Like so many others I am appalled by this tragic story, mortified by knowing all too well that this is not fiction.
It is unconscionable that the world stands by with a universal handwringing tsk, tsk, tsk. The UN, UNICEF, the Catholic Church, Facebook, Amazon, Interpol, the World Bank? Are you all truly powerless to intervene?
A tragedy of this magnitude needs international resolve, spearheaded by the strong moral and ethical leadership of the United States. Who am I kidding?
Since we obviously cannot rely on our failing corrupt and derelict potus who surely regards the Venezuelan people with the same high regard as other desperate immigrants who don’t wear red MAGA baseball caps, how about Mark (Zuckerberg), Jeff (Bezos), Tim (Cook), Tom (Steyer), Michael (Bloomberg), your excellency (the Pope)? Are any of you reading this?
7
The world has watched while a criminal government has driven this once prosperous country into the ground. Where was the UN? The press? Did the US protest at the time?
Oh no, Obama and Chavez were quite cozy.
Blaming the US for this outcome now is but a continuation of Chavez's and Maduro's policies.
3
Unfortunately, the one country that could do more than any other to ameliorate the various disasters in Central and South America, my country, the United States of America, has instead acted in ways which caused and/or worsened these disasters.
From inhumane treatment of detainees who crossed the border, to deporting back to their home countries of Guatemala, Honduras and El Salvador illegal immigrants who served time in American prisons and brought gang culture back to their homelands, to selling cheaper agricultural products that bankrupted local farmers, to the dirty wars in the 1980's when we backed corrupt Central American dictators who used anti-Communism as an excuse to persecute their own people, to the current sanctions against Venezuala which hurt the people more than the regime, most of our behavior has ranged from stunning incompetence at best to human rights violations at worse.
As Americans, we have a lot to proud of, but we also have a lot to be ashamed of, including our treatment of Central and South America.
10
In America some are trying to force every conception to end in a live birth, and even birth control is considered unholy. But when other countries are in chaos with babies starving to death and food scarce, the same people say oh they should use more responsible birth control. I think such folks aren't even aware of this conflict, called cognitive dissonance. These are the Americans who have no empathy, just agendas. They only feel what happens to them personally.
9
Socialism in action wellcome to the world of AOC
5
This desperation in the face of truly awful life circumstances are the same ones that make parents risk bringing their children to America’s borders.
Closing the doors and building a wall is simply closing our eyes to those in need.The international community in the Americas need to address this crisis that is affecting all countries. The solution will require cooperation from all countries.
3
It's time the United States of America Government sends in the troops to countries such as Panama where America paid & built the Panama Canal. In addition we should help these nation with a Marshall plan to build infrastructure in place and create jobs for the nation's that meet strict requirements from the United States of America Government compliance section with the orchestrate contracts. It must start with protecting it's people from thugs in addition to aggressively seeking prosecution over corrupt foreign government officials.
5
As a Trinidadian national, I am deeply ashamed.
7
AOC-style socialism rotted Venezuela. Do we really want it here?
9
@Truth Teller Nothing whatever to do with the autocratic, despotic, oligarchy that we ourselves are headed towards? Socialism is not possible in such an environment. Socialism would feed people. Heck, even Trump thought to intervene, probably because the stricken citizens were not trying to get to America like the Central Americans.
Socialism is not the same as Communism, but if you wanted to know that, you would.
4
Heartbreaking. Is there somewhere we can donate to that will really help these people? Just feel I have to do something.
4
The sanctions imposed by the US, first by Obama in 2015 and increased by Trump, have induced this crisis. No nation, INCLUDING the US, would pass the tests imposed by both administrations in the sanctions that have crippled Venezuela.
See the par. headed: "Targeted Sanctions Related to Antidemocratic Actions, Human Rights Violations, and Corruption"
https://fas.org/sgp/crs/row/IF10715.pdf
3
Why is the NYT also NOT doing a hit job covering the “failed” governments in Honduras, Guatemala, and El Salvador. Their people are also leaving but they are considered insects, drug dealers, murders, an ideology of blaming the victims by Trump. Sad
7
Time to stop US sanctions which only hurt these people. The US exports terrorism and misery to Palestine, Syria, Iran and now Venezuela.
5
Unfortunately this story is only one kind of story of the Venezuelan crisis. The other side is that Trinidad a small island has also had an influx of persons claiming sanctuary but who have been intent on criminal activity. The level and type of crimes have escalated, and resources are already being stretched. In an attempt to be humanitarian Trinidad is sacrificing its people and its future.
7
family planning urgently needed
14
How does this even begin to be improved? The only way is for the corrupt leaders and government agencies and departments to get kicked out. But if the people are weak from hunger and finding something to eat is their one goal, how can they even think about a revolution or protesting? But the starving French peasants did it in 1796. And the starving Russian peasants and military did it in 1918. And the impoverished Cubans did it in 1959. The colonized and brutalized of India did it in 1930. The Chinese revolted against the imperial system in 1911. And we did it in 1775. All those revolutions were started and successful without help from wealthy countries, unlike today. where food, medical care, safe ports, jobs are there but withheld for political and of course, financial reasons. Criminal behavior on the part of those countries, like the US, that refuse to significantly help these desperate and innocent people.
2
There is no doubt in my mind that trump is to blame. Trump hates women and oppresses women. Just look at how he coddled Weinstein and Epstein.
3
Trump and Mitch McConnel greedy and heartless.
2
I think this is one of the few things going on in the world that isn't Trump's fault.
2
Buried towards the end of the story is Facebook’s messaging system WhatsApp. Not surprisingly, it is being used by the smugglers and child traffickers to communicate. Too many evil things end up at Zuckerberg’s doorstep.
9
Ever since its coup against Chavez in 2002 failed, the US has worked to strangle Venezuela, wanting to install a government more supportive of elites and capitalism.
Iraq, Libya and Syria adhered to a Baathist/socialist/anti imperialism philosophy, and look what the US did to them while trying to install a government supportive of the US national interest which means Capitalism, not democracy.
Current conditions are the result of the US sanctions and covert activities in Venezuela. Venezuelan citizens, most of whom lived in extreme poverty pre Chavez, democratically elected presidents who ran on a platform of helping the poor and reducing the power of the elites.
The US does not care about Venezuelans. It is going to continue to strangle the country until it gets what it wants, a government that respects the US and adheres to capitalism.
The conditions in Venezuela are not due to socialism, but due to the most powerful country in the world refusing to tolerate any country with a socialist ideology.
The US itself, has colossal income/ wealth inequality, mediocre education for most., healthcare if you can afford it, crumbling infrastructure, democracy mostly bought by the highest bidder... all signs of a strong capitalist economy.
