Thursday, September 25, 2014

Free Leopoldo Lopez!

US President Barack Obama called on Tuesday for the release of Venezuelan opposition leader Leopoldo López, and underscored the work of Berta Soler, head of Cuban dissenting organization Ladies in White. The statement was issued during a speech at the Clinton Global Initiative. "We stand in solidarity with those who are detained at this very moment," noted the US president as reported by AP. "In Venezuela, Leopoldo Lopez," said Obama before referring to other leaders in prison in places such as Burundi, Egypt, China, and Vietnam. "They deserve to be free. They ought to be released."

Wednesday, September 3, 2014

Venezuela Replacing G_d with Government

from Yahoo News
CARACAS (Reuters) - A member of Venezuela's Socialist Party has rolled out a variation of the classic Christian "Lord's Prayer" to implore beloved late leader Hugo Chavez for protection from the evils of capitalism.

"Our Chavez who art in heaven, the earth, the sea and we delegates," red-shirted delegate Maria Estrella Uribe recited on Monday at the PSUV party Congress.

"Hallowed be your name, may your legacy come to us so we can spread it to people here and elsewhere. Give us your light to guide us every day," she said in front of an image of Chavez.

"Lead us not into the temptation of capitalism, deliver us from the evil of the oligarchy, like the crime of contraband, because ours is the homeland, the peace and life forever and ever. Amen. Viva Chavez!" she exclaimed to applause.

Though Chavez died of cancer in March 2013, he remains omnipresent in Venezuela. His photo is plastered all over capital Caracas, state TV frequently airs excerpts of his famously lengthy speeches and supporters sometimes don earrings or pendants with an artistic black-and-white rendition of his eyes.

Chavez won over many poor in oil-rich Venezuela with his massive social programs and frequent attacks of what he deemed a "squalid" business elite. Many feel a spiritual connection with the gregarious former soldier, who also hails from a humble background.

Opponents blast what they see as a detrimental personality cult. They also accuse current President Nicolas Maduro of piggy-backing off his predecessor's popularity to distract supporters from shortages of basic goods, an annual inflation of around 60 percent, and sky-high crime rates.