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Article: Jaba a big figure in Cuba; plastic bag is king on the road.
- Article from:
- Chicago Tribune (Chicago, IL)
- Article date:
- January 5, 2003
CopyrightCOPYRIGHT 2003 Chicago Tribune. This material is published under license from the publisher through the Gale Group, Farmington Hills, Michigan. All inquiries regarding rights should be directed to the Gale Group. (Hide copyright information)
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Byline: Gary Marx
HAVANA _ In Cuba the plastic bag is king.
Not the white kitchen-size bags or the triple-ply, super-strength bags that are sold in droves in the United States. But your average, razor-thin plastic shopping bag found at U.S. supermarket checkout counters, used once and tossed out or less often, recycled.
In Cuba, where there is a shortage of everything and nothing is thrown away, the plastic bag has become as important to daily life as the monthly food ration card. Called a "jaba," it is used to carry everything from rice to clothing to books to musical instruments to fishing tackle to just about anything else.
Cubans ...