sg.biz.yahoo.com Thursday March 13, 11:00 PM

CARACAS -(Dow Jones)- Venezuelan Trade Minister Ramon Rosales said a recently published list of "importable" items included paper only for text books and not for newspapers, which are a lower priority, local daily El Nacional reported Thursday.

Paper for newspapers may be included in future lists, and newspaper owners needing to import paper can file a request for "reconsideration," Rosales was quoted as saying.

Rosales couldn't be reached for further comment.

Newsprint isn't manufactured in Venezuela and many local newspapers have said they only have paper to last them through about April.

Opponents of President Hugo Chavez warn he'll likely use the new rules to close newspapers critical of his administration, which they say is becoming increasingly dictatorial.

Chavez often accuses some newspapers, along with television and radio stations, of unfair coverage.

As reported, Venezuela earlier this week published a list of some 6,000 items deemed essential imports by the government, which imposed foreign exchange controls last month in a bid to protect international reserves which stood at $12.4 billion on March 11, according to the central bank.

Reserves were severely affected by a two-month general strike that began Dec. 2, which all but shut down Venezuela's vital oil industry, among many other sectors.

Opposition leaders are demanding Chavez agree to early elections, blaming his left-leaning policies for the country's deepening economic crisis.

The economy contracted 8.9% in 2002, amid 17% unemployment, and 32% annualized inflation sparked by a 46% devaluation of the bolivar. The currency lost a further 25% this year before currency sales were halted Jan. 21. Meanwhile, an unofficial parallel market has developed, with the bolivar trading at between VEB2300 and VEB2800 per dollar versus VEB1598 set by the government.

Chavez has said the problems are due to an "economic coup" led by his opponents.

El Nacional Web site: www.el-nacional.com

-By Jehan Senaratna, Dow Jones Newswires; 58212 564 1339; jehan.senaratna@dowjones.com

www.guelphmercury.com Thursday March 13, 2003 VIK KIRSCH MERCURY STAFF

GUELPH -- Guelphites woke up Wednesday to sky-high gasoline prices.

"Pumping it in I had a bit of a shock," Chris McCracken said as he gassed up his minivan at the Canadian Tire self-serve gas bar on Woodlawn Road.

At a pricey 83.4 cents a litre, he yanked the nozzle out at $15, kicking himself for not filling up several days earlier when gasoline was less than 80 cents.

He wasn't buying the argument that an impending war with oil-rich Iraq is driving gas prices up, saying they fluctuate too much for that to be the simple explanation.

But that's what Canadian Petroleum Products Institute Ontario vice-president Bob Clapp was suggesting.

"It's the threat of war," said Clapp, conceding this is cold comfort to Canadian families facing expensive refueling costs for their SUVs and vans.

"We can certainly understand people's frustrations."

Driving this irritation is the rise of regular gasoline prices Tuesday to record highs averaging 84.2 cents a litre across Canada, up almost three cents over the past week. That's amid decade-high crude oil prices, which surged more than $1 US a barrel Wednesday to almost $38. Diesel, propane and furnace oil also peaked: diesel chugged to 84.4 cents Cdn, propane rose to 66.4 cents and heating oil floated to 77.5 cents.

Susan Dankert recalls how diesel fuel was once cheaper than gasoline.

"Now, it's right on par," said the partner in Choice Transportation Services, a Guelph company whose large truck rigs haul commercial freight.

Her trucking firm is among the lucky ones that can pass some of the higher costs on to customers through a fuel surcharge. And while that doesn't completely cover rising costs, she is more concerned for independent truckers driving their own rigs who aren't in a position to pass on some of the added expense.

The worry, said Guelph Chamber of Commerce president Ian Smith, is what damage rising energy costs are doing to the economy. It's not just the trucking sector passing along energy surcharges, Smith said. He cited airlines and Canada Post as well.

It's ironic, he said, that the Bank of Canada recently raised interest rates to combat oil-related inflation that is out of the hands of Canadians. (His last home hydro bill, he said, "was obscene," estimating it's almost 50 per cent higher than a year ago.)

Dankert proposes the federal government re-evaluate high gasoline taxes when crude prices soar.

Among the demons said to haunt oil -- aside from Iraqi dictator Saddam Hussein -- are production shortfalls in strife-torn, oil rich Venezuela and an unusually long and harsh winter in North America, though an oil industry-tracking Internet site (www.oil-gasoline.com) isn't buying it.

The Web site concludes the refining industry is "devoid of competition." Refiners are not replenishing inventories because they expect prices to drop.

Crude prices, the site said, are high because of significant costs to the industry from speculating in the commodity, with refiners passing on these costs to consumers.

That doesn't surprise Consumers Association of Canada Ontario president Theresa Courneyea, who is convinced high prices are driven by the refining industry. She said regular gasoline prices in her home town of Toronto were in the 75- to 76-cents a litre range at one point Monday. Two hours later, prices at those gas stations had risen to 83.9. "Nobody can tell me that just happens accidentally."

