ABSTRACT
OPEC represents the bravest and most successful attempt yet made by countries that are rich in raw materials but weak in military terms to defend themselves by means of a counter-attack to throw off the shackles imposed by the military and industrial strength of the great Western powers. The economic situation of Venezuela is prosperous, and her prosperity is a source of amazement for the rest of America and for the whole world. In 1976 the Gross National Product of Venezuela was 68,000 million bolívares: that works out at 15,000 million dollars. Venezuela totally rejects the idea that OPEC is entitled to use its very powerful economic weapon to exert political pressure and even in some cases to blackmail third parties. The road system is growing in a carefully planned and organized way, and so is the network of water mains and buildings to provide facilities for education and public health.