11
Thank you for putting this so succinctly. I would ask though, has this been under Administrations of both Parties? We seem to do these things whenever Republicans are in charge. @Lucy Cooke
3
@Lucy Cooke, everything that goes wrong in the world cannot be blamed on the USA. Maduro is a hard-line ruthless dictator who has expropriated almost all the factors of production in the country, taken over the media, jailed the opposition and the intellectuals (as well as teachers, professors, lawyers, judges, journalists) and anyone critical of him or his policies. Venezuela is one of the riches countries in terms of natural resources (especially oil) and is at the moment incredibly poor. This is not the fault of US policy, but rather that of corruption, nepotism, and mismanagement at the highest level of government.
1
Venezuela's fate holds an important lesson for the U.S. That is, that when inequality becomes dramatic enough, and enough people lead lives of poverty and alienation, they will trust, and vote for, any kind of lying charlatan.
If we want a better president, and better senators, we need to vote for progressive economic policies that will make the poorer half of our population less desperate.
10
Ever since its coup against Chavez in 2002 failed, the US has worked to strangle Venezuela, wanting to install a government more supportive of elites and capitalism.
Iraq, Libya and Syria adhered to a Baathist/socialist/anti imperialism philosophy, and look what the US did to them while trying to install a government supportive of the US national interest which means Capitalism, not democracy.
Current conditions are the result of the US sanctions and covert activities in Venezuela. Venezuelan citizens, most of whom lived in extreme poverty pre Chavez, democratically elected presidents who ran on a platform of helping the poor and reducing the power of the elites.
The US does not care about Venezuelans. It is going to continue to strangle the country until it gets what it wants, a government that respects the US and adheres to capitalism.
The conditions in Venezuela are not due to socialism, but due to the most powerful country in the world refusing to tolerate any country with a socialist ideology.
The US itself, has colossal income/ wealth inequality, mediocre education for most., healthcare if you can afford it, crumbling infrastructure, democracy mostly bought by the highest bidder... all signs of a strong capitalist economy.
2
John Bolton has openly stated that it would be great if the United States could gain control over Venezuela's oil. So we applied an international stranglehold of an embargo on the country's trade. Now we're choking Iran for the same reason. Our country, the United States of America, is causing massive suffering in our greedy quest to control the world's natural resources. This must stop - the status quo is not okay.
10
And his name was Epstein.
2
Here is a lesson on what can happen when a despot rules a country. And it can happen anywhere, under the right conditions.
27
This is happening in Venezuela now, but is any nation truly immune? We should all read this and take heed, especially as we in the USA face unprecedented corruption in our own government with the current administration.
25
‘Hey kid, come with me, I have food and work, just slip in the middle of the night, and don’t tell mom or dad! Just come out quietly when every one is asleep, and get on this stranger’s car.
‘The job? Oh yea, well it will out food on the table, just do not ask what is it, or where. We cool?’
‘Oh boy! I can’t wait!’, I mean, what’s not to like?
It reads like the scrip that was followed by ‘stranger danger’ and big alarm sounds so kids who had half a working brain would not slip out to the ‘free candy’ van ever.
But it seems that logic and intelligence is optional when it comes to victims.
Just like the people getting on cars they assumed was Uber, or people going off trecking trails in Hawaii and ending up lost in the jungle for a week despite their ‘excellent sense of direction’, or tourists showing up in Europe accepting a ride from a stranger ‘going the same way’ and ending up , getting into a car in the dark in Venezuela sounds like a wonderful life plan.
I would say we can learn a lesson not to do this, but those who can see it as a terrible idea would never do so. And those who cannot tell danger when they see it, they would not pay attention anyway.
5
@AutumnLeaf
Or maybe they are painfully desperate people, who have to choose between staying at home watching their loved ones, including their children, starve to death, and trusting the obviously suspicious stranger promising salvation? These people weren't stupid, they were without any other choice, and when your situation at home is as desperate as theirs, you are much more likely to believe someone unsavoury selling the idea of safety and food and money.
59
These people aren't stupid, they're desperate and have no other options. Your attitude is both smug and heartless.
61
These are people who are starving and losing their babies and youngsters to starvation. Have a heart. I would be the first one on that boat if it would give me anchance to save my family.
10
This is a real life horror story.
And we can expect this in the US, at some future date under the auspices of President Alexandria Ocasio Cortez.
This is what comes of promising people "free everything".
38
Please elaborate on how this has any relation to AOC. Truly interested in the Glenn Beck logic here...
10
It is a horror story indeed but your comment on AOC is totally gratuitous.These desperate people were fleeing starvation to Trinidad and Tobago, not the US. Most people in this country, especially Immigrants (legal or otherwise) know there is no free lunch.
10
No, this is nonsense. I can’t believe you got 29 likes on this. Maybe people didn’t read it carefully. Go find out what really happened in Venezuela. Corruption rotted the country. Not socialism as you’ve been told. We are in more danger from the slow moving Republican coup.
You can start learning here: https://www.nytimes.com/2019/01/23/world/americas/venezuela-news-noticias.html?smid=nytcore-ios-share
7
Well if this doesn't read like the end times I don't know what will. Rather, it's just another day. Maybe that's even worse.
1
Nowadays we learn of the horrors all around the world. I am not sure how rare they actually are or have been, but as such they certainly do not indicate an “end of times.” What they show us, at its most basic, is that humans are an animal species that can revert to savage behavior. I can’t tell you what all will stop humans from degrading like that, but maybe our experiences with these travesties and tragedies can somehow inform us to recognize when things are going wrong and work to remedy the situation. We need help in our own Country right now with the palpable threats from the Republican Party. They are staging a slow moving coup.
2
I don't know how anyone can look at a story like this and not feel that something has gone horribly wrong in the world. Four million people leaving a country in the space of just four years? People dying of malnutrition? Drowning in turbulent seas in their desperation to leave? Food so expensive that ordinary people can't afford to buy what little food there is? Rampant criminal activity and government corruption? How can anyone see people suffering like this and not be appalled?
338
@Marc We can all stop this by stopping sanctions of their OIl. I remember we used to buy oil from gas stations oil that came from Venezuela, oil that is still coming from Russia and Saudi Arabia. I can only deduct from that we like dictators and a most repressive regime like the Saudis over a socialist government. We should stay out of this and not have sanctions. And see what happens.
41
@Marc Power corrupts. Absolute power...
This is the result of a government, a country, that has been hijacked by a despot, an authoritarian.
It begins with finding a common enemy-a country, a politician. That enemy may have been a favorable trading partner.
The population is then incited and further alienates the enemy and now former trading partner.
But, in order to stay in power other means are needed-control the food, the fuel, the day-to-day existence of the people.
Soon, the people starve yet the despot and his supporters live the opulent life. And the people leave.
