The Conservative Cave
Current Events => Breaking News => Topic started by: Chris on March 22, 2009, 07:14:10 PM
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(http://img53.imageshack.us/img53/4851/021021309chavez01.jpg)
CARACAS, Venezuela — Venezuela's federal government seized seaports and airstrips in at least four states on Saturday, a move critics say is meant to limit the powers of mayors and governors opposed to President Hugo Chavez.
The takeover, ordered by Venezuela's socialist president last weekend and approved by lawmakers, aims to bring the country's major transportation hubs under federal control this year.
Military troops were dispatched to ports in the three Venezuelan states governed by Chavez opponents: Zulia, Carabobo and Nueva Esparta. Chavez said the takeover of air and sea ports in the state of Anzoategui, which is governed by a Chavez ally, was also under way.
The socialist leader said his government will formulate a "strategic investment plan" to modernize the ports and to guarantee the jobs of thousands of workers in the facilities.
MORE (http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,510047,00.html)
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Life under Hugo Chavez...
31% inflation
17% prime lending rate
8.5% unemployment
$14,000 per capita income
18-30 years of age for compulsory and voluntary military service; 30-month conscript service obligation. All citizens 18-50 years old are obligated to register for military service (2008).
Venezuela is a source, transit, and destination country for men, women, and children trafficked for the purposes of commercial sexual exploitation and forced labor; Venezuelan women and girls are trafficked within the country for sexual exploitation, lured from the nation's interior to urban and tourist areas; child prostitution in urban areas and child sex tourism in resort destinations appear to be growing; Venezuelan women and girls are trafficked for commercial sexual exploitation to Western Europe, Mexico, and Caribbean destinations
https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/ve.html