Ecologically-induced social collapse, globally

“Our way of life has a terminal diagnosis”

Jem Bendell Deep Adaptation UPFSI 2019

Professor Jem Bendell’s recent study about global social collapse due to climate change was rejected for publication, saying it was too fear-inducing, impossible and unrealistic. It’s an important conversation to have immediately, because social disruption is imminent. It raises many questions about what to do and how we should respond. “This agenda does not seek to build on existing scholarship on “climate adaptation” as it is premised on the view that social collapse is now inevitable.”

We now face inevitable near-term social collapse.

 

There is a need to promote discussion about the implications of a social collapse triggered by an environmental catastrophe.

 

Professor Bendell clarifies his reason for publishing:

First, I briefly explain the paucity of research that considers or starts from social collapse due to environmental catastrophe and give acknowledgement to the existing work in this field that many readers may consider relevant. 

Second, I summarise what I consider to be the most important climate science of the last few years and how it is leading more people to conclude that we face disruptive changes in the near-term. 

Third, I explain how that perspective is marginalised within the professional environmental sector – and so invite you to consider the value of leaving mainstream views behind. 

Fourth, I outline the ways that people on relevant social networks are framing our situation as one of facing collapse, catastrophe or extinction and how these views trigger different emotions and ideas. 

Fifth, I outline a “Deep Adaptation Agenda” to help guide discussions on what we might do once we recognise climate change is an unfolding tragedy. 

Finally, I make some suggestions for how this agenda could influence our future research and teaching in the sustainability field.

The study:

The study on collapse they thought you should not read – yet

 

The response:

Impermanence makes everything and everyone around us totally sacred and significant. The tragedy of climate chaos is also an invitation to drop our illusions of permanence.

Denial is a common emotional response to situations that are perceived as threatening and inescapable. Radical hope is a form of hope that’s consciously chosen after denial.

Hope and Vision in the Face of Collapse

Racial Disparity in the U.S. Justice System

In the information age, we see that digital media is a preferred method for disseminating information. Infographics became a quick way to tell a lot of information in a brief, one-time message that is used to capture the audience and inform them, perhaps even moving them to act. The image heavy advertisements of information are designed in a way that uses special elements and deliberate framing and appeals. In this analysis, the example, “Racial Disparity in the U.S. Justice System” will show us how infographics can be used to deliver a narrative and if it is an effective approach.

For this project, I used my knowledge about current events regarding racial disparity in our country, and chose to focus on something not many people realize, the statistical inequality of the over incarceration of people of color. I don’t believe that the average person has been exposed to facts about the disproportionate number of blacks who are imprisoned compared to the population. While this may be a topic that many may have strong beliefs about, the statistics in this infographic are designed to reach an average white American, between the ages of 18-64. New media is generally geared toward those who spend a lot of time online, and my audience fits this age range. Everyone needs to be cognizant of racial disparity, but I believe that those who are less likely to be directly effected by the threat of becoming a statistic in the correction system, are less likely to pay attention to this kind of information. It is those individuals who need to see this information.

Racial disparity is not a new phenomenon in the United States. Our history is marred by a long relationship with mistreating other humans, with things like indentured servitude, slavery, Jim Crow and what we now see as institutional and coded racism. Because of events made public in the media this year, regarding the number of deaths of blacks by law enforcement, the topic of institutional racism has resurfaced. For some communities, this is the daily struggle, to matter in our society, supported by statistical data, demonstrating the amount of racially targeted individuals in the correction system. I believe that under the guise of living in a post-race society, inequalities have been allowed to quietly percolate and become rooted in our lives without our even being aware. In creating this image, my aim is to raise awareness for one facet of the disparity in the U.S. justice system, by focusing on the disproportionate amount of incarcerated blacks. By demonstrating the facts about this imbalance, I hope to show that race does play a role in how the legal system interacts with people.

When choosing how to present the issue, we first have to define the problem. The reasons behind the problem may not always be apparent, but the cost to society is often what drives people to identify the problem. It can be difficult to diagnose the disease if the cause is hard to identify. Then, to demonstrate the problem, it has to be evaluated within the culture in which the issue occurs. This is the moral compass for which to identify the level of severity. Lastly, a remedy should be offered to approach the problem, considering any and all consequences.

The need to understand that the justice system is biased is paramount in this struggle for civil rights administration. The laws exist, but the enforcement and upholding of the laws are amiss in some communities. It appears by the numbers that a way around the civil rights protections is to simply control an underprivileged population by incarceration; targeting vulnerable communities, as not only a control, but as a way to prove to those oppressors that they’re theoretically “right” about a “certain population.” I believe this violation of civil rights has become a common practice in a broken system. The first step in changing a problem is identifying and recognizing it. Education through information will help raise awareness, and in turn cause individuals to become involved in the remedy however they can.

In this infographic, the problem is clearly identified in the title, “Racial Disparity in the U.S. Justice System” with bold capital text. I further demonstrate this issue, by using statistics regarding how many arrests and incarceration of blacks occur, in comparison with the U.S. population. In a society that prides itself on being a melting pot, where equality is a part of the founding principles, it is unfair to have a disproportionate amount of one race vs another in the correction system. This points to a bigger issue of skewed values in the justice system. For such a salient issue, bold and shocking information is necessary to reflect the severity of it. In this infographic, the high contrast and bold graphics deliver the message efficiently.

Using a modern design to capture the audience’s interest, I present the statistics of the issue using deliberate color choices, and distill the data into digestible bits. With such a statistically heavy topic, it is difficult to demonstrate purely in graphics, without text, so to ensure delivery of the important numbers, I tried to demonstrate them in icons representing people in percentages. In many of the statistical points, a person icon represents 10%. I wanted to drive home the impact that this has on black communities by using an iconic image that has become synonymous with crime against innocent blacks. The hooded individual in the center evokes an emotional appeal, drawing from the existing feelings around a case that reached national attention, involving the murder of Trayvon Benjamin Martin. This case ultimately resulted in the hoodie being used to represent racial profiling, including heavy reliance on stereotypes in police training and practices. I chose to use textual direction as a way to distinguish statistic bundles so people can choose which ones to read in the order they want to. I feel that this helps a person assimilate the information, rather than being told how to ingest it. I included a visual representation of a demonstration and activism, leading to a list of hashtagged civil rights leaders who were constantly jailed during their lives. I believe that this plants the seed of activism without “telling” the audience what to do next. Using a tool of new media to inspire people to understand that it is a real issue, adding (hashtag) #IsThisJustice also poses a question for the reader to ponder their own relationship with justice.

The feedback I received regarding this infographic was all positive. I know that the timing of this issue is highly relevant, and I want this to be a valid contribution to the conversation about racial disparity in our country. The person who agreed to offer feedback specifically praised my work by saying that they are “truly inspired by this,” proving that the infographic was already working. What I would change about this infographic are minor cosmetic things, that were simply limitations of the easel.ly software I used. I feel very confident in the color choice and the use of my most impactful graphic, as well as the design flow. I imagine using this main infographic as a larger package of mini graphics with one of each of the statistics found, as well as others that might not have fit into this project. This design is solid enough that it could be used to develop an entire campaign regarding race in the justice system. As we know, this is but one tiny drop in the bucket of civil rights issues that are still being violated and fought for.

Many people are aware of the protests happening in big cities around the country, and social activism is on the rise. Infographics can be a way to successfully inspire people to become educated about important issues, get more involved and all work toward positive social change. Through the use of a modern design, information can be distilled and disseminated in ways that might capture the audience when dry or hard to find statistics are prevalent. The use of an iconic image grabs the viewer’s attention and draws them into the information. To justify the success of this infographic, the issue of racial disparity in the U.S. justice system was established with facts, identified as a problem by using rational appeals to make a moral judgement and motivate people to take the cause seriously enough to take action. Inspiring people with this information should motivate them to look deeper into the issue of institutional and coded racism and how it should be eradicated from the justice system.

