Venezuelan Oil Reaches Alaska Villages

[cal04]

Alaskan villages have begun receiving a much-criticized donation of heating fuel from the Venezuelan oil company Citgo, about two months later than organizers had hoped.

More than 11,000 homes in rural Alaska are eligible for 100 gallons each as part of Citgo's pledge to donate 1 million gallons of heating fuel to poor Americans.

Coordinators of the giveaway, led by the Alaska Inter-Tribal Council, had hoped vouchers would reach villages by Nov. 1. But Citgo needed paperwork verifying addresses and head of households for every home in more than 150 villages - an enormous undertaking in many remote areas, said Steve Sumida of the tribal council.

(snip)
``It was a great way to start the new year,'' said Gambell resident Jennifer Apatiki, whose husband hauled home a 55-gallon drum of free heating oil late last month. Heating fuel costs $4.65 a gallon in Gambell, and Apatiki said she has spending more than $600 a month to heat her home this winter.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/worldlatest/story/0,,-6347800,00.html

[MadMaddie]

1. So is numnuts* going to attack Alaska?

I am sure he doesn't know Alaska is part of America!:sarcasm:

[Robbien]

2. For poor families this will make a huge difference in quality of

their lives this year.

It is good that 150 villages got to take part. I feel bad for the two or three villages who will miss out on this because of their bigoted village chiefs.

[scarletwoman]

3. Funny how that works, ennit? Alot of the oil produced in Alaska goes overseas.

Japan is the biggest customer for North Slope oil.

I lived in AK for 6 years. Gas prices there were generally higher than in my home state, Minnesota.

Of course, you get those nice permanent fund dividend checks every year...

sw

[Auntie Bush]

7. "you get those nice permanent fund dividend checks every year..".

What does that mean? Tell us how that works for those that aren't in the know. :shrug:

[roguevalley]

8. the money from oil goes into a permanent investment fund that is

about one of the seven wonders of the world. dividends are given to state residents once a year and they can help depending on the investment of the fund that year. it can go from 800 to 1900 a year. ANyone who can prove residency here is eligible. every resident, from babies to old folks. It really comes in handy, I can tell you.

[Auntie Bush]

9. Thanks for the explanation. Sounds like a good idea and

that method could be used in Iraq. All the oil money in the country going into one fund...then shared equally between everyone. Then some wouldn't be so likely to blow up the pipe lines or refineries etc. if it was costing them money. Sounds good/plausible to me!

[Flanker]

10. But it is still peanuts

Lets assume it is 1900 dollars, that means 150 a month.

Only a billion dollars and change is distributed yearly, but how much do they profit again?

[partylessinOhio]

4. Viva! Chavez!

Don't drink the Bush Kool-Aid!

[Say_What]

5. Kick and recommend for great background information about Venezuela..

:kick:

[Judi Lynn]

6. So that's 17 states, now, and at last 166 Native American tribes making arrangements

with Venezuela, and getting discounted heating oil to get them through the winter.

Maybe they should turn their noses up at Venezuela's help, and blow it off, just the way the American oil companies did at their representatives when they approached them earlier, seeking discounted oil for their neediest citizens. Is that what visiting freeps believe should be their choice? Is it good to be a frozen solid _Bush lover?