When the despot nationalizes industry, sanctions are established. However, those in power are not affected as they have insulated themselves from the sanctions.
Due to the sanctions, the people die. Flee to other countries.
And the ruling class is still not affected.
This is why sanctions don't work. The people are starved to the point where they can no longer rise against a corrupt government. Or, in the case of Cuba, strengthens resolve.
27
@Marc Just wait, this is only the beginning. Venezuela succumbed to overpopulation first because of its failed political and economic systems, but scenarios like this will become global.
13
Please tell me why, with its untold wealth and power, the Catholic Church is not sending massive amounts of food and personal to help these mostly Catholic starving Venezuelans. It's a universal church is it not?
168
Blaming a particular church for starvation imposed on the people because of sanctions placed on Venezuela by our country is sick an appalling.
8
I'm not blaming the Catholic Church for the problem. I just want to know why they're not practicing what they preach and reaching out to feed the hungry. They have sooo much wealth and priests that could be helping instead of sitting on their money like the one percenters.
33
@Nancy IMHO, you hit the nail on the head with the words "so much wealth." Mega-religions, especially the super-rich Catholic church, are no longer spiritual centers as much as they are financial institutions.
36
Oriana, a single mother of 22 with a 2 year old and 5 month old, would be able to support them all in Trinidad?
The insanity and heartbreak of this story overwhelm me.
There is not one reasonable, sane part to this story. From the corrupt officials to no gas in a country with the world's largest reserves to using an app to pick teens for trafficking to bailing a boat with your shoes.
What, if anything, csn be done to help these poor, desperate people?
109
@Talbot
The best thing we can do is elect a president that will say no to regime change wars, so that the US can control and plunder the countries resources. Our sanctions against counties target civilians a UN war crime, by preventing importation of medicines, food and other products needed to run a country.
19
@Talbot Really, the only aid we should provide should include birth control and basic educational assistance.
20
@Margo, yes responsible decisions re getting pregnant so needed
7
Buried in this story is one quick mention of U.S. sanctions against Venezuelan oil. The U.S. is complicit in this misery, folks.
272
Yes, and we can import that misery by bringing socialism and all its benefits to the US
22
@Elise Maduro and the rest of his corrupt government could flee to Cuba, and the sanctions would end. Why should the US provide any economic assistance to a communist country?
25
@RD
The US is already a corrupt democracy, mostly bought by the highest bidder.
The US is a very violent country, with colossal income/wealth inequality, mediocre education for most, and healthcare if you can afford it.
The Democratic socialism of presidential candidate Bernie Sanders would lead the country towards having a healthier, better educated and more thriving citizenry.
29
Reading this article makes me sick to my stomach. I became US Citizen recently and I intend to vote for a change in foreign policies. USA is just watching and enjoying their cake. I remember growing up in the eighties and watching the giant effort from USA did to help Africa starvation. In these days and age we have a billionaire president who could care less about humanity. This country has lost his touch as leader of a free world. It’s all about America first and nothing for the rest of the world is just wrong.
247
@Fred We helped sub-Saharan Africa and the population went from 280 million in 1970 to over a billion now who are now desperately fighting over resources in lands that can't support them, fleeing to Europe, dealing with Boko Harem and in the midst of several civil wars. The more meddling we do in other country's affairs the more the people suffer in the end. And meddling means not putting sanctions on countries because we don't like their style of politics!
41
@Fred Every child saved from starvation then now has 6-8-10 children, with grandchildren too who are now all starving. Too many of the billions in aid ended up in corrupt leaders' Swiss bank accounts. The refugee camp in Kenya for Eritreans is an enormous city. Population growth easily outstrips the strongest economic growth, and Africa's has been hobbled by lack of infrastructure.
52
@Fred We have no business interfering with the government of other countries.
The UN and OAS should have the ability to help and aid agencies can be included as well.
Recently we read about aid trucks arriving at the Venezuelan border and being turned back - and some goods being accepted with reluctance.
This needs to on the people of Venezuela.
12
I have crisscrossed the Med many times (safely on a large ferry and in comfort) and have looked across the vast expanse of roiling black waters and wondered at the desperation and courage of those seeking a better life. The journey on a rickety boat across such waters - in the dark of night - must be a truly frightening journey. And if you survive a probable worst fate awaits. I count my blessings and good fortune, but truly despair for the desperate such as Ms Zurita . . .
8
There blame aplenty to be shared on this tragedy - an inept and authoritarian government in Venezuela, an inept and vindictive government in the United States, rampant police corruption and popular hostility to these migrants in Trinidad, the callousness of governments - the list is long. But there is no way out without an understanding that the policy to starve political opponents into submission is a horrific one that has no place in our century.
8
The fact is that what we see in this article (and multiple others on Venezuela recently) is the inevitable outcome of Chavez's and Maduro's mismanagement and corruption of a government with policies that have long been relegated to the ash heap of history. This in turn has led to the destruction of one of the richest countries in LATAM.
It is sad to see Chavez and Maduro apologists on this forum, blame the US, for the misery and chaos that is VZ today. And where are Sean Penn, Oliver Stone, Danny Glover, Michael Moore, today? Ahh...yes...quiet...enjoying the good life in the US. Hypocrites.
19
One can assume the Venezuelan currency has crumbled in the currency markets where trading is dominated by the West. This can have major economic and financial impact on a targeted country. In all fairness, has this crisis been abetted by Wall Street trading? Imagine that! Ironically, as frustration grows among our electorate while socialism is becoming cool. Bernie could probably win the upper mid west. The worker here unwilling to play the Wall St. casino and lose his hard earned savings, has been saddled with 2% or less savings rates from the banksters and are not happy. And to the question, women are easily exploited often because they have few alternatives in the real world workplace. Is there somewhere a connection?
1
@tennvol30736, We don't want to end up like Venezuela. The key to the "Wall St Casino" in which I make a lot of money, is to not get greedy. I hope this advice will save another poor socialist from themselves.
There was a time that America sent emissaries around the world to help the impoverished. The Peace Corps was an idealist program that tried to improve the well being of many less fortunate people. Unfortunately the dark side of this idealism included the desire of the US to turn every nation into a US friendly democracy through duplicity and sometimes viloence. Did the end justify the means?
Today our current administration is turning its back on virtually every nation that has a population that is not white and Christian. The Brown and black people south of the border have to deal with their own problems. They can no longer look to the US for aid. They are sanctioned, literally, to death.
We have the power and resources at our disposal to change the lives of millions, but because it will not benefit the 1% in this country, there is no consideration. Improving the lives of the people impoverished and threatened by gang violence will alleviate the pressure on our borders and decrease the likelihood of events such as those covered in this article from happening.
Until we have a population in this country that is willing to elect a fair and compassionate representatives and president, from either party, the rest of the world will continue to suffer.