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Sources of Infographic Information

1. http://www.bjs.gov/index.cfm?ty=pbdetail&iid=5109
2. http://criticalmassprogress.com/2013/06/12/ci-the-war-on-black-criminalization-and-color-blindness-part-2/#sthash.ILwWrIX2.dpuf
3. http://www.countthecosts.org/seven-costs/promoting-discrimination-and-stigma
4. http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/10/04/racial-disparities-criminal-justice_n_4045144.html
5. http://www.naacp.org/pages/criminal-justice-fact-sheet
6. http://www.povertyusa.org/the-state-of-poverty/poverty-facts/
7. http://thesocietypages.org/socimages/2013/01/25/race-rehabilitation-and-the-private-prison-industry/
8. http://www.usprisonculture.com/blog/2014/11/29/send-white-people-to-jail-protest-in-the-era-of-black-mass-incarceration/

Cuban solidarity as an example of positive globalization: PART 4

Solidarity

By J.Stirling

One must only look to posters and murals on the sides of buildings to see the message of national pride. The Cuban government makes it a priority to cultivate the sense of pride in being Cuban and the honor of living Cuba Libre or “Free Cuba,” with a plethora of patriotic-themed ads and signs. One example of this unique Cuban pride was a gentleman who offered a tour of Havana in his taxi. What was interesting was the pride for his city, country and his ability to share that with tourists. The sense of pride in one’s identity and nationality is pervasive throughout Cuba. In contrast with veiled patriotism of the U.S., with roots in the culture of individualism, Cubans are proud because they’re Cuban, and they have a lot to be proud of. Cuba has seen its fair share of occupation from the Spanish in the 1400s to the United States through the 19th century. Fidel Castro wanted something better than colonization and occupation that beleaguered the Cuban people in poverty, hunger and lack of sufficient healthcare under the rule of Batista. There was no pride in ones accomplishments under his rule. No solidarity with the ruling class. Castro helped the Cuban people regain a sense of pride and solidarity. Since the Revolution the Cuban people have been apart of that victory every day of their lives. The notion of Cuba Libre has been at the core of the Cuban identity and homeland.

This unique pride can be seen as the root of solidarity for the people of Cuba. By fostering the national solidarity beginning at the community level, this pervasive ethos can be used as an example, even a tool in the international setting. A recurring theme throughout the interviews, panels and guests during our in-country research was solidarity. We witnessed this in individuals and communities, and we learned that it is one of the strengths of Cubans as a whole. The strong sense of belonging, contribution and equality are defining attributes of Cuban identity. No stranger to hardship, it appears that by experiencing inequalities, communities have been strengthened by their desire to find their own solutions. On an individual level, we saw that in times of lack, neighbors help neighbors by sharing their rations, or offering some other form of aid, by giving much from the little they have. Some Cuban immigrants who have been in the United States for about a decade have a longing to return to Cuba. They miss the pride or solidarity they had with their island country. This type of pride can lead to national solidarity or solidarity of the people within the nation. Through struggles and ingenuity, the people of Cuba have been able to maintain their identity despite being marginalized in the globalization program that is spreading throughout the world.

Although Cuba has been excluded from the modern globalization movement through diplomatic relations, it’s the overwhelming independence of the Revolutionary mindset which populates the island nation. Disparaging inequality and class lines seen throughout the capitol city of Havana have unfortunately lead to the steady outflow of human capital flowing to other countries including the United States. The country is facing the challenges of omnipresent globalization by increasing influence around the world with examples of solidarity. With Raul Castro implementing changes by beginning to invest in foreign biotech and pharmaceuticals, as well as phasing out the convertible peso in favor of the national currency, Cuba shows signs that they are ready to take that vision of globalization through solidarity to the rest of the world. Cuba sees globalization as a tool of inequality, and chooses to let their ethics shape society “rather than society creating ethics.” Aligning with Cuba’s prevailing culture, they are putting people first rather than the economic goals that globalization demands. We can look at the social gains Cuba has made in spite of global expansion which has created and maintained more inequality than ever before. As we saw with the priorities of social programs developed in Cuba, their medical, education, and international outreach programs have driven them to bypass the imposed negative conditions of development. Despite economic challenges, Cuba will not return to the extreme inequality of yesteryear, sacrifice its human capital, or relinquish access to education and healthcare. Cubans are finding their own way, in alliance and in spite of their own government regime. Again, Cuba’s atypical experience serves as an example from which successful approaches to globalization can be formulated.

Contrasting with the culture of individualism of the Unites States, throughout Cuba, one can find a general attitude of pride for nationality, camaraderie, and an independent spirit. Through the successes of their social programs, giving access to education, medical care, improving citizen rights, and celebrating their most valuable resource, human capital, Cuba has worked hard to bring itself out of the time capsule, without losing its unique identity in the climate of exclusive globalization. Proving that island does not equal isolation, Cuba has managed to capitalize on its tangible attributes to begin pulling itself up by its autonomy, providing solutions to the people first, through solidarity and with the intention of positioning itself as a future world leader. The lessons other nations can take from Cuba’s struggles begin with putting society before profit, encouraging co-operation and ensuring the destructive results of imperial globalism don’t manifest themselves into Cuba’s microcosm as it has around the world. Cuba is preserving its culture and independence by setting a positive example in growth, by making changes they invented, by learning from mistakes, and by always putting its people first. The world can stand to learn a lot from Cuba.
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Part 1- Education
Part 2- Health care
Part 3- Dual economies

Cuban solidarity as an example of positive globalization: PART 3

Dual economies

By J.Stirling

Cuba operates with what is known as a dual economy, or dual currencies, which is the “coexistence of a modern commercial sector alongside a traditional subsistence sector,” according to a definition by the National Center for Biotechnology Information. For years Cuba has had this type of economy, utilizing the convertible peso, or CUC$ alongside the Cuban peso. The latter of which is specific to the income of state workers and state benefits, is the state currency, and only maintains value within Cuba. The Cuban peso can supplement for sustainable items of such basic human needs like extra food above and beyond the governmental food ration card, whereas the hard sought CUC is used for luxury items not thought to be part of subsistence.

The CUC, or the colloquial slang of the Cuban people “chavito” has been in limited use since early 1994 and is treated as a general equivalent of the U.S. dollar, whereas the Cuban peso remains virtually worthless outside the borders of Cuba. The exchange rate of a Cuban peso to a CUC is 24-to-1. The convertible peso in Cuba is slotted as nearly a 1:1 ratio to the U.S. dollar, depending on daily exchange rates. To put this in perspective, during interviews, we learned that a Cuban doctor currently makes $1400-2300 Cuban pesos a month which roughly converts to $58 to $95 (U.S.) per month. This is after a pay raise was finally granted in 2013, nearly doubling medical professionals’ income. Doctors are the highest paid profession in Cuba yet the majority ‘moonlight’ as cab drivers for tourists or private tutors to supplement their state salaries. It is atypical for the average Cuban to make more than $100 (U.S.) per month, with the high average salary of about $20 (U.S.) a month.

In 2008 Raul Castro took an aggressive, almost anti-Fidelism stance in international trade and economic growth by announcing an economic stimulus in which he wanted to focus on exports and tourism, among other economic plans by attracting pharmaceutical and biotechnology investments to push the island of Cuba to a better financial power position on the global stage. By October of 2013 the government of Cuba announced it would be phasing out the convertible peso, that many feel creates a social divide, in favor of improving the monetary value of the nation’s primary currency, the Cuban peso. Many of the imported “luxury” goods can only be purchased with these CUC$. Prominent Cuban social scientist Mayra Espina Prieto reports that roughly 50% of Cuban nationals feel disparity and inequality within the current economic climate of Cuba.

The Cuban government has already begun pricing more goods and services in Cuban pesos then before, but it’s not going to be a quick or easy transition. The powerful elite in the Cuban hierarchy continues to look at this as a blow to their personal fortune and comfort. One must wonder how the duel economy that Cuba still has will ever be fruitful. Time will tell. A comment made by Silvia Rodriguez, a Cuban cafeteria cashier, sums up the duel economy and its transition to the Cuban peso. “I do not care about if it’s the peso or whatever. What interests me is if everything improves– my financial situation, that of my people, and that there be free movement of money.” Regardless if one resides in a capitalist or socialist derived political landscape, humans inherently want to achieve success and security, be it financial or personal. All people want to provide for their families and live a good, fulfilling life. Upward economic growth has proven one aspect of the human condition, which when allowed to take on aspects of equality helps unite a people, as another means to solidarity and egalitarianism.

NEXT: Part 4- Solidarity
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Part 1- Education
Part 2- Health care

Cuban solidarity as an example of positive globalization: PART 2

Healthcare

By J.Stirling

Cuba is no newcomer to the practice of medicine. This vast medical history can be traced back to the Romans and Greeks by way of its Spanish occupation which introduced their Moorish influenced medical breakthroughs. Since the beginning of the 19th century modern western medicine was practiced with a passion for perfection. In 1823 Cuba established its first surgical clinic with its most famous doctors, Carlos Finlay. Dr. Finlay’s mosquito-based theory of yellow fever transmission was finalized by and given proofing under the direction of the United States’ health care professors Walter Reed, James Carroll and Aristides Agramonte, the results of which effectively eliminated yellow fever by the end of 1902.

