NEWSLETTER 16

Newsletter

Vol. 4: Issue 16, 13th Sept, 2018

What’s inside

Bolivarian Ministry of People’s Embassy of the Bolivarian Government Power for Foreign Affairs Republic of Venezuela of Venezuela

Weekly

UN ignores report which assures there is no humanitarian crisis in Venezuela

UN ignores report which assures there is no humanitarian crisis in Venezuela Seeking Intervention -Government has repatriated 2,780 Venezuelans - Venezuela holds meetings with China and Russia -Chancellor met with UN’s Commissioner for Human Rights Impact of the United States Financial Sanctions on the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela Special Report 70 years Anniversary of The Democratic People's Republic of Korea Jewish commemoration of the Rosh Hashanah Festival Celebrations of the new Islamic year

Inside Africa:

Large-scale wind and solar power 'could green the Sahara'

The Venezuelan Government regretted that the United Nations Human Rights Council didn’t mention the report presented by independent expert Alfred De Zayas, to address the internal situation in the country.

De Zayas has issued a set of conclusions which contrast the reports emitted so far by the UN’s High Commissioners Office, Venezuelan Chancellor, Jorge Arreaza affirmed.

The independent expert concluded that there isn’t a humanitarian crisis but that coercitive unilateral measures promoted by the US and the European Union have caused an economic crisis in the country.

De Zayas emphasized in his report advances in Venezuela in the erradication of illiteracy, free education from primary school to university and extreme poverty reduction programs.

Venezuela showed concern before the Human Rights Council which did not take into account the report emitted by the UN’s independeent expert.

The Human Rights High Commissioners Office only took into account theconsiderations emitted by independent expert, Livingstone Sewanyana, which completely differ from the conclusions of Alfred De Zayas.

Source: Chavezvive

Seeking Intervention Venezuelan Chancellor, Jorge Arreaza, dennounced that the Human Rights High Commissioner’s Offcice has issued biased and selective reports which intervene in the country’s internal matters. The High Commisioners Office tries to set an idea of a “humanitarian crisis” in Venezuela, with the intention of promoting a multilateral international intervention, Arreaza warned in the UN’s Headquarters. During his intervention in the 39th Session of the Human Rights Council the Venezuelan Chancellor demanded a ceasure of aggressions to the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela.

Mr. Arreaza exposed that the High Commissioners Position backs a political and economic aggression and threatens with the use of military power. Venezuela warned about political actors who try to use the Human Rights issue to intervene Venezuela.

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Source: Chavezvive

Government has repatriated

2,780

Venezuelans The Venezuelan Government specified that 2,780 Venezuelan migrants have been repatriated since a plan was activated to rescue citizens who live in vulnerable conditions overseas. Communications Minister, Jorge Rodríguez, informed that the plan was expanded and they will use several transport methods to move Venezuelan migrants from Colombia, Brazil, Ecuador, Argentina, Chile and Perú.

President Nicolás Maduro approved the activation of a fan air bridge between Caracas and several capitals in the region, to attend the call of hundreds of Venezuelans who request to return to the country.

The Venezuelan Chancellery informed that 2,200 repatriation requests have been solicited from Brazil, this represents the highest number so far. Venezuela regrets the xenophobic campaign against Venezuelans on Matin American media.

Source: Chavezvive

Venezuela holds meetings with China and Russia Vice President for Venezuela, Delcy Rodríguez, met with China’s President of the High Level Joint Comission, Minister He Lifeng. Rodríguez initiated an official visit to China, to widen and consolidate cooperation between Venezuela and the Asian giant, the Venezuelan Vice presidency informed.

She also informed that she spoke on the telephone with Russia’s Chancellor, Serguéi Lavrov, to strenghten the excellent bilateral and international relations between Venezuela and Russia. Venezuela’s relations with both countries add up to more than a thousand bilateral projects signed, specially during the last decade.

Source: Chavezvive

Chancellor met with UN’s Commissioner for Human Rights Venezuelan Chancellor, Jorge Arreaza, met in Geneve with the High Commssioner for Human Rights for the United Nations, Michelle Bachelet.

Bachellet assumed the post in the United Nations Organisation last week substituting Zeid Ra’ad Al Hussein. Mr. Arreaza branded the meeting as cordial, in spite of dennouncing that this Office keeps a biased position against the political and social interests of Nicolás Maduro’s government.

