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Cuba accepts dialogue with EU
Cuba has conditionally accepted the resumption of formal political dialogue with the European Union.
The offer was made by the EU in June when sanctions were lifted against the Communist-run island state. The Cuban foreign ministry said it would accept the proposal "once the foundations and bases are established by joint agreement", Reuters reported. Havana's response came in a letter sent this month to the EU headquarters in Brussels, the agency reported.
The EU has been trying to re-establish a full political dialogue with Havana ever since Fidel Castro effectively stepped down due to ill-health in July 2006, correspondents say. EU sanctions were imposed on Cuba in 2003 to protest against the Castro government's imprisonment of more than 70 political dissidents. Their lifting earlier this year was seen by analysts as a success for the government of Raul Castro.
He who officially replaced his ailing elder brother as president after National Assembly elections in February. At the time, EU External Relations Commissioner Benita Ferrero-Waldner said the 27-nation bloc wanted to promote change in Cuba. The decades-old US trade embargo against Cuba remains in place. Cuba has conditionally accepted the resumption of formal political dialogue with the European Union. ... more -
Cuban punk rocker spared jail term
A court in Havana, Cuba, has ordered a punk rock musician to pay a fine of $30 (£15) for public disorder for playing his band's music too loud.
However, Gorki Aguila was cleared of a more serious charge that could have led to a jail sentence. The lead singer of band Porno Para Ricardo is known for songs that ridicule Cuba's communist government. He had faced a possible four year term in prison for the crime known in Cuba as social dangerousness.
The controversial law allows the jailing of people who the authorities believe have been displaying behaviour that would indicate they could be on the verge of committing a crime. But, prior to the trial, prosecutors decided to drop the charge. Instead Mr Aguila was found guilty of public disorder for playing his group's music too loud while they were recording their new album. He was then ordered to pay a $30 fine and released.
Minutes later, the outspoken bushy-haired singer told reporters gathered outside his house that it was clear the international interest in his case had played a key role in the last-minute decision by prosecutors to drop the more serious charge he was facing.
He also vowed to continue criticising the Cuban government and its emblematic communist leaders like Fidel Castro and the current president, Raul Castro. Nothing, he said, could ever be gained by remaining silent. There has been no comment regarding the case from the Cuban authorities. A court in Havana, Cuba, has ordered a punk rock musician to pay a fine of $30 (£15) for public disorder for playing his band's m... more -
un grande magazziono a Cuba
nonostante le recenti parole di Raul castro continua l' "apertura" di cuba al capitalismo.
nella capitale Cubana il primo grande magazzino modello self service..
"i prezzi sono proibitivi ma almeno" ,dicono le persone in fila, "qui si trovano le cose"
http://www.unita.it/view.asp?IDcontent=77690
io nel mio piccolo penso che bisogna trovare il modo di salvare cuba, non in quanto simbolo dell'antiamericanismo, non in quanto patria acquisita del Che, anche se la sua tenerezza e rabbia mi manca...
no cuba va salvata perchè è il simbolo che "si può vivere senza" ed essere felice.
anche a me la vecchia polizia segreta di Castro (fidel prima e raul poi) mi fa venire l'orticaria rotante a pallini viola ma è mai possibile che non esista un modello alternativo? o si crede nel capitalismo sfrenato stile USA o nella polizia politica?
io intanto rispovero delle vecchie parole del reddivivo Folla Jack (che recentemente ha ricominciato a scrivere sul giornale fondato da Gramsci) nonostante le recenti parole di Raul castro continua l' "apertura" di cuba al capitalismo. ... more -
An Innovative and Fresh Cuba That You Must Inhale
Wow, have you seen Cuba's new look of passive capitalism? ... Or is this just another Castro mirror trick?
It's a new and exciting country of opportunities and its Cuba! Cuba? You might say?
Yes, Cuba! At least that is what the Cuban government wants its citizens and the rest of the world to believe. Wow, have you seen Cuba's new look of passive capitalism? ... Or is this just another Castro mirror trick? ... more -
Cuba: the Socialist vs. Capitalist debate
In the past weeks and months people have been trying to work out how far exactly Raúl Castro has been willing to push through reforms. Anyway does all this account to the “death knell” of socialist Cuba as we know it and the emergence of a new capitalist state, or rather as rational steps to perfect Cuba’s statist economy? This is the debate that’s been played out in a number of opinion pieces I’ve stumbled across in the British press of late. In the past weeks and months people have been trying to work out how far exactly Raúl Castro has been willing to push through reforms.... more
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EU will lift sanctions against Cuba
In 2003 the European Union levied sanctions against Cuba, because of the imprisonment of 70 dissidents.
"Since Raul Castro in effect took over from his brother, Fidel, nearly two years ago, Spain in particular has pressed hard for a complete removal of the sanctions in the light of what it sees as important reforms in Cuba."
