Chavez at it once again...

Venezuela has headed quicker in a direction that will result in utter ruin for generations by allowing Hugu Chávez to rule by decree – without consultation of the new Congress – until mid-2012. This was rushed through because in a few weeks congressmen who were elected recently, were about to be sworn in providing the opposition with more votes against Chavez. Giving any leader this sort of power is outrageous and especially scary when given to a man who has a sinister agenda like Chavez does. This means that any policy that Chavez dreams up can become law, no matter the opposition from others. Chavez has already seen the economy have inflation of 27 per cent currently the highest in Latin America.

He taunted the incoming opposition congressmen in a television address.."You won't be able to make a single law, little Yankees," he said, deploying one of his favourite insults, which depicts his opponents as American stooges.

"We're going to see how you make laws now."

The 18-month period means the opposition will be blocked from any significant role in Venezuelan politics until just months before the 2012 presidential election.

He has realised that even with 2 years to go until the next presidential elections he does not have complete control of the country. He has also used these powers to establish 10 military districts — many of them in three western states bordering Colombia, two of which are led by opposition governors. Chavez did not elaborate on how the districts will be administered, but they could be under the equivalent of martial law.

In a single week, he has used an outgoing National Assembly packed with loyalists to gain new abilities to crack down on critics — over the air, on the Internet, in universities and from independent organizations that get foreign funding. He also has obtained broad powers to bypass Venezuela's legislature and enact laws by decree for the next year and a half.

Chavez is likely to use the new powers to try to strengthen his political footing as he prepares for the next presidential election in less than two years.

Furthermore, he is cracking down hard on any opposition to his rule - banning foreign donations going to NGOs, penalises organisations or political parties that invite foreigners to the country who publicly give "opinions that offend institutions of the state, its high officials" or that are contrary to Venezuela's sovereignty. Groups can be fined for such statements, and political parties can be barred from elections for five to eight years. He also passed a law that would allow for the suspension of any lawmakers who defect from a party during their term. That aims to counter defections in the current legislature, where about a dozen lawmakers have broken with Chavez.

He is also busting up student protests with far more gusto than anything seen by police in London lately. This is in response to moves by Chavez to eliminate universities independence and instead to enforce that a university must promote Chavez's socialist ideology. As one can imagine, students are pissed about it. He was equally as brutal with the media pushing RCTV, a critical television network, off the airwaves and revoked the licenses of 34 radio stations across the country. Mr. Chávez has also forced broadcasters to transmit live his speeches and televised appearances, which last hours.

In essence he is hellbent on speeding up the reforms that I have been blogging about for years

I fear for the good people of Venezuela who are part of this mad experiment.

Update

Kiwiblog earlier has shown concern for the internet interference from Chavez and has many remarkably stupid commets that follow. I guess some people are ignoring history.

But wait, comedy gold follows at the Labour/Union funded Standard... they largely back the measures of Chavez and of course blame the US. How quaint.

And back again....

Back from a few days in Europe enjoying the hospitality of the Czech Republic over Christmas. Was touch and go regarding flying out of Gatwick because of the snow, but as soon as we taxied off the runway and got airborne I knew we'd be ok as most of the continent is better equipped to deal with the snow. In fact as soon as we hit Prague - which had been pounded with snow and minus 15 temperatures plus for many days, it was all good. It was crazy how so little snow in the South of England affected us so badly, I bet the Northern Brits were chuckling at us, and my mates in Scotland have already been harrassing us for Londons complete ineptness with snow.

The Czech Rep was as usual, awesome. Great food, if not too much of it and of course plenty of great beer and good times. They still have smoking bars which is a shock after the law changes in NZ and UK but if you don't want to smell like smoke you can go drink elsewhere! One night I paid for 8 beers the same as I would for a pint in Central London.... sweeeeeeet. :) Since I was here last, the Czech Rep signed up to the ghastly EU constitution. They were the last to sign after holding out for as long as they could. It's no secret I hate the EU, and the feeling here is that it is a joke. Where I stayed for a few days they had been forced to install a brand new elevator due to EU regulations. I am not too sure why, as were the residents of the communist era block of flats - as their previous elevator was working perfectly well and safe - but at a high cost and a large amount of inconvenience (especially to those housebound) the new elevator was put in without any respect to people or commonsense... kinda of like the EU really!

