* For the benefit of those who find themselves surprised or disconcerted by the generalised decline of conditions in Venezuela, as well as the increase in popular struggle (2,893 street demonstrations between October 2008-September 2009; compared with 1,763 in the same period in 2007-08) - either because they are unaware of the situation here, they are based abroad, or because they always accept the official version of events - we expound below on some factors which contribute to social conflicts here.