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index-March-2007-3.html English News Blog for  Venezuela News Blog March Archive 

Foreign oil firms in the Orinoco to cede control to Venezuela

By Kali at 03/09/07 07:17

In another step forward in President Hugo Chavez's nationalization push, all foreign owned oil firms will cede control to the Venezuelan state, Venezuela's oil company said.

Original source: Los Angeles Times. [404 Check: was link to http:/ / www. latimes. com/ business/ la -fi -chevron9mar09,1,1421130. story?coll=la -headlines -business&ctrack=1&cset=true, anchor: Oil firms in Orinoco reserve to cede control, Venezuela says]

Venezuela shuts Exxon office

Alleging a VAT violation, Venezuela's tax agency Seniat shut down Exxon Mobil Corp's Cerro Negro administrative offices for 48 hours. This comes shortly after Exxon's Chief Executive Rex Tillerson, said that the company would walk away from the oil project if it fails to agree with the government on a transfer of ownership.

Original source: Dow Jones Market Watch. Venezuela shuts Exxon Cerro Negro office on VAT violation

US aims to counter Venezuelan influence in Latin America

President Bush's visit to Latin American comes at a time when a key U.S. opponent, Venezuela's President Hugo Chavez, is seeking to increase his nation's influence in Latin America. This has led some experts to predict that the trip is designed to blunt Venezuela's growing clout on the continent.

Original source: VOA news. US Acts to Counter Venezuela's Clout in Latin America

Retired General arrested

Retired Gen. Ramon Guillen Davila was arrested in Caracas, on accusations by the authorities that he plotted to overthrow President Hugo Chavez, according to a statement by the suspect's attorney.

Original source: The Guardian . [404 Check: was link to http:/ / www. guardian. co. uk/ worldlatest/ story/ 0,, -6465184,00. html, anchor: Venezuela Arrests Retired General]

A country you will love

What makes Venezuela such a marvelous tourist destination is it's incredible diversity. Beaches and plains, flat top mountains and waterfalls, and a varied climate providing something for every taste. There are lush areas and deserts, all making up a rich and varied panoply of sites and vistas.

Original source: venezuelatuya.com. Venezuela yours - an overview

Venezuelan Beauty spot

Where is Margarita Island? It is located just off the northern coast of Venezuela, a short flight from Caracas. There are actually three islands - Margarita, Coche, and Cubagua, with Margarita being the largest and most populous of the three. Along it's beaches are to be found some of the best windsurfing in the world. The scenery is made up of picturesque fishing villages and beautiful Colonial neighborhoods.

Original source: escapeartist.com. Beaches of Margarita Island

No coffee in Venezuela

The ongoing dispute between the Venezuelan government and coffee retailers has left many Venezuelans without their morning taste. Coffee processors will now be forced to sell at a loss if they want to sell at all. So they decided instead to withhold the coffee in protest.

Original source: Venezuelanalysis.com. Venezuela’s Coffee Conundrum

Volunteers go into Military Reserves

Hundreds of thousands of Venezuelans volunteer each year volunteer each year to be a part of guerrilla training camps. But these camps are not there to overthrow the government, they are to defend it. These camps are called Military Reserves.

Original source: Venezuelanalysis.com. Venezuela’s Weekend Warriors

Steel company workers strike over safety

The strike at at Siderúrgica del Orinoco is in its third week. Sidor is Latin America’s largest steel company with 4,500 direct employees and 7,000 contract workers. As the workforce there has gone from union to contract the number of accidents have increased tremendously. Safety is one of the bigger reasons behind the strike.

Original source: Venezuelanalysis.com. Venezuelan Workers Struggle against Neo-Liberalism in Latin America’s Largest Steel Plant

Larger agriculture budget

Elias Jaua, Venezuela’s Minister of Land and Agriculture, announced that Hugo Chavez has approved an additional $800 million for supporting agriculture. The increase will be used to help finance 270,000 small farmers and 25,000 ranchers and to improve infrastructure.

Original source: Venezuelanalysis.com. Venezuelan Government to Triple Agriculture Budget for 2007