In April 2002, Venezuela's democratically elected president, Hugo Chavez, was forced from his office in a Bush administration-endorsed coup d'etat. A massive popular uprising brought him back to office within 48 hours. At Global Exchange, we wanted to understand the reasons for these events and their ramifications for US-Venezuela relations. By fall 2002 we started our first Reality Tours to this remarkable country to explore these issues and others.

Over the past few years, President Chavez's opponents have continued to challenge his presidency, but his popularity in Venezuela and throughout Latin America remains strong. This is in large part due to the fact that under Chavez, Venezuela's oil revenue is now being used to benefit the country's poor majority.

The Venezuelan government, in collaboration with the country's social movements, has launched a wide variety of campaigns to provide its citizens with education, literacy, health care, and development. Venezuela is also a leader in the hemispheric movement toward regional integration and away from corporate-driven "free trade."

In 2006, Global Exchange will more than double the number of delegations we send to Venezuela and add specific theme-based tours to our offerings. These new programs will kick off at the World Social Forum in Caracas in late January, where our participants will make people-to-people connections with Venezuelans as well as social justice activists from all over the globe. We also already have seven customized delegations planned in 2006 for foundations, high schools, and universities. Last but not least, we will be opening a Spanish Language School and immersion program in Venezuela in June.

Travel to Venezuela!

See our Venezuela delegations web page or contact Zach Hurwitz at 415-575-5527 or zach@globalexchange.org. To customize a Reality Tour, contact Malia Everette at 415-575-5520 or malia@globalexchange.org.