Very thought provoking documentary on how Cuba became a more sustainable and independent economy (about 50 min.) - The Power of Community: How Cuba Survived Peak Oil. Here's a site to watch it at and summary...
http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-1721584909067928384#
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When the Soviet Union collapsed in 1990, Cuba's economy went into a tailspin. With imports of oil cut by more than half – and food by 80 percent – people were desperate. This film tells of the hardships and struggles as well as the community and creativity of the Cuban people during this difficult time. Cubans share how they transitioned from a highly mechanized, industrial agricultural system to one using organic methods of farming and local, urban gardens. It is an unusual look into the Cuban culture during this economic crisis, which they call "The Special Period." The film opens with a short history of Peak Oil, a term for the time in our history when world oil production will reach its all-time peak and begin to decline forever. Cuba, the only country that has faced such a crisis – the massive reduction of fossil fuels – is an example of options and hope." from http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-1721584909067928384#
A video search comes up with a couple other places to watch it on the net as well.
As far as food goes, the Cubans were forced into local production. In the Soviet era, their agriculture was all about sugar cane, which they exported (mostly to the USSR) and imported food and oil. When the Soviet Union collapsed, as well as high fructose corn syrup replacing sugar cane as the world's base for sweet, the Cubans had no food, and no way to move it around (no gas) if they did grow it in the old cane fields. They converted their agricultural experts into local urban garden experts.
ReplyDeleteIn the time period of 1990-2000, what they call the "Special Period," the average Cuban lost 15 lbs. of weight!