Dig into a bucket of popcorn and find out how Cuba survived peak oil at a Cinema Politica screening next week.
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 Power of Community – How Cuba Survived Peak Oil tells of the hardships and struggles as well as the community and creativity of the Cuban people. They share how they transitioned from highly mechanized agriculture to using organic farming and urban gardens. It is an unusual look into the Cuban culture during this economic crisis. The film opens with a short history of peak oil, a term for the time 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, is an example of options and hope.
Cinema Politica movies are followed by discussions
“It’s a great way to get involved in the community, and to learn things you wouldn’t hear about from the regular media,” environmentalist Jack Emberly.
“I was in Cuba a few years ago and saw how people can adapt and remain self reliant even without access to reliable supplies of gas and oil. Cubans don’t have the luxuries we do, but they know how to pull together and focus on what’s important in life – community building and families.”
• The Power of Community-How Cuba Survived Peak Oil plays in the District of Maple Ridge council chambers on Thursday, June 16. Doors open at 6:30 p.m. The documentary begins at 7 p.m.