So goes America, so goes the rest of the world.
11
@Larry Larry, I understand what you are saying. I don't have the power to change things at the top, but I made a commitment to change just one life. I do it thru a reputable charity called Little Children of the World, but there are many other good charities to choose from. I have been a sponsor with this charity for 20 years and It really makes a difference in the lives of my sponsored family. If you want to help, find a good sponsorship charity and spend a little bit of money- invest in a third world country kid. It will change his life .......and yours.
3
@Larry Individual acts of kindness and generosity, although commendable, do not address the gaps in wealth and its attendant poverty brought about by crony capitalism. While we glibly invoke the labels, freedom, patriotism, we ignore what structural changes can make in such countries as India and China that affect populations in the hundreds of millions. What an interesting object lesson that could be for our international community to study--a rational, scientific evidence based analysis on 70 years of competing systems of governance-- the good, bad and the ugly.
3
@Larry, I don't remember Obama touting the Peace Corps much either.
3
Reading the comments, many are blaming US sanctions. Unbelievable. It wasn't US sanctions that stop Maduro from accepting food and medical aid, it wasn't US sanctions that kicked out foreign investment and expertise from the Venezuelan oil sector, it wasn't US sanctions that fired competent managers in favor of political cronies, it wasn't US sanctions that starved the oil industry of O&M spending.
Also lost on many commentators is the opposition of the South American neighbors to Maduro.
The Venezuela votes elected Chavez years ago (the last time there was a fair election). Now they are getting what the wanted, good and hard. The only solution is change from inside Venezuela.
33
"They are getting what they wanted, good and hard..."
Try to control your glee, James.
1
You just have to wonder what Jesus would think of his followers if they spent as much time trying to solve the problems in central and South America a they do trying to keep people out?
5
@Victor, Jesus would say, "Build the wall!"
2
This article is mind numbing. I went on to read another. Why it is alright to kill women from The Stone.
Is there an answer to this tragic situation in Venezuela. Knowledge is a start.
3
@Bridget Douglass Maduro (and his cronies) have to leave via a negotiated exit with guarantees that they will not be prosecuted for murder, corruption and narco trafficking. The government is untenable and unviable.
Things will get worse, and not only because of the naive idea that sanctions are what is causing the misery.
2
The US has worked to strangle Venezuela since its coup against Chavez in 2002 failed.
Current conditions are the result of the US sanctions and covert activities in Venezuela.
Venezuelan citizens, most of whom lived in extreme poverty pre Chavez, democratically elected presidents who ran on a platform of helping the poor and reducing the power of the elites.
The US does not care about Venezuelans. It is going to continue to strangle the country until it gets what it wants, a government that respects the US and adheres to capitalism.
The conditions in Venezuela are not due to socialism, but due to the most powerful country in the world refusing to tolerate any country with a socialist ideology.
Iraq, Libya and Syria shared the Baathist socialist ideology, and all were wrecked by the US in its regime change obsession with spreading capitalism, not democracy.
The US itself, has colossal income/ wealth inequality, mediocre education for most., healthcare if you can afford it, crumbling infrastructure, democracy mostly bought by the highest bidder... all signs of a strong capitalist economy.
15
@Lucy Cooke I agree fully but don't dismiss the elements of capitalist greed within Venezuela (perhaps the for profit medical area, etc., economy that would stand to profit and wealth if privatized. I recall meeting a physician at an international medical convention in New Orleans, admitting to medical groups attempts to undermine Gorbachev. No doubt, these physicians are doing much better under Putin and its oligarchy defined in the book, "Sale of the Century", where public assets were sold off to his cronies.
1
@Lucy Cooke Gimmie a break! When has "socialism" really worked for Venezuela? The government took over the industries and businesses and ruined them.
2
The key reason of Venezuela’s massive economic failure is crippling economic sanctions. US is responsible for its downfall. Of course, there’s corruption and so on, but there are other means albeit slower in changing that. In my opinion, growing wealth of the country will eventually distribute to middle class which will force democratic change, stripping the whole country of its wealth is a dangerous journey
8
This article describes one facet of a horrendous tragedy, one of the worst of modern times, and one happening very close to home.
The tragedy in Venezuela occurred in part because of imposition of socialist policies, including the nationalization of industries and the imposition of price controls, by the last two presidents of Venezuela, Hugo Chavez and Nicholas Maduro. These policies very much contributed to the economic collapse of a previously prosperous, oil-rich country.
The US will soon choose its next president. Several leading Democratic candidates are avowed socialists, or espouse socialist policies. Many others are not, but it is clear that the Democrats are rapidly moving to the left.
The Democrats would do well to consider Venezuela as they choose their nominee.
9
@Alex Venezuela was a "prosperous, oil-rich country" where the prosperity was only for a few. That's why Chavez et al. were elected in the first place.
None of which is to say that they haven't been a disaster, but the conservative meme that the Democrats want to mimic Chavez is nonsensical; none of them are advocating anything like his policies.
21
@Alex
Capitalist countries create misery and desperation, too. It allows the creation of an ultra-rich upper class immune from prosecution for crimes, including sex trafficking. It creates an upper class that writes the rules in its own favor, allowing unregulated pollution, allowing minimum wage to fall to half what it used to be, allowing people to go bankrupt when sick, allowing homeless veterans to live under bridges, and preventing students from discharging student loans in bankruptcy. Those who have the gold make the rules and the rules are: those who have gold get more. It's privatization of profits and socialism of losses in capitalism. The working class is in the doldrums, Alex, and it will take bold measures to push them back into the mainstream of success, so we need bold Democrats running this country. I understand that Venezuela is in miserable conditions; but comments painting capitalism as the promised land and socialism as the scourge are dumb and tiresome.
15
@Alex- OK once and for all, and let's all say it together so that maybe it will stick: Bernie Sanders and Elizabeth Warren are not socialists. They adhere to democratic socialist ideas, like the government providing education, healthcare, social security and a safety net for those less well off. Ideas that are in the Bible, Torah and Koran. See Denmark, Norway or Sweden. Are we clear now?
8
Difficult situation without any easy solutions. It is quite obvious why these people are fleeing their current living situations. What is not so obvious is what the solution is and where the fault lies.
It is equally as obvious that the prosperity christians as well as the old testament theocrats like Pence and Cotton do not have the answer. Their answer is close the borders and let the cruel natural world deal with it.
It is also obvious that by hollowing out our Department of State and increasing border security we have no intention of helping our neighbors.
We are heading in the wrong direction. Another 9/11 type attack is not going to bring the world to our side.
