suffering t#e conseuences of a scarcit) of inputs,B main) of iron and cement, w#ic# aso #as an effect on t#e eve ofempo)ment'B @


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upon Venezuea ending ties to internationa terrorist groups and rogue regimes i9e Aran' Af Venezuea ta9es meaningfu steps toend t#ese ties and ensure future eections, t#e United States s#oud wor9 wit# Caracas and t#e private sector to reformVenezueas energ) industr) and identif) 9e) deveopment proects and reforms to improve t#e countr)s economicfuture'5#e United States can pa) an important roe in s#aping Venezueas post*C#avez future' >ut to do so, t#e D8amaadministration wi need to stand wit# t#e peope of Venezuea 8) pu8ic) defending democratic principes and t#eimpartia rue of aw in /atin !merica'

!ene"uela says yes)they ant to fix relationsG!D, &+U'S' Government !ccounta8iit) Dffice (G!D., @2UG CDI52D/: U'S' Counternarcotics Cooperation wit# Venezuea 0as ecined'B &%&%&&+,

#ttp:www'gao'govproductsG!D*&+*-&0undreds of metric tons of cocaine fow annua) from Sout# !merica toward t#e United States, t#reatening t#e securit)and we*8eing of U'S' citizens' Since %&&&, t#e United States #as provided a8out X- 8iion to countries in t#e region todisrupt drug traffic9ing' ost of t#is assistance went to Coom8ia to reduce iicit drug production and improve securit)' An arc# %&&+, t#eepartment of State reported t#at Venezuea #ad 8ecome a maor transit route for cocaine out of Coom8ia, wit# a moret#an fourfod increase in cocaine fow 8etween %&&$ and %&&'Iamericas' Anvestments in new infrastructure * e6cuding oi Qgas and #ousing * amounted to %P of G= in %&11, according to CVC figures' Sectors suc# as transport, #eat#, pota8e water andsewerage ran9 at t#e top of t#e agenda for investments in infrastructure , ao said' eanw#ie, maintenance wor9 totaing&8n 8o[vares (USX13'-8n. needs to 8e carried out on e6isting infrastructure , CVC estimates' "5#e new government s#oudfirst deveop a soid and continuous maintenance poic) for infrastructure ," Hnzo >etancourt, #ead of Venezueas engineers c#am8ertod >Iamericas' Venezuea ran9ed 11t# out of 13+ countries in t#e %&11


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Venezuea' U'S' foreign direct investment in Venezuea is concentrated arge) in t#e petroeum, manufacturing, andfinance sectors'

US %ey)any other actor guarantees e start a ar over !ene"uelaIoriega, 13(2oger Ioriega, arc# ?, %&13, !HAdeas a su8set of !merican Hnterprise Anstitute wit# t#e goa of ana)zing economic,foreign, socia, and poitica issues' !HA is a private, nonpartisan, not*for*profit institution dedicated to researc# andeducation on issues of government, poitics, economics and socia wefare' Founded in 1+3-, !HA is #ome to some of

!mericas most accompis#ed pu8ic poic) e6perts' @! post*C#Lvez c#ec9ist for US poic)ma9ersB #ttp:www'aei*

ideas'org%&13&3a*post*c#avez*c#ec9ist*for*us*poic)ma9ers. cam!s Venezuean democrats wage t#at strugge against c#avismo, regiona eaders must ma9e cear t#at S)ria*st)e repression wi never 8e toerated int#e !mericas'


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Agriculture

0nfrastructure investment is %ey to !ene"uelan agricultureF=F, 13Farm =oic) Facts: Iews a8out farm poic), &$%?%&13' @Food Scarcit): 5#e Cost of Faiure'B#ttp:www'farmpoic)facts'orginde6'p#p%&13&$food*scarcit)*t#e*cost*of*faiure5#is is t#e first in a series of artices t#at wi e6amine t#e cost of faiure w#en strong farm poic) is not enacted'O Food scarcit): it is not somet#ing weoften t#in9 a8out' ut various officias #ave pointed to a deeper pro8em t#at goes 8ac9 decades inVenezuea: t#e poor utiization of Venezuea;s agricutura ands' =SUV egisator >rauio ]varez addressed t#e pro8emon state teevision ast wee9, assuring t#at arge andowners do not utiize t#eir and to its potentia' @/arge producers i9e t#ose w#oma9e up Tt#e producer;s association Fedeagro #ave eft 3& to $& percent of t#eir ands uncutivated,B #e said']varez said t#at arge andowners preferto engage in specuative activities in currenc) e6c#ange and imports rat#er t#an invest in producing t#eir and'@raziinvoved in its agricutura sector, reuesting t#eir assistance in raising production'/ast wee9, C#ina;s Vice =resident /i Nuanc#ao too9 note ofVenezuea;s agricutura capacit) during a visit to a farming proect in centra Venezuea'@Venezuea #as arge e6panses of and and favora8e conditionsfor agricutura deveopment' Af t#e) ta9e advantage of it, t#e countr) #as t#e capacit) to 8e sef*sufficient in agricutura products,B #e said' >ut an9 statistics seem to confirm t#e view t#at muc# of Venezuea;s and is vast) underutiized'


