Wednesday, July 13, 2005

THE ROAD TO SUCCESS ZMag: "Far from ruining the country, here are some of the good things the Chavez government has accomplished: - A land reform program designed to assist small farmers and the landless poor has been instituted - this past March a large landed estate owned by a British beef company was occupied by agrarian workers for farming purposes. - Education is now free (right through to university level), causing a dramatic increase in grade school enrollment. - The government has set up a marine conservation program and is taking steps to protect the land and fishing rights of indigenous peoples. - Special banks now assist small enterprises, worker cooperatives, and farmers. - Attempts to further privatize the state-run oil industry - 80 percent of which is still publicly owned - have been halted and limits have been placed on foreign capital penetration. - Chavez kicked out U.S. military advisors and prohibited overflights by U.S. military aircraft engaged in counterinsurgency in Colombia. - 'Bolivarian Circles' have been organized throughout the nation, neighborhood committees designed to activate citizens at the community level to assist in literacy, education, vaccination campaigns, and other public services. - The government hires unemployed men, on a temporary basis, to repair streets and neglected drainage and water systems in poor neighborhoods." 12:26:40 PM    comment []

© Copyright 2005 Hetty Litjens.