As well as being free to all of the citizens of Cuba, the health care system is much more extensive than most in the west are likely familiar with. Because of the ideologies of the Revolution focused on social matters, healthcare for all Cubans was paramount to the new regime. Today, preventative practices lead the country in their standard of health. By shifting the focus to providing the right to quality healthcare and away from concern over costly expenses, care can be extended to all citizens without worry of economic inequalities. A system that looks at a person as a holistic being but a part of the greater whole, shows a system focused on the health of its people. If you have a healthy population, you have a thriving country. For example, according to a nurse interviewed, infectious disease is lower in concern for health than things like diabetes and heart disease, the leading killers in Cuba. Advancements in health and the access to medical care are something to be proud of, but that’s not always the whole story. What is shown to the rest of the world of the healthcare system actually glazes over some rather startling socioeconomic negatives with violations of hippocratic oath that are becoming more pervasive throughout the medical framework that is universal medical in Cuba.

Since the Revolution Cuba has really put a focus on improving the quality of medical care for all of its citizens. However, during the Special Period the U.S. stepped up its trade embargo restrictions, adding more to the struggle, and still Cuba focused what little it had to the medical industry. Today Cuba boasts a higher life expectancy than the U.S. and one of the lowest infant mortality rates in the world, according to a World Health Organization report. Dr. Manuel Franco of the Welch Center for Prevention, Epidemiology, and Clinical Research at John Hopkins University explained that “[t]he famine during the Special Period was probably the only, natural experiment, born of unfortunate circumstances.” Dr. Franco was largely talking about the impressive advances in treatment of diabetes, cardiovascular disease and all-cause mortality, encompassing infant mortality rates as well. However, an investigation by the American Association for World Health “determined that the U.S. embargo of Cuba has dramatically harmed the health and nutrition of large numbers of ordinary Cuban citizens.”

Some within the Cuban medical field, as well as outside medical advocacy groups are painting another picture of the universal healthcare system in Cuba. One topic under scrutiny is the infant mortality rate as well as the largely underreported abortion rate, which is considerably high. For every 1,000 births, 32 abortions are performed. These numbers go unpublicized, along with reports of doctors performing abortions on mothers after ultrasound findings see a fetal anomaly, consistent with a debilitating affliction. Also consider that infants who were born with trauma and are under three weeks if they die in the hospital from complications are not counted in the country’s infant mortality rate tracking system. According to an outspoken former prominent Cuban neurosurgeon-turned-activist Dr. Hilda Moina, this disparity is what’s keeping the country’s true health issues cloaked.

Along with Luis Zuniga, director of human rights for the Cuban American National Foundation, Dr. Moina and others are attempting to also bring to light the economic imbalances Cuban doctors face. According to an article in the Miami Herald in June 2000, “Cuban Doctors Vanish in Zimbabwe,” Mr. Zuniga calls Cuban doctors “slave workers” who can barely meet the cost of living within Cuba itself. Cuba’s ratio of doctors-to-patients rival that of any other first world with numbers at 9.2 doctors per 10,000 inhabitants. With over 483 polyclinics scattered throughout the country, its no surprise that some of these doctors may feel overwhelmed and underpaid. But there is a definitive pay-off that, if one looks past the questionable reporting and numbers, we can see some positives in Cuba’s current health care system.

Doctors Without Borders has nothing on Cuba’s generous traveling doctor program. Inspired by Che Guevara’s philosophy of Revolutionary Medicine, an international movement of solidarity through medicine is helping countries in need, from Africa to Latin America. Since the Revolution, Cuba has educated and developed many health professionals who not only have worked in Cuba but also volunteer in places like Venezuela in 2003 during the Bolivarian Revolution. In the continued spirit of international solidarity, Cuban doctors have traveled to offer aid in places like Haiti after Hurricane George, and Honduras and Guatemala in the wake of devastating Hurricane Mitch. Despite rejection from the former President George W. Bush in Cuba’s offer to help victims of Hurricane Katrina in Louisiana, the program continues even in countries controlled by the U.S. Cuba’s most valuable asset, its human capital, has proven to be the strongest tool of soft power in the global climate. Cuba is winning allies through its ability to educate, train and disperse medical professionals to areas in need, and help other countries in their time of need.

NEXT: Part 3- Dual economies

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Part 1- Education

Cuban solidarity as an example of positive globalization: PART 1

Education

By J.Stirling

Cuba’s education system has been a project that was a long-time coming. Just prior to the 19th century, a project of public education was proposed by Father José Agustin Caballero, but was unable to be successful at the time, due to Spanish occupation. This idea did spur an intellectual movement, which over many generations culminated into the current structure of the state-run complex. Along with many other social policies, education for all was a top priority for those leading the Revolution. Right away the new government implemented the “Scholarship Plan” which facilitated thousands of citizens previously shut out of education for numerous reasons. Housing was set up to make attending university convenient, and widespread reforms began. Since the Revolution, there is at least one university and one medical school in each province.

Education is compulsory up to ninth grade, is provided for Cuba’s citizens, and attendance of school, books and daily lunches are free. Students are taught the nationally designed curriculum, and the whole primary education level is driven by the synergism of school, community and family to ensure the success of each student. The level of concern for students reaches far above that of the U.S. One teacher interviewed said that at times she would willingly visit a student’s home if they missed school, to find out if the student was alright and why they missed school. Encouraging families to make sure their students showed up for school is an unspoken responsibility of becoming a teacher. It was emphasized that becoming a teacher has to be your vocation to be a successful educator. Reports from 2009 showed that teachers make the equivalent of less than $21 per month. Because the pay is barely adequate for most of these teachers, similarly to other professions, many leave their jobs to find work in better paying industries, like tourism. For some, low pay combined with public acknowledgement and a day of celebration dedicated to the teacher simply is not enough to sustain themselves.

For all intents and purposes, the Cuban government has tried to put education as their first priority, through offering free education to the people, having symposiums to discuss modern challenges, and by promoting literacy through international programs. “We are endeavoring to save our socialist project, the socialism that is possible in the besieged country and in a world going through a profound crisis where human survival is seriously threatened.” Additionally, there are two channels of Cuba’s nationalized TV that offer only educational programs. Although through personal interviews, some people noted that these channels often show American programs like Hannah Montana.

A unique program Cuba is proud of is an international literacy program. Cuba claims 100% literacy rate, which was achieved by 1961. The state promotes reading by implementing a publication program making copies of books available for low prices, hopefully allowing access to literature for all levels of income or class. Cuba is considered the most educated society of Latin America. Through their own literacy, this culture has been able to expand its reach to other countries through a literacy campaign which offers thousands of young Cubans to other countries in the “Yo Si Puedo” method, spreading freedom through literacy. Many versions of this program have been made available in many countries, and in 11 languages. Since starting this program, many other countries have gotten on board to help the spread of literacy, including other Latin American countries.

Education has not been an easy road to success. The blockade imposed by the United States government, in attempt to overturn the Cuban administration by “disenchantment and disaffection based on economic dissatisfaction and hardship” with the intent to “bring about hunger, desperation and overthrow of government” has been a costly and extremely difficult imposition to survive for Cubans. Increased costs of things that have to be imported, lack of resources to maintain the infrastructure, and international relations have all been strained because of the embargo, but this has not stopped Cuba from trying to continue with their ideologies of education for everyone. They have even introduced this opportunity of education at the university level to other countries, by creating the Escuela Latinoamericana de Medicina. ELAM is one example of the successful ways of using education as a soft power, by allowing students from over 98 countries to come to this school of medicine for free, learn cutting edge medicine, and enter the world as a practicing physician, all with the intent to do good and make the world a healthier, better place to live. The added benefit of cultural exchange as a natural byproduct of this educational system is one more reason this could be an effective way Cuba can participate in the ever increasing realm of globalization. Educating citizens, spreading literacy and teaching advanced medicine are just a few of Cuba’s strengths. We can observe the healthcare system for the improvements it has also accomplished.

NEXT: Part 2- Healthcare

Cuban solidarity as an example of positive globalization- 4 Part Series

By J.Stirling

A recent trip to Cuba opened my eyes to some of the disparities in mainstream media’s reporting about the actual conditions in this isolated island country. Follow this four part series that examines some of the social reforms and measures the strengths vs weaknesses which exist in these systems.

A visit to Cuba would have tourists thinking they just stepped out of a time machine, surrounded by 1950s cars and fashions from past decades. But this would be a mistaken assumption, because many of the things that make Cuba seem trapped in time are also what makes it unique. Compared to the United States, Cuba may seem to have many aspects which parallel our culture. Cuba was built on the foundation of the slave trade, as an answer to increasing profits on the agricultural industry discovered to supply the colonizers. As a result, many civil rights movements in Cuba paralleled those of the U.S., including racial and gender equalities. Many non-governmental organizations and co-ops developed as an answer to some of these movements, and are bolstering communities today. Like any sovereign nation, the country, as well as the people want to establish themselves in the world as individual and autonomous. Because of the embargo, the economic and geo-political struggles of Cuba have created a situation which resources are limited, the ability to import needed goods is subject of the blockade, and relationships with other countries have been strained. The isolation caused by this imposed restriction of relations with Cuba has caused the island country to develop some of their own solutions, technologies, and systems to sustain the people. Although these differences between the U.S. and Cuba exist, the implementation of a few different systems or ideologies are worth examining to compare how the strengths and weaknesses can become lessons for the United States’ systems for improvement or integration of successes.

