Santa Barbara Permaculture
Network
presents:
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 Scholarship Fund)
More event info:
www.sbpermaculture.org
Read more....
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@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
Santa Barbara Independent & the Fund for Santa Barbara
Additional Info:
The Eleventh International Permaculture
Conference & Convergence (IPC11) 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-
(805) 962-2571 P.O. Box 92156, Santa Barbara, CA 93190 margie@sbpermaculture.org
www.sbpermaculture.org
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