WikiLeaks, Cuba and More U.S. Cynicism on Climate Change

[Joanne98]

As more and more WikiLeaks cables become available, a portrait of the U.S. attitude toward climate change is emerging -- and it is not flattering. In a previous article, I discussed American diplomats' dismissive views toward Bolivia, a country which has done much to advance a progressive agenda on climate change. In another recently released cable, however, U.S. officials take a cynical view of Cuba. Over the past year or so, the island nation has criticized the U.S. for strong arming other countries when it comes to international climate change negotiations. Joining forces with leftist countries like Bolivia, as well as fellow island countries such as Tuvalu, Cuba has been an irritating thorn in the side of the Obama administration.

Speaking to his superiors, Jonathan Farrar of the U.S. Interests Section in Havana admitted that Cuba was vulnerable to rising temperatures and sea levels, "most notably the potential flooding of an area with great biodiversity on the southwest coast (Zapata Swamp)." Farrar, however, doesn't dwell on the Zapata matter, choosing instead to quickly change gears and paint a cynical portrait. While Cuba will be on the front line of climate change, the diplomat concedes, the small island nation is simply opportunistic and bent on scoring cheap shot propaganda victories against the U.S.

If Farrar had spent more time at Zapata, an extraordinarily bio-diverse area which the earth can ill afford to lose, then maybe he would have adopted a more sympathetic view toward Cuba's environmental struggle. The swamp is the largest and best preserved wetland in the islands of the Caribbean, yet much of Zapata could be flooded as a result of rising sea levels. The area provides habitat for unique birds that are only to be found in Cuba such as the Zapata wren, sparrow and rail. The marsh may hold up to 65 percent of Cuba's birdlife, some of which has disappeared in the rest of the country like the Cuban pygmy owl and Blue-headed pigeon. In addition, the swamp is home to 1,000 plant species as well as rare and captivating mammals like the Dwarf Hutia. Zapata is a natural wonder, including not only mangroves and wetlands but 70 kilometers of caves containing freshwater lagoons.

Yet, Zapata has not been immune from natural calamities which only stand to increase as a result of climate change. Some experts believe that hurricanes, which damage local mangroves, could be getting more intense as a result of global warming. In 2001, Hurricane Michelle hit Zapata and caused serious damage. Though that storm was certainly ominous, officials at Zapata National Park warn that things could become much worse. Specifically, they're concerned that a combination of hurricanes and drought could result in more fires. As they plow through island nations, hurricanes leave a lot of accumulated vegetation in their wake. It's all a disaster waiting to happen, since the vegetation can later dry out and become fuel for fires which spread rapidly throughout the arid marsh. Furthermore, as temperatures increase so too does the risk of further drought afflicting Zapata.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/nikolas-kozloff/wikileaks-cuba-more-us-cy_b_800563.html

It's nice to know that's it's official US policy to undermine any efforts to fight climate change.

Especially since they PRETEND to be doing the exact opposite!

[Bacchus39]

1. so what is Cuba doing to protect its resources from climate change???

the opinion talks about a wonderful natural area and the threat posed to it by climate change, so what is Cuba doing to protect it??