Model & Resource - How Cuba survived peak oil
Posted in Models, Movements by fedwards on August 16th, 2007
Cuba is a fantastic example of how food security - with environmental benefits - has been achieved in times of oil insecurity. There is a DVD on the topic: “The Power Of Community: How Cuba Survived Peak Oil“. A link to this DVD exists at Amazon.com.
There is also a review of the film by Richard Heinberg. Either visit the review at source by clicking here or read it below.
The Power Of Community: How Cuba Survived Peak Oil
THE POWER OF COMMUNITY: How Cuba Survived Peak Oil focuses on Cuba’s transition from an industrial petroleum-based society to a sustainable society, as a result of their loss of petroleum when their source, the Soviet Union, collapsed. With less than 2 weeks notice, Cubans were faced with a 90% reduction in petroleum based products. With no food being delivered to stores because of fuel shortages for transportation, on average most Cubans lost 20 lbs. Lawns and public parks were turned into vegetable gardens.
This era of Cuban history is called “The Special Period” a time which radically transformed the Cuban society and economy, as it necessitated the successful introduction of sustainable agriculture, decreased use of automobiles, and overhauls of industry, health, and diet. Relocalization, permaculture, and innovative modes of mass transit had to be rapidly developed.
The goals of this film are to give hope to the developed world as it wakes up to the consequences of being hooked on oil, and to lift American’s prejudice of Cuba by showing the Cuban people as they are. The filmmakers do this by having the people tell their story on film. It’s a story of their dedication to independence and triumph over adversity, and a story of cooperation and hope. Several Cubans expressed the belief that living on an island, with its natural boundaries, breeds awareness that there are limits to natural resources.
“Everyone who is concerned about Peak Oil needs to see this film. Cuba survived an energy famine during the 1990’s, and how it did so constitutes one of the most important and hopeful stories of the past not just of individual achievement, but one of the collective mobilization of an entire society to meet an enormous challenge.”
Richard Heinberg, author of The Party’s Over, Powerdown
Tags: Carbon-neutral, energy, Food, Health, Resource, Urban Design and Built Form, waste, Water
You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed.
Email this post to someone