El gobierno cubano anunciará en los próximos días una reforma migratoria que hará más flexible los engorrosos trámites de salida y entrada a la isla, principalmente modificaría el permiso oficial obligatorio para viajar a otro país (llamada tarjeta blanca); cancelaría la obligatoriedad de tener una carta invitación de un extranjero para poder viajar al exterior y aceptaría que cubanos que residan en el extranjero con permiso oficial puedan mantener sus propiedades.
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Wednesday, 30 April 2008
Tuesday, 29 April 2008
What Twitter brings to the party
To this point, I have avoided getting into the conversations weighing the value and future of Twitter, FriendFeed, and the latest generation of community communications services. They clearly represent an evolution of instant messaging and the triumph of the feed.
read more | digg story
read more | digg story
Charanga Habanera at Carnival de Cuba '08!
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Charanga Habanera tops bill! Carnival de Cuba '08 will feature the hottest line-up ever of any Latin free-festival — topping the bill is the great Charanga Habanera — along with reggaeton sensation Eminencia Clasica and the massive Cuban hip-hopper Telmary — the legendary Ricardo Levya of Sur Caribe will be hosting the event Papo Record and Leximan will also play along with the Sugar Kings, Tumbao Tivoli — and on the dance stage we've got Homero Gonzales, Lazaro Lopez, Moe Flex plus DJs Jose Luis, Javier la Rosa, Dr Jim and Sol. The great Guillermo Davis will lead the Conga procession — and we'll have free dance and Conga drumming workshops with Drumheads + loads for the kids Mojitos and Daiquiris by Cubana bar-restaurant! Carnival de Cuba – Southwark Park – June 28th/29th – midday to 9.00pm Visit http://www.carnival-de-cuba.com/ for more info.
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Monday, 28 April 2008
No Space for Dissent in Raul Castro's Cuba
IN THE PAST few weeks, Cuban President Raúl Castro has introduced a handful of micro-reforms to the oppressive and bankrupt regime left behind by his brother.
read more | digg story
read more | digg story
Qatari Diar invest $70m in Cuba
Qatari Diar have signed a Memorandum of Agreement with the Republic of Cuba for a $70m investment to develop an exclusive 5 star resort in Cuba.
read more | digg story
read more | digg story
Nuevo Accion: Las Intimidades de los herederos del tirano
EDICIÓN DEL VIERNES 25 DE ABRIL, 2008
¡SENSACIONAL! ¡EXCLUSIVO!
NUEVO ACCIÓN Y SECRETOS DE CUBA EN LAS INTIMIDADES DE LA FAMILIA CASTRO
SIGUE EL ÉXODO DE LOS HEREDEROS
En esta foto exclusiva de Secretos de Cuba y Nuevo Acción aparece la nieta de Fidel Castro Mirta Castro Smirnova, que al igual que otros herederos de la familia de los tiranos, han iniciado ya el éxodo hacia otras tierras. La hija de Fidelito Castro Díaz Balart, es la segunda de izquierda a derecha y está acompañada --de izquierda a derecha--por Walter Van Assche, Beatriz Polo García y Lance Littlejohn.
LOS HIJOS DE FIDELITO YA ESTÁN FUERAL
Nuevo Acción fue una de las primeras publicaciones que habló de las compras que hacía en Chile de varias grandes haciendas, el "Guaton" Max Marambio, para la familia Castro Ruz y Castro Espín, y después del viaje de Fidelito Díaz Balart a a ese país para inspeccionar las propiedades y posiblemente cerrar la operación de compra venta. Hoy corren rumores en toda la prensa de que Fidel Castro Diaz se ha trasladado ya con su actual familia para Chile.
Hoy Nuevo Acción y el foro Secretos de Cuba, tienen la primicia de que los nietos del casi muerto (¿o casi vivo?) emperador de Cuba, están ya radicados definitivamente en el extranjero y les ofrece a sus lectores todos los detalles, con teléfonos, e mails, etc. Nos referimos a los hijos del primer matrimonio del hijo mayor de Fidel Castro.
Efectivamente, la hija del primer matrimonio de Fidelito, Mirta Castro Smirnova (foto grande que encabeza esta información y foto de la izquierda) con 33 años de edad es profesora asistente de matemáticas en la Universidad de Sevilla- Su dirección postal es:
Facultad de Matemáticas, Universidad de Sevilla
Apdo. 1160, Sevilla 41080 SPAIN - y sus teléfonos fax y e-mail son los siguientes:Phone, Fax and E-Mail: Phone: +34 954 55 99 85 -Fax: +34 954 55 7972 - Send e-mail to Mirta Castro
El otro retoño castrista, Fidel Antonio Castro Smirnov tiene 28 años, y vive y estudia en Munich, Alemania. Fidel Antonio viaja muchisimo, por París, Barcelona, Rio de Janeiro y otras ciudades del mundo, codeándose con el jet set. Aquí está su ficha, incluyendo su e-mail: Fidel Antonio Castro Smirnov, Dipl. Phys. (fsmirnov yahoo.com) Phone +49 (0)89 3187- -2391 .Estudia en el GSF National Resaerch Center for Enviroment and Health Institute of Radiation Protection, en Munich Alemania.
Fidel Antonio o Fidel III, en la Universidad de Munich. Es el de la extrema derecha. A la izquierda su padre y al centro, posiblemente, el Director del Centro donde estudia el nieto del tirano mayor
Aqui tienen a dos de los más iguales, del país en que todos son iguales. Son Fidel Castro II y Fidel Castro III, o lo que es lo mismo: Fidel Castro Díaz Balart y Fidel Antonio Castro Smirnov, que ya disfrutan fuera de Cuba, del dinero esquilmado a nuestro pueblo.
¡SENSACIONAL! ¡EXCLUSIVO!
NUEVO ACCIÓN Y SECRETOS DE CUBA EN LAS INTIMIDADES DE LA FAMILIA CASTRO
SIGUE EL ÉXODO DE LOS HEREDEROS
En esta foto exclusiva de Secretos de Cuba y Nuevo Acción aparece la nieta de Fidel Castro Mirta Castro Smirnova, que al igual que otros herederos de la familia de los tiranos, han iniciado ya el éxodo hacia otras tierras. La hija de Fidelito Castro Díaz Balart, es la segunda de izquierda a derecha y está acompañada --de izquierda a derecha--por Walter Van Assche, Beatriz Polo García y Lance Littlejohn.
LOS HIJOS DE FIDELITO YA ESTÁN FUERAL
Nuevo Acción fue una de las primeras publicaciones que habló de las compras que hacía en Chile de varias grandes haciendas, el "Guaton" Max Marambio, para la familia Castro Ruz y Castro Espín, y después del viaje de Fidelito Díaz Balart a a ese país para inspeccionar las propiedades y posiblemente cerrar la operación de compra venta. Hoy corren rumores en toda la prensa de que Fidel Castro Diaz se ha trasladado ya con su actual familia para Chile.
Hoy Nuevo Acción y el foro Secretos de Cuba, tienen la primicia de que los nietos del casi muerto (¿o casi vivo?) emperador de Cuba, están ya radicados definitivamente en el extranjero y les ofrece a sus lectores todos los detalles, con teléfonos, e mails, etc. Nos referimos a los hijos del primer matrimonio del hijo mayor de Fidel Castro.
Efectivamente, la hija del primer matrimonio de Fidelito, Mirta Castro Smirnova (foto grande que encabeza esta información y foto de la izquierda) con 33 años de edad es profesora asistente de matemáticas en la Universidad de Sevilla- Su dirección postal es:
Facultad de Matemáticas, Universidad de Sevilla
Apdo. 1160, Sevilla 41080 SPAIN - y sus teléfonos fax y e-mail son los siguientes:Phone, Fax and E-Mail: Phone: +34 954 55 99 85 -Fax: +34 954 55 7972 - Send e-mail to Mirta Castro
El otro retoño castrista, Fidel Antonio Castro Smirnov tiene 28 años, y vive y estudia en Munich, Alemania. Fidel Antonio viaja muchisimo, por París, Barcelona, Rio de Janeiro y otras ciudades del mundo, codeándose con el jet set. Aquí está su ficha, incluyendo su e-mail: Fidel Antonio Castro Smirnov, Dipl. Phys. (fsmirnov yahoo.com) Phone +49 (0)89 3187- -2391 .Estudia en el GSF National Resaerch Center for Enviroment and Health Institute of Radiation Protection, en Munich Alemania.
Fidel Antonio o Fidel III, en la Universidad de Munich. Es el de la extrema derecha. A la izquierda su padre y al centro, posiblemente, el Director del Centro donde estudia el nieto del tirano mayor
Aqui tienen a dos de los más iguales, del país en que todos son iguales. Son Fidel Castro II y Fidel Castro III, o lo que es lo mismo: Fidel Castro Díaz Balart y Fidel Antonio Castro Smirnov, que ya disfrutan fuera de Cuba, del dinero esquilmado a nuestro pueblo.
Sunday, 27 April 2008
Cuba incrementara pensiones de la Seguridad Social
Cuba ha decidido el incremento de las pensiones de la Seguridad y la Asistencia Social.
read more | digg story
read more | digg story
Desmiente Banco Central de Cuba rumor sobre billetes falsos
La Habana, 26 abr (PL) El Banco Central de Cuba (BCC) desmintió hoy una información del Nuevo Herald de Miami sobre un presunto comunicado de esa entidad alertando a la población en torno a la circulación de billetes falsos de pesos convertibles.
read more | digg story
read more | digg story
Penuldimos dias sobre articulo de El Pais: Cuba esta en Miami
El blog de Penultimos Dias: Reportaje en El País sobre el exilio de Miami. Al parecer, un extracto de un libro de Juan-José Fernández Santos. Malo.
read more | digg story
read more | digg story
Raul Castro pushes change for Cubans
During his two months in power, Cuban President Raul Castro has implemented a series of changes affecting life in Cuba in a variety of ways.
read more | digg story
read more | digg story
Saturday, 26 April 2008
Alertan en Cuba sobre billetes convertibles falsos
Las autoridades bancarias de Cuba han lanzado una alerta a la población sobre falsificaciones de billetes de pesos convertibles (CUC) que circulan actualmente en el país sin que puedan ser identificados por los medios habituales de detección.
read more | digg story
read more | digg story
Via Penultimos Dias tomado del Nuevo Herald: En Cuba habrá incremento selectivo de los salarios
El gobierno cubano realizará un incremento selectivo de salarios para estimular la productividad y a sectores vitales como los médicos, según fuentes oficiales, como parte de la serie de cambios paulati- nos que lleva a cabo Raúl Castro desde que asumió la presidencia hace dos meses.
read more | digg story
read more | digg story
Friday, 25 April 2008
Telecom Italia in Cuba and corporate responsibilty
Mi intercambio con Telecom Italia
From: ralph.traviati@telecomitalia.it
To: ignacio.abellag@googlemail.com
Date: Thu, 24 Apr 2008 23:08:47 +0200
Subject: Re: R: Telecom Italia in Cuba and corporate responsibilty
May I ask where you are writing from?
----- Original Message -----
From: ignacio.abellag@googlemail.com
To: Traviati Ralph
Sent: Thu Apr 24 22:47:58 2008
Subject: Re: R: Telecom Italia in Cuba and corporate responsibilty
Dear Ralph Thank you for your prompt reply. The blog just reflected something that several media outlets have reflected this week: that despite some cosmetic changes in Cuba, the Cuban regime remains as repressive as ever. Regards
Ignacio
2008/4/24 Traviati Ralph ralph.traviati@telecomitalia.it:
Dear Mr Abella I was not aware of this blog and I thank you for bringing it to my attention. I will see what I can find out.
best, Ralph Traviati
International Media Relations
________________________________
Da: Ignacio Abella [mailto:ignacio.abellag@googlemail.com] Inviato: giovedì 24 aprile 2008 18.15 A: Leone Valeria; Spelta Angela Marianna; Gramigna Birgitta; Perrone Aldo Maria; Germiniani Paolo; Mainardi Rosenthal Helen; Dolci Francesco; Investitori Individuali; Investor Relations Telecomitalia; Corporate Affairs; Castaldi Andrea; Iacopino Pablo; Telecom Italia Press Office; Moroni Federica; De Martino Carlo; Traviati Ralph; Foscari Francesco Oggetto: Telecom Italia in Cuba and corporate responsibilty
Dear Sir/Madam
I read this note in a blog below and was wondering if Franco Bernabe and Telecom Italia had comments regarding the eavesdropping of Cuban citizens.
Why is Telecom Italia allowing this to happen? So much for the Socially Responsible Investing you promote in your website Socially Responsible Investing
Socially Responsible Investing (SRI) is a strategy of financial investments which takes into account both the investors' desire for profit and the social impacts of investments on the surrounding Community. SRI looks for enterprises which:
sell safe and useful products or services, while keeping excellent relationships with their customers;
keep excellent relationships with their employees;
proactively engage with the Communities involved in their business;
favour the safeguard of the environment, both with their policies and with their actions; respect human rights all over the world.
With the development of financial markets, the various forms of SRI have given rise to a variety of financial products, so much so that, today, the sector can count on a growing number of SRI funds
Regards
Ignacio Abella
A concerned European citizen
http://luismgarcia.blogspot.com/2008/04/on-line.html
Just like its old allies in the former German Democratic Republic, the Castro regime has perfected over the years the art of eavesdropping on supposedly private telephone conversations. Anyone who is deemed to be even vaguely "suspect" by the regime has his or her phone routinely bugged. No one is immune, either, as Vicente Fox discovered some years back when a supposedly private conversation with Fidel Castro was recorded and then used by the Cubans to publicly embarrass the then Mexican president. Which brings us to the case of the Damas de Blanco, the small group of (very brave) women that has staged a series of peaceful protests around Havana in the past calling for their dissidents husbands and relatives to be freed. Their latest protest, a peaceful sit-in on Monday near the Plaza de la Revolucion, was violently broken up by police and Communist Party thugs posing as "ordinary angry patriots". The women have now accused the Castro regime of spying on them, following the broadcast by the official media of telephone conversations between some of the Damas de Blanco and a US congresswoman. Of course, this will come as no surprise to anyone who keeps an eye on what goes on in the Castro brothers' private island. But I wonder what the Board and shareholders of Telecom Italia think? After all, the publicly-listed Italian telecommunications giant currently owns about 30 per cent of Etecsa, the Cuban national telephone and telecommunications monopoly. And Etecsa obviously approved and supported the bugging operation against the Damas de Blanco, as it obviously supports the tapping of probably hundreds of thousands of telephones across the island. You may want to pose the question directly to the chief executive officer of Telecom Italian, Franco Bernabe
From: ralph.traviati@telecomitalia.it
To: ignacio.abellag@googlemail.com
Date: Thu, 24 Apr 2008 23:08:47 +0200
Subject: Re: R: Telecom Italia in Cuba and corporate responsibilty
May I ask where you are writing from?
----- Original Message -----
From: ignacio.abellag@googlemail.com
To: Traviati Ralph
Sent: Thu Apr 24 22:47:58 2008
Subject: Re: R: Telecom Italia in Cuba and corporate responsibilty
Dear Ralph Thank you for your prompt reply. The blog just reflected something that several media outlets have reflected this week: that despite some cosmetic changes in Cuba, the Cuban regime remains as repressive as ever. Regards
Ignacio
2008/4/24 Traviati Ralph ralph.traviati@telecomitalia.it:
Dear Mr Abella I was not aware of this blog and I thank you for bringing it to my attention. I will see what I can find out.
best, Ralph Traviati
International Media Relations
________________________________
Da: Ignacio Abella [mailto:ignacio.abellag@googlemail.com] Inviato: giovedì 24 aprile 2008 18.15 A: Leone Valeria; Spelta Angela Marianna; Gramigna Birgitta; Perrone Aldo Maria; Germiniani Paolo; Mainardi Rosenthal Helen; Dolci Francesco; Investitori Individuali; Investor Relations Telecomitalia; Corporate Affairs; Castaldi Andrea; Iacopino Pablo; Telecom Italia Press Office; Moroni Federica; De Martino Carlo; Traviati Ralph; Foscari Francesco Oggetto: Telecom Italia in Cuba and corporate responsibilty
Dear Sir/Madam
I read this note in a blog below and was wondering if Franco Bernabe and Telecom Italia had comments regarding the eavesdropping of Cuban citizens.
Why is Telecom Italia allowing this to happen? So much for the Socially Responsible Investing you promote in your website Socially Responsible Investing
Socially Responsible Investing (SRI) is a strategy of financial investments which takes into account both the investors' desire for profit and the social impacts of investments on the surrounding Community. SRI looks for enterprises which:
sell safe and useful products or services, while keeping excellent relationships with their customers;
keep excellent relationships with their employees;
proactively engage with the Communities involved in their business;
favour the safeguard of the environment, both with their policies and with their actions; respect human rights all over the world.
