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How ecologically conscious are Cubans

Short answer:
We presently have literacy about this matter, but we (population and government) do not take everyday actions to prove we are conscious of environmental issues.
However, due to the simple life of most of the population and absence of a consumption economy, the ecological footprint of Cuba is one of the lower in the world. Read more in the Global Footprint Network.
Fred Landis did a very good observation and I agree 99%.
Not being able to create pollution is better than either individuals or governments being ecologically Korrect
However, I am sure we will agree that do not generate pollution consciously is better than do not generate pollution due the poverty. If you see the list in the Global Footprint Network, all the countries that meet the sustainable development criteria are underdeveloped countries. A lot to think about.
Long (incomplete) answer
Before 1990.
Cubans recycled a lot but not in the way modern societies do now. Also, some of the material collected was sent for reuse, not for recycling (ex. glass bottles). I think this practice is currently considered a health risk and not used anymore.
A neighbourhood organisation, with the acronym CDR, regularly sent the pioneers (mainly kids and teenagers) house to house asking for recyclable material. We collected glass bottles and cardboard primarily. Some people (not many) were so conscious to the point of store lots of these materials in their own house waiting for theses recycling marathons. However, most people gave what they have from the last days, which means there was a lot sent to the garbage. Finally, we put all the stuff in a designated place, and we wait for the trucks that carry all away.
“La patulla clic” (The click patrol) was the name given to a movement, again formed by kids and teenagers, that should turn off all the unnecessary lights open in schools, public places and in their own homes.
I can also remember many TV ads focused on recycling, energy saving and water saving.
Due to tremendous problems in the water supply infrastructure, even in big cities like Havana, the water supply was not permanent. In my neighbourhood, the water supply was daily, but not the whole day (maybe 8 hours). Therefore, the population was forced to store water and be cautious about its use. This situation is much much critical now. However, the government was never an example of water saving. Broken pipes in the street were frequent, and they took too much time to fix these problems.
Unfortunately, the government, I mean, communist organisations, organised all these activities. Consequently, most people participated because they were loyal to any order of the regime or because they did not want to look bad in front of the CDR; by the way, CDR means “Comités de Defensa de la Revolución” (Committees for the Defense of the Revolution).
I don't think the regime was able to develop a durable ecological conscience.
Despite my previous positive comments about recycling, the regime politics had a terrible impact on the environment: deforestation, degradation of farmlands, improper use hydric resources, inadequate treatment of contaminants, and much more.
After 1990
Coming soon ;)
PS:
The picture was taken from this source: Cuba’s Man-made Water Crisis Persists.
You are welcome to read my other answers about Cuba here Rodolfo Agüero-Bendoyro.

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