Cuba #8- Lectures on the energy and global climate impact..economic model in agriculture..community project Muraleando

Our day started back at the Jose Marti Center for more lectures. Today we are learning about "updating the Cuban economic model in agriculture and alternative Energy and impact on global climate change in Cuba.

I will just give a few facts.  30% of the property belongs to the state which only 25% is cultivated and 70% owned by individuals and cooperatives with 43% being cultivated.

Land grants are for 10-25 years. There are about 11 million people: life expectancy of 72 for men and 80 for woman.

 Cuba produced mostly sugar and tobacco.  They import three times of what they grow. The water has a big affect on growing. water source is primarily what they collect and the rain. It is not from desalination plants. Our professor mentioned that if we have a war in the future that it will probably be over water.
Cuba has to pay up front and sometimes in advance for imports from the United States.  Not being able to buy on credit has put the country at a great disadvantage.

Here are the ration cards that are given for the year. It is worth 12% of the products that they can pick up at the corner market such as coffee, sugar and other things. The other food they need is paid at regular prices. Havana needs potatoes and the south needs bananas.

This is one of our professor on the subjects of Cuban economic model in agriculture and alternative energy and the impact of global climate change in Cuba.
In 1920 an electric plant was built in Havana and is still the primary source for the city. In 1991-1995 there were "special times" (following the fall of the Soviet Union) that you only had electricity for 4.5 hours.  This meant no water and definitely no hot water!  They still have times when the TV will relay no electricity for the day. Solar energy is now being thought about for a viable source.  The professor is of the belief that in time and with new battery technology that Cuba could generate 100% of its electricity from solar!

       We are taking a break for lunch before going on to a community art project called Muraleando.

We arrive at this community project to see beautiful art on the walls and in the area around buildings.

Below shows a picture of the beginning of the project.

This is our contact for the project. He was very proud of all the work that had been accomplished here. The project started with a run down water cistern which a group dug out and claimed for their project.

They used everything that was thrown here and more. -- used tires, broken glass, rebar, broken metal parts, car parts and many more things.

We have been taken to the top of the water cistern where the locals play music and dance. They were quick to get us up and dancing.  We then went down to the art gallery below where we bought art, photos, jewelry t-shirts and other wares.

Here you see this is a good spot to rest and watch. The children are coming home from school. You will notice that they are wearing uniforms.  Every school has a different color.

We are off to the center of town where there is a plan to go to the local market and buy more treasures.  I bought a a magic box that has a secret opening, a drum, hummingbirds, an instrument for Brent and other things.
See you on the way
Ciao :)