With the development of financial markets, the various forms of SRI have given rise to a variety of financial products, so much so that, today, the sector can count on a growing number of SRI funds
Regards
Ignacio Abella
A concerned European citizen
http://luismgarcia.blogspot.com/2008/04/on-line.html
Just like its old allies in the former German Democratic Republic, the Castro regime has perfected over the years the art of eavesdropping on supposedly private telephone conversations. Anyone who is deemed to be even vaguely "suspect" by the regime has his or her phone routinely bugged. No one is immune, either, as Vicente Fox discovered some years back when a supposedly private conversation with Fidel Castro was recorded and then used by the Cubans to publicly embarrass the then Mexican president. Which brings us to the case of the Damas de Blanco, the small group of (very brave) women that has staged a series of peaceful protests around Havana in the past calling for their dissidents husbands and relatives to be freed. Their latest protest, a peaceful sit-in on Monday near the Plaza de la Revolucion, was violently broken up by police and Communist Party thugs posing as "ordinary angry patriots". The women have now accused the Castro regime of spying on them, following the broadcast by the official media of telephone conversations between some of the Damas de Blanco and a US congresswoman. Of course, this will come as no surprise to anyone who keeps an eye on what goes on in the Castro brothers' private island. But I wonder what the Board and shareholders of Telecom Italia think? After all, the publicly-listed Italian telecommunications giant currently owns about 30 per cent of Etecsa, the Cuban national telephone and telecommunications monopoly. And Etecsa obviously approved and supported the bugging operation against the Damas de Blanco, as it obviously supports the tapping of probably hundreds of thousands of telephones across the island. You may want to pose the question directly to the chief executive officer of Telecom Italian, Franco Bernabe
From a Yale graduate, an op-ed: In Cuba, a self-sustaining, repressive machine (still)
After the nightmare of socialism, Cubans deserve the chance to live out the dreams that have kept them going.
read more | digg story
read more | digg story
Demencia senil no es excusa para dejar el Partido Comunista de Cuba
En un esfuerzo por limitar las bajas de sus filas, el Partido Comunista de Cuba (PCC) llamó a los militantes próximos a la jubilación a no eludir las tareas partidistas, y advirtió que "la enfermedad no es un motivo de desactivación'' de la organización.
read more | digg story
read more | digg story
More on the case of dead Bolivian girl with missing organs in Cuba
Bolivian newspaper La Razon reports that the body of Beatriz Porco, a 22-year-old Bolivian who won a scholarship to study medicine in Cuba two years ago, was returned to her family on April 2, minus several internal organs, including the girl's brain, kidneys, lungs, and uterus.
read more | digg story
read more | digg story
Thursday, 24 April 2008
From Blog Child of the Revolution: Phone eavesdropping in Cuba, let's ask Telecom Italia
From the Blog: Just like its old allies in the former German Democratic Republic, the Castro regime has perfected over the years the art of eavesdropping on supposedly private telephone conversations. Anyone who is deemed to be even vaguely “suspect” by the regime has his or her phone routinely bugged. No one is immune, either, as Vicente Fox discovered some years back when a supposedly private conversation with Fidel Castro was recorded and then used by the Cubans to publicly embarrass the then Mexican president.
read more | digg story
read more | digg story
Wednesday, 23 April 2008
Bolivia pide informe sobre ciudadana muerta en Cuba
Bolivia pedirá informe sobre ciudadana muerta en Cuba y devuelta sin órganos. El gobierno de Evo Morales anunció que solicitará a la Fiscalía un reporte sobre la muerte y traslado de una joven boliviana en la isla y cuyo cuerpo retornó al país sin sus órganos.
read more | digg story
read more | digg story
Blog Penultimos Dias: sobre las reflexiones de Fidel Castro (donde truena al Ministro de Educadio de Cuba)
Tomado de Penultimos Dias: El Compañero Fidel, con nueva reflexión, en la que hace leña del Ministro de Educación caído:
read more | digg story
read more | digg story
De qué cambios habla el tirano? Tomado d Misceláneas de Cuba
De qué cambios habla el tirano? ¿De las dos o tres migajas técnicas que desde hace años ya no son noticia en ningún sitio de este mundo civilizado? ¿De las sábanas limpias y de los ventanales del Hotel Nacional de pronto accesibles para no sé quiénes y los turistas foráneos de siempre?
read more | digg story
read more | digg story
Tuesday, 22 April 2008
Thank you, Raúl Castro!!! (From Blog Uncommon Sense)
You can keep your cell phones. And your DVD players. And your toaster ovens. And your stays in luxury tourist hotels. None of that will make life easier for the Cuban Damas de Blanco. None of that is what they want.What these brave women want, all they demand, is freedom for their husbands.
read more | digg story
read more | digg story
Monday, 21 April 2008
Policía cubana disuelve una protesta de las Damas de Blanco
Policía disuelve por la fuerza una protesta de las Damas de Blanco en la Plaza de la Revolución
read more | digg story
read more | digg story
Ex cónsul cubano pide eliminar el permiso de salida
El ex cónsul cubano en México y oficial retirado de inteligencia, Pedro Aníbal Riera Escalante, presentó ayer una propuesta ante la Asamblea Nacional (Parlamento) para eliminar los permisos de entrada y salida del país, y respetar las propiedades de los ciudadanos que deciden emigrar.
read more | digg story
read more | digg story
Blog The Cuban Triangle writes about the petition for the migration policy reforms in Cuba
The Cuban Triangle includes interesting details about the proposals submitted to the National Assembly
Sunday, 20 April 2008
Soy cubano, con celular ... Juventud Rebelde comenta sobre los nuevos telefonos
Pablo Valiente no puede hablar sobre los celulares en Cuba sin criticar al resto del mundo y hablar "que los precios de ETECSA clasifican entre los más bajos del mundo"
La hipocresia no tiene limites en esta nota de Juventud Rebelde
La hipocresia no tiene limites en esta nota de Juventud Rebelde
Blog penúltimos días comenta sobre articulo de El Universal: Mantiene Cuba requisitos para viajar
Penultimos Dias publica la nota aparecida en El Universal que asegura que en Cuba el cuartico esta igualito respecto a los requisitos para viajar al exterior. Yo tambien espero que Mauricio Vicent tenga razon y que sus fuentes esten en lo correcto. Casi prefieron que Vicent se pase para el Granma
read more digg story
read more digg story
Fidel Castro y el Che, personajes de anuncio para Dacia
El 'spot' que promociona en Alemania la 'station wagon' de Dacia-Renault está protagonizado por algunos de los personajes revolucionarios que cambiaron la historia del mundo
read more | digg story
read more | digg story
Nuevo dia, nuevo rumor de Cuba: posible venta de autos
Siguen los rumores sobre los "cambios" en Cuba. Este nos llega cortesia de El Pueblo via el blog Penultimos Dias
read more digg story
read more digg story
Saturday, 19 April 2008
Penúltimos días cita editorial de El Pais sobre Cuba
“La experiencia dice que los resquicios de libertad acaban agrandándose, que no hay pueblo sometido que renuncie a ensanchar la grieta del aire fresco. Las tímidas reformas cubanas deben representar un inequívoco clarinazo hacia la liquidación de la eternizada dictadura.”
read more | digg story
read more | digg story
Crece la expectación en Cuba ante la posibilidad de viajes
Cuba está "a la espera" de una flexibilización migratoria que facilite los trámites para viajar al extranjero de los ciudadanos de la isla, en el marco de las reformas anunciadas por el nuevo gobierno de Raúl Castro.
read more | digg story
read more | digg story
Monster buses vanish from Havana streets
Monster buses vanish from Havana streets, the last of the camellos runs this Sunday night.
read more | digg story
read more | digg story
Cubanos podrán hablar al mundo sin operadora pero en PESOS CONVERTIBLES
La autorización de las llamadas telefónicas libres incluye a Estados Unidos; crecen rumores sobre la liberación de los viajes al extranjero.
read more | digg story
read more | digg story
El Grupo Domingo Alonso importa SEAT para Cuba
El Grupo Domingo Alonso ha adquirido la importación de SEAT en Cuba. La empresa canaria está presente en Cuba desde 2005 como importador de las marcas Volkswagen, Audi y Skoda.
read more | digg story
read more | digg story
Cubanos esperan el fin del permiso de salida
Los cubanos aguardan impacientes, aunque con escepticismo, la eliminación de las restricciones para viajar, uno de los principales reclamos en la secuencia de cambios que realiza el gobernante Raúl Castro. ''Hay rumores, pero nada todavía'', se lamentan en las filas de las oficinas de Migración.
read more | digg story
read more | digg story
April 18, 2008 - Cuban Weekly News Digest
Cuban Weekly News Digest - "A compilation of news articles about Cuba, distributed since 1992 in order to encourage a balanced understanding of the Cuban situation and to promote investments in the Republic of Cuba"Havana – DTC - The provision of railroad services to Cuban industries is a prioritized project being executed by the company SOLCAR, the only firm of its kind in the country. During the first few months of 2008, the company has built the appropriate infrastructure in a nickel mine in eastern Holguín province to carry the mineral. It also completed a segment of railroad tracks from a food silo in Santa Clara, and similar works will be done in the provinces of Cienfuegos and Sancti Spiritus. SOLCAR workers also laid 1.2 kilometers of recovered railroad tracks in western Pinar del Río province, and made the iron pillars for a dolphinarium on Cayo Santa María. In order to make technological improvements, investments will be made to modernize the welding area by installing Russian-made equipment.
Associated Press - Lines stretched for blocks outside phone centers Monday as the government allowed ordinary Cubans to sign up for cellular phone service for the first time. The contracts cost about $120 to activate — half a year's wages on the average state salary. And that doesn't include a phone or credit to make and receive calls. But most Cubans have at least some access to dollars or euros thanks to jobs in tourism or with foreign firms, or money sent by relatives abroad. Lines formed before the stores opened, and waits grew to more than an hour. "Everyone wants to be first to sign up," said Usan Astorga, a 19-year-old medical student who stood for about 20 minutes before her line moved at all. Getting through the day without a cellphone is unthinkable now in most developed countries, but Cuba's government limited access to mobile phones and other so-called luxuries in an attempt to preserve the relative economic equality that is a hallmark of life on the communist-run island.
President Raul Castro has done away with several other small but infuriating restrictions, and his popularity has surged as a result — defusing questions about his relative lack of charisma after his ailing older brother Fidel formally stepped down in February. An article in the Communist Party newspaper Granma said it was Fidel Castro's idea all along to lift bans on mobile phones, and that he was behind recent government orders easing restrictions that had prevented most Cubans from staying in hotels, renting cars, enjoying beaches reserved for tourists and buying DVD players and other consumer goods. "They are part of a process initiated and called for by Fidel," the paper said of the recent changes.
Fidel Castro has not been seen in public since undergoing emergency intestinal surgery in July 2006, but he has continued to pen essays every few days and recently criticized DVDs, cellphones, the Internet, e-mail and Facebook, asking: "Does the kind of existence promised by imperialism make any sense?" He wrote Saturday that the island may be going too far in easing some restrictions: "As in Cuba, there are those with theories about easy access to consumer goods," he wrote, dismissing those people as "imperial ears and eyes hungry for these dreams." Cellphones on the island can make and receive calls from overseas, a key feature because the overwhelming majority of Cubans have relatives and friends in the United States. Cuba's state-controlled telecommunications monopoly, a joint venture with Telecom Italia, charges $2.70 per minute to call the U.S. and $5.85 per minute to Europe and most of the rest of the world. Making or receiving local calls costs 30 cents a minute. Astorga said she planned to buy about $65 in credit — enough, she hopes, for three months of very brief conversations.
"You can't talk all day because it's too expensive," she said. "It's only, 'hello, I'm here. Goodbye.' Or 'where are you?' and hang up." Teenagers and college students with expensive sunglasses and fashionable clothes dominated the lines, alongside the occasional elderly housewife or construction worker with dusty boots and threadbare T-shirt. Inside stores, Cubans showed ID cards to sign contracts and crowded around glass cases where cellphones rotated under bright lights. A basic Nokia Corp. model offering little more than calling and text-messaging cost about $75, while a snazzier camera-phone retailed for $280 — more than twice than in the U.S. Lines outside stores are common in Cuba since security personnel limit how many people are allowed in at a time. Telecommunications offices are often especially crowded with people waiting to pay their phone bills.
But Monday's waits were longer than normal — and everyone who turned up wanted a cellphone contract. "I am in need, I need to have one," said retiree Juana Verdez, who said a cellphone would help her stay in touch with family members. Shorter queues also formed in Santiago, the island's second-largest city, and in smaller towns. Only foreigners and Cubans holding key government posts had been allowed to have cellphones since they first appeared here in 1991. Thousands of ordinary Cubans already had mobile phones through the black market, but could activate them only if foreigners agreed to lend their names to the contracts. One woman waiting to legalize a cellphone previously registered under someone else's name said the recent changes have made Cubans happy. "It's something. Something small, but positive," said Norma, who asked that her full name not be printed because of the unauthorized telephone.
Havana - (Prensa Latina) - The energy revolution is gaining ground in Cuba and requires continued effort by all people involved, said the minister of Basic Industry, Yadira Garcia. The Cuban official analyzed some of the program goals, specifically those located in the eastern province of Gramma, and said their progress was satisfactory and substitution of imports was underway. According to a Radio Rebelde report, the member of the Political Bureau of the Cuban Communist Party emphasized that Cuba is still carrying out replacement of electrical appliances with those of lower wattage, while improving the electrical system. She said that the island has imported thousands wooden electrical poles, but they will be substituted by concrete structures to be produced at the Bayamo Prefabricated Company in the next six months of 2008.
Cienfuegos, Cuba - (Prensa Latina) - Cuban Vice President Carlos Lage said here that national food programs are growing to confront price hikes on the world market. Cuba will invest this year one billion dollars more than in 2002 on food imports, assured Lage at the end of his tour of this province, where he attended the opening of a pasta factory. To buy one ton of pasta from abroad costs 1200 dollars while home production costs 980, noted Lage at the opening ceremony of modern plant with the highest technology and designed to produce 12,000 tons annually.
The factory, built in one of the facilities of a sugar factory dismantled this present year, is part of a national program to increase domestic production from 20,000 to 70,000 tons in four years. The also secretary of the Ministers Councils Executive Committee visited a recently built plant that will produce 20 tons of CO2 daily, used to produce soft drinks. The revolution is going now through a process of construction, recovery and progress which nobody dreamt of 10 years ago, emphasized the leader. Despite the difficult situation in the world, Cuba has more possibilities than any other Latin American country to achieve progress in the economic field, he said. Lage also attended opening of two new polyclinics, rising to 15 those built and repaired during the last five years, of 22 existing in this territory.
Havana - (Prensa Latina) - Cuba will invest about 10 million dollars in three years for the rehabilitation of public lighting system in the country, the director of UNE National Electric Union of Cuba Antonio Pias announced. The objective is to install 182,000 new lights for the public lighting system in all the establishments where works of rehabilitation, normalization or new electrification are being carried out, the official specified in statements disclosed by Granma newspaper. Pias announced that about 7,100 lights are already distributed all around the provinces and they hope to complete by 2008 the fourth part of the needs in that area. The new lights of sodium have a power of 100 to 150 watts and a life utility greater to five years, Pias expressed after indicating that they are acquired in China at a cost of 72 dollars each.
Havana - (acn) - Pinar del Rio took two consecutive wins as visitors over the weekend at the Jose Antonio Huelga stadium to eliminate Sancti Spiritus and in the process advanced to the finals of the 47th Cuban Baseball Championship. After the fifth game of this best-of-seven semifinal series in the Western Division, the representatives from the westernmost province of Pinar del Rio were down 2-3 but they managed to tie the series with a 6- 3 victory on Saturday and then, on Sunday, they secured their ticket to the tournament's finale with a hard-fought 7-6 win in 10 innings. On Sunday, Vladimir Baños held the home squad to only two runs and four hits in six innings but relievers Irandy Castro Castro and Rogelio Garcia yielded four runs in the last thee frames, which sent the game into extra-innings.
Then, in the top of the tenth, the visitors scored the winning run on an error by short-stop Yulieski Gourriel while closer Armando Martinez took the last three outs for Pinar del Rio. The winners' 15-hit attack included homeruns by Jorge Padron, Tomas Valido, Rafael Valdes and Norlis Concepcion. After this result, Pinar del Rio now travels to the Guillermon Moncada stadium where they will face defending champions and hosts Santiago de Cuba in the finale of the tournament that begins Wednesday.
International Herald Tribune – HAVANA - Cuba says it saved more than US$1 billion (E632 million) over two years and eliminated blackouts with its "energy revolution" that focuses on conservation and new power sources. Basic Industry Vice Minister Juan Manuel Presa says the savings occurred in 2006 and 2007, as the government replaced 9 million regular light bulbs with energy-saving models and swapped 2.3 million old refrigerators for newer models. Presa spoke to The Associated Press during a gathering of the Petrocaribe regional energy group. Cuba launched its "energy revolution" with new generation and saving initiatives after severe blackouts during summer 2004 in the antiquated electrical grid.
Havana – DTC - Sites of historic interest in the eastern Cuban province of Holguín will benefit from restoration works, as part of local authorities' efforts to preserve the nation's heritage. One of the places that will be restored is the Carlos Manuel de Céspedes Square, one of the city's main parks, which is nearly two centuries old. The project, which was designed by the Provincial Office of Monuments, is aimed at rescuing the original Spanish-colonial nature of the square. Works include cleaning the monuments, and reconstructing the perimeter wall, flowerpots and paths. Initially called San José Square, the park was built from 1809 to 1819, during which the church of the same name was build on it. In 1900, it was called Carlos Manuel de Céspedes Park, although most local people still call it San José Square.
London – International Herald Tribune - Baseball's 2009 World Cup is being shifted from Cuba to seven European nations in an effort to bolster the sport's bid to get back into the Olympics. Cuba agreed to the move, the Italian baseball federation told The Associated Press. Italy will host the final, and games also will be played in six other European nations. An announcement was to be made in Rome on Tuesday, the federation said. The International Olympic Committee eliminated baseball and softball from the 2012 London Olympics during a vote in 2005. The committee will review baseball's success during the Beijing Games in August and the next World Baseball Classic in March 2009.
The World Cup will be held in September 2009, and the IOC will meet in Copenhagen, Denmark, the following month to determine whether baseball and softball will be readmitted to the Olympic program for the 2016 Games. Italian baseball federation president Riccardo Fraccari came up with the idea of shifting the tournament to Europe because that is where the bulk of IOC members live, the federation said. Twenty teams will participate in the tournament. The United States won last November's World Cup, which was played in Taiwan. Only players not on major league 25-man rosters were eligible.
