Castro resigns

... and Bush talks big

Posted by Katharine Wroth at 7:56 AM on 19 Feb 2008

Read more about: climate | Cuba | politics

A year and a half after ceding Cuba's reins (and reign) to his brother Raul, Fidel Castro has apparently officially resigned after nearly 50 years at the helm.

For me, the news brought to mind the eye-opening piece we ran by Erica Gies shortly after Castro first stepped down in 2006. It explores the green aspects of life in Cuba -- and inspired some passionate reader comments. Take a look.

As for the latest development inspiring passionate comments, we get this from our own esteemed leader: "The United States will help the people of Cuba realize the blessings of liberty." Watch out.

For story: Castro resigns
7 Comments | Post a Comment

Who is the enemy?

I was thinking about this subject in preparation for the inevitable discussion with a far-right leaning co-worker of mine. Fidel Castro is not my enemy, despite what this and previous administrations have said. Given a choice, I doubt he'd want any harm to befall me. Using that as a definition, our enemies are those (for example) who would slaughter and process downer cows and willingly allow that meat to get into the food supply. How about a brave, macho statement on that, Mr President?

by rraimo at 8:42 AM on 19 Feb 2008

Cuba: A Globally Warm Society

Cuba also shows the benefits of living in a warm, sunny place...like we all will be once NGW really kicks in.

The reason they can ignore all technological progress is that they don't need it. Who needs "alternative energy" if it's 80 degrees every day?

Who needs a car if there are chickens and fruit in your neighbor's backyard?

Who needs medicine if you have unlimited sunshine, warm beaches and ocean breezes?

by jabailo at 9:15 AM on 19 Feb 2008

Universal healthcare

Cuba has universal healthcare, and we have?

Gitmo! Good job duuuhbya! A much more effective leader than Castro.

http://amazngdrx.blogharbor.com/blog John Schneider, Northern Wisconsin

by amazingdrx at 9:50 AM on 19 Feb 2008

Re: Jabailo

Global Warming is a misnomer. Climate Change is much more accurate statement. The world will not be a "warm, sunny place." It will be a radically different place. Some areas might be warmer and sunnier while others might be colder (like Europe). Global Warming makes it sound pleasant and leads the uneducated person to believe that it is preferable.

I don't know if you've made the connection jabailo, but perishable food and other items tend to rot in warm climates. Rotten food tends to harbor pathogens. Unless you call for a Cuban society without blood banks, sanitary meat distribution, or ice cream I don't think you can say that Cubans don't need "alternative energy."

When was the last time chickens and fruit (that aren't even yours) helped you get to work. In an ideal situation, yes, cars should be replaced with public transportation and bikes. I don't follow your argument that stealing your neighbor's chickens and fruit somehow relinquishes the need for automobiles.

Sorry to burst your bubble, but unlimited sunshine, warm beaches, and ocean breezes haven't done much to fight salmonella. Please correct me if I'm misguided.

Jabailo, I respect the fact that you are entitled to an opinion. I'm enthralled that I live in a society where both you and I can say what we want without fear of reprimand. All I ask is that you review what you post and make sure that it is an accurate representation of what you want to say. Are you really advocating that a Caribbean lifestyle can replace modern medicine? Grist is an environmentally focused website and when anyone posts, they are not only representing themselves, but they are also representing a fraction of the environmental movement. Please do yourself and everyone else here a service and present yourself in an informed, professional manner. When you spew out statements that have no foundation in fact and are reminiscent of a lunatic's argument, due to the Two Equal Sides Phenomenon, you degrade the value of everyone else's posts.

by Quinn at 11:14 AM on 19 Feb 2008
[ Parent ]

Increase In Temperature Is All We Can Say

Global Warming is a misnomer. Climate Change is much more accurate statement.

No, it is not an "accurate statement", it is a projection based on data which is also projected by computer models.

The only thing that the data -- the data, not the models -- tells us is that temperature -- average weighted temperature -- of readings around the Earth has been trending higher for the past two centuries.

That is all we can accurately say.

"Climate Change" is a speculation in two senses. We don't really know if the totality of "climate" will change and we can't say accurately in what direction. We can only guess based on suppositions which are based on the results of running data through computer models.

Therefore, my supposition of warm temperature making us more "Cuban" is actually far more integrated to actual data and Earth systems vis a vis: it's warmer in Cuba than Seattle. Therefore, if Seattle gets warmer, it may be more like Seattle.

I use no computer model to make that speculation...

by jabailo at 2:20 PM on 19 Feb 2008

One More TIme...

I meant to say:

it's warmer in Cuba than Seattle. Therefore, if Seattle gets warmer, it may be more like Cuba.

(And yes, perhaps all those people in Federal Way with growing lights in their basement can convert to making cigars...)

by jabailo at 2:22 PM on 19 Feb 2008
[ Parent ]

Gravitation is just a computer model

Jabailo, I know I shouldn't feed a troll... yet: You have no idea of science! Guess how they compute e.g. GPS coordinates: By feeding some theory into a computer model. The difference with climate computer models is that these are statistic and have some unknowns due to subtleties like ocean temp buffering, albedo, etc. But the basic mechanism is the "greenhouse effect" which is known and understood since about a century and as undebated as gravitation or evolution. The global warming trend is nothing you can discuss away (you could as well tell us that earth is flat) and we don't need very sophisticated computer models to understand the rough trend.

IMHO, folks like you are not entitled to use the blessings of modern science; like electricity, computers, air conditioning, antiretroviral drugs (sure you don't believe in virusses because you can't see them) etc. etc. etc.

Mars J. Pictor Florifulgurator, Western Bavarian Forest.

by 314159265 at 4:24 AM on 20 Feb 2008

ADVERTISING POLICY

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