Stories about Venezuela from May, 2009
Venezuela: Keeping the Internet as a Priority
When the Venezuelan government emitted Decree No. 6649, it raised red flags within the online community concerned about the possible effects to development. The decree seeks to eliminate “luxuries” or “superflouous expenses” among the public expenditure, among which includes the Internet. As a result, the online campaign Internet Prioritaria was created with the opinion that Internet is a basic need and is pushing that research and other educational programs not be affected by budget cuts.
Venezuela: Conflict Between the Media During Earthquake
The earthquake that shook Venezuela earlier this week brought attention to the role of government and private media for informing the general public. Instead of providing information, the government was criticizing the private stations for "destabilizing the country with alarming news." Meanwhile, alternative media provided up to date information about what people needed to know.
Americas: Region Responds to the H1N1 Virus
Even though the epicenter of the H1N1 virus outbreak has been in Mexico, other countries in the region are finding ways to prevent and combat it. Bloggers have been keen on taking a close look at what their governments are doing to alleviate fears, or whether they are responsible for adding to the panic by some. Others Latin American bloggers are observing the behavior of their fellow citizens, often using humor to cut through some of the tension.
