The Book
In praise of Blogging the Revolution
“Caracas Chronicles has been an indispensable source of lucidity and perspective in these turbulent times in Venezuela. Toro and Nagel have been right on target, without pretending to be ludicrously impartial; they have been able to rise above polarization, trying hard to make sense of an often implausible reality. Blogging the Revolution shows them at their best. If you are not already a fan, you will become one.”
- Francisco J. Monaldi, RFK Visiting Professor at Harvard Kennedy School and Director, Center on Energy at IESA in Caracas.Recent Comments
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Category Archives: Misiones
Workplace bullying as public policy
In the last few days, mutiple press reports indicate that some public sector workers have been fired and others have suffered harassment because of their political stance after the presidential election. Audio clips of several heads of public bodies (like … Continue reading
Democracy is a tombola
On paper, all Venezuelan electoral campaigns are funded through private donations, as the Constitution bans the use of public money for political parties. But the law is one thing and reality on the ground is quite another. With each new … Continue reading
Posted in Misiones, Nicolas Maduro, Politics, Presidential Election
30 Comments
G.M.V.V. Chronicles, ctd.
A fire broke out last week in the improvised shelter for displaced people located in La Rinconada, Caracas’s racetrack. After the fire was put out, the shelter spent two days without any electricity. Many families are still living in the … Continue reading
Posted in In Other News, infrastructure, Misiones, Society
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Gran Mision Mad Rush to Catch Up After Years of Broken Promises
Even after the home-buidling boom of the year ahead of the 2012 presidential vote, chavismo still hasn’t caught up with the puntofijo years’ pace… [Hat tip: Transparencia Venezuela.]
G.M.V.V. Chronicles
Last month, after two years of waiting in shelters, 96 displaced families were given the keys of their brand new apartments in a new tower built in Western Caracas, as part of the Gran Misión Vivienda Venezuela program. What could … Continue reading
Posted in infrastructure, Misiones, Society
36 Comments
The Misiones have to go
The Misiones, Hugo Chávez’s trademark social programs, have become the proverbial third rail in Venezuelan politics – nobody dares touch them because they are so damn popular. But since we are unelectable, it’s about time we speak the truth and … Continue reading
Posted in Misiones
76 Comments
Paquetazo en Gotas
And so it begins. The Chávez government started to cut back on unsustainable social spending in the construction sector not years after the election, or months, or weeks even, but three days after: En un recorrido realizado en edificios en construcción por … Continue reading
Posted in Misiones, Presidential Election
35 Comments
Caracas Chronicles Summit in Guaroristan
Finally had a chance to meet Gustavo Hernández Acevedo, our Barquisimeto Bureau Chief, in person. We went off on a bit of an appliance bargain hunt, looking for Mi Casa Bien Equipada washing machines. They’re still around, even with the … Continue reading
Posted in Misiones, Politics
48 Comments
The invincible Hugo Chávez
A different post-mortem, this one focusing on the President, the nation that loves him, and the challenges he faces. Over at Americas Quarterly.
Posted in Misiones
21 Comments
Worst. GMVV House. Ever!
Following on from GEHA’s post, some GMVV houses are collapsing before they’re even assigned! Update: Needless to say, this one got chigüired in an instant.
The Many Downsides of Building in a Mad Rush
The Chavernment’s housing program, Gran Mision Vivienda Venezuela is still going full throttle, but its path has been rocky: damage to the enviroment, workplace accidents and workers mad as hell about pay that’s always two months late. Now, another complication: … Continue reading
Posted in infrastructure, Misiones, Society
12 Comments
Rightsizing the Bolivarian dream
Another fun tidbit from R.G.Aveledo’s N24 interview comes at 9:06 (in the video link), when he’s being asked about a “secret Capriles plan” to phase out the government’s misones (social programs.) As Aveledo notes, it’s Chávez’s program that explicitly calls … Continue reading
Orwell-on-Guaire
That weird Orwellian vibe on State Media these days may be clear as day to Venezuelans, but it’s tough, very tough to get it across to a neutral. How do you put across, to somebody who hasn’t experienced it, the … Continue reading
Posted in International chavistas, Misiones
Tagged Communication Hegemony
Del apuro solo queda…
The Gran Mision Vivienda Venezuela, the Chavernment’s house-building program, is going into overdrive right before the election. Of course, unintended consequences come along any rushed process, like workplace accidents. Six workers were injured when a construction crane fell down in … Continue reading
Posted in Chavismo, infrastructure, Misiones, Politics, Society