6
Venezuelans are suffering for sure and hopefully their economy will stabilize soon so that people will not take such desperate measures just to make a living. But don't let this article distract from our own troubles with sex trafficking and desperation. It is not something that happens elsewhere under exotic circumstances like Venezuela's; according to the FBI upwards of 80% of child sex trafficking in the US involve rich white men trafficking in American girls. One wonders if this article is placed so prominently in the NYT to distract us from the Epstein case and its fallout; to distract us from the scandal of desperation here and the prevalence of American men treating little girls like sex toys.
5
@Sherryl: Famine looms now, because agriculture has collapsed in Venezuela.
7
@Chris M
Abuse of little girls, little boys, and teens by men is not an uncommon thing, and it isn't "man-hating" to acknowledge it. Human trafficking - with the end goal to force girls, boys, and women into prostitution - is real and from what I read here at the Times, actually happening all the time. While we go about our lives, it's happening.
In fact, when I read these stories, I always wonder - who are these men who will rape these girls once they are smuggled to their destination? Why is it so common? Who would take advantage of these girls instead of try to help them?
5
@Chris M
I didn't say that sex trafficking is a common thing; I said that most sex trafficking in America involves American children (as opposed to immigrants). Yet, even though I did not say it was a common thing I must say that there is pitiful little interest in stopping sex-trafficking, if the velvet glove treatment Epstein got for having sex with little girls is any measure, not to mention Weinstein, and so many, many others. And men who say they consented, as if a 14 year old girls have the maturity to consent. Good grief. How about young women in the army, young women in the Forest Service, young women in blue collar jobs, white collar jobs, minimum wage jobs, all forced to endure harrassment to prevent getting fired, just to keep food on the table. What about these Venezualan men thinking sending their girls out to prostitute to solve their financial problem. We elected a President who bragged OPENLY about assaulting women. What does that say about men who voted for him, I wonder. You say stop with the man-hating but I say, stop with women and girl hating. Then we can talk about man-hating.
When Trump announced his support for Gaduro many chastised him for not allowing "diplomacy to work".
Maduro will never relinquish his power. And until he does the desperation of many in Venezuela will force it's citizens to do these types of horrible acts of desperation.
Maduro must go.
7
@Ari Maduro was democratically elected to a set term with international observers and a national audit of the results, giving a popular vote win as incumbent of 68 percent. Their election system is designed better than ours, and his win was more legitimate than Trump who didn't even get the popular vote, and, we didn't even have national audit with numerous and well documented evidence of fraud plus even foreign interference. In terms of elections, democracy appears to be working better in Venezuela compared to the U.S. where our government is also overrun by the corruption of big money interests.
4
@Toni The level of ignorance and blindness in this forum, due to US party politics, is appalling. No, Maduro did NOT win the last election fairly and democratically. In fact, many international observers condemned it as being rigged, unfair, dirty and not transparent.
And in any case, Maduro's abolition and sidelining of a democratically elected congress with a majority of opposition members and his blatant attempts of establishing another parallel "assembly" full of his cronies, is an example of a dictatorship.
You definition of democracy reeks of doublethink.
5
Unfortunately, the Chavista-military regime is completely corrupt and, as they've already shown, will do anything in their power to either prevent or take control of aid. They want a monopoly on access to food and other necessities. They're going to cling to power to the end because they're implicated in drug trafficking and a whole range of other crimes and know that they'll be prosecuted if they ever lose power, and they don't care at all about ordinary Venezuelans. And due to the complete botching of things in Syria (both the Obama and Trump administrations have made terrible mistakes of judgment), desperate regimes everywhere now think that if they're just stubborn and evil enough, they can hold on like the Assad regime has done. And Vladimir Putin will always be willing to provide moral support, and perhaps a bit more if it doesn't cost him too much. A military invasion would be a disaster. There's no "good" solution in the short term. If only ordinary Venezuelan soldiers would stop obeying orders...
8
@Stephen Merritt No disaster at all, the regime would fall in two days, everybody, including the middle ranks in the military hate the regime, they are being tortured by Cuban operatives.
Survival means leaving, whatever the risks. That’s something trump and administration will never understand.
9
All that oil and they're still broke? Somebody is obviously hoarding all the cash.
18
@Robert James
Yes, that cash is being hoarded by the US and UK, in an attempt to bring down the Maduro government.
2
I just had a patient from Venezuela who came into the clinic where I work in nyc for her annual physical. She was about to return and when I asked about how bad it was she said she was fine since she has income coming from 2 son's who are professionals here in the states. So as usual it is the poor and those not connected who are really suffering from the sanctions and when they are over what the conglomeration of assets by those that do have USDs during this bleak time?
13
@Allright With all due respect, the disaster was and is caused by the regime. Professors, for example, have no shoes, are not eating. It is a dictatorship and a famine.
5
@Julius Caesar I was very surprised to see someone perfectly content go back. There are plenty of dictatorships so why are we targeting this one with sanctions?
@Allright Because we should and we can easily rid ourselves and 95% of Venezuelans of these criminals. What do we have an Army for? It is our Continent, for all Americans, North and South of the border, since day one of the Independence. We do not want foreign, and/or dictatorial powers to dictate anything and enslave people here. What is going on here?
Venezuela is not an extreme example of the failure of socialism and Communism, it is a most common example. Whether it is Cuba, the old Soviet Union, or the Peoples Republic of China (PRC), all communistic societies have massive famines and generally fail. The PRC only ended widespread famine when the economic system was changed to one of "state capitalism." Cuba today can not feed itself; relying on low quality rice from as far away as Vietnam. Cuba, however is willing to invest its most limited resources in military and security service operatives in Venezuela to prop up the Maduro regime.
The United States should maintain the most severe economic sanctions possible to force the total collapse of the socialist societies of Venezuela and Cuba.
29
@John Quinn
Venezuela is mostly an example of the US wrecking another country that has chosen not to be submissive to the US.
Venezuelan elected Presidents with a platform of socialism because the huge majority of Venezuelans were very poor.
The US conspired in a failed coup against Venezuelan president Hugo Chavez in 2002, and has been working overtly and covertly to ruin the country of Venezuela and force regime change,
You should know that Iraq, Libya and Syria, all countries the US has wrecked shared the socialist philosophy of Baathism, which was also anti- imperialist.
These countries supported the idea of free health care for all, as well as free education, including university...
dreadful scary ideas.
Cuba has a much higher literacy rate than the US, as well as a much higher rate of doctors per capita.
Worldwide, the US is mostly a disliked and feared country with the highest income/wealth inequality, mediocre education for most, and healthcare if you can afford it.
The world needs better leadership.
24
@Lucy Cooke This is also certifably untrue. Venezuela has been on a nose dive since 2013.
Cuba can not feed itself and has relied on Venezuelan oil (sells to CUba for $3 and Cuba turns around sells at whatever the market will pay ($70 per barrel at last check)).