Havana – DTC - The Meliá Habana Hotel, located in the Cuban capital and run by the Spanish group Sol Meliá, is being remodeled. The project includes new facilities to improve the image of the establishment. As part of the works, the 60-seat restaurant La Bella Cubana was redecorated to show an exotic look in tune with the Asian dishes it serves. The decoration includes elements from Asian cultures such as bamboo and oriental lamps. The restaurant serves exquisite dishes from Chinese, Japanese and Thai cuisine. In addition, the gymnasium at the Meliá Habana Hotel has been enlarged and equipped with new apparatuses, including computerized treadmills and modern bicycles.
Local 10.com - MIAMI - The Port of Miami, Miami-Dade County's second largest provider of jobs and income, may face stiff competition from Cuba, according to the port's director. In a briefing to Miami-Dade commissioners, Bill Johnson said investments and improvements scheduled for Cuba's Port of Mariel should pose a concern. "Competition today is already significant outside U.S. borders on the cargo side," Johnson told Local 10's Glenna Milberg. The Port of Mariel, west of Havana, is the focus of a feasibility study by Dubai World Ports (DWP), the third-largest container port business in the world. In 2006, the Arab-owned container port business based in the United Arab Emirates agreed to give up control of six ports in the United States, including Miami, that came with its purchase of a British shipping conglomerate. DWP plans to develop the Port of Mariel as a major cargo shipping hub.
"We've been told it could be a quarter-billion dollar improvement at the Port of Mariel for cargo, and that's of great concern," said Johnson. "If it goes forward, the anticipated completion date is 2012, and that's right around the corner." The Port of Mariel, about 30 miles west of Havana on Cuba's north coast, was used as a missile base during the 1960s, when Cuba was an ally of the Soviet Union. Two decades later, Fidel Castro opened the port to let more than 100,000 refugees sail for South Florida.
At least one Cuba analyst at the University of Miami's Institute For Cuban and Cuban American studies downplayed concerns of economic competition from the Port of Mariel or any entity in communist Cuba. "A ship that docks in a Cuban port cannot dock in a U.S. port for six months," said Dr. Jose Azel, citing a stipulation of the Toricelli and Helms-Burton bills that mandate sanctions against the Castro government. "We'd have to see a complete relaxation of that for the economics to make sense," he said.
Havana – DTC - Cuba's tourism sector is training professionals in order to meet the growing demand from the so-called smokeless industry over the next few years. The Hotel and Tourism School in Isla de la Juventud (Isle of Youth), south of Havana province, is doing a great work in that regard. The nine-year-old school has graduated some 1,000 professionals who are working in the region's tourism sector. The school is part of a network of 18 similar schools throughout the country. Students graduate as floor managers, sales representatives, waiters, bakers, professional cooks, receptionists and entertainers. In addition, students are majoring in Tourism and take postgraduate, master's and doctorate courses.
Tiempo21.cu - The sugar workers of this eastern province of Las Tunas enter in the decisive stage of the current harvest, with the closing of Colombia sugar mill due to bad quality of its sugar canes, more than two tons of the crude could not be milled there. This figure must be assumed by the rest of the sugar mills in the province and for it the territory began to activate forces in different companies. Some workers of Colombia sugar mill moved to Amancio Rodríguez sugar mill, about 100 kilometers to the south of Las Tunas city, to continue the harvest there, while others arrived at the Jesús Menéndez sugar mill, in the north part of the province. A wire from the Cuban News Agency in Las Tunas points out that the objective is to accelerate the cane processing, keeping in mind that the rains can arrive at anytime and it is necessary to take advantage of the current yields that are above those planned for this stage.
Forces belonging to the Uruguay company, in the central province of Sancti Spíritus, that this year carried out an excellent harvest, will come to Las Tunas by the middle of this month to work in the sugar fields. In the current sugar harvest in this province, about 670 kilometers to the east of Havana, the sugar mills Amancio Rodríguez, Majibacoa and Antonio Guiteras, the previous the biggest producer of sugar in Cuba, are still milling, but with a low work record in this campaign.Havana – DTC - The Marea del Portillo Hotel, in the mountainous zone of eastern Granma province, combines attractive facilities and the region's natural charms. The three-star establishment, which is run by the group Cubanacán, benefited from the remodeling of 74 of its 130 rooms. The hotel's amenities include satellite TV, Internet, restaurants, entertainment, swimming pool and a bar at the beach. It has a diving area and very attractive sites, including a coral reef inhabited by multicolored fish and exuberant marine flora. Horseback riding, walks on ecological trails that lead to the waterfalls in the rivers Cilantro and Las Yaguas, speedboat rides, excursions to nearby keys and nautical sports complement the hotel's offers. Marea del Portillo is near the Desembarco del Granma (Granma Landing) National Park, which was declared Humankind's Natural Heritage by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), and the Pico Turquino National Park, where Cuba's highest mountain is located.
The Post and Courier - SAN FRANCISCO DE PAULA, CUBA — He was an old man who worked alone in a house on a hill outside Havana, and it is here that he wrote the story of a great fish. And today, it is not so different from when he left it. For years, this little village 15 miles from the Cuban capital has been the ultimate pilgrimage for any Ernest Hemingway aficionado, the place the world-traveling author ultimately chose to call home, and stayed for 20 years. It is here that the Papa of myth walked the Earth, spending oversized days fishing, drinking, writing — living the life every aspiring novelist wants for his very own. Cut off from the United States, Hemingway's adopted home has remained elusive for most of his followers, a place as unattainable as the man or his lifestyle. And that may have saved it.
It has become cliche to say that Cuba is frozen in time, but for Hemingway's world, it is undeniably true. The revolution that led to problems with the United States, and forced the writer to abandon his beloved home, in some ways has preserved it. The Cuban government, either through reverence or a lack of resources — or both — has kept all of the most important Hemingway landmarks just as he left them nearly 50 years ago. And that, if nothing else about the Cold War between the United States and Cuba, is a good thing.
His affair with Cuba began in the early 1930s. He had come to Cuba for the Gulf Stream, discovering this island 90 miles south of his home in Key West at a time when his love of big-game fishing was growing and his second marriage was dissolving. On and off for years, Hemingway kept a room at the Ambos Mundos hotel in Old Habana, and it is there he wrote the greatest part of "For Whom the Bell Tolls" and his columns for Esquire magazine (which he wrote to pay for his boat, Pilar). Today, for $2 in Cuba's tourist currency, you can step into his room at the Ambos Mundos. Although the hotel has been renovated, Hemingway's room has been left exactly as it was when he stayed there. You can stare out the window, look between the buildings and catch a glimpse of Morro Castle and the lighthouse, remember how he described his mornings in Havana.
"You look out the north window past the Morro and see that the smooth morning sheen is rippling over and you know the trade wind is coming up early. You take a shower, pull on an old pair of khaki pants and a shirt, take the pair of moccasins that are dry, put the other pair in the window so that they will be dry the next night, walk to the elevator, ride down, get a paper at the desk, walk across the corner to the cafe and have breakfast." A short walk away, near the old capitol, El Floridita restaurant and bar remains much the same as it was when Hemingway spent his afternoons there. They have roped off the corner where he always sat and immortalized in the posthumously published "Islands in the Stream":
"The Floridita was open now and he bought the two papers that were out, Crisol and Alerta, and took them to the bar with him. He took his seat on a tall bar stool at the extreme left of the bar. His back was against the wall toward the street and his left was covered by the wall behind the bar. He ordered a double frozen daiquiri with no sugar." Today, that corner of the bar is perhaps the most popular, and undoubtedly the busiest, of all the places you encounter on a tour of Hemingway's Cuba. The only change in the decor is a life-size statue of Hemingway, one of the most photographed landmarks in Havana, even more than the Hemingway monument in Cojimar, the fishing village from "The Old Man and the Sea," or even the Terrace, the bar there that makes an appearance in the short novel.
As his love of Cuba grew, so did Hemingway's affections for Martha Gellhorn, the novelist and journalist who would become his third wife. But she soon tired of shacking up at the Ambos Mundos, and urged him to find a permanent residence. He ignored the request. In 1939, Gellhorn dragged Hemingway to San Francisco de Paula to look at a house they could rent for $100 a month. He griped — it was too expensive, it was in bad shape, it was too far from the city. Gellhorn insisted; Papa caved. Soon, he grew to love it. By Christmas 1940, with the success of "For Whom the Bell Tolls" filling his bank accounts, he bought Finca Vigia, Spanish for "Lookout Farm." He paid $12,500 for it, according to "Ernest Hemingway: A Life Story" by Carlos Baker, which Gellhorn later would derisively, and hilariously, call "The King James version" of Hemingway biographies.
He stayed at Finca Vigia longer than he lived anywhere else. In 1940, he and Gellhorn married, then divorced in 1945. In between, he followed the war to Europe as a correspondent and returned home to hunt German subs in Pilar. When he came back to Cuba, he brought fellow correspondent Mary Welsh to be the new mistress of his island home. Here he grew old, wrote his last books, including the lion's share of his Paris memoir, "A Moveable Feast." On a visit to Finca Vigia, an editor and friend suggested he take the last section of his massive sea novel, which would become "Islands in the Stream," and publish it separately. "The Old Man and the Sea" was born. It would be the last book he published in his lifetime.
The Finca was a good place for writing, Hemingway noted often. He wrote standing up, his typewriter propped up on a bookcase. Mary had a tower built for him, but he preferred the sounds of the house to the isolation of the tower and his magnificent view. His affection for his home never waned. "People ask you why you live in Cuba and you say it is because you like it. It is too complicated to explain about the early mornings in the hills above Havana where every morning is cool and fresh on the hottest day in the summer."
Because of the U.S. embargo, tightened in recent years by the Bush administration, many preservationists have called Finca Vigia one of the most endangered American landmarks in the world. For years, the Cubans kept the house exactly as Hemingway left it in 1960: half-filled liquor bottles on the living-room table, mail scattered on the bed, obsessive notations of his weight scribbled on the bathroom wall. The house became a time capsule, albeit one that was showing its age. Recently, the Cuban government has undertaken a massive renovation, and the house and its contents seem pristinely preserved, even if the work makes the house feel just slightly sanitized. Still, all of what was his remains. There is the massive swimming pool, where he spent some afternoons and where Ava Gardner famously swam naked. There are the heads of animals he killed while writing "The Green Hills of Africa." There is the stamp "I never write letters" that he never used. His fishing visor still lies on the pillow of a bed in his study, within easy reach of the typewriter.
Although the house is busy with tourists peering through the doors and windows — you cannot go inside — it is possible to steal a minute alone. At certain angles, for just a moment, it is possible to see the house as empty and as quiet as he saw it. And then you understand why he loved it, why it broke his heart to leave it and why he came here in the first place.
Havana – DTC - The Tryp Cayo Coco Hotel, in the tourist destination known as Jardines del Rey (King's Gardens), has opened new facilities to improve services. The four-star all-inclusive hotel opened an Internet café at the lobby that is open around the clock in an area decorated with flat screen displays and executive furniture. The hotel, located on Cayo Coco, also inaugurated a Quality and Client's Support Center that was beautifully decorated. The center is located in a privileged area of the lobby and has a VIP section for private check-in.
Council on Hemispheric Affairs – Washington, DC - Changes being introduced by Raúl Castro are fundamental and probably irreversible. One of the most anticipated leadership transitions of this epoch—that of Fidel Castro in Cuba—has been underway for the better part of a year in the absence of political instability or the upheaval predicted, or hoped for, by American policymakers and exiles in Miami. While George Bush and Condelezza Rice continue to deny this reality, and the administration produces fanciful studies by self-serving ideologues rather than bona fide specialists, which one expert has aptly described as "American occupation plans" for the island, the Cuban people have indicated their strong support for the inevitable end of the "era of Fidel" and the beginnings of a decisive new phase in the Cuban revolution's history.
As the Cuban Parliament convened on February 24 to chose a new Council of State—the nation's supreme governing body responsible for selecting the President—the most influential Latin American political leader of the twentieth century, recovering from a life-threatening illness, has retired gracefully to a position of éminence grise and keeper of the flame. Castro's brother Raúl already has made it clear that he does not want to be "President for Life" and is committed to transferring power to a younger generation. In any event, day-to-day operations of the island already are in the hands of Cubans other than Fidel, as is long-term planning evidenced by Raul Castro's unacknowledged offense to "dialogue" with Washington following the Democrats' victory in the 2006 mid-term congressional elections.
No matter how dramatic a change the transition from Fidel's leadership to that of his brother's will represent for Cuba, Latin America and the world, the significance of this new leadership will depend less on how the Cubans behave than on decisions and conditions originating in the White House and the Department of State. Since the end of the Cold War, Fidel Castro and the Cuban leadership have maintained their historic socialist commitments, but with a pragmatic adaptation to new global realities forced upon them by the collapse of the island's economic lifeline—the Soviet Union. In other words, while still invoking the language and props of Marxism-Leninism, Castro was turning Cuba to a reintegration into the world capitalism system—albeit within a socialist framework—and without sacrificing the revolution's heralded social welfare achievements.
Even during the 1980s, Castro's disagreement with Soviet reformer Mikhail Gorbachev was not over the need for perestroika (economic restructuring) and glasnost (political openness) but over the wisdom of pursuing both at the same time. Economic reform, Fidel argued, would unleash widespread initial hardship on islands and if the populace could simultaneously vent their anger at the ballot box, that would only invite the electorate to bite the hand that was trying to feed them. As subsequent events proved, Castro's realism trumped Gorbachev's innovativeness. Since then, however, Cuba under Castro selectively, but at a limited tempo, opened up the economy to market forces. State controls were relaxed in certain sectors, encouraging foreign investment, legalizing the possession of American dollars, focusing on tourism as a key hard currency earner, and generally adapting the country to the post-Cold War world on the basis of appropriate state-to-state relations rather than revolutionary adventurism.
While the authoritarian political structures have not been dismantled—for which a still reluctant leadership bears its share of responsibility—the absence of change in this sphere must also be put in the context of unremitting, hostile and destabilizing U.S. pressure aimed at reining the island back into Washington's traditional sphere of influence. Left to its own devices, post-Castro Cuba would probably evolve into a social democracy—probably one of the few genuine social democracies in Latin America—intent on preserving its national independence and little more. Cuba would, in other words, likely become, for the first time in 50 years, a non-issue in regional and global affairs. This transformation would not necessarily entirely occur under Fidel's brother, Raúl, who, at 76 years of age, is likely to be a transitional figure primarily concerned with maintaining the country's stability and security against outside influence.
Rather, Cuba's long-term future almost certainly will be decided by a younger group of middle-ranking Cuban officials who understand that the Revolution's gains in health care, social and economic access and education are intensely valued by large numbers of Cubans—as is the country's sense of national pride and independence—but who are also pragmatic about the need for further economic reform and for ordinary people to have a say regarding how they are governed. However, here's the question: will Cuba be allowed to make this transition without guidance from Washington? Every U.S. president since Eisenhower has sought to "win back" Cuba. George W. Bush is no exception. Indeed, his determination to eliminate Cuba's revolutionary government and institutions has revealed itself to be more unyielding than the imperious attitudes of his two post-Cold War predecessors—George H.W. Bush and Bill Clinton.
In his first comprehensive policy statement on Cuba in May, 2001, Bush set down the general administration "line," declaring: "The policy of our government is not merely to isolate Castro, but to actively support those working to bring about democratic change in Cuba." This led to a swamp of murky funding of scandal-ridden Miami-based extremist groups and costly, if essentially worthless, boondoggles like Radio and TV Marti. Washington's approach over the past seven years has been not only to ignore United Nations and European Union calls to end the economic embargo against Castro, but moved to tighten it where possible by implementing new travel restrictions to successfully pressuring European and Canadian banks to limit their dealings with Cuba. Last December, a U.S. General Accounting Office report concluded that U.S. sanctions against Cuba were more restrictive than those imposed on any other country, including Iran and North Korea; and that over 60% of all investigations conducted by an ideologically-driven Treasury Department office responsible for enforcing trade sanctions dealt with the Cuba embargo rather than with demonstrably more portentous matters.
The ultimate absurdity and pettiness of the embargo appears to know no boundaries. For instance, the prestigious U.S. professional organizations, like the Latin American Studies Association, which holds an international congress every 18 months, no longer meets on North American soil because of the Department of State's rather pathetic refusal to give visas to bona fide Cuban academics to attend. At the same time, the Bush White House has channeled substantial funds to dissidents on the island, as well as supported efforts of Cuban exiles in Miami to wage ideological warfare against their ancient foes in Cuba. The White House refused to apply the anti-terror laws passed by Congress in 1994 and 1996 against these same exiles planning terrorist attacks against Cuba. Only last October, Bush encouraged members of the Cuban armed forces to no longer "defend a disgraced and dying order," but to "embrace your people's desire for change."
The Bush administration also has suffered considerable embarrassment as the result of a failed attempt to include Cuba on a listing of so-called "Axis of Evil." This list is comprised of states supposedly intent on developing weapons of mass destruction, the basis of which, as it turned out, was of no credible evidence whatsoever. The egg on its face over this ongoing debacle has not dissuaded the Department of State from posting Cuba on its list of states supporting international terrorism—once again on a basis of evidence so flimsy as to be an insult to the informed reader's intelligence. Moreover, Cuba has signed all of the UN anti-terrorist resolutions and was rebuffed by Bush hardliners when it offered to sign agreements to cooperate with U.S. efforts to wage the war against terrorism, or when it offered to provide aid and medical attention to Katrina victims.
Washington continues its absolute refusal to dialogue with the Cubans in the absence of preconditions which no self-respecting independent state could accept—including the total dismantling of the revolutionary state and what remains of its command (or welfare) economy. It is this goal, of course, that, despite the rhetoric about electoral democracy, remains the fundamental objective of U.S. policy. While Raúl Castro has repeated his desire to enter into discussions with the Bush administration, his "olive branch" has been met with inane assertions that no transition has taken place, and that the White House will only dialogue with "the Cuban people," and that every senior and middle-level official connected with Fidel Castro's government is beyond the pale. Such meretricious conditions were never even demanded of North Korea or Iran, nations (unlike Cuba) with which the U.S. might have had a legitimate complaint.
