[permaculture-oceania] DVD on Cuban Permaculture

[Russ Grayson]

On 31/8/06 3:41 PM, "John Bickmore" <lindajohnandsophie at hotmail.com> wrote:

> Thanks Robina
> 
> My DVD was waiting for me after work yesterday.  Its certainly worth
> watching!.

I was thinking of acquiring a copy of the Cuba doco - do you think it is
worth showing? What do you think are the key messages an audience is likely
to get from it?
 
> I assume Cuba has good rainfall and good soils (despite decades of abuse).  I
> remember hearing that thousands died in North Korea due to the collapse of the
> soviet union (obviously the same time).  I assume the harsh winters would have
> been a factor? and maybe their dictator isnt as nice as cuba's?

I find difficulty in conceiving of any dictatorship as 'nice', including
that of the charismatic Dr Castro. Currently there are something like 27
writers, journalists and others imprisoned by his government on that island.
I believe the doco was made by a North American crew and so the Cuban
government probably had no editorial influence.

It would be a pity if their championing of the Cuban policy on food
self-reliance, or whatever it is described as - admirable that it may be -
excuses the actions of an authoritarian and dictatorial government. Having
said that, Castro deserves credit for ousting the mafia-connected
dictatorship of Batista in 1959, credit actually given him by the New York
Times. And, if the food policy is as exemplary as people claim it is, then
whatever part of his government instigated it should receive credit for
that. Now, if they just stopped imprisoning people who write things they
disagree with, maybe they would be a better example all around.
 
> I just googled - seems the main difference was that North Korea tried to carry
> on as usual! - Sounds like the Australian policy!!!

Could also be that the NK governmeent is more authoritarian than the Cuban
anyway and, as a bunch of unreformed Stalinists, they wewre more hidebound.

...Russ Grayson