Changes

Venezuela is divided in 23 states, a capital district and 72 federal dependencies. The capital city of Venezuela is [[Caracas|Caracas]].

Venezuela is divided in 23 states, a capital district and 72 federal dependencies. The capital city of Venezuela is [[Caracas|Caracas]].

==National symbols==

==National symbols==

The national flag was created by the Venezuelan hero [[Francisco de Miranda]] in 1806. It has three stripes with these colors: red, blue and red. Through the years the flag suffered variations in relation to the position and number of the stars. Actually there are eight stars on the flag and they are located in its centre. The white stars symbolize eight former Venezuelan provinces (Caracas, Valencia, Barinas, Cumaná, Barcelona, Margarita, Mérida and Guayana) which became independent of Spain.

The national flag was created by the Venezuelan hero [[Francisco de Miranda]] in 1806. It has three stripes with these colors: red, blue and red. Through the years the flag suffered variations in relation to the position and number of the stars. Actually there are eight stars on the flag and they are located in its center. The white stars symbolize eight former Venezuelan provinces (Caracas, Valencia, Barinas, Cumaná, Barcelona, Margarita, Mérida and Guayana) which became independent of Spain.

Gloria al bravo pueblo (glory to the brave people) is the national anthem. It was an old patriotic song from the independence years written by Vicente Salias. Its music was composed by Juan José Landaeta. On 25th May 1881 Gloria al bravo pueblo was decreed as the anthem of Venezuela by the president Antonio Guzmán Blanco.  

Gloria al bravo pueblo (glory to the brave people) is the national anthem. It was an old patriotic song from the independence years written by Vicente Salias. Its music was composed by Juan José Landaeta. On 25th May 1881 Gloria al bravo pueblo was decreed as the anthem of Venezuela by the president Antonio Guzmán Blanco.  

Venezuela is presently under the rule of the leftist president [[Hugo Chavez]] who has shown a marked intolerance for fundamental [[human rights]] <ref>[http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,276356,00.html Venezuelan Opposition Leader Demands Hugo Chavez Free Jailed Protesters], ''Associated Press'', May 30, 2007.</ref> and is accused of funding insurgent activity outside of Venezuela's borders.  Chavez has much control of oil revenues from Venezuela's state owned, state run oil monopoly.  While Chavez in public criticizes [[capitalism]], he has sought to manipulate oil prices above $60 per barrel for Venezuela's largest customer, the [[United States]].

Venezuela is presently under the rule of the leftist president [[Hugo Chavez]] who has shown a marked intolerance for fundamental [[human rights]] <ref>[http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,276356,00.html Venezuelan Opposition Leader Demands Hugo Chavez Free Jailed Protesters], ''Associated Press'', May 30, 2007.</ref> and is accused of funding insurgent activity outside of Venezuela's borders.  Chavez has much control of oil revenues from Venezuela's state owned, state run oil monopoly.  While Chavez in public criticizes [[capitalism]], he has sought to manipulate oil prices above $60 per barrel for Venezuela's largest customer, the [[United States]].

The U.S. State Department's Report on Global [[Anti-Semitism]] also recently cited Venezuela for statements by "senior government officials supporting Iraq's [[Saddam Hussein]] and Islamic [[extremist]] movements" which "raised tensions and intimidated the country's Jewish community. There were several reports of anti-Semitic graffiti at [[synagogues]] in Caracas and two reported threatening phone calls made to Jewish community centers. In August, President Chavez cautioned citizens against following the lead of Jewish citizens in the effort to overturn his referendum victory. Anti-Semitic leaflets also were available to the public in an Interior and Justice Ministry office waiting room." <ref>[http://www.state.gov/g/drl/rls/40258.htm Report on Global Anti-Semitism] U. S. Department of State, Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor, January 5, 2005. </ref>   

The U.S. State Department's Report on Global [[Antisemitism]] also recently cited Venezuela for statements by "senior government officials supporting Iraq's [[Saddam Hussein]] and Islamic [[extremist]] movements" which "raised tensions and intimidated the country's Jewish community. There were several reports of anti-Semitic graffiti at [[synagogues]] in Caracas and two reported threatening phone calls made to Jewish community centers. In August, President Chavez cautioned citizens against following the lead of Jewish citizens in the effort to overturn his referendum victory. Anti-Semitic leaflets also were available to the public in an Interior and Justice Ministry office waiting room." <ref>[http://www.state.gov/g/drl/rls/40258.htm Report on Global Anti-Semitism] U. S. Department of State, Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor, January 5, 2005. </ref>   

[[Image:chavez.jpg|140px|left|thumb|Hugo Chavez]]

[[Image:chavez.jpg|140px|left|thumb|Hugo Chavez]]

Un Nuevo Tiempo/A New Era (UNT), Primero Justicia/Justice First (PJ), Acción Democratica/Democratic Action (AD), COPEI, Movimiento al Socialismo/Movement for Socialism (MAS) are some of the political parties of opposition.  

