Dear VA readers,
In this fast-changing world of ours, there are very few constants left. But one of them, unfortunately, is US regime-change efforts against Venezuela. After cycling through coup attempts and street insurrections, Washington settled on a weapon of choice: unilateral economic sanctions.
In recent years, the US Treasury has levied coercive measures left and right. From food imports to banking to the oil industry, virtually no sector is left untouched. The goal was clear and sometimes publicly disclosed: to cause as much pain and death as needed to overthrow the Maduro government.
Sanctions have taken a huge toll, severely worsening food insecurity and mass migration, but there is one thing Beltway bureaucrats always overlook: solidarity. Under the toughest conditions, Venezuelan popular organizations did not sit idly by. Communes and other grassroots groups have found ways to survive, even flourish, to show that surrendering to the market and to imperialism is far from the only option.
On the international front, solidarity movements have also been tireless in opposing and denouncing the US-led economic war on the Venezuelan people, and their work begins to bear fruit. Even in Washington’s House of Representatives, some US politicians have joined multilateral organizations in demanding an end to unilateral coercive measures.
Despite the increased pressure, the Biden administration is yet to change one comma in its predecessor's sanctions program... even amidst a global pandemic! All the while, mainstream media outlets in the Global North go out of their way to cheerlead Washington’s murderous foreign policy instead of reporting on the growing calls to end it.
Consider supporting VA by becoming a subscriber or making a one-time donation. Follow links above.
That’s where Venezuelanalysis comes in. Our on-the-ground news, analysis, interviews and multimedia pieces counter and challenge the corporate media narrative on a daily basis. In particular, we have looked to produce content that will help the English-speaking audience understand sanctions and their deadly consequences, as well as give solidarity activists “weapons” for their struggle. We’ve likewise strived to give a voice to the Bolivarian grassroots which are always silenced and ignored by corporate journalists, as well as cover the responses and policies of the (demonized) Venezuelan government under such difficult circumstances.
But we need your help! Being an independent outlet, we are entirely reliant on support from readers like you. A $10, $20 or $30 a month contribution goes a long way to sustain our grassroots journalism.
So please consider backing our efforts. No donation is too small! With an environmental crisis and pandemic exposing the ugly shortcomings of global capitalism, one thing is clear enough. The answer is solidarity, not sanctions!
Our warmest thanks and happy holiday wishes!
Andreína, Cira, Greg, Jeanette, José Luis, Katrina, Lucas, Paul, Rachael and Ricardo for the VA team
PS: We have a special holiday treat! If you donate $60 or more, or become a subscriber/patron at $15/month or above, you’ll get a complimentary t-shirt designed by none other than Pablo Kalaka from Venezuela’s coolest artist collective Utopix.
