londonartfish

i have just come back from a two week holday in venezuela! it was one of the most interesting experiences i have had in my life. the country is absolutely beautiful and i couldn't stop taking pictures!
but the most important thing is that there is a revolution going on in venezuela. people are taking the things promised to them in the constitution and improving their lives. it is a slow process, but it is happening everywhere.
health care there is free and working towards prevention rather than treatment. also, alternative medicine is included in the GP practise. there are community committees that visit sick people in hospitals and at home to keep track of what the doctors are doing and if the work is not up to standard or the patients are not cared for properly, the doctor can be sacked. the same is true for any public service. the community always makes sure that people get what they are entitled to.
the money that venezuela gets from the re-nationalised oil industry goes directly into the communities and there are food programmes, literacy programmes, schools and hospitals are being built. the military there is not just used as defense for the country and the revolution, but the soldiers also grow food, build houses, schools and roads. they are seen as part of the people, not as separate. this is also why the coup there (set up by the US) did not work. the military wanted Chavez back as much as the rest of the population.
anyway...people are so encouraged by all this and they are really so much more upbeat than i have seen anywhere else in the world. compared to people's lethargy and depression about the situation here in the UK, that was such a great experience!
so....if yo want to travel to an interesting country wher you can learn how to do community organising, venezuela is the place to go.

posted by hanna @ 11:40 AM