An open discussion with Fernando Funes Monzote, Cuban agricultural researcher, sustainable farmer and writer, at The Council House, College Green, Bristol BS1 5TR, 7pm. Speaker tour organised by the Cuba Organic Support Group.
Cuba has been described as the only country with sustainable development (World Wildlife Fund report 2006) and in recent years Bristol has been able to learn more from visiting Cuban scientists such as Roberto Perez who many heard speak in 2008 alongside the film 'Power of Community: how Cuba survived Peak Oil'. Cuban sustainable development was, and is, encouraged by the need to manage without materials such as fertilisers and tractor fuel taken for granted elsewhere. This is due to the USA's trade blockade against Cuba which has been in place for nearly 50 years.

The context for Cuba has been changing, not because of Obama, who has not made any advance on the USA's pernicious trade and economic blockade of Cuba despite continued international condemnation and rumblings from United States farmers and business who would like easier relations. Rather it is because of other trade relations such as oil from Venezuela. How is Cuban sustainable agriculture coping with what may be seen as desirable change for the Cuban nation in other ways? Our speaker, Fernando Funes, is no stranger to debate within his country on this thorny issue and this promises to be an interesting and lively discussion. All welcome.