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Contreras, 1%^!ngie, writer for euniversa newspaper arc# %&, %&1% , #ttp:www'euniversa'comeconomia1%&3%&mission*agro*venezuea*fais*amidst*ac9*of*funds*and*inputs_Venezueas agricutura production resuts in %&11 attested to t#e faiure of t#e Great ission !gro Venezuea, impemented8) t#e Venezuean government to foster agricutura production after damages caused 8) #eav) rains ate in %&1&' !t#oug#former inister of !gricuture Kuan Caros /o)o said t#at agricuture rose 1P ast )ear, data pu8is#ed in t#e !nnua 2eport and !ccounts of t#e inistr)of !gricuture and /ands (!5. s#ow t#at agricutura production decreased 8) &'?P t#roug#out t#e period in %&11'>ased on t#e annua report,!5 regiona offices noted t#at t#e) faied to fufi t#e goas set 8) t#e ministr) wit#in t#e framewor9 of t#e Great ission

!gro Venezuea' Suc# constraints incuded ac9 of inputs and ve#ices for on*site visits and monitoring of t#e productionunits funded 8) government proects ' 5#e !5 offices in t#e states of iranda, Zrida, /ara and eta !macuro reported "s#ortage oftec#nica staff to ma9e time), effective and efficient visits t#at were reuired for gat#ering statistica data and providing compre#ensive tec#nicaassistance to farmers'"5#e regiona offices faced ot#er o8staces suc# as dea)ed financing to farmers, ac9 of funds for cropsfoow*up and monitoring, ina8iit) to pa) per diems, state*run 8an9s ac9 of information on t#e agricutura caendar, w#ic#prevented time) dis8ursement of funds, and 8udget cuts' ! t#ese factors #it Venezuean agricuture' Conseuent), Venezueas croparea decreased 8) '-P in %&11, according to figures reported in !5 !nnua 2eport and !ccounts' 5#e cereas sector was t#e #ardest #it in %&11, ast#e #arvested area of cereas decined %&'?P compared to %&1&, w#ie )ied dropped '$$P in t#e same period' An t#e same sector, t#e production ofcorn recorded a 1?'1P decine in %&11, w#ie t#e crop area of cereas pummeted %1'%P' An %&11, 1,??,-&1 acres of corn were cutivated comparedwit# 1,+,131 in %&1&' 5#e so)8ean crop area aso tum8ed (1&'P., w#ie )ied fe %$'$P' =antain was one of t#e items t#at were serious) #it 8)rains during t#e first #af of %&11' !ccording to t#e !5 report, t#e crop area s#ran9 -'$P, and )ied dwinded 3'?P ast )ear' 5#e inistr) of

!gricuture and /ands reported an increase in t#e production of grains, te6ties and oiseeds, roots and tu8ers, fruits and certified seeds'
http://www.eluniversal.com/economia/120320/mission-agro-venezuela-fails-amidst-lack-of-funds-and-inputshttp://www.eluniversal.com/economia/120320/mission-agro-venezuela-fails-amidst-lack-of-funds-and-inputshttp://www.eluniversal.com/economia/120320/mission-agro-venezuela-fails-amidst-lack-of-funds-and-inputshttp://www.eluniversal.com/economia/120320/mission-agro-venezuela-fails-amidst-lack-of-funds-and-inputs


17/38

+rug Cartels

US-!ene"uelan coo&eration solves drug cartels!=, 1&(!ssociated =ress, Ku) 13, %&1& #ttp:seattetimes'com#tmnationword%&1%3$?3+&Eaptdrugwarvenezuea'#tm.Venezuea #anded over t#ree maor drug traffic9ing suspects to U'S' aut#orities on 5uesda) incuding an aeged 8oss ofCoom8ias Iorte de Vae carte'Caros !8erto ">eto" 2enteria is accused of 8eing a eader of t#e Iorte de Vae cartet#at aeged) s#ipped #undreds of tons of cocaine to t#e United States' U'S' aut#orities #ad offered a X? miion rewardfor information eading to t#e arrest of 2enteria, ?, w#o was captured on Ku) $ in Caracas'0e was escorted to a U'S' Kusticeepartment pane, #andcuffed and wit# a owered #ead, after two ot#er Coom8ians recent) arrested in Venezuea: /uis Fran9 5eo and Caros !8ertoDeda 0errera'>ot# 5eo and Deda s#outed angri) as t#e) were ed to t#e pane at Caracas internationa airport in aiuetia, sa)ing t#e) areVenezueans'"5#is is a 9idnapping`" Deda s#outed' "Am Venezuean`"5eo s#outed t#at #e supports =resident 0ugo C#avez, sa)ing: "Am aC#avista`"Kustice inister 5arec9 H !issami did not comment on t#eir remar9s' 0e said t#eir deportation to t#e U'S'demonstrates Venezueas commitment to counter*drug efforts'5#e U'S' Hm8ass) descri8ed a t#ree suspects as "maornarco*traffic9ers" and praised Venezuean poice for t#e arrests'"5#ese are ver) dangerous, vioent individuas wit# outstanding warrantsin t#e United States," t#e em8ass) said in a statement' "5#e United States reaffirms its interest in deepening its cooperation wit# t#eVenezuean government in t#e fig#t against narco*traffic9ing'"5eo, $, was arrested on Kune %3 in Caracas and is wanted in t#e UnitedStates for crimes incuding drug traffic9ing, conspirac) and aundering drug proceeds, Venezuean officias sa)' H !issami #as accused 5eo ofcoa8orating wit# e6icos etas drug gang'Deda, ??, was arrested in a) in eastern !nzoategui state, and Venezuean aut#orities sa) #e is wanted int#e U'S' for traffic9ing #eroin and cocaine to t#e U'S' and =uerto 2ico'Venezuea #as 8ecome a maor #u8 for traffic9ers smugging Coom8ian cocaineto t#e United States and Hurope'U'S' and Coom8ian officias #ave previous) accused C#avezs government of a6 anti*drug efforts, 8ut C#avez sa)s#is countr) is doing ever)t#ing possi8e to stem t#e fow of drugs and #e accuses ogota of unfair) a8eing #is countr) a drug #avenfor poitica reasons'
http://seattletimes.com/html/nationworld/2012345390_apltdrugwarvenezuela.htmlhttp://seattletimes.com/html/nationworld/2012345390_apltdrugwarvenezuela.html


