Monument to My Father / Juan Juan Almeida

“Here, no one surrenders” With tremendous size and a weight of 15 tons, in Antonio Maceo Plaza in Santiago de Cuba, on the size wall of the Heredia Theater, this Tuesday the lights were turned on to inaugurate a steel frame that recreates the image of my father, Commander Juan Almeida Bosque. I think so … Continue reading “Monument to My Father / Juan Juan Almeida”

Estado de SATS Celebrates Three Years / David Canela

HAVANA, Cuba, July 29, 2013, David Canela / www.cubanet.org.-The civic project Estado de SATS this Saturday celebrated its three years of existence with a children’s party. About 10:30 in the morning Rodiles’ house was full. At the party two clowns performed, exciting the children with games, dances, songs and puppets. Children’s music videos were also … Continue reading “Estado de SATS Celebrates Three Years / David Canela”

An Interview with Berta Soler, Leader of the Ladies in White / Ivan Garcia

(Exclusive, Iván García in Havana) If you want confirmation that socialism does not work, do yourself a favor and visit Alamar. This community, twenty minutes east of Havana, is an example of real urban chaos. A place without rhyme or reason, ugly, poorly constructed buildings rise four, five, even eighteen stories high along poorly paved, winding roads. … Continue reading “An Interview with Berta Soler, Leader of the Ladies in White / Ivan Garcia”

Savagery to Strays / Fernando Damaso

Photo: Rebeca In Cuba, although before there was, currently their appears to be no effective organization to protect animals, although there is talk of one, Aniplant (Society for the Protection of Animals and Plants), which doesn’t appear in any telephone directly, and whose activity is so non-existent it lacks a presence and activism. The outrages … Continue reading “Savagery to Strays / Fernando Damaso”

Dances / Regina Coyula

Young people want a break in the routine. They are on vacation. What are the options? Rafael, 19, is a student. His Federation of University Student (FEU) card facilitated his entry into some places for a lower price. La Cecilia, El Diablo TunTun, Café Cantante at the National Theater are in this category, but if … Continue reading “Dances / Regina Coyula”

Oswaldo Paya: The Act of Serving / Luis Felipe Rojas

Note: I published this a year ago and have nothing to say I didn’t say them, I have reposted the text (on the anniversary of his death). Still dazed and in shock I compose these words to Oswaldo. When I started to get the first messages about Oswaldo Payá Sardiñas’s death they were showing the … Continue reading “Oswaldo Paya: The Act of Serving / Luis Felipe Rojas”

Independent March in Front of the Capitol Demands Gay Marriage / Lilianne Ruiz

Independent LGBT activists marched before the Capitol this weekend — photo by  Lilianne Ruiz HAVANA, Cuba, July 2nd 2013, Lilianne Ruiz / www.cubanet.org — In concurrence with Gay Pride Day, celebrated worldwide every 28th of June, a dozen activists marched past the Capitol last Saturday, led by Leannes Imbert Acosta, director of the LGBT community’s … Continue reading “Independent March in Front of the Capitol Demands Gay Marriage / Lilianne Ruiz”

Life or Death of a Political Prisoner: Instructions in a Sealed Envelope / Lilianne Ruiz

HAVANA, Cuba, July 2013, www.cubanet.org. In Combinado del Este Prison, in the presence of a lieutenant from the Ministry of the Interior, a common prisoner threatened political prisoner Ernesto Borges with death. This past June, the common prisoner, who was appointed by the prison authorities as “Head of the Council of Prisoners” despite being a … Continue reading “Life or Death of a Political Prisoner: Instructions in a Sealed Envelope / Lilianne Ruiz”

Response to Ricardo Alarcon / Eliecer Avila

This morning I was awakened by a call from a friend to tell me that finally señor Ricardo Alarcón had uttered words referring to our encounter*. I immediately started to make arrangements to see where I could download this post, but nothing worked. It was already around 11:00 and curiosity made me make a sad … Continue reading “Response to Ricardo Alarcon / Eliecer Avila”

Citizen Diplomacy / Julio Antonio Aleaga Pesant

Cuba Today, El Vedado, Havana, (PD): Bit by bit some of the early activists who were able to cross the sea are returning; they were guests or sponsored by organizations or individuals the “outside world.” I say some, because you must remember that under their inalienable right, there are friends who took the opportunity to … Continue reading “Citizen Diplomacy / Julio Antonio Aleaga Pesant”

Raul Prepares His Retirement / Juan Juan Almeida

We are living in a world where, dangerously, what’s important for the work of many is just to show results. Perhaps for that reason, for nostalgia, convenience, desire, hope, belief, deception or passion; we make the mistake of looking to Havana and distorting the reality, imagining the Cuban government as a bankrupt controlling consortium. Sorry, … Continue reading “Raul Prepares His Retirement / Juan Juan Almeida”

The Tagline, Putative Mother of Censorship / Rebeca Monzo

It all started very early, at the beginning of the seventies. Soon the Maximum figures of the triumph of the ’fifty-nine revolution, realized that they if they wanted to install themselves in power, firmly and indefinitely, they are going to have to take over the mass media of communication, in the then flat press, radio … Continue reading “The Tagline, Putative Mother of Censorship / Rebeca Monzo”

The Military King / Rosa Maria Rodriguez

Photo taken by “The Voice of the Sandinismo” I am not going to refer to the song by Mexican Jose Alfredo Jimenez but to the spirit, the intention that gravitates like smog over the Cuban archipelago and part of the world.  Given the person that it concerns, we should be accustomed to that kind of … Continue reading “The Military King / Rosa Maria Rodriguez”

Laritza Diversent Reports from Geneva / Laritza Diversent

Introduction by Tania Quintero On December 10, 2010, without resources, publicity, or fanfare, attorney and freelance journalist Laritza Diversent founded a modest office in her home to provide free, independent advice to Cubans and foreigners on national and international legal issues and human rights. She established the Cubalex Legal Information Center. Over time she was … Continue reading “Laritza Diversent Reports from Geneva / Laritza Diversent”