Are South American Nations like Cuba leading the way on sustainable living?

With home market gardens designed on permaculture principles? Which nations are the pioneers?

Are South American Nations like Cuba leading the way on sustainable living?
Cuba, Peak Oil and Permaculture





Cuba is THE inspirational model for sustainable living.





The collapse of trade relations with the former Soviet Union and Eastern Bloc countries, and the tightening of the US blockade in early 1990s ceated a major economic crisis in Cuba known as the Special Period. Cuba lost half their oil overnight, lost 80% inport and export markets, food was scarce; people started to starve. They had a food crisis; they were unable to import food, farm chemicals nor use machinery to grow food by conventional means. Cuba HAD to become self sufficient and sustainable. Sustainable agriculture meant Permaculture style: organic farming, urban gardens and allotments, smaller farms, animal traction and biological means of pest control and fertilisation.





Government could not act quickly enough so gave the power back to the communities as people were starving. They made changes in land tenure, promoted agricultural education and training, and technological changes. Individuals and communities used Permaculture principles as the new model of food production using ecological pest management, intercropping, animal traction, organic soil management and the integration of crops and livestock. Without Oil they now live sustainably, supported by organic agriculture, urban gardens, renewable energy sources and they even transformed their transportation systems. There are approx 2.2 million people in Havana and 85% of all food comes from within the city grown on plots, roofs and in community spaces.





Cubans had no choice but to drastically reduce their energy consumption. However, there have been substantial benefits in Health due to improved diet and an increase in exercise from bike riding/walking/gardening. They have had to develop networks so community is strengthened and many say they have a much better quality of life than ever before. Their new values of cooperation, conservation and curtailment have enriched their lives. Cuba has a lot to show the world with how to deal with energy adversery. The Peak Oil crisis will effect us all, will mean a major change in all of our lives, so Cuba is a fantastic model for the rest of the world.





http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f7i6roVB5...


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rsnuTb4V9...


http://globalpublicmedia.com/articles/65...


http://members.optusnet.com.au/~cohousin...


http://www.cosg.supanet.com/greencuba.ht...


http://www.cosg.org.uk/book-review1.htm


http://www.thepeakist.com/the-power-of-c...


http://permaculture.org.au/?p=116


http://www.cityfarmer.org/NunezUA.html


http://members.optusnet.com.au/~cohousin...


http://another-green-world.blogspot.com/...


http://www.newint.org/features/2007/07/0...
Reply:Thanks bella - have a look at the links, some amazing stuff Report Abuse

Reply:Cuba and Chile and Costa Rica all are serious about living well without blowing away the environment.





Permaculture principles are a part of that and I know that is what your question is asking but sustainable living is a wide area and also should be about How we want to live and how well we want to live.





Personally I admire some things about Cuba. Hey Cuban doctors are all over the world, Cuba is the world's leading developer of pediatric vaccines, and both their biotechnology and medicine verde research are excellent. I plan to take at least part of my medical schooling at Habana.





Cuba is also developing an ethanol industry and a hemp industry and they will help with their own needs and bring hard currency from exports.





But I am not forgetting that I can come and go as I please and most Cubans can't.





Cuba is not a model for sustainable living if people will be in authoritarian society and living "sustainably" is like feudal living. Let's not go back to medieval times eh?
Reply:I don`t know about Cuba ,but my experience with central American countries is that money comes way before the Environment ,and the governments peddle Agro chemicals.





Christian Countries regard nature as disposable ,and say it was put there for them to do with as they like .





Pioneer countries with Permaculture are Vietnam,Australia ,some places in Africa ,and in Europe and even in the USA,usually all places that have been or are in trouble.





In Mexico everyone is heading for the cities ,to suggest to think backwards to care about Nature is idiotic for them ,they are going the other direction towards technology and civilization.





I have a tropical garden which the local people hate ,they say i am bringing the jungle into the town ,whilst they are flattening it on the mountains ,and kids come and shoot our squirrels and iguanas from the road .





Only some of the people from the big city appreciate the plants and agronomists and other professional people like engineers and teachers and a lot of students are now getting interested in Nature.





Generally the people, from for example The Netherlands ,who have no Nature to speak of ,respect and love it a lot more that the people who have it up too their eyes ,


Mexicans are pigs in paradise who do not realizes what they got ,as often happens.





Never have i seen more willful contamination as in these beautiful places ,everybody dumps their garbage on the rivers edge.





I have been for 5 years on the citizens council trying to combat pollution ,and for more than a year as Environmental consultant for a department of ecology in a rural town .


and in 7 years we have not advanced one step if anything gone backwards .





At the beginning of the elections the mayors promise the world about safe guarding the Environment ,but corruption and other issues is far stronger .





But maybe Cuba is different from the rest of the Latin countries ,i dont know.

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