VIENNA, AUSTRIA, 12 MAY 2006 In order to attain economic growth, fight poverty and guarantee full employment – because no human being should be redundant in a just society – it is necessary to change the current international economic order. I raised that issue in the morning. Among many other issues that could also be addressed, I will just focus on energy because of its validity and urgency. The current energy model based on hydrocarbons is no longer sustainable, for the proven and probable oil reserves are growing less than consumption and oil is unavoidably running out. The use of renewable sources and new and promising technologies is, without a doubt, a solution to the problem. However, these take time to be expanded. It is essential to save energy, do away with the squandering of consumer societies and undertake forthright fuel-saving programs. Just a group of 30 countries, including those in the EU, consume 80% of all the fuel used in the world. Some blame China's growth for the high prices of oil. However, a US citizen consumes, on average, 25 barrels of oil per year; a European 11; a Chinese less than two; and one from Latin America and the Caribbean less than one barrel per year. Iraq was already invaded to steal its oil. Others could be invaded, but even so, the oil would also run out for the aggressors. Iran, Venezuela and Sudan are now being threatened. And we would like to take this opportunity to assert that it is not possible to deny any country's right to the peaceful use of nuclear energy, let alone by those countries which are already using and even expanding such technology – and even less by the United States, the only in the world that has used nuclear weapons against the civilian population. The pressures being exerted against Iran today could result in a new aggression tomorrow. A warmongering action by the US on Iran would have catastrophic consequences, not only to the brotherly Iranian people, but also to the Arab nations, to Europe and to the rest of the world – and no one should be mistaken about the addiction of the United States for oil and the special calling and fondness of the current US Administration and its President for wars. It is imperative that the consumption of oil be reduced – which should be done, first and foremost, by the developed countries. Cuba has undertaken a program called Energy Revolution. That program has already started to bear fruit. With fuel saved, the country's electricity production is totally guaranteed – and we are starting to have surpluses in our ever-increasing national production. I will not elaborate on our program for the sake of time, but our experiences are modestly made available to everyone. The critical problem of depletion in the sources of fuel can find a solution if those of us currently entrusted with the task of governing act responsibly and without narrow-minded national selfishness. Thank you very much.
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