Power goes out on entire island of Cuba, leaving 10 million people without electricity

[Jose Garcia]

Source: NBC News

HAVANA — The electricity went out Friday in Cuba, affecting the entire island's population of 10 million after one of its main power plants failed, according to Cuba’s energy ministry.

The government had tried to keep the lights on earlier in the day by closing schools and having most state workers stay home in an effort to conserve energy. But it wasn’t enough, and by 11 a.m. the largest power plant went offline, causing a grid failure.

The communist-run country’s president, Miguel Díaz-Canel, wrote on X that they are giving “absolute priority” to solving the problem, and that “there won’t be any rest” until the power comes back on.

Cubans have been grappling with rolling blackouts for months. In some provinces outside the capital, Havana, many people have been facing power outages that last up to 12 hours at a time.

Read more: https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.nbcnews.com/news/amp/rcna176169

[msongs]

1. the usa embargo of cuba is a scam of the highest degree nt

Last edited Fri Oct 18, 2024, 06:58 PM - Edit history (1)

[EX500rider]

9. I think you mean embargo, there is no blockade which is a act of war

[msongs]

11. yes thanks for the correction nt

[Judi Lynn]

39. As always, it's useful to acknowledge the word "Bloqueo" (blockade) has been in use from the first

by people everywhere outside Miami, and by hard-right Republican radicals still on te hunt for "commies."

The embargo has also been considered the longest form of economic war upon another country in history.

From a decent Wikipedia page which hasn't been totally commandeered by cold warriors, among other important comments made, please see this:

Human-rights groups including Amnesty International,[4] Human Rights Watch,[140] and the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights[141] have also been critical of the embargo.[4] Critics of the embargo often refer to it as a "blockade" and say that the respective laws are too harsh, citing the fact that violations often lead to severe sanctions.[142]

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_embargo_against_Cuba#Cuban_thaw

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Seventy-eighth Session,
24th & 25th Meetings (AM & PM)
GA/12552

1 November 2023

Economic, Commercial Embargo Imposed by United States Against Cuba Harmful, Violates UN Charter, Speakers Underline in General Assembly
Organ Also Concludes Discussion on International Criminal Court, Adopting Report

The United States must lift its economic, commercial and financial embargo on Cuba and remove the Caribbean nation from its list of State sponsors of terrorism — policies which have had devastating effects on the Cuban people and created severe obstacles for countries looking to engage in trade and investment with Havana, speakers told the General Assembly today.

As the 193-member organ kicked off its annual debate on the “Necessity of ending the economic, commercial and financial embargo imposed by the United States of America against Cuba”, it had before it the Report of the Secretary-General (document A/78/84). The Assembly is scheduled to vote on a resolution on the matter on 2 November.

During today’s debate, an overwhelming number of Member States underscored the multitude of detrimental and harmful long-lasting consequences the embargo was having on Cuba. Many cited the Secretary-General’s report that said that years of the blockade has had an impact on Cuba’s overall human development. They recalled that for over 30 years, the Assembly has disproportionately urged the United States to lift the blockade and allow Cuba to join the international community on equal economic and financial footing.

Six decades of the embargo has cost Cuba trillions of dollars, Singapore’s representative, who spoke on behalf of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), said. From 1 March 2022 to 28 February 2023, the blockade cost Cuba an estimated $4.87 billion in losses. It is unfortunate that 80 per cent of Cuba’s current population has only known Cuba under the blockade. The policy is particularly jarring at a time when the world has already fallen behind on the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

The representative of Mauritania, speaking on behalf of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC), expressed alarm at how the embargo’s impact grew exponentially after Cuba was added to the list of countries allegedly sponsoring terrorism. Banking and financial operations have become extremely difficult for Cuba due to this. The embargo even impacts Cuba’s ability to obtain basic medicine and food.

The representative of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, speaking on behalf of the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States (CELAC), recalled how things were looking up in 2015 when steps were taken by Cuba and the United States to normalize diplomatic relations. She rejected the application of laws and measures that are contrary to international law, such as the Helms-Burton Act and the increasing persecution of Cuba’s international financial transactions. “We are also opposed to the unjust inclusion of Cuba on the list of State sponsors of terrorism,” she continued.

