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Political parties, membership of international organisations and famous Venezuelans.
'''Venezuela''' is located in [[South America]]. The country is located to the east of [[Colombia]], south of the [[Caribbean]], west of the [[Atlantic Ocean]] and [[Guayana Esequiba]] and north of [[Brazil]].
'''Venezuela''' is located in [[South America]]. The country is located to the east of [[Colombia]], south of the [[Caribbean]], west of the [[Atlantic Ocean]] and [[Guayana Esequiba]] and north of [[Brazil]].
==Political division==
==Territorial division==
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]].
==Native 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 centre. The white stars symbolize eight former Venezuelan provinces (Caracas, Valencia, Barinas, Cumaná, Barcelona, Margarita, Mérida and Guayana) which became independent of Spain.
==Religion==
==Religion==
The majority of Venezuelan people are Christians. Catholic Church has the greater portion of followers. Other Christian churches in Venezuela are Lutherans, Anglicans, Pentecostals, Seventh Day Adventists, Mormons and Jehovah’s Witnesses. Some Muslims and Jews live in Venezuela. A synagogue and a mosque are situated in Caracas.
The majority of Venezuelan people are Christians. Catholic Church has the greater portion of followers. Other Christian churches in Venezuela are Lutherans, Anglicans, Pentecostals, Seventh Day Adventists, Mormons and Jehovah’s Witnesses. Some Muslims and Jews live in Venezuela. A synagogue and a mosque are situated in Caracas.
==Politics==
==Politics of Venezuela==
'''Current president of Venezuela'''
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]].
[[Image:chavez.jpg|140px|left|thumb|Hugo Chavez]]
[[Image:chavez.jpg|140px|left|thumb|Hugo Chavez]]
'''Political parties'''
Chavez’s government has been supported by political parties such as: Movimiento Quinta República/Fith Republic Movement (MVR), Patria para Todos/Homeland for All (PPT), PODEMOS, Partido Comunista de Venezuela/Communist Party of Venezuela (PCV) and other minor parties.
In 2006 President Chávez has announced the building of the Partido Socialista Unido de Venezuela/United Socialist Party of Venezuela (PSUV), a new political group which will merge all pro-Chávez parties into a big one. The first members of the PSUV have been enrolled in 2007.
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'''
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.
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.
==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.
==National holidays==
==National holidays==
Mr. Chavez’s government has bullied the remaining independent media into self-censorship, and does not want the press to reveal the inefficiencies of his government. He has gone to great lengths to bar journalists of privately-owned, independent media from covering government hearings, and he now requires stations to use government producers for documentaries and programs.
Mr. Chavez’s government has bullied the remaining independent media into self-censorship, and does not want the press to reveal the inefficiencies of his government. He has gone to great lengths to bar journalists of privately-owned, independent media from covering government hearings, and he now requires stations to use government producers for documentaries and programs.
==Famous Venezuelans==
== See also ==
* [[Andres Bello|Andrés Bello]] (1781-1865); poet, grammarian, teacher, and vice-chancellor of the university of Chile.
*[[Petroleum]]
* [[Simon Bolivar|Simón Bolívar]] (1783-1830); military hero and politician. Liberator of Venezuela, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru and Bolivia.
*[[Simon Bolivar]]
* [[Francisco de Miranda]] (1751-1816); military hero, politician and creator of the Venezuelan flag.
* [[Antonio Jose de Sucre|Antonio José de Sucre]] (1795-1830); military hero and president of Bolivia.
== External links ==
== External links ==
*[http://english.eluniversal.com/ El Universal] English language site of the conservative Venezuelan newspaper.
*[http://english.eluniversal.com/ El Universal] English language site of the conservative Venezuelan newspaper.
*[http://www.dj.com.ve/ News-The Daily Journal] In english.
*[http://www.dj.com.ve/ News-The Daily Journal] Site of the English speaking newspaper.
*[http://www1.lanic.utexas.edu/la/venezuela/ Venezuela - Useful links] University of Texas at Austin.
*[http://www1.lanic.utexas.edu/la/venezuela/ Venezuela - Useful links] University of Texas at Austin.
*[http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/country_profiles/1229345.stm] Information about Venezuela in the BBC Country Profile.
*[http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/country_profiles/1229345.stm] Information about Venezuela in the BBC Country Profile.