I hope that British politicians fight as much as they can against every little bit of all EU policy that comes this way. If they conceed on one thing it will be easier for another and another until it is too late. At this rate the theory that the EU will be more destructive than the USSR will become a stark reality.

On a brighter note, I hope you all had a nice Christmas wherever you were in this world. I have talked to friends who have been in every corner of the globe this time of year and it's fantastic to see people getting out there and exploring whats out there. I have of course more travel plans in 2011 that I hope to complete, in 2010 I have been to Belgium again, Latvia, Mexico, Italy and Czech Rep (again) so not a bad year but plenty more to see and do!

I will also endeavour to post more in 2011, which is going to be an exciting year with the NZ election coming up! Expect a fierce battle between a populist National Party, a weak Labour Party and the others hoping to hoover up the remains!

Cuba launches its own Wikipedia

Nice to see Cuba has decided to be clear and transparent with their handling of facts and information to the outside world. Their version of Wikipedia, ECU Red is live and has all sorts of interesting titbits which show the way they view the world.

Even if you are wildly against the oppressive Cuban regime, it does give great insight into a country that is suffering both economically and socially.

Their post on the USA reads:

"empire of our time, which has historically taken by force territory and natural resources from other nations, to put at the service of its businesses and monopolies".

"It consumes 25% of the energy produced on the planet and in spite of its wealth, more than a third of its population does not have assured medical attention"

Attacking the US for its monopolies is rather bizarre considering the Government owning everything in Cuba and the healthcare claims are slightly exaggerated when considering Medicaid and Medicare provisions, on top of the fact that no other country invests as much capital into healthcare as the US.

Maybe a fair entry for Cuba should read:

”Defined by equal shares of misery and zero property rights, Cubans enjoy excellent sunshine and low pay, offset by substandard food rations and half built shanty towns.

The leadership currently control all the nations’ wealth, helped by the introduction of capitalism to its Varadero beach resorts, in order to maintain their free medical and education systems. A nation of extremely high literacy, but its citizens are unable to leave the island or to own anything whatsoever"

Two can play at that game Comrade Castro :)

See ECURed here.

Back from holiday

Hi readers, sorry for the delay was away in Rome for a week doing my annual Christmas shopping. Had a slight delay due to London still being unable to handle a couple inches of snow - but managed to get away and return without too much bother.

Rome is a lovely city, although I have to say after going to the Vatican City that the Catholic Church does indeed have enormous wealth - stolen and scammed from their millions of followers around the planet. It wasn't a nice thing to see at all, but other than that the shopping was fantastic, the weather was brilliant for winter (over 20 degrees) and the food was not too bad at all.

More posting this week, I have been very busy with work ending for the year and also with the organisation of events in London and Europe for my travel company..... fun times indeed!

Stealing from the Bloggers Union

Thank goodness we are all obliged to join the bloggers union when we set up a blog or comment on blogs in New Zealand. When I say join, I mean really a looser interpretation of compulsion - all designed for our well being. :)

Today our union has been alerted to a major case of theft. Even worse, it was by a person who was on the freakshow programme the Apprentice, the NZ version, a smaller sadder version of the US and UK shows. Rich Henry seems to think stealing peoples material is part and parcel for creating a business. Well he has pissed off the wrong person, Whale Oil. Whale and the Bloggers Union are now out for revenge.

Read the full story here from Whale Oil.

Fellow blog union member Cactus Kate also adds her 2 pence worth.

The full weight of the union is behind Whale Oil, every member from Kiwiblog to the Standard and No Right Turn. All members of the NZ Bloggers Union.