Echoing the sentiment of several others, the representative of El Salvador, speaking on behalf of the Central American Integration System, said that the embargo has made it difficult for public health authorities to acquire medical supplies and equipment, including those necessary to make Cuban vaccines against COVID‑19. As a result of the embargo, Cuba cannot acquire the ideal medicines to treat childhood cancer. It is unfortunate that the multidimensional global crisis, which impacted the energy, food and economic sectors, plus the effect of the pandemic, were not enough to bring movement towards better relations between the United States and Cuba.

More:
https://press.un.org/en/2023/ga12552.doc.htm

[EX500rider]

40. Sure I acknowledge some people use the incorrect term

But embargo and blockade are two entirely different things, if we were blockading Cuba we would have our Navy surrounding it and nothing could come in or out

[Hermit-The-Prog]

15. Obama tried. traitortrump reversed.

https://obamawhitehouse.archives.gov/issues/foreign-policy/cuba

[Polybius]

24. So why is it still in place now?

Did Biden disagree with Obama?

[Hermit-The-Prog]

25. I suspect (1) fools have a majority in the House, and (2) Bold Joe had higher priorities after covid.

[Polybius]

27. True

Obama also seemed to make it a priority. Hopefully, Harris can change it back.

[Deuxcents]

2. This should be addressed. This is not1960 and it's only hurting the people of Cuba.

We fought a war with Viet Nam but we’re now trading partners. China is a communist country n we trade with them. Our Caribbean neighbors should be included in our alliances

[former9thward]

3. The main difference.

Cuba harbors American fugitives including hijackers and cop killers. Vietnam doesn't. China doesn't.

[ret5hd]

6. well, don't forget we did the same with cuban fugitives.

[former9thward]

8. I don't forget that but its Cuba that wants the embargo to end.

Not the U.S. So its in Cuba's hands at this point.

[groundloop]

17. What American fugitives are being harbored by Cuba right now?

I did a quick google search and the only website I could find that seemed to back up that story was Marco Rubio's page, I hardly consider that a reliable source.

And gee, I bet the Cuban government would be far more inclined to negotiate extraditions with us if we weren't destroying their economy with a trade embargo.

[former9thward]

20. Here is five of them.

Estimates are that they are 90-100 of them.

Of these five, two are cop killers and one set two explosions which killed five people.

Guillermo "William" Morales was sentenced to 99 years in prison after being linked to two explosions in New York City -- one in 1975 that killed four and injured 60, and a second in 1977 that killed one, The New York Post reported.

Joanne Chesimard has been living in Cuba under the name Assata Shakur since 1984. She was a member of the Black Liberation Army in 1973 when she shot and killed Trooper Werner Foerster during a traffic stop. She was convicted in 1977 and escaped prison two years later.

https://abcnews.go.com/International/american-fugitives-hiding-cuba/story?id=27717127

[OhioTim]

5. Cuba Has Said

it doesn't want an alliance with the US.

[Deuxcents]

7. How recently was that? If we can negotiate and come together with our former enemies, we can with them, too

[groundloop]

16. We could end the damned stupid embargo without an "alliance"

Our idiotic embargo is only hurting the Cuban people. I've visited Cuba, they're good people and deserve better.

Our embargo has painted the country into a corner. It's just fucking asinine that we can't treat Cuba as we do any other nation, we don't need to send them relief, just simply end the trade embargo and allow US tourists to freely visit (and bring back some of their very excellent Havana Club Rum).

[heckles65]

38. I suspect the hijackers at least

are rotting in jails. Couldn't care whether they get extradited or not.

[bahboo]

4. We could help fix this...

and make a lot of friends in the region as a result.

[EX500rider]

10. As long as they have communist planned economy they will always have these issues

[Nasruddin]

13. And the Republic of Texas?

Bad management cuts across the political divide

[EX500rider]

14. I would Google the average income in Texas versus Cuba

To see which has a more successfully economy

Also
GDP of Texas $2.4 trillion
GDP of Cuba $107 billion

[Nasruddin]

18. You're making my point for me

We're talking about mismanagement of a power system, not who's got the most money stuffed under the mattress

[EX500rider]

19. The point is a planned economy never works as Cuba demonstrates

[EX500rider]

22. Texas had some unusual cold weather issues but they make enough power

In 2021, Texas produced more energy than any other state, accounting for almost 12 percent of the nation's total net energy generation.