"The trouble is there are so many things happening at once," said Peter Dyne, the consumers association's oil expert. "What we are seeing is the workings of an open market, reasonably competitive."

What's impossible to gauge are the reasons prices are peaking and when, or if, they'll come down. "I can't offer you any comfort," said Dyne.

If motorists feel they're gouged by high taxes, Dyne said it doesn't reflect the reality that they pay among the lowest in the industrialized world.

"Gasoline is taxed heavily everywhere," said Dyne.

vkirsch@guelphmercury.com

www.voanews.com VOA News 13 Mar 2003, 13:39 UTC

Seven Latin American countries have signed an agreement pledging to work together to combat terrorism and drug trafficking.

Bolivia, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru and Venezuela, the five Andean nations, signed the accord Wednesday during a summit of foreign and defense ministers in Bogota.

Representatives from Brazil and Panama also signed the agreement. The two nations, along with Ecuador, Peru and Venezuela, border Colombia.

The deal comes as Colombia struggles with a 39-year civil war that involves leftist rebels, rightist paramilitaries and the government. The conflict kills thousands of people each year.

Colombian President Alvaro Uribe has asked that neighboring countries declare Colombia's outlawed groups terrorists. The United States lists the Andean nation's two main rebel groups, and their rivals, the paramilitaries, as terrorist organizations.

www.vheadline.com Posted: Thursday, March 13, 2003 By: Charles Hardy

VHeadline.com commentarist Charles Hardy writes: Once upon a time there was a country in which many giants lived. The ordinary citizens greeted each other with a "Hello," "Good morning," "Good afternoon" or whatever would fit the occasion. The giants greeting to one another was always the same: "Don't fall."

The night when the Mexican intellectual, Don Miguel Alvarez, told me that fable he could see that I didn't get the point. He very kindly asked me, as though it was a part of the story, "Do you know why they greeted each other that way?"

"No,"I responded.

"They were so big they knew that if they ever fell they would never be able to get back up again."

I went to sleep that night pondering his words and woke up the next day with them imbedded in my mind ... the story was about Venezuela.

We have been living in the land of the giants during the past year.

First, there were the Generals and Admirals who thought they were so important that they could claim a part of the city of Caracas as territory for their own battle. Time would show that officers without soldiers backing them are simply imitation Mona Lisas, who are quickly removed from the museum when their lack of authenticity is discovered. They, had their admirers ... for a moment.

Then there was Pedro Carmona Estanga ... who after rising to the presidency of the big business organization Fedecamaras ... quickly thought he could be President of the country. His deportment displayed an act of momentary insanity, extreme insensitivity or total lack of wisdom.  You do not change the name of a country and wipe out the Constitution, the Congress and the Supreme Tribunal within hours after taking power.

Gradually, the triumvirate of Carlos Ortega, Carlos Fernandez and Juan Fernandez emerged. How they came to be the spokespersons for the Coordinadora (anti-) Democatica is a story that those on the inside will have to tell some day.

Today Carlos Fernandez is under house arrest; Carlos Ortega is in hiding; and Juan Fernandez had to notice on March 8 that there weren't the masses that used to be present when he and the others would mount the platform to speak ... even television coverage of the event that day wasn't what it used to be.

The triumvirate started a fight that they thought they could win. They were wrong, and the damage they did to others is incalculable.

Not only that, just think about the following: PDVSA is now going almost full speed again ... with more than 10,000 less employees, most of them executives and office workers!

To make matters even worse for the trio, the rest of the Coordinadora is happy with their absence. It gives them a chance to try to regroup. Among those who remain, there are still other giants. Will they too fall?

However ... is the story of the giants really applicable in Venezuela?

What about President Chavez?

Shouldn't he be put in the category of giant also? He fell.

Why was he able to get up?

Either the story is not valid or Chavez isn't a giant.

I like the second thesis, and think it could be helpful to understanding what is really happening in Venezuela.

Here's another story that you might have already heard. In one part of the ocean there were some giant fish that were eating all the little ones. A few of the tiny creatures got together and decided that they better think of something or they, too, would be eaten.

What they decided to do was to swim in formation so that they would look like a big fish and thus scare their aggressors away ... they did it, and it worked.

I would like to propose that Chavez is just a little fish, not a giant one. He may not even be at the head of the movement. A woman said to me one day, "I'm not a follower of Chavez. Chavez is following my ideas!" Listening to Chavez on 'Alo Presidente' it is not uncommon to hear him say to someone,  "That's a great idea!"

Thus, when Chavez was kidnapped, the organized fish didn't depend on him and didn't stop swimming. It turned around, tightened its ranks and because of its great size, it scared the giant fish away and the little fish Chavez was freed.

Those giants are going to try to come back.

But remember: the little fish have grown and the big fish haven't been eating as well as they used to. It is not going to be easy this time. Personally, I suggest that the big fish learn to make friends with the little fish. The little fish are willing.