Bush has other—perhaps even stronger—reasons these days to want to meddle in Cuba once Castro is gone. With Iraq a disaster zone, Afghanistan the same, and America's Middle East policy in tatters, a victory for Bush in Havana could overshadow his egregious foreign policy failures in every other direction. That is not to say that the U.S. would be so foolish as to consider invading or, as in 1961, to support an armed intervention by anti-Castro Cubans. But it could choose to hasten the transition in a preferred direction by backing individuals and groups in Cuba (including out-of-control right-wing zealots in Miami) who support its ultimate objectives irrespective of how non-representative they are of Cuban popular opinion.
For Washington's purposes, the danger in this approach is that it could generate conflict on the island, which in turn could spill over into another massive refugee exodus on at least the scale of the boatlift of 125,000 Cubans from the port of Mariel in 1980, a scenario that had a disastrous impact on President Carter's reelection plans. Any such outflow of refugees would not only be a nightmare for the U.S., but also a source of anonymous instability throughout the Caribbean. Given Washington's myopia on Castro for most of the last five decades, its understanding of Cuba's internal affairs is almost dysfunctional in its lack of reliability. The Europeans, the Canadians, and a majority of Latin American nations, for instance, have always been prepared to deal with Castro's Cuba (albeit critically) for years, and in so doing, have become much more familiar with, and realistic about, the political dynamics inside the country.
Time and time again, by contrast, Washington's Cuba policy has demonstrated that wishful thinking and pandering to Washington's most base instincts is no substitute for informed policy making. Even if Bush refrains from a dramatic reaction to Fidel's effective departure from the scene in Cuba, the prospects for a serious revisiting of the mainsprings of U.S.-Cuba policy and the rejection of the counterrevolutionary option any time soon, are all but non-existent. Two of the three remaining candidates for the 2008 U.S. presidency continue to advocate a hardline approach; only Barack Obama holds out the possibility of a more pragmatic Cuba policy in the future. But after Clinton, McCain and the Washington punditocracy attacked Obama's purported naiveté in suggesting a dialogue with Havana, he reverted to a precondition stance, talking about "beginning the process of democratic change" as the basis for normalizing relations and easing the embargo.
The Colombian novelist, Gabriel Garcia Marquez, once related how, at the very start of the ground-breaking visit to Cuba by Pope John Paul II in 1998, Castro reacted to the news that the three top US television networks were pulling out their anchors because of breaking news about a White House intern by the name of Monica Lewinsky. "Those damned Yankees always f*** up everything," Castro declared. When Fidel goes, the odds are short that "those damned Yankees" will again confirm the accuracy of the old revolutionary's assessment—in death as in life. (This analysis was prepared by Senior Research Fellows Chris McGillion and Morris Morley, both distinguished Australian Latin American scholars. They are also Senior Research Fellows of the Council on Hemispheric Affairs and the co-authors of Unfinished Business: America and Cuba after the Cold War, 1989-2001 (Cambridge University Press) and co-editors of Cuba, The United States and the Post-Cold War World (University Press of Florida)
Havana – DTC - The introduction of state-of-the-art technology at Cuban eye centers has increased the possibilities to treat more diseases. Experts at the ophthalmological center in Sancti Spiritus province are performing eye surgery using excimer laser equipment. The apparatus allows surgeons to correct refraction defects such as myopia, hypermetropia and astigmatism. The specialized center provides a dozen services, including surgery against cataract and glaucoma, cornea transplants, lens implants and plastic surgery. The excimer laser piece of equipment emits a short-wave ray that does not generate heat and can suppress small amounts of tissue without affecting neighboring cells. In addition, surgeons are assisted by computers when performing surgery.
The Ottawa Citizen – Editorial - The doctor looked tired and a bit wary. Here she was at the end of what must have been a long shift at the Policlinico Universitario Aguacate, confronted by two obviously foreign visitors trying to press on her a suitcase brimming with drugs and medical supplies. She studied the letter explaining in Spanish that the contents were a gift from Canada to the people of Cuba, looked again at the case and did what any government employee would do. She stalled. From her long string of Spanish, we picked out "mañana" and "ocho." Sorry, doctor. Even if we could return tomorrow at 8 a.m., we'd be hard-pressed to retrace our rented Hyundai's route to Aguacate (Avocado), an inland farm town east of Havana. Road signs are rare on an island that still fears invasion, and our rudimentary map made little distinction between paved highways and axle-bending goat tracks.
Whether she understood, or whether she just grew weary of our arm-waving gestures, the doctor offered us a cautious smile and an even more cautious signature on a receipt. And with that, our second Not Just Tourists suitcase had been delivered. Our efforts to get off the beaten path notwithstanding, the Not Just Tourists process couldn't be easier. Collect a loaded suitcase from a nurse who will explain the program's ins and outs, unload and repack it (so you can answer the "Did you pack this bag yourself?" question honestly), carry it to your vacation spot and present it to a clinic or hospital. Our first suitcase was accepted with practised appreciation at a large clinic in Santa Cruz del Norte on the coastal tourist track.
Nor could it be more efficient and cost-effective. You're going anyway, and probably have some room in your baggage allowance (if you don't, many carriers will waive the extra fees for these cases). Volunteers collect and pack the supplies. And the items you bring -- medicines, dressings, perhaps hospital linens or dental hygiene gear -- all have been declared surplus. Some have reached their expiry date (but still are considered safe for use), others may have been returned by a patient's family but by regulation cannot be returned to the hospital supply. "We're rescuing things that would go to the landfill," explains Mary Metcalfe, founder of the Not Just Tourists -- Ottawa group. (http://notjusttourists.blogspot.com/)
None will go to waste in Cuba, destination for most Not Just Tourists cases. The target of a United States trade embargo for nearly half a century, the communist island nation is short of even such basic supplies as bandages and pain relief pills. Revenue from tourism and resources has not made up for the Soviet aid that once sustained Cuba. "The greatest need this year is for over-the-counter medicines and vitamins for children," says Metcalfe. Also in demand are asthma inhalers and glucometer test strips. Respiratory problems and diabetes are common in Cuba. Still, considering the shortages, the island has achieved a remarkably effective health-care system, with doctors in every village, a low infant mortality rate and high life-expectancies.
"We're treading a fine line in providing this, but respecting the pride they have in their system," says Metcalfe, who established the Ottawa group in 2005 after reading about Canada's original Not Just Tourists program, founded by St. Catharines family doctor Ken Taylor and his wife, Denise. Other groups operate in Toronto, Montreal, Kingston, Calgary, Edmonton and Vancouver. Each group is independent and may differ in its policies and practices. The program is intentionally low-key, collecting small quantities here and dispatching them there. It doesn't approach pharmaceutical companies for donations, for example, because the drug manufacturers already support large-scale aid efforts.
Yet Not Just Tourists-Ottawa has already shipped more than 1,550 kilograms of medicines and supplies to Cuba and a range of other countries, including Rwanda, Kenya and Bolivia. This winter alone it has shipped 70 suitcases. The group has charitable status through the Phoenix Community Works Foundation based in Toronto. For vacationers, being part of Not Just Tourists is a chance to get away from the resort and enrich a holiday -- and perhaps to assuage some of the guilt of knowing that your destination's low standard of living helps make possible your inexpensive winter getaway. Some, too, may view it as a chance to make a statement about Canada's views and values to a country that, even with Fidel's retirement, remains in the Castro era of restrictions on free speech and travel for its citizens. Here it's a personal expression of Canada's longstanding, common-sense approach toward nudging Cuba to democracy.
Such motives, however, have no place in the philosophy of Not Just Tourists, a group that could as easily be called Not About Politics. "We are so apolitical," declares Metcalfe. "we want to help save lives. That's the bottom line."
……if you go...
What's in the bag: Contents vary depending on donations. Our cases included wound dressings, Tensor bandages, Advil, surgical gloves, hypodermic needles, urinary collection bags and tubing, post-heart attack drugs, antiseptic wipes and Ensure nutritional supplements.
Where it comes from: Surplus medicines and supplies are provided by hospitals, individual doctors (physicians' samples), hospices, clinics and other sources. Some are bought by Not Just Tourists at cost from pharmacies. Suitcases (and satchels and backpacks) are donated.
Where it goes: Cuba is the most popular destination, but Not Just Tourists-Ottawa has sent cases to 17 countries. Travellers get a list of hospitals and clinics near their destination but are free to seek out other facilities in need.
Best before, and after: Not Just Tourists-Ottawa accepts most drugs -- though not liquid-based drugs for children -- up to three months past their expiry date. Cuba's health ministry reportedly permits doctors to use many drugs up to six months beyond expiry.
The legalities: The program does not accept narcotics or other controlled drugs. Each suitcase contains a letter explaining the purpose of the program, signed by a doctor who has examined the contents. Problems at customs points are rare.
Suss out, sign up: To learn more or to get involved, visit the Ottawa group's website at http://www.njt-pqt.org. Other information sources: http://www.njttoronto.ca and the Not Just Tourists discussion forum at http://www.debbiescaribbeanresortreviews.com
Havana – DTC - Scientists and medical experts assessed the implementation of several biomedical projects in the eastern province of Santiago de Cuba. Participants in the meeting highlighted the work being carried out by such institutions as the Oriente Pharmacetical Laboratory, the Center for Studies on Neurosciences and Image Processing, and the Center for Studies on Industrial Biotechnology, among others. As part of their work, attendees presented therapeutic products of vegetal origin. Specialists from the Medical Biophysics Center presented the Angiodín PD-3000, a piece of equipment that has been installed at local hospitals and polyclinics. In that regard, they noted that the Angiodín PD-3000 is used to diagnose vascular diseases, and is widely used in angiology services.
Havana – DTC - The joint venture Generación Caribe S.A. resulted from an alliance between the Cuban firm Geysel, which is attached to Unión Eléctrica, and the Basque group GUASCOR. The new company provides services on the international market to repair, build, maintain and operate power generators running on diesel and gas. It also carries out programs to use renewable sources of energy, including eolian parks, based on the technology supplied by the Basque group. Generación Caribe S.A. executes projects in other Caribbean countries and supplies spare parts. Geysel contributes 70 percent of the social capital to the joint venture, and GUASCOR provides its expertise on the use of power generators.
Adelante.cu - "La Soledad" Church and "La Merced" Complex (church and convent), two symbolic buildings of the colonial architecture in this city, have been nominated to the National Awards of Restoration and Preservation, respectively. Recently, restorative and conservative works have been carried out for keeping the originality of architectural and artistic values of both buildings, which are located in the downtown of this legendary city, founded in 1514. Ernesto Guzmán Lastre, head of the Office of Monuments and Historical Sites in this province, explained to the AIN that the application of "La Soledad" Church, was taken into account starting from the strictness and the integral value of the invest, project, and execution of the restoration work. Its main building was erected in 1779 and it has three other buildings within; the most significant parts of them were restored and highlighted during a preservation work that concluded in 2007.
Among the most important historical landmarks that have happened in "La Soledad" are: the baptism of local poet Gertrudis Gómez de Avellaneda and Ignacio Agramonte y Loynaz, who is one of the most prominent political chiefs and military men of the first War of Independence in Cuba. "La Merced" Complex has been nominated to the National Award of Preservation because of the authenticity and the backup of its architecture, pointed out Guzmán Lastre. The church is composed by three other buildings; its central tower was concluded in 1748 and was restored in 1848 and 2004.
The complex which has been considered one of the well-preserved buildings of the Island has vaulted roofs, due to this fact it is included in the list of the wonders of the civil engineering of Camagüey. "La Merced" has one of the best known images of the region, el Santo Sepulcro (The Holy Sepulcher), which is considered a worthy goldwork. The National Awards of these two categories will be released on April 18th at Hotel Sevilla, Havana, because of the International Day of the Monuments.
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In 1999, OFAC (The Office of Foreign Assets Control of the United States Department of the Treasury in Washington, D.C.) confirmed that it had previously issued an opinion in 1994 which stated that a U.S. company or individual could make a secondary market investment in a "third-country company" that had commercial dealings with the Republic of Cuba as long as that investment in the "third-country company" was not a controlling interest. (Therefore, under that criteria, U.S. citizens and companies can invest in a private or public Canadian company doing business with Cuba)~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
James
Cuban Weekly News Digest http://www.cubaninvestments.com
Friday, 18 April 2008
Gorbachov cree que Raúl Castro hará cambios en Cuba
El líder de la desaparecida Unión Soviética, Mijaíl Gorbachov, afirmó en Miami que el gobierno de Raúl Castro traerá cambios en Cuba, y exhortó a Estados Unidos y las naciones latinoamericanas a respaldar las reformas implementadas hasta el momento en la isla.
read more | digg story
read more | digg story
Portada de El Pais de hoy - Cuba rebaja las restricciones para viajar
Nota: Nada de esto ha salido aun en publicaciones oficiales del gobierno cubano. Los funcionarios cubanos en Europa contactados sobre este tema desconocen que se haya tomado una decision asi.
http://www.elpais.com/articulo/internacional/Cuba/rebaja/restricciones/viajar/elpepiint/20080418elpepiint_1/Tes#EnlaceComentarios
Cuba rebaja las restricciones para viajar. El Gobierno permitirá a los cubanos salir al extranjero sin autorización oficial
MAURICIO VICENT - La Habana - 18/04/2008
El Gobierno de Raúl Castro dará luz verde próximamente a una esperada reforma migratoria que simplificará los trámites de entrada y salida del país y permitirá a los cubanos viajar al extranjero sin necesidad de obtener un permiso específico de las autoridades.
El Gobierno de Raúl Castro dará luz verde próximamente a una esperada reforma migratoria que simplificará los trámites de entrada y salida del país y permitirá a los cubanos viajar al extranjero sin necesidad de obtener un permiso específico de las autoridades. La existencia de la denominada tarjeta blanca o permiso de salida, cuya tramitación cuesta 150 pesos convertibles (unos 100 euros) y puede tardar meses o cuando menos semanas, y sin garantía de respuesta afirmativa, fue muy criticada por la población en el debate convocado el año pasado por Raúl Castro. Otro requisito, la carta de invitación, que hasta ahora es necesario presentar en las oficinas de inmigración cuando se viaja, también desaparecería, según fuentes cercanas al gobierno.
La flexibilización migratoria ya está decidida y sólo faltaría perfilar algunos asuntos para que las medidas entren en vigor, dijeron a EL PAÍS las citadas fuentes. Pudiera ser en los próximos días o semanas, y probablemente se informará a la población a través de los medios de prensa, como ocurrió con el levantamiento de la prohibición para que los cubanos contraten líneas de telefonía celular. No está claro si se adoptarán como un conjunto de medidas, o se irán introduciendo poco a poco.
Entre otras regulaciones, la reforma migratoria acabaría con la famosa tarjeta blanca, aunque con excepciones. Por ejemplo, los médicos, los universitarios recién graduados que no hayan cumplido su servicio social, o los militares y miembros del Ministerio del Interior con acceso a información que afecte a la seguridad del Estado, deberán seguir obteniendo un permiso específico, mientras no transcurra un plazo de tiempo variable. Sin embargo, para gran parte de la ciudadanía el trámite del permiso de salida -por el que las autoridades obtienen millones de dólares anuales de ingresos- desaparecería.
El requisito, hasta ahora exigido por las autoridades, de presentar una "carta de invitación" legalizada como parte de la documentación para viajar, también sería eliminado. La mayoría de las embajadas piden este trámite a los cubanos para tramitar su visado de entrada, por lo que esta medida, unida a la eliminación de la tarjeta blanca, de hecho, traspasaría a los países receptores la responsabilidad de limitar los viajes de los ciudadanos cubanos, ya que ahora sólo necesitarán un pasaporte vigente y visado para salir de su país.
De implementarse como está previsto -aunque todavía puede haber modificaciones, advierten las fuentes-, la medida daría respuesta a una demanda popular que es unánime y cada vez más sonora. Intelectuales y artistas comprometidos con la revolución, como el cantautor Silvio Rodríguez, han pedido recientemente la abolición "completa" del permiso de entrada y de salida por no responder a la nueva realidad del país; de igual modo, criticaron la prohibición existente para que los cubanos se alojaran en hoteles dedicados al turismo internacional, que se levantó hace pocos días.
En su discurso del pasado 24 de febrero ante el Parlamento, tras ser nombrado presidente, Raúl Castro anunció la eliminación inmediata de prohibiciones "sencillas", pero, dijo, otras tomarían más tiempo debido a que requerían "cambios en determinadas normativas jurídicas", además de influir en ellas "las medidas establecidas" contra Cuba por sucesivas administraciones estadounidenses. La Habana acusa a Washington de utilizar con fines políticos y propagandísticos el tema migratorio, y las últimas grandes crisis entre ambos países han tenido este trasfondo.
El mes pasado, durante un encuentro en La Habana con emigrados favorables a la revolución, el canciller Felipe Pérez Roque se refirió de este modo a la esperada reforma migratoria: "no quiero anticiparme sobre ese tema, pero son asuntos que han estado permanentemente bajo nuestra consideración". Y añadió: "tenemos firme nuestro compromiso de hacer cada vez más fluida la relación entre los cubanos que residen en el exterior y Cuba y hacer cada vez más expeditos los trámites y las regulaciones sobre ese tema".
Como parte de esta flexibilización, se prorrogaría también el tiempo de estancia que los cubanos pueden estar en el exterior sin tener que regresar a su país, o perder sus derechos. El plazo legal en la actualidad es de 11 meses, que se ampliaría, probablemente, a dos años. Además, los menores de edad podrían salir con sus padres, algo actualmente restringido y sólo autorizado en casos excepcionales, dijeron las fuentes.