The Revolution of the 1950s had the people at the heart of the struggle. Missions of the Revolution included many social aspects. Many things were lacking due to the tyrannical government prior to the Revolution. Since the unseating of Batista, the new administration has tried to bring a better life to its citizens by creating many social programs viewed as inalienable rights. Although nowhere near a perfect example, some aspects of Cuban society and culture should be explored, because things like education, health care, economics, social attitude and racism are all areas which differences can serve as examples of what is and what is not working. By understanding other systems, the United States could learn ways to implement working programs or extract elements which could improve our own systems.
NEXT: Part 1- Education

Soft Power as an Alternative to International Relations

Why Cuba?

Cuban flag flies above our group at the San Carlos de la Canaña Fortress in Havana.

An email tipped me off to a chance to experience study abroad once more before leaving PSU with a bachelor. Previously unattainable travel to Cuba was presented as a learning experience that would add to my track of cultural exploration and international studies. I have an associate in anthropology, due to my self proclaimed habit of being a ‘culture junkie.’ Along my college path I have been able to expand my knowledge of the world, through various courses in anthropology, geography, peace studies and sociology creating a well-rounded curriculum. I don’t think it is by accident that my subject choices led me to a globalization class where I learned about this travel opportunity. Every term I have had connections which fulfill the general path of my degree in a way that I couldn’t have planned on purpose. This experience in Cuba was no different.

Why Cuba? Do I need to say it? It’s f’n Cuba! What would motivate someone to travel to a country perceived as a backward, terrorist, communism-loving country could be the mere forbiddance, but my curiosity about Latin cultures and international relations prompted my search to find out more about this program. I believe that our society is suffering because of governmental decisions and actions taken that lead to overuse of power and economic dominance. I believe we don’t have all the answers and we should seek ideas and remedies from other countries, no matter their position. I took this chance to learn about how another country operates so that perhaps some knowledge could be gleaned to improve our own situation. It seemed unattainable at first, considering the cost, but I was determined to make this trip happen.

So many times I hear students say they will never experience study abroad because it’s just too expensive. This is my second school-sponsored travel experience. Prior to my first trip to Costa Rica in 2012, I also thought study abroad was for a certain type of student, and that it was cost prohibitive. What I didn’t know is that there are travel-specific scholarships to help with trip expenses, as well as being covered by financial aid. Although loans covered the majority of this trip, I was also the recipient of a scholarship from the program itself. To achieve the finances to make this trip happen, all I had to do was apply to the foundation with a brief essay, wait for the selection process, and was so thankful when I received the news that I was awarded part of my tuition in the form of a scholarship. Travel during college is attainable if you really want to achieve it.

Traveling to Cuba June 17-30, 2014

All information was gathered in first-hand research, including interviews and fieldwork, except where noted. The journey to Cuba took me from Portland to Las Vegas to Mexico City in just about 12 hrs. The flight to MEX was longer than I expected because a thunder and rain storm hit the city just prior to our flight arrival. We had to circle the airport for about 45 minutes in the weather until it got clear enough to land. This made my flight about an hour late, even though we would have been a few minutes early (despite taking off 20 minutes late). Practically cut my wrist open on the airplane getting my bag out of the overhead bin, and had to pull out my first aid kit for the first time during the trip. Not my favorite way to start an adventure.

Because the flight was late, I couldn’t find the people I was supposed to meet at the check point we had agreed upon. I waited for a long time, what seemed like a half hour or 45 minutes before starting to worry, and wander around making sure I was in the right location. I discovered I was, but no one was there that I was supposed to meet. The anxiety increased as I started to wonder if they had left without me, and would perhaps be back later to look for me after dropping others off at the hotel. I located payphones to try to call our coordinator, and after multiple times of an entire bank of phones not working, started to walk around to find others. I found three other sets of phone booths, and tried all of them and not one worked. After an hour or so of this I finally decided to go back to the original checkpoint and see if anyone had shown up yet. As I got closer to the exit from the terminals, I heard my name, but in disbelief didn’t immediately acknowledge it. I looked ahead and saw that two of my classmates had arrived and was finally relieved to see familiar faces. I was just on the brink of full-on anxiety when they spotted me. Phew! Taxi’d to the hotel with everyone (five of us), where my last link to the outside world was in the barely functioning wi-fi at Hotel Canada.

Woke up in Mexico City after a long day and night of travel through three airports. After finding a coffee shop at the last minute, our group taxi’d to the airport three hours early to ensure our group of 19 made it to the terminal on time. The Interjet flight was very comfortable, until they barely announced that the World Health Organization required them to spray something in the airplane before we landed. Without even a second to react, we were forced to be sprayed by an aerosol pesticide from the back to the front of the airplane. I covered my face for a few minutes so I didn’t have to breathe the toxin, but most other people just looked around, and one person said, “oh, it smells like air freshener!”

Havana is populated with various incarnations of restored American cars left from the 1950s.

Arrived to Cuba and surprisingly saw our first 1950s vehicles parked in the parking lot as we left. Our guide met us outside the terminals and waited with us while everyone made their way through customs. A few people got detained, one for having baseballs in their suitcase, one had to pay fees for bringing in items of value. We arrived at our “home” for the next 12 days by the bus provided by MLK Center, which was about 15 minutes from the airport. Our dorms were pretty comfortable, considering the accommodations were expected to be even more modest than they were. My room had two other students and we had the rare treat of air conditioning! After getting settled in, we were given a brief orientation, followed by dinner. We ate in the cafeteria family style, with chicken, rice, vegetables and sweet potato fries. We were warned previously that food resources were scarce or limited. I feel that from what we received for a meal was fairly typical of similar regions, and I would guess that this center doesn’t purchase much imported food the way tourist businesses do. The small amount of chicken in the rice was most likely imported, but the other ingredients are local for sure.

After dinner we were provided our first look at Havana. As a group we were shuttled to Old Town to walk around some of the squares and become acquainted with the city. The architecture is very European, like I imagine the streets of an Italian city or a French city would look. The inspired designs are clear indications of the colonial influence Havana has seen over its many incarnations as a city. We saw signs installed on some buildings that either gave tribute to the architecture (as in a historically significant building) or to a national hero. The national propaganda is supposed to be the only type of advertising allowed in Cuba, and so far I haven’t seen much.

Cuba in Perspective

Havana

It’s not everyday one is blessed with the experiences and wisdom of Rev. Suarez, the founder of the Martin Luther King Center. Rev. Suarez proclaimed he is old enough to have lived before and during the Revolution, and through this has developed a unique perspective to be able to observe, offer guidance and help implement community oriented projects. He serves in the Cuban Parliament and is a well respected individual, both in politics and his community. In the 1970s Suarez was introduced to the philosophies of Martin Luther King Jr. and wanted to integrate his methodologies into the projects he tried to establish in the community. The location of the Center was given to him by the State which was bare land at the time. He wasted no time creating a central location for worship, housing and education. His position allowed him to overcome the restrictions put on churches which prevent them from participating in political and economic interests. They expanded in the 1980s and were able to serve even more in the working class neighborhood. The Center also helped neighbors build housing, set up community education programs, and because Suarez lived in the community, it allowed him a unique perspective to have a voice in the government that would help improve conditions for the people living in the area.

Founder of the Martin Luther King, Jr. Center in Havana, Rev. Suarez.

Because this co-op successfully benefits the community, it could be used as an example of how people’s organizations can be used to improve conditions. The article, “What Would Che Say,” by John Restakis, touched on the negative uses of co-ops when designed to benefit the government, and suggested that when co-ops are properly implemented, they can make major impacts on its members and the surrounding community. Co-ops like this are a good option for Cuba to pull itself out of the post-Revolution/post-Cold-War recession.

Vehicles used in the Revolution displayed outside the Granma boat exhibit. Camion Fargo, belonged to the Fast Delivery business. Now riddled with bullet holes, it was used to carry 42 of the 50 assailants who took part in the attack to then President Batista’s palace March 13, 1957.

 

In Old Town Havana, the Museo de la Revolucion houses artifacts from that time period, including the guns, uniforms with bullet holes and blood, as well as the camera given to Che. Imagine the things that lens has seen. In the usual ‘Castro style,’ one can observe the marks of the revolution on display, perpetuating the ‘never forget’ mentality of his regime. The bullet holes in the entrance to the museum left by the revolutionaries spoke volumes about how this movement is continually reminding people of the struggle to gain independence, even taking it by force.

