[permaculture-oceania] DVD on Cuban Permaculture

[Duroyan Fertl]

Hi all,
  
  actually, the "dictatorship" in cuba isn't one at all. Cuba has the  most democratic system of government i have reserched or experienced.  The survival of the cuban revolution after the fall of the USSR (which  cuba was always highly critical of, despite their dependence) is proof  of this. 
  
  The doco is quite neutral (it doesn;t really mention socialism in cuba,  or the government at all). The fact is however, that many of the people  interviewed and who play a central role in nurturing organics,  permaculture and alternative energy in cuba are (some of them leading)  members of the government. 
  
  That said, it's definitely worth getting a hold of. It was made with a  western audience in mind - ie one to whom the idea of socialsm is not  the point. The focus of the film is the peak oil crisis and how it  might be overcome. 
  
  A couple of points though. 
  First: Cuba and Venezuela are investing in a multi-billion dollar solar  power project for the carribean. (check out www.venezuelanalysis.com  for more info on Venezuela)
  Second: the 72, (not 27) so-called writers imprisoned in Cuba are  actually in prison for taking money from the US government to  destabilise the country. There remains a legal opposition movement in  cuba, separate to these people and the propaganda thay generate. They  are not harassed by the state, but the point of the matter is that the  "Castro regime" is actually the rule of the cuban people, and they are  happy to keep it going.  With this view of things, it is possible  to understand the doco, and how the whole country is moving towards  organics and sustainable energy. That is- the "power of community" was  possible in Cuba only because the socialist system put special emphasis  on putting people before profits.
  
  Anyway, it's worth seeing, regardless of your politics.
  

Russ Grayson <info at pacific-edge.info> wrote:  On 31/8/06 3:41 PM, "John Bickmore" 
 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 


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  Duroyan Fertl  
State Convenor, NSW Socialist Alliance  
(02) 9690 1977/ 0403 919 377  
For the millions, not the millionaires!  
http://www.socialist-alliance.org
  
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