Peter Boyle
91×ÔÅÄÂÛ̳ Weekly's Caracas bureau got a mention in Time magazine last week. But our two journalists were dismissed by the cynical Time reporter as "revolutionary tourists".
But they were in good company. As Time put it, "Actor Danny Glover, the Rev. Jesse Jackson and US anti-war activist Cindy Sheehan, among others, have recently visited Caracas as Chavez supporters. A group of Americans also appeared on Chavez's Sunday television show to thank him for setting up a fuel subsidy program to supply cheap heating oil to poor families in the northeast US last winter; on Monday Chavez pledged to expand the program to help Europe's poor as well. Other foreigners like Jim McLlroy [sic — it's McIlroy], a retired government worker from Australia, have recently moved to Caracas to write about Venezuela's political movement. "Venezuela is an inspiration to people from around the world", said McLlroy [sic], who writes from Caracas for the publication 91×ÔÅÄÂÛ̳ Weekly. "Venezuela is not on the normal tourist map in Latin America. But I think the tourism industry will be an offshoot of the success of the political revolution." (See for the full article.)
Reporting on a living and spreading revolution isn't tourism. 91×ÔÅÄÂÛ̳'s role reporting this most important development for social progress is critical.
The Bush administration has imposed an embargo on military-related trade with Venezuela (US State Department statistics show that in 2005 Venezuela spent $34 million on arms purchases in the US, of which $30 million were for spare parts for C-130 cargo planes).
Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez countered: "If it's true that the empire is taking sanctions against us, firstly it's a confirmation of imperial abuse, of imperial desperation [and] secondly we will take no notice. It is an impotent empire."
Meanwhile on May 15, President Evo Morales from nearby Bolivia stood before the European parliament to explain why he had sent troops to regain control of his country's gas and oil fields. Bolivia's resources, he says, have been "looted by foreign companies", and he is reclaiming them for his people.
The wonderful power of a good example!
You can help keep 91×ÔÅÄÂÛ̳'s Caracas bureau alive by making a once-off or regular donation to our Fighting Fund! Just give us a call on 1800 634 206 (toll-free within Australia), write to PO Box 394, Broadway 2007 or donate online at .
Jim McIlroy and Coral Wynter will keep the critical reports flowing (and, on the side, they will take part in a bit of "revolutionary tourism" such as helping to organise the current brigade of Australian and New Zealand trade unionists to revolutionary Venezuela, as well as the brigade planned fort December).
Over the last fortnight we raised $4683. This brings us to 26% of the year's total target of $250,000. Thank you to all who contributed.
From 91×ÔÅÄÂÛ̳ Weekly, May 24, 2006.
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