one of my all time favorites.....the Power of Community

I must not forget one of my all time favorite movies, the Power of Community. I saw this movie after being introduced to the peak oil concept in 2004 at a screening of The END of SUBURBIA. The people of Cuba have lived the “beyond fossil fuels” age, albeit artificially induced. The have a lot to teach the rest of the world if we open up to the possibilities. One of my favorite moments in the movie was this quote “we have one earth and it belongs to all of us.”

I see us needing 5 things: air, water, food, safety, shelter and community is the only way we can do it. We all have something to contribute. I believe the future will bring more sharing if we choose the legacy of life on planet earth for those who come after.

The people of Cuba found a way to reinvent their lifestyle during what they called “the special period.” They had higher fossil fuel input in their agribusiness than we did when the Soviet Union fell and they lost a large part of their imports. The United States increased strict embargos during this time, making this worse. People lost weight, suffered shortages and had challenges in every part of their daily lives.

The Cubans adapted and now people who produce food (organically and locally) are the highly respected members of the community. They demonstrate how to pull together and make sure everybody makes it. I love this movie and will continue to show it and put it into the hands of anyone who will watch it.

Just ordered 3 more.

Prepare to live differently!!!! a great article by Richard Heinberg: Fifty Million Farmers

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. This film tells of the hardships and struggles as well as the community and creativity of the Cuban people during this difficult time. Cubans share how they transitioned from a highly mechanized, industrial agricultural system to one using organic methods of farming and local, urban gardens. It is an unusual look into the Cuban culture during this economic crisis, which they call "The Special Period." The film opens with a short history of Peak Oil, a term for the time in our history 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 – the massive reduction of fossil fuels – is an example of options and hope.
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