February 2006 saw the first IREI expedition outside the Pacific when Danko Taborosi and I (Justin Udovch) traveled to Cuba. Albeit Cuba is not nearly as geographically isolated as the islands that we focus on in Micronesia, its geopolitical situation does share a kind of isolation and self-reliance that many islands struggle with. Some key differences between the Pacific islands we are used to and Cuba are obviously their geographic size, their population, and their governmental systems. Cuba extends over 1000 km east to west and has approximately 11 million people, who live under a socialist system.

The intent of our trip to Cuba was to witness first hand hand how that very independent nation was coping with the numerous environmental, economic, social, and political challenges; and for us to learn and, in some proposed projects, possibly apply experiences we have had in the Pacific to help Cuba. Because this was IREIs first trip to Cuba, we thought of it as a fact-finding mission and an opportunity to brainstorm ideas for future projects -- some of which we hope to conduct in the Caribbean Republic. This approach proved correct, since Cuba is such a large island, a bit difficult to navigate through its communities, and definitely the kind of place that takes some getting used to.

During the first five days when we traveled through the rural areas, we witnessed true subsistence lifestyles being practiced: the people fished and farmed and maintained their everyday lives very well, despite the lack of cash in the community. The greatest challenge was the lack of technology and infrastructure, with many families living without electricity or sewage, as do some inhabitants on the Outer Islands of Micronesia. Another similarity we noted was the presence of NGO workers installing solar panels and teaching the locals how to maintain those systems, which is also being done in Micronesia. The lack of available technology did not, however, pose a deterrent for us -- quite the opposite; we were humbled by the down-to-earth lifestyles and amazed by pristine natural landscapes, which reminded us of the infinite value of human and natural resources over purely financial and material ones.

In Havana, where we spent the remaining five days of our trip, we noticed some of the problems (waste, pollution) faced by urban areas throughout the world, but they were certainly less serious than in similarly large cities elsewhere in Latin America. While in the capital, we made connections with NGOs that work on a wide array of educational programs by addressing environmental concerns at the secondary school level, university level, and adult level. Their delivery format was very effective and we are eager to share it with Micronesian NGOs, who are addressing similar issues.

A surprisingly interesting aspect of the Cuban economy is the way it handles tourism. In rural areas, there are simple eco-tourism industries that concentrate on the natural beauty of Cuba, without spoiling it through large investments, construction projects, and the mass bussing in of tourists. All of the operations are family run and sustainable. In our opinion, this is an approach that the Micronesian government can learn from. It promotes the development of tourism while maintaining the pristine countryside (the prime interest of the tourists), does not require major investments, and allows for the widest possible distribution of tourist dollars into the community.

In conclusion, that intoxicating landscape of human creativity and human spirit that is Cuba was an excellent choice for an IREI reconnaissance trip. The purpose of the journey was a success: to gain an inside view of the life of a self-reliant, albeit somewhat isolated island, and to make connections with other NGOs with similar goals: preserving the unique cultural and environmental aspects of islands in the Caribbean. We were most impressed by the awareness and level of dedication with which Cubans guard their culture and environment, and the vigor and quality which they put into their educational system.

Having learned much in Cuba and recognizing the many similarities amongst islands' common struggle to maintain their individuality, while conforming to economic and technological advancements around the world, IREI continues to seek out ways to help them achieve economic independence without sacrificing their cultural heritage or precious natural resources or losing touch with islander pride and identity. We are very satisfied with the experiences we had and the connections we made on our trip and eagerly await reconnecting with them on return visits. It is exciting to bridge a geographical gap between oceans and the political differences between nations, and to connect islanders so far apart.