Venezuela confronts energy questions

Hey all,

A short article was in the NY Times today on power blackouts in Venezuela. I thought it was interesting -- an implicit commentary perhaps on the importance of decentralizing energy sources/usage. Perhaps it will give some who are taking shorter showers some encouragement, too (see Chavez's comments below). A contrast to the U.S., where you can't get away with berating your fellow countryfolk ... unless you're a comedian.

[...] “We’re paying for the mistakes of this president and his incompetent managers,” said Aixa López, 39, president of the Committee of Blackout Victims, which has organized protests in several cities. In some cities, protesters have left household appliances on the steps of state electricity companies.

In response, the president is embarking on his own crusade: pushing Venezuelans to conserve by mocking their consumption habits.

He began his critique last month with the amount of time citizens spent under their shower heads, saying three-minute showers were sufficient. “I’ve counted and I don’t end up stinking,” he said. “I guarantee it.”

Then he went after the country’s ubiquitous love motels and shopping malls, accusing them of waste. “Buy your own generator,” he threatened, “or I’ll cut off your lights.” He similarly laid blame with “oligarchs,” a frequently used insult here for the rich, for overconsumption of water in gardens and swimming pools.

Mr. Chávez is even going after his countrymen’s expanding waistlines. “Watch out for the fat people,” he said last month, citing a study finding a jump in obesity. “Time to lose weight through dieting and exercise.” [...]