Economist Podcasts Lights out: Venezuela’s blackout
Mar 14, 2019
Stephen Gibbs, an Economist correspondent in Caracas, shares a harrowing look at the ongoing power outages in Venezuela and the desperate impact on citizens' lives. He discusses how these blackouts not only jeopardize healthcare but also exacerbate food insecurity amid a backdrop of political turmoil. Gibbs also touches on the contrasting narratives between the government and opposition. Additionally, the podcast intriguingly delves into the art of shipbreaking and a scholar's journey to translate the Hebrew Bible, exploring literary beauty and spiritual depth.
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Unequal Power Restoration
- Caracas has begun restoring power, but at the expense of the rest of Venezuela.
- Hospitals lack power, forcing nurses to manually ventilate premature babies and jeopardizing dialysis patients.
Maracaibo's Crisis
- Maracaibo, once Venezuela's oil capital, faces dire conditions described as "almost prehistoric".
- Due to the lack of electricity and the heat, butchers resort to selling rotting meat for US dollars.
Disputed Blackout Cause
- The cause of the power outage is disputed.
- Maduro claims a US cyberattack, while the opposition blames long-term power system neglect.
