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.
Monday, September 20, 2010
How Cuba Survived Peak Oil
Tonight's midnight movie is a hopeful one. Peak Oil is unprecedented. We have no idea what exactly to expect. We need a model. We find one in Cuba. After the collapse of the Soviet Union, Cuba suffered. But it survived. Cuba's story is The Power of Community.
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Cuba has long been a model, but our government has done everything not only to kill it, but to hide it from our eyes.
ReplyDeleteA 50 year old US embargo has not killed them. The collapse of their main supporter has not killed them. They are facing some significant struggles now, as are so many countries in the current financial crisis. The government just announced they will be laying off half a million workers and are relaxing laws so they can go out and start their own businesses. It's ironic, in a way, that they have survived as a socialist country so long, and now, when the free market seems about to implode, they make a shift to join the free-fall.
And did you know that maintaining the embargo costs the US taxpayers about $200K A DAY?!?!