English Translations of Cubans Writing From the Island
14ymedio, Yoani Sánchez, Havana, 26 May 2022 — Luz Escobar must have been “The New Man.” She boarded a train every eleven days at the Tulipán street train station in Havana to get to a pre-university course in the countryside that she hated but needed to obtain the diploma that would propel her towards university. … Continue reading “‘El Mundo’ Award to Luz Escobar Gives Wings to Independent Journalism in Cuba”
14ymedio, Madrid, 26 May 2022 — The twentieth edition of El Mundo International Journalism Awards celebrate freedom of expression and the free flow of information by awarding prizes to two reporters who, from different parts of the globe, are an example of the fundamental values of the profession: courage and rigor. In the Best Journalistic Work category, … Continue reading “Cuban Luz Escobar and Russian Alexey Kovalev, Win ‘El Mundo’ Journalism Awards”
14ymedio, Havana, 23 November 2019 — The journalist Luz Escobar, a member of the 14ymedio team, is under house arrest for the second consecutive weekend. This Saturday, while trying to leave for a family lunch, a State Security agent stationed on the ground floor of her building warned her that he had orders not to allow her to go … Continue reading “Cuban Independent Journalist Luz Escobar Under House Arrest for the Second Consecutive Saturday”
Yoani Sanchez, Havana, 8 May 2019 — Thanks to all those who demanded the release of @LuzCuba (Luz Escobar). She just called us on the phone to say that she had been released after being under arrest for five hours. We will only have the details when she arrives at the 14ymedio newsroom and we … Continue reading “Luz Escobar, Reporter for 14ymedio, Released After 5 Hour Detention in Cuba”
CiberCuba, May 8, 2019 – 15:08 (GMT-5) Cuban police arrested journalist Luz Escobar, a reporter for the newspaper 14ymedio, on Wednesday. Escobar was taken to the police station in the Santiago de Las Vegas municipality, in Havana, after she was arrested while interviewing residents of a shelter for victims in that area. “Regrettably, we have … Continue reading “14ymedio Reporter Luz Escobar Arrested In Cuba / CiberCuba”
14ymedio, Luz Escobar, 19 March 2017 – It rained when the presidential plane touched down on the tarmac at Havana’s Airport. On 20 March 2016, Barack Obama began a historic visit to the island that awakened hopes and sparked questions. One year after that visit, Cubans are taking stock of what happened and, in particular, … Continue reading “A Year After Obama’s Visit, Cubans Feel Disillusioned With His Legacy / 14ymedio, Luz Escobar”
14ymedio, Luz Escobar, Havana, 14 March 2017 – Whether they are independent or official, reporters share the same complaint against institutions, which they accuse of hindering access to information and hiding data. And for this reason all informants have the same requirement: greater access to sources. Gabriela Daihuela studies journalism and dreams of dedicating herself to … Continue reading “Cuban Journalists Demand Greater Access To Sources / 14ymedio, Luz Escobar”
Luz Escobar, Havana, 1 March 2017 — After a two month free trial, the fees for government-run home internet service, known as “Nauta Hogar,” were announced on Wednesday. The Telecommunications Company of Cuba (ETECSA) will charge between 15 and 115 Cuban convertible pesos (CUC) for packages of 30 hours, depending on the connection speed, which … Continue reading “Cuba Announces Exorbitant Rates for Limited Home Internet / 14ymedio, Luz Escobar”
14ymedio, Luz Escobar, Havana, 21 February 2017– Surrounded by cables and circuits Alexei Gámez has spent his life. From an early age he became passionate about technology despite growing up amidst the rigors of the Special Period. At age ten, he had a computer, “the kind that connected to TVs,” he recalls with a mixture of pride … Continue reading “Alexei Gámez: “Before Wifi This Was a Dead Town” / 14ymedio, Luz Escobar”
14ymedio, Luz Escobar, Havana, 16 February 2017 – In the photo the couple smiles with one glass of beer in hand, all they were able to obtain after waiting in a long line at a Varadero resort. Nine years after the government allowed Cubans to enter hotels in Cuba (a right previously denied them in what … Continue reading “Cuban Customers: Collateral Damage In The Tourism Boom / 14ymedio, Luz Escobar”
Luz Escobar, Havana, 11 February 2017 – Sexists, hard and streetsmart, such are the lyrics of most reggaeton songs that are heard everywhere. Topics that speak about jealousy and rivalries, but that can also convey very different messages. Under the name La Unión (the Union), a group of young artists spread the Christian faith to … Continue reading “Faith Arrives to the Rhythm of Reggaeton / 14ymedio, Luz Escobar”
14ymedio, Luz Escobar, Havana, 7 February 2017 — Rustic, elegant or family friendly. These are the preferred accommodations offered by Airbnb in Cuba. The hosts, for their part, prefer serious customers who pay well, but above all value the ability to directly manage their rental, two years after the huge international private rental platform opened its services in Cuba. … Continue reading “Airbnb, The Cuban Experience / 14ymedio, Luz Escobar”
14ymedio, Luz Escobar, Havana, 4 February 2017 — Colombia’s sugar mill whistle sounded again at the end of January, like a giant awakened from a seven-year-long lethargy. The residents in the area breathed a sign of relief: the driving force behind the local economy seems to be the sugar mill, but technical and organizational problems … Continue reading “Colombia Sugar Mill, A Giant That Is Slow To Wake Up / 14ymedio, Luz Escobar”
Every night when Bisaida Azahares Correa goes to bed and looks at the ceiling, she is afraid that when the sun comes up she will have leave the house where she lives with her two children. This dwelling in the Siboney neighborhood is her only chance of not ending up sleeping on the street, but its … Continue reading ““I Did Not Enter This House Through The Window” / 14ymedio, Luz Escobar”
14ymedio, Luz Escobar, Havana, 27 January 2017 — Since late last November Danilo Maldonado, El Sexto, has lived a nightmare. He passed from one police station to another until he reached the dreaded Combinado del Este jail in Havana. His crime: to write on several walls a graffiti that read “He left,” a few hours after the … Continue reading ““That day, like the kids, I went out to play,” says El Sexto / 14ymedio, Luz Escobar”