18/38

***A++-43S


19/38

+isease

7onocultures cause disease s&readeneem, &+^=atric9 K' eneenournaist and 8oggerR on !2C0 %, %&&+R #ttp:www'frontporc#repu8ic'comJpY13+_From time to time, A #ope to re*post #ere on t#is site some writings A;ve previous) posted on m) we8site, @S faied,8) a accounts it woud #ave ed to a wordwide @run on t#e 8an9B a panic t#at coud #ave resuted in internationa c#aos and up#eava as a mone)ceased to #ave vaue' 5#e sc#oos t#at are supposed to educate #uman 8eings for responsi8e ives aso are undergoing transformation into amonocuture' 5#eir aim is to create a mo8ie arm) of itinerant vandas, a8orers in t#e internationa corporate cuture w#ose one and on) aim is toproduce a monocuture of economic growt#' Dur sc#oos were once a patc#wor9 of oca and particuar traditions regiona, reigious, pedagogicadiversit), as diverse and ove) as a oca ecos)stem' Iow t#e) a race to 8e identica, deat#) afraid t#at t#e) ma) not 8e conforming cose) enoug# tot#e nearest competitor w#o #ar8ors e6act) t#e same fears' uring m) fift# )ear at =rinceton Universit) a )ear 8efore A was to su8mit materias fortenure A attended a meeting for a fift#*)ear untenured facut) #ed 8) t#e ean of t#e Facut)' 0is most memora8e advice (in addition to, @pu8is#,pu8is#, pu8is#B. was to app) for ot#er o8s' 5#e reason: a o8 offer from anot#er institution woud prove )our wort# in t#e e)es of =rinceton' A as9ed, @if=rinceton oo9s to ot#er institutions to esta8is# t#e wort# of a facut) mem8er, w#o is actua) esta8is#ing t#eir vaueJB ean of Facut): @5#e mar9et'Be: @A t#oug#t roo9ings Anstitute. @>ioogica


20/38

deveoped p#)sica 8arriers and a 8ioc#emica immune s)stem w#ose sop#istication and effectiveness e6ceed an)t#ingwe coud design or as )et even fu) understand' >ut evoution is a sword t#at cuts 8ot# wa)s: Iew diseases emerge,w#ie od diseases mutate and adapt' 5#roug#out #istor), t#ere #ave 8een epidemics during w#ic# #uman immunit) #as8ro9en down on an epic scae' !n infectious agent 8eieved to #ave 8een t#e pague 8acterium 9ied an estimated %&miion peope over a four*)ear period in t#e fourteent# centur), incuding near) one*uarter of


21/38

Food Shortages

Cro& Production in !ene"uela is falling at dangerous ratesForero, &+Kuan Forero, (arrera, w#o spends #is da)s feeding a #andfu of scrawn) pigs' 0e t#oug#t #e aso woud 8e raising crops after arriving a few mont#s ago in/as Vegas, a town in a sun*8a9ed corner of nort#western Venezuea' 5#e and #ad 8een a vast catte ranc# 8efore t#e government seized it toredistri8ute to poor farmers i9e >arrera' >ut >arrera sa)st#ere is no irrigation, no tec#nica #ep from t#e government and nocredit'"0ow are peope supposed to wor9J" #e as9s' Venezueas and reform is rooted in a %&&1 aw and C#avezsconviction t#at t#e and 8eongs to a Venezueans' 5#e president drove #ome #is point recent) on #is wee9) teevision s#ow'"5o t#osew#o own t#e and, t#is and is not )ours," C#avez said' "5#e and is not private, 8ut t#e propert) of t#e nation'"5#e state #asredistri8uted more t#an ? miion acres, a8out t#e size of assac#usetts' Some was unused state and, 8ut increasing) itincudes and seized from farmers' 5#e government sa)s it goes after unproductive farms, compensating t#e owners, or and deemed to #ave8een stoen )ears ago' 5#e state recent) seized t#e 5amarindo sugar cane #acienda' Kuan os Santos sa)s t#e farmrig#tfu) 8eonged to #is fami) and t#at t#e) #ad invested X1- miion ma9ing it a s#owcase farm'"5#e farm #ad it a M amodern irrigation s)stem, roadwa)s, eectricit), ware#ouses, mac#iner)," os Santos sa)s' >ut t#e government sa)sfarms suc# as 5amarindo are put to good use' aria 2osario C#irinos is among t#ose w#o #ave 8enefited from t#e government poic)' S#eused to wor9 in a corner store' 5#en s#e #eard a8out t#e and e6propriation program and came oo9ing for a farm' S#e sa)s #er dream was to own #erown pot of and' !gricuture e6perts suc# as Caros ac#ado, t#oug#, sa) t#e success stories are few and far 8etween' ac#ado sa)s

