We won the Referendum!

[anna_luna]

I'm incredibly proud and happy today!

As many of you know, I'm Venezuelan. At the moment we are having a difficult political situation where society is divided into those who support the government and those who don't. This is not as clear cut as rich vs. poor (like out president would have you believe) as rich people have benefited from his regime and many poor people are disappointed as poverty in Venezuela has *increased* even though the price of the oil has *risen* because there are no adequate social programs aimed at sustainable development (Chavez's idea of support is giving money to those who support him and no one else).

I'm with the opposition and a member of the student movement that seeks to keep the president from carrying out his authoritarian agendas. We endorse peaceful civic disobedience, we march on the street, we give people pamphlets... and then we are attacked with teargas by the national guard, injured by the falling tear-gas bombs and the subsequents attempts at fleeing. (I twisted *both* my ankles in may).

As a rescue worker I have had to help many of my fellow students get to medical services.

BUT IT WAS ALL WORTH IT!!!

WE WON THE REFERENDUM AND THE NEW CONSTITUTION THAT WOULD MAKE CHAVEZ ALL POWERFUL WAS REJECTED!!!

*does a happiness dance*

EDIT: I put some pictures of the student protesters in the comments.

Comments

[anna_luna]

:D I feel so happy! This is the first victory we've managed against overwhelming odds and all the oil money Chavez uses as if it were his personal fortune. I have to take a camera and show you he spent *so* much money on his campaign to get this reform approved... it's appalling! You can't go 100 m without seeing a sign of the "yes" and his ugly face. All that money that could be used for the improvement of infrastructure we so desperately need. In contrast the opposition has very few well placed adds, but really we don't have the resources.

Four our civil disobedience, we tried to find new ways to oppose Chavez's ideas.

Instead of violence, we chose peace. The symbol of the Venezuelan Student movement ia a palm print, preferably white, meaning "our hands are empty, we mean you no harm".





Paz = Peace



The upside down flag and the black flag of mourning.

The students:



Libertad = Freedom

Scans from Rumbacaracas.com magazine, a youth magazine that usually reports on clubs and discos.

[anna_luna]

Also, feel free to link to this wherever you want.

[anna_luna]

:D You're welcome!

[monanotlisa.livejournal.com]

Wow! Thank you so much for this; feel free to post more--history in the making!

Also, I love the white hand as the symbol. Will link to this post.

[anna_luna]

:D Thanks for linking to it! I like people to know what is going on over here, what we've accomplished, even though we still have a long way to go.

I'll try to keep updating on the things happening over here, still, my journal is my happy place, where I can pursue my art and my writing and I normally use it to escape the bad situation in my country. I want my journal to be cheerful and not a whine feast, and there so very little political *good* to post about. You wouldn't believe the *shit* we have to put up with.

Hopefully there will be even better things to report!