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CelebSalon: Former Reuter’s Venezuelan Bureau Chief: Brian Ellsworth (In Person)
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About this event
Brian has spent over 20 years reporting on and living in Latin America—much of this time in Venezuela. As Reuter’s Venezuela bureau chief from 2018 to 2021, he oversaw coverage of the tumultuous political and humanitarian crises which unraveled the country—from the model of democracy and economic prosperity it was in the 60s and 70s to the worst economic crisis in Venezuela's history—and triggered massive emigration. Many of the immigrants we see at the southern border are Venezuelans fleeing the disaster.
How did Venezuela, with the world’s largest known oil reserves, transition to the debacle we see today? What political events precipitated its downward spiral and why haven’t their oil riches buffered them from financial collapse? Supporters of Chávez and Maduro say the problems resulted from an outside "economic war" on Venezuela that caused oil prices to fall, while critics blame the years of economic mismanagement and corruption.
Our speaker will give us a reporter’s eyewitness view of how Venezuela’s collapse happened and what it meant for the Venezuelan people, including for those willing to risk their lives to reach the US. Brian will walk us through both the history and the impact on everyday people—inside their communities, at grocery stores, and on the faces of children.
Brian has more than 20 years of experience as a reporter, editor, and manager, having worked in Brazil and the Caribbean as well as Venezuela. He is fluent in Spanish and Portuguese and graduated from Macalester College in political science.
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