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Archive for April, 2008

Venezuelan race car driver Milka Duno is burning up the ovals. A sophomore competitor in the IndyCar series, she is currently ranked 26th among 41 drivers, and appears to be progressing fast. Milka is one of three women set to compete in the Indy 500 this Memorial Day weekend.
Believe it or not, Milka has [...]

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Today, April 29th, events are taking place in Venezuela to celebrate International Dance Day. This particular art form holds a special place in the hearts of Venezuelan people, who seldom turn down a chance to grab a partner and show off their steps.
Ballet performances are being featured at the massive Teresa Carreño Theater in Caracas. [...]

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Have you heard about Armando Galarraga yet? If not, you were bound to soon. He is the newest pitcher for the Detroit Tigers and one of Venezuela’s youngest and most promising new recruits in Major League Baseball.
Galarraga’s fastball has helped deliver several victories for the Tigers already this season. Off the field, he is known [...]

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Venezuela continues to be a source of hope for people around the world who are pushing for peace in Colombia. Two successful hostage releases were brokered this year by President Chavez, and even though that process was derailed, the country continues to advocate for a negotiated settlement to the conflict.
Governor Bill Richardson of New Mexico [...]

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Venezuela celebrated World Book Day last Wednesday, April 23rd. Events in Caracas included readings of poems by Miguel Otero Silva (1908-1985) and a lecture by one of Venezuela’s most famous living poets, Ramón Palomares.
Now, the cultural center funded by the state oil company PDVSA is hosting a book fair at which hundreds of [...]

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We brought you Venezuela’s national bird. We brought you its best-known literary traditions. And also some other, lesser known traditions. Now, it’s time to find out about the national flower.

The Cattleya Orchid, also known as the “Easter Orchid” and “Flor de Mayo,” blooms during the months of April and May. Its spiritual [...]

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With concerns about global food security mounting, a group of Latin American leaders including Venezuela’s President Chavez met to create a special fund that would offset future crises.
The food security fund, which is under the auspices of the Bolivarian Alternative for the Americas, or ALBA, begins with $100 million. The investment will be [...]

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Most people know that Venezuela is the fourth-largest supplier of oil to the U.S. But you may not be aware that it has also become the second-largest supplier of baseball talent.
In a year when foreign-born players in Major League Baseball declined overall, Venezuela was the only country to send a more heavy hitters than ever [...]

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April 22nd is Earth Day, and Venezuela is gearing up for an entire week of events aimed at honoring the planet and helping to inspire environmental conservation.
In Caracas, “Earth Day Week” begins today with a gathering of university students at the city’s Botanical Garden. The students will voice ideas for saving energy and reducing [...]

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A youth music education program in Venezuela known as “El Sistema” (”the system” ;) was featured on CBS’s 60 Minutes yesterday. The program has taught hundreds of thousands of youngsters — starting at 2 years of age! — in poor areas of Venezuela to play classical music.
Watch the 60 Minutes broadcast.
The government-funded “Sistema” was started in [...]

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Venezuela is sending more humanitarian aid to Haiti after food riots broke out last week in that country, the poorest in the Western Hemisphere. President Chavez dispatched a fleet of airplanes yesterday carrying 364 tons of food.
Last year, Venezuela created $20 million development assistance fund for Haiti aimed at investing in education, health [...]

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In musical circles, Venezuela was once known for the llanera ballads of its rural plains. But in today’s urbanized 21st century Venezuela, you are more likely to hear reggae and ska.
These pop sounds are influenced by rock and Caribbean rhythms, and boast lyrics that explore themes relevant to today’s youth: love, partying, politics, racial issues, [...]

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