Episode Title: Understanding Venezuela's Anti-Blockade Law

Guests:

Margaret Flowers of Popular Resistance, SanctionsKill and the Embassy Protection Collective

William Castillo, Venezuela Vice-Minister for implementation of the Anti-Blockade Law

Background:

To combat the U.S. economic war on Venezuela, a new strategy was unveiled on Sept. 29. 2020 by President Nicolás Maduro, called the “Anti-Blockade Constitutional Law for National Development and Guarantee of Human Rights,” or anti-blockade law for short. 

It was approved in a session of the National Constituent Assembly (ANC by its Spanish initials) on Oct. 8, 2020. The ANC has served as an interim legislative body after the right-wing-led National Assembly was declared in contempt for illegal election practices and other violations. May of 2021 Venezuela's National Assembly ratified the law. The current assembly was elected in December 2020.

The siege by the U.S., Canada and its European allies against Venezuela includes the U.S. seizure of CITGO and other Venezuelan properties, the withholding of the country’s gold and money reserves by Britain and Portugal, and a severe sanctions regime.  

Sanctions (or more correctly known as Unilateral Coercive Measures) have cut off Venezuela’s ability to import spare parts and critical chemicals for the oil and mining industries, particularly imports from the U.S., with its dominance in oil technology.  

Part of the anti-blockade law is a legal framework to guarantee foreign investments and shield economic agreements from U.S. sanctions and sabotage with countries that are defying the sanctions to trade with Venezuela. Investments by domestic entities will be allowed as well.  

With expected economic improvements, the government will be able to raise the real wages of the workers, pensions for seniors, and benefits for the population.. 

The government can also strengthen vital social programs such as the CLAP food boxes, health care, education and more. The country’s infrastructure — water, electricity and gas, transport, and telecommunications — also needs rehabilitation. 

In partnership with Friends of Latin America, Massachusetts Peace Action and Task Force on the Americas, original broadcasts of WTF is Going on in Latin America & the Caribbean can be viewed every Wednesday at 4:30pm PT/7:30pm ET on CODEPINK YouTube Live