ARREST THOSE BUZOS!

Some time ago I featured a blog from Cuba that I really like called "Sin EVAsión," written under a pseudonym by a Cuban on the island.

Today's post is about the dumpster divers or "buzos" as they are called in Cuba, who search for recyclable items. A group of 355 of these "buzos" were arrested for this illegal activity. Some were fined and others were sent to their provinces of origin because they were living illegally in the capital.  Some were sent to work off their punishment in "correctional jobs."

So, for being environmentally conscious, for wanting to retrieve recyclables that STATE-OWNED entities threw away instead of turning over to the state, these people were arrested. Another point that I don't understand is how you can be "illegally living" in one part of the country, a point which is also brought up in the blog's post.

Imagine the scandal here in the US for arresting some environmentally conscious people for digging through trash to recycle plastics and glass items.  Can you imagine the brouhaha that would ensue by the pro-environment groups?  Do you realize that there are groups that actively "dumpster dive" for thrown away food and clothes?  There are websites devoted to it and even yahoo groups that share tips and "finds."

Better still, try to imagine yourself arrested for living in, say, New York City because you really belong in Albany. Or living in Los Angeles when you should be living in San José.  ???? What is the logic behind that?

You can read more of these interesting observations in this cool blog. (It's in Spanish, btw.)

(picture from "Sin EVAsión")