once*productive spreads,suc# as t#e and C#irinos now farms,are now unproductive' !nd t#e resut is t#at Venezuea is si6 timesmore dependent on foreign food imports t#an 8efore C#avez too9 power'"5#at s#ows t#at t#e government poic) aims toincrease t#e crop production in t#e countr) are a compete faiure," ac#ado sa)s' !mong t#ose tr)ing to #ang on to #is farm is Vicente/ecuna, w#ose fami) #as run Santa Cara since 1-+&'From t#e oo9s of it, t#e /ecuna farm is t#riving' Fied #ands ride #orses w#ie catte graze' 5#efieds are green wit# sugarcane and t#e farm aso grows coffee' >ut aread) t#e state #as ta9en a part of t#is farm, repacing sugarcane wit# corn'/ecuna sa)s t#e and t#ere is not suited for corn' Ieson Fernandez is among /ecunas wor9ers w#o worr) a8out t#e arriva of newcomers'"A graduatedas an agricutura tec#nician in 1+," #e sa)s, "and am sti earning somet#ing ever) da)'" Sti, in Venezuea, it appears t#at t#egovernment is acceerating its ta9eover of farms'Dn #is s#ow t#e ot#er da), C#avez said t#e and reform aw is un8ending and t#at it is timeto e6propriate more farms' 0e as9ed #is aides to #and #im a ist of farms deemed unproductive' Dne after anot#er, #e read off t#e names of t#e farmsand announced t#eir e6propriation' An t#e audience, C#avezs ministers appauded ent#usiastica)'

.ithout a sustainable agriculture industry !ene"uela ill suffer from a food shortageunoz, 13unoz,


22/38

/atin !merican societies to adapt to and to adopt t#e new economic and tec#noogica conditions wi 8e t#e 9e) not on)to t#eir progress in t#e new go8aized word 8ut aso to t#eir ver) surviva'

0nfrastructure is needed to solidify groing food &roduction and access in !ene"uelaSc#iavoni and Camacaro, &+Sc#iavoni and Camacaro, writers for venezueaana)sis'com, %&&+ (C#ristina and uid a Iew Food and !gricuture S)stemB accessed Kune %$, %&13 from #ttp:venezueana)sis'comana)sis$-3, 8#.


23/38


24/38

Poverty

7assive &overty issues in !ene"uela noC#ang and Castio, 13(Kac9 and H' Hduardo, writers for t#e 0uffington =ost, "Venezuea !fter C#avez: =overt), Vioence !mong =ro8ems Facing 5#e Countr)", arc# 1?,%&13, www'#uffingtonpost'com%&13&31?venezuea*after*c#avez*povert)*vioenceEnE%--?+$'#tm. /5#is tense, reentess) gra) capita em8odies man) of Venezueas pro8ems, wit# crum8ing apartment towers and food ines oftens#aring t#e same sidewa9wit# c#eering crowds eager to greet t#eir departed Comandante' "ore t#an an)t#ing, t#e government continuesfig#ting wit# ever)one, and does ever)t#ing 8ad)," said Francisco Divero, a ?$*)ear*od carpenter w#o ives wit# #is wife and five c#idren in t#e poorneig#8or#ood of Catia, ust 8 oc9s from t#e funera route' /i9e man) Venezueans, Divero said wartime*eves of street vioence a over t#ecit) were #is top worr)' "5#e) 9i peope #ere ever) da),"#e said' "Ave ost friends, reatives'" !s t#ousands of 8used*in poice academ)cadets gat#ered aong t#e route to prepare for t#e procession, Divero and #is wife, Neitza !cuna, #id from t#e sun w#ie waiting in a 8oc9*ong ineto 8u) four, coffee, 8utter and ot#er food stapes t#e) said #ave 8een #ard to come 8) for a8out two )ears' 5#e store, w#ic#sits aong t#e most traffic9ed part of t#e route, #appened to 8e seing t#e rare goods Frida), drawing a crowd of peope desperate for a few 8ags offour' "5#e word spread in t#e street, and we a came running #ere," said Diveros wife, w#o is a coo9s assistant' /ater, C#avezs coffin traveed downt#e street in a 8ac9 #earse, to t#e roar of t#ousands of admirers' Hconomists sa) government*imposed price contros designed todampen infation topping %& percent #ave made it impossi8e for store owners to se 8asic foods at a profit, spar9ingwidespread s#ortages' For t#eir part, officias #ave accused suppiers of #oarding t#e goods and #ave invadedware#ouses oo9ing for sugar, four and ot#er food items in s#ort supp)' !most a of Caracas streets empt) of peope 8)dus9 as residents ive under t#e pa of a #omicide rate %& times t#at of t#e United States' Dn 5#ursda), t#e U'I'eveopment =rogram issued a stud) finding Venezuea #ad t#e words fift# #ig#est #omicide rate,on) 8e#ind 0onduras, HSavador, t#e Avor) Coast and Kamaica' an), #owever, 8eieve t#e poice are a 8ig part of t#e pro8em'An an astounding reveation,former Kustice inister 5arec9 H !issami said in %&&+ t#at poice were responsi8e for up to %& percent of t#e countr)s

crimes' 5#e growt# of suc# neig#8or#oods #as contri8uted to ot#er pro8ems'ue to crum8ing or none6istent infrastructure, sewage aover t#e cit) goes main) to one pace: t#e once*pristine Guaire 2iver, w#ic# runs aong most of C#avezs funera route'

