VA.com’s Cory Fischer Hoffman writes a special report from the United Nations climate talks in Lima, Peru, describing the reactions of the Venezuelan government and social movements to the attempt to reach a consensus over how to address global warming.
Yesterday evening, Venezuelan president Nicolas Maduro passed 28 laws by means of the enabling law, which permits executive action without Parliament approval. The bills, 16 of which were revealed in Tuesday’s promulgation ceremony, make up a comprehensive economic reform directed at industry, agriculture, tourism and tax revenue.
On Sunday, Venezuelan education and technology minister Manuel Fernandez signed a contract with China Great Wall Industry Corporation to build and launch the South American nation’s third satellite into space.
Ever since Venezuela’s bid for an alternate seat on the United Nations Security Council was anticipated as having unanimous regional support early this month, many wondered when the United States would launch a campaign to tip the country’s odds. Over the weekend, the Washington Post ridiculed president Nicolas Maduro and warned readers that, if elected to council, Venezuela would only “advocate for allies such as Syria, Iran and Cuba.”
Venezuela, Brazil and the Dominican Republic have all responded to a plea from Guatemalan President Otto Perez Molina, who said last week the country could be on the verge of a major food crisisdue to one of the worst droughts in Guatemala's history.
Claudia Salemo, the Venezuelan government’s climate change negotiator, has briefed delegates at a climate change conference in Bonn, Germany, on preparations for the “Social Climate Change Pre- COP’ scheduled to be held in her country ahead of COP 20 taking place in December 2014 in Lima, Peru.
Venezuelan authorities are taking special measures to reduce the impact of the drought affecting the country, which is estimated to be the seventh worst in the last sixty years.
Venezuelan leftists met in two conferences over the weekend as part of efforts to design the direction and strategy of the country’s Bolivarian revolution in the coming period.
The Venezuelan government has accused opposition protesters of destroying thousands of trees, and pledged to increase funding for conservation groups and other environmental initiatives.
Venezuela’s Catatumbo lightening phenomenon yesterday entered into the Guinness Book of World Records for the highest number of average lightning bolts per square kilometre per year, at 250.
Over the weekend Brazilian and Venezuelan authorities met in Canaima National Park and agreed to collaborate in tourism and the preservation of the area.
Three hundred and twenty Venezuelan technicians trained with support from the United Nations World Food and Agriculture Organisation are being put to work to improve domestic agricultural productivity, President Nicolas Maduro announced yesterday.
The CITGO-Venezuela Energy Efficient Lighting Program (EELP) will provide 625,000 compact fluorescent light (CFL) bulbs to families in 21 US cities this year.