Un Nuevo Tiempo/A New Era (UNT), Primero Justicia/Justice First (PJ), Acción Democratica/Democratic Action (AD), COPEI, Movimiento al Socialismo/Movement for Socialism (MAS) are some of the political parties of opposition.  

'''Membership of international organisations'''

'''Membership of international organizations'''

Venezuela is member of the [[United Nations|UN]], the [[Organization of American States|OAS]] and the OPEC. Recently the country has applied to the “Mercado Común del Sur/Southern Common Market” (MERCOSUR) for the admission to the group. MERCOSUR is a South American organisation which promotes free trade among [[Argentina]], Brazil, [[Uruguay]] and [[Paraguay]] in a similar way to the [[European Union|EU]] and the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA).  

Venezuela is member of the [[United Nations|UN]], the [[Organization of American States|OAS]] and the OPEC. Recently the country has applied to the “Mercado Común del Sur/Southern Common Market” (MERCOSUR) for the admission to the group. MERCOSUR is a South American organisation which promotes free trade among [[Argentina]], Brazil, [[Uruguay]] and [[Paraguay]] in a similar way to the [[European Union|EU]] and the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA).  

Venezuela had belonged to the Andean Community of Nations since 1973. In 2006 the Venezuelan government withdrew the country from the bloc when two of its members (Colombia and [[Peru]]) signed free trade agreements with the United States.  

Venezuela had belonged to the Andean Community of Nations since 1973. In 2006 the Venezuelan government withdrew the country from the bloc when two of its members (Colombia and [[Peru]]) signed free trade agreements with the United States.  

Additionally President Chávez has proposed the creation of the Bolivarian Alternative for the Americas (ALBA), another international organisation which would promote the cooperation between the Latin American and Caribbean republics. This bloc pretends to be the opposite to the Free Trade Area of the Americas (FTAA), the organisation proposed by the United States. At the moment Venezuela, [[Cuba]], [[Nicaragua]] and [[Bolivia]] are trying to apply the principles of the ALBA among themselves through an agreement called “Tratado de Comercio de los Pueblos/Peoples’ Trade Agreement” (TCP). [[Ecuador]] is thinking to join to the group.

Additionally President Chávez has proposed the creation of the Bolivarian Alternative for the Americas (ALBA), another international organization which would promote the cooperation between the Latin American and Caribbean republics. This bloc pretends to be the opposite to the Free Trade Area of the Americas (FTAA), the organization proposed by the United States. At the moment Venezuela, [[Cuba]], [[Nicaragua]] and [[Bolivia]] are trying to apply the principles of the ALBA among themselves through an agreement called “Tratado de Comercio de los Pueblos/Peoples’ Trade Agreement” (TCP). [[Ecuador]] is thinking to join to the group.

==Languages==

==Languages==

Spanish and American Indian tongues are the official languages of Venezuela, according to the Venezuelan Constitution. Spanish is the most spoken language in Venezuela. Indian languages are spoken by American Indian tribes.   

Spanish and American Indian tongues are the official languages of Venezuela, according to the Venezuelan Constitution. Spanish is the most spoken language in Venezuela. Indian languages are spoken by American Indian tribes.   

Recently football soccer has attracted great attention from the Venezuelan media because of the good performance of the Venezuelan football Team in international matches. In 2007 the Cup America, the oldest football soccer competition of South America, is held in Venezuela.

Recently football soccer has attracted great attention from the Venezuelan media because of the good performance of the Venezuelan football Team in international matches. In 2007 the Cup America, the oldest football soccer competition of South America, is held in Venezuela.

Other sports like rugby and American football are mainly practised at universities.  

Other sports like rugby and American football are mainly practiced at universities.  

In some Venezuelan towns bullfighting and cockfighting are practised.

In some Venezuelan towns bullfighting and cockfighting are practiced.

==Media==

==Media==

Venezuela has many newspapers, radio stations and TV channels, but the most important ones are located in Caracas.  

Venezuela has many newspapers, radio stations and TV channels, but the most important ones are located in Caracas.