Venezuela Recognized for Protecting the Amazon

Venezuela is the nation with the 10th-largest amount of biodiversity in the world. Efforts to protect that biodiversity are highlighted in a new study by RAISG, or La Red Amazónica de Información Socioambiental Georreferenciada.

According to the study, Venezuela has the second-highest proportion of its Amazon region protected. The Amazonian basin covers an astounding 3 million square miles in South America, overlapping several different countries and encompassing a population of perhaps 33 million. Venezuela has already protected 71.5% of its share — second only to Ecuador’s 79.7%, and far ahead of Colombia, Brazil, and Peru.

RAISG measured Indigenous territory and other protected lands, which are generally the best conserved. Venezuela has 43 national parks. A respect for nature is enshrined in the constitution of Venezuela under a chapter that guarantees all citizens the right to a safe and healthy environment.

Since the Amazon Rainforest is often called the “lungs” of South America, we can breathe a little easier thanks to Venezuela.

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Pushing Regional Unity, Venezuela Hosts 3rd ALBA Summit

Last week, over Thanksgiving, it’s safe to say that some Latin Americans may have given thanks for increased cooperation among countries in the region.

Venezuela hosted a summit of ALBA (the Bolivarian Alternative for the America) last Wednesday in Caracas which brought together the leaders of member countries Bolivia, Nicaragua, Honduras, Cuba, and Dominica. Also in attendance was President Correa of Ecuador.

Among the initiatives proposed by Venezuela was the creation of a common currency. President Chavez said it could act as “a monetary zone of solidarity-based commercial exchange” to reduce dependence on the U.S. and financial institutions like the IMF and World Bank.

Read news articles here and here, or check out the ALBA declaration issued November 26th in Spanish here.

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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 straight losses. Above, Alejandro Moreno and Gabriel Cichero celebrate their win.

Last Friday, “el vino tinto” lost to Brazil, a powerhouse team that Venezuela has managed to defeat only once. This time, Brazil earned an easy 4-0 victory, but still complained! Coach Dunga said his players were kept awake at night by loud partying while they were in Venezuela. “When we play away from home in the World Cup qualifiers, the whole country unites to try and make things as difficult as possible for Brazil,” he said.

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Bank of the South Begins with $10 Billion

The Bank of the South (or in Spanish, Banco del Sur) is an institution that promises to help Latin American countries help themselves.

Founded late last year, the Bank has just announced it will begin operations with US$10 billion in startup capital. This amount may climb to as much as $20 billion. Each country’s contribution is directly proportionate to the size of its economy. Member states are Venezuela, Ecuador, Bolivia, Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay and Uruguay (see their economy ministers pictured here).

What are the benefits? The new Bank of the South gives countries a new option for how to finance development programs. Priority areas are infrastructure, industry, housing, transportation, and human capacity-building.

Most importantly, the Bank creates an opportunities for cooperation and mutual assistance among countries in the region. Instead of relying on financial institutions like the IMF, which issued loans tied to policy demands, nations can soon borrow on their own terms.

Read more about the IMF’s decline in Latin America in the this report and this opinion piece.

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Venezuela Stands up for Sovereignty

Read all about it!

In recent days, news came of two major triumphs: the overturning of ExxonMobil’s $12 billion asset freeze against Venezuela’s state oil company, and a resolution by the OAS rejecting Colombia’s deadly military raid into Ecuador. At the heart of both issues is the question of sovereignty.

First, in the dispute with ExxonMobil, Venezuela went to court to stand up for its decision to bring oil projects in the Orinoco region under the legal framework for majority state control of the oil industry that was established in the 1970s. ExxonMobil challenged that decision in UK courts, but a judge ruled the firm’s move was inappropriate.

A second headline is the OAS resolution to reject Colombia’s March 1st raid in Ecuador, which killed a top guerrilla leader as well as two dozen others, including 4 Mexican university students. The resolution was approved unanimously by the 34 member states of the OAS. OAS representatives are pictured here applauding the decision.

Venezuela took the lead in denouncing the breach of sovereignty by Colombia. This is due to the fact that Venezuela shares a 1,500 mile-long border with Colombia — one of the longest common borders in the hemisphere. Also, refugees and communities displaced by the violence in Colombia are increasingly granted asylum in Venezuela.

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