March-April 2008When Cuba lost access to Soviet oil, fertilizers and export trade market in the early 1990s, the country faced virtual overnight economic collapse and an immediate crisis – feeding the population. The story of the Cuban people’s hardship, ingenuity, and triumph over sudden adversity - through cooperation, conservation, and community- to create a low-energy society is inspirational. Cuba’s transition to organic agriculture, and rapid relocalisation based on decentralized health care and higher education, bicycles and public transport, and community response to radical change is both thought provoking and empowering.
Roberto Perez, the Cuban permaculturist and educator featured in the film The Power of Community: How Cuba Survived Peak Oil and an articulate and inspiring speaker, will tour Australia in March and April sharing the Cuban experience. Roberto works for the Foundation for Nature and Humanity, Cuba’s major environment organization. His visit will provide a rare opportunity to hear about the Cuba experience first hand and engage in dialogue and discussion on practical ways we can meet the challenges of climate change and making the transition to a low energy society.
The tour is proudly sponsored by: Erda Institute Inc • Permaculture Education • Permaculture North APC9 * Lismore City Council • Southern Cross University • Permaculture Noosa - Future Ready Expo April 18-19 • Green Left Weekly - Climate Change/Social Change Conference April 11-13
Tour itinerary
Byron Bay, NSW - Wednesday 12th March
5.30pm Screening of The Power of Community - How Cuba Survived Peak Oil. 6.30pm Dinner of Local Food. 7.30pm Public Forum. Byron Bay Community & Cultural Centre, Johnson Street, Byron Bay (TBC)
Contact: Ken McLeod - ken@ethosfoundation.org 0412 871 789
NIMBIN, NSW - Friday 14th March
6pm Dinner, presentation by Roberto Perez, panel discussion, music & entertainment. Djanbung Gardens Permaculture Centre, 74 Cecil St, Nimbin
Contact: Robyn Francis: robyn@permaculture.com.au Ph 02-6689 1755 / 0429 147 138
LISMORE, NSW - Saturday 15th March
9am - 3pm: Feeding our Future: Creating sustainable local food systems
Southern Cross University, Military Road, Lismore. 3.15pm: Optional tour to Elizabeth Gardens - site of Rainbow Region Community Garden
Contact: Jessica Huxley, Lismore City Council PO Box 23A Lismore NSW, 2480
Ph 02 6625 0565, mob 0448 537 422, fax 02 6625 0434
email jessica.Huxley@lismore.nsw.gov.au
SYDNEY
Monday 17th March
7pm Public forum with Roberto Perez. KU-RING-GAI Council Chambers Level 3, 818 Pacific Highway, Gordon.
Contact: Penny Pyett, President, Permaculture North Inc. pennypyett@hotmail.com. (02) 9888 2575
Thursday 20 - Tuesday 25th March
9th Australian Permaculture Convergence - Permaculture North Inc.
Thursday 20th March
7pm APC9 Official Opening & Dinner. Guest Speaker: Roberto Perez "Cuba, Permaculture and Peak Oil". Glengarry Training Centre, North Turramurra, Sydney.
KATOOMBA, Blue Mountains - Thursday 27th March
7-9 pm Public forum with Roberto Perez. The Carrington Hotel, Katoomba St, Katoomba.
Contact: Susan Girard: pest.asides@bigpond.com.au 02 47825810
Rosemary Morrow: rowe@lisp.com.au 024782.7898
SYDNEY, Inner West – Friday 28th March
6pm Roberto Perez speaking on Urban Solutions, Sustainability & Building Community. Petersham Town Hall. Cuban Band (Armandito y Su Mechanico, Cuban dance performance (El Moro).
Contact: Michele Margolis michele.margolis@gmail.com 02 95696975
BEGA, NSW South Coast – Sunday 30th March
2pm Screening of The Power Of Community, Presentation by Roberto Perez, other speakers, discussion, music. Food available. Candelo Town Hall. Candelo.
Contact: John Champagne. brogopg@bigpond.net.au
REGIONAL VICTORIA – Tuesday 1st to Thursday 4th April.
For details, visit
MELBOURNE – Saturday 5th – Monday 7th April
April 5th 4pm Meeting with National Consultation of the Australia Cuba Friendship Societies & Cuban Consul
Contact: Pam Morgan
April 5th 7pm Public screening of The Power of Community, and presentation by Roberto Perez.
Contact: Kylie Moon kylie.moon@gmail.com 0411 104 813 or 03 9354 7751
April 6th
Roberto Perez workshop. Petty's Orchard, Cnr Monckton and Homestead Rd, Templestowe
Contact: telopeamtn@bigpond.com 0418 665 880
GEELONG, Victoria – Tuesday 8th April
7pm Public forum with Roberto Perez. Clonard College, Kildare Theatre,225 Church St, Geelong West.
Contact: Trish Jardine, trishjardine@exemail.com.au (03) 52 2 32407
ADELAIDE – Wednesday 9th & Thursday 10th April
April 10th Roberto Perez presentation.
Contact: Pam Gurner-Hall serendipity@picknowl.com.au 0419 213 237 & 08 85563551
April 9th BBQ at The Aldinga Arts Eco Village, late afternoon.
SYDNEY – Friday 11th – Sunday 13th April
Climate Change/Social Change Conference, featuring Roberto Perez, along with John Bellamy Foster (author of Marx's Ecology: Materialism and Nature, and editor of Monthly Review) and Patrick Bond (Director of the Centre for Civil Society, University of KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa and editor of Climate Change, Carbon Trading and Civil Society). Sydney Girls High School.
Contact: Kamala Emanuel, climateconf@greenleft.org.au 0417 319662, 02 9690 1230 (Mon and Thurs)
BRISBANE – Wednesday 16th April
Roberto Perez presentation at City Hall.
Contact: Scarlett Patrick, scarlett.patrick@brisbane.qld.gov.au 0407 752 793,
NAMBOUR, Sunshine Coast – Thursday 17th April
Contact: Chris Carroll : 07 5442 1555 on behalf of Sharon Stott of Maroochy Shire Council, stotts@maroochy.qld.gov.au
NOOSA, Sunshine Coast – Friday 18th & Saturday 19th April
Future Ready Expo - Permaculture Noosa Inc. Lake Kawana Community Centre, Sportsmans Parade, Bokarina, Kawana Waters, Sunshine Coast.
April 18th 7pm for a 7.30pm start.
April 19th 9am to 5pm. Talks, displays and workshops by a variety of sustainability specialists, including Roberto Perez.
Contact: Christine Carroll, Ph/Fax: 07 5442 1555, 0413 161 414
Email songndance@optusnet.com.au