The US has not conspired in any coups. This is pure criminality on the Chavista/Cuban axis of evil that goes thru the hearts of poor venezuelans.
6
@John Quinn
Yea we'll force the collapse of Cuba any day now. That embargo will force them to their knees the way you want, just wait.
3
Please report the other half of this tragic story. WE are complicit in this. We have embargoed Venezuela's oil, their only true source of income and placed devastating sanctions on them that has led to critical shortages of food and medicine. And why? Because they chose to elect a socialist government? Or is it really that we want to install our own oligarchs to control their oil. We have done this repeatedly throughout Central and South America, whether it is Chile with Salvadore Allende, Nicaragua and dozens of other countries, we have been the prime instigator of war and conflict in that region. Right now, the war mongers Bolton and Elliot Abrams (Abrams of the Contra death squads who supported Gen. Rios Montt, literally convicted of genocide) are creating havoc in Venezuela by sabbatoging their power grid and attempting to instigate a military coup. The list goes on. But for whatever reason this is never reported in the mainstream media and put into the context of the situation in Venezuela. The NYT has been especially egregious in its covering of Venezuela, having articles by those connected to oil-funded and military-funded think tanks or former corrupt Venezuelan oligarchs that ran that country as their personal piggybank. Both political parties are responsible for this. Yes, (no pearl clutching here folks) Democrats are just as corrupt and complicit, but it's their air of moral superiority that I find makes them even more disappointing.
39
@FXQ That is certifably not true. Sanctions have recently been imposed. The famine and shortages have bee going on for at least 6 years. This is abject criminality by a drug cartel and mafie operation raping the country from its resources while Cuba benefits from cheap oil subsidies sent over by the corrupt Maduro regime to continue to prop himself up.
I am contemptible of all wars and incursions. But for once Trump is right on this. Something drastic needs to happen, whether an invasion, a naval blockade or some form of military intervention is needed. As illustrated by this and multiple stories reported, PEOPLE ARE DYING.
10
@FXQ just what the situation needs, let's pay billions to perpetrators of these crimes.
4
Thank you, FXQ. The USA has been trying to do this for years to our fellow humans in Venezuela, and it hasn't been all Trump.
3
This is a very illuminating story regarding the humanitarian crisis in Venezuela. Now, please provide as detailed a narrative regarding the impact of US sanctions, which an independent study co-authored by economist Jeffery Sachs has found to have caused up to 40,000 deaths in that country. https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/venezuela-sanctions-us-excess-death-toll-economy-oil-trump-maduro-juan-guaido-jeffrey-sachs-a8888516.html
19
This is why Maduro is still in power, 4 million people leaving. Send them back asap to deal with their problems.
12
Hire a cruise ship and load it up with people and deliver them to New York City. There’s plenty of housing, jobs, and welfare benefits in this sanctuary city.
13
@Richard Winchester There is absolutely no need to make this our problem. No.
We still have people from Haiti here under TPS who won't go home - remember the "T" in TPS" means Temporary!
3
Take note "Democratic Socialists" of America.
This is what socialism looks like. This is what a centrally planned economy gets you.
12
@asdfj
This is what an single commodity dominated country looks like. When the price of oil drops and you mismanage that, youre bound to run into trouble.
14
@Joe
You're almost there... Now think about just how many centrally planned economies are actually diversified? The two concepts are practically incompatible.
3
@asdfj
No I'm there. Venezuela's problems are directly tied to the price of oil.
2
Socialism is such a gift to humanity!
11
@James Ribe
Of course it's completely the socialism that caused the ruin, nothing else. Totally.
1
If the world had any guts it would launch an invasion of Venezuela, topple Maduro and his henchmen and protect the formation of the legitimate government of Venezuela. Such an intervention is justified under the terms of the Rio Treaty which the United States had been party to since its founding.
But the world doesn't have the guts or the courage to do what is right. Any leader or leaders who would carry out such a humanitarian intervention would risk their political careers. But that is the essence of courage.
8
The laws that forbid legal prostitution create demand for the underground sex trade. Our laws are part of what amounts to international price supports for sex trafficking and the violence that the illegal market creates. Yes, these stories are sad, but until the laws are fixed there will be an unending supply of people who are attracted to the money, and are willing to exploit and kill to get it.
6
@Gary What a despicable suggestion - legalized prostitution is not the answer. Just because there will always be willing victims (poverty and desperation ensure that) doesn't mean the poor and desperate should be exploited.
2
President Trump and his administration are guilty of many things, but they are not responsible for this crisis. Venezuelans brought this crisis upon themselves when they elected a Socialist government. Read the article “Why Venezuelans Are Fleeing The Country” in the International Business Times, published in December of 2015. Over a year before Trump took office, a survey showed that over 30% of Venezuelans planned to leave the country permanently.
For a more recent view on who’s responsible for this humanitarian disaster, read the article “Humanitarian Aid Is Blocked Amid Venezuelan Political Crisis” published in February on npr.org.
Note that Venezuela was the richest country in South America before they elected Chavez, who’s views were eerily similar to the views espoused today by Bernie Sanders, and the crowd of “Progressive” politicians who have taken over the Democratic party. In fact, Bernie was a Chavez fan before the Venezuelan house of cards collapsed.
16
@Rick
> Note that Venezuela was the richest country in South America before they elected Chavez
Note the price of oil back then and its price now. Venezuela really only has one export.
5
@Rick: why oh why is the NYT not publishing all that Bernie Sanders wrote on the subject of SOCIALISM IN VENEZUELA? he was one of their biggest fans and champions!
1
BY Times please address the sanctions, imposed by the U.S. And European nations that are crippling this country.
3
@Nic Sanctions have been on for the last 3 months. Famine and fod shortages have been there for at least 6 years.
Do the math.
4
@Nic Thank you for your comment. You can find some of our coverage of how American sanctions have affected Venezuela here:
- https://nyti.ms/2VwzAGL
- https://nyti.ms/2NOzbkG
- https://nyti.ms/2GdUY0k
And you can find more of our ongoing coverage of the country here: https://nyti.ms/30vGhff. I hope this helps. Thank you for reading.
1
Nicolás Maduro has destroyed his own country with the help of devastating US sanctions.
Next up for US sanction destruction: Iran.
Nation-destroying does not end well for anyone.
18
@Socrates: As usual Socrates you hit the nail on the head with sharp and well thought out analysis. So many of the other responses wrongly blame socialism. I wish more people would do some studying about democratic socialism and what it really is. Too many compare it with Russian communism, which really wasn't communism at all but a despotic form of government.
3
@Socrates Certifiably not ture. Sanctions have been on for a few months. Famine and shortages of medicines etc has been on since at least 2013. I know. I used to live there.
1
And the politics are???