The Chancellor noted that he agreed with Bachellet to begin a new cooperation phase with new exchange and coordination methods between Venezuela and her Office. Bachelet comes from the Presidency of Chile on two opportunities.

Source: Chavezvive

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Impact of the United States Financial Sanctions on the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela Special Report Situation of balances and movements of the Single Account August 2017-2018 Executive Summary 1. Background: Since the entry into force of Donald Trump´s Government Executive Order in August 2017, in which financial sanctions were issued against Venezuela, the Republic has faced an international financial blockade. Its main effects are:

51.52% increase in the costs for days of delay in the case of bulk carriers, that passed from USD. 16,500 to USD. 25,000, an additional cost of USD. 26.65b in comparison to 2017. In the case of container vessels, their associated costs increased on average by 40.63%, from USD. 3,200 to USD. 4,500, with an additional cost of USD. 10.40b in comparison to 2017.

1. Closure of accounts in correspondent banks such as Commerzbank AG, Citibank and Bank of China Frankfurt, in which Venezuela maintained, by August 2017, around USD 150,000,000.00. These banks aligned with the blockade, preventing the use of money for the acquisition of food and medicines. This resources remained blocked in the case of Bank of China in Frankfurt until March 2018.

2.2. Banking Commissions and average time for the payments: Prior to the enforcement of US sanctions on financial transactions, the payment instructions were sent through correspondent banks and made effective within 48 business hours. Now, on average, a payment is made between 10-20 continuous days, after the verification and approval of the compliance officers of the banks involved in the operation. To this date, the operating costs (which include costs for transfers, payment inquiries and amendments to different transfers) add up an amount of USD. 655,200.00.

2.

To this date, Venezuela has not been able to maintain accounts in US Dollars, so it became necessary to search for new European, Middle Eastern and Asian Banks, adopting the Euro as the main currency and using other currencies of emerging markets (Turkish Liras, Dírhams and Yuanes), with greater volatility compared to the Dollar. This situation has resulted in significant losses due to the exchange differential. In general terms, the consequences are higher transactional and financial costs that most be assumed by the Republic.

Additionally, as a result of the need to perform Forex operations (currency exchange), due to the impossibility of using the US Dollar, the Republic has lost more than USD. 20,000,000.00, another consequence of the criminal blockade.

2. Financial cost resulting from sanctions

2.3. Credit Suisse:

2.1. Example: Resources invested in Food

The Executive Order has generated an important loss of USD 264,180,768.00, due to delays in payments of bonds acquired through Credit Suisse (CLN), related to titles of Venezuela´s External Public Debt and other financial values issued by the Republic.

Starting from sanctions on August 2017 until now, a total of USD 6,172,832,640.37 have been invested in food.

The case of food stands out for its strategic importance and for the obstacles that Imperialism has placed to avoid the consolidation of the country's food supply programs. Since the imposition of sanctions, we have made an investment in food for a total of USD. 2,448,126,087.94, the result of adding the acquisition of raw materials plus finished products, as follows:

Alimentos Food

USD.

Finished Products (CLAP)

1,556,523,228.33

Raw Material (Vessels)

891,602,859.61

TOTAL (IN USD)

2,448,126,087.94

2.4. Financial loss of Venezuelan Bonds blocked by Euroclear: In July 2017, the nominal value of the portfolio of Venezuelan bonds in custody of Euroclear was USD 1,973,228,192.00, while the market value on that same date was of USD 1,093,529,941,96. However, as a result of the sanctions and the international financial blockade of bonds issued by the Republic, the reflected value of the aforementioned bonds (PDVSA and GLOBALES) in the international stock exchanges has fallen steadily by July 2018 (according to Bloomberg's financial services) reaching a market value of around USD 625.90 million, amount that represents a loss of 57.24%, USD. 467.62b.

Financial and commercial sanctions have hindered the acquisition of food. The operational obstacles imposed by the shipping companies and international ports, such as change of vessels to transport the cargo destined for Venezuela, the increase in waiting times, and also in tariffs, have caused important losses to the country, estimated in USD. 37.04 b.

3.

Financial sanctions are a big business:

All these atypical phenomena suffered by Venezuela since 2017, nonexistent in an economy without a financial blockade, prove to be a big business for those who impose it. Venezuela has had to endure this big business, which has cost the country around USD. 789.50b To this amount, we must add more than USD. 1,600,000,000.00 belonging to Venezuela that Euroclear retains, making it impossible for the Republic to make regular payments.

