[Scpg] Sun Aug 25/Learning from the Most Sustainable Place on Earth/Cuban Permaculturist Roberto Perez/6:30pm

Wed Jul 24 07:56:13 PDT 2013

Santa Barbara Permaculture Network presents:

Learning from the Most Sustainable Place on Earth
with Cuban Permaculturist Roberto Perez
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  Sunday, August 25, 6:30-9pm 2013
Santa Barbara Central Library, Faulkner Gallery

  Benefit Donation $15 -$20
(all proceeds go to the 11th International 
Permaculture Convergence Scholarships Fund)

         Santa Barbara Permaculture Network hosts 
Roberto Perez, Cuban environmental educator 
featured in the award winning documentary, "The 
Power of Community, How Cuba Survived Peak 
Oil"  currently in the U.S. promoting the 11th 
International Permaculture Convergence (IPC11) to 
be held in Cuba in November of 2013.

The Living Planet Report from the World Wildlife 
Fund in 2007 identified Cuba as the only 
sustainable country in the world.  The study 
involved two key parameters for measuring 
sustainable development, a commitment to 
"improving the quality of human life while living 
within the carrying capacity of supporting 
ecosystems".  Cuba was the ONLY country on earth 
to achieve satisfactory benchmarks in both 
criteria for sustainable development.

Formerly importing most of its food, Cuba's 
agriculture is now 95% organic, with the city of 
Havana producing over 60% of its own fruits and 
vegetables within the city's urban spaces.  At 
the same time, Cuba has been engaging in a 
massive reforestation campaign, and has invested 
massively in alternative energy production, with 
a focus on solar and biofuels.

A small island nation with 11,000,000 people, 
struggling with poverty, devastating tropical 
storms, and the U.S. Embargo, how did Cuba 
achieve these goals and distinction?  What can we 
learn from Cuba's struggles and successes?

Born in Havana in 1970, Roberto Perez is the 
Environmental Education & Biodiversity 
Conservation Program Director of the Antonio 
Núñez Jiménez Foundation for Nature and Humanity, 
the oldest environmental organization in Cuba.  A 
graduate of the University of Havana with a 
degree in Biological Sciences, he later did post 
graduate specialization in Community Based 
Natural Resources Management at the University of Nova Scotia, Canada.

Roberto has been part of the Cuban Permaculture 
movement since its introduction in the country in 
1993 after the so called "Special Period", caused 
by the collapse of the Soviet Union when Cuba 
lost access to oil, fertilizers, and virtually 
all trading partners that the small island nation 
depended on to survive, facing economic collapse 
overnight.  Roberto has traveled extensively 
presenting Cuba's approach to sustainable living 
in the face of declining petroleum and other non-renewable resources.

As part of the Cuban Organizing Group for the 
upcoming International Permaculture Convergence 
in November, Roberto is touring the U.S. in 
support of scholarships for IPC11 attendees from 
sometimes cash poor, but skill rich countries 
wanting to attend and share their work & projects 
with other Permaculturists from around the world.

Traditionally International Permaculture 
Convergences take place every two years and 
switch between continents & hemispheres.  Past 
host sites have been Australia, USA, New Zealand, 
Scandinavia, Nepal, Croatia, Brazil, Africa & 
most recently Jordan in the Middle East.

The event takes place on Sunday, August 25, 
6:30pm-9pm at the downtown Santa Barbara Public 
Library, 40 East Anapamu St, Santa Barbara, CA, 
93101.  Donation of $15-$20, no reservations 
needed. More Info, (805)962-2571, 
margie at sbpermaculture.org, www.sbpermaculture.org

Sponsored by Santa Barbara Permaculture Network
www.sbpermaculture.org
  Event Co-Sponsors: The International 
Permaculture Convergence Support Group & Eco Cuba Network

More Info:

The Power of Community, How Cuba Survived Peak Oil Documentary
http://vimeo.com/8653921

Short Video of Roberto Perez Explaining the Special Period in Cuba
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BZMULe214Gc

The Eleventh International Permaculture Conference & Convergence
  www.ipc11cuba.com (in English & Spanish)

Antonio Núñez Jiménez Foundation for Nature and Humanity
the oldest environmental organization in Cuba.
www.fanj.org

Eco Cuba Network has been asked by the 11th 
International Permaculture Convergence (IPC 11), 
International Support Group to provide assistance 
to U.S. citizens to participate in the 
International Permaculture Convergence in Havana, 
Cuba, November 24  December 6, 2013.
Eco Cuba Network http://www.ecocubanetwork.net/

-end-

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