In an attempt to bring realistic awareness to slavery’s past, the museum has an exhibit of large iron cauldrons used in the sugar cane plantation industry, and the torturous restraint devices used to fix slaves in punishment, where their heads, arms and feet were locked into beams on the ground, causing them to be immobile and nearly starve from lack of food and water in the heat of the sun, suffering hours, even days if they survived the inhumane treatment. Because these are actual artifacts, the palpable agony and pain remains connected to these items.

 It’s intriguing that part of the tour at Casa de Africa explained, “collections create connections.” This was a multi-storied (hot!) building that housed numerous artifacts and pieces of art, donated to the museum. Here is a spot which displays art and relics of Abakua, a secret society based on fraternal practices brought here by slaves from Africa, which was only open to black men, ‘because women gossip.’ It was later opened to other men, including ‘whites’ but still excludes women. Ironically, a photograph on the wall depicting Abakua costumes in tattoos appeared on very light skinned individuals. The secret practices and rituals included music and dancing, as represented by a large painting in this exhibit. The costumes were constructed using natural fibers and vibrant coloring. The woven hood forms a point similar to what resembles a Ku Klux Klan hood, but is decorated with larger than life eyes. Perhaps a warning to evil spirits, or representative of a deity the practitioners were invoking. In the early years of these organizations, sexism and racism were prevalent and acceptable.

In a climate controlled room lives a display of numerous animals used in things like whole tortoise wall hangings, carved ivory tusk artwork, and most shocking, elephant foot stools. In the U.S. that kind of thing is frowned upon, if not illegal, to protect the over-killing of these animals. This particular elephant stool was donated by Castro; imagine the conversations the artifact witnessed.

Ending the day at San Carlos de la Canaña Fortress with dinner and the cannon ceremony is a priceless way to experience Havana’s history. There are vendors lining the fort’s cobblestone streets, and an elaborate ceremony precedes the firing, full of pomp and circumstance. When the cannon shot, the explosion echoed off the buildings across the water in Havana City.

Havana skyline at sunset across the water from the fortress.

Education is Compulsory

It’s easy to read books about a place and its systems and think you understand it. It’s another to actually have personal access to institutions like Hermanos Montalvo elementary school. Visitors are welcome, even during finals week when most students had already completed their tests and aren’t on campus. Students at school during this visit were getting one-on-one guidance from teachers. Visiting a classroom put into perspective the environment students are in every day. Schools are structured similarly to schools in the U.S., but their courses are part of the national curriculum, whereas individual U.S. states or school districts dictate specific curriculum. One notable difference is in the early assessment of learning or behavioral issues, which allows the school to put the student into a special program for their differently-abled learning style. If U.S. schools did this early enough, some students would have more opportunity to excel, despite their differences. In contrast, the U.S. education structure wants to be all-inclusive and try to cajole the individual so that they feel included and not different. The fact that education is free for everyone and is compulsory to attend, shows Cuba is doing something right with this system. Judging from the general atmosphere and the amount of state centric promotional material, I’m sure there is a lot of indoctrination at an early age to ensure loyal citizens. Cuba’s curriculum dictates teaching English beginning at third grade, and is beneficial to their overall education. Art and music education are also integral parts of their curriculum.

A teacher works one-on-one with a student at Hermanos Montalvos Elementary School in Havana.

Teaching is a well respected occupation and they are paid relatively well, and receive lots of public acknowledgement for their accomplishments. The teacher interviewed expressed that people have the vocation to become an educator because they love to teach. Their biggest reward is the appreciation that the parents show for the education their child receives. Considering Cubans are the most educated of the Latin American world, I feel that this portion of the culture is successfully orchestrated.

A visit to the Havana University, the oldest university in Cuba, gives an opportunity to learn about the history of slavery in the Caribbean and Latin America. As a major area of research in this university, the professors are experts in this topic. In Cuba, slavery was allowed until 1866 when a law made it institutionally illegal. It was a long transition, however to, more or less, come out of the slave trade. The plantation industry spurred the perceived need for slaves because the export of sugar required the use of free or cheap labor to incur the most profit. Creole slavery allowed for so-called ‘breeding houses’ to accommodate entire families, ensuring reproduction to create more slaves for the plantation owner. If this isn’t shocking enough, remember slaves were even charted and shipped overseas with other cataloged possessions such as furniture, when a plantation owner traveled. People were treated as possessions, not unlike the U.S. version of the slave trade.

Traveling to Veradero

One of four watchtowers at the San Saberino museum just outside Matanzas, Cuba.

Just outside Matanzas sits San Severino Museum, originally a fort, built in 1698 to stop the Spanish from invading Havana. The layout of the square fortress was designed with four lookouts with two facing the land and two facing the sea. It was recognized in 1998 by UNESCO as the location of the root of slavery in Cuba. Slaves were brought by their owners every day to construct the fort and taken home every night to avoid their escape. It was later converted to a prison where some of Batista’s followers were imprisoned, and any opposition to the revolution were admonished to behave, or end up here. A walk around the fort just inside the walls reveals a stone walkway being restored. Straight lines of different stones run along the center of the stone paths as guides for the original guards to follow on their shift of pacing the perimeter. One wall inside the buffer pit surrounding the inner fortress showed decades of pocked holes from serving as the backdrop for countless executions by firing squad. The wall was so eroded it had lost its structural integrity, revealing the construction of the interior wall. The last executions here took place in 1959.

A remnant of the fortress past, a cannon faces the waterways to protect the fort from Spanish invaders who would try to conquer Havana.

The museum’s displays of tribal religions imported by the slaves show different costume examples of Yoruba deities. Practitioners were supposed to renounce these and adopt Catholicism. Instead, they aligned each of their gods with a Catholic saint, to have an outward appearances of converting, all the while, continuing to pay respect to their own gods. Orishas such as Ochun, the goddess of love, patroness of rivers, gold and honey, is denoted by a golden color. The corresponding saint is Our Lady of Charity. Yemaya is the goddess of the sea, tied to the Catholic saint Our Lady of Regla. Orula, the god of divination can see the past, present and future, and corresponds with St. Francis of Assisi. Abakua was also represented in costumed exhibition, similarly to the one at House of Africa in Havana. The tribal traditions of these religious societies is fascinating, and how they were preserved with respect show the depth of how integral these practices are for Cubans.

The Kairos Center in Matanzas is set up as a small church with a community center. In February this year they began a new project to raise awareness of LGBT concerns. In these neighborhoods, traditional beliefs have dominated people’s social development, to fear or try to ignore modern issues surrounding the LGBT community. This new project hopes to educate the community, spreading tolerance and understanding, and even hope to hold a pride parade of sorts next year. The church welcomes those from this community to worship with them, and in contrast with American churches, doesn’t try to change or convert the person of this lifestyle. Understanding and a mutual love of God are their motives. Conversely, in the 1980s homosexuality was considered a mental illness or disorder. It was seen as counter to the revolutionary ideals, so when Castro ‘sent’ individuals to the U.S. due to an agreement at the time, the criminalization of homosexuality led many individuals to end up state-side simply for being gay. They were labeled and convicted as criminals and exported. It eventually led to some pretending to be gay to be able to leave the country.

A visit to La Marina Neighborhood community center exposed us to community leaders who helped us understand the situation in their marginalized neighborhood. This center coordinates community projects, gets people involved, and is a voice for the people who live here. They work together to plant trees, revitalize the riverfront, make improvements in the streets, and promote cultural exchange. The center acts as a family nucleus for this neighborhood by offering workshops on topics like gender, communication and reviving traditional cooking methods. They have been able to achieve these projects by international support, but did not specify what this meant. In general, the people living in this neighborhood were tired of being marginalized, and collaborated to be a larger voice to the government through their coordination team. They also have a partnership with the MLK Center in Havana. Overall, it’s clear that cooperation is the key to these organizations’ success, and education is helping them evolve toward more tolerance and less marginalization.

Varadero Tourism

Night clubs in the tourist resort area Varadero cater to tourists, and one of the many attractions is a daring trick to eat fire.

Snorkeling at the coral reef was an unforgettable experience. The reef at Coral Beach wasn’t very populated with visitors, so it was quiet and peaceful to swim with the fish and eels. A small translucent jellyfish bobbed its way past my mask, sparkling with magical iridescent bioluminescence along its edges. One could almost expect to see Nemo dart out of the reef, judging by how many Dory populated the coral outcroppings.