I feel sick every time I enter an American supermarket with its piles of food (often rather expensive) contemplating how much is going to be thrown out!. Old statistics state 264 billion $$ of food waste a year!
Meantime people in Venezuela, Yemen, probably Africa and India, in the border detention camps? starve and/or die often because of the official government policy fostered mostly by men -- altho women do get caught up in the power game as well.
Could/would Warren make a difference? Misogyny plays a larger role in politics than we are willing to admit. Is compassion always to be considered weakness?
Why is what is going on going on?!
8
Don’t blame US sanctions for the troubles in Venezuela. The misery there (and elsewhere in Latin America) is the legacy of Fidel Castro and the Marxist/Leninist/Socialist philosophy he worked so hard to export to his neighbors. American liberals didn’t want us to continue to interfere in the internal affairs of our neighbors by covertly overthrowing communist oriented governments and this is the result. Now, not only is the US unfairly blamed for their problems but many want us to be responsible for the human wreckage that comes from these misguided excursions into socialism. Socialism is a flawed system that doesn’t work, never has worked and won’t work here if we are stupid enough to continue down that road.
13
@Larry Please, take a look around you and look at some of our programs.
We all use, and enjoy, socialist programs.
3
Using and enjoying socialist programs is one thing but many are now espousing full-fledged socialism. Elizabeth Warren, for one.
1
Central America has always been a land of outlaws just like Mexico and the only way to create a (Triangle Spring) would be to legalize the drugs coming out of the regions. Legalizing would get the money out of politics the police and the families that control the trafficking of these drugs. It would force these countries to grow and compete in the real world and would force the US into having that talk about our drug problems. Yes to all of you who wail about legalizing pot the gateway drug there will always be abusers but no one should have to pay for with their life.
4
Heartbreaking. And compelling evidence that desperate women can be forced or tricked into prostitution. This is a real harm glossed over by those who would legalize "sex work".
10
Let us never forgive Hugo Chavez and his disastrous populist policies
And, that socialism here would also be disastrous
So tragic. So sad.
From prosperity to starvation in a few short years
13
While these very real and horrific stories play on many people's sympathies (including mine), they do little to advance the cause of the Venezuelans who are being victimized by internal cleptocrats. However, they advance the cause of the Trumpites to close the US border by appealing to the visceral fear of many Americans of being overrun by the breakdown of societies across the globe. The current period of the rise of nationalist, oligarch cleptocrats globally (including the US) is not going to end well.
7
And some are consumed with suffering micro aggression. Read this and think about it again.
5
Imposing sanctions only gives the government of Venezuela an excuse to blame the US. I do not see the value of using sanctions to force regime change.
46
@Bob, it only hurts the common people with sanctions the ones with money and power will find what they needed. Hence the creation of the refugees at our border. When 4 million people leave their home to get food to survive and risking lives in the attempt...they don’t need sanctions they need help.
5
Time and again one sees that sanctions only leave misery and the dawning of dictators. This was the case in many countries. Wether sanction or mass restitutions which a country down and out could never pay.
Most recently the US again uses sanctions on Venezuela and Iran, creating hardship for mostly the poor and those who don't have money overseas to get out civilly. The US should stop the sanctions on Venezuela (who cares what government that country has) anything is better than dictators.
I blame our government for all the misery because of sanctions.The Federal Reserve bank is part to blame as a co-conspirator.
31
Right-thinking Americans should read this chilling portrait of a third world country—in our own hemisphere. It can be easily understood how desperate people—especially young women and girls—hazard their lives in a lottery for their lives.
Corruption; mismanagement; government indifference toward their own citizens are the ingredients that boil over to produce unimaginable poverty and hardship. Venezuela, with its vast oil reserves, should be better able to manage its precious resources for the betterment of its people.
Americans, for all of our vicissitudes, should pray for these unfortunates--and perhaps, maybe, begin to understand how our border with Mexico has become such a flashpoint for this fleeing endless despair and unending hope.
Are we a Christian nation? Or not?
12
What is this we? We are a collection of individuals with a common government. That is all we are. You are free to donate your time and money to relief efforts for the cause of your choosing. But you don't want to show personal responsibility to what you believe. You don't want to pay, you want everyone else to pay. Sorry, but in this there is no "we". People love to volunteer other peoples money for their causes.
10
@Red Sox, ‘04, ‘07, ‘13, ‘18
Please.
Where are the UN, OAS, Red Cross on this? What about the neighboring countries?
The US should not be driving aid to Venezuela.
4
We quickly and often too raslhly sanction countries and cause economic chaos. The sanctions are detailed and targeted, but they are blunt instruments and the men in power will find ways to survive and even thrive. For every corrupt Venezuelan Coast Guardsman or Trinidadian immigration officer, there is an Iranian accountant or Russian customs official who looks the other way when US currency changes hands. Do we believe any of Putin's buddies or the Ayatollah's inner circle are going hungry or searching for cans of fuel?
Our right-wing true believers and their fellow Trump cultists can squeal about socialism, but there is more to like about sharing the wealth than punishing the poor.
37
@JS
For some reason, I now feel compelled to read "Confessions of an Economic Hit Man" (2004) by John Perkins.
14
Needless misery. I don’t understand leaders that carry on as usual when such scenes of desperation are playing out in their country.
22
As an American citizen that was really hard to read. How does this happen in 2019? The saddest part is there seems to be no global response and not much local unity for these people to uplift themselves. I’m originally from the neighboring country Guyana and understand that the land down there can be farmed for food to eat and raise livestock. I’m sure it’s not that simple but a very sad story nonetheless.
25
@Olaf Johnson It does seem odd that we aren't reading about an increase in kitchen gardens and backyard chicken coops. What situations are occurring that prevent people outside the city centers from working to produce some of their own food?
3
I am glad compassion has not been yet almost destroyed by hate in Columbia as it has been in the USA. Reading most of the comments here shows us why the USA is so feared and hated all over the world.
4
@LRS Absolutely right. I am surrounded by right-wingers who scream the loudest about how Christian they are, and totally fail to have values that would help those less fortunate if they have the bad luck to not be white.
2
Don't blame the US for this, The US is not responsible for socialism in Venezuela. The Venezuelan government started nationalizing profitable private industries when Chavez first came to power. They also started shaking down other companies with additional taxes. This outcome was never in question, it was just a question of when.
Learn from this folks, we don't want to end up like Venezuela listening to people like Bernie and AOC.
Here is a quote from Bernie in 2011, praising equality in Venezuela and implying that the US is a banana republic.
"These days, the American dream is more apt to be realized in South America, in places such as Ecuador, Venezuela and Argentina, where incomes are actually more equal today than they are in the land of Horatio Alger. Who's the banana republic now?"
