Papers On Venezuela Culture

THE SINKING SHIP: VENEZUELA
Culture is defined as “the beliefs, customs, arts, etc., of a particular society, group, place, or time”, according to the Merriam-Webster dictionary (2016). Venezuela’s culture consists of the combination of three different cultures; The European (in specific the Spanish, Italian, and Portuguese), the indigenous tribes of South America, and the African culture. The official language of Venezuela is Spanish as well of some indigenous dialects; that makes a total of about 30 different languages and dialects. The Venezuelan culture is a rich combination of heritage. This heritage began during the colonial times as early as the 1800’s when the Europeans, the indigenous, and the Africans shared their culture with
one another. Therefore, creating the Venezuelan culture that is known today. The Cultural influence of the African and the indigenous, is limited to some gastronomy and music. The greatest cultural influence comes from the Spanish. Some examples of this influence are reflected in the infrastructure, music, Catholicism as religion, and the Spanish language.
Geography
Venezuela is located in Northern South America, bordering the Caribbean Sea and the North Atlantic Ocean, between Colombia and Guyana (CIA.gov, 2017).
Venezuela is the 33rd biggest country in the world; over six times bigger than Georgia and twice the size of California. Venezuela has a variety of geographical characteristics from coastlines to high peaks and ridgelines. Some include the Andes Mountains and Maracaibo Lowlands in the northwest, central plains (llanos), and the Guiana Highlands in the southeast (CIA.gov, 2017). Pico Bolivar is the highest mountain in Venezuela measuring 4978m, and located alongside many of Venezuela's other high peaks, within the boundaries of Parque Nacional Sierra Nevada (Sierra Nevada National Park). Pico Bolivar is immediately southeast of the city of Merida, from which one has the option of taking a lift up to 15,630 feet. Weather in Venezuela is tropical; hot, humid and more moderate in highlands (CIA.gov, 2017). This weather is correlated to today’s financial crisis because of the natural disasters. Natural disasters in this country has caused an economic damage of 300 million dollars. By the Global Facility for Disaster Reduction and Recovery (GFDRR), these events affect 26 million people’s lives including leading them to poverty (GFDRR, 2017). The combination of natural disasters, a socialist run government, black market over price basic goods, and the drop of crude oil, are some of the reasons why Venezuela is a Sinking
Ship. (GFDRR, 2017)
Economy.
Venezuela had a promising strong economy due to its vast natural resources. Some of this included but not limited to petroleum, natural gas, iron ore, gold, bauxite, other minerals, hydropower, and diamonds (CIA.gov, 2017). The latest estimates of crude oil reserves done by the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) position Venezuela as the number one country with a superb 300.88 billion barrels (OPEC.org, 2017). Since the era of Hugo Chavez as president (1999 – 2013), all this promising economy driven by its natural resources has decayed since then. His socialist ideas have driven this country to a beyond crisis situation, putting Venezuela at its brink. He (Hugo Chavez) took this way of thinking a step further and used petrol dollars to subsidies essential products such as rice, sugar, toilet paper, sanitary towels and medicine. It was an altruistic, populist move that allowed the poor to finally share in the nation’s oil wealth. But it also stifled incentives for producers and created a system of dependency and black-marketing that was already causing economic problems before Chávez died in 2013 and the global crude market collapsed the following year. His successor, Nicolás Maduro, has tried to continue and even extend this policy, despite a 60% fall in crude prices since 2014. Even in the midst of crisis, the government still hands out free or massively discounted homes, cars, DVD players and microwave ovens (the guardian 2016). Lately, food is a better business than drugs," said retired General Cliver Alcala, who helped oversee Venezuela's border security. "The military is in charge of food management now, and they're not going to just take that on without getting their cut." (OPEC.org, 2017)
Military.
