Between Thanksgiving and Christmas, UC Cooperative Extension advisor Mike Marzolla joined a study tour of Cuba, picking up some ideas that could be implemented in the U.S. for a greener society. The 10-day trip was sponsored by the North American Association for Environmental Education, according to a Santa Barbara Independent article written by Chanti Burnett.
Marzolla noted a number of efforts Cubans are making to conserve energy, such as
- Almost universal use of energy-saving lighting
- Bio-energy refrigerators provided by the government
- Decentralized power generation
Local gardening for food is common in Cuba.
“When the people said they wanted to start growing their own fruits and vegetables, the government started taking vacant lots and turning them into gardens," Marzolla was quoted.
And since the government has limited access to pesticides, most food grown in Cuba is, by default, organic, the article said.
Marzolla wrapped up his feelings about Cuba with the following quote:
“The engine for decision making are the needs of the country rather than the needs of the industry. I think that partly it’s because they’ve done a great job of educating people, and they feel a great sense of security. Their life is less impacted by materialism, and they maintain a great pride for their country. “
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