59
@John
Do you have any compassion for these people? Or is this just an abstract story to you, that offers a chance to try to score political points?
74
@Laura
Laura, I do have sympathy and it bothers me that a country that was considered wealthy as recently as early this century has become this. I also realize that there is nothing I can do about this. Any aid anywhere is never going to get through a corrupt government to its people and would be temporary. The only real hope is for the US government to actively get involved and topple the Maduro government, which I am for.
My fear is that people in this country are so enamored by socialism that they fail to see what is happening in places where it is adopted. So this is also a teaching moment, if people are open to critical examination.
18
The moral of Venezuela’s sad story is not about socialism, it’s about authoritarianism. Unchecked power run amok. Strong men, a corrupt elite and the absence of checks and balances. If there is a lesson to be learned and applied to current us politics, then the parallels to Venezuela are on the right, not the left.
101
Senator Rubio and all others who placed sanctions on Venezuela are complicit in forcing these women into prostitution and in their death. Sanctions do not work, they only hurt those who are their intended beneficiaries.
136
@javierg
This was happening even before the sanctions were placed. Yes it is almost instinctual to blame the US as a liberal, seizing on the tiniest of things to blame us, but a capitalist country which was doing well pre Chavez slowly descends into chaos. If the US had intervened Chavez would never have been in power.
15
@javierg
Consider- sanctions "work."
In ways unrelated to the targeted goal. In the sense that they can dull our senses. Perceptions. Understanding. Judgment. Decisions. etc.
Sanctions enable US to believe that our all-too-often elected-selected, personally UNACCOUNTABLE, policymakers are are actually doing something.
A new policy is made.
A new law is created.
A new regulation enters.
There is DOING. Action.
Done-deeds.
And each of US, living within a
toxic WE-THEY culture,
enabled by each of US,
contributes to violating.
By words and deeds.
Each of US can freely breathe polluted air in "challenged,"
dying, environments of our DOINGS. NOT doings. UNdoings!
As we choose to continue to
BE complacent.
Or complicit!
The SANCTITY of sanctions is inherent in enriched
semantic surrealism.
1
@John
Do you mean that the US should have assinated Chavez?
Of course, the US believes in capitalism, more than democracy.
3
As i read this horrid story, I kept thinking, where is the Catholic Church, & the UN, & lastly, where is the Western powers. In this day & age no one should starve.It seems the only thing they have is children, most without a father.
What purpose does religion have if it doesn’t care for it’s flock, you can’t eat prayers.The UN is busy condemning Israel which takes up all their time. None of the Palestinians are going hungry.
70
@Independent1776
I partly agree with you. But if 75% of Palestinians between the age of 18-25 yrs in Gaza can not find jobs, unless they agree to Kushners plan, what do you think will happen?What about the 40,000 Palestinians in camps on the Lebanon and Jordanian borders? With ISrael controlling the purse string, no matter where the money comes from for the Paelstinians, what are their chances? Is that living? We need to support a two state solution there, period. Perhaps then we can hope for peace in Israel. ANd we need to stop sanctions, they have never worked. Like giving tax breaks to the 1%. That never created jobs as promised.
13
@Independent1776 The Catholic Church is actually on the ground in Trinidad already. Every day, they are on the ground with migrants helping them to register and receive assistance.
7
@AmericanBornTrini And insisting that birth control is a sin. The Catholic Church does more to harm people in poor countries on a daily basis, by insisting on outdated rules involving sex, including with it's own priests. If the Catholic church actually cared about its flock, it would open up every single church to refugees, including those in Rome. I'm sure they could afford a few cots. But no, all they do is lecture.
19
Interesting and sad story, one which occurs probably every few minutes around the world.
But seriously NYT stop pushing this narrative that we have to go intervene in Venezula and other places, when we can't even address the problems we have domestically?
22
@Mod Perhaps we read two different pieces.
Nowhere in the piece did the journalist advocate intervention.
However, it does paint a dark picture of the desperation of the population.
43
@Mod
Do you imply that you would prefer not to hear such stories?
1
Many women from Venezuela end up as prostitutes (both legal and illegal) in the Dutch ABC Islands (Aruba, Bonaire, Curacao) about 50 miles from Venezuela itself. Obviously this issue is getting worse by the day considering the disastrous situation in Venezuela.
16
These people are suffering so much. We should not be adding to their misery with sanctions.
45
My monthly subscription with the Times is an investment for light to shine in the smallest corners of the earth. Sometimes they are the dirtiest. This article is such an example. Your report highlights plight, corruption, love and loss. I feel a kinship with the victims.
I am hopeful these revelations will help. Occasionally you will include a link to how we can do that. I wish there were one here.
127
@fish out of Water
My subscription is to see what influences the Establishment.
Much of their world reporting could be used as a study in propaganda, and I have suggested that to local colleges and university.
1
@fish out of Water
I agree, the NYTs shines the light, doing the hard work for us. One of the very few media entities doing so, or trying. The biggest question of our ‘time’, is “what can we do”?
Remember though, time is short in many aspects and this next election can and most likely will, determine the direction. Be bold (they are), be strong, let truth set the people free, don’t shut up and please... help the people and quit appeasing ‘them’. Can’t afford any more failures, as words and reason are all we’ve got. You guys are smart, you know where to point...
2
A gut-wrenching read. A marvel of investigative journalism. How can this ongoing tragedy be happening so close to the United States? Is there any way to help?
9
@Tom Gabriel
The irony of your comment is just too stunning to pass. "A marvel of investigative journalism" and "how can this ongoing tragedy be happening?" The fact that you had to ask that question should tell you that this article is anything but "investigative" or "journalism". But maybe I can help you understand how this is going on. WE are doing this. WE are cutting off imports through our sanctions. We are starving the country by putting an oil embargo on their only source of income. WE are sabotaging their electric power grid. WE are trying to instigate a military coup. WE are trying to create such chaos and havoc and instability that the people of Venezuela will cry uncle and say "please, just make it stop. Okay, you can install your oligarchs." WE are responsible for these deaths.
5
@FXQ No WE are not. The Chavez and Maduro governments are culpable.
Try doing a bit of research before blaming the flavor of the month scapegoat.
You lose. Thanks pr playing...
2
This sad story is the result of Trump's increased sanctions on Venezuela, which targets imports of food, medicines, products for their oil production facilities and other products that end up hurting the poorest. Trump has said that he is no longer interested in invading the country, yet the sanctions a UN war crime continue. Just like the sanctions we have placed on Iran. It is all about the controlling Venezuela’s largest proven oil reserves in the world and also supplying the Koch brothers refinery in Texas with the heavy oil they need.
45
@steve people started leaving at a rate a 1 million per year when Obama was President. Your lazy everything is Trump comment is what keeps solutions to this problem from being found.
13