Hugo Chavez elected president amid disenchantment with established parties, launches 'Bolivarian Revolution' that brings in the new constitution, socialist and populist economic and social policies funded by high oil prices, and increasingly vocal anti-US foreign policy (Watts, 2017). During his regime in office, until time of death, he (Hugo Chavez) has utilize the military for his ideas of socialism. Ties with guerrilla organization Fuerzas Armadas Revolucionarias de Colombia (Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia – FARC) brought some tensions with the Colombia Government. The Colombian military conducted unauthorized raids on Venezuelan soil, killing senior FARC rebel Raul Reyes. In 2009 Tensions between the two countries further increase after Colombia accuses Venezuela of supplying arms to FARC rebels, and Mr. Chavez accuses Colombia of allowing its troops to stray over their common border. The diplomatic row escalates after the Colombian government and the US sign their long-trailed deal on the use of Colombia's military bases. President Chavez orders 15,000 troops to the Colombian border, citing increased violence by Colombian paramilitary groups. In the middle of 2010 Venezuela briefly cuts diplomatic ties with Colombia after being accused of harboring FARC rebels. March 2015 diplomatic tension with US rises. Venezuela orders US embassy to cut 80 staff, accusing it of interference in internal affairs. US declares 'national emergency' over Venezuela, accusing it of threatening national security and foreign policy, imposes sanctions on seven officials (BBC.com, 2016). During the era of Hugo Chavez as well of current president Nicolas Maduro has been multiple purchase of military weaponry from Russia. In 2016 multiple sources confirm a surge from one billion to three billion, and expand its focus beyond Su-30MK2 (Mnogofunktzionniy Komercheskiy 2-seat) long-range multi-role fighters and various Russian helicopters to include other equipment as well (defense industry daily2016). With today’s economic turmoil the Venezuelan military is focusing their role in the country’s food distribution. When hunger drew tens of thousands of Venezuelans to the streets in protest last summer, President Nicolas Maduro turned to the military to manage the country's diminished food supply, putting generals in charge of everything from butter to rice. With much of the country on the verge of starvation and billions of dollars at stake, food trafficking has become one of the biggest businesses in Venezuela. And from generals to foot soldiers, the military is at the heart of the corruption, according to documents and interviews with more than 60 officials, business owners and workers, including five former generals (Aljazeera.com, 2016).
Final.
Marta Cecilia Velez is an aunt that lives in Colombia.
She is a Lawyer with a specialty in labor. Marta has a contract with a Colombian meat producing company as an assessor. The company has a branch in Venezuela, which gives her the opportunity to travel to Venezuela constantly. We discussed about the current turmoil going on that country. We assessed that the Venezuelan people are hardworking, dedicated, family oriented, and they want the best for their country. As for the political aspect, we realized they are taking steps to become like Cuba. This is after the social revolution established by Hugo Chavez and continue by his successor Nicolas Maduro. On the economic aspect, it is a total disaster. For example, Venezuela currently has the highest inflation in the world at 800% by December 2016 (CIA.gov, 2017). The situation, it is a lot worse when you hear it from the Venezuelan people rather than the communication mediums. The lack of basic products is real, due to the socialist idea of distribution of wealth. To buy basic food products families are assigned one day of the week base on their social security number. That is the only day in which families can buy alimentation for their homes. Distribution centers are being controlled and is normal to be in line for about 5 hours before they get their food essentials. Products value are subsided by the government making them less expensive. This system created a bad social cycle. People, including the
military, takes or buy illegally more products than what the government is meant to give the people. These people sell this products in the black markets for as much as 10 times the original value. This cycle is one of the biggest reasons that has driven Venezuela to have the highest inflation rate in the world. The question is, why would people buy these products at higher value? Vast amount of Venezuelans physically can handle staying in line for 4 or 5 hours; as well simple daily life obligations. In conclusion Venezuela with its people, geography, and rich vast of natural resources, could have been a major contributor of global economy. Nonetheless due to socialist ideas, segregation from western economies, and bad administration, is sending the country to crisis. Unless their current situation change the country will not see an improvement in years to come. Venezuela will be a Sinking Ship.