Life in Cuba settled into a grim and unremitting cycle of scarcity, in which shortage begat shortage and were some of the most basic daily needs and wants could be satisfied only by Herculean efforts. Inventories of available clothing, soap and detergent, and spare parts dwindled and often disappeared altogether. Rationing quotas frequently failed to supply enough food for more than two weeks of each month, driving vast numbers of people into the black market to supplement official monthly allotments. The disappearance of more than 300 medicines from local pharmacies, together with food shortages, threatened the health and nutrition of all sectors of the population, but especially the very young and the very old, the ill and the infirmed. An estimated 800,000 Cuban asthmatics were without necessary medication. In 1993 more than 50,000 Cubans suffered an epidemic of optic neuropathy due to a deficiency of vitamin B complex. While precise data was not available anecdotal evidence suggested that increasing numbers of Cubans were delaying marriage and that fertility rates had declined to what perhaps may have been the lowest levels in the twentieth century. The number of abortions increased. Between 1988 and 1990, there were nine abortions for every ten births. Housing starts fell hopelessly in arrears and the conditions of existing units continued to deteriorate in the absence of construction materials, replacement parts, and the resources for even routine maintenance. The growing numbers of university and technical school graduates across the island-the countless thousands whose very education was included among the most notable achievements of the revolution-faced an uncertain future.

Fuel shortages resulted in the closing of industrial plants and factories, which in turn created another round of production shortfalls and consumer shortages. An estimated 50 percent of industrial plants, and perhaps more, suspended operations due to shortages of fuel, inputs, and replacement parts. Many continued to operate but at a much reduced capacity. A shortage of paper supplies necessitated a reduction in the number of pages and frequency of publication of newspaper and magazines and delayed the publication of new books. In March 1991, the Cuban Book Institute announced a 50 percent reduction of new titles. Thereafter, a long backlog of new fiction and non-fiction titles brought domestic publication of new literary works to a virtual halt. Factory closings, production declines, and transportation difficulties led to the displacement of nearly 20 percent of the population. Work animals replaced tractors, harvesters, and trucks. Domestic production of meat, milk, and eggs was hampered by the lack of imported animal feed. In the mid-1993 a shortage of import feed for chickens resulted in the disappearance of eggs. The shortage of fertilizers, herbicides, and fuel reduced agricultural production. The sugar crop declined from 8.1 million tons in 1991 to 7 million tons in 1992, the smallest harvest in a decade. In 1993, it was worse. The lack of fuel, lubricants, pneumatics, and spare parts forced the closing of dozens of sugar mills, with disastrous consequences. The 1993 crop came in at 4.2 million tons.

Shortages of oil also contributed to the reduction of public transportation services. All through early 1992 Havana radio stations announced almost daily the consolidation of scores of bus routes and the cancellation of many others. Public transportation in the cities and between provinces declined dramatically. By the end of 1992, nearly 40 percent of national bus service and train schedules had been suspended. Lack of spare parts exacerbated Cuban transportation woes. In early 1993, nearly half of Havana's 1200 buses were idle for lack of parts. Local taxi service all but disappeared. Bicycles replaced automobiles as the principal means of personal transportation. By 1994,, nearly 700,000 bicycles had been distributed across the island. Efforts to ration scarce fuel supplies led to a schedule of power outages in almost every city. Blackouts were imposed daily, often lasting as long as eight and ten hours a day. Blackouts further complicated daily life. Electric water pumps, ovens, refrigerators, and freezers were rendered inoperative for hours at a time. Not only was it difficult to secure food, but it was becoming increasingly difficult to cook and preserve it. In March 1993 a late winter storm devastated the island, causing more than $1 billion worth of damage and leaving more than 150,000 people homeless.

It's better now, but that's thanks to international aid and trade.  We can't expect similar help when TSHTF.

It's odd that you'd be so precise with the "0" figure but so imprecise by throwing that word "most" in there. Here are the statistics for Cuban hurricane deaths in this decade:

2000: No hurricanes went near Cuba.

2001: Hurricanes Erin, Felix, Gabrielle, Humberto, Iris, Karen, Noel and Olga all stayed away from Cuba.

• Hurricane Michelle caused 5 deaths in Cuba but 0 deaths in the United States.

2002: Hurricanes Gustav and Kyle stayed away from Cuba.

• Hurricane Isidore resulted in 0 deaths in Cuba but 5 deaths in the United States.
• Hurricane Lili caused 1 death in Cuba and 2 deaths in the United States.

2003: No hurricanes went near Cuba.

2004: Hurricanes Alex, Danielle, Frances, Gaston, Jeanne, Karl, and Lisa stayed away from Cuba.