That ma%es !ene"uela one of the most crime-ridden countries in the orldaton, &-Sociaism 5oda): Sociaist =art) agazine' @Venezuea;s Crime =ro8emB 8) Aain aton, !pri %&&- Assue*#ttp:www'sociaismtoda)'org11venezuea'#tm 50H 2HCHI5artice 8) 5on) Saunois on Venezuea (Sociaism 5oda) Io'11?, Fe8ruar) %&&-. correct) points out t#at t#e 8ig#t of crime t#ere "is a critica uestion"'an) media reports focus on crime in one form or anot#er, w#et#er it is t#e murder rate in Caracas, t#e atest 9idnapping, or anot#er prison riot' !s5on) comments "vioent crime is now seen as a maor issue as t#e government is seen as #aving faied to dea wit# it"' 5on)uotes murder rates in Caracas of 33'% per 1&&,&&&, wit# eeven murders a da) in Iovem8er %&&, s#owing t#at Venezuea is one of t#e mostmurderous countries in t#e word'!ccording to figures from t#e United Iations Surve) on Crime 5rends and Dperations of Crimina KusticeS)stems (using figures coected 8etween 1++- and %&&&., Venezuea came sevent# out of % countries in tota num8ers of crimes, ower t#an t#e US,e6ico, Sout# !frica, Coom8ia, 2ussia and Andia' 0owever, severa of t#ose countries #ave muc# arger popuations t#an Venezuea per 1&&,&&&peope t#e US murder rate in %&&& was ?'?1, muc# ower t#an Venezuea' An terms of genera crime, #owever, Venezuea ran9s $ out of & wit# +'3crimes per 1,&&& peope, w#ereas t#e U4, US!, Sout# !frica, German) and C#ie #ave muc# #ig#er rates' Crime figures are often not 8riiant) reia8e,8ecause not on) do t#e) refect t#e actua crime rate, 8ut t#e) are aso a product of eac# countries; different cassifications of crime, t#e reporting rate ofcrime, decisions on w#at crimes to record etc' !so, one crime t)pe ma) 8e muc# more prevaent t#an t#e genera rate (ie in Venezuea murder andserious vioent crimes i9e 9idnapping., w#ic# ma) s9ew t#e figures' urder, #owever, tends to 8e we reported (if not on) for t#e seriousness of t#ecrime, t#en aso t#e fact it can 8e cross*c#ec9ed wit# ot#er data incuding #ospita admissions etc.' !fter t#e s#ort discussion of crime rates, 5on) t#encomments t#at "some ma) argue t#at it is unfair to 8ame C#avez for t#e #ig# eves of crime"' Andeed C#avez in#erited a egac) of crime andcorruption on assuming t#e presidenc) from previous piaging capitaist ruers' 5#e #ig# murder rate, rampant prisonovercrowding and ot#er pro8ems were ust one part of t#at egac)' 5on) aso points out t#at crime is a product of sociaconditions, in particuar povert) and aienation' Some of t#e proposas in t#e defeated referendum woud #ave aeviatedt#ese to an e6tent, particuar) t#e reduction of t#e wor9ing wee9, as #ave ot#er previous reforms' >ut t#ose reforms#ave, as 5on) notes, 8een financed on t#e 8ac9 of #ig# oi prices and economic growt# and t#e coming word recessionpaces t#em in eopard)' C#avez #as faied to nationaise most of t#e decisive sectors of t#e econom), w#ic# #ave 8eengiving 8onanza profits to t#e Venezuean capitaists' Dn) t#roug# t#e nationaisation of t#ese sectors of t#e econom),under democratic wor9ing cass contro, can t#ese resources 8e fu) utiised to eradicate povert) and moreover stop

capitaist disruption of Venezuean ife, suc# as t#e current food s#ortages' 0owever, sociaists do not stand 8ac9 and do not#ing int#e meantime: it is necessar) for t#e wor9ers; movement to ta9e up crime, as t#e artice states, "in a practica wa)"' 5#e artice discusses t#e corruptionprevaent in t#e Venezuean poice, 8ut t#e demands made 8) ar6ists in reation to t#e state are appica8e not ust to t#e poice 8ut a sections of t#ecrimina ustice s)stem' At is no good for t#e poice to arrest, for e6ampe, some fascist t#ugs, for t#em to 8e unconditiona) reeased 8) t#e courts w#ic#are dominated 8) t#e usua) conservative udiciar)' Simiar), t#ere is not muc# point in etting t#ose convicted of crimes simp) rot

awa) and 8ecome even more 8rutaised in overcrowded ais' 5#e w#oe crimina ustice s)stem needs to 8e ta9en under t#e democraticcontro of t#e communit), wit# fu trade union rig#ts for t#e wor9ers wit#in it' !s t#e artice states, t#e creation of an organised movement of t#e wor9ingcass and poor is crucia' Dn) t#is, armed wit# a sociaist programme, can guarantee t#e victor) of t#e Venezuean revoution and ead a rea fig#t to ridVenezuea of its 8ig#t of vioent crime'

Causes endless violence and ex&loitation)moral obligation to re9ectSpencer, 1%@Vioent Crime !na)sis: 5#e Cause is =overt)B 8) C#ristop#er 5ai8 Spencer' Df t#e San Francisco >a)View Iationa >ac9 Iewspaper: &-1-%&1%'@=overt) is a weapon of mass destruction'B /o: 2/


25/38

An order to effective) c#aenge t#e prison industria compe6 growt#, we must c#aenge and destro) t#e root causes of crime and notust tac9e crime, w#ic# is on) an effect and not t#e cause of t#e pro8em'


26/38

***AC


27/38

A: China

China is not loo%ing to continue aiding !ene"uelaIage, 13Kuan Iage (writer for Foreign=oic)'com. Fe8ruar) 1%, %&13transitions'foreignpoic)'composts%&13&%1%venezueaEsEdevauationE#asEc#inaEwrittenEaEoverEit HAn t#e ast few wee9s, reports #ave surfaced t#at t#e C#inese, t#e main underwriters of ast )earbs enormous fisca deficit,are growing frustrated wit# t#eir Venezuean counterpartR t#e) are in no mood to continue ending to t#e government, andfet t#at Venezuea sacrificed productive investments for c#eap pre*eectora spending 'An spite of t#is, reports surfaced t#atVenezuea is as9ing C#ina for more cas#' /ast wee9, new)*appointed Foreign inister H[as Kaua traveed to >eiing, returning wit# a vague statementt#at t#e C#inese ratified t#eir interest "in continuing to cooperate wit# Venezuea" and t#at =resident i Kinping sent "a #ug" to 0ugo C#Lvez' 5oo 8ad,8ecause #e wasnt sent to >eiing to fetc# "#ugs'"


