SeeingGreen ™

I just finished watching a short documentary about life without abundant oil in Cuba, a small Caribbean island that most Americans associate with two things: embargo and cigars. In contrast, “The Power of Community: How Cuba Survived Peak Oil,” presents a much richer portrayal of Cuba and the ways it transformed itself from oil and import dependency to a surprisingly resilient country with an economy rooted in localized food and energy production.

The film is nothing fancy, but it shows a glimpse of what is possible when a community reinvests its financial, educational and social capital in its own people and the systems that sustain life - food, energy and health care. I was inspired by the movie’s message and believe we have a lot to learn from this unlikely role model.

Borrow the movie from the library or purchase it for $20 from The Community Solution.