Del mismo modo, se espera que se simplifiquen los trámites de entrada temporal para los cubanos que residen en el exterior. Otros asuntos, como la pérdida de las propiedades -casas, vehículos, etcétera- cuando alguien emigra definitivamente, o la posibilidad de autorizar el regreso definitivo a Cuba de los que se fueron, todavía está en discusión. El verdadero alcance de la reforma migratoria, que se debate desde hace meses, todavía es una incógnita.
"Prohibiciones superadas por la vida"
En un discurso pronunciado en diciembre ante el Parlamento, Raúl Castro criticó con dureza el exceso de prohibiciones y regulaciones que existían en el país y que, consideró, hacían "más daño que beneficio". El entonces vicepresidente primero de los Consejos de Estado y de Ministros, opinó que "la mayoría" de estas prohibiciones fueron "correctas y justas en su momento", pero dijo que muchas habían "sido superadas por la vida". Raúl fue directo y contundente: "Detrás de cada prohibición incorrecta búsquese un buen número de ilegalidades". Entre estas ilegalidades, muchas tenían que ver con las cartas de invitación y otros negocios relacionados con los trámites de salida del país.La reforma migratoria, que todavía ha de concretarse, sería un paso más en la estrategia de levantar "prohibiciones absurdas". Desde que fue elegido presidente, Raúl Castro ha permitido el acceso de los cubanos a los hoteles, ha autorizado la venta de computadoras, reproductores de DVD y otros electrodomésticos, y ha levantado la prohibición para el uso de teléfonos móviles. Además, se ha iniciado una reforma en agricultura que contempla la entrega de tierras en usufructo a campesinos privados y cooperativistas.Entre las próximas medidas que se esperan está la autorización para que los cubanos puedan traspasar sus vehículos, y una flexibilización de los controles sobre la vivienda. Abundan los rumores y las opiniones; para unos es todavía muy largo el trecho por recorrer, para otros, todo avanza más rápidamente de lo esperado.
'Tarjeta blanca'
- Excepciones. Seguirán necesitando la autorización o tarjeta blanca los médicos, los universitarios recién titulados y que no hayan cumplido el servicio social, los militares y los miembros del Ministerio del Interior con acceso a informaciónde seguridad interior.- Flexibilización. Se podrá prorrogar hasta dos años el plazo de residencia en el exterior sin perder derechos. Los menores de edad podrán salir del país con sus padres sin las restricciones actuales.
© Diario EL PAÍS S.L. - Miguel Yuste 40 - 28037 Madrid [España] - Tel. 91 337 8200
© Prisacom S.A. - Ribera del Sena, S/N - Edificio APOT - Madrid [España] - Tel. 91 353 7900
El Pais: Cuba rebaja las restricciones para viajar
Thursday, 17 April 2008
Bohemia y Juventud Rebelde hablan del periodo especial y Fidel critica articulos y los cambios recientes en sus reflexiones (Links in English as well)
En sus reflexiones del Granma el 15 de abril, el "abuelo" se enfada y patalea
Reflexiones del compañero Fidel
No hacer concesiones a la ideología enemiga
Decidí escribir esta reflexión después de escuchar un comentario público divulgado por un medio masivo de la Revolución, que no voy a mencionar concretamente.
Hay que tener mucho cuidado con todo lo que se afirma, para no hacerle el juego a la ideología enemiga. No se puede acusar al período especial del sistema que el imperialismo ha impuesto al mundo; no inventó el cambio climático, la civilización que depende del consumo de los hidrocarburos, el transporte de cada miembro de la familia en automóviles que viajan casi vacíos, ni la nefasta idea de convertir los alimentos en combustible; no inventó las guerras mundiales por el reparto del planeta, las bases militares, las armas nucleares y radioelectrónicas, los satélites espaciales que todo lo espían y dirigen al blanco rayos letales, los cohetes teledirigidos, los submarinos que disparan desde mil metros de profundidad, la ciencia y la tecnología al servicio de la muerte y la destrucción.
Tampoco inventó la geografía política y las tierras de que dispone cada nación, que fueron fruto de otros factores históricos.
Medítese bien lo que se dice, lo que se afirma, para no hacer concesiones vergonzosas. Analícese la naturaleza y la psicología de los seres humanos; su tiempo para actuar es muy breve y constituye realmente una fracción de segundo en la historia de la especie. Comprender esto es un gran remedio contra vanidades.
El período especial fue consecuencia inevitable de la desaparición de la URSS, que perdió la batalla ideológica y nos condujo a una etapa de resistencia heroica de la cual no hemos salido completamente todavía.
¡Qué difícil es ser breve en la batalla de ideas!
Fidel Castro Ruz
15 de abril de 2008
4 y 45 p.m.
Penultimos Dias nos comenta que Enrisco ha colgado la posible conexion del pataleo anterior a este articulo en Bohemia del 10 de abril
CUENTAS CLARAS
http://www.bohemia.cubaweb.cu/2008/04/11/economia/cuentas-claras.html
Mi pago por anunciar el fin del período especial
Por: ARIEL TERRERO (nacionales@bohemia.co.cu)
(10 de abril de 2008)
¿Cuándo terminará el período especial? Muchas veces he tratado de vislumbrar, entre ansioso y curioso, la línea de meta de este maratón de supervivencia y decoro que comenzó hace casi 20 años. A falta de habilidades de babalao o bolas de cristal para entrever una fecha límite, he rebuscado condiciones económicas que identifiquen la llegada al fin; una las resume a todas: cuando los trabajadores cubanos puedan vivir, limpiamente, de su labor, sin necesidad de regalos remesados o inventos de cultura dudosa.
Para arribar a ese momento, tres claves probables alimentan las fantasías del bolsillo: precios más bajos, una moneda nacional revalorizada y salarios más sólidos. Las dos primeras, muy vinculadas entre sí, tienen como inconveniente que favorecerían más a las personas que menos necesitan una mejoría de su poder adquisitivo, por contar hoy con ahorros más cuantiosos. Un peso igualado en valor a su par convertible transformaría en auténtico capital la fortuna de quien haya acumulado en estos años, en el banco o bajo la cama, cientos de miles de pesos tradicionales. Comparativamente, la ganancia sería mucho menor para las personas que viven exclusivamente de un jornal.
Los precios, sujetos por otra parte al inflexible dictado de tendencias alcistas internacionales, soportarían una disminución tan relativa, que el último en enterarse, si lo hace, sería el asalariado medio de hoy.
Aunque no descarto algún alivio en tarifas de productos de primera necesidad o acciones para fortalecer moderadamente al peso, la economía ha cambiado mucho en Cuba y en el mundo para soñar con la vuelta a un contexto financiero, de precios y monetario, similar al del año 1989.
La tercera opción, en cambio, parece más razonable para reequilibrar las aguas de la economía. El incremento del salario beneficiaría a sectores verdaderamente necesitados de mayor solvencia para enfrentar los gastos de la vida cotidiana, personas que son, a la par, quienes aportan más riqueza a la sociedad, los trabajadores.
Además de apuntalar la capacidad adquisitiva del cubano, la vía de pagar sueldos más gruesos dirige la mirilla de manera directa a una pieza estratégica del rompecabezas económico cubano: la productividad. No son posibles aumentos de uno sin crecimientos de la otra. Pero también parece difícil desenredar trabas de la producción, sin un salario más digno.
Ante el dilema del huevo y la gallina, la salida quizás no sea un incremento general de salarios; el Gobierno aplicó uno a finales del año 2005 que tuvo escasa repercusión en la productividad. ¿Puede la nación aspirar a mejores ingresos personales, si no produce más riqueza? El paraguas pudiera destrabarse, entonces, mediante una fórmula menos generalizadora.
Como deja entrever la Resolución 9 del actual año del Ministerio de Trabajo y Seguridad Social, los aumentos del jornal deben ajustarse de acuerdo con el desempeño del trabajador en cada sector de la economía y la sociedad. No pueden medirse de igual manera la obra de un minero, un carpintero, un maestro, un médico, un chofer de ómnibus urbanos, un estibador, un profesional del turismo, un militar… o un periodista. Tampoco pueden perdurar las abismales diferencias salariales entre unos y otros, concebidas en su momento para afincar sectores con la misión de liderar la salida de la crisis económica, pero que han horadado la identidad y el rendimiento de sectores no favorecidos.
Para hacer realidad la norma, más comentada que aplicada, de que cada cual gane según su aporte a la sociedad, los resultados laborales deben medirse en términos de producción, productividad, ahorro, calidad, costos y eficiencia, según los rasgos de cada parcela de la nación.
En todos los casos, el techo del salario lo debiera determinar el techo racional y humano de la productividad, y no a la inversa, como ha sucedido hasta hoy por la limitación de recursos de estos años y el imperio de reglas burocráticas cocinadas lejos del puesto de trabajo.
Combinado con el imprescindible estímulo moral, el salario se convertirá en un mecanismo liberador del potencial productivo que atesora en algún lugar, no tan recóndito, el capital humano creado por la Revolución. El trabajo recuperaría ese valor social y ético torpedeado en estos años de difícil resistencia y entonces yo me sentiré doblemente feliz al cobrar mi jornal por anunciar que el período especial ha concluido.
Otras versiones en el Miami Herald, Babalublog y Child of the Revolution dicen que el pataleo viene despues de un articulo de Luis Sexto en Juventud Rebelde
La marcha atrás no va palante
Por: Luis Sexto
Correo: sexto@enet.cu
11 de abril de 2008 01:06:10 GMT
Muchos podríamos compartir una experiencia común: tanto hoy como ayer —es decir, hace 15 o 20 años—, oíamos a algunos decir: Tenemos que hacer concesiones... Querían decir, por ejemplo, que si hubo que establecer o restablecer legalmente el trabajo por cuenta propia era porque la vida nos obliga a retroceder, a «hacer una concesión».
Ante esa aseveración, que escuchábamos a cada rato en asambleas, en entrevistas, uno preguntaba: ¿Concesión con respecto a qué? No había que registrar demasiado en los móviles y en la teoría para responder: concesión con respecto a lo que deseamos y queremos. Es decir, que para quienes veían en la propiedad del Estado el sumo de la perfección, el trabajo individual autónomo significaba un desliz, una cañona de las circunstancias.
No discutamos ahora si la propiedad estatal es superior a otras o si ese orden verdaderamente socializa la propiedad. Analicemos en este instante la actitud de estar estimando que cualquier decisión realista, cualquier respuesta a las demandas de la vida social y que no coincidan con lo que he venido haciendo durante tanto tiempo, implica un «gesto concesivo», un mal menor que mañana, si nos dan la oportunidad volvemos, como la cinta de un video, a echar «pa'tras». ¿No será esa la explicación de la conducta que casi unánimemente llamamos de bandazos?
Escribir, comentar sobre los asuntos de nuestra sociedad supone —ya deben de haberse dado cuenta— toparse con la repetición. Nuestros problemas son los mismos del ayer inmediato. Y he reconocido que mucho de cuanto escribí en Bohemia entre 1990 y 1997, lo he repetido en esta sección sin que la coincidencia me acuse de facilista. Y me he percatado de las coincidencias al releerme, que a veces debo de hacerlo para no perder mi identidad. Porque por momentos alguien pretende confundirte. Ante cierto artículo mío contra el peligro del dogmatismo, que suele invalidar la saludable «herejía», alguien escribió en algún sitio que yo transitaba del «dogma al elogio de la herejía», esto es, que el viejo dogmático, que yo era, había recalado en posiciones heréticas con fines oportunistas. No respondí entonces. Ahora menciono el hecho solo para explicar que me vi obligado a releerme. Y hallé que aun en aquella etapa de los 90, escribí contra el dogma y la mentira; contra el inmovilismo y contra la unanimidad y la corrupción... Moraleja: Alguno puede enjuiciarte sin haberte leído...
Por supuesto, ese no es el tema. Más bien, nuestro tema se fundamenta en la percepción de que el gran problema de la sociedad cubana ha sido hallar la eficiencia y la efectividad —que no son lo mismo— en un orden de justicia, igualdad y libertad. De modo que los esquemas preconcebidos no pueden dictar la norma. ¿No parece que olvidamos la dialéctica? ¿No nos percatamos de que cuando juzgamos la realidad prescindimos de los instrumentos más precisos y los sustituimos por las manifestaciones voluntaristas, que equivalen al lema de ir por ese camino «porque así lo quiero»?
La concesión tal vez haya que definirla teniendo en cuenta a quién o a qué se le otorga. Digamos por ejemplo, si ya la experiencia acumulada, en nuestras circunstancias de deterioro, nos indica que grandes empresas agrícolas no son recomendables y las opiniones más atinadas aconsejan cooperativizar o incentivar el trabajo familiar o individual, por qué, pues, insistir en lo que no prospera o necesita exceso de recursos para lograrlo. ¿Es una «concesión», un retroceso, concebir, organizar fórmulas que prometan el progreso en obras concretas y no en sueños? Claro, al sujeto que se acostumbró a dictar, abroquelado en su buró o en su yipi, qué sembrar o cómo cosechar quizá le disguste que los productores ganen autonomía, capacidad de decisión...
La concesión, en fin, se les puede hacer solo a quienes gozan con las carencias, las insuficiencias, las incapacidades del socialismo cubano. En estos días, confrontando la opinión de funcionarios y periodistas norteamericanos o sus servidores, he confirmado que a cuanta medida democrática o de progreso se ha adoptado en Cuba, ellos oponen reparos: «Ah, sí, pero no». Claro, se quejan: han perdido la «concesión» del inmovilismo.
A mi modesto entender, eso que algunos llaman «marcha atrás» cuando no coincide con el esquema habitual o con lo que estiman ideológicamente más conveniente, pero impulsa el movimiento, merece el crédito de progreso. Porque estacionarse en lo que no avanza equivale a ir hacia atrás y, por tanto, progreso ha de ser lo que renueva la esperanza y la fe, lo que anima el trabajo. Lo demás, es teoría que habrá que seguir debatiendo.
The comments in English from Miami Herald
Babalublog writes another version of events, this time from Child of the Revolution Blog
Reflexiones del compañero Fidel
No hacer concesiones a la ideología enemiga
Decidí escribir esta reflexión después de escuchar un comentario público divulgado por un medio masivo de la Revolución, que no voy a mencionar concretamente.
Hay que tener mucho cuidado con todo lo que se afirma, para no hacerle el juego a la ideología enemiga. No se puede acusar al período especial del sistema que el imperialismo ha impuesto al mundo; no inventó el cambio climático, la civilización que depende del consumo de los hidrocarburos, el transporte de cada miembro de la familia en automóviles que viajan casi vacíos, ni la nefasta idea de convertir los alimentos en combustible; no inventó las guerras mundiales por el reparto del planeta, las bases militares, las armas nucleares y radioelectrónicas, los satélites espaciales que todo lo espían y dirigen al blanco rayos letales, los cohetes teledirigidos, los submarinos que disparan desde mil metros de profundidad, la ciencia y la tecnología al servicio de la muerte y la destrucción.
Tampoco inventó la geografía política y las tierras de que dispone cada nación, que fueron fruto de otros factores históricos.
Medítese bien lo que se dice, lo que se afirma, para no hacer concesiones vergonzosas. Analícese la naturaleza y la psicología de los seres humanos; su tiempo para actuar es muy breve y constituye realmente una fracción de segundo en la historia de la especie. Comprender esto es un gran remedio contra vanidades.
El período especial fue consecuencia inevitable de la desaparición de la URSS, que perdió la batalla ideológica y nos condujo a una etapa de resistencia heroica de la cual no hemos salido completamente todavía.
¡Qué difícil es ser breve en la batalla de ideas!
Fidel Castro Ruz
15 de abril de 2008
4 y 45 p.m.
Penultimos Dias nos comenta que Enrisco ha colgado la posible conexion del pataleo anterior a este articulo en Bohemia del 10 de abril
CUENTAS CLARAS
http://www.bohemia.cubaweb.cu/2008/04/11/economia/cuentas-claras.html
Mi pago por anunciar el fin del período especial
Por: ARIEL TERRERO (nacionales@bohemia.co.cu)
(10 de abril de 2008)
¿Cuándo terminará el período especial? Muchas veces he tratado de vislumbrar, entre ansioso y curioso, la línea de meta de este maratón de supervivencia y decoro que comenzó hace casi 20 años. A falta de habilidades de babalao o bolas de cristal para entrever una fecha límite, he rebuscado condiciones económicas que identifiquen la llegada al fin; una las resume a todas: cuando los trabajadores cubanos puedan vivir, limpiamente, de su labor, sin necesidad de regalos remesados o inventos de cultura dudosa.
Para arribar a ese momento, tres claves probables alimentan las fantasías del bolsillo: precios más bajos, una moneda nacional revalorizada y salarios más sólidos. Las dos primeras, muy vinculadas entre sí, tienen como inconveniente que favorecerían más a las personas que menos necesitan una mejoría de su poder adquisitivo, por contar hoy con ahorros más cuantiosos. Un peso igualado en valor a su par convertible transformaría en auténtico capital la fortuna de quien haya acumulado en estos años, en el banco o bajo la cama, cientos de miles de pesos tradicionales. Comparativamente, la ganancia sería mucho menor para las personas que viven exclusivamente de un jornal.
Los precios, sujetos por otra parte al inflexible dictado de tendencias alcistas internacionales, soportarían una disminución tan relativa, que el último en enterarse, si lo hace, sería el asalariado medio de hoy.
Aunque no descarto algún alivio en tarifas de productos de primera necesidad o acciones para fortalecer moderadamente al peso, la economía ha cambiado mucho en Cuba y en el mundo para soñar con la vuelta a un contexto financiero, de precios y monetario, similar al del año 1989.
La tercera opción, en cambio, parece más razonable para reequilibrar las aguas de la economía. El incremento del salario beneficiaría a sectores verdaderamente necesitados de mayor solvencia para enfrentar los gastos de la vida cotidiana, personas que son, a la par, quienes aportan más riqueza a la sociedad, los trabajadores.
