JBot Mania

Here are some excerpts from a pretty good article from Grist Magazine (slowly becoming my 2nd most used resource next to CNN) on some of the positive outcomes of Castro’s regime.

“Cuba is the only country in the world to have converted to organic agriculture in less than 10 years.”

“Castro knows how to make lemonade. After the collapse, when the Soviets were unable to supply fuel and the giant autopista (think: autobahn) running the length of the country lay empty because no one had access to gas, he bought 1.2 million bicycles from China and manufactured 500,000 more, distributing them to the people. Most didn’t know how to ride, and accidents were common. But the government gave classes, and people got the hang of it…”

“The government also passed a law dictating that government vehicles must pick up as many hitchhikers as they can fit.”

And, of course, one of my favorites…

“Cuba’s system has obvious flaws, but many charges against Castro — suppression of dissent, torture of enemies, backroom dealings with nefarious world players — can be made against certain other leaders as well… With some members of the Bush administration champing at the bit to widen their democracy experiment to Cuba, let’s remember how audacious it is to assume that there is only one true way.”

The full story can be read here.