A drive along the Varadero peninsula revealed the variety of foreign, five star resorts. The neighborhood that houses these extravagant getaways is not accessible by locals, unless they own their own vehicle. So unless a Cuban works there, more than likely they’re not able to vacation here or visit the area. This segregation is an example of the stratification that happens in Cuban society, depending on income and poverty levels. There is a lot of discussion about how the tourist industry is effecting the economy now, and how opening it up more could impact the country. One concern is promoting prostitution by inviting more tourism from foreigners who seek this kind of recreation worldwide. It’s a reality that the government won’t acknowledge, because it believes that addressing it is admitting there is a problem, and if the problem exists, it has to be dealt with. This mindset is flawed. Unfortunately the issue being virtually ignored instead of facing the problem head on to try to eradicate it only perpetuates it. It’s one thing for the government to try to protect its image and not acknowledge flaws, but it’s troubling to read that there is actually a sector of Cubans who use the tourist industry as a means to escape. In “The Eroticism of Labor in Cuba’s All-Inclusive Resorts,” by Amalia Cabezas, a part of the tourist industry is to groom customers to have the potential to make more money by propagating the illusion of a relationship, or developing a relationship with the potential to get out of the country.

“Cuba’s Tourism ‘Boom’: A Curse or a Blessing,” by Stephen Wilkinson, gave statistics that tourism accounts for 43% of Cuba’s GDP, having overtaken sugar as the primary economic source. That’s a large point of income to be dependent on one industry for. Based on that, it’s going to be necessary for the industry to grow and continue to thrive to make an impact on the economy for the better.

Art and culture

Unless one visits Cuba, they may never know that over 3,000 films have been made there since 1959. This includes weekly newsreels, documentaries, fiction and animations. It’s been a thriving industry which filmmakers use as a way to voice opinions and social struggles through subtle messaging in their imagery. Racism and gender issues are addressed via film, as a way to approach the subject without threat to the viewer. Many of the movements surrounding civil rights saw success through the aid of movies, and a number of films began to blur the lines between fiction and documentary because of the adopted style in some fictional movies. Often novels such as “Los Doce Sillas” were turned into film with a special Cuban flair. One could make the argument that in this society, film directly influences Cuban culture, as well as being influenced by the culture. Overall, film serves as another avenue to establish and reinforce Cuban identity. Art can influence an entire culture, helping people see things in a different perspective by interacting with the art, whether it be film, music, photography or painting.

“Music and Ideology in Contemporary Cuba,” by Peter Manuel, suggested that because Cuba is a social system, it allows for a more authentic culture. Because the social system allows for equal access to this art, it enriches the culture overall. In usual Cuban fashion, as something is imported into the culture, it takes on its own Cuban flair. Classical and European music changed to reflect the strong culture as it was introduced to Cuba. As different cultures are imported, they bring along their various practices. The Afro-Cuban influence was embraced, but along with the preservation of these cultures, it has been attempted to remove unwanted traits like the machismo spirit. Because human interaction is separate from the state, it can be seen that different cultural aspects are more accepted in variety among the people than it is in the bureaucracy. It’s also common that people have different experiences they filter life through, so their interpretation of music is going to differ person-to-person. Music could be a soft power used to spread positive globalization of culture.

Day of the Woman

Meeting the national Cuban women’s basketball team was humbling. They were excited to meet us, as if we were a special group of celebrities, and we felt the same about them. It was apparently a difficult visit to coordinate for our guide. They didn’t get back to her about a meet up with our group, and once we arrived, they tried to refuse our visit. It seemed to boil down to their embarrassment for the condition of their facility and the program. But overall our visit went very well. The team expressed their concern for us as students, since they heard about the recent school shooting (as well as lamenting the frequency of shootings in the U.S.), and hoped we would be safe when we returned home. “The Soft Power of Sport,” by Robert Huish, Thomas F. Carter, and Simon C. Darnell, analyzed that sports could be a tool of soft power for international relations. But in our discussion, the question was raised whether it is actually a viable option, considering how the Olympics were supposed to play this role, but there have been many terrorist actions such as the massacre in Munich, in 1972.

Neyrobis Valdes from the Higher Institute of Art, now called the University of Art, led a discussion about the history of Cuba from the perspective of gender. The campus is supposedly designed to look like a woman from above, as part of a program called “Unfinished Spaces.” [postscript note: The architecture that contributed to this project, Mario Coyula, died July 7.]

This dead bird in the middle of the street appeared to have been part of a ceremony or ritual, which I attributed to Santeria or one of the similar religions. In my experience, to respect these traditions, the sacrifices, altars, and other kit should be left alone. The items used in these rituals usually have darkness or spirits attached to them, and if disturbed, could attach themselves to the person. As a general rule, not provoking these spirits benefits the viewer as well as the practitioner.

Valdes lectured on how some religions played a role in Cuba’s formation. Santeria operates as a patriarchal fraternity, not allowing women to be priests. It’s been established that the Caribbean is the birthplace of the plantation, and therefore the slavery industry by way of colonization. Because natives were massacred, there was no workforce for these plantation owners, so the slave trade was established. In the formation of slavery, it was deemed necessary to control the slaves, so language and religion were tools to acculturate them into this new society. As conscious resistance, many slaves appeared to be practicing these imposed religions, and speaking the new languages, yet in private they still clung to their traditions, aligning their deities with the new (to them) religious icons. Contrasting with white patriarchal culture, women from Africa who were brought to this new society were accustomed to their traditions which allowed women to be in positions of importance, such as a folk healers and community leaders. In this new white society, they found the opposite. In the late 19th century women began finding their place again and a movement formed. During the war women were active participants, used to deliver supplies to the revolutionary efforts.

 

 

This exhibit in the Museo de Revolucion shows women as an integral part of the revolution.

Throughout history, women played a role in reformation, whether it was in demanding access to education or helping form laws around women’s rights in the early 20th century, such as those achieved by the Suffragettes. The Revolution allowed women to be recognized publicly. In contemporary Cuba, the FMC (Federation of Cuban Women) was established by Raul Castro’s wife to help in the movement toward establishing women’s rights in health, family planning, and reproductive rights. Paralleling the U.S.’s disadvantageous mindset, the new generation of young women believe they have these rights because they were born with them. This is a dangerous attitude of taking contemporary rights for granted, considering these rights could potentially be eroded away or even revoked, because the modern woman didn’t fight for them. Luckily there are publishing houses, educational organizations, and other groups in existence to ensure women’s trades continue by encouraging their participation and contribution to Cuban society.

An organization established through the FMC, Quitrin* has revived the tradition of making clothing and turned this industry into a teaching opportunity to elevate women toward independence and working for themselves. The project is fully self sustaining, which allows the FMC to be able to fund other projects. The cotton used is made from raw materials from Cuba. This is a unique commercial enterprise, as it is fully Cuban in sourcing, manufacturing and retailing. Over 70,000 women have gone through this project since it has been started. Other classes have developed out of this project, including language, hair, makeup, massage, in addition to sewing, as the demand for different industries is expressed in the communities Quitrin serves. Upon graduation, individuals work from home and sell their items through Quitrin’s retail location. This program also helps members by making spaces available in the facility for artisans to rent, depending on what their service is. Although focusing on traditionally feminine trades, the program allows men to participate as well. Through skill building and partnerships, this program seems to be successfully building independence in communities, which benefits society as a whole. (*translation: Cuban specific carriage, according to our guide) [postscript note: in searching for the translation of quitrin, sources online say it translates to “trap”]

The production center at Quitrin where women fabricate garments and other textiles to sell in the retail storefront in Havana.

Medicine or Prevention

Examining the healthcare system by a visit to a clinic in Havana offers a unique opportunity to hear from medical professionals about the community health in Cuba. There are levels in health care depending on the needs of the patient. The primary level is the family doctor, for basic health and prevention, then moving on there are referrals to specialist clinics and then surgeons. It’s estimated 80% of health issues can be solved at the primary care level. More recently Cuban doctors have gained access to medical journals in the U.S., because of partnerships with American universities. The health sector has some of the highest salaries in the state. They account for 40% of the economy.

The clinic walls are papered with prevention posters and government propaganda, all with a message of prevention and self-care.

Professionals in Cuba’s healthcare industry are sent to regions around the world that need help, like the African Congo and Haiti after the disastrous hurricane. “The Cuban Revolutionary Doctor,” by Steve Brouwer, further expanded on Cuba’s health sector. The article states that Venezuela received more than 10,000 doctors from Cuba in their attempt to use their best asset, human capital. This is definitely a form of soft power, which can be used for good as well as improvement of international relations. Unfortunately, the lack of friendly relations between the U.S. and Cuba has led some U.S. leaders to try to isolate Cuba further by accusations of the attempt to spread biological weaponry through their medical advancements. Because the Revolution proposed to improve the health of the people, and despite the lack of some technology, Cuba has been able to increase their lifespan and decrease infant mortality, because the programs focus on care and prevention through self-awareness.