Además de apuntalar la capacidad adquisitiva del cubano, la vía de pagar sueldos más gruesos dirige la mirilla de manera directa a una pieza estratégica del rompecabezas económico cubano: la productividad. No son posibles aumentos de uno sin crecimientos de la otra. Pero también parece difícil desenredar trabas de la producción, sin un salario más digno.
Ante el dilema del huevo y la gallina, la salida quizás no sea un incremento general de salarios; el Gobierno aplicó uno a finales del año 2005 que tuvo escasa repercusión en la productividad. ¿Puede la nación aspirar a mejores ingresos personales, si no produce más riqueza? El paraguas pudiera destrabarse, entonces, mediante una fórmula menos generalizadora.
Como deja entrever la Resolución 9 del actual año del Ministerio de Trabajo y Seguridad Social, los aumentos del jornal deben ajustarse de acuerdo con el desempeño del trabajador en cada sector de la economía y la sociedad. No pueden medirse de igual manera la obra de un minero, un carpintero, un maestro, un médico, un chofer de ómnibus urbanos, un estibador, un profesional del turismo, un militar… o un periodista. Tampoco pueden perdurar las abismales diferencias salariales entre unos y otros, concebidas en su momento para afincar sectores con la misión de liderar la salida de la crisis económica, pero que han horadado la identidad y el rendimiento de sectores no favorecidos.
Para hacer realidad la norma, más comentada que aplicada, de que cada cual gane según su aporte a la sociedad, los resultados laborales deben medirse en términos de producción, productividad, ahorro, calidad, costos y eficiencia, según los rasgos de cada parcela de la nación.
En todos los casos, el techo del salario lo debiera determinar el techo racional y humano de la productividad, y no a la inversa, como ha sucedido hasta hoy por la limitación de recursos de estos años y el imperio de reglas burocráticas cocinadas lejos del puesto de trabajo.
Combinado con el imprescindible estímulo moral, el salario se convertirá en un mecanismo liberador del potencial productivo que atesora en algún lugar, no tan recóndito, el capital humano creado por la Revolución. El trabajo recuperaría ese valor social y ético torpedeado en estos años de difícil resistencia y entonces yo me sentiré doblemente feliz al cobrar mi jornal por anunciar que el período especial ha concluido.
Otras versiones en el Miami Herald, Babalublog y Child of the Revolution dicen que el pataleo viene despues de un articulo de Luis Sexto en Juventud Rebelde
La marcha atrás no va palante
Por: Luis Sexto
Correo: sexto@enet.cu
11 de abril de 2008 01:06:10 GMT
Muchos podríamos compartir una experiencia común: tanto hoy como ayer —es decir, hace 15 o 20 años—, oíamos a algunos decir: Tenemos que hacer concesiones... Querían decir, por ejemplo, que si hubo que establecer o restablecer legalmente el trabajo por cuenta propia era porque la vida nos obliga a retroceder, a «hacer una concesión».
Ante esa aseveración, que escuchábamos a cada rato en asambleas, en entrevistas, uno preguntaba: ¿Concesión con respecto a qué? No había que registrar demasiado en los móviles y en la teoría para responder: concesión con respecto a lo que deseamos y queremos. Es decir, que para quienes veían en la propiedad del Estado el sumo de la perfección, el trabajo individual autónomo significaba un desliz, una cañona de las circunstancias.
No discutamos ahora si la propiedad estatal es superior a otras o si ese orden verdaderamente socializa la propiedad. Analicemos en este instante la actitud de estar estimando que cualquier decisión realista, cualquier respuesta a las demandas de la vida social y que no coincidan con lo que he venido haciendo durante tanto tiempo, implica un «gesto concesivo», un mal menor que mañana, si nos dan la oportunidad volvemos, como la cinta de un video, a echar «pa'tras». ¿No será esa la explicación de la conducta que casi unánimemente llamamos de bandazos?
Escribir, comentar sobre los asuntos de nuestra sociedad supone —ya deben de haberse dado cuenta— toparse con la repetición. Nuestros problemas son los mismos del ayer inmediato. Y he reconocido que mucho de cuanto escribí en Bohemia entre 1990 y 1997, lo he repetido en esta sección sin que la coincidencia me acuse de facilista. Y me he percatado de las coincidencias al releerme, que a veces debo de hacerlo para no perder mi identidad. Porque por momentos alguien pretende confundirte. Ante cierto artículo mío contra el peligro del dogmatismo, que suele invalidar la saludable «herejía», alguien escribió en algún sitio que yo transitaba del «dogma al elogio de la herejía», esto es, que el viejo dogmático, que yo era, había recalado en posiciones heréticas con fines oportunistas. No respondí entonces. Ahora menciono el hecho solo para explicar que me vi obligado a releerme. Y hallé que aun en aquella etapa de los 90, escribí contra el dogma y la mentira; contra el inmovilismo y contra la unanimidad y la corrupción... Moraleja: Alguno puede enjuiciarte sin haberte leído...
Por supuesto, ese no es el tema. Más bien, nuestro tema se fundamenta en la percepción de que el gran problema de la sociedad cubana ha sido hallar la eficiencia y la efectividad —que no son lo mismo— en un orden de justicia, igualdad y libertad. De modo que los esquemas preconcebidos no pueden dictar la norma. ¿No parece que olvidamos la dialéctica? ¿No nos percatamos de que cuando juzgamos la realidad prescindimos de los instrumentos más precisos y los sustituimos por las manifestaciones voluntaristas, que equivalen al lema de ir por ese camino «porque así lo quiero»?
La concesión tal vez haya que definirla teniendo en cuenta a quién o a qué se le otorga. Digamos por ejemplo, si ya la experiencia acumulada, en nuestras circunstancias de deterioro, nos indica que grandes empresas agrícolas no son recomendables y las opiniones más atinadas aconsejan cooperativizar o incentivar el trabajo familiar o individual, por qué, pues, insistir en lo que no prospera o necesita exceso de recursos para lograrlo. ¿Es una «concesión», un retroceso, concebir, organizar fórmulas que prometan el progreso en obras concretas y no en sueños? Claro, al sujeto que se acostumbró a dictar, abroquelado en su buró o en su yipi, qué sembrar o cómo cosechar quizá le disguste que los productores ganen autonomía, capacidad de decisión...
La concesión, en fin, se les puede hacer solo a quienes gozan con las carencias, las insuficiencias, las incapacidades del socialismo cubano. En estos días, confrontando la opinión de funcionarios y periodistas norteamericanos o sus servidores, he confirmado que a cuanta medida democrática o de progreso se ha adoptado en Cuba, ellos oponen reparos: «Ah, sí, pero no». Claro, se quejan: han perdido la «concesión» del inmovilismo.
A mi modesto entender, eso que algunos llaman «marcha atrás» cuando no coincide con el esquema habitual o con lo que estiman ideológicamente más conveniente, pero impulsa el movimiento, merece el crédito de progreso. Porque estacionarse en lo que no avanza equivale a ir hacia atrás y, por tanto, progreso ha de ser lo que renueva la esperanza y la fe, lo que anima el trabajo. Lo demás, es teoría que habrá que seguir debatiendo.
The comments in English from Miami Herald
Babalublog writes another version of events, this time from Child of the Revolution Blog
Dos arrestados en caso de reguetonero cubano
Dos cubanos sospechosos de pilotar un barco en una malograda operación de contrabando humano en que uno de los pasajeros era el reguetonero cubano Elvis Manuel están detenidos en el Centro de Detención de Krome en el oeste del condado Miami-Dade.
read more | digg story
read more | digg story
Wednesday, 16 April 2008
Efory Atocha.- Un e-mail de Pedro Luis Ferrer
El blog de Efory Atocha publica un email de Pedro Luis Ferrer con su nota sobre las "confesiones" del ex-agente de la seguridad cubana Julio Soto
El Pais conversa con Óscar Espinosa Chepe, economista y periodista independiente cubano sobre los recientes "cambios" en Cuba
El Pais publica hoy una conversacion con Oscar Espinosa sobre el desenvolvimiento reciente de Raul et al
Twitter saves man from Egyptian justice
UC Berkeley graduate journalism student James Karl Buck was arrested on April 10 without any charges in Egypt for photographing a demonstration. He used his mobile phone to twitter the message “Arrested” to his 48 followers, who contacted UC Berkeley, the US Embassy and a number of press organizations on his behalf.
read more | digg story
read more | digg story
Vote for FREERUN for the London Olympics / Vota por FREERUN para las Olimpiadas de Londres
To all my friends
Thank you for all who has helped FREERUN to the final stage by voting and attending their gigs
FREERUN made to the finals and need your vote once more to win!!!
Today we heard from UK TV channel ITV that votes are really close! So one more push from all of us could help to get my friends FREERUN to play their songs at the Olympics!!!
Please vote and tell all your friends to vote for FREERUN!
Closing date is this Friday UK lunchtime!
Go to www.itvlocal.com/london/2012vote and vote, you can only vote once from the same PC so try at work, at home, in the cybercafe and even in your mobile
FREERUN is a London rock band, the manager and the lead singer are my friend
Video here:
More info here about the band in Facebook and here http://www.myspace.com/FREERUNMUSIC
Nacho
Queridos amigos
Muchas gracias a todos los que han votado y han ayudado a que la banda FREERUN llegue a la final de esta competencia
Hoy nos llamaron del canal televisivo ITV y nos enteramos que la votacion esta bien cerrada asi que les animo a volver a votar para que FREERUN sea la banda que toque la cancion tema de las Olimpiadas de Londres en el 2012
Pasa este mensaje a todos tus amigos para que tambien voten
Cierra la votacion este viernes al mediodia, hora de Londres
Para votar, haz click debajo
http://www.itvlocal.com/london/2012vote/
Solo se puede votar una vez desde la misma PC/direccion de IP asi que vota desde casa, la oficina y hasta el movil si se puede!
FREERUN es una banda de rock de Londres, el manager y el cantante son amigos mios
El video esta aqui:
Mas informacion aqui
Y tambien en facebook y en http://www.myspace.com/FREERUNMUSIC
Muchas gracias
Nacho
Tuesday, 15 April 2008
London Rock band hopes for Olympic glory
A St Albans-based musician is competing to play in front of millions at an Olympic Games ceremony as part of London-based rock band Freerun.The band has made it to the final stages of ITV's Olympic Talent Search with the song London Time.
read more | digg story
read more | digg story
Tribuna Barcelona: Llorens "no se puede contemporizar con Cuba!
La intervención de Zoe Valdes en Tribuna Barcelona suscitó reacciones encontradas, cuando no hostiles, en algunos de los asistentes, que se manifestaron en las preguntas.
read more | digg story
read more | digg story
Escritora cubana Zoe Valdes no salva nada del castrismo
No salvo absolutamente nada de la mal llamada Revolución cubana". Así de contundente fue la escritora Zoé Valdés, uno de los baluartes de la disidencia en el exilio, durante su intervención en Tribuna Barcelona, el foro de opinión de EL PERIÓDICO DE CATALUNYA, donde disertó sobre La Cuba futura: una propuesta o un interrogante.
read more | digg story
read more | digg story
Monday, 14 April 2008
Cuban Weekly News Digest
Cuban Weekly News Digest - "A compilation of news articles about Cuba, distributed since 1992 in order to encourage a balanced understanding of the Cuban situation and to promote investments in the Republic of Cuba"
The housing decree spells out rules to let Cubans renting from their state employers keep their apartment or house after leaving their posts. They could gain title and even pass it on to their children or relatives. Thousands of Cubans could take advantage of this move, including military families, sugar workers, construction workers, teachers and doctors. Holding onto state housing originally designated for specific workers has been a widespread but usually informal fact of Cuban life. A 1987 law had foreseen transferring such housing to occupants, but this new measure should clarify their legal status. "This is like no man's land that they are legalizing," said Oscar Espinosa Chepe, a state-trained economist who became a critic of the government. "It gets rid of that insecurity many people had and alleviates bureaucratic pressure."
By law, Cubans still cannot sell their homes to anyone but the government, though they can swap housing with government approval – a process that can take years to complete. Two officials at
Home to 11.2 million people,
Since becoming Cuba's first new president in 49 years, Raul Castro has done away with bans that prohibited Cubans from owning cell phones in their own names, staying in tourist hotels and buying DVD players, computers and coveted kitchen appliances. He also has acknowledged that state salaries are too small to live on, and pledged steady improvements. But Mr. Terrero said simply raising salaries will not do enough, because workers who all earn the same have little incentive to perform well at their jobs.
ALBA, an acronym that means ''dawn'' in Spanish, is intended to offer a socialist path to economic integration while snubbing U.S.-backed, free-trade deals. The inaugural branch opened for business in a fourth-floor office in the
He said the ALBA Bank is considering dozens of proposed development projects including some that focus on regional infrastructure, but has yet to begin work on any. It plans to open at least one branch in the capitals of the other three ALBA member countries in coming months. Eventually, officials see ALBA Bank funds going toward social programs, farming projects and oil ventures. The ALBA Bank will work with another Chavez project, the Bank of the South, which the Venezuelan president launched with the leaders of six other South American countries in December. That institution is projected to have as much as $7 billion in startup capital and also offer loans that might otherwise come from the World Bank or the International Monetary Fund, Washington, D.C.-based institutions that loan money to developing countries.
RBC -
Engineering News -
How has such a poor country created such an impressive high-technology sector? "What is necessary to promote scientific capability is human resources," explains Cuban State Council scientific adviser Dr Fidel Castro Diaz-Balart. "The creation of knowledge needs substantial human resources and access to information. The key fact in the application of science and technology to our national economy was the availability of large numbers of workers with education, capable of being trained." "
"Drawing from our own experiences - which may not be applicable to everyone - we first gave due attention to education, combatting illiteracy; the second thing is to create some [research] facilities. Start with the universities; universities play a very important role. In
In 1959,
The heart of
This progress has also been based on four strategic concepts - 'closed loop organisation' meaning that research, development, commercialisation, and production take place under the aegis of the same institution; export orientation; building an Intellectual Property platform; and maintaining a tight relationship between research and industrial strategy. "These strategic concepts have proved most useful," reports Castro Diaz-Balart.
HAVANA (Thomson Financial) - The Cuban government is considering opening up the farming sector to greater foreign investment and closing down farming cooperatives that have proven to be 'totally inefficient,' top officials said. 'We are currently studying some business proposals in agriculture,' Minister of Foreign Investment Marta Lomas told reporters, adding that in matters of foreign investment 'nothing is off the table'. She said the effort was focusing on 'rice production', but that foreign investment could also benefit 'other sectors like livestock', and take on 'different (business) formulas other than joint ventures, such as looking for financial backing'. The measures are part of President Raul Castro's much vaunted economic and social reform program for
According to Granma news daily, the Cuban diplomat added that "Mr. McCarry is the embodiment of an illegal mandate that violates international law." He recalled that McCarry has received $60 million in addition to another $200 million for his work to promote subversion and destabilization in
He may get it. Half a century ago there were plenty of other courses, but Cuba's revolution annexed them on the grounds that they were capitalist, leaving the nine-hole Havana Golf Club and an 18-hole course in Varadero. The fact that Fidel Castro famously lost a round to Che Guevara did not help golf's case. Now, however, the pendulum may be about to swing back. Fidel has relinquished power and there is talk of new courses opening across the island, including several in the capital. The Cuban Tourism Minister, Manuel Marrero, has said up to 10 courses may be built. The government is worried that the $1.9-billion-a-year tourism industry, a crucial foreign-exchange earner, is slumping. High prices and mediocre facilities are blamed for a 4.3% drop in visitor numbers in 2006 and another dip last year. A particular concern is that few Britons, the most common visitor after Canadians, return for a second visit.
Enter golf. The sport has helped the nearby
But the plans have yet to leave the drawing board and sceptics dismiss the sport's revival as wishful thinking, not least because the state does not recognise the right to buy and sell property. Rumours that investors will be granted 75-year leases remain rumours. Investors say the regime's desire for golf dollars is genuine but bureaucracy and ideology stymie basic business. "I've stopped going to government press conferences about this," said one Havana-based journalist. "They've been talking about golf for years. I'll believe it's happening when somebody starts actually building a course."
Golf arrived in
"It can get pretty quiet here," said Vega, the instructor, who grew up opposite the course and has worked there six days a week for 15 years. The loneliness of the long-distance runner is nothing compared with being one of a kind in
At the Heroes of July 26 Factory, Machado praised the workers efforts to put their different farm implements on the market to aid in soy production and other food products and to fight the Marabu bush weed. They are also used at the crop houses that provide protection from pests and disease vectors. In an exchange with workers at the Antonio Maceo Cooperative located on the outskirts of
For his part, Alfredo Guevara asked "Can primary, secondary and prep schools properly educate children and adolescents and thus lay the foundation for the future as they are at present, governed by misconceived criteria and practices that ignore elementary pedagogical and psychological principles and violate family rights?" The "new" curricula reflect improvisation or "a lack of design" in present Cuban society, said Guevara, one of the veteran cultural leaders of the Cuban revolution. A solution, he argued, must involve "fundamental corrections." "Sound solutions cannot be built on the basis of dogmas, obstinacy, lack of knowledge of reality, or ignoring the warning messages provided by experience and coming from the people," said Guevara, who founded ICAIC, Cuba's film institute, in 1959.
Although it was off-limits to accredited foreign correspondents on the island, the Mar. 1-4 congress was extensively covered by the national media, which devoted pages of print, hours of broadcasting and space on Internet sites to the main speeches. UNEAC, which was founded in 1961 and has over 8,500 members, faces the challenge of reviving its democratic character and role as a channel for dialogue between writers and artists and the rest of society, aspects that according to the main report produced by the congress have been largely lost since the 1990s. The cultural congress, the first to take place in
Although the Cuban media avoided mentioning the spontaneous debate that broke out among intellectuals in early 2007, and it is not yet known whether it was discussed in the congress, it is a safe bet that the spirit of the so-called "e-mail war" was alive and present at the meeting's different commissions. An important measure, related to that debate, is the proposal to create a working group attached to the presidency of UNEAC, to monitor aspects of "institutional control and censorship and to follow up on specific cases that may arise." "Most conflicts over publicly circulated works arise because appropriate, respectful dialogue is not established in time between officials and the artists, who quite rightly feel committed to the integrity of their work," said critic Helmo Hernández. He also proposed a UNEAC commission "to watch for and study any signs of discrimination, not only racial but also based on gender, religion or sexual preferences."
