Cuba Orders Extreme Measures to Cut Energy Use

The Prof · Nov 12, 2009

Reuters, Nov 11

1. Castro's Chimera has always been dependent on the kindness of strangers.

2. Following the Reagan-precipitated collapse of the USSR, Cuba in 1991 suffered energy blackouts of epic proportions.

3. The island still cringes at the memory, so great was the trauma.

4. Brother Raul has ordered the immediate closure of all govt operated factories deemed non-essential.

5. As if many factories in Castro's country aren't govt-run.

6. Air conditioners, refrigerators---also unplugged.

7. It sounds pretty bad and looks pretty dark.

8. "Extreme measures" or "planned blackouts," offers the Council of Ministers, a real Hobson's choice.

9. Last summer Raul warned his la raza that they were wasting AC and leaving the lights on en casa when they went to the Olive Garden and the lastest blockbuster pelicula.

10. Apparently, la raza didn't escuchar.

11. They just never know the right things to do.

12. Gracia a Dios we have Raul to tell us.

13. Yet another communist domino teeters.

14. Were the US to go the direction of cap and trade (which we aren't, it has no chance in the Senate), we'd be soon behind.

15. As it is, it's gonna take a little longer.

Cuba has ordered all state enterprises to adopt "extreme measures" to cut energy usage through the end of the year in hopes of avoiding the dreaded blackouts that plagued the country following the 1991 collapse of its then-top ally, the Soviet Union.

In documents seen by Reuters, government officials have been warned that the island is facing a "critical" energy shortage that requires the closing of non-essential factories and workshops and the shutting down of air conditioners and refrigerators not needed to preserve food and medicine.

Cuba has cut government spending and slashed imports after being hit hard by the global financial crisis and the cost of recovering from three hurricanes that struck last year.

"The energy situation we face is critical and if we do not adopt extreme measures we will have to revert to planned blackouts affecting the population," said a recently circulated message from the Council of Ministers.

The directives follow government warnings in the summer that too much energy was being used and blackouts would follow if consumption was not reduced.

All provincial governments and most state-run offices and factories, which encompasses 90 percent of Cuba's economic activity, were ordered in June to reduce energy use by a minimum of 12 percent or face mandatory electricity cuts.

The measures appeared to resolve the crisis as state-run press published stories about the amount of energy that had been saved and the dire warnings died down. The only explanation given for the earlier warnings was that Cuba was consuming more fuel than the government had money to pay for.

Reuters AlertNet - Cuba orders extreme measures to cut energy use

The Prof

Scarecrow Akhbar · Nov 12, 2009

As expected, government control of industry leads to rationing of that industry's product.

Messiah Care, anyone?

Donc · Nov 13, 2009

With all of that hardship, somehow they manage to outlive us by around three years.

Wonder how they manage that? :roll:

Arch Enemy · Nov 13, 2009

donc said:
With all of that hardship, somehow they manage to outlive us by around three years.

Wonder how they manage that? :roll:

Those numbers are, no lie, usually fabricated. From what I hear the Care in Cuba may look pretty when cameras roll in, but when there's no spot-light.. it ain't so pretty.

Hatuey · Nov 13, 2009

Scarecrow Akhbar said:
As expected, government control of industry leads to rationing of that industry's product.

Messiah Care, anyone?

Yeah....we all know it has nothing to do with a 50 year old American embargo. Are you being intentionally dishonest?

The Prof · Nov 13, 2009

apologists for fidel?

ahora, eso es divertido!

muy divertido!

LOL!

Donc · Nov 13, 2009

The Prof said:
apologists for fidel?

ahora, eso es divertido!

muy divertido!

LOL!

How is pointing out the fact that Cubans live three years longer then us make someone an apologist?...LOL :2wave:

Gill · Nov 13, 2009

donc said:
How is pointing out the fact that Cubans live three years longer then us make someone an apologist?...LOL :2wave:

Not true. The life expectancy in Cuba is 77.45 years, while it is 78.11 years in the U.S.

If you want to see what the real Cuba looks like, go to this web site, complete with photos of the hospitals that the citizens of Cuba go to instead of the hospitals for tourists and dignitaries that are commonly shown in photo ops and Michael Moore's movie.

Cuban Healthcare

Erod · Nov 13, 2009

donc said:
With all of that hardship, somehow they manage to outlive us by around three years.

Wonder how they manage that? :roll:

Yeah, if you regularly trust information given to you by dictators. That the msm continues to repeat this farcical information is just another nail in their credibility coffin.

Crunch · Nov 13, 2009

donc said:
How is pointing out the fact that Cubans live three years longer then us make someone an apologist?...LOL :2wave:

Don, are you old enough to remember how good the Soviets said their economy was?

Cuba Orders Extreme Measures to Cut Energy Use

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Scarecrow Akhbar

Donc

Arch Enemy

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Hatuey

Rule of Two

The Prof

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Crunch

Cuba Orders Extreme Measures to Cut Energy Use

Familiaist

Rule of Two

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