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Reporter's Notebook: Christopher Hyde

Maine and Venezuela

Posted by Christopher Hyde - November 22, 2006 at 10:31 am
I don't know if any other co-publishers are from Maine, but there is an interesting phenomenon here regarding discounted heating oil from Venezuela.
Our Governor, Baldacci, a Democrat, decided that he would not accept Venezuela's offer of cheap heating oil this season because of Hugo Chavez' remarks at the U.N, thereby depriving a large number of his constituents (Maine is a very poor state) of a life-saving resource. Chavez, of course, was right about Bush, but expressed himself a little too mildly.
Since Baldacci's refusal, however, someone has been running expensive TV ads depicting children and the elderly freezing in the dark, with a telephone number through which Mainers can request individual assistance.
The name on the ads is Joseph Kennedy.

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Joe Kennedy's Heating Oil Assistance Program

Submitted November 22, 2006 - 5:35 pm by Benjamin Melançon
The heating oil assistance program has been around for years, mostly in Massachusetts.  From Joe Kennedy's nonprofit Citizen's Energy Corporation:

Created in response to the oil crisis of the late 1970’s, the Citizens Energy Oil Heat Program has delivered millions of gallons of discount home heating oil to poor and elderly households in Massachusetts and the Northeast since 1979. This unique program helps protect needy families from volatile heating oil prices, which often leave households having to choose between heating the home and paying for other life essentials, such as food, health care, or clothing.

This year, in partnership with CITGO Petroleum, the Oil Heat Program is more than doubling in size, expanding to reach tens of thousands of the neediest households in many states. Eligible families can purchase one-time deliveries of up to 200 gallons of home heating oil at a 40 percent discount.

My Dad tells me there are ads on the TV here in Mass. also, but the fact that Massachusetts has its own deal direct with Venezuela (I imagine still current) may also be helping Citizens Energy focus outside the state.

Anyhow, those ads are indeed paid for by Citgo.  From Jesse Noyes of The Boston Herald:

For the first time, Citizens Energy Corp. is purchasing airtime from television stations with money from oil giant Citgo, which is owned by the Venezuelan government, as it tries to increase the visibility of its media campaigns.

Typically Joseph P. Kennedy II, chairman and president of the nonprofit heating-assistance organization, meets with local TV stations’ general managers in Massachusetts requesting donated airtime for its commercials, insiders said.

But this time Kennedy is making media buys that are financed by Citgo. The move comes as Citizens Energy expands its heating assistance into new territories and needs increased visibility, Citizens said yesterday.

Maine and Chavez

Submitted November 25, 2006 - 3:13 pm by Sean Donahue
I felt outraged and betrayed when Baldacci cancelled the contract with Venezuela . . .

Another interesting side note: the Penobscot and Passamaquoddy have kept their oil deals with Venezuela, and the Penobscot recently sent a trade delegation to Carracas.  I've been trying unsuccessfully to get in touch with people from that delegation and plan to renew my efforts to do so after coming back from Oaxaca (I'm headed there Dec. 1-8.)

Maine is a state desperately in need of some Zapatismo.  Someone needs to organize a summit between Carolyn Chute, Maine indigeous leaders, and the EZLN . .

Maine and Chavez

Submitted November 26, 2006 - 2:57 pm by Christopher Hyde
Right on, Sean. I know Carolyn and she would make a great delegate. One of her quotes has stayed with me: "No matter how paranoid you are, what they're actually doing is much worse."

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