English Translations of Cubans Writing From the Island
For many years March 8, International Women’s Day, meant for many of us the opportunity to conclude out work duties before the official time and the promise of a little party in the workplace. On leaving home, in the bus, or arriving anywhere, one offered a Congratulations! half formal, half authentic. I would love to … Continue reading “Congratulations Women Bloggers! / Reinaldo Escobar”
Recently a gentleman visited me, concerned by the wording of my posts (!?). The official said he belonged to the Ministry of Justice. Among his “friendly” criticisms, adorned with details of my personal life and my family, he advised me to be careful with the legal representative of the Business Group GECAL (Havana Construction Business … Continue reading “Black Eyed Peas Fan Annoys GECAL Executives / Dora Leonor Mesa”
September 14, 2010 the jeweler and moneylender Humberto Gonzalez Otaño lived the last night of his life. He lived at No. 52 7th Street between 2nd and 4th, San Matías neighborhood, in San Miguel del Padrón, a town northwest of Havana. Well into the night, at least two thieves used a wrench to break a … Continue reading “Havana: Waiting for an Impartial Process / Iván García”
The worst of the timid reforms of General Raul Castro is amnesia. In addition to the cynicism. All the prohibitions, whether it is sightseeing in your own country, having a cell phone, buying a car or now being able to sell, buy or exchange a home without the absurd regulations promulgated by the State, were … Continue reading “Cuba: You Can Buy A House / Iván García”
This post is from Raul Garcia Jr.’s blog, Pedazos de la Isla. Translating Cuba’s Dissident Voices Mary Jo Porter is an American who lives in Seattle. When she wakes up each day, she works as a transportation consultant. In the moments she is not working, she focuses her energies and talents on providing an enormous … Continue reading “Translating Cuba and HemosOido.com: How Did it Happen?”
According to Mercedes Fresneda Castillo, fighter for Afrocuban rights and member of the Ladies in White support group, the community activist and dissident Sonia Garro Alfonso, 35, was detained by the police on Thursday, July 14 at 7 PM. “I was with her until 6 PM. Hours later, a neighbor telephoned me and told me … Continue reading “Dissident Sonia Garro Detained in Havana / Iván García”
From a public pay phone and despite the fact that she was being watched by police agents in civilian clothes, the woman for which one man decided to climb up on his roof and yell anti-governmental slogans (as can be seen in this video,), Sonia Garro Alfonso told El Mundo that she and her husband, … Continue reading ““We are Frustrated by the Stress of the Constant Repression”, declared the dissident Sonia Garro / Iván García”
On May 5, Liu Santiesteban, from Havana but living in Spain, sent seven questions to Ivan for an interview in his blog, Todo el mundo habla (The Whole World Talks). Ivan does not like to be interviewed, he said that journalists are for interviewing, not being interviewed. But a week later, he sent back the … Continue reading ““In the environment of Yoani Sanchez, there are people who have an African hatred for me.” / Iván García”
This post is from Pedazos de la Isla which can be read in English here. The blog is the work of Raul Garcia, Jr. who translates innumerable blog posts and supports and encourages the bloggers via email and telephone. Following the celebration of the ignominious 6th Communist Party Congress in Cuba this past Saturday April … Continue reading “Free Voices from Cuba Share their Opinions (Part I) / From Pedazos de la Isla”
Larisa Diversent, 30, returns to the fray. Having received her law degree four years ago, this young black lawyer always seems to have a loaded agenda. Since 2007 she has been one of the busiest and best independent journalists in Cuba. She writes for several sites about legal topics and has a blog for legal … Continue reading “Cubalex, Free Legal Advice for Cubans / Iván García”
An event of such magnitude always leaves its mark. The death of Orlanado Zapata Tamayo, at the age of 42, is indelibly engraved on my memory. In the afternoon of 23 February 2010 I was at the home of the independent lawyer and journalist Laritza Diversent, reviewing some legal cases which might be of journalistic … Continue reading “The Day Orlando Zapata Died / Iván García”
The gross behavior of numerous gays provokes ill will in a sector of the Cuban populace. There isn’t a ferocious homophobia on the island, but the priority that they want to give the subject from the highest spheres of power disgusts many. In a country where two meals a day is a true luxury, and … Continue reading “The Subject of Gays Is Not A Priority On the Island / Iván García”
The blog Desde La Habana is an adventure that today, January 28, is two years old. It has not been easy to get here. The idea of creating a blog came to me in the winter of 2006. From the end of the 90s, I had been collaborating regularly with the online site of the … Continue reading “Signed in Havana / Iván García”
In the Havana of the ’80s, many of us young people were living without a future. Between guitar chords and conversations, at the foot of the bust of Jose Marti, at the entrance to the La Vibora Institute, we gathered at night to drink alcohol diluted with water, which cost 5 pesos a bottle from … Continue reading “Chronicle for Mario / Iván García”
Many people want to do something to help the bloggers directly. The most important thing is to read them, talk about them, comment on their blogs, share their blogs with others, keep them IN THE PUBLIC EYE, which is a shield that helps to protect them. If you want to help with a donation, one … Continue reading “Direct Help to Bloggers”
