David asks…
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?
The Expert answers:
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=rsnuTb4V9Qo
http://globalpublicmedia.com/articles/657
http://members.optusnet.com.au/~cohousing/cuba/hab9606/hab9606.htm
http://www.cosg.supanet.com/greencuba.html
http://www.cosg.org.uk/book-review1.htm
http://www.thepeakist.com/the-power-of-community-how-cuba-survived-peak-oil/#more-156
http://permaculture.org.au/?p=116
http://www.cityfarmer.org/NunezUA.html
http://members.optusnet.com.au/~cohousing/cuba/hab9606/hab9606.htm
http://another-green-world.blogspot.com/2006/04/how-cuba-survived-peak-oil.html
http://www.newint.org/features/2007/07/01/international/
Carol asks…
I believe I have a sustainable resource to take the emphasis away from fossil fuels to a living resource?
Australia is one of the few countries left in the world that has not been overly depleted of natural resources. It is also the best country to launce an approach to a sustainable environment that would rejuvinate our living resources, clean the environment, change the financial structure from fossil fuels to living resources. Save our deforestation first, that can then be implemented on a global scale. Australia has a prehistoric forest that i can show how to make it the most valued resource in Australia by keeping it alive.
Toatally new to this, but my question would be. Would Australians and the Government be willing to fund a project towards a greener environment, the repletion of our ozone layer. The protection of it’s forests with the real posibility of altering the financial basis behind it’s economic structure?
The Expert answers:
I believe I also have a sustainable resource that will take the emphasis away from fossil fuels–well . . . Some undigested pinto beans, phewwwwww!
But seriously, I suggest peat moss–great resource!!!
Betty asks…
Is there a national ‘green,’ sustainable living conference/expo for engineers or really anyone? who? where?
I am studying to be a civil/environmental engineer and am looking for organizations and conventions to get involved in that has much to do with sustainable design. Also I would like to even get involved with non-engineering sustainability and green, organizations and conventions. Also is there like a green expo similar to the Consumer electronics expo or something.
The Expert answers:
There may or may not be a national green conference, but I am guessing there is because there is one in the Upper Midwest of the USA. Here is the link:
http://www.o2umw.org/intro.html
I am sure that once you are browsing their website you’ll find something along the lines of what you’re looking for. Happy green designing!
Susan asks…
things people do that don’t lead to sustainable living?
what are the things people do that don’t lead to sustainable living ?
The Expert answers:
Get into too much debt.
John asks…
What are some good sources for creating and living in a Self Sustainable Communities?
I mean a Community that need nothing from the outside. That has its own electricity, water greenhouse, Ext. Does anyone know of such a community. or Information on creating one.
Any related information could be useful thanks.
The Expert answers:
Read up about amish, they have minimal contact with outside world:
http://www.amish.net/faq.asp
If you literally mean zero contact with outside world, read this: http://www.wilderness-survival.net/
You can also watch the Village movie (2004, M. Night Shyamalan)
Electricity will not happen in a self-sufficient community. Even if you have all the necessary minerals, it will take close to a hundred people specializing in different aspects of mining, metal smelting, metalworking, making generators and electrical appliances, repairing them when they break. Your community will need thousands people to feed that hundred. On the other side, making candles can be done by 1 full-time person, or several people making them in their spare time.
In practice, such communities are typically farmers who trade organic producer with outside world for tools and machines. To set up a community, you will need farmland, equipment or animals to work it, and people who know how to farm, build and maintain houses, make and mend clothes, etc. Life in a community is hard, there is lots of manual labor and not much entertainment. You’d need a very charismatic leader to keep the people from leaving.
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