"Casting an Afro-Cuban actor, or even five or 10, in important roles in a television serial does not necessarily mean that an open debate about diversity is being held, nor is the problem of race portrayed in depth by their mere presence," said playwright Norge Espinosa, who added that the same is true in the case of sexual diversity. The analysis went to the essence of present-day Cuban society. "We must delve into and debate not only what socialism means, but also, most importantly, how to make it an attractive and culturally desirable goal," said essayist and poet Víctor Fowler, one of the participants in last year's e-mail debate on cultural freedom.
In Fowler's view, socialism must be transformed into "a pleasant way of life marked by an extremely wide spectrum including lifestyles, sexual identities, entertainment, folk practices, religious forms, open spaces for people to use, and new forms of interpersonal communication." Becoming more attractive is a "categorical imperative" for "a social process, in this case a socialist revolution that is already half a century old and has, in addition to external enemies, the contradictions that the process itself has generated in its progress, and the attrition that wears down so much strength," said Fowler. Writer Fernando Martínez Heredia said that the prevalence of "ingenuous or superficial antithesis" in the world of ideas, like the false opposition between "native and foreign," is "very damaging," as is "blindly lashing out, or alternating between hard and soft positions" in the field of practical measures.
There is clearly much to be done. The congress also debated the role of the media in
Prior expectations which have not been reflected in the national press also include the need to legalise independent music and film and TV productions, which have been ushered in by new technologies and the limited response and support from state companies. "UNEAC must help build the
"There has been a lot of movement in recent weeks. They are painting the offices, developing a system to insure a proper lunch for staff and more equipment is arriving at the clinics as well," a nurse in central
But family doctor offices were left in poor condition and understaffed when
In public debates fostered by Raul Castro last year, authorities heard frequent complaints that family doctor offices were empty or open only in the mornings. They were told medical staff were overworked and underpaid, and forced to use some of their time in other activities to make ends meet. Under the new reforms, all medical school students will now do their sixth year residency at a family doctor office to reinforce staffing. " Most are already vacant, but those that are open will be easier to supervise and better staffed," a
Havana - (acn) - The Third session of the Cuba-Viet Nam Bilateral Business Committee concluded in Hanoi, the Vietnamese capital, with both sides reaffirming their interest in increasing commercial exchange between the two countries. More than 40 local companies and nearly 20 Cubans, including three corporations, participated in the meeting that was presided over by co-presidents Bui Quang Do and Antonio Gonzalez Fernandez. According to Prensa Latina news agency, the Cuban side expressed their interest in taking new offers to the Vietnamese market such as vaccines, products of the biotechnological industry, medical and sports services, and telecommunication products.
"By the end of 2007, bilateral trade reached the $270 million figure, which represented an increase of 44% compared to 2006," said Do, deputy director of the Chamber of Commerce of Viet Nam. For her part, Odalis Seijo, vice president of the Cuban Chamber of Commerce, admitted that the balance of trade is favourable to
Associated Press -
Gerhartz said the Nipe-Sagua-Baracoa mountain range, which spans through nearly 1 800 square kilometers in the provinces of Holguin and Guantanamo, is a key piece in a WWF study that is aimed at locating the ecological regions of highest importance at a world scale. The WWF-Canada has so far defined 200 zones in the planet, three of which are located in the Cuban mountain range. Two belong to the eco-region of the rain forests of the Greater Antilles, with the eastern
The tourist trade, a major source of hard currency for
"The statistics are looking very rosy through 2010," said a British travel agency representative with strong bookings through the summer.
(Reuters) - In the six weeks since he succeeded his ailing brother
* Lifted ban on Cubans buying consumer goods such as computers, DVD players, microwave ovens and other electronic appliances previously prohibited due to an energy crisis.
* Cubans can now stay at hotels and beach resorts previously reserved for foreigners only, ending a "tourism apartheid" that was a source of resentment.
* As of April 14, Cubans will be allowed to freely buy and use cellular telephones, something that had been available only to government officials and foreign companies.
* Decentralized agriculture to allow private farmers more leeway to decide how to use their land, what crops to plant and what supplies to buy. Farmers granted leases to unused land.
* Reduced bureaucracy for filling medical prescriptions and began revamping the family doctor program in response to complaints it was understaffed.
* Removed ceiling on wages to create incentives for workers and improve
* Additional reforms are expected to include allowing Cubans to buy and sell their cars and easing restrictions on travel abroad.
Bryn Mawr Now - Q&A: Enrique Sacerio-Garí on Cuba - On Wednesday, April 16, Dorothy Nepper Marshall Professor of Hispanic and Hispanic-American Studies Enrique Sacerio-Garí will deliver the final talk in the "Our Neighbor, Cuba" lecture series sponsored by Main Line School Night. Sacerio-Garí, a Cuban immigrant who advocates reconciliation between his homeland and the
Q: Your lecture is titled "
A: I take the title from "en la lucha" (in the struggle, often of everyday life), also from "la lucha continua" (the struggle continues) that refers to the persistence struggle of smaller nations to be free of the economic and political manipulations of colonial powers, and finally I recall the title Cuba's Great Struggle For Freedom, published in 1895 by Gonzalo de Quesada. Quesada contextualized the Cuban revolutionary war by presenting Latin American and Cuban historical information that went beyond what the "yellow press" was dishing out at the time.
Needless to say, the Cuban people are "en la lucha" to perfect their system of government and to negotiate longstanding socioeconomic issues from the "special period" that followed the collapse of the Soviet bloc and the implosion of the
Q: If that much of the world is against the blockade, how is it still effective?
A: The economic embargo still affects
The Helms-Burton Act states that any company that "traffics" with confiscated Cuban property could be sued in
Q: The Act also talks about the human rights abuses in
A:
Engagement is what the
I have met with the Cuban government (including Fidel) on three different occasions to discuss ways to improve relations with all Cubans abroad, to decrease absurd regulations such as having to request a visa to return to the country of my birth with a Cuban passport, to discuss political prisoners and the need to respect dissidents, and to represent in Cuba the values of American democracy and liberal education. In 1993, the most difficult year of the special period, I was invited to read my poetry at the Casa de las Américas in La Habana. At the end of 2004, the most important publishing house in
Q: What's your take on the current presidential candidates and how they might approach
A:
I can tell you that on my recent trip to
For the first time, Cuban promotional spots will be run in Mexican TV channels in peak hours to announce the attractions of the Cuban tourist product, natural beauty and the hospitality of the population. The communiqué also announces the coordination of several commercial encounters to be held with the participation of Mexican tour-operators. Along with the renowned Varadero tourist center and the old section of
Times Ledger - Borough residents will be able to see much of
The festival is run by the American Friends of the Ludwig Foundation of
The festival, which runs from April 11 to April 18 at various Queens ,
Diana Vargas, the film festival's programmer, said "El Benny" will be part of the line-up for a second year after a number of filmgoers were shut out of last year's three sold-out screenings. "There's a big following of Benny More's music - he's an institution in
The Morning Call - Arts and Entertainment - From its modest roots in the
By the 1990s, that consciousness started incubating in an unlikely place:
Saunders, who graduated from the
Says Saunders, ''Cuban underground hip-hop looks more towards the early New York style of socially critical music, but with its own stamp on it, adding Afro-Cuban rhythms and beats. So you have groups like Obsesion, who use sub-samples from Benny Moore (the 1950s-era Cuban band leader) and some old-school Rumba artists.'' The Afro-centric element of Cuban hip-hop is a key feature of the genre and extends deeply into its lyrics. ''Particularly since 1995, there was a re-emergence of black identity in
Interestingly, the Cuban hip-hop movement began through that government's unique approach to culture. Says Saunders, ''The Cuban government has a strong leftist segment that is adamant about freedom of speech and the importance of culture and art.
Cuban hip-hop has had an enormous impact on the global rap scene, especially regarding the participation of women. ''Cuban hip-hop takes a leaf from the early stuff -- a lot of people look to
One of the the most popular groups emerging from the Cuban hip-hop diaspora is the female -- and openly lesbian -- Las Krudas, who have recently relocated to the
Although
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In 1999, OFAC (The Office of Foreign Assets Control of the United States Department of the Treasury in Washington, D.C.) confirmed that it had previously issued an opinion in 1994 which stated that a U.S. company or individual could make a secondary market investment in a "third-country company" that had commercial dealings with the Republic of Cuba as long as that investment in the "third-country company" was not a controlling interest. (Therefore, under that criteria,
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James
Cuban Weekly News Digest http://www.cubaninvestments.com
Sunday, 13 April 2008
Help UK Member of Parliament defend photographers' rights
Trying to raise awareness about British MP Austin Mitchell's crusade to protect photographers' rights in the UK in FlickrCentral.
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Mauricio Vicent en El Pais: Cuba se asoma al vértigo del consumo
Penultimos Dias presenta un articulo de Mauricio Vicent en El Pais sobre el "vertigo del consumo" en Cuba
Saturday, 12 April 2008
Reggaeton star Elvis Manuel still missing after fleeing Cuba
The search pressed ahead Saturday for Cuban reggaeton star Elvis Manuel and nine others believed missing at sea, as the singer's mother and 11 other migrants were sent back to Cuba, according to the U.S. Coast Guard. His myspace profile has a flurry of comments about this
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Pablo Milanes habla sobre nuevo disco y los cambios en Cuba
"La infraestructura del país no está creada todavía como para que todo el mundo tenga acceso a eso", dice Pablo Milanes. Pero por que no? El objetivo de la Revolucion cubana era lograr la libertad y prosperidad del pueblo cubano pero casi 50 años mas tarde no ha logrado mas que la miseria universal, desigualdad economica y corrupcion a todos los niveles. No se porque pero Pablo me recuerda a Leona Helmsley que dijo que solo los pobres pagaban impuestos. Para Pablo solo la elite a la que el perteneces tiene derecho a libertades y celulares??? "Veo que la gente se alegra, independientemente de que no todo el mundo tenga acceso a lo que se está vendiendo." Que hipocrita! Por que el no pidio "desarrollo igualitario" y "libertades personales y economicas" antes? Por que tuvo que esperar hasta el 2008 para hacerlo?
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Cubaencuentro: Cubana de Aviación evita la lista negra de la UE
Cubana de Aviación evita la lista negra de la UE, pero permanece 'bajo supervisión'. Por otro lado Cubana reduce su servicio a Londres y se rumora que va a eliminarlo completamente
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Renters in Cuba will soon get titles to their properties
Cuban state workers who have been paying rent to the government for years will get a chance to own their properties, the Cuban housing ministry announced in an official decree Friday.
La resolucion aqui
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La resolucion aqui
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Friday, 11 April 2008
Cuba grapples with growing inequality
By Marc Frank - Analysis HAVANA (Reuters) - Reforms passed by new President Raul Castro to allow sales of computers, DVD players and cellular telephones and let Cubans stay at tourist hotels are a recognition of growing inequality in the communist island
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"Consumo pospuesto"' Ravsberg de la BBC bloguea sobre Cuba
Claro, ahora todo el mundo aplaude a raul por estos "cambios" pero nadie le pregunta por el y su hermano mantuvieron esas prohibiciones tanto tiempo. Por que pisotearon la Constitucion de la Republica de Cuba durante tanto tiempo? Ah, y lo mas importante, tanto tiempo de Revolucion para mantener lo mismo: los que tienen dinero viven mejor, y los que no .. pues ... Eso no fue lo que la Revolucion quizo eliminar en el 59?
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Telmary Diaz: A Cuban (Rhyming) Revolution
With a powerful and flexible delivery — and a globetrotting ear for beats — the rapper is one of the artists leading the hip-hop revolution in Cuban popular music.
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Thursday, 10 April 2008
Cuba at the crossroads: Castro biographer expects transition
In the 1½ months since Raul Castro officially replaced his older brother Fidel, the longtime leader of the Communist nation, Cuba is already starting to transform. American media outlets have recently reported that Cuban citizens can now buy computers, DVDs, cell phones and stay at tourist-only resorts
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Forbes: Cuba mulls more foreign investment in farming sector
The Cuban government is considering opening up the farming sector to greater foreign investment and closing down farming cooperatives that have proven to be 'totally inefficient,' top officials said on Wednesday.
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Wednesday, 9 April 2008
Mas celulares y menos cubanos
ETECSA anuncia la fecha de venta de celulares en CUC que todo el mundo sabe y las estadisticas publicadas hoy dicen que hay menos cubanos en el pais .
Cuban bloggers: Thank Heavens for the Flash Drives
Global Voices writes about Potro Salvaje, the Cuban blog devoted to writing about the difficulties to access the internet on the island
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Entrevista con Mariela Castro, hija de Raúl, sexóloga y escritora
Esta es la version publicada en Rebelion.org
El original italiano esta aqui
Mariela Castro se ha convertido en la portavoz del gobierno actual cubano, dandole matices menos agresivos. Algo asi como la encargada de relaciones publicas e imagen
El original italiano esta aqui
Mariela Castro se ha convertido en la portavoz del gobierno actual cubano, dandole matices menos agresivos. Algo asi como la encargada de relaciones publicas e imagen
Tuesday, 8 April 2008
La vida - Cuba en blanco y negro - ADN.es
Contrastes raciales y pobreza en Cuba, credito a Penultimos Dias por reproducir este articulo de ADN
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The real Cuba lies beyond the resort
Yes, the real Cuba lies beyond the resort but not in the light you've portrait it Liz Brown, writing for the Calgary Herald. Another patronizing, postcard view of Cuba for the I-don't-given-a-damn-about-the-Cubans-as-long-as-I-get-cheap-booze-and-sun tourist.
blog for Cuba brought it to our attention
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blog for Cuba brought it to our attention
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La vista desde la otra orilla: ©EL IMPARCIAL DIGITAL Eufrates del Valle:
Lecciones, aventuras y experiencia de la vida de un cubanoamericano. Fascinante
©EL IMPARCIAL DIGITAL Eufrates del Valle: DESDE LA OTRA ORILLA DE LA PELICULA
©EL IMPARCIAL DIGITAL Eufrates del Valle: DESDE LA OTRA ORILLA DE LA PELICULA
Monday, 7 April 2008
Sunday, 6 April 2008
CULTURA-CUBA: El dedo en la llaga
Temas tabúes en Cuba, ausentes de los medios de comunicación y evadidos por el discurso político, matizaron los debates del congreso de intelectuales que abogó por una mayor presencia de la crítica en la sociedad actual y la ampliación de los espacios de diálogo y participación.
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Bloguera cubana habla sobre mejoria del transporte en Cuba
Yoani nos regala otro comentario y fotografia de la vida diaria en la isla. Sera que el transporte llego para quedarse?
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Saturday, 5 April 2008
Brave Cuban Blogger Wins Journalism Prize
Independent Cuban blogger Yoani Sanchez, who chronicles the woes of life in communist-run Cuba, was awarded one of Spain's top journalism awards on Friday, the Ortega and Gasset prize for digital journalism.
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Los cubanos pagan tarifas maximas en los hoteles en Cuba
Otra vez el apartheid turistico, los cubanos pagan solo los precios maximos al quedarse en hoteles. Una semana despues de tanto bombo y platillo, el gobierno cubano vuelve a tratar a sus ciudadanos como de segunda categoriahttp://tinyurl.com/3o9gjp
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Cubanos en hoteles .. pero pagando las tarifas maximas
Otra vez el apartheid turistico, los cubanos pagan solo los precios maximos al quedarse en hoteles.
Una semana despues de tanto bombo y platillo, el gobierno cubano vuelve a tratar a sus ciudadanos como de segunda categoria
http://tinyurl.com/3o9gjp
Cuba Independiente: Sacandole las cuentas al negocio redondo de Raul con la venta de electrodomesticos/ Los Miquis-Laz
Cuba Independiente: Sacandole las cuentas al negocio redondo de Raul con la venta de electrodomesticos/ Los Miquis-Laz
Un analisis de los precios de los equipos electrodomesticos en Cuba, el negocio raulista
Un analisis de los precios de los equipos electrodomesticos en Cuba, el negocio raulista
Friday, 4 April 2008
Premio Ortega y Gasset de Periodismo Digital para Yoani Sánchez, la bloguera cubana bloqueda
Al fin alguien reconoce los cojones de esta muchachita que en su blog Generacion Y nos comenta de sus venturas en la lucha diaria que es la vida en Cuba
Mas informacion aqui http://tinyurl.com/5rv5hb y aqui http://tinyurl.com/4tfj2r
"En la categoría de Periodismo Digital, el premio ha recaído en la cubana Yoani Sánchez, autora del blog Generación Y, por la perspicacia con la que su trabajo ha sorteado las limitaciones a la libertad de expresión que existen en Cuba, su estilo de información vivaz y el ímpetu con el que se ha incorporado al espacio global de periodismo ciudadano"
La Charanga for Carnival de Cuba in London - June 28th/29th
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| La Charanga Habanera at Carnival de Cuba 2008! Carnival de Cuba is back on Saturday June 28th and Sunday June 29th at Southwark Park for the fourth Carnival de Cuba - where last year 50,000 people enjoyed the best music and dance from Cuba! Topping the bill will be La Charanga Habanera, one of the all-time Cuban great Salsa-Timba bands. The island's reggaeton sensation, Eminencia Clasica will join them on the main stage along with Telmary, whose Cuban hip-hop is playing to packed houses in Havana. UK-based Cuban reggaeton stars Papo Record and Kid Afrika will play along with Osvaldo Chacon y su Timba and the hot new UK-based Cuban band Tumbao Tivoli. The dance stage will feature top stars and dance workshops and there will also be Conga drumming workshops for adults and kids. Carnival de Cuba '08 will be one of London's most kid-friendly events with free kid's drumming and dance workshops, smoothie bars, a great kid's Conga procession, Carnival face painting, a baby-changing area and a funfair. Access is free and there will be a huge range of Cuban, Latin and World food outlets and bars by Cubana bar-restaurant. Check www.carnival-de-cuba.com for more info.