• Hurricane Charley caused 4 deaths in Cuba and 10 deaths in the United States.
• Hurricane Ivan's eye passed to the west of Cuba, causing 0 deaths there, but 54 deaths in the United States.

2005: Hurricanes Cindy, Emily, Irene, Katrina, Maria, Nate, Ophelia, Philippe, Stan, Vince, Beta and Epsilon all stayed away from Cuba.

• Hurricane Dennis caused 16 deaths in Cuba and 15 deaths in the United States.
• Hurricane Rita passed to the north of Cuba, causing 0 deaths there, but 119 deaths in the United States.
• Hurricane Wilma's eye passed well to the west of Cuba, but it caused 4 deaths there and 25 deaths in the United States.

So, looking at the eight hurricanes that have hit Cuba or the waters near it during this decade, five have resulted in more than "exactly: 0" deaths. Your statement that "most" of the recent hurricanes have no fatalities in Cuba seems to be false.

Uh, sorry but this assertion couldn't be more wrong: in most hurricanes the past few years, the death toll in Cuba has been exactly: 0.

That would be news to the 16 people who died in Hurricane Dennis, the four who four died in Hurricane Wilma, the five killed by Michelle, the one killed by Lilli, the four killed by Charley, etc.  

They have an excellent prediction and warning system, and routinely evacuate a million+ people without incident...

They do, but I wonder how good it would be if it weren't for data from the U.S. NHC.  Cuba has a lot of weather stations and a rare commitment to meterology, but they can't launch their own weather satellites.  

Wrong.

2001 Swiss Oil consumption - 290,400 b/day.
Population ~7.5 million

Scaled up to 295 million, that is 11.4 million b/day.

However, without ANY deprivation (actually an enhancement to their quality of life), they will significantly reduce their oil consumption when both TransAlp rail lines are open and heavy trucks are used mainly for local deliveries.  High speed rail service will be added as part of the package.

However, IF the Swiss had to, they could dramatically reduce their oil use without destroying their stable society.  Non-oil public transportation (local and nationwide) exists and can be used by most Swiss.  Add bicycles and walking.

Cuting their oil consumption in half or more would be "easy".  Just changing individual choices for a good reason (perhaps it costs too much).  The non-oil alternatives exist and are readily available.

A six year, 100% oil embargo.

They DID "Power Down" to just renewable power and a few drops of oil.  And kept their democracy, their social services and structure, and a decent quality of life.

I am not at all sure how to address your note on Plutonium. First I want to say that you are wrong. Plutonium239 is a fissile alpha emitter. Here is a quote from Wikipedia:

Because of their charge and large mass, alpha particles are easily absorbed by materials and can travel only a few centimeters in air. They can be absorbed by tissue paper or the outer layers of human skin (about 40 micrometres, equivalent to a few cells deep) and so are not generally dangerous to life unless the source is ingested or inhaled. Because of this high mass and strong absorption, however, if alpha radiation does enter the body (most often because radioactive material has been inhaled or ingested), it is the most destructive form of ionizing radiation. It is the most strongly ionizing, and with large enough doses can cause any or all of the symptoms of radiation poisoning. It is estimated that chromosome damage from alpha particles is about 100 times greater than that caused by an equivalent amount of other radiation.

Then there is the post after that says something like, "Nukes are the bridge between oil and the future (something quite unclear). They are safe enough and the waste will be shot off into deep space." I wish I could be shot out into deep space, away from the loons that went with these foolish ideas. Try to realize that all of us were born into an industrial world. Humans thrived for a great long time before the race began. At some point we must return to something like a pre-industrialization way of life. If you're busy clinging to your stock options and vacation pay then you will not be able to be self sufficient. You will die wile reaching for your dead Dell. I suppose when I look at input vs. output I see that the chances of human extinction as more then possible. When debating risk assessment of nuclear weapons and energy all you need to see are some pictures of the damage. Then you look at the total caloric expenditure (of all inputs, including all support costs) and compare it to what you derive. I can not imagine that making uranium balls of the quality needed will be cheap. I do know that when something eventually does go wrong there will be no amount of money that can get a life back. One major reactor accident 20 years ago and millions of lives were shattered. The plume exists today and is in your bones.

Depleted uranium is mostly U238. Wow, if it is dangerous someone should tell the President before he contaminates the world.

The unpleasantness enters the picture upon impact. Fine dust is created while the tip slices its way into lets say a tank. This dust will settle on objects or be blown in the wind. Eventually the dust enters the food chain and the water supply. At this point it enters humans who did no ingest or breathe the dust directly.

