Cuba Experiencing Worst Drought In History

[hatrack]

HOLGUIN, Cuba - "A severe drought enveloping eastern Cuba has eroded 40 percent of the farmland, starved thousands of heads of cattle and has close to 4 million people counting every drop of water they consume. Cuba’s Civil Defense declared a state of alert in four provinces — Camaguey, Las Tunas, Holguin and Guantanamo — while closely monitoring drought conditions in two others.

Last Thursday, authorities in central Sancti Spiritus reported the first signs of dropping water levels — proof the drought is creeping west.

Holguin, one of the hardest-hit cities, is just a step away from being declared a state of emergency, said Oscar Lugo, a member of the provincial branch of Poder Popular, Cuba’s parliament. Two of the city’s three water basins have run dry, one eight months ago and the other in early June, leaving more than 100,000 people without any stable source of water.

Strict rationing allots inhabitants about 6 gallons of water a day, a fraction of the daily 50-gallon average."

EDIT

http://msnbc.msn.com/id/5262324/

[Vogon_Glory]

1. I'd Noticed The Start of the Drought

I'd noticed the start of the drought during my 2003 trip. I think that was why the sugar centrale out towards Guardiavacas had been shut down--because that part of Cuba had gone through drought cycles over the years. I'm saddened to see that this drought is continuing.

While I suspect that droughts were probably cyclical even in pre-Columbian times, I suspect that the greenhouse effect is making things worse.

While I'm no fan of Castro-style centralist-type socialism, I can't help but wonder how much worse Cubans living in the drought-stricken areas would be faring if Cuba had remained under some sort of Batista- of Ferdinand Marcos-style kleptocracy.

[Lost147]

2. maybe its just dry?

Nothing to really get worked up about. If this kept up for 10 years then yes I would attribute that to global warming but otherwise it could just be dry.

[Vogon_Glory]

3. Keep Monitoring The Climate And Hope For Rain

I'm hoping that those areas do get some rain, and soon. I don't know how long or in how much detail the Spanish monitored the weather (They did control Cuba for nearly 400 years). I'd be happier to see people in those areas with adequate water and gainfully employed.

A prolonged drought could lead to other troubles. People tend to migrate when times get really tough. Think of the dust bowl here in the US.

Contrary to what our right-wing enemies think of us, I like to believe that most progressives would like to slow immigration from impoverished areas to the US. The difference between us and the extreme right is that most of us would like to find ways to raise the standards of living for the average Joe or Jane in those those impoverished areas so that they'll stay put.

[Boomer]

4. A foreshadowing of the future....

"Government measures to tackle the drought are costing millions, although no one would provide an exact figure. There are crash teams traveling the city to patch leaky pipes that waste an inordinate amount of water. Since January, the water trucks have consumed an extra 160,000 gallons of diesel fuel."

When drought-relief efforts in Cuba and the American Northwest collide with rising transportation prices due to shortages of oil, the misery index will go even higher.

Welcome to the unfolding scenario of the new century: extreme weather due to global warming, increased water and food demands due to human overpopulation, and sky-rocketing energy costs as we pass peak oil production. At some point in the not-too-distance future there simply won't be enough money/energy sources to compensate for the environmental stresses and the real fun will begin.