Tompkins County Relocalization Project

[Tompkins County Relocalization Project <tcrp-news AT lists.ibiblio.org>]

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
26 DECEMBER 2006

THE POWER OF COMMUNITY: HOW CUBA SURVIVED PEAK OIL

One country's experience with the end of cheap energy is told in
the documentary "The Power of Community: How Cuba Survived Peak
Oil," to be shown at a January 11 community gathering in Ithaca
sponsored by Sustainable Tompkins and TCLocal.

Petroleum industry experts agree that global oil production will
reach a peak and then begin an irreversible decline some time in
the next 20 years, with profound implications for our way of life
and even our food supply.  Cuba got an unwilling preview of the
future when oil imports collapsed with the fall of the Soviet
Union in the early 1990s.  This story of Cuba's successful
management of energy descent through permaculture provides an
eye-opening look at the challenges facing us, the solutions
provided by a transition to organic farming, and the social
changes wrought by a return to local food production.

The community gathering will begin at 6 p.m. Thursday January 11
with a potluck dinner at the Greater Ithaca Activities Center.
GIAC is located at 318 North Albany Street (corner of Court Street
and Albany Street).  Participants are invited to bring a dish for
the potluck.  The gathering, to be held in the Fort Room, will
include group discussion of the lessons to be applied from the
Cuban experience to our local community and will end about 8:30.

ABOUT SUSTAINABLE TOMPKINS

Sustainable Tompkins is a coalition of citizens, community
organizations, elected officials, educators and professionals from
diverse fields -- all working to promote a more just and
sustainable community.

   www.sustainabletompkins.org

ABOUT TCLOCAL

TCLocal researches and plans for Tompkins County's adaptation to a
future of energy descent and a more local way of life.

   tclocal.org

PRESS CONTACTS:

Elan Shapiro
Co-Chair, Sustainable Tompkins Program
elansla AT ecovillage.ithaca.ny.us
607-275-0249

Jon Bosak
Chair, TCLocal
bosak AT ibiblio.org
607-277-3545