Product Details

• Format: Color
• Language: English
• Region: Region 1 (U.S. and Canada only. Read more about DVD formats.)
  
• Number of discs: 1
• Rated: Unrated
• Studio: The Community Solution
• Run Time: 53.0 minutes
• Average Customer Review: 4.1 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (12 customer reviews)
• ASIN: 0910420327
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #72,949 in Movies & TV (See Top 100 in Movies & TV)

Editorial Reviews

Product Description

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 imports cut by 80 percent, people were desperate. This fascinating and empowering film shows how communities pulled together, created solutions, and ultimately thrived in spite of their decreased dependence on imported energy.

In the context of global Peak Oil worries, Cuba is an inspiring vision of hope.

The Community Solution is a nonprofit organization that designs and teaches low-energy solutions to the current unsustainable, fossil fuel–based, industrialized, and centralized way of living.

Product Description

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 imports cut by 80 percent, people were desperate. This fascinating and empowering film shows how communities pulled together, created solutions, and ultimately thrived in spite of their decreased dependence on imported energy.

In the context of global Peak Oil worries, Cuba is an inspiring vision of hope.

The Community Solution is a nonprofit organization that designs and teaches low-energy solutions to the current unsustainable, fossil fuel–based, industrialized, and centralized way of living.

See all Editorial Reviews

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

42 of 47 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Perhaps a useful blueprint for others in the future..., August 13, 2007

By 

Robin G. Sowton "rsowton" (Plano, TX) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Power of Community: How Cuba Survived Peak Oil (DVD)

When the Soviet Union collapsed in 1990, Cuba became the first country faced with the peak oil crisis. Suddenly a supply of 13 million tons of oil a year dropped to 1 million. The change was seen almost immediately-within weeks. There were power outages, no air conditioning, and no elevators running. People would try to get to work with whatever transportation was available only to discover that there was no electricity at their jobs. The Cuban government had to import 2 million bicycles for transportation. Even construction was very limited because cement production requires high levels of fuel.

However, the biggest and most immediate problem became food scarcity. There was no fuel to transfer food and no electricity to refrigerate it, and the massive use of oil-based fossil fuel for pesticides and farm machinery had disappeared. Within the first few years of this crisis, these constraints, coupled with the continued U.S. blockade on food, resulted with most Cubans losing an average of 20 lbs per person.

With hunger spreading, people were left with no other choice and resorted to growing food wherever they could, and this led to widespread urban gardening. Famine was prevented by converting every open space in the city into gardening. Because they could no longer get access to oil-based pesticides, farmers had to resort to growing food organically.

Farmers also began the practice of crop-mixing to reduce pests, and scientists began making and exporting bio-pesticides. Changes resulted in smaller farms and more privately-owned cooperatives. Decision making became localized with fewer state regulations. Even schools became more decentralized.

Despite the many problems that Cuba continues to face, the Cubans have managed to find a way to use less energy. Today, the average Cuban uses 1/8 the energy of the average American.

Whether you view peak oil as real and inevitable, or as just a `market creation,' I think that you will still find this film interesting and insightful--and perhaps, inspiring.

19 of 24 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Fascinating, Educational and Empowering., June 29, 2007

By 

Rejoice! "Aloha" (Maui) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Power of Community: How Cuba Survived Peak Oil (DVD)

This incredible documentary proves necessity is the mother of invention. Cuba now boasts 90% organic farming, and has myriad solutions to deal with the paucity of oil. This movie is fascinating, educational and empowering. After viewing this documentary I no longer fear Peak Oil.
Bonus: the music is great.

16 of 20 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Eliminating Oil Dependency, March 8, 2007

By 

Mary Nelson (Chicago, IL USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Power of Community: How Cuba Survived Peak Oil (DVD)

We need hope that we can have oil independence and have a sustainable world. A crisis of lack of oil pushed Cuba as a nation to do just that. This video succinctly shares the community wide action that eliminated oil dependency. It took some time and a lot of effort, but it is a hopeful example that oil independence can happen, even here in America. Good video to share with classes, groups, etc.