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( Photo: Seb )

Last Wednesday expressed opposition. A little while cons, just for nothing. Because "no means no" as its slogan says. A student demonstration which was attended by many non-students, as well as opposition political leaders: the member of Podemos (For Social Democracy) Ismael García, the mayor of Caracas, Antonio Ledezma great and Oscar Perez, leader the famous "Commando Nacional de la Resistance, an organization with far-right ideas but thankfully provided little in the ranks.

The procession started from the Central University of Venezuela (UCV) and went to the headquarters of the Ministry of Higher Education, a delegation composed of representatives of students and university authorities (who had also called for demonstrations) was received by the Minister. They presented a document. Their main argument is that the government has cut university budgets by 6%. In fact, the entire state budget that was recently reduced by 6% due to the global economic crisis and falling oil prices has driven it.

The Executive requires universities not to bear the brunt of this reduction to the workers or students of institutions but rather to cut unnecessary costs and expenses in luxurious senior Officials (1) . But Venezuela's universities (both private and public) are autonomous and therefore decide themselves how they will implement this reduction. The opportunity was too good, therefore, not attempt to re-engage the good old student movement with white hands, even if the reputation it has lost its whiteness since its top leaders have openly invested in political parties opposition.

also recall that, according to the newspaper Ultimas Noticias this Sunday, the National Assembly (Parliament) and several academic groups "Chavez" urged General Inspectorate of Finance (Contraloría General de la República) to investigate how public universities are investing their budgets. The latter denied for now all internal audit of their finances (the last straw for public universities, all under the guise of "autonomy") and, according to the newspaper, "they have still not explained, For example, why in 2008 they did not use 45% of their budget, while today they denounce the reduction of 6%.

Globovision

Moreover, the media war is back on the carpet. With this time the private communication Globovision middle of bowling. "We will end this madman with a gun (2) or my name is not Hugo Chavez", recently warned the Venezuelan President to the chain director, Alberto Federico Ravell. And reviving the debate on media and, at the same time, the entire campaign for "freedom of expression."

A political mistake of Chavez? A frontal attack would probably be the Globovision. It is obvious that any collapse of the chain, although it is claimed by some activists of the Popular Movement wake mobilizations and an opportunity for the opposition to rebuild his health. We will have the opportunity to revisit the subject in the coming weeks.

short, the opposition has expressed Wednesday: Sunglasses, caps with logos Globovision or RCTV, a small umbrella for the most stylish ladies. The middle class was in the street, "moderately rich, moderately cultivated" in the words of the Uruguayan poet Mario Benedetti, who died last week. By taking a few pictures of engagement, I could not help but think back to this great text. In tribute Benedetti, a monument of Latin American poetry; but also as "poetic legend" to accompany the photographs of the event, I publish below his "Poem to the middle class," a burning issue.

Ladies ... ( Ph: Seb )

ladies too ... frontline. ( Ph: Seb )

face with white hands of students, the Metropolitan Police
left arms in the cloakroom. (Ph: Seb)

Poem middle class

Middle class
moderately rich medium grown

between what she believes and what she is
there is an average distance large
the mid she looks half bad
blacks
the rich, the wise fools

poor
If she listens to a Hitler
she appreciates half
if it is Che who speaks
half as
Amid nothing
doubt it moderately
attracts like any (moderate)
it analyzes half
all the facts and
(half confused) it down the street with half-pans
then she comes to medium attention
those who lead (half in shadow)
sometimes, only sometimes, she realizes (at half later)
that was used as a pawn
in a chess game that excludes
and that the Queen never converted
Thus, half angry
she laments (half)
to be the means by which others are eating these other
she can not understand
not even half.

Mario Benedetti (3)

Notes:

(1) See also this blog "The Venezuela trace the path of a progressive response to the crisis .
(2) "Ese loco con cañon ...".
(3) The translation is South voice.

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AKI and middle class insecurity, lead and culture

"against capitalism and industry mercantilist death ..." ( Photo: Seb )

The meeting is held on the small football field, just at the foot of the towers in the neighborhood of 23 de Enero, Caracas. People from other neighborhoods and supporters involved, but down slightly from home to discuss the issue that brings together those present: "Not one more death at 23 de Enero."

Last week, three people were murdered in the street around midnight. Among the victims, an activist involved for many years in social struggles. At the time, he even participated in the Sandinista Revolution in Nicaragua.

The demonstration and the meeting this Saturday afternoon were called by the collective of the area, known for its struggles and its social organization. Using loudspeakers, the speakers in turn invite the neighbors to get out of their homes and to participate without fear. The idea is to occupy the spaces in order not to allow the proliferation of drug trafficking and violence it generates.

discourses tend towards a recovery space through culture and organization. Others are more radical: "We must fight them on their land. And if it is with lead (bullets) with this will lead, not only with the culture!", Launches a speaker. "The conformation of the common and popular militias, is the path we must take," retorted another.

The scene takes place under the watchful eye of a representative of the Ministry of Interior and Justice. Accompanied by three officers from the Metropolitan Police (PM), they are once more taken party: "I would ask our friends, the police here: What is illegal drug sales in the neighborhood? No! All sales of drugs are public and notorious. You know very well where the offenders. So why is it so difficult to stop? ".

The ministry official can only agree: "I must admit that you're not wrong." Among the measures implemented by the Executive, is a draft of communal police who will work closely with organized communities. "Men who are here are here to listen and obey you. It is you who must control the police and they should be your subordinates. "

Note:

A long report on the theme of insecurity in Venezuela will be published shortly in the Swiss daily Le Courrier . passages will probably be published on this blog later.