The US will maintain their sanctions. In 2003 the European Union levied sanctions against Cuba, because of the imprisonment of 70 dissidents. ... more -
EU agrees to lift sanctions on Cuba
The European Union on Thursday agreed to lift its diplomatic sanctions against Cuba but imposed tough conditions on the communist island to maintain sanction-free relations, officials said.
EU External Relations Commissioner Benita Ferrero-Waldner said the bloc felt it had to encourage changes in Cuba after Raul Castro took over as the head of the country's government from his ailing brother Fidel.
"There will be very clear language also on what the Cubans still have to do ... releasing prisoners, really working on human rights questions," she told reporters at an EU summit. "There will be a sort of review to see whether indeed something will have happened."
The decision does not affect the United States' trade embargo imposed on Cuba nearly 50 years ago. The Bush administration has shown no signs of lifting it. The European Union on Thursday agreed to lift its diplomatic sanctions against Cuba but imposed tough conditions on the communist isla... more -
Are Fidel Castro and Hugo Chavez Brothers?
Normally MSNBC does a pretty good job of not acting like FOX News and mixing up extremely important details, like improperly placing a (D) or an (R) after a politician's name, but today, during MSNBC's Morning Joe program with Joe Scarborough I caught something quite odd.
During an interview with former GOP Presidential Candidate, Ron Paul, the crawl at the bottom of the screen implied that former Cuban President Fidel Castro and current Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez are brothers.
The exact quote from the crawl: THE 81 YEAR OLD FORMER CUBAN PRESIDENT LOOKS VIGOROUS AND ANIMATED AS HE CHATTED MONDAY WITH HIS BROTHER, PRESIDENT HUGO CHAVEZ, AND WITH VENEZUELAN PRES. HUGO CHAVEZ.
Someone probably meant to say "...Monday with his brother, President Raul Castro, and with Venezuelan Pres. Hugo Chavez" but they screwed it up. Like I said, this is a rare slip up for MSNBC, but they gotta get it together and catch things like that. Hugo Chavez and Fidel Castro and NOT brothers.
Here's the video, the quote begins to crawl across the bottom about 1:05 into it, check that out. As an added bonus, it's a moderately interesting interview with Ron Paul: Normally MSNBC does a pretty good job of not acting like FOX News and mixing up extremely important details, like improperly placing a... more -
CUBA RENDE OMAGGIO A CHE GUEVARA
Nell'80esimo anniversario dalla nascita...Cuba rende omaggio a Che Guevara!
Keep in touch,
Fabio 31183
CREATIVE VIDEO PRODUCER
http://www.31183.com Nell'80esimo anniversario dalla nascita...Cuba rende omaggio a Che Guevara! Keep in touch, Fabio 31183 ... more -
New Cuba More Liberal and Tolerant of Transexuality Than The US?
The face of Cuba appears to be changing, with many of the freedoms that Fidel Castro had kept from his people now being allowed. Thanks to new president Raul Castro, many new changes are being made such as allowing free sex change operations, allowing cell phones, and making progressive and fair economic changes.
"Cuba has authorized sex-change operations and will offer them free for qualifying citizens, an official said Friday. The move is the latest in a series of changes implemented by President Raul Castro since he succeeded his elder brother, Fidel, in February. Raul Castro's daughter, Mariela, heads Cuba's National Center for Sex Education, which strongly backs the new policy.
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Health Minister Jose Ramon Balaguer signed a resolution approving sex-change surgery, said an official at the center who spoke on condition of anonymity because the measure has not been formally published. The resolution will be posted on the Internet on Saturday, the official said.
The procedure would be available to Cubans for free as part of their country's health-care system.
The sex education center has said previously that 28 transsexual Cubans have asked to undergo the surgery and that Cuban doctors have trained with physicians from Belgium to prepare for the procedures.
According to the center, a clinic for transsexual health will be created to perform the procedures, but it was not clear when it will start operating.
Cuba carried out a successful sex-change operation in 1988, but future surgeries were canceled because it sparked a negative public outcry.
Since becoming Cuba's first new president in 49 years, the younger Castro has done away with bans that kept most Cubans from owning cell phones in their own names and renting hotel rooms and cars. His government also has decentralized the floundering state agricultural sector, raised pensions for retirees and hiked salaries for some state employees, among other changes." The face of Cuba appears to be changing, with many of the freedoms that Fidel Castro had kept from his people now being allowed. Thank... more -
Computers go on sale to Cubans - CNN.com
Computers went on sale Friday for Cubans' private use, the latest in a series of goods to become available under the communist government's new president. Computers went on sale Friday for Cubans' private use, the latest in a series of goods to become available under the communist go... more
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Castro making reforms in Cuba
It was featured in The New York Times that Raul Castro, Fidel's brother and successor is implementing reforms in Cuba to make the lives of Cubans more liveable. It was featured in The New York Times that Raul Castro, Fidel's brother and successor is implementing reforms in Cuba to make the... more
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Cubans line up to buy mobile phones
HUNDREDS of Cubans lined up at state-owned telephone offices today as the new Government under President Raul Castro began selling mobile phone service to the general public for the first time.