These losses are caused, in first place, because of increase in the average waiting time of ships, that went from 45 days in 2017 to 60 days in 2018, 33.33% more. Secondly, because of an 3

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YEARS Anniversary

The Democratic People's Republic of Korea

On September 9, 1948, the DPRK, the first people’s democratic state in the East, was founded. Korea was turned into a colony of Japanese imperialists (1905-1945). Kim Il Sung, hero of the Korean nation, waged an arduous anti-Japanese struggle for 15 years to win back the country.

The holiday is celebrated throughout the country. On this day, events such as art performances, exhibitions, athletic events, and reports are held. On jubilee years (ex: 60th anniversary, 65th anniversary), military parades on Kim Il-sung Square take place. It is also common for new children to be admitted to the Young Pioneer Corps on the day. The day was first celebrated in 1949.

The President and the People of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela congratulate the heroic People and Government of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea on the occasion of the commemoration of the 70th Anniversary of its Foundation, a date of national jubilation, propitious to remember the figure of its President Eternal Kim Il Sung, recognized for the creation of the Juche Idea “political independence, economic self-sufficiency and military self-defense”.

The Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela maintains its strongest will to continue strengthening the deep bonds of friendship between our sister nations; and the firm conviction to fight for a fairer, pluripolar and multicentre world in contrast to the rude imperial pretensions.

The People and Government of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela ratify their commitment to continue working hand in hand with the brother People and Government of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, in the consolidation of a strong bilateral relationship of mutual trust; on the basis of the principles of reciprocity, solidarity, complementarity and respect for sovereignty, guiding principles of our strategic alliance, which constitutes the future of the Peoples of the world. www.mppre.gob.ve

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Jewish commemoration of the Rosh Hashanah Festival Rosh Hashanah is a special festival which celebrates Jewish New Year. It literally means 'head of the year' and lasts for two days.

This is because the dates of Jewish festivals come from the Hebrew Calendar, so the Jewish New Year begins in autumn, as opposed to on 1 January.

Rosh Hashanah is a celebration of the creation of the world and marks making a fresh start. It is a time for people to reflect on the past year and to ask for forgiveness for anything wrong they feel they have done. They can also think about their priorities in life and what it important to them.

The festival also marks a time of judgment, when Jewish people believe that God balances a person's good acts over the last year with their bad acts, and decides what the coming 12 months will be like for them.

How is it celebrated?

During Rosh Hashanah, Jewish people will traditionally greet each other with L'shanah tovah, which means "for a good New Year".

Many Jewish families will spend some of Rosh Hashanah at a Synagogue. This is the name given to the building where Jewish people go to worship. One of the traditions of Rosh Hashanah is to blow a big horn called a Shofar. One hundred notes are blown on the horn to create a special rhythm. The Shofar is one of the world's oldest known wind instruments.

The sound of the Shofar marks the beginning of the ten-day period called the 'Days of Awe', which lead up to another Jewish festival called Yom Kippur. This is the most solemn day in the Jewish calendar. It means Day of Atonement and people don't eat or drink for 25 hours. It's a day to reflect on the past year and ask God's forgiveness for any sins. During Rosh Hashanah, food is also really important. Slices of apple are dipped in honey to symbolise a sweet new year ahead. Honey cake is eaten too.

The President of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela, Nicolås Maduro Moros, on behalf of the Venezuelan People and Government, greet the Jewish people of the world and the JewishVenezuelan community, on the occasion of the Rosh Hashanah Festival, welcoming the new year 5779, which recalls the culmination of the creation of the universe according to the Sacred Torah and the acceptance of God’s sovereignty over the world.

In this important festivity, the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela wishes to reiterate our most sincere wishes of bliss, prosperity, happiness and happiness towards the Jewish People.

The Government and People of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela express their hope that this celebration will lead to the construction of peace and unity among the different creeds and cultures. www.mppre.gob.ve

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Celebrations of the new Islamic year Muharram is the first month of the Islamic calendar. It is one of the four sacred months of the year. It is held to be the second holiest month, after Ramadan. Since the Islamic calendar is a lunar calendar, Muharram moves from year to year when compared with the Gregorian calendar.