28/38

A: Suo Solves


29/38

A: Suo solves

Chave"$s &rograms didn$t do anythingc!2/H 13(egan c!rde is a specia correspondent for #e$s$eeand 5#e ai) >east covering 8usiness, economics, and pu8ic poic)' ! former senior editorat The %tlanticand writer for The &conomist, egan #as a diverse wor9 #istor) incuding t#ree sma startups and a disaster recover) firm at Groundero' &3&%&13* @us# was itera), p#)sica), SatanJ Strange

t#at t#is stor) seems to pop up so oftenR A #avent noticed so muc# ove on t#e eft for an)one ese w#o caims t#at t#e devi is itera), p#)sica) wa9ingt#e eart# rig#t now' A eave it at t#at, 8ecause Am not prepared to carr) on a de8ate rig#t now as to w#et#er its o9a) to crus# potentia poitica rivasand effective) ta9e over t#e media for use as a propaganda organ of t#e state' Af )ou t#in9 it is o9a) to do t#ese t#ings as ong as )ou do t#em in t#ename of t#e poor, we, were not going to convince eac# ot#er, t#ats a' So instead, ets ta9 a8out t#e poor, and #ow we t#e) fared under C#avez' At

oo9s to me as if C#avezs government made su8stantia improvements in t#ings i9e primar) sc#oo competion, progressionto secondar) education, and so fort#' (5#e an9s statistics on Venezuea are surprising) patc#), so t#is imits t#e num8er of varia8es coud oo9 at.' =overt) rates #ave faen' 5#is is a genuine) good news t#at #appened on #is watc#' >ut in t#e course oft#ese ac#ievements, #e severe) compromised t#e engine of Venezueas future prosperit): its oi fieds' !nd over t#e ongrun, t#e poor cannot t#rive if t#e econom) is faiing' 5o 8e sure, Venezueas econom) oo9s o9a) in man) respectsR its growt# is a8outaverage for t#e region, as )ou can see in t#is grap# from The &conomist'
http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2013/03/07/why-hugo-chavez-was-bad-for-venezuela.htmlhttp://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2013/03/07/why-hugo-chavez-was-bad-for-venezuela.htmlhttp://www.slate.com/articles/news_and_politics/politics/2013/03/hugo_chavez_s_legacy_the_former_venezuelan_president_was_not_the_typical.htmlhttp://fletcher.tufts.edu/_Fletcher-Forum/Archives/~/media/Fletcher/Microsites/Fletcher%20Forum/PDFs/2011winter/Tarre.pdfhttp://www.reuters.com/article/2012/09/26/us-venezuela-chavez-fund-idUSBRE88P0N020120926http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/post-partisan/post/he-will-annihilate-that-one-leader/2011/05/15/AFRwSG4G_blog.htmlhttps://www.amazon.com/dp/030747755X/ref=as_li_tf_til?tag=livefromthewt-20&camp=0&creative=0&linkCode=as1&creativeASIN=030747755X&adid=1D6PB9NAFV05JVVWR9Z8&http://www.economist.com/blogs/americasview/2013/03/venezuela-after-ch%C3%A1vezhttp://www.economist.com/blogs/americasview/2013/03/venezuela-after-ch%C3%A1vezhttp://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2013/03/07/why-hugo-chavez-was-bad-for-venezuela.htmlhttp://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2013/03/07/why-hugo-chavez-was-bad-for-venezuela.htmlhttp://www.slate.com/articles/news_and_politics/politics/2013/03/hugo_chavez_s_legacy_the_former_venezuelan_president_was_not_the_typical.htmlhttp://fletcher.tufts.edu/_Fletcher-Forum/Archives/~/media/Fletcher/Microsites/Fletcher%20Forum/PDFs/2011winter/Tarre.pdfhttp://www.reuters.com/article/2012/09/26/us-venezuela-chavez-fund-idUSBRE88P0N020120926http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/post-partisan/post/he-will-annihilate-that-one-leader/2011/05/15/AFRwSG4G_blog.htmlhttps://www.amazon.com/dp/030747755X/ref=as_li_tf_til?tag=livefromthewt-20&camp=0&creative=0&linkCode=as1&creativeASIN=030747755X&adid=1D6PB9NAFV05JVVWR9Z8&http://www.economist.com/blogs/americasview/2013/03/venezuela-after-ch%C3%A1vez


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US ;ood

(m&irically Proven US is %ey to ,atin American economy/ no different for !ene"uelaD;Iei, 13S#annon DIei (Senior Feow of /atin !merica Studies at t#e Counci on Foreign 2eations, and aut#or of 5wo Iations Andivisi8e: e6ico, t#e UnitedStates and t#e 2oad !#ead. arc# , %&13 #ttp:www'88c'co'u9newsword*us*canada*%1-&--?HCoom8ia, >razi, =eru, aong wit# ot#er /atin !merican nations, #ave opened up to t#e US and t#e word more 8road) inrecent )ears and in t#e process #ave 8enefited tremendous)'An t#e ast set of #emisp#eric eections, a "t#ird wa)" com8ining openmar9ets, 8aanced fisca accounts, and socia) incusive poicies * most cose) identified wit# former >raziian =resident /uiz Anacio /ua da Siva *8ecame an amost mantra for incum8ent and opposition part) candidates ai9e (incuding C#avezs %&1% riva, 0enriue Capries 2adons9i.'5#esenations and eaders iustrate a rea and positive pat# forward, not ust economica) 8ut aso dipomatica)'5oda) Venezueafaces significant poitica uncertaint), as r aduro wor9s to unite t#e man) factions wit#in C#avezs part)' 0e does so wit#out C#avezs c#arisma nort#e deep*seated o)at) #e inspired'5#e ne6t administration aso wi confront growing economic and fisca pro8ems, ma9ing governing a t#e #arder int#e mont#s to come'Sti, in most of /atin !merica anti*US r#etoric is fading, w#ic# suggests it can in Venezuea too'

