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THE STORY OF CUBA
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. The following links to an article and a film tell 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, permaculture, 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.
Here is a link to the article The Power of Community - How Cuba Survived Peak Oil, by Megan Quinn, originally published in Permaculture Activist, 25 February 2006: http://globalpublicmedia.com/the_power_of_community_how_cuba_survived_peak_oil
Here is a link to purchase the video The Power of Community - How Cuba Survived Peak Oil:
www.communitysolution.org/poc.html.