Compared to the U.S., Cubans are living longer. The mortality rate for women averages 86 years and men live more than 76 years. Their infant and maternal mortality rate (in the community of western Havana) is reported as zero. The U.S. can’t even claim that. Perhaps it’s because there is so much focus on prevention and health care in communities. But upon further research, Cuba has a practice of aborting potentially unsound fetuses. Largely unpublicized, doctors are performing 32 abortions per 1,000 births. Also, infants who were born with trauma or complications and are younger than three weeks old when they die are not counted in the country’s infant mortality rate tracking system. According to outspoken former prominent Cuban neurosurgeon-turned-activist, Dr. Hilda Moina, this disparity is what’s keeping the country’s true health issues cloaked.

Unfortunately, some medicines and technologies are lacking, and Cuba has had to seek sources in other countries, for things like anesthetics and some antibiotics, because they lack the raw materials to create some of these drugs. Surprisingly, but fortunately, the medical industry actually embraces some traditional medicines, like acupuncture, which the U.S. calls ‘alternative,’ and even denies the medical efficacy of such techniques. In contrast, Cuba values health and prevention so much that it allows different practices that have proven effective. The film “Sicko,” by Michael Moore, is a point of pride for Cubans. The director used the Cuban medical system as an example of how tourists and even prisoners in Guantanamo receive better health care than the average American.

The Escuela Laninoamericana de Medicina (ELAM) was a former naval training center which was converted to house the institute of medicine. This unique program offers free training to a number of different countries, around 98, including Africa, Asia, the Middle East, and nations in the Pacific. It is a six year program which is taught entirely in Spanish, so includes one year of intensive language courses before delving into medical training. Students graduate as a general physician, and are admonished to simply “go be a good doctor,” and owe the school nothing for their training. This is phenomenal, considering Cuba’s position in the world, and the fact that this institute could be making millions for the state, but they choose to offer this knowledge for free to select individuals. They work closely with community organizations, such as Pastors for Peace (U.S.) to find international students. The students are supposed to have attended two years of college already and be under 25 years old, though some exceptions are occasionally made. Over 20,000 graduates have moved through their program so far, and they currently have over 140 students from the U.S. The curriculum is chosen from the most advanced schools of thought throughout the world.

Economics

Only three countries in the socialist community are considered “developing.” This includes Vietnam, Angola and Cuba. As a socialist country Cuba has had a long track of trying to elevate itself, with some success. Five basic social reforms were the basis for the Revolution: education, elimination of discrimination, gender equality, racial equality, land and labor issues. Of course the embargo is economically hard on Cuba. Because of the crisis imposed during the Special Period in the 1990s, the food industry has suffered greatly. When the Soviet Union discontinued supporting Cuba, previous aid that was supposed to help sustain the country saw cuts to the food supply by a drastic 75%. Farmers who previously owned their land and cultivated food crops felt the crush of the Special Period and moved into the cities. Due to the lack of farmers, there is not sufficient crops to support the population with their own supply of food products. Now the government has developed a program to rent land to those who want to farm, and subsidizes those efforts to ensure food production. The foods Cuba does produce are of the highest quality, but the issue of getting food to the people is a marketing and logistics issue. The high price of production, transportation, and the ability for people to afford it are major barriers.

The government is trying to move Havana’s major port to Mariel, which will create jobs in construction, but what will happen to the jobs which the port offers currently? Whether those people will be displaced or have an option to move to the new port to work never got addressed. Cuba is trying to develop processing zones, or “free trade” zones. Because these locations allow for import and processing of goods without the standard customs interference, it could bolster the economy by avoiding the typical fees tied to importing and exporting. The dual economy is currently in the process of being phased out. It is hoped that the Convertible Peso (CUC) will go away entirely and the Cuban Peso (CUP) will remain the standard currency.

Cuba is Trying to Improve

In general, acknowledgement of some of the weaknesses through Cuba’s development have contributed to their success. Cuba was mistaken in thinking that they are a perfect society. The crisis gave them an opportunity to change themselves, and their struggle had previously been denied, because “crisis is a capitalist problem.” Not wanting to align with the capitalist ways of the U.S., it makes sense that this mindset would be vehemently rejected. The previous mentality was that to acknowledge the bad in society equates failure. Since recognizing this, their hope is to embrace the need to change as positive and an opportunity to improve on current strengths. Eventually the hope is that this mindset will trickle up to the government officials who make decisions for the citizens. By contrast, the current vertical belief is that it’s a top-down system (similar to Reagan’s “trickle down” theory), but changes in the perception of reality are empowering Cuban citizens to take their fate into their own hands. People need to seize opportunities immediately and not wait for the top down approval. Capitalizing on the strength in recognizing that change needs to happen, Cuban citizens are more advanced than U.S. citizens in this aspect, because we still believe that admitting change needs to happen is a failure.

The final presentations went pretty well. I spoke about the solid waste issue in Cuba, and how I feel it is a problem that needs to be addressed. I tried to tie in that we come to Cuba (as tourists) thinking that this is a tropical paradise, but when we were shown Havana and other places, we find out the reality is that they have struggles and issues just like any other developing nation. My suggestions in this presentation were that this problem could be addressed by folding it into the already existing successful systems of health and education, by making this a health issue (ie: pollution makes water systems toxic) and education by including ecological topics into school curriculum, and thirdly, decreasing waste by reducing the amount of packaging used in commercial products. I think my presentation was well received by the guests who were in attendance. I feel like my topic was different enough than others to be interesting, and the feedback I received was positive.

Soft Power as a Solution

Soft power through travel produces empathetic allies who may help activate change between the nations. Study abroad is an effective tool for educating individuals and groups about globalization in relation to the U.S. and its allies or adversaries. We should try as a nation to create more allies through soft power, rather than instigate enemies with advancements in war technologies and assertion of our power through bullying tactics. The adage that you attract more flies with honey should be a simple message adopted in the U.S. Perhaps with more international educational exchange opportunities we will grow a population which has diplomacy in mind instead of domination.

Solidarity in young faces.

Campus Safety to Include More Guns?

On the coattails of another school shooting, gun regulation is being called into question once again. Examining the exploding numbers of mass shootings and violence involving guns, we see an exponential growth in gun related incidents on campuses across the nation. Countless groups call for further regulations in a highly regulated yet seldom enforced industry. Well-intentioned companies have designed products to protect children in these events. Law enforcement support installing expensive metal detectors in every school. Even some teachers proclaim that if they were allowed to carry a concealed weapon on campus, these things would not happen. In the two most recent incidents, some things took place that can be argued to have significantly altered the potential outcomes of these violent acts. Having a trained school resource officer on campus could make students safer, as well as increase response time of local law enforcement when active shooter incidents do happen.

Without delving into the complex and massive topic of why these school shootings keep occurring, now on a nearly weekly basis, judging by the increasing number of incidents, an appropriate response needs to happen before we can try to figure out how to eliminate the possibility of shootings happening at all. As shown on a wikipedia list, we see that since the late 1990s, over 150 school related shootings have occurred in the United States. Even after Oregon’s first highly publicized incident in 1998, in Springfield, shootings were still few and far between, with less than 40 school shootings occurring in the 1990s. Thereafter, every decade the numbers grew exponentially. In the 2000s, less than 50, but now, in the first half of 2014 alone, we have witnessed over 35 shootings (1). President Obama publicly stated his disgust after the most recent school shooting in Oregon, saying, “we’re the only developed country on earth where this happens” (2). The president went on to say he is disappointed by the scourge of gun related violence in schools as uniquely American, while recognizing that the mindset is going to be difficult to change. Despite the fundamental shift that is needed, there are stop-gaps that schools can implement to reduce the casualties. Legislation has been touted as the only thing to reduce or stop these incidents.

Non profit citizen groups lobby for more gun control. For-profit lobby groups such as the NRA fight for less gun regulation, to the detriment of our democracy. Well-intentioned non profit, Moms Demand Action for Gun Sense in America, published a list of school shootings since Dec. 15, 2012, the infamous Sandy Hook tragedy, and issued a call to action from “responsible gun owners, mothers, fathers, and all concerned citizens” to push politicians for gun law reforms (3). Groups like this have been working tirelessly to effect change, without much progress. Without lawmakers on the side of reasonable gun reform, these efforts are like pushing a boulder up a hill. Not impossible, just extremely difficult. In the same speech previously mentioned from President Obama, he claimed that congress is afraid of the NRA and until this sentiment is reversed, legislation is unlikely to be the answer to the growing number of school shootings, or other gun violence (2). Past legislation to limit access to firearms also would do little to prevent tragedies such as occurred at Columbine High School in 1999 (8). Maybe then the answer lies in something manufactured to protect kids.

