By Geneviève Lalonde
Venezuela is in serious danger. Their water supplies are abnormally low causing multiple power failures within the nation. According to President Chavez, “The low rainfall caused by the El Niño weather phenomenon meant water levels were critically low in the El guri reservoir, one of the world’s largest dams.” This is a strong and definitive statement, on his part.
On October 22 2009, the Globe and Mail published an article about the Venezuelan president urging the population to “shower in three minutes”. The article provides the background of this story. The nation is suffering from black outs due to a water shortage and they must change their habits or be affected by a national drought.
The article in the Globe and Mail is very conclusive. It gives a brief description of the issue and highlights, “No singing in the shower, three minutes is more than enough” in the words of President Chavez. He has called on Venezuelans to wash in three minutes because the water levels in hydroelectric dams are insufficient.
Chavez uses a “catchy” comment to emphasize the need for the population to conserve water, and a very clear analogy on why the water shortage exists. However, if we look into the meaning of these comments, do the two pieces really fit? Are there underlying issues that are being overlooked?
By analyzing the text, you can separate it into many pieces. President Chavez claims, “Low rainfall is caused by El Niño”. This is an overgeneralization, and just a reason to explain why he wants his citizens to conserve water.
The second statement, of showering for three minutes, also has little meaning. One person could use the same amount of water in three minutes that another may use in five. This is an odd way to discuss the control of water quantity.
The declaration that water levels are critically low in one of the world’s largest dams is likely not just an effect of El Nino, or how long the citizens of Venezuela are showering. The article hints that under spending and poor maintenance may have caused a loss of volume and retention capacity in the dam. In addition, water use by the population has never been properly regulated, which is a lack of initiative by the government. However, the strong quotations by Chavez “I shower for three minutes and I do not stink” overshadows these issues.
Chavez uses some powerful statements to influence his people, and avoids mentioning some of the shortfalls of his government. There are many reasons why there is a water shortage and a lack of electricity. When we see the headline that Venezuelans need to stop singing in the shower, the seriousness of this issue-is erased away.
References
Venezuelans urged to stop singing in shower to save water
Published in the Globe and Mail on Thursday, Oct. 22, 2009
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/world/venezuelans-urged-to-stop-singing-in-shower-to-save-water/article1333323/?service=email
Wow, really? Showered? they did seem like they contradicted each other. Good analysis though, i do agree that he uses these catchy phrases to erase the seriousness of the issue.
ReplyDeleteGood work on the blog post! I thought your work was very clear, and the introduction was helpful to the understanding of the article - though it restricted the amount of time you could devote to the discussion of ambiguous terms. I think one of the terms which were analyzed could have been better chosen, there is little ambiguity behind "shower in three minutes", though it is true that one could use different amounts of water, the meaning is clear. Good work!
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