https://www.yahoo.com/news/articles/cuba-set-solar-power-record-134500729.html
From January 2025 to January 2026 solar power went from accounting for 5.8% of Cuba's total energy generation to 20%, which is phenomenal. Now Trump's oil embargo on the island nation is accelerating that growth, and has given China an opening to project its soft power and help diminish US influence in Latin America. In addition to sending more solar panels to Cuba, China is exporting industrial-sized batteries so that Cuba can store solar energy for use at night.
At this rate, Cuba will very quickly have a cleaner, healthier, and more modern electrical grid than the US itself, which appears intent on sliding backwards toward the Dark Ages by paying a French company $1 billion of taxpayer money to not build offshore wind farms within its borders.
https://www.cnn.com/2026/03/23/climate/trump-totalenergies-offshore-wind-cancellation
As anyone with a brain knows, not only is energy generated by the sun and wind infinitely renewable, cleaner, healthier, and able to be stored in batteries, but neither the sun nor the wind is subject to market volatility, Middle East crises, the whims of oil companies, or, indeed, embargoes enforced by backsliding fascist empires in their death throes.
China and the European Union—but especially China—are making phenomenal progress in building out and developing their renewable infrastructures, while the US continues choking on coal and oil, and achieving only incremental progress toward adopting renewables. Is it any wonder why no other nation in the world is particularly moved to help Trump and Netanyahoo fight their ill-conceived Middle East wars, but instead are all working to tend their own backyard and inoculate themselves against OPEC, the fossil fuel industry, and the tantrums of fascist warmongers?
Private citizens in Cuba are also installing solar panels at their homes. A simple kit allows for powering lights and appliances around the clock using a battery backup. This kind of innovation is something that will kick Cuba's oil habit and help the nation retain its independence.
https://www.reuters.com/business/energy/cubans-fight-blackouts-with-solar-us-extends-oil-chokehold-2026-02-20/
The government, aiming to encourage such investments, late on Thursday announced new measures that would waive personal taxes for up to eight years for business people who undertake renewable energy projects.
Though installing solar panels demands a higher cost upfront, Havana cafe manager Dariem Soto-Navarro said with diesel increasingly difficult to buy, solar was the better option.
"In addition to being clean, green energy, it optimises operating costs," he said. "It is without a doubt one of the best solutions for entrepreneurs and private businesses."
Alejandro Arritola, who drives a tricycle-taxi with solar panels installed on the roof, told Reuters he had installed the panels to help him travel further when he runs out of gas.
"It extends my range and I don't have to use any gasoline," he said, noting that his family continues to get around with ease despite the shortages. "If there's no public transportation, it doesn't matter."
This is the kind of stuff the overlords of the crumbling US empire despise: ordinary people going green, and seeing the advantages that quickly accrue when doing so.
I foresee Cuba's current experiences as being a possible model for sane (i.e. non-MAGA) citizens to follow if a civil war cripples the US's energy infrastructure, and blue states and big cities reject further dictates from a hijacked and corrupt federal government and decide to create their own "shadow" federation.
@Soothfast saidCuba is poor country, bordering on starvation. Average salary is about $15/month. Rations given out by their socialist government typical covers 5 days of rations. People are suffering there and here you are talking about their solar energy.
Private citizens in Cuba are also installing solar panels at their homes. A simple kit allows for powering lights and appliances around the clock using a battery backup. This kind of innovation is something that will kick Cuba's oil habit and help the nation retain its independence.
https://www.reuters.com/business/energy/cubans-fight-blackouts-with-solar-us-extends-oil ...[text shortened]... s from a hijacked and corrupt federal government and decide to create their own "shadow" federation.
@Rajk999 saidYes, I suppose we could talk about US sanctions hurting the little people in Cuba while doing nothing to touch the upper echelons of the government. However, I picked one issue: energy. Trump thinks he can break Cuba with an oil embargo, but I'm here to point out that that's likely never to work, and in fact the hardships Cuba is facing down today will make it stronger—much stronger—in the future.
Cuba is poor country, bordering on starvation. Average salary is about $15/month. Rations given out by their socialist government typical covers 5 days of rations. People are suffering there and here you are talking about their solar energy.
And anyway you don't give a damn about suffering Cubans. Choke on your crocodile tears.
@Rajk999 saidPeople need to cook their food with some source of energy...
Cuba is poor country, bordering on starvation. Average salary is about $15/month. Rations given out by their socialist government typical covers 5 days of rations. People are suffering there and here you are talking about their solar energy.
@Soothfast saidBlaming the world for ones failure is a personality flaw and psychiatrists describe that behaviour as an unhealthy cognitive distortion and coping mechanism. It tends to be more pronounced among proponents of socialism, where they blame the US and western capitalist countries for their stunted growth and backward societies.
Yes, I suppose we could talk about US sanctions hurting the little people in Cuba while doing nothing to touch the upper echelons of the government.
On the other side of the coin, they are quick to accept praise and pat themselves on the back for whatever little successes they enjoy.
Fortunately for Cuba, Trump is a mercurial moron who can't stick to any one policy for very long, and at any rate Putin has him in his pocket.
So, having once again proven to be Putin's most useful idiot, Trump has allowed a Russian oil tanker to steam past the blockade around Cuba. Meanwhile there's no regime change in sight for Cuba, but the people are certainly suffering. Same story as in Iran, same story as in Venezuela. US credibility continues to erode, and world markets continue to be destabilized.
How anyone with half a brain can look at this "administration" infesting the White House and find anything good to say is beyond me.
