Traveling Rutgers University Students Share their Views on Developments in Venezuela

[Judi Lynn]

04/06/07

Traveling Rutgers University Students Share their Views on Developments in Venezuela

We, a delegation of students from Rutgers, the State University of New Jersey, were in Caracas this Saturday at a peaceful demonstration. Imagine a protest that was more of a celebration than an angry mob. Imagine ordinary citizens without ulterior agendas or motives celebrating the right to self-determination in the face of economic imperialism. But, we don't have to imagine it because we were there and that's what we saw on Saturday, June 2, 2007.

After meeting with the Venezuelan Minister of Agriculture and the president of the Agricultural Bank of Venezuela to learn about the progress of President's Hugo Chavez' sweeping economic reforms, we decided to participate in the pro-Chavez celebration to show solidarity with the people of Venezuela and their defense of Chavez' decision to not renew RCTV's broadcasting license. Traveling to Venezuela the day before, we were flooded with messages of fear of the allegedly unstable environment and distrust of the decision to cancel the station. Yet, upon arrival we were warmly welcomed into a beautiful city and felt none of the animosity we were told to expect.

Many of you may have heard that RCTV was forcibly closed down by a military dictator. However the station's license expired and the government simply decided not to renew it. Over the course of RCTV's broadcast history, it has been used as a tool to incite violence, spread hatred, and promote disinformation. This was not a violation of free press to silence the opposition; the public government simply reclaimed public airwaves. This station had the strongest signal and the widest bandwidth reaching the most viewers in the country. There are no other comparable channels in the country.

Participating in the march was an amazing experience for all of us. We felt the enthusiasm and unity of the crowd. The atmosphere was charged with endless positive energy. People were dancing. Music was playing. There were even fireworks. Everyone wanted to be there.

The State Department urged Americans to think twice before coming to Venezuela. We urge the State Department to think twice about their position on Venezuelan affairs.

(names of students follow)

http://mrzine.monthlyreview.org/venezuela040607.html

[keopeli]

1. recommended

[leftchick]

2. It is nice to see some unbiased reporting

Those videos are great too! Chimpy is jealous no one ever throws a party for him like that.

[Judi Lynn]

3. Wow! I was in such a hurry to get over here & post the statement, I missed them until now.

Love this one, a very cute moment of dancing while demonstrating, "marcha 3:"
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K5DZ61zl9I0&NR=1

Thank you for taking the time to remind us, leftchick.

[Joe Chi Minh]

8. Those MSM reporters are so sick, one of them described them as "striding"

"striding", instead of gleefully ambling. They're only capable of judging others by their own standards, i.e. abysmally dishonestly.

[fasttense]

4. It sounds like our TV stations are used in a way that would be unacceptable to

the people of Venezuela.

"Over the course of RCTV's broadcast history, it has been used as a tool to incite violence, spread hatred, and promote disinformation."

Well it seems to me most of our TV so called news stations are doing just the same thing. Only we don't do a damn thing about it.

[Ganja Ninja]

5. Sounds like he shut down the Venezuelan version of FOX news.

Wouldn't it be nice if we did the same here. Shut down all of Murdock's empire and kick his ass out of the country. He's an undesirable alien.

[bvar22]

7. The Venezuelan Government did NOT "Shut Down" anything!

Please don't use the Reich Wing framing.
The Venezuelan Government simply declined to renew RCTV's license to broadcast on the Public Airways.
RCTV is still free to broadcast on Cable and Satellite.

The following is from the Christian Science Monitor, one of the few remaioning credible news sources remaining in the uS.

"Would a network that aided and abetted a coup against the government be allowed to operate in the United States? The US government probably would have shut down RCTV within five minutes after a failed coup attempt – and thrown its owners in jail. Chávez's government allowed it to continue operating for five years and then declined to renew its 20-year license to use the public airwaves. It can still broadcast on cable or via satellite dish."
<snip>
http://www.csmonitor.com/2007/0604/p09s01-coop.html?pag...


When you use the Global Corporate Frame "Shut Down", you evoke images of jack booted storm troopers marching in and breaking up the radio station! That is why our CorpoMedia is using the frame "Shut Down" which is much scarier than the TRUTH.




"There are forces within the Democratic Party who want us to sound like kinder, gentler Republicans. I want us to compete for that great mass of voters that want a party that will stand up for working Americans, family farmers, and people who haven't felt the benefits of the economic upturn."---Paul Wellstone

[malaise]

9. 100% correct n/t

[SoCalDem]

6. Noticias Del Zorro closed down.. we should be so lucky here

:)

[Pastiche423]

10. Thank you, Judi Lynn

for all of your hard work in researching and posting real news about our southern neighnors.

I appreciate the education and admire you and your work.

Gracias!