ProTecht, LLC. in Oklahoma has invented a ballistic ‘blanket’ that’s like a gymnastic mat for students to shelter under in the case of an emergency, like a tornado or a school shooter. Claiming that these devices can protect children from gunfire might give some parents and teachers a little peace of mind, but the $1,000 each that it requires would financially break some school districts, even if the manufacturer gave schools a discount. Not to mention the device doesn’t fully cover a person, leaving them vulnerable in some situations. In times of teacher pay freezes and massive cutbacks, districts have problems enough without adding the expense of hundreds-of-thousands of dollars to give students the equivalent of a bullet-proof jacket (4). Some gun advocates promote the sale of kid-oriented rifles, educating youth about gun safety, and starting them as early as possible in the handling of firearms. Marketing to this demographic by using cartoons and fun colors, and naming guns “Crickett and Chipmunk,” manufacturers try to net young customers, and campaign to expose children to guns as early as possible (5). However, even though marketing to those under 18 may not be illegal, gun ownership isn’t legally possible until one is an adult. Children don’t have the mental capacity nor maturity for responsible gun ownership, so this is not a solution to reducing school shootings. If devices are the answer, maybe there is something that schools can utilize to reduce deadly weapons in places of learning.

Some purport that metal detectors installed at school entrances would prevent guns from getting on campus, thus stopping the violence becoming prevalent in the nation’s schools. While this might be successful in putting fear into the minds of students, preventing them from bringing weapons to school, many issues surround the use of metal detectors and invasive searches conducted on campus by school officials or police. A potential example of misuse of the metal detectors was posed in an article in the Journal of Law & Education. In this example, a student tips police to another student bringing a gun to school, the accused student is then mandatorily scanned and searched for a metal weapon, leading to authorities possibly finding a set of keys and a bit of marijuana. The student didn’t have a gun, but now there is another issue to address, and the student now faces another set of problems just because another student falsely reported the incident (6). Aside from the invasion of privacy that this method condones, it doesn’t prevent calculating individuals from figuring out ways around this technology. Many schools react to violence with the expensive installation of metal detectors, and have to also include staffing these devices with trained personnel into their budget. Federal researchers also believe this tactic is not effective. Some schools may benefit from the use of them, but in several cases, it didn’t prevent many incidents. Noting a case in Minnesota in 2005, Bill Dedman of NBC News reported that the seven people killed attended a school that had both security guards and a metal detector. The shooter first killed the guard then walked through the school shooting six others (7). When a determined shooter enters their target, the least of their concerns is setting off a metal detector. This particular technology has failed to keep students safe in many incidents, and are not 100 percent foolproof. Some say an armed staff would solve this growing epidemic.

One solution which many support, even some educational professionals, is to allow teachers to arm themselves. This appears on the surface to be a potentially solid solution. In some cases, administrators and teachers who were put into situations where students brought weapons to school with the intent to kill or hurt others, were able to diffuse some situations, like in the case of 1997 school shooting in Pearl, Miss. The vice principal was able to stop more deaths when he retrieved his pistol from his car during the shooting, and confronted the shooter. Many other similar incidents described corresponding results when staff were quick to respond with weapons of their own (8). These teachers already have a high responsibility of educating youth, and now we expect them to take up arms and defend these children as well. This is a tall order, and instructors should be allowed to do their jobs without having to worry about also being given an additional obligation to recognize, respond and counteract a person intent on harming others in an otherwise innocent setting. Teachers are trained in education, not security enforcement. While it is noble that some are willing to arm themselves to defend their students, not every teacher wants to take on this responsibility, either. There are some individuals who have the proper training, expertise and equipment to make a real difference in the number of deaths on campuses due to school shootings, and their presence has been invaluable.

Numerous solutions purport to solve campus gun violence, and some have been effective. However, this week, in two separate incidents, empowered individuals are being credited as the main reason why more casualties did not occur. Seattle Pacific University students were victim of a rogue shooter in their school, and quick-thinking individuals were able to subdue the aggressor by using pepper spray and brut force, before authorities could arrive. The most recent shooting at Reynolds High School had fewer deaths purportedly because there were armed and trained resource officers on duty. It was reported that these individuals were able to corner the shooter and diffuse the situation from spreading to result in more student fatalities (9). Studies show that campus shootings see fewer casualties by nearly 70% when school resource officers are present (10). By having trained, armed officers on campus, who are there to keep the peace and detect potential crimes before they happen, SROs have proven time and again that having their expertise present has prevented many incidents from becoming worse, perhaps thwarting them altogether. Other surveys note a majority of officers see more reports of crimes with their presence, while most go underreported when there is no resource officer, showing how important they are in the prevention of crime on campus (11). Even though statistics and real-life scenarios show the importance of an officer on campus, it isn’t the whole picture. Combined with mental health support to hopefully reduce the problems that lead up to school shootings, SROs would be a significant stop-gap to immediately address the potential violence that could occur and offer students a safer learning environment, reduction in campus crime, and a much faster response time to actual incidents as they occur.

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Works Cited

1. “List of school shootings in the United States.” wikipedia. Wikimedia Foundation, Inc. 11 June 2014. Web. 11 June 2014.
2. Landler, Mark and Van Der Voo, Lee. “Oregon Shooting Draws Obama’s Outrage on Gun Laws.” The New York Times.10 June 2014. Web. 11 June 2014.
3. “Everytown and Moms Demand Action Statements on Oregon School Shooting That Killed One Student. Moms Demand Action. Everytown for Gun Safety Action Fund. 10 June 2014. Web. 11 June 2014.
4. Golgowski, Nina. “Bulletproof blankets designed to shield kids during school shootings, tornadoes.” New York Daily News. 9 June 2014. Web. 11 June 2014.
5. McCarthy, Tom. “Guns for kids: critics eye marketing practices after Kentucky shooting.” The Guardian. 3 May 2013. Web. 10 June 2014.
6. Ferraraccio, Michael. “Metal Detectors in the Public Schools: Fourth Amendment Concerns.” Journal of Law & Education. Division of Anderson Publishing Co. (1999). v28 n2 p209-29 Apr 1999. Web. 11 June 2014.
7. Dedman, Bill. “Does every school need a metal detector?” nbcnews.com. 3 Oct. 2006. Web. 10 June 2014.
8. Ayoob, Massad. “Arm Teachers to Stop Shootings.” The Wall Street Journal. 21 May 1999. Web. 10 June 2014.
9. Howerton, Jason. “Armed School Resource Officers May Have Prevented a Mass Shooting at Oregon High School.” TheBlaze.com.11 June 2014. Web. 11 June 2014.
10. Howerton, Jason. “Meet the Army Veteran Who Could Once and for All Destroy One of the Left’s Key Gun Control Arguments.” TheBlaze.com. 26 April 2014. Web. 11 June 2014.
11. “School Resource Officers Seeing Results.” educationworld.com. n.d. Web. 10 June 2014.

Privatization

Putting a price on a life-sustaining element to add value to it follows the mindset that if we have to pay for it, we’ll appreciate it more and waste less. This is just a strawman argument, designed to mislead consumers to believe that commodification of something that should be a right of access for every human, as if it will benefit both the consumer and the environment. The real motive behind privatizing water in developing countries is to generate profit. “We generally do not measure or manage economic values exchanged other than through markets (Kaufman 470).” It appears that converting global resources to derivatives is the wave of the future. The U.S. has already shown what it can do to the food system, as dictated by investment banks. Putting things like food, air and water into commodity markets has revealed how corrupt markets can become, when these resources become tradable commodities (Kaufman 469).

Governments get involved because they stand to make a profit if private companies take over the delivery of water (Goldman 791). The World Bank has shown just how much it supports privatized water by including mandates in its lending practices that require a country receiving financial backing from the World Bank to implement private water systems, or risk fiscal rejection (Goldman 790). “The World Bank is the government in Bolivia,” said Luis Bredow, Bolivian journalist (Leasing the Rain). Latin America should have highest availability of water per capita, but extreme economic inequality, water pollution and privatized water systems each play roles in ensuring it has the lowest allocation of water per capita in the world (Barlow 19). Because of the potential profit margin, Mexican leaders support the proposal to privatize water (Barlow 21).

The results of privatized water show that it impacts the impoverished the most severely. In the film “The Big Sellout,” we see that privatization of essential utilities like electricity and water caused some to go without because they could not afford the outrageous, profit-oriented rates which in some cases equal one third of a person’s monthly income (Barlow 20).

Highly recommended film: También La Lluvia (Even the Rain) 

Michael Goldman. 2007. “How ‘Water for All!’ Policy Became Hegemonic: The Power of the World Bank and its Transnational Policy Networks.” Geoforum 38: 786-800.

Maude Barlow. 2008. “Water Warriors.” The Nation, April 14.

Frederick Kaufman. 2013. “Wall Street’s Thirst for Water.” Nature 490: 469-471.