@Soothfast saidYou really are a dumbo socialist, with that typical lazy bum mentality. Sit there waiting for handouts, freebies and for the world to do everything.
Fortunately for Cuba, Trump is a mercurial moron who can't stick to any one policy for very long, and at any rate Putin has him in his pocket.
So, having once again proven to be Putin's most useful idiot, Trump has allowed a Russian oil tanker to steam past the blockade around Cuba. Meanwhile there's no regime change in sight for Cuba, but the people are certainly suffer ...[text shortened]... look at this "administration" infesting the White House and find anything good to say is beyond me.
The US has typically assisted countries up to a point. The US is not responsible for changing regimes. What happens is that if a country has a problem with their governments and leaders, eg Iran, Venezuela, Cuba, Nigeria {Islam], the US can step in and do something, say remove the leader, help advance the opposition or provide the means to overthrow the rogue regime. It is up to the people to now stand up and do something. The people need to get up and fight for their freedom from tyrrany. That is not the responsibility of the US.
Hope you got that, but I doubt that your welfare brain can figure it out.
@Rajk999 saidI'm waiting for handouts, eh? Really?
You really are a dumbo socialist, with that typical lazy bum mentality. Sit there waiting for handouts, freebies and for the world to do everything.
The US has typically assisted countries up to a point. The US is not responsible for changing regimes. What happens is that if a country has a problem with their governments and leaders, eg Iran, Venezuela, Cuba, Nigeria {Is ...[text shortened]... sponsibility of the US.
Hope you got that, but I doubt that your welfare brain can figure it out.
Dear Leader claims regime change, and I say "nope."
That's all that's at issue here: real reality vs. MAGA "reality."
Nowhere do I say the US is "responsible for changing regimes." However, when Dear Leader claims he's accomplished regime change in Venezuela (still socialist) and Iran (still a hard-line theocracy), I'm going to call it out as BS.
You really suck at reading comprehension. Like, AvJoe-level suckage.
@Soothfast saidWhat Trump did is to start the process of regime change, which is a big step forward. Other US presidents failed to even try. I say that is a great thing for the people of Venezuela and Iran. In Cuba there were dozens of riots and demonstrations against the govt. It is up to them to follow through and get the job done properly.
I'm waiting for handouts, eh? Really?
Dear Leader claims regime change, and I say "nope."
That's all that's at issue here: real reality vs. MAGA "reality."
Nowhere do I say the US is "responsible for changing regimes." However, when Dear Leader claims he's accomplished regime change in Venezuela (still socialist) and Iran (still a hard-line theocracy), I'm going to call it out as BS.
You really suck at reading comprehension. Like, AvJoe-level suckage.
@Rajk999 saidBy the way, who's in charge of Afghanistan these days?
What Trump did is to start the process of regime change, which is a big step forward. Other US presidents failed to even try.
The US record for achieving lasting regime change is absolutely abysmal. It's certainly expert at establishing or propping up dictatorships, though—that I'll grant.
In recent years Iran's population has been shifting toward secularism and liberal values that clash with the ruling theocracy. Young Iranians, especially, have been increasingly embracing Westernized ideals. Based on historical precedents and the experiences of other nations in the past, it was reasonable to expect that in time the theocracy would be thrown off by a populist revolt. Now all that is in doubt, because one thing that unites people behind their government better than anything else—no matter how odious that government is—is being bombed by a foreign power. That goes double for a foreign power that negotiated in bad faith, commits war crimes, and threatens to commit more war crimes by bombing critical infrastructure that the lives of millions depend on.
Don't hold your breath for a miraculous regime change in Iran.
Actually, please do.
A follow-up to my previous post:
https://www.mdpi.com/2077-1444/16/5/592
The Ascendancy of Secular Trends in Iran
Published May 3, 2025.
Abstract. In 1979, Ayatollah Khomeini spearheaded the Islamic Revolution, toppling the secular Shah regime, a move that resonated with millions of people. Fast-forward to 2025, there has been a notable rise in secularism in Iran, even among 1979’s religious clerics. Currently, 73% of Iranians support the idea of separating Islam from the state and advocating for a secular government.* As a result, there have been widespread anti-Islamist regime and pro-democratic protests during different periods, such as 2009–2010, 2017–2018, 2019–2020, and 2022–2023. The most recent development in 2024 was the victory of reformist candidate Masoud Pezeshkian in the presidential elections, defeating conservative candidate Saeed Jalili. This study examines the factors driving the rise of secularism, namely globalization, the systemic issues within the Islamic regime, the significant influence of the Iranian diaspora, and the impact of rapid urbanization.
* This is actually better than in the US, where some polls peg support for a secular government as low as 55%.
It is interesting to note that the Iranian diaspora is a moderating influence on Iranian society. This just goes to show how immigration helps to foster cosmopolitan attitudes more open to democratic principles and religious freedom. The US used to understand this (at least on a part-time basis), and used to leverage the "soft power" that immigration engenders to effect positive change in other nations. The ultranationalist, xenophobic MAGA movement has pissed away nearly all the influence and goodwill that the US had built up since the end of World War 2.
@Soothfast saidNot holding my breath. People have been given a chance for change. If they take it great. If not they will suffer... not me.
By the way, who's in charge of Afghanistan these days?
The US record for achieving lasting regime change is absolutely abysmal. It's certainly expert at establishing or propping up dictatorships, though—that I'll grant.
In recent years Iran's population has been shifting toward secularism and liberal values that clash with the ruling theocracy. Young Iranians, especia ...[text shortened]... depend on.
Don't hold your breath for a miraculous regime change in Iran.
Actually, please do.