Farm animals live a short life compared to humans and the damage to animals is not as obvious since their lives are typically shortened by killing them to eat. Once their flesh is consumed by man the particles and damaged cells enter the soldiers, citizens and population.

In recent times the effects of exposure during the first Gulf war are materializing and in the past were coined Gulf War Syndrome. Birth defects are on the rise from US soldiers of Gulf War 1. Adding together all, of the spent DU used by Britton and the US in GW1 and GW2 is challenging at best. Some claims have the tonnage at 1500 tones. Others have the amount to be estimated substantially higher at 75000 tones.

Since the mid east is generally an arid place there is little hope of being able to clean it. DU is considered to be a low level isotope of Uranium. Thanks to reactors mankind has a fantastic supply of this material. Recently Aberdeen Proving Grounds found it necessary to stop testing these munitions and bulldozed there entire test area in an attempt to lower the concentration of surface contamination.

I think the environmental problems with nuclear power aren't much worse than burning coal. There is alot of misinformation out there. My geiger is never reading zero, so I must be doomed. I don't think nukes will be much help in replacing oil oil in the long run.

Regardless of the type of generation station the costs exceed the potential output. The idea that you will replace oil (eventually) is the same idea that arose in the Carter years. Few listened and now we get global peak oil as the reward. The going philosophy regarding nuclear power is simply more of the same. We have had several giant warnings about nuclear dangers yet those warnings are over looked to avoid going back to farming, community, simplicity, clean air, clean water and dignity. You will note that I have not touched on the destruction caused by the mining process itself.

In the original post I mentioned that even though we are not at war with Iran our leadership uses words like, "nuclear solution is on the table, small scale nuclear bunker busters could be an option, it's a new day in age where preemptive wars will be necessary" and on and on. If that is not true then why say it?

Is it simply saber rattling? Guess what, I would rather not find out. Is it a "Cold War" adjustment? Guess what, war has always been about resources and nothing more. I think something that should trigger a great justified outcry regarding nuclear weapons and energy is this:

As rapid inflation and the devalued dollar begin to impact the USA, less resources will be available except for the wealthy. As things tighten costs will need to be cut. Eventually the care currently given to nuclear waste will begin to erode through lack of funding.

You can see how things are deteriorating in the US simply by opening your eyes. Our quality off life is dropping little by little. You are considered a hero if you can shave off expenses. Once the shaving starts with wastes chances of releases, mistakes, theft and fraud will take root. If we eliminated as much nuclear activity as possible while some oil remains, now, we would minimize our chances of being the ones that cause WW3, at least a nuclear WW3.

I didn't want to develop a nuclear fuel debate per say, as the weapons and fuel are tied together. I wanted to express my head, gut and heart and see what we could come up with as a method to disarm ourselves before all of the saber rattling leads to the inevitable. I see the hypocrisy in all of this, the US basis its invasion of Iraq on possible WMD that were not found. In that invasion, the invaders spread tones of DU across the mid-east. Now things are heating up here at home and we have targeted Iran.

I think NOW would be a good time to attempt adverting another war. I can't see how anyone can focus on the global resource depletion problem with WW3 hanging over our heads and hearts. Any solutions will take the resources we have left and need to be the focus. As the DOD chews up the Federal Reserve, our taxes and ultimately 6 million barrels of oil per battle group per day, we are closer to WW3 then we are to a solution.

This tells me that the powers that "be" think that population reduction is the only solution. Naturally they will not say that in the open. The US is headed for a "Super Depression" since capitalism only works during expansion. The solution will be a feudal lord system at best.

In the US as I type the powers that "be" have contracted Halliburton to build massive camps at various locations around the US. Who are those being built for? Couldn't those funds be used for something more upbeat like geo-thermal, wind, solar, fusion or the flux-capacitor? So while we talk about depletion of oil don't forget that everything is being depleted.

By the way if I'm 100% wrong then we manage to prevent another oil stealing war, avert a possible Nuclear WW3 and clean up our messes. If I'm correct even to a small degree and we do nothing at all I will look forward to seeing you on the other side after some serious suffering.
PAX

"Because of this high mass and strong absorption, however, if alpha radiation does enter the body (most often because radioactive material has been inhaled or ingested), it is the most destructive form of ionizing radiation."
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alpha_particle

Fortunately, alpha particles are the easiest type of radiation to screen against.  Even a sheet of paper is usually sufficient shielding.  The danger comes from breathing or ingesting.

Or I can put 1 barrel of ethanol in my wehicle and reinvest 3 barrels of ethanol to get 4 barrels of ethanol. This gives an unlimited number of barrels of ethanol delivered one at a time but there is a long time lag for each iteration.