Thousands were expected to take advantage of the opportunity in the coming days, even though opening the service and buying the cheapest mobile phone was priced at the equivalent of more than nine months of state wages.
"It is a very good measure, but what we earn does not correspond with the price," said 33-year-old Gustavo, who nevertheless waited with around 100 others at an office in Havana's colonial district to buy the service.
Raul Castro has moved quickly to ease restrictions in the communist country since succeeding his ailing older brother Fidel Castro as president in February.
Cubans are now allowed to buy DVD players, computers and other electronic goods, and stay at tourist hotels previously reserved only for foreigners.
Cuba has the lowest rate of mobile telephone use in Latin America and the service was restricted until now to foreigners or government officials and employees.
Customers will pay for their calls with prepaid cards bought in hard currency, and can receive and make international calls.
Cuban telecommunications monopoly ETECSA, a joint venture with Telecom Italia, announced last month it would begin selling the service. HUNDREDS of Cubans lined up at state-owned telephone offices today as the new Government under President Raul Castro began selling mob... more -
Cubans line up for their first cellular phone lines: Scientific American
The freedom to ask "Can you hear me now?"
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Cuba joins the consumer world | The Australian
It seems like change is coming very fast, is it an illusion? Tell me what you think
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Cuba lifts ban on citizens staying in tourist hotels - Worldnews.com
Is this the beginning of change?
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21st century communism
Steps to encourage a Cuban spending spree may help the communist system and its new president survive.
Raul Castro's government has done away with some despised restrictions, lifting bans on electric appliances, microwaves and computers, inviting average citizens to enter long-forbidden resorts and declaring they can even legally have their own cell phones.
Rumors are rampant the government could ease travel restrictions and tolerate free enterprise that would let more people start their own small businesses. And hopes that it will tweak the dual-currency system that puts foreign products out of reach for most Cubans have sparked a run on the peso.
By doing away with rules ordinary Cubans hate, Raul Castro may defuse clamor for deeper economic and political change in the single-party communist system.
Some Cubans worry that even the small measures already taken will create class tensions and increase resentment between those earning state salaries and those with access to dollars, given the new opportunities for conspicuous consumption.
The new president is said to be an admirer of free-market reforms that allowed those countries to revolutionize their economies while maintaining single-party communist political control. Steps to encourage a Cuban spending spree may help the communist system and its new president survive. ... more -
Cubans on new freedoms: 'We'll see how far we go'
For the first time since Fidel Castro's official resignation, Cubans are talking more about what the government is doing than what it's not doing.
In the last week, new Cuban President Raul Castro has legalized cell phone use for ordinary Cubans; granted Cubans access to previously off-limits tourist hotels; and legalized the sale within Cuba of microwaves, DVD players and personal computers. Cubans are welcoming the change, even if the costs are out of their reach. For the first time since Fidel Castro's official resignation, Cubans are talking more about what the government is doing than wha... more -
Can you hear me now, Havana? Cubans finally get cell phones
It's only just ended its ban on DVD player and computer sales, but Cuba's apparently not stopping it's technological catch-up there, with President Raul Castro now announcing that the country's also lifting its restrictions on cellphone use. As the AFP reports, there have of course been cellphones in the country for some time, but they have mainly been reserved for foreigners, government staff, or those who were able to obtain them through third parties. Under the new regulations, however, Cubans will be able to get cellphone service from state telecom ETECSA, but only in the form of prepaid contracts that must be paid for in foreign currency. Reuters also adds that Cubans will be able to both make and receive international calls under the new service. Any other details are apparently pretty light at the moment, but ETECSA says it'll be providing information on how Cubans can switch over their existing service or sign up for a new contract in the next few days. It's only just ended its ban on DVD player and computer sales, but Cuba's apparently not stopping it's technological ca... more
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Cuba signs up for human rights
The communist government of Cuba has signed two human rights accords that were first ratified by the UN more than 40 years ago. Castro spent much of his presidency refusing to sign the treaties, saying that to do so would be "to cede pressure from the US." But just days after power was handed over to his younger brother Raul, Cuba has signed on to the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights and the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, reportedly without any foreign pressure playing a part.
"The treaty requires countries to ensure the right to work, to fair wages, to form trade unions and allow all people to join the union of their choice, to social security, to education and the highest attainable standard of physical and mental health."
Some are calling this the first step in the right direction for the new government of Cuba. Do you agree? The communist government of Cuba has signed two human rights accords that were first ratified by the UN more than 40 years ago. Castro... more
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Raul Castro