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enrisco: Leal el valiente o viceversa
enrisco: Leal el valiente o viceversa
Ya era hora! 50 años y la revolucion sigue presionando a los cubanos. Si el "paraiso obrero" es tan perfecto como lo pintan por que hay 2 millones de cubanos fuera? Por que entonces el pais prohibio DVDs, moviles, acceso a los hoteles (refrendado en el articulo 43 de la Constitucion cubana).Eusebio Leal deberia hacer mas por los residentes de la habana vieja y no solamente sacarlos de sus hogares para convertirlos en hoteles y restaurantes Habaguanex en dinero convertible, Ademas por que ha esperado tanto por decir que Cuba es tambien de los cubanos fuera de la isla? Nunca ha mencionado que sus hijos estaban fuera! Claro, como aparentemente en Cuba hay "debate". Es igual q esperó hasta el 5to congreso del PCC para declararse catolico publicamente, si lo hubiese hecho antes no quedaria como "Historiador" de la Habana. Claro, tampoco es culpa de Eusebio sino del sistema que engendra oportunismo, hipocresia y doble moral para poder sobrevivir y llegar arriba
Ya era hora! 50 años y la revolucion sigue presionando a los cubanos. Si el "paraiso obrero" es tan perfecto como lo pintan por que hay 2 millones de cubanos fuera? Por que entonces el pais prohibio DVDs, moviles, acceso a los hoteles (refrendado en el articulo 43 de la Constitucion cubana).Eusebio Leal deberia hacer mas por los residentes de la habana vieja y no solamente sacarlos de sus hogares para convertirlos en hoteles y restaurantes Habaguanex en dinero convertible, Ademas por que ha esperado tanto por decir que Cuba es tambien de los cubanos fuera de la isla? Nunca ha mencionado que sus hijos estaban fuera! Claro, como aparentemente en Cuba hay "debate". Es igual q esperó hasta el 5to congreso del PCC para declararse catolico publicamente, si lo hubiese hecho antes no quedaria como "Historiador" de la Habana. Claro, tampoco es culpa de Eusebio sino del sistema que engendra oportunismo, hipocresia y doble moral para poder sobrevivir y llegar arriba
El Pais habla sobre el congreso de la UNEAC en Cuba
Nunca ha mencionado que sus hijos estaban fuera! Claro, como aparentemente en Cuba hay "debate". Es igual q esperó hasta el 5to congreso del PCC para declararse catolico publicamente, si lo hubiese hecho antes no quedaria como "Historiador" de la Habana. Claro, tampoco es culpa de Eusebio sino del sistema que engendra oportunismo, hipocresia y doble moral para poder sobrevivir y llegar arriba
Cuba to open a ForeignTV Channel
Cuba's state-run television broadcaster will start a 24-hour channel with mostly foreign content in a move to provide Cuban audiences with more variety.
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Thursday, 3 April 2008
Castro II vende DVDs y Castro I los critica
Carta de Fidel Castro, ninguna mencion de su hermano y si comentarios negativos contra los adelantos tecnologicos
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read more | digg story
Wednesday, 2 April 2008
Cuban Weekly News Digest
Cuban Weekly News Digest - "A compilation of news articles about Cuba, distributed since 1992 in order to encourage a balanced understanding of the Cuban situation and to promote investments in the Republic of Cuba"
Associated Press –
Analysts wonder how far the Communist government is willing to go. "Cuban people can't survive on the salaries people are paying them; average men and women have been screaming that at the top of their lungs for many years," said Félix Masud-Piloto, director of the Center for Latino Research at
On Monday, the Tourism Ministry announced that any Cuban with enough money can now stay in luxury hotels and rent cars, doing away with restrictions that made ordinary people feel like second-class citizens. And last week,
The Wall Street Journal -
<!--[if !vml]--><!--[endif]-->The younger Mr. Castro has lifted restrictions on the ownership of computers, DVDs and home appliances such as pressure cookers and microwaves.
The moves suggest Mr. Castro is willing to chart a different path from his brother, who kept to a strict Communist ideology. Only once, during an economic depression in the early 1990s caused by the collapse of
The latest moves don't represent the kind of glasnost or perestroika -- political openness and economic restructuring -- that other Communist states carried out, and don't signal any kind of broad China-style opening that economists hoped to see. In an overhaul that began last year, the government is allowing private farmers to cultivate unused land. But, in general, few of the latest developments address the island's fundamental problems of food scarcity, low productivity and paltry job opportunity.
After taking power, Mr. Castro, 76 years old, vowed to resolve
Still, the changes represent a philosophical difference between the Castro brothers that could portend a shift in Cuban society. The younger Mr. Castro appears willing to allow class differences to come to the fore, a phenomenon that Fidel Castro fought bitterly to suppress. Increasingly, Cubans with money are allowed to spend it. "Under Fidel, the idea was that unless everyone could afford it, no one could have it," said Philip Peters, a former State Department official who studies Cuba at the Lexington Institute, a think tank in Arlington, Va. "What this shows is that Raúl is not troubled by the idea that some people are going to make more money than others in this economy."
The decisions represent a more realistic view of the Cuban economy. Many of the measures legalize practices that already were commonplace. Before Raúl Castro took power, a big reason why Cubans were prohibited from hotels was the fear they would be exposed to foreigners and their views. Mr. Castro may be recognizing that Cubans and tourists already mix to a great degree and acknowledging that the change won't create any new political risk, some observers said. Observers said Mr. Castro is betting that easing restrictions on things like cellphones and computers may ease the restlessness of many Cubans by giving them a sense that things are changing. At the same time, the strategy could backfire: Giving Cubans a taste of freedom could stir demand for more accelerated changes.
Gaisionok assured that possibilities of the
AP -
The matter has been turned over to the Justice Department for investigation, Stanzel said. He said Bush was briefed on the case and felt that the appropriate action was being taken. The Center for a Free Cuba describes itself as an independent, nonpartisan institution dedicated to promoting human rights and a transition to democracy and the rule of law in
Danza Nacional de Cuba (National Dance of Cuba) will premiere the work "El peso de una isla" in the closing ceremony, and the company of Santiago Alfonso will show "Conga" dance again, to close with an spectacular ending. The encounter, sponsored by National Council of Scenic Arts, Association Cultures France and French embassy to
THE CANADIAN PRESS - Canadians continue to flock to
The Cuban Tourist Board in
"Raul is one of three options for Cubans," Klepak said. "They can riot for change and possibly bring violence and civil war, which no one, not even the dissidents, want; they can call for
The Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade has no special warning for Canadian travellers to
What might turn Parker off from
Havana - (acn) - The First Vice President of the Cuban Councils of State and Ministers, Jose Ramon Machado Ventura, visited several production facilities in the eastern province of Camaguey. After a two-day working visit to this province, Machado Ventura said he had been able to see enthusiasm among workers due to the economic recovery that the country is experiencing, including the availability of raw materials and the investments being carried out. "There is enthusiasm among workers and confidence in the recovery, of which they are a very important element," he said. "I am not exaggerating if I say that I saw confidence, stability and increase in some of the plans compared to past years. They have higher goals but they are very objective," he added. Regarding the youth, he noted that the generation of future workers has to be well trained and recalled that in the poli-technical schools there is an important force to guarantee the future of the Revolution. "Those who are studying now will be better trained because the Revolution is working for that," he pointed out. Machado was accompanied by Julio Cesar Garcia, First Secretary of the Cuban Communist Party in
The Advocate - The daughter of
Castro said she has seen her father become less homophobic as she's grown up, and that he is supportive of her work, though he warns her to move cautiously. Her mother, the late Vilma Espin, was an internationally heralded women's rights advocate. During the early days of the Cuban Revolution, gays were sent to forced labor camps for reeducation and rehabilitation. While the camps were not in use very long, gays were still labeled "ideological deviants." According to the article, gay and lesbian sex was legalized 15 years ago, but police raids on gay events has persisted until recently. "In the early years of the revolution much of the world was homophobic. It was the same here in
The Earth Times - Havana - Cuba's government has begun lending out unused agricultural land to farmers with the aim of increasing production of staple foods, tobacco and coffee, state television reported. The land is being made available to farmers only through cooperatives, Orlando Lugo Fonte, chairman of
Government television said 51 percent of arable land is underused or fallow, and officials are transferring some of it to individual farmers and associations representing small, private producers. According to official figures, cooperatives already control 35 percent of arable land -- and produce 60 percent of the island's agricultural output. "Everyone who wants to produce tobacco will be given land to produce tobacco, and it will be the same with coffee," said Orlando Lugo, president of
The change is a sharp contrast to the early days of
Granma Intl –
Later, President Fidel Castro, with his customary foresight, predicted serious world environmental problems as a consequence of escalating global warming and emphasized the need to develop a broad investment plan to take advantage of the abundance of water in the mountainous regions of the Sierra Maestra, the Nipe-Sagua-Baracoa range and the Sierra del Escambray, to create a national system of water diversion by way of connections among at least nine of the country's eastern and central provinces.
Work by the Ministry of Construction, the National Institute of Hydraulic Resources and the Department of Military Construction began immediately, given that this strategic project would require, for its optimal operation, not only reservoirs, canals, conduits, and other structures, but also 80 kilometers of tunnels through mountains in order to efficiently link the system. With the plan implemented and the first projects initiated in Mayarí, Holguín and the Agabama area of Sancti Spíritus, the work was shut down as the acute stage of the Special Period began. Unfortunately the completed works suffered extensive damage, those in Mayarí as a result of flooding in 1998 and lack of maintenance, while those in Agabama were severely affected by hurricanes that swept the area over the years.
In late 2004, in response to the environmental crisis caused by a severe and prolonged drought that resulted in heavy losses for the eastern provinces and Camagüey, the president instructed General of the Army Raúl Castro, then minister of the Revolutionary Armed Forces (FAR) to restart the strategic project for water diversion systems that could guarantee the country's water supply for this century under any circumstances. To give an idea of how important these projects are, a one-day heavy rainstorm in the mountainous region of Sagua de Tánamo —water that is currently wasted, because it all runs down to the sea — is approximately the same volume of water consumed in one year by the provinces of Holguín and Las Tunas. This is apart from the fact that it would prevent harmful flooding that now occurs in cities and towns such Sagua de Tánamo, Mayarí and many others. This program is also vital for the eastern region when taking into account its orography and scarcity of groundwater.
The FAR leadership considered the need to regroup the main leaders, plans and forces that worked on the initial projects, and ordered the creation of a Drought Control Special Group and a project management department (DIP) that would be responsible for all processes related to the construction of the water diversion system. From that emerged the Water Transfer System-DIP engineering services enterprise, which was asked to do the following:
• To work with every stage of the projects;
• To include the environmental and environmental protection aspects in projects;
• To procure a minimum impact on the population – only the essential, and to resolve it appropriately and as soon as possible;
• All temporary facilities and other related works should be designed in a way so that once construction is completed, the local People's Power government can use them for the community: educational and recreational centers, housing and others;
• To provide treatment for the hydro-regulating belt surrounding reservoirs and other works, and project and execute reforestation and the elimination of pollution in water basins.
The FAR minister also instructed it to establish a plan for dealing with delays in project execution; material delivery failures; disorganization and lack of control on the part of project managers, investors and builders; and other problems that result in the tying-up of considerable resources. The leadership group to which this water diversion mission was assigned in 2005 was imbued with the concerns that comrade Raúl had expressed in July 1999 to investors and builders involved in Holguín's tourism complex, with respect to the way that negligence and irresponsibility endanger the completion of the country's strategic programs, when he told them:
"Reflecting on the shortcomings of our investment process, I have come to the conclusion that we must radically change the methods and work styles of investors, project managers, builders and suppliers... We have made it our habit to be 'experts' in holding meetings, rallies and assemblies, issuing slogans, and promising to complete projects as a 'salute' to historic anniversaries, projects which are almost never finished. The few times that they are, it has been in detriment to quality. There are plenty of examples of this all over the country and the builders know it better than anybody else. Personally, I have always thought that this is pure, senseless fanfare. In the end, we become accustomed to living with lies, moaning, and finding explanations for the continuous postponements of dates set in contracts, instead of permeating our cadres and the working masses with a spirit of combat and a feeling of urgency in solving problems, which can only be achieved when each and every one of us knows how to strictly fulfill our duty."
On March 15, General of the Army Raúl Castro Ruz, second secretary of the Party, met in Mayarí with the executive of the Water Diversion System-DIP engineering system enterprise to learn more about works underway on the East-West water diversion system with the combined forces of the FAR, the Ministry of Construction, and the National Institute of Hydraulic Resources. Raúl, Commander of the Revolution Juan Almeida Bosque, General of the Army Ramón Espinosa Martín and Miguel Díaz Canel, all members of the Political Bureau, exchanged views with DIP executives, as well as with Fidel Figueroa de la Paz, minister of construction and René Mesa Villafaña, president of the National Institute of Hydraulic Resources.
Colonel Pedro José Astraín Rodríguez, a National Assembly deputy and director of the Water Diversion-DIP engineering services enterprise, explained the advances that have been made during the first phase, which include the construction of the Melones reservoir in Mayarí, and other important work on tunnels, canals and conduits in order to guarantee water diversion; as well as the interconnection of the reservoirs at Sabanilla (Birán), Nipe (out of use for almost 25 years), Gibara, Colorado and Naranjo.
According to Colonel Astraín, the series of projects carried out by the DIP has brought about a reduction in the investment total for this diversion system by more than 46 million pesos to date.
Later in the meeting, Colonel Astraín confirmed the favorable outcome of the project, what the forces had learned, and the demonstration of the fact that myths can be broken. One such myth was the notion that it was too difficult to develop the works if tunnels had to be built; another, that it was not possible to apply techniques to prevent water losses of up to 30% caused by leaks in the canals. Also the fact that the project team has been undertaking management tasks, addressing the demands of and providing assistance to the work force, which does not always include a sufficient number of professionals.
Details were given in the meeting on how they are working in parallel with risk system plans associated with water diversion, which will benefit wide-ranging areas of agricultural production. They also analyzed certain ideas about better use of technology and the work force by ensuring that, for projects such as this, when new equipment becomes available, it is essential to work uninterruptedly for more than one shift, and to ensure the corresponding maintenance of the technology. In essence, if this modern equipment exists and more than one shift is implemented at a time, that implies a recovery from delays caused by the insufficient availability of resources and the poor technical state of existing ones, as well as advances in the execution of investment projects. At the end of the meeting, the second secretary of the Party expressed his satisfaction with the works currently underway to those present.
Nature – PBS - Ninety miles off the tip of
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The
Here are few key spots for wildlife lovers:
About 100 miles south of
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The Ciénaga de Zapata Biosphere Reserve, at 1.5 million acres, is
On the east end of the island, Guantanamo Bay (4) is a great place to see several dozen species of seabirds that feed in Cuban waters, from pelicans to sharp-beaked terns. The bee hummingbird, the world's smallest bird, inhabits nearby forests. At the Baconao Biosphere Reserve (5) there are caves full of bats, and the bat-eating cave boa. Visitors wait until dusk to watch the bats emerge for their nightly hunt.
A flock of a different kind -- flamingos -- can be found at Humedal Río Máximo-Cagüey (6), an internationally important wetland. Up to 75,000 of the tall pink birds can be seen feeding in the flats here, making it the largest colony of
LAND & PEOPLE
Some say "
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UNIQUE PLANTLIFE
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In the mountains, dry forests support a wealth of species, including delicate orchids and the elegant butterfly lily (Hedychium coronarium Koenig), the national flower. Mogotes, dome-shaped mounds in the Sierra de los Órganos, have a type of dry forest consisting of semidecidous and evergreen trees. The endemic ceibón tree (Bombacopsis cubensis) and piñón tree (Erythrina cubensis), and the oak tree (Tabebuia calcicola), are just some of the species found there. Pine forests, dominated by the
Along the southern coast, large mangrove swamps provide nursery waters for fish and important habitat for birds. The
ECO-ALERT
Closed to much of the world for years,
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The government has stepped up efforts to protect
The problems are familiar. Deforestation and erosion are spreading as farms and cities expand. As trade improves, non-native species are finding their way onto the island. In addition, water pollution is worsening in
Many conservationists are optimistic about saving this remarkable wild island. But it may be decades before Cubans know if their efforts to preserve their natural resources for the future have paid off.
BEE HUMMINGBIRD (Mellisuga helenae)
Believed to be the world's smallest bird,
BUTTERFLY BAT (Natalus family)
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CARIBBEAN FLAMINGO (Phoenicopterus ruber ruber)
Caribbean flamingos are found in the Caribbean, parts of Central and South America, and the
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CARIBBEAN REEF SHARK (Carcharhinus perezi)
Found from
CUBAN BROWN ANOLE (Anolis sagrei)
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Cuban brown anole
Cuban brown anoles are native to
CUBAN CROCODILE (Crocodylus rhombifer)
Once also found on other islands in the Caribbean, this rare crocodile is now limited to
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Cuban emerald hummingbird
CUBAN EMERALD HUMMINGBIRD (Chlorostilbon ricordii)
Cuban emerald hummingbirds are found in forests, coastal vegetation, and gardens in
CUBAN HUTIA (Capromys pilorides)
Found on
CUBAN PARROT (Amazona leucocephala)
Cuban parrots are found in eastern and central
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Cuban tody
CUBAN TODY (Todus multicolor)
Todies defend a tiny patch of forest, rarely leaving their wooded and semiwooded territories. They are endemic to