English Translations of Cubans Writing From the Island
14ymedio, Reinaldo Escobar, Havana, 21 December 2016 — The newspaper Granma announced that as of tomorrow, in Thursday’s edition, it will debut a new design. For the peace of mind of the most orthodox, the note concludes by warning that “the official organ of the Central Committee of the Cuban Communist Party is being renewed, but it will … Continue reading “What the Newspaper ‘Granma’ Can Change / 14ymedio, Reinaldo Escobar”
14ymedio, Reinaldo Escobar, Havana, 16 December 2016 — In the Marxist catechism it is established that the material is first, over the spiritual. From this conceptual Big Bang, is structured a doctrine in which all categories are concatenated more or less harmoniously; social property over the means of production, the fundamental law of socialist distribution, … Continue reading “The Material Basis Of Joy / 14ymedio, Reinaldo Escobar”
14ymedio, Reinaldo Escobar, Havana, 12 December 2016 – The first impression one gets of the book “One Objective, One Thought” is that throughout its three volumes the reader can assess the political evolution of Fidel Castro, author of the quotes contained in the tome. The initial assessment is owed to the portraits appearing on the covers of … Continue reading “New Anthology of ‘Fidelism’ / 14ymedio, Reinaldo Escobar”
14ymedio, Reinaldo Escobar, Havana, 7 December 2016 — In the 38th edition of Havana’s Festival of New Latin America Cinema, shining by its absence is the Cuban film Santa y Andrés, by the filmmaker Carlos Lechuga. Those responsible for its censorship certainly didn’t cross it off the list without first consulting non-artistic entities such as the … Continue reading “‘Santa And Andrés’ Under Revolutionary Vigilance / 14ymedio, Reinaldo Escobar”
14ymedio, Havana, 1 December 2016 — The journalist Reinaldo Escobar, editor in chief of 14ymedio, was detained for more than four hours on Thursday, in the midst of the control measures that the Government deployed after the death of Fidel Castro. The reporter gave an interview to Spanish Television (TVE) on the Malecon in Havana where he was … Continue reading “Police Free ‘14ymedio’ Journalist Reinaldo Escobar / 14ymedio”
14ymedio, Reinaldo Escobar, Havana, 29 November 2016 – Under the shadow of national mourning after the death of Fidel Castro, Cubans have been called to sign, as an oath, some words spoken by the former president in May of 2000, in which he left for posterity his concept of Revolution. “Revolution is a sense of … Continue reading “The Political Testament Of Fidel Castro / 14ymedio, Reinaldo Escobar”
14ymedio, Reinaldo Escobar, Havana, 26 November 2016 — As expected, the news of the death of Fidel Castro was announced by his brother Raul, in a brief official statement to the people of Cuba and friends around the world. While his biographers are careful to detail that he survived hundreds of alleged attacks, no one … Continue reading “The Last Death of Fidel Castro / 14ymedio, Reinaldo Escobar”
14ymedio, Reinaldo Escobar, Havana, 22 November 2016 – In the next 40 days, before the end of the year, the Cuban Communist Party must hold its second Central Committee Plenum and approve the final version of the documents issued by their most recent congress. It is expected that there will also be a meeting of … Continue reading “Clean Sweep and Old Promises / 14ymedio, Reinaldo Escobar”
14ymedio, Reinaldo Escobar, Havana, 7 November 2016 – The appearance of unusual proposals such as ostrich farming, the production of quail eggs, or the tanning of exotic hides, along with the timid introduction of a banking sector, are some of the most significant novelties in the Portfolio of Opportunities for Foreign Investment launched during the … Continue reading “The Portfolio Of The Arrogant Beggar / 14ymedio, Reinaldo Escobar”
14ymedio, Reinaldo Escobar, Havana, 3 November 2016 — Oggún is one of the orisha warriors of the Yoruba pantheon, but a tractor that bears his name is losing the battle for the Cuban market. The Cleber firm has failed to establish itself in Cuba, although a year ago it was heralded as the vanguard of US … Continue reading “A Lot of Noise and Few Investments / 14ymedio, Reinaldo Escobar”
14ymedio, Reinaldo Escobar, Havana, 24 October 2016 — While it may be considered tacky to reveal the trick with which a circus magician entertains his audience, it is very useful to expose the tricks used by a fraudster to deceive his fellow man. This seems to be the public utility of El engaño populista (The Populist … Continue reading “A Vaccine Against Populism 14ymedio, Reinaldo Escobar”
14ymedio, Reinaldo Escobar, Havana, 13 October 2016 — The thaw between the US and Cuba, which has not yet risen to the level of normalized relations, has been greeted with mixed reactions by the Cuban opposition and independent civil society. We cannot speak of an extreme polarization, because although the dissenting side registers very sharp … Continue reading “The Thaw Is Upsetting The Penguins / 14ymedio, Reinaldo Escobar”
14ymedio, Reinaldo Escobar, 9 October 2016 — “The whole country is a broken record” says Canek Sanchez Guevara, grandson of Ernesto ‘Che’ Guevara, on one of the pages of his book 33 Revolutions published posthumously in France this year and recently published under the imprint of Alfaguara. The volume takes a hard look at the Cuban Revolution and the … Continue reading “Book by Che’s Grandson Dissects Bowels of Cuban Reality / 14ymedio, Reinaldo Escobar”
14ymedio, Reinaldo Escobar, Havana, 3 October 2016 — Encouraged by international support and the consensus of governments that support the agreements to achieve peace in Colombia, most of the media and experts predicted that the “Yes” side would win Sunday’s plebiscite. The results, however, have caused a shock in the region and a real earthquake on … Continue reading “Colombians Say ‘No’ To Impunity / 14ymedio, Reinaldo Escobar”
14ymedio, Reinaldo Escobar, Havana, 25 September 2016 – If there is something it is difficult to disagree with the Cuban government about, it is the permanent defense of the people’s right to decide the economic, political and social system that suits them. This principle is put forward in every international forum attended by official representatives … Continue reading “Deciding to Change / 14ymedio, Reinaldo Escobar”