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The Venezuela Information Office (VIO) is a lobbying agency whose goal is to improve the perception of Venezuela in the United States. Based in Washington, D. C., the agency was started in 2004 by the government of Venezuela. VIO's stated mission is "to prevent US intervention in Venezuela".

Employees

Olivia Goumbri is VIO's current Executive Director. Past employees of VIO include Deborah James, former director of Global Exchange, now with Center for Economic and Policy Research, Robert Naiman, of Just Foreign Policy, and Eric Wingerter.

Campaigns

The Center for Public Integrity reported in September 2004 "VIO tapped into a major U.S. activist network by contacting Global Exchange in early September 2003," and that "t protests, conferences, and college campuses, VIO employees handed out literature and played The Revolution Will Not Be Televised, a documentary of Venezuela's 2002 aborted military coup." Coordination of a media reponse team has been reported as one of VIO's activities; individuals mentioned by the Center for Public Integrity refuted criticism in a reply.

In May 2004, Lumina Strategies disclosed under the Foreign Agents Registration Act (FARA) that the Venezuela Information Office had contracted it to lobby for the Venezuelan government and improve Hugo Chávez's image in the United States. Michael Shellenberger would speak on behalf of the Venezuelan government in that role.

References

1. Forero, Juan (2004-09-30). "Venezuela's government seeks to show that its oil riches are well spent". The New York Times. Retrieved 2009-02-09.
2. Melia, Michael (2006-01-30). "Venezuelan oil marks Chavez's latest bid to win over U.S." Boston Globe. Retrieved 2009-02-09.
3. "FARA US Department of Justice" (PDF). US Department of Justice. Retrieved 2009-02-07.
4. Goumbri, Olivia (24 January 2009). "Letter to Editor: Improving conditions". Washington Times. Retrieved 2009-02-20. {{cite news}}: Unknown parameter |dateformat= ignored (help)
5. ^ Collier, Robert (2004-08-21). "Venezuelan politics suit Bay Area activists' talents". San Francisco Chronicle. Retrieved 2009-02-09.
6. "Deborah James, Director of International Programs". Center for Economic and Policy Research. Retrieved 2009-02-07.
7. Naiman, Robert (26 July 2004). "Chavez Gets Strong Support From Brazil" (PDF). Venezuela Information Office. Retrieved 2009-02-07.
8. Harman, Danna (25 August 2005). "Chávez seeks influence with oil diplomacy: In just one month, Venezuela has cut deals with five countries". The Christian Science Monitor. Retrieved 2009-02-16. {{cite news}}: Unknown parameter |dateformat= ignored (help)
9. Wingerter, Eric (10 November 2005). "Progress in Venezuela". The Washington Post. p. A28. Retrieved 2009-02-16. {{cite news}}: Unknown parameter |dateformat= ignored (help)
10. "Venezuela Head Polishes Image With Oil Dollars". Center for Public Integrity. Retrieved 2009-02-07.
11. Miller, John J (27 December 2004). "Friends of Hugo: Venezuela's Castroite boss has all the usual U.S. supporters". National Review. findarticles.com. Retrieved 2009-02-07.
12. "Letter to Editor". Center for Pubic Integrity. Retrieved 2009-02-07.
13. "Schellenberger's filing to US DoJ Foreign Agent Registration Unit" (PDF). US Department of Justice. Retrieved 2009-02-07.
14. Williams, Carol J (2004-08-16). "Venezuelans Flock to the Polls to Vote on a Divisive President". Los Angeles Times. pp. A-4. {{cite news}}: |access-date= requires |url= (help)

External links

• Venezuela Information Office

• Venezuela stubs
• Government of Venezuela
• Lobbying organizations