The US is an attractive &artnershi& o&tion for !ene"uelaD;Iei, 13S#annon DIei (Senior Feow of /atin !merica Studies at t#e Counci on Foreign 2eations, and aut#or of 5wo Iations Andivisi8e: e6ico, t#e UnitedStates and t#e 2oad !#ead. arc# , %&13 #ttp:www'88c'co'u9newsword*us*canada*%1-&--?H5#e US is too usefu and tempting a foi for papering over interna disagreements in C#avezs part) and for ra)ing o)a supporters for t#e upcomingpresidentia eection to e6pect an) a8rupt c#ange' 0eir apparent and now interim =resident Iicoas aduros speec# rig#t 8efore C#avezs deat# s#owst#is' An it #e e6peed two US dipomats and even accused t#e US of causing C#avezs cancer'>ut in t#e onger term, trade, commerciareations and persona ties coud s#ift US*Venezuean reations for t#e 8etter'First and foremost are t#e economic ties8etween t#e two nations' espite t#e r#etorica animosit) of t#e ast decade, trade continued'5#e US remains t#e argest

recipient of Venezuean oi * some $&P percent of Venezuean oi e6ports (and oi ma9es up over +&P of t#e countr)stota e6ports.'An turn, t#e US #as continued to send mac#iner) and cars, and even increased e6ports of natura gas andpetroeum products to t#e Sout# !merican nation'5#e #ard currenc) and goods are vita to t#e functioning of Venezueaseconom), government and societ), and ma) 8ecome even more so t#roug# t#e anticipated toug# economic timesa#ead'espite t#e increased government management of t#e econom) t#roug# price contros and t#e nationaisation of #undreds of private companiesover t#e ast decade, man) we* and esser*9nown US companies sti wor9 in Venezuea, providing not ust goods 8ut ongoingin9s wit# t#e United States'An addition to t#ese commercia in9s, t#e more t#an %&&,&&& Venezueans iving in t#e US and t#e #undreds oft#ousands more t#at #ave ties t#roug# fami), friends and coeagues, coud aso 8ring t#e two countries toget#er'Fina), as su8seuentVenezuean governments oo9 to adust t#eir economic poicies in t#e coming mont#s and )ears, t#e e6perience of t#eirneig#8ours provide incentives to forge a more amica8e 8iatera reations#ip'

The US is %ey to !ene"uela becoming more free and democraticC#rist), 13=atric9 C#rist) (writer for US Iews and


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!ene"uela Says


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argest of an) nation in t#e word'O espite a trou8ed poitica reations#ip, its principa customer is t#e United States, w#ic# imports near) a miion8arres a da) from Venezuea'O Venezuea;s oi industr) #as 8een officia) nationaised since t#e 1+&s, and, as president, C#avez furt#er tig#tenedgovernment contro over its production' 0is government too9 a greater c#un9 of revenues and imposed uotas t#at ensured a certain percentage woudawa)s go direct) towards aiding Venezueans via socia spending and fue su8sidies'O roo9ings Anstitute, a arac9 D8ama is w#at suits 8ot#peopes, its t#e guarantee of peace and sta8iit) for our peopes," t#e Venezuean said' utua respect, non*interferencein eac# ot#ers domestic affairs and t#e appropriate #anding of disagreements are t#e foundations of a good 8iaterareations#ip, Kaua said'

!ene"uela-US relations loo%ing to normali"eU=A, 13(United =ress Anternationa (U=A. writers, U=A 8rings news from a around t#e word, "Venezuea sees norma U'S' reations t#is )ear", Kune 11, %&13,www'upi'com5opEIews


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C!2!C!S, Venezuea, Kune 11 (U=A. ** Venezuea #opes to normaize reations wit# t#e United States and e6c#angeam8assadors t#is )ear,t#e countr)s foreign minister said' "razi and Kuan anue Santos in Coom8ia' A oo9ed not to e6poit differences and fue division, 8ut for common ground'5#ats w#) Awent to Ara to ta9 wit# Saddam 0ussein in 1++& as #e invaded 4uwait and convinced #im t#ere was no vaue in #oding #undreds of peope from t#eUnited States and ot#er countries as "#uman s#ieds'" 0e reeased t#em'5#ats w#) A went to w#at remained of Nugosavia amid t#e fames of war in1+++, to ta9 wit# So8odan iosevic to persuade #im to reease t#e t#ree U'S' sodiers 8eing #ed #ostage' 0e did'!nd t#ats w#) A went to Cu8a in1+-$ ** ong under a senseess U'S' 8oc9ade ** to ta9 wit# Castro and persuade #im to reease dozens of poitica prisoners'An eac# instance, t#eU'S' #ad a no*ta9 poic) wit# t#ese eaders and nations'Ats 8een m) e6perience t#at ta9ing, 9eeping ines of communicationopen to friend and foe ai9e, can reap dividends' Iations cannot awa)s agree, 8ut we can awa)s ta9'5#at does not reuire asacrifice of principes or signa wea9ness'A 8eieve in t#e Gand#i principes, favoring peacefu negotiation over miitar) confrontation'0e caed t#e doctrine "sat)agra#a" ** and e6pained t#e "pursuit of trut# did not admit of vioence 8eing inficted on onesopponent 8ut t#at #e must 8e weaned from error 8) patience and compassion' "For w#at appears to 8e trut# to t#e onema) appear to 8e error to t#e ot#er' !nd patience means sef*suffering' So t#e doctrine came to mean vindication of trut#,
http://www.cnn.com/2013/03/08/opinion/jackson-chavez-venezuelahttp://www.cnn.com/2013/03/08/opinion/jackson-chavez-venezuela