Don't underestimate the importance of such an event if it can happen.  A lot has transpired the past year.  The blue Caribbean waters that touch Venezuela seem to be mingling with the Atlantic and Pacific oceans.

It appears that some of them have already touched Brazil and Ecuador ... and, Bolivia has always wanted the entrance to the ocean that was taken away from her years ago by Chile.

If the big fish and little fish can learn to live together in Venezuela, the message might travel through all the waters of the world ... and the world will be better for what Venezuela has suffered.

Maybe even the giant fish in the United States, England and Spain could learn from the lesson before it is too late.

Charlie A native of Cheyenne, Wyoming (USA), VHeadline.com columnist Charles Hardy has many years experience  as an international correspondent in Venezuela. You may email him at: hardyce2@yahoo.com

www.vheadline.com Posted: Thursday, March 13, 2003 By: Thais J. Gangoo

VHeadline.com lifestyle correspondent Thais J. Gangoo writes: Years ago, finding someone who spoke English in Venezuela was not an easy job. All over the country, big companies tried to find professionals with high-standard capabilities and if they spoke English that was the key to open the door to a bright future.

Years have passed, and people have become more aware of the fact that English stopped being a key to open a door and has begun to be the language in which you write your resume.  No English capacity,  no resume … no to a good job!

Being an English teacher has given me the opportunity of interacting with people from all ages and different social classes. They all have a dream … learn English. I must admit that I never thought I would ever be a teacher, but I decided to give it a try and I found that it is one of my vocations.

The beginning…

When I first came into a classroom full of people, I believe I was more scared than the students. It’s funny, but it is true. However, after a while I realized that I was the teacher and they trusted me ... they put their hope in me to learn not only a language but a culture.

I've found that a great ice-breaker is asking why they want to learn English ... and I'm often amazed by the different answers I get.

Most of them do it because they need it for their jobs ... or their university classes. Others do it for fun! Oh, well ... children study English because most of the time their parents tell them to do so, but there are still a few who just want to learn because they like the language.

Of course, we can’t forget those who study English because their main goal is to go and live overseas. There are all kind of reasons for people to go into a classroom and be immersed into a new language.

The little ones…

Because the story has always two sides, I believe it’s fair to show them both, and try to come to a conclusion.

Sometimes, when a teacher sees a group of students for the first time, there are some expectations. Although the teacher knows that when students want to learn a language they're usually excited about it ... even when they're in the classroom only because their parents sent them.

In the case of children, it is amazing how they respond in a very positive way when they decide go learn English and ask mom and dad to take them. They learn so much in a very short period of time ... not only that, they're willing to do homework and participate more and more each day in a very active way in class. But… Unfortunately, many times the children are pushed by the parents ... told that they must learn English because it's important.

How would they know why it’s important if we don’t explain that to them?

It’s even worse when parents send the children to so many activities in the afternoon and during the weekends only with the idea of taking them away from their computer games ... I'm pretty sure many of our VHeadline.com readers feel familiar with this situation one way or another ... no matter that we're talking about English or any other subject.

Do our children really need to be taken away from what they like (in this case computers)?

...I truly believe that “communication” is the key word in a parent-child relationship.

Why then don’t we sit down and talk about their future and it’s needs ... instead of just giving them orders they won’t accept.

Computers are part of our future as much as knowing different languages.

It’s just a matter of establishing priorities in our lives ... our children can have enough time to do anything they want ... including some entertainment from time to time.

“Communication”…. I believe it is a word that implies more than just talking.

A need for many…

After a few years, people have become more aware of their needs ... they think about their future and their children too; though sometimes they believe it’s too late for them to go back into a classroom.

When they finally decide, they know they'll face a sometimes uncomfortable reality… they will have to deal with teachers, homework ... and even classmates they might not like.

From personal experience, I must admit that my favorite part, when I first started teaching, was when I came into the classroom and the students looked at me and ask how old I was ... I was 21 when I first taught class and I knew I was going to love my career as an English teacher.

Nowadays, the question is asked a few days after the first day of classes and it causes a different reaction ... people look at teachers and they see an authority no matter how old the teacher is.

However, for those VHeadline.com readers who don’t know, I must tell you that here in Venezuela some people still see teachers and believe they should be older than the students.

Is Venezuela the land of equal opportunities for all now?

Usually, I ask my students why they decided to study English ... and, as I said before, their answers were a lot different a few months ago, but now the common answer is: “Teacher, I need to learn because I would like to leave and find a job in another country.”  That’s the main reason for many.

Even though, I know how they feel, I truly believe it is very sad to see how people see their future built far away from their homeland ... Venezuela.

Why can’t we feel the freedom of doing what we like and enjoy it?

Why do we feel like we must do things we don’t want, to finally feel we got the happiness we have always wanted for us and for our children?

Learning English is only one of those restrictions we have now to find all the things we have always wanted.  A good job, a solid ground for our kids to live … a brighter future after all.

No matter what language we speak, Venezuelans do want to break down all those barriers and be able to say the words: “I am who I want to be, in my own homeland!”