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"The crisis could lead to a world economy organized on the basis of regional blocs"

This interview with the Chilean economist Orlando Caputo was conducted in December 2008 in Santiago de Chile and published in English at Rebelion.org in January. Despite the three months since then, I keep it in good part its relevance, especially at a time when the "masters of the world" met in London in the G20.

( Photo: Seb )

Orlando Caputo is an economist and has dedicated much of his life in the academic activity, except during the government of President Salvador Allende, in which he found himself at the head of the Chilean copper industry. At 28, he was appointed personal representative of the executive committee of Allende Codelco (National Copper Corporation) and then served as general manager of this public company.

After the military coup he was exiled to Mexico where he lived for 17 years and taught at the National Autonomous University of Mexico (UNAM). In this country, he participated in the creation of the Network for the Study of World Economy (1) , which he still serves today.

His main area of study is the world economy and insists: "not inter-national ' World. "Mr. Caputo claims a different interpretation of the economic crisis," including those made by some progressive sectors. "He believes that the crisis could open new possibilities and alternatives, but noted many deficiencies among the parties and lack of political consciousness among social movements. "Capitalism has the capacity to resolve this crisis," he warns.

What is your interpretation of the current crisis?

It s 'acts in a housing crisis which has recently transformed into the global economy crisis and I think we are just beginning. This crisis, from the start, was analyzed on the basis of elements that seem very questionable. These include the fact of the qualifying financial crisis.

That seems weird because it's actually a housing crisis that brought together two areas: one real and financial sectors. But the more we talk of financial crisis, while the globalization of the world economy has meant that productive capital has become relatively independent of financial capital.

In the '80s, about 50% of profits enterprises producing goods and services were received by the financial sector. This has decreased dramatically to reach between 10 and 18%. And it goes even further, these companies have achieved higher profits if they have turned into net suppliers of the financial system.

us remember that the globalization of the world economy, supported by neoliberalism, has been established because the benefits and rates of return (2) in years 60 and 70 were low. Companies began to confront this by opening up the world by investing anywhere, requiring free trade, etc..

What does this globalization of the economy in terms of social relations of production?

It means a domination of capital over labor: labor flexibility, tertiary, etc.. The flexibility of production processes divides the world of work. What does this mean? This implies that in the world there was a decrease in wages accompanied by a direct increase in corporate profits.

The increase in profits was also due to other reasons, including that companies take ownership of natural resources. Defends neoliberalism as the primary cause, in addition to the "freedom to choose" private ownership of natural resources. Moreover, it also increases the power of capital over states.

The world is dominated by large multinational producers of goods and services rather than financial capital. This does not mean that financial capital is not important, it is very important. But capital needs to create a profit and not only play with historical earnings, the accumulation of funds, etc..

In developed countries, this relative independence is achieved in practice. In the case of Latin America, the world's financial capital and productive capital are acting jointly as denationalization, the organization of production and new businesses are created with very little capital costs and credits associated with much. And so in Latin America, so to speak, the operation is twofold.

"The world is dominated by large multinational producers of goods and services rather than financial capital"

If you look at it this way, it means the world there is an excess of capital that goes to the fund, to the financial apparatus. Companies will make every liquid capital they will not use, governments also will put their reserves, SWFs are created due to high commodity prices during a certain period, pension funds and also other types of funds are created as well.

companies no longer budget requests because they have become net providers. But this is a problem: to whom will they lend? This is where technology companies grow, the "dot com", explaining the 2001 crisis. But later, where do they invest their capital too? She had no where to lend and that is where the construction sector has played an important role not only in the U.S. but also worldwide.

Companies do not need capital because they realize their investments, expansions and mergers from equity. Of course everything is relative, of 100% they can get 15% credit. But as they find out that the development real estate, financing of large projects with great blows of credits.

That's the system that failed in the U.S. and elsewhere. This interpretation is completely different from what we can hear about it. This crisis has not only been financial, it is a crisis of globalization and neoliberalism. And the crisis has now evolved because, until the second quarter of 2008, profits for companies producing goods and services, not residential, do not diminish greatly in the United States. The real crisis can not develop if there is no significant drop in profits and rates of return. And this is taking place right now.

you consider this crisis as an opportunity to develop alternatives?

This crisis could lead to a breach of the current process of globalization and a world economy organized on the basis of regional blocs. But continuing to analyze it as a "financial crisis" is to displace the fundamental concern. That move that the most important conflict of our time is between capital and society human, represented by workers and social movements who also defend the natural resources and nature.

crisis may open possibilities but I think a lot of political shortcomings, there is no consciousness. The movement is very low but if there was a political consciousness and whether the parties position themselves, then it could emerge a process of rebellion to require new global structures, a new financial and monetary system.

In Latin America we can get to do great things: an integration process that takes into account the interests of peoples and not just companies that are diversified economies, which is not only commercial but is rather a process of global integration with its own currency, a Bank of the South, etc.. Conditions are met.

Notes:

(1) Red de Estudios de la Economía Mundial ( www.redem.buap.mx ). Orlando Caputo is also a member of the Working Group on the Global Economy, Transnational Corporations and National Economy, CLACSO (Latin American Council of Social Sciences, www.clacso.org.ar ).

(2) "Las tasas de ganancias.