[Marxism] Fidel Castro Announces Electricity-Saving Initiatives Underway

["Walter Lippmann" <walterlx@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

Anyone who'se spent much time in Cuba, living among the
Cuban people, knows how much these new measures will be
appreciated. Many, perhaps most people, are still using
those old Soviet-era refrigerators. One of the biggest
problems with them is precisely the door gaskets and the
ones around the freezers. Cubans often have to defrost
their refrigerators sometimes as much as a couple of
times a week. This is a royal pain in the butt for all,
not to speak of a waste of energy. Frost-free models use
a great deal of electricity, and so the more traditional
types have been kept in operation for ages. For a time
Cuba manufactured its own with a special technology that
was said to enable them to require far less-frequent
defrostings, but for some reason I haven't seen them in
the markets for the last couple of years. Because they
weren't frost-free, they were far more energy-efficient.

Read about Cuban-manufacturered Antillano refrigerators:
http://www.granma.cu/ingles/2004/mayo/lun10/19inpud-i.html

While the United States is continuing its campaign to get
something, anything passed in Geneva with Cuba's name on
it, the Cuban Revolution continues to provide its own
idea of human rights: the right to a decent standard of
living. The measures outlined here are, of course, first
steps in a much longer process, but these are further
indications of the economic turnaround Cuba is having.

Cuba's deepening ties with China and Venezuela, as well
as the centralized nature of Cuba's economy make steps
like this possible. No doubt this will be good for the
domestic political situation on the island. It will as
well open up other long-delayed areas such as domestic
housing needs in plumbing, water distribution and etc.


Walter Lippmann, CubaNews
http://www.walterlippmann.com
=======================================================

Fidel Castro Announces Electricity-Saving Initiatives Underway

Havana, March 25 (AIN) Cuban President Fidel Castro
presented several actions and research efforts now in
progress on the island which are aimed at achieving the
maximum possible savings on electricity.

One of the principal topics during the Cuban President's
special presentation at the Havana convention center -
delivered to an audience of leaders of the Communist Party,
the Young Communist League, government officials, national
civic organizations and the military - dealt with ways to
achieve greater energy efficiency.

President Castro commented, "We are experimenting with
everything so that nothing will take us by surprise."
The leader of the Cuban Revolution highlighted test trials
measuring electricity consumed by electric rice cookers,
electric stoves and other household appliances placed in
use in a number of smaller towns.

President Castro mentioned that the results of tests in
various communities revealed the need to review the state
of power distribution lines and transformers nationally, as
well as the need to take a look at major home appliances
used by the public.

In his analysis, the leader referenced the significant
consumption of electricity by domestic refrigerators,
emphasizing that a significant number of those
refrigerators had problems with door gaskets and
thermostats. He added that the quality of electricity
being supplied is also part of the problem.

"We are determined to provide all Cuban families with a
good refrigerator, one which will really keep things cold,
can be properly maintained and produces ice" Fidel Castro
stated, pointing out that many of these appliances would be
distributed to the public according to worker's merits,
while a limited number would be sold at hard currency
stores.

For a four month period, starting in April, all the
household refrigerators in the country that have problems
with the door sealing gaskets will be fitted with a new
one. The repairs will go for the modest cost of sixteen
Cuban pesos, he said.

Also starting in April, and lasting until December 31,
Cuban families will receive 12.5 million units of food
preparation utensils; this will include new pressure
cookers, electric rice cookers and electric pressure
cookers. In addition electric stoves with variable power
settings will be distributed.

The leader of the Cuban Revolution made the third of a
series of public addresses, which began March 8, during
which he has announced new programs and social initiatives
having the purpose of raising people's quality of life and
solving critical problems of the national economy.

Among other issues that Fidel Castro dealt with were
improving the food supply, delivering other essential goods
and the revaluation of the Cuban Peso and the Cuban
Convertible Peso.


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