Following the 2013 death of Venezuelan president Hugo Chavez, the Latin American country has been rocked by conflict between right-wing politicians and the revolutionary activists and workers who support Chavez’s lefist Bolivarian movement. To further their cause, some of these activists have taken to the nation’s streets and neighborhoods to…
As Venezuelan Healthcare Industry Crumbles, Ebola Outbreak Would Be Disastrous
Every country has begun bolstering its line of defense against the Ebola virus as news of outbreaks beyond West Africa (notably, in Spain and the U.S.) causes world leaders across the globe to realize that an epidemic — this epidemic — could very well infiltrate their borders. These world leaders, many of…
Venezuela’s Got 99 Problems, and Political Upheaval is One of Many
As an oil-rich country, Venezuela is no stranger to controversy. However, the focus has momentarily shifted to youth-led political protests. The famous words “Remember, remember the fifth of November,” taken from songs and poems used to commemorate Guy Fawkes Day in Great Britain, seem applicable to Venezuela’s recent political unrest.…
Venezuelan Government Censorship Causes Journalists to Turn to the Internet
The Venezuelan government’s hold on the country’s media is no surprise to many people in and outside of the country. Recently, this control made headlines around the world when one of the nation’s oldest newspapers, El Impulso, announced that they would be stopping circulation due to a lack of advertising,…
Sacked Cartoonist Sparks Debate on Censorship, Healthcare in Venezuela
The firing last month of a Venezuelan newspaper cartoonist over a piece of healthcare satire has sparked an ongoing debate regarding censorship in the country.“We’re sorry that [Rayma] is no longer with us and we see [her firing] as one of the major costs that the new ownership is paying…
Venezuela Ranks Poorly for the Safety and Well-Being of its Elderly Population
Venezuela is not a very good place to grow old. The 2014 Global AgeWatch Index, developed by HelpAge International, ranks Venezuela among the bottom quarter of the index, alongside many impoverished African nations. Venezuela is ranked 76th out of 96 nations, well below any other South American country. The index…
Venezuelan Government Opens Investigation into TNT Show after Jab at President
The TNT series Legends has barely made a blip in the extensive TV lineup released this year by United States television networks, where the satellite telecommunications industry which controls TV broadcasting brings about $6 billion in revenue every year. But the show has plenty of critics in Venezuela. Venezuelan officials…
Venezuelan Soldiers Receive New Cars While Civilians Wait in Line for Nonexistent Food
With so much political turmoil and violence taking over the country recently, Venezuelans have undergone more tension and stress than most people can even imagine. As details about the Venezuelan army — and the perks that soldiers receive — start seeping into mainstream news stations, it’s clear that the disaster…