Last night, two good short documentaries on Venezuela and its relation with Haiti and the USA were screened on Avi Lewis’ CBC show, “On The Map.” You can view the documentaries online:
http://www.cbc.ca/onthemap/fullpage.php?id=111
http://www.cbc.ca/onthemap/fullpage.php?id=110
Haiti in the Middle
Aired on June 25, 2007
The construction of a new regional rivalry is emerging as Venezuela forays into the traditional stomping grounds of the U.S.
Indie-journalist Reed Lindsay gives us a report on Venezuela’s growing power – and if its challenge to U.S. influence – was being felt in the hemisphere’s poorest country, Haiti.
For a wider look at the new power politics of Latin America, Avi’s joined by Greg Grandin, author of Empire’s Workshop: Latin America, The United States and the Rise of the New Imperialism.
The Chavez Mystique
Aired on June 25, 2007
We dig deeper into the hype and hysteria around Hugo Chavez. The portrait of Chavez in the US media has not exactly been nuanced but in fact Chavez is a complicated and contradictory figure.
Elected in 1999, he was briefly deposed in a coup in 2002, and then quickly returned to power days later on the strength of massive support from the street. He has since won another landslide election and a huge plebiscite to change the constitution. And he’s using the country’s oil wealth to fund a big increase in social spending.
On the other hand, he’s constantly fueling his critics charges of megalomania. Last month he sparked energetic opposition protests when he decided not to renew the license of a hostile private television station. And he tests the patience of his allies with his rhetorical excess.
Avi talks to Chavez-watchers Mark Weisbrot with the Center for Economic and Policy Research, and Jennifer McCoy, Director of the Americas Program at The Carter Center.
For more information, please visit us at www.handsoffvenezuela.org.