A BBC news story says that in Venezuela the government has given out tens of thousands of free copies of Don Quijote by Cervantes and Les Miserables by Victor Hugo to "promote reading for the construction of socialism and humanist values".Wow! When they are serious about reading, they are serious about reading. Quite unlike our own box-tickers: Have we launched the reading campaign? Tick. Composed TV song? Tick. Put up posters? Tick. Was the campaign a success? Who cares, now we have to spend next year's budget.
"Today we launch the Revolutionary Reading Plan," President Hugo Chavez announced live to the nation in April. "Read, read, read, read. That should be our slogan for every day."
Since the announcement, the pace of the reading plan has quickened, says the report. A key component is a series of free book distribution events, which have been held in public squares across the country. The government says it has boosted literacy levels.
"I'm really pleased," one man said according to the report. "I've seen the film but never read the book, so this was a great opportunity as they're giving them away for free, and it's too expensive to buy." Venezuela has the most expensive books in the world.
BBC
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