“When director David Lavallee told me about this story, I was fascinated at the idea of comparing a country and a person doing without fossil fuel. It opened up that whole debate of what will we do when fossil fuels run out. How resilient will the human species be?”
Producer, Scott Renyard
Fossil Fuels – Food Supply – Educational – General Audience
The Story
Humans have created an amazing system for food production and distribution that is the backbone of modern society. But that backbone, however, is also dangerously reliant on the energy from fossil fuels. Fossil fuels are used in the chemicals and fertilizers sprayed on crops, to turn the soil, to harvest the food in the fields, to process them into food products, and to distribute them to our communities.
When Cuba’s supply of Russian oil was no longer available, it caused a major disruption in how their society could work. People went hungry and the average Cuban lost 20 pounds. They could no longer wait for food to be delivered. Food had to be grown close to where the people lived. It was a major shift in how Cuban society would work. They had to become resilient to survive.
In Rock Creek, British Columbia, one woman decided to live a fossil free life. Her small house, about 110 square feet, did not sit well with authorities. And growing food was not easy without some community support. She got some support, but would she get enough support to survive?
This comparison of Cuba’s “special period” to a woman trying to survive without fossils fuels says a lot about human resilience during tough times. But will it be enough if one day fossil fuels run out.