Ambassador, Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela, Maximilien Sanchez Arvelaiz was invited to speak by Chicago Stands With Venezuela, a solidarity committee that took exception to President Obama issuing an Executive Order (3/9/2015) declaring Venezuela "a national emergency with respect the unusual and extraordinary threat to the national security" of the US (The hypocrisy of the Executive Order is detailed in the background given by Professor Artz}.
The Ambassador speaks about the new relationships that the countries of Latin America are developing, and of some of the improvements his government has made, extending rights to all citizens, that have angered the mostly light skinned opponents of the Bolivarian Revolution. The "opposition", in conjunction with the US Government who since 2000 has spent over $120 million for "democracy promotion", seek to over throw, violently, a country democratically organized to provide for the life needs of all its people; literacy, healthcare, education, food security and dignity in old age. The Ambassador recounts the (Bosses) strike that attempted, but failed, to bring down the government and the current economic sabotage that is creating food shortages that US media tout as portending social collapse. The last question, from a student originally from Brazil, asks "What is Venezuela a hope for?"
Chicago Stands With Venezuela chicagostandswithvenezuela.com DePaul University Dept of History Lee Artz, Professor of Media Studies, Purdue University
The sound system could not be made to work, though the student aid made several attempts. The ambassador spoke with out amplification. Most of the questions were beyond reach of the wireless Lav that the ambassador wore for the recording. The moderator for the Q&A took three questions at a time and the response reveals the questions.
There is a short intro for the ambassador in the main recording.
The other file is Lee Artz offering some historical background and analysis prior to Ambassador Sanchez Arvelaiz speaking.
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