[Marxism] The Venezuelan Revolution and the environment

[dwalters@xxxxxxxxxxxx]

[I think this is a good synoposis of how the Venezuelan Revolution is beginning
to deal with environmental questions. Clearly Venezuela has been on a rush to
develop all it's resources, incliding forrestry and mining. Mining represents a
huge threat to the environment and little has been discussed so far about this
issue. The article below states that in fact Venezuela may also have the
largest gold reserve now in Latin America...and we know how gold fever effects
and effected the environment in Brazil.--David Walters]

 Misión Arbol: Reforesting Venezuela

Friday, Jun 23, 2006  Print format
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By: Michael Fox ? Venezuelanalysis.com

The forests of the world continue disappearing at a rate like never before seen
on the face of the earth.  Currently, over 13 million hectares (32 million
acres) are destroyed annually in a race for more arable land, housing, primary
resources, and as an effect of global warming.  Venezuelan trees have not been
spared, and according to the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the UN,
over the past five years Venezuela has ranked among the top 10 countries with
the highest deforestation rates on the planet.[1] However just two weeks ago,
Venezuela began to fight back.

On Sunday June 4th, President Hugo Chavez launched ?Mision Arbol? (Tree Mission)
from Guaraira Repano or Mount Avila looming over Venezuela?s capital, Caracas.
While planting dozens of trees with members of Venezuela?s newly formed
Conservation Committees, Chavez explained, ?If you are going to utilize a tree,
you have to do it with consciousness and respect for the environment.  If you
cut down a tree you need to plant 10 more.?

Mision Arbol is an attempt to combat the deforestation of Venezuela, with a
vision of ?generating in the Venezuelan population an environmental
consciousness about the importance of the forests, ecological equilibrium, and
the recuperation of the degraded spaces as a result of the predominant model of
development.?

 FULL:
http://www.venezuelanalysis.com/articles.php?artno=1758





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