Venezuela’s Citgo Delivers Energy Efficiency to U.S. Cities

For many low- and middle-income people in the U.S., helping the environment can take a back seat to the everyday demands of simply making ends meet. Citgo, the Venezuelan-owned gas company, is helping to address this problem through its new Energy Efficient Lighting Program.

The program donates energy-saving fluorescent light bulbs to families in cities across the U.S. It is based on a successful initiative in Venezuela that oversaw the nation-wide switch to eco-friendly bulbs. Also, it marks a second phase of the Community Assistance Program by Citgo, which has donated discounted home heating oil to more than 1.2 million U.S. residents since 2005.

At the launch in Washington DC on Tuesday, neighbors watched Shirley Braxton (pictured above) install the first free light bulbs in her home. Speeches were made by the CEO of Citgo, the Venezuelan Ambassador, and Joe Kennedy of the host charity Citizens Energy.

By distributing nearly half a million energy efficient bulbs, Citgo will help recipients in 23,000 households to save $14.9 million and cut their energy use by 165 million kilowatt hours.

The lighting program is taking place in DC and everywhere Citgo refineries operate, in Houston and Corpus Christi, Texas; Lemont, Illinois; and Lake Charles, Louisiana. Other cities set receive the aid include New York, Boston, Philadelphia, Milwaukee, Madison, and Minneapolis. To see figures for each city, click here. For information about how you can participate, call 1-800-315-7682.

UPDATE: Read news articles from the AP and the Houston Chronicle.

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Venezuela Back in the Saddle on Colombia Peace Effort

Venezuela continues to be a source of hope for people around the world who are pushing for peace in Colombia. Two successful hostage releases were brokered this year by President Chavez, and even though that process was derailed, the country continues to advocate for a negotiated settlement to the conflict.

Governor Bill Richardson of New Mexico (pictured at right, on horseback) is in Venezuela today to discuss the case of three U.S. defense contractors held captive in Colombia since 2002. The men are Keith Stansell, Marc Gonsalves, and Thomas Howes.

Governor Richardson told reporters in Caracas, “I think President Chavez can help and can play a role in this issue.” He added that he had been asked by the families of the hostages to intervene on their behalf.

To read related news articles, click here and here.

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Venezuela: Second-Largest Supplier of Home Runs

Most people know that Venezuela is the fourth-largest supplier of oil to the U.S. But you may not be aware that it has also become the second-largest supplier of baseball talent.

In a year when foreign-born players in Major League Baseball declined overall, Venezuela was the only country to send a more heavy hitters than ever to the U.S.

An L.A. Times blog fills us in: Venezuelan participants in the MLB rose from 50 players to 52 players in 2008. The Detroit Tigers have claimed the, er, lion’s share of the Venezuelan sluggers: pitcher Armando Galarraga, infielders Miguel Cabrera and Carlos Guillén, and star outfielder Magglio Ordóñez.

Keep an eye on those Tigers, and don’t forget Venezuela’s Johan Santana of the New York Mets, currently the highest-paid pitcher in the major leagues.

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