As we saw in Wednesday’s movie, the end of oil was not the end of Cuba. They were able to survive the collapse of their most powerful ally Russian and being shut out of international trade. Rather than ruin, Cubans reinvented the way they lived life. Their forced end of oil allowed the nation to move forward in ways it would have never been able to. It increased the welfare of the state and the people; Cubans gained good heath, a better sense of community, and energy and trade independence. Their response to the embargo allowed them to become a sustainable society. Cuba implemented solar energy, bikes, urban gardens, organic fertilizers, and animal power; simple things that benefit the people and the planet.
What if this consciousness infected with world? What if it didn't require a missile to draw the world’s attention to the importance of sustainability, community, and self-sufficiency? The world needs to take a lesson from Cuba and begin to “think globally, act locally”* so that we too can prosper not in terms of dollars signs but in the health of our people, country, and environment. One of our problems is that we look down on counties like Cuba. We look at their government (not that I agree), industry, and economic status and call them “poor” when we happily pay a ransom for the rape our planet for her resources, and then pollute it. We are impoverished in health and penniless in relationship. I truly hope that we can freely choose to make a change rather than be forced go down kicking in screaming.
*Some guy said it in the Cuba movie :]
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