Venezuelan Star Among ‘West Side Story’ Cast

“West Side Story” is coming to Broadway, and it will do so with the help of Venezuelan performer George Akram.
Akram is cast as Bernardo, the gang member who leads the Sharks. The role was played by George Chakiris (pictured at right, center) in the original 1961 movie.
A very talented singer and dancer, Akram comes from [...]

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Venezuela and China Launch “Simón Bolivar” Satellite

It’s official! Venezuela’s social revolution takes to the skies today with the launch of the satellite dubbed “Simon Bolivar” in remembrance of the independence leader.
The BBC reported that this telecommunications tool will cover all of Latin America and be used, ideally by many countries, “to enhance regional integration and also for social programmes such as [...]

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Venezuelan Artist Works with “Color as a Physical Presence”

Called “one of Latin America’s Kinetic Art masters,” Venezuelan artist Carlos Cruz Diez, age 85, works with the eye’s perception of color. His current exhibit at the Americas Society in New York is his first major solo show in the U.S.
The installation “Chromosaturation” features 3 white-walled rooms saturated with colored lights. The colors appear to [...]

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Venezuela Elected to UN Economic and Social Council

Today is an exciting and historic day for Venezuela, as it was elected a member of the United Nations Economic and Social Council. ECOSOC is a vitally important coordinating body of the United Nations and serves as a “central forum for the discussion of economic and social issues.”
Venezuela “will have the opportunity to show the [...]

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Venezuela Signs UN Convention Against Disappearance

Last Tuesday, Venezuela’s Ambassador to the United Nations, Jorge Valero, signed an important piece of human rights legislation: the International Convention for the Protection of All Persons from Enforced Disappearance.
“Enforced disappearance” refers to “the arrest, detention, abduction or any other form of deprivation of liberty by agents of the State.”
It is a crime that is [...]

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Venezuelan Conductors Invade U.S. Classical Music Scene

Venezuela’s Gustavo Dudamel is on his way to becoming a household name. He is credited with reviving classical music, and will surely gain more attention when he assumes his post as conductor of the L.A. Philharmonic Orchestra in 2009.
It so happens that another Venezuelan conductor, Eduardo Marturet (pictured above), heads up the Miami Symphony Orchestra. [...]

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NYU Students Put Posada Carriles on Trial

On October 6, 1976, 73 people were killed in the bombing of Cubana Airlines flight 455. To mark the 22nd anniversary of this tragic loss of life, the New York University chapter of the National Lawyer’s Guild staged a tribunal of the man accused of this and other acts of terrorism. [...]

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Venezuela’s “Vino Tinto” Defeat Ecuador in Soccer

Venezuelans are not known for soccer, but that’s fine — they’re succeeding at it anyway.
The national team, nicknamed “el vino tinto” for the red-wine color of their uniforms, beat out Ecuador 3-1 yesterday to remain in the World Cup qualifiers. All three goals were scored in the second half, signaling a major comeback after four [...]

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Venezuela’s Jaime Gili Wins “Art All Around” Contest

Jaime Gili of Venezuela has been called “one of the hottest global artists”. Gili made headlines recently when he won the “Art All Around” contest in Portland, Maine. His design to enliven an industrial area was selected from 560 entries from 73 countries received by the Maine Center for Creativity.
Designing Maine’s public art project came [...]

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Venezuela on the Road to Clean Energy

The Associated Press announced recently that “Chavez will swap gas-guzzlers for clean cars.”
The news may seem surprising coming from an oil producing country that claims what may be the largest reserves of crude in the world. Gas prices are subsidized by the state in Venezuela, and — as in the US — cars are a [...]

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Venezuela the Unfair Target of “Mercenaries 2″ Game

The new video game Mercenaries 2: World in Flames advertises that players can wreak unbridled havoc in a “fully destructible Venezuela.” The plot line is a hypothetical one about a “tyrant” who seizes oil and then the government.
But what sounds like a playful — if unabashedly violent — romp could be an extremely damaging assault [...]

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Caracas, Venezuela: A Guide to Enjoying a Fabulous City

Thinking of visiting Caracas? For travel insights, check out Thom Walker’s “Insider’s Guide to Caracas” in this week’s Spectator. The detailed article features historical attractions, restaurants, cultural events, and entertainment. For those who like to dance the night away, or just want to learn a few steps, he recommends El Maní, a world famous caraqueño [...]

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