On Wednesday, President Hugo Chávez of Venezuela urged his countrymen (and women) to make efforts to conserve water and electricity.
The most likely reason that citizens will not use these resources, however, is not due to patriotism, goodwill or a penchant for conservation, but because they have no choice – there have been ongoing water shortages and blackouts throughout the year.
During my time in Caracas there were not infrequently days with power outages or when water would only be turned on for about an hour in the morning and an hour in the evening. In the capital city of a country oozing with oil resources, it seemed odd to sometimes rely on bucket showers for bathing.
Venezuelans are Latin Americans, but from my experience they have taken on many aspects of American culture, whether it is a love for cars or fast food. This includes a general wastefulness of resources, similar to the United States. But how not to have this tendency within a country where filling the 20-gallon gas tank of a gas-guzzling SUV might cost only $1.50?
At my local bakery I became a mini-celebrity – or perhaps just an odd curiosity – when I would return for fresh loaves of bread and re-use the previous day’s clean brown paper bags.
Chávez can hold 6-hour long TV shows as he pleases, or call for rallies with thousands of supporters. His chances of inspiring any rapid change in habits on electricity and water use, however, are highly improbable.
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