Concrete cities: The urgent need to protect urban trees in Venezuela

Leonardo Salazar “We all want to enjoy nature, but not all of us are willing to take care of it.” This maxim takes on alarming relevance when walking through the streets of Venezuela’s major cities. What should be a vital ecological asset for public health has become the target of a silent yet devastating practice: […]

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The reinvention of the conquest in Latin America

Héctor Sánchez On October 12, 1492, Christopher Columbus landed on a Caribbean island, convinced—as official school history textbooks taught us—that he had reached the Indies. He brought glass necklaces and little mirrors, along with, of course, weapons and devastating diseases. In exchange for these trinkets, he seized the gold, the land, and the destiny of […]

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Reform or repeal: The dispute over the anti-hate law

The law, denounced as an instrument of political persecution, faces its greatest challenge yet. While the acting government is pushing for a partial reform, human rights organizations, press associations and the opposition are demanding its complete removal from the legal system. Natalia Jaua The Constitutional Law Against Hate, for Peaceful Coexistence and Tolerance was approved […]

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Trump’s cards in Venezuela: Economics and politics. María Corina? A negotiated transition?

Since January 3, Venezuela’s political and economic cards have been reshuffled. The cards in play are gradually being revealed on boards that are constantly changing. José Gregorio Yépez In Venezuela, the Trump administration is playing its cards cautiously. It is sending signals that seem contradictory and fall outside the expectations of those who bet on […]

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Oil was already national: The Trojan Horse of the 1976 “nationalization”

Series “Oil Under Control: The Nation, the State, the Industry and Oil Revenue in Venezuela” Grupo La Petrólia As efforts continue to institutionalize the country’s surrender of sovereignty over its main natural resource and greatest source of wealth, it is worth remembering that this crisis has deep roots. In this six-part series, we will analyze […]

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They want you to believe mental health means lighting a candle or getting up at five in the morning to exercise

Natalia Jaua Welcome to your guide to restoring your mental health. Follow these steps if you want to achieve a fulfilling life: Step 1: Collapse from exhaustion; Step 2: Open an app on your phone that charges you $15 a month to listen to the sound of rain for 10 minutes; Step 3: Download an […]

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What comes after the oil deal? From a secret contract to accountability

Neirlay Andrade.— The historic oil agreement signed by Acting President Delcy Rodríguez’s administration and the White House has left a trail of doubts and questions in its wake. It could hardly be otherwise: the document committing the fate of one-fifth of Venezuela’s proven crude oil reserves remains secret. This detail has cooled the optimism that […]

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Leticia Alfonso left her life behind to support those searching for their loved ones at the Opppe buildings in Playa Los Cocos

First, Leticia helped her partner, Gabriel, find the body of his teenage daughter. But the two decided to continue living in a tent beside the ruins to help others. Vanessa Davies Leticia Alfonso left everything behind. Literally: she walked away from her job and her life to move into a tent beside the devastation that […]

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Volunteer work and donations keep feeding those still struggling in the aftermath of the La Guaira earthquakes

Volunteers and contributions from businesses and individuals are helping sustain efforts to recover bodies and even protect properties affected by the June 24 earthquakes. Vanessa Davies Norbelis Martínez’s hands were slicing peppers with infinite patience this Wednesday, September 2. With a smile, she endured the sweltering 11:00 a.m. heat in Maiquetía. For Norbelis, the end—filling […]

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The illusion of the messiah

Héctor Sánchez, Sociologist. — It seems that most Venezuelans are waiting for the arrival of a Messiah or some providential savior who will come and, with the stroke of a pen, resolve the profound crisis afflicting us. This attitude carries serious sociological and political implications. First, because Venezuela’s history is riddled with messianic strongmen whose […]

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