The "Energy Revolution" Is Also a Failure in Cuba

Several years ago, the beginning of the "Energy Revolution" was proclaimed. The official media announced the immediate distribution of pressure cookers that, despite requiring electricity, would reduce the national consumption of petroleum. State industry began to produce the necessary rubber gaskets for the lids which, until then, were made solely by private producers and sold in informal markets at abusive prices.

With the meticulous precision of a military operation, dozens of trucks took to the streets to distribute the new equipment. "Buy now, pay later" was the slogan, which didn't manage to silence the skeptics who asked how we were going to get, without great difficulty, the food to put in the new technology. However, it was a time of widespread hope which, like love, seemed to be entering the kitchen.

It happened just as with previous projects: at first the distribution went well, but over the months the pots didn't make it into all the homes, nor were they well received everywhere. In some areas where they were sold the liquefied natural gas service was immediately terminated and electric power outages occurred at the most inopportune moments. On the other hand, something happened that enthusiasts had not been able to foresee; there were people who could not afford these appliances. Even today you can see the lists of defaulters, placed in public view, in the same markets where the sophisticated pans were marketed.

These pots, which were the latest objects of worship of a paternalistic government, are no longer sold and the same thing happened with the rubber gaskets; today, once again, they are offered by alternative artisans in the street at whatever price they care to demand.

*Meanwhile, I am pleased to report that I have regained my capacity to walk on both legs, abandoned the crutch and returned to the themes of my daily life. My thanks to all of you who offered your hands in solidarity, the balm of support and the effective medicine of your friendship. Here and here are links to a brief story about what happened on that Friday, November 6.

Yoani's blog, Generation Y, can be read here in English translation.

 

Follow Yoani Sanchez on Twitter: www.twitter.com/yoanisanchez

Comments

[walterlx]

Energy is a serious issue in all countries today, and Cuba has gotten excellent reviews for its efforts from numerous world monitoring organizations. Titling this article "The "Energy Revolution" Is Also
A Failure In Cuba" makes no journalistic sense. It is not usefully informative about the extensive energy saving and environmental sustainable efforts in Cuba, nor does it show any relevance to the US.

It seems to be an excuse to broadly slam Cuba for trying to introduce a better cooking pot with no useful evidence or information that would help us understand what really happened. I realize this is
a personal blog of someone who has no love of the revolution, socialism, or even any interest in offering better solutions, but why?

Why such a grandeous claim? The energy revolution has failed in Cuba, in the US also, the world, what is her point if not to just complain she got roughed up by the cops? My real question is why does
the Huffington Post lend itself to such a one-sided presentation?

[rissole]

My guess is that Yoani Sanchez simply doesn't like Cuba.

[SigmundF]

Your guess is wrong... she just doesn't like the dictatorship....... do you like it???

[Philclock]

Yoani, PLEASE jump into the talk show food fight so these people (Democrats, really) who want to turn our daily life (health care, energy, banks, jobs, etc.) into giant government re-distribution facilities can face the music from someone who's suffered the consequences.