Gerardo Hernández Nordelo, a former Cuban spy and current national coordinator of the Committees for the Defense of the Revolution (CDR), shared a video on social media featuring his youngest child explaining a family game created to cope with the widespread power outage affecting Cuba since last Friday. In the video, filmed on Saturday night, the child describes the game, "balloon doesn't touch the ground," where family members, including Hernández, his wife, daughter, and son, try to keep a balloon in the air without it landing on the floor.
"We do this because there's no electricity in all of Havana, and we need some way to entertain ourselves," the coordinator's son stated in an educational tone. The "organization of the masses" was originally formed by dictator Fidel Castro to promote "revolutionary vigilance" and anonymous reporting at the neighborhood level.
Though seemingly innocent, this initiative serves the propaganda goals of the CDR leader, who seeks to appear as an "ordinary Cuban" also suffering through the blackouts. Simultaneously, it aims to "romanticize," and thus "normalize," the energy crisis plaguing the island, portraying it as more bearable.
The video is part of a series of previous postings by Hernández Nordelo, attempting to downplay the daily struggles in Cuba. Recently, he shared a video highlighting an "anti-imperialist neighborhood debate" in Holguín and posted images of himself with a group of people on the street. "For that, there is power," responded Cuban internet users.
In October, he encouraged CDR members to "fight online" in defense of the so-called "revolution," urging digital activism to counter criticism of the Cuban regime. A month prior, he posted a photo pushing a bus during the island's transportation crisis, trying to project solidarity and personal effort.
In February, official media faced backlash for attempts to romanticize blackouts with phrases like "it unites us" and "brings us closer," aiming to soften the harsh reality of the energy crisis.
This new video from the regime's "documentarian" fits into a broader narrative shift by authorities and state media, attempting to depict a "heroic people" "creatively enduring" difficulties blamed on the U.S. "blockade." In this context, in March 2024, it was reported that Cuban "cederistas" bid farewell to a group of Canadians in Guantánamo amid a general blackout and severe water supply crisis.
Examples of this propagandistic ploy are numerous. In September 2022, Hernández Nordelo celebrated Cubans awaiting September 28, the CDR's founding anniversary, despite shortages and the energy crisis on the island.
The ex-spy’s recent video is part of that propaganda strategy to normalize Cuba's energy crisis. As millions endure prolonged blackouts and deteriorating living conditions, Hernández and other government spokespersons attempt to portray the situation as "tolerable" and even as an opportunity for family unity.
However, the reality is that blackouts exacerbate shortages, prevent the use of essential kitchen appliances, and diminish the quality of life for the entire population. The attempt to romanticize this crisis with children's games or convoluted official rhetoric is far removed from the daily reality faced by Cubans.
Ultimately, it seems Hernández Nordelo's real game isn't "balloon doesn't touch the ground," but rather keeping afloat, with propaganda air, the falsehood that the regime's leadership shares the same hardships as the Cuban people.
While his balloon remains aloft, disconnected from reality, everyday Cubans not only touch the ground but live in the depths of oppression and poverty imposed by the very system. In Cuba, "balloon" is also synonymous with a lie, and this one, inflated by the official propaganda machine, will soon deflate in the face of the unbearable reality that can no longer be concealed with games or empty speeches.
Understanding the Propaganda Behind Cuba's Energy Crisis
What is the purpose of Gerardo Hernández's video?
The video aims to "romanticize" and normalize the ongoing energy crisis in Cuba by portraying it as an opportunity for family bonding, while also serving the propaganda goals of projecting the regime's leaders as sharing the same hardships as ordinary Cubans.
How do blackouts affect daily life in Cuba?
Blackouts worsen shortages, prevent the use of essential household appliances, and significantly lower the quality of life for Cubans, making daily survival increasingly challenging.
How has the Cuban regime attempted to portray the energy crisis?
The regime has tried to depict the energy crisis as bearable and even as a chance for unity, using various propaganda tactics to downplay its severity and shift blame onto external factors like the U.S. "blockade."