English Translations of Cubans Writing From the Island
I had a long discussion with a friend about the genius or lack of same of a certain political personage. He insisted that the power to quote extensive passages of text and to remember dates and the names of historic figures, was evidence of his brilliance. But, I pointed out to him, I’ve never heard … Continue reading “Teaching with Humor / Yoani Sanchez”
Like every self-respecting homeland, ours is a cruel cemetery. One by one we go diminishing the men and women who marked history, those who really shone in Cuba’s history with an intensely personal light, a history of the heart that hurts and hardly forgets: the intimate history of the soul of what a nation has … Continue reading “My Dear Lovers, Parents and Grandparents / Orlando Luis Pardo Lazo”
Camilo, the dictator’s henchman November 8 marked a year since our peaceful demonstration in front of the Acosta Police Station (Unit 1), demanding the release of Antonio Rodiles, Yaremis Flores and Laritza Diversent. After the corresponding beating and arrest, while they led us to our respective cells, distributing us around the city (divide and conquer?), … Continue reading “Prison Diary LXIX: Camilo, Henchman of a Regime That is a Member of the United Nations Human Rights Council / Angel Santiesteban”
Remarks of human rights advocate Rosa Maria Payá on why Cuba should not be elected to the UN Rights Council, delivered at UN headquarters on November 4, 2013, at a press conference organized by UN Watch and the Human Rights Foundation. Transcript: On September 20, the Cuban government declared, in the Human Rights Council, that … Continue reading “Rosa Maria Paya Speaking to UN Watch / Rosa Maria Paya”
In recent weeks we have heard some information in the United States media about the possibility of selling medicines produced in Cuba in that country, particularly Heberprot-P, a drug for the treatment of diabetic foot. On the other hand, the Cuban authorities continue to express themselves about the obstacles facing them in buying certain medications … Continue reading “Humanitarian Demand / Rafael León Rodríguez”
The dictatorship frightened and cautious The Cuban government has decided once again that the “Bastion” exercises would be held just on the even of December 10, the day celebrated for Human Rights. It’s their way of oiling the “defense” machine, which is intended only to send a sly message to the opposition that they are … Continue reading “Prison Diary LXVIII: New Challenge for Castro: Violate Human Rights While Being a Member of the UN HumanRights Council”
That we are in a state of ruin is something that no Cuban in his or her right mind really questions, though we have become all too accustomed to the cynicism of the architects of this disaster, who continue to blame the “Yankee blockade” for all the misery afflicting people. As though this were not … Continue reading “ETECSA, A Bankrupt Monopoly / Pablo Pascual Mendez Pina”
Six months ago I took an American photographer to meet to the former model and ex-ballerina Luz Maria Collazo. She had served as an interpreter with two other important Cuban ex-models and that would be our last evening of work. She was the main target of his lens and his interest, but when he saw … Continue reading “The Best Art School in the World / Yusimi Rodriguez Lopez”
Poster: Rolando Pulido Luis Leonel León: The Black Eyes of Rosa María Payá From El Nuevo Herald The magazine “People en Español” chose her as one of the 25 most powerful Latin women. On a list that includes Jennifer López, Sofía Vergara, Kate del Castillo, Lupita Jones, Paulina Rubio, Doctor Polo and other celebrities across … Continue reading “The Truth in the Gaze / Orlando Luis Pardo Lazo”
Pedro Luis Ferrer and Frank Delgado: Eternal Exorcists of the Powers-that-be Frank Delgado There is no doubt that Cuban music is a letter of introduction to Cuban culture, and its scores have historically been the tapestry of tears of the composers have chiseled their deepest feelings, from love and heartbreak, to the social and historical … Continue reading “Prison Diary LXVII: Troubadors Committed to Freedom / Angel Santiesteban”
The recent election that resulted in Cuba joining the membership of the UN Human Rights Council (HRC) for a period of three years has aroused contradictory positions in various opinion sectors, both within and outside the Island. No wonder, since it means the recognition of a totalitarian government that has curtailed all individual and collective … Continue reading “Cuba in the HRC: Punishment and Penance for Democracy / Miriam Celeya”
HAVANA, Cuba, November 2013, www.cubanet.org.- Giraldo Rodríguez Comendador, 76, can’t cross the avenue because cataracts cloud his vision. Every day he has to decide whether to seek the evidence of this 42 working years (to initiate a process that would culminate in a 250 peso pension — Cuban pesos, not the ones convertible into dollars, … Continue reading ““500 Times I’ve Looked at a Place to Hang Myself” / Lilianne Ruiz”
Santa Clara, Cuba November 13, 2013. Officers of the Ministry of Education (MINED), Central Region, at a government meeting on Monday the 11th, suspended the Schools in the Countryside program for November and December, because of the complicated epidemiological situation in the province. Guilfredo Martin Betancourt, a MINED official, said the province is experiencing … Continue reading ““Schools in the Countryside” Suspended Because of Dengue Fever / CID”
Estrella Madrigal Valdés I do not believe it, but the rumors circulating about Estrella Madrigal Valdés, former president of the Chamber of Commerce are diverse and nothing good (for her). They say her replacement was announced shortly before the Fair of Havana, that she is under investigation at home unable to leave, that she (or her … Continue reading “The End of the Good Star / Regina Coyula”
December 10. It was a foggy day and the remembrance of other similar birthdays, including those old songs in Armenian played many times and out-of-date. December 10. It was a Friday, as usual, and I picked up the phone. No one in the world dials 71-12-10, the whole world knows that “the selected number is … Continue reading “Blue way, white night / Orlando Luis Pardo Lazo”