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not 8) infiction of suffering on t#e opponent, 8ut on onesef'" At wor9s' An m) view, its awa)s more productive and mutua) 8eneficia tota9 t#ings out and not fig#t t#ings out'!s t#e word mourns t#e deat# of C#avez, its time to go 8e)ond divisive r#etoric and#istorica fears t#at eave a of us in t#e dar9#


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***70SC


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(xtra 0nherency

!ene"uela still needs more economic engagement!ustraian ept of Foreign !ffairs and 5rade, 13(!ustraian Government epartment of Foreign !ffairs and 5rade, !pri %&13, @Venezuea countr) 8rief !ustraia*Venezuea reationsB#ttp:www'dfat'gov'augeovenezueavenezueaEcountr)E8rief'#tm.camVenezuea was #it #ard 8) t#e go8a financia crisis, wit# G= contracting 3'% per cent in %&&+ and 1'? per cent in %&1&' Venezuea;s econom)grew 8) ?' per cent in %&1%, 8ut is forecast to grow 8) on) &'$ per cent in %&13 '#ig# infation, faing pu8ic e6pendituredue to voatie oi prices, a wea9 investment outoo9 and deteriorating infrastructure are contri8uting factors to t#is

sowdown#O5#e United States is =VS!;s main fu cas# e6port mar9et' ost ot#er e6ports go to poitica aies t#at receive oi s#ipments on ong*term credit agreements at concessionar) interest rates (suc# as Iicaragua or Cu8a., or constitute pa)ments for previous) received oans (as in t#ecase of C#ina.' !so, w#ie Venezuea 8oasts one of t#e regions more deveoped p#)sica infrastructures, t#e uait) #asdeteriorated in recent decades 8ecause of underinvestmentMin spite of a proonged oi 8onanzaMstemming arge) from a ac9 ofeffective administrative capacit)' 5#is #as 8een most evident in t#e eectricit) sector, w#ere a faiure to invest in e6tra capacit) and in improveddistri8ution networ9s #as eft t#e countr) facing constant rationing, 8ut aso in t#e deteriorating uait) of roads and ports'

!ene"uela still needs an increase in infrastructure5#e Hconomist, 135#e Hconomist onine, ar ?t# %&13, 5#e Hconomist, @Venezuea after C#Lvez Iow for t#e rec9oningB#ttp:www'economist'com8ogsamericasview%&13&3venezuea*after*c#PC3P!1vez

!fter a pre*eection spending 8inge ast )ear, t#e econom) is sowing again' Faced wit# s#ortages of man) goods,incuding#ard currenc), r aduro devaued t#e currenc) 8) 3%P in Fe8ruar)' Venezuea comes towards t#e 8ottom of ust a8out ever) eagueta8e forgood governance or economic competitiveness' For 1$ )ears Venezueans #ave 8een tod t#at t#eir pro8ems were caused 8)some8od) eseMt#e United States or @t#e oigarc#)B' Getting a#ead #as depended on poitica o)at) rat#er t#an merit' 5#e mass enroment of miionsin @universitiesB t#at main) impart propaganda #ave raised e6pectations t#at are amost 8ound to 8e das#ed'O !ssuming t#e =SUV wins t#e eection, itwi 8e i*euipped to grappe wit# t#ese pro8ems' Ione of its eaders #as t#e aut#orit) of r C#Lvez, nor #is s9i at communicating wit# t#e masses'ut t#is esson wi come t#e #ard wa), and t#ere is no guarantee t#at it wi 8e earned'

Consum&tion &atterns means they need more aidCarson, 1%

(C#ris Carson, Iov 3&t# %&1%, Venezueaana)sis'com, C#ris Carson is from t#e United States, w#ere #e #as ong 8een a student of /atin !merican#istor) and poitics wit# a masters degree in /atin !merican studies from t#e Universit) of


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,AC (con ' US (con

That$s %ey to the US economyIic#oas, 11=eter Iic#oas (writer for t#e /! 5imes. arc# %%, %&11 #ttp:artices'atimes'com%&11mar%%worda*fg*o8ama*c#ie*%&11&3%% HO 2eporting from Santiago, C#ie M =resident D8ama said onda) t#at t#e United States #as sometimes ta9en /atin !mericafor granted, 8ut t#at #e sees t#e region as an increasing) important pa)er on t#e word stage'O O D8ama, in C#ie at t#emidpoint of a five*da), t#ree*countr) /atin !merican trip, soug#t to dispe views of t#e U'S' as an over8earing neig#8or

dictating terms to countries in t#e region' 0e caed /atin !merica "a region on t#e move, proud of its progress, and read)to assume a greater roe in word affairs," and #e descri8ed t#e U'S' econom) as deep) entwined wit# t#at of /atin

!merica'O O O "/atin !merica is on) going to 8ecome more important to t#e United States, especia) to our econom) ," t#epresident said after a meeting and news conference wit# C#iean =resident Se8astian =iera' "5rade 8etween t#e United States and /atin

!merica #as surged'

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Aff for Venezuela Infastructure

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