Shia Muslims around the world every year commemorate the mourning custom of death of Husayn ibn Ali, his family and his follower in months of Muharram and Safar. They entitle him "Prince of Martyrs" and know him as a spiritual and political savior. He still has an important role in the religious and national consciousness of the people.

The President of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela, Nicolรกs Maduro Moros, on behalf of the People and the Venezuelan Government, expressed its sincere congratulations to the Muslims of the world and to the Venezuelan Islamic community , on the occasion of the first day of Muharram, date on which the Islamic year 1440 begins.

On this auspicious date, the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela joined the muslims and expressed its sincere wishes for the prosperity, and happiness of the Muslim people, at a time when the Hegira is remembered, the Prophet Muhammad's emigration to the city of Medina.

The Government of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela wishes that this celebration promote peace, harmony and unity among the Islamic people. www.mppre.gob.ve

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INSIDE AFRICA:

Large-scale wind and solar power 'could green the Sahara'

"Wind farms increase surface roughness and therefore increase wind converging into low-pressure areas," said Dr Li. "The converging air has to rise, making it cool off and moisture condense, which will lead to increased rainfall."

Solar panels actually reduce the reflection of sunlight from the surface known as the albedo effect. This triggers a positive albedo-precipitation-vegetation feedback that leads to precipitation increases of about 50%, the authors report.

"The panels directly reduce the surface albedo which leads to more solar energy absorption and surface warming, which in turn strengthens the Saharan heat low, leading to more rising air and precipitation," Dr Li explained.

What would be the impact on people?

Mostly positive, say the authors. "Precipitation increases predicted by our model would lead to substantial improvements of rain-fed agriculture in the region, and vegetation increases would lead to the growth in production of livestock," said Dr Safa Motesharrei, from the University of Maryland, another author of the paper.

Installing huge numbers of solar panels and wind turbines in the Sahara desert would have a major impact on rainfall, vegetation and temperatures, researchers say.

"The Sahara, the Sahel, and the Middle East include some of the driest regions in the world, while experiencing high growth of population and poverty, and our study has major implications for addressing the intertwined sustainability challenges of the energy-water-food nexus in this region."

They found that the actions of wind turbines would double the amount of rain that would fall in the region. Solar panels have a similar impact although they act in a different way. The authors say their work reinforces the view that large-scale renewables could transform the Sahara region.

Will this work with smaller-scale renewable installations?

The scientists modelled what would happen if 9 million sq km of the Sahara desert was covered in renewable energy sources.

The authors also looked at other desert locations in different parts of the world but they found the impact on rainfall and vegetation growth was much smaller. They also believe that fewer panels and turbines would have a limited effect.

They focussed on this area because it is sparsely populated, and it is also exposed to significant amounts of sun and wind and is close to large energy markets in Europe and the Middle East.

"Generally, the climate impacts are reduced with reduced installations, but this result depends also very much on the exact locations," said Dr Li. "High-resolution modelling may be necessary to better investigate more regional impacts of wind and solar farms." Should we now proceed with big installations in desert areas?

According to calculations, a massive installation in the desert would generate more than four times the amount of energy that the world currently uses every year.Previous studies have shown that installing wind and solar can have an impact on temperatures - but the key difference with this research is the impact on vegetation.

"Yes, I think so," said Dr Li. "The main message for people, policymakers, and investors is the enormous benefits to the people, society, and ecosystem as a result of these solar and wind farms."

"Our model results show that large-scale solar and wind farms in the Sahara would more than double the precipitation, especially in the Sahel, where the magnitude of rainfall increase is between 20mm and 500mm per year," said Dr Yan Li, the lead author of the paper from the University of Illinois, US. "As a result, vegetation cover fraction increases by about 20%."

"We hope that, in the light of our findings, and because of the primary climate effect of these farms is the reduction of anthropogenic greenhouse gas emissions and the resulting mitigation of climate change, we could transform our energy sources. That can lead in turn to sustaining freshwater, food, and life on our planet."

In the Sahel, the semi-arid region that lies to the south of the Sahara, average rainfall increased 1.12mm per day where wind farms were present, according to the study.

How do turbines and panels increase rainfall?

With wind turbines, it's all about the mixing of air caused by the rotation of the blades. Wind farms mix warmer air from above, which creates a feedback loop whereby more evaporation, precipitation and plant growth occurs.

www.bbc.com The views and opinions expressed in these articles are of the author and do not necessarily reflect the official position of the Embassy

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