Topic: On the eve of another US war for oil, journalist Abby Martin debunks the most repeated myths about Venezuela and uncovers how US sanctions are crimes against humanity with UN Investigator and Human Rights Rapporteur Alfred De Zayas. In this documentary, Alfred De Zayas argues that in an effort to delegitimise President Maduro’s government, the US has weaponised aid, human rights and instrumentalized the rule of law to further advance their interests in Venezuela. He challenges the US and Western narrative that presents Venezuela as a nation in crisis, therefore needing a change of leadership. The documentary further analyses the role Western mainstream media play in shaping how the world sees Venezuela’s political situation.
The documentary was produced by Empire File and can be accessed on their YouTube channel:
Abby Martin an American citizen journalist and presenter who hosts the web series The Empire Files. Abby Martin launched The Empire Files Series in 2015. The show has featured interviews with Noam Chomsky, Ralph Nader, Jill Stein and Rafael Correa and on-the-scene reports on the Palestinian refugee camps and the 2017 Venezuelan protests. Martin is also co-host of the Media Roots Radio podcast.
Alfred-Maurice de Zayas is an American lawyer, writer, historian, an expert in the field of human rights and international law, a retired high-ranking United Nations official, a peace activist, and since 2012 the United Nations Independent Expert on the Promotion of a Democratic and Equitable International Order (also known as Special Rapporteur), appointed by the United Nations Human Rights Council. As the United Nations Independent Expert, Alfred-Maurice de Zayas has assessed the “humanitarian crisis” in Venezuela and has presented a report to the UN Human Rights Council.
