The Revolution Will Not Be Televised

documentary about the coup to remove Hugo Chaves reviewed by Roger Ebert.

The Revolution Will Not Be Televised (*** and a half)

Was the United States a shadowy presence in the background of the aborted coup in Venezuela in 2002? The democratically elected government of Hugo Chavez was briefly overthrown by a cabal of rich businessmen and Army officers, shortly after their representatives had been welcomed in the White House. Oh, the United States denied any involvement in the episode; there's Colin Powell on TV, forthrightly professing innocence. But earlier we heard ominous rumblings from Jesse Helms, Ari Fleischer and George Tenet, agreeing that Chavez was no friend of the United States, and after the coup, there was no expression of dismay from Washington, no announcement that we would work to restore the elected government.

Why was Chavez not our friend? It all comes down to oil, as it so often does these days. Venezuela is the fourth largest oil-producing nation in the world, and much of its oil comes to the United States. Its price has been guaranteed by the cooperation of the nation's ruling class. Chavez was elected primarily by the poor. He asked a simple question: Since the oil wells have always been nationalized and the oil belongs to the state, why do the profits flow directly to the richest, whitest 20 percent of the population, while being denied to the poorer, darker 80 percent? His plan was to distribute the profits equally among all Venezuelans.

(SNIP)

Read the rest here: http://www.suntimes.com/output/ebert1/wkp-news-revolution31f.html

Oh my god, is this movie unbelievably amazing. Screenings, from the website "The Revolution Will Not Be Televised":



Cambridge Film Festival, England
24 Oct - 2 Nov



Buenos Aires, 2nd International Festival for
Children and Young People, Argentina
31st October - 6th November 2003



Chicago / Venue: Landmark's Century Centre Cinema,
opens October 31st 2003



Minneapolis
6-9 Nov



Copenhagen Int'l Docu Fest, Denmark
7-16 Nov



New York / Venue: Film Forum
opens November 11th 2003



Cardiff, Wales
14-22 Nov



Montreal Int'l Film Festival
14-23 Nov



Los Angeles / Landmark's Nuart Theatre
opens November 21st 2003



Foyle Film Festival
21-30 Nov



Florence, Italy 28
Nov- 4th Dec



7th Seoul Int'l Labor Festival, Korea
Mid November

It a lot broader than that.

Caavez just won't get into the WTO noose that sells off all national properties of major significance and screws working people. Compare the current status of Argentina who fell for the noose to Venezuela.

Just read this in Palast's book this morning the Best Democracy Money Can Buy.