Hi,
I am very interested in nutrition and as I looked at the photos it seemed that the rice was white so depleted of minerals and vitamins. The best oils for health are colza (not expensive) and full of omega 3 and olive (a lot more expensive). Coconut oil is also very good and not expensive. What sort of oil was it ?
I didn't see any fresh vegetables and fruits. Were there some ?
My first impression is there is no connexion between food and health here. What do you think of it ?
Do you know if the governement is helping developing small gardens in some city for growing vegetables as it often exist in some poor countries ?
Are vegetables and fruits easy to grow in Venezuela ?
Jacques
Jacques:
Very good points. I don't think Mercal stores are going to win any points when it comes to nutrition. Heatlh and nutrition considerations did not seem to be taken account of at all nor did I see any vitamins or anything for sale. This would definitely seem to be a major oversight and definitely not good for a government which claims to take public health seriously as this government does.
There were also NO fruits or vegitables. They really didn't seem to carry anything that is perishable. They do hold large special Mercals in major public areas at times so maybe they sell them there but I didn't see any.
It is a big lost oppertunity that they don't seem to use these stores to improve the quality of peoples diets. It would be great if people such as yourself who know about these type of things could get involved.
On the small gardens yes they are doing some of that. In fact I have pictures of some that I will post later. But in general the quality of land in Venezuela for farming is quite poor and some of the best land is already been turned into cities and hence can't be farmed.
Thanks for the comment as those are excellent observations which I didn't really focus on but are very important and should be addressed.
Yes, I am very disappointed that the government does not pay more attention to organic farming, much of which can be done inside a developed community.
They could learn a lot from Cuba with regard to ecologically sustainable, effecient organic farming practices.
Granted, the government has had to devote huge amounts of energy and resources to counter the rightwing/imp[erialist subversion, but, still, there is much to be done on the health and food independence front.
You will note that I differ radically from your notion, OW, that Venezuela cannot become largely food self sufficent.
S.R.
I don't think I would say Venezuela can't become self-sufficient in terms of food. I'm not an expert and don't really know that. But I do think they'll have to work hard at it and right now they, for whatever reason, don't seem to be taking some basic steps that would help.
On the organic farming you might be interested to know that in Caracas I met with a retired US physician who has moved to Venezuela and plans to start up a organic farm in Barinas. His main interest is dairy farming and he talked to me alot about the health virtues of non-homogenized (sp?) high fat milk which is what he intends to produce. He hopes to encourage the local farmers to get involved in it to. It should be very interested to see how that goes as it may be small initiatives such as his that ultimately are what make the difference. He invited me out to his farm and when I get the chance I definitely want to go and see how it works.
Re food self-sufficiency, I would think that if Holland can reclaim land from the sea and have a thriving agricultural sector, then Venezuela can do the same.
Do you know if any of the food is fortified with vitamins, like folic acid in bread?
Are vitamins for sale too, and are they also only available by a prescription?
I really enjoy looking at all the photos you post, for this story, and for the story about the new 1600 house development, etc.
Can you tell me how sewage is dealt with in El Valle and elsewhere like the new 1600 house development? Do you know anything about sewage treatment plants? Charlie Hardy wrote on Narconews that nightsoil was disposed of by being thrown outside in the morning -- there is a potential here to do like the Chinese, and collect nightsoil for fertilizer.
In the days of the Roman empire, urine was collected -- it was considered to be a useful chemical.
Owl:
On the vitamins I really don't know. I didn't see them but then again I didn't look for them or ask about them. Venezuela reclaiming any land from the sea would be tough - the sea floor drops off pretty drastically I think.
In Barquisimeto there was no piped water or sewage to the new houses. The potable water was brought in by tanker trucks and for sewage they had septic tanks. In the cerros of El Valle I think they have been hooked up to the city water and sewer systems. Those houses on the valley wall are often full fledged well constructed houses. They are not what Venezuelan's call "ranchos" which are made out of corragated steel. Ranchos probably have to make do on their own for water and sewage.
I have understood that Cesta tickets are also given to people who work in the private sector, as a way to complete their salaries, not only in the public sector. Therefore, the tickets are more a subsidy for dependent workers, more than for independent.
They may be given to private sector workers too - I just know public sector workers definitely get them. In any event it then shows the hypocracy of the middle class when they complain about the social programs geared to the poor like Mercal.
Yes, the Cesta Ticket also applies to private sector workers. Here is some more info on it:
http://www.entornointeligente.co...?
fecha=20050428
Thanks so much for your blog. It is a great counter balance to so much of the bullshit on the internet.
But cesta tickets are also given to workers who don't belong to the middle class, as a special bonus, which does not form part of the salary.
This post is very good but your last article is completely wrong.
You don't have to be a government worker to get Cestaticket. Everyone gets it (I think, unless you make over a certain amount of money, a high amount) and it comes from your employer.
But the point is it's not from the government. It's simply an extra form of pay that can't be spent on non-food items. Though you can usually get drunk on them at a chinese restaurant.
This means---in this case, the opposition is not actually hypocritical, just silly for criticizing a program which provides low-cost food. "Oh I am very sorry I get more votes because my government improves peoples standards of living. I must be cheating."
What I am critical about is this: Venezuela is blessed in the sense that any seed you plant, as long as it's tropical, will sprout and grow like no ones business. The fact that Mercal exisits is very good for the population. What is not good is the fact that rather than truly sow petroleum into food, this government just imports, continuing another failed policy of the 4th republic.
Venezuela could easily have acheived self sufficiency in food since Chavez came to power. THis however is not convenient to the twisted, corrupt new oligarchy that has surrounded him. Far too many millions of dollars have gone to line the pockets of this filth by manipulating customs and the prefential $$ regime, especially when dealing with foodstuff.
In other words, different rats as before, same plasta de mierda. What a joke.
More and more people are starting to realize that they are what they eat and that what food contains affects their health, their lives. So organic food is the solution, if you ask me. Less profitable, but healthier, we should all choose to care about what we buy and what we eat.
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