Author: Carly Janelle Fant

Co-Authors: Leith Kusmider, Nic Sblano, Yaisy Tejada

There have been lingering tensions between the Catholic Church and the Socialist community in Venezuela. In 2011, approximately ninety percent of the Venezuelan population was Catholic, eight percent was protestant, and the remaining claimed to be atheists or practiced another religion (Roques 2011). These numbers are not far from what they are today.

On the twelfth of February 2017, Catholic worshipers attending mass inside their church located in Santa Fe, Caracas were disturbed by a small protest. Twenty people entered the church, the majority wearing red shirts, and began shouting insults at the clergy. Some of the men participating yelled out “Satan in a cassock” and “Fascist” to the clergy while others shouted “Chavez lives” (Cawthorne 2017).

Members of the Sante Fe church. Picture taken by Marco Bello on February 12, 2017.

It is believed that the group was attempting to honor the former president Hugo Chavez and a part of the Socialist Party. Archbishop Lopez argues that “Socialism has brought misery” to Venezuela (Cawthorne 2017).The Catholics worshipping were scared and shocked by the group barging into the church. Some were appalled by the  disrespect shown from disturbing a mass and the name calling to the clergy members.

A speaker of the group argued “because the priests have spoken about politics, we have the right too” in response to the dismay (Cawthorne 2017). The leader of the Socialist group gave a speech denouncing the priests who have spoken against or have given a critical judgement against Nicolas Maduro’s government.

While some Catholics agree with their priests, others are prideful Chavistas. Some never forgave the church after they endorsed a pitsch against Chavez in 2002. Archbishop Lopez claims “there is already a bloodbath of considerable proportions in Venezuela” (Vasquez 2017).

Violence and turmoil during a Venezuelan protest. Picture taken by Diariocritico de Venezuela in January 2017.

Venezuela has been facing many cases of political unrest, public polarization and now these conflicts have made their way into the church. The church asks for the public to remain calm and handle this situation in peace (Cawthorne 2017).

 

Questions:

How much of the Venezuelan population consider themselves Catholic?

Who were the protestors attempting to honor while charging into the Venezuelan Church?

 

Works Cited

Cawthorne, Andrew. “Venezuela Catholic Church Feels Backlash After Chiding Socialists” (2017). Reuters. Web. 17 Feb. 2017.

Roques, Nala. “People of Venezuela“ (2011). Roques. Web. 17 Feb. 2017.

Vasquez, Gina. “Archbishop: There’s a ‘Blood Bath’ in Venezuela” (2017). EWTN. Web. 17 Feb. 2017

Author: Yaisy Tejada

Co-Authors: Nic Sblano, Carly Janelle Fant, Leith Kusmider

With the passing of Hugo Chavez, Venezuela has been in a political crisis, the Opposition group has taken over Congress, and its people are on the borderline of a revolution. But one thing that has held true is that the arts will always reflect the view of the people. In Caracas, Venezuela this has become especially true (Boero 2015).

Venezuelan graffiti depicting a young girl with Venezuela written on a scarf around her mouth. Photo credit to Al Jazeera.

The people in Caracas want to change and liberal freedom and with a revolution, beginning to arise the artists of Caracas are telling the government just how the people feel (RHHR 2013).

Venezuela’s Communicational Guerrilla paints makes the link between indigenous resistance to colonial invasion with modern-day struggles against capitalism and its neoliberal form Photo credit to  C. Martinez.

Artists have taken to the streets to reclaim the public space; there are images of Chavez with phrases like “Work amongst the people must be the first principle of any revolutionary” and Simon Bolivar who is considered in Venezuela as the father of the revolution (Boero 2015).

The art work Politically inspired murals are mostly images of Chavez painted as a hero of the people and promoting a revolution. Many of the artists are painting images that promote anti-imperialism (Romero 2010).

Chavez inspired Graffiti in Caracas, Venezuela. Photographer anonymous.

Art will always reflect the will of the people and from the outside looking in the people want a revolution, one where they can be set free of the socialistic views of government and be able to have the liberty of free expression amongst their people (RHHR 2013).

The people of Venezuela are clear supporters of current President Maduro; the believe that he will carry out the ideals of the late Hugo Chavez. Ideals that consisted of a self-sufficient Venezuela, in where the people country can survive on its own and take care of its people without the help of outside forces (Romero 2010).  

 

Factoid Questions:

What inspired the Venezuelan graffiti?

What are the people trying to show through their graffiti?

 

Works Cited

Boero, Patricia. “Considering the Latin American Political Art Revolution” (2015). Democracy Chronicles. Web. 19 Feb. 2017.

RHHR. “Political Graffiti: From Venezuela to Kenya” (2013). The Revolutionary Hip-Hop Report. Web. 19 Feb. 2017.

Romero, Simon. “Artists Embellish Walls With Political Visions” (2010). The New York Times. Web. 17 Feb. 2017.

Author: Leith Kusmider

Co-Authors: Yaisy Tejada, Nic Sblano, Carly Janelle Fant

Venezuela has become a political polarized state after the emergence of Hugo Chavez as president in 1999. Chavez and his strong socialist ideals rallied the nation and was labeled as the Bolivarian Revolution. Chavez funneled billions of dollars into new social programs, education, and infrastructure (O’Brien 2016).

Today Chavez’s legacy lives on but the economy of Venezuela has failed. Much of the Venezuelan economy is dependent on oil production and as oil prices have fallen and oil production has fallen by as much as 25% between 1999 to 2013 (O’Brien, 2016), the economy has suffered as a result. Nicolas Maduro, Chavez’s handpicked successor, has attempted to patch up the economy by printing more money and continue spending. As a result, Venezuela has seen inflation reaching 800% (“Venezuela” 2016). Maduro has responded to inflation by setting government controlled prices for food and other necessities.

 

Washington News Post Picture: Inflation and food shortages have resulted in long lines and hours of waiting to buy groceries.

Venezuela has seen horrific levels of violence and corruption since the economy failed, many people hang on to the legacy of the Bolivarian Revolution and others have looked for alternatives. The Opposition party being the most popular competitor to Chavez’s socialist party, has gained popularity (Cawthorne 2016).

In January of 2016, new elections were held and the Opposition party gained the majority of seats in congress. While the congress is now controlled by the Opposition, president Nicolas Maduro still remains in power. The division of government has made an inefficient government even more impeded.

Riots and protests have broken out as the members of the Opposition along side students and other citizens, take to the streets (Cawthorne 2016). The protesters do not all identify as the Opposition, some are even Chavistas but the failed state has spurred political unrest. Violence and corruption continues in Venezuela and many are waiting to see how the new Opposition government reacts to the current situation.

Many Venezuelans, whether they identify as Chavistas or as the Opposition, have felt that the government has neglected them in times of need. With food shortages, violence and corruption becoming part of everyday life in Venezuela, many people no longer feel they can turn to the government for assistance. This begs the question, how long can this government maintain legitimacy and what would a failed state mean for the people of Venezeula.

 

Factoid Questions:

Who came to power after Chavez?

How has the economy changed since then?

What internal and external pressures have put excessive strain on the Venezuelan economy?

What party has recently come to power within Congress?

 

Works Cited:

O’Brien, Matt. “Venezuela is on the Brink of a Complete Economic Collapse” (2016). The Washington Post. Web. 22 Feb. 2017.

“Venezuela Inflation Rate” (2017). Trading Economics. Web. 22 Feb. 2017.

Cawthorne, Andrew and Chinea, Eyanir. “Venezuelan Legislature Launches Trial Against Maduro” (2016). Reuters. Web. 22 Feb. 2017.