Chavez asking Cubans to 'bomb clouds' amid drought

[phantom power]

CARACAS, Nov 15 (Reuters) - Venezuela's President Hugo Chavez says he will join a team of Cuban scientists on flights to "bomb clouds" to create rain amid a severe drought that has aroused public anger due to water and electricity rationing.

Chavez, who has asked Venezuelans to take three-minute showers to save water, said the Cubans had arrived in Venezuela and were preparing to fly specially equipped aircraft above the Orinoco river.

"I'm going in a plane; any cloud that crosses me, I'll zap it so that it rains," Chavez said at a ceremony late on Saturday with family members of five Cubans convicted of spying in the United States.

...

Venezuela has suffered water and electricity shortages this month after a drought caused by the El Nino weather phenomenon led to critically low water levels at several reservoirs in the oil-exporting nation.

http://www.alertnet.org/thenews/newsdesk/N15459972.htm

[slackmaster]

1. How can such an oil-rich nation have shortages of electricty or water?

It makes absolutely no sense.

[Nederland]

2. It is a corrupt regime

Nothing happens unless you bribe a Chavez relative first.

[slackmaster]

3. Uh-oh

They'll hear you.

:hide:

[ensho]

4. hope it works - China has had success seeding

nt