California stands out as the state with the most power outages between 2002 and 2022. This state had a total of 94 outages, 28 more than second-place holder, Florida. The likelihood of an outage is much higher in California than in any other state.

[FakeNoose]

12. So ... this isn't weather related, am I right?

It sounds like they need a major upgrade to their power-generating equipment. Pootie ain't helping either.
We could be the good guys, if we wanted to be.

[LudwigPastorius]

21. The Democratic Hurricane Machine must be on the blink.

Whoever calculated the coordinates forgot to carry the 2.

[Jose Garcia]

37. Nope, it's working:

Hurricane Oscar Moves Toward the Bahamas and Cuba

Oscar intensified into a Category 1 hurricane on Saturday just hours after it had formed as the 15th named storm of this year’s Atlantic hurricane season, and the second in less than a day. It’s expected to bring heavy rain to the Caribbean islands this weekend, including Cuba, which has been facing a nationwide electricity crisis.

More : https://www.nytimes.com/live/2024/10/19/weather/tropical-storm-oscar-hurricane

[kimbutgar]

23. Isn't Cuba a Putin friendly country ?

Timing interesting …another influx of immigrants ….fleeignto the US.

[Aussie105]

26. Apparently the cars that roam the streets in Cuba

are straight out of a 1950's movie.

Hats off to the guys there that keep them running.

[brush]

28. Old American cars are not the only cars in Cuba, and haven't been for decades.

[Aussie105]

30. Typical!

My brain contains a lot of outdated info. Must be an age thing - must research.

"Chinese, South Korean, and some European car models are the typical modern vehicles in Cuba.
Since 2009, the modern vehicles that this country has imported include Geely CK, Kia, Peugeot, Hyundai, and Renault. The Chinese Geelys are used as police cars.
Cars from the 1940s and 50s, including Buicks, Ford Fairlanes and Falcons, Pontiacs and Studebakers, Chevy Corvettes and Bel Airs.
European cars such as FIATs and Alfa Romeos, Mercedes-Benz SLs and Volkswagen Karmann-Ghias.
Soviet-era Ladas and Volgas"

OK. updated my brain.

[usaf-vet]

34. No computer to screw up the simple internal combustion. Fuel+Compression+Ingnition are the 3 basics.

I remember the days when I could sit in the engine compartment, usually on the inside fender, and work on my first car, a 1957 Ford with two doors, six cylinders, and three on the column. A 100-dollar Craftsman tool set, and you were good to go.

I drove that car for two years and gave it to my high school buddy, who drove me to the designated pick-up spot to be picked up to head off to the USAF Basic training at Lackland AFB, Texas.

Now, my 2003 Ford Ranger needs to be taken to the garage with thousands of dollars' worth of tools to keep it running.

[4lbs]

29. Interesting that this would happen right after his Univision debacle.

I mean, sure stranger things have happened, but um.....

face-planting in front of an audience of Latinos, and then having one the largest and closest Latino islands suddenly go without power, an island that has a history of being antagonistic towards the US, and one that in the past the Soviet Union (AKA Russia) had missiles on for about a week.

Can't have the BIG country of Mexico do this, it would be too noticeable wouldn't it?

Oh, BTW, sure are a lot of Cubans in Florida aren't there?

[twodogsbarking]

31. Has Ted Cruz left for Mexico?

[C0RI0LANUS]

32. Canadians have been enjoying Cuba uninterrupted for decades.

https://vacations.aircanada.com/en/all-destinations/caribbean/cuba

Besides the power outages, the other two major problems the people of Cuba face:

1) Water shortages in the cities; 2) Growing drug use among the youth. Quimico is a nasty toxic melange smoked like cigarettes.

Sources:

https://english.elpais.com/international/2024-09-09/the-latest-protests-in-cuba-are-about-thirst-over-600000-people-live-without-drinking-water.html

https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cyvy3j872q9o

Israeli PM Golda Meir famously said: "You don't make peace with your friends."

[Jose Garcia]

35. Probably not enjoying the lack of electricity right now

[C0RI0LANUS]

36. True! At least they won't be cold. And this outage was not storm-related I think.

[twodogsbarking]

33. Poor bastards. Shouldn't be that way.