English Translations of Cubans Writing From the Island
The sun is still rising in Cuba. The natural cycle of birth and death never fails to mock ideology and power. It is the rag that will wipe away all the actors of this diabolic drama. Recently I got to know through a friend who is a veteran of the Ladies in White, that a few … Continue reading “Laura Pollán Is With Me / Lilianne Ruíz”
For three days, from June 21 to 23, an event organized by civil society on technology, social networking and the Internet was held in Havana. Called the CLICK Festival, this event was the realization of a long-cherished dream among citizens who, from the Island, are using social networks and the web as a path to … Continue reading “Kilobytes Win, Extremists Lose / Yoani Sánchez”
By Miriam Leiva, Havana 06/07/2012 Extracted from www.cubaencuentro.com Cuban authorities for more than nine years avoided the analysis of their violations of human rights in the United Nations Committee on Torture; a period that coincides with the uprising of March 2003, when it subjected 75 peaceful protesters to summary trials and shot three young boat … Continue reading “The Cuban Government Before the Committee Against Torture / Dora Leonor Mesa”
She asked only to have the same rights enjoyed by a man in her country. She took the loudspeaker to expose laws that in Iran left her defenseless and at a disadvantage against men. Blogger and feminist, Farnaz Seifi went into exile in Germany after having been arrested and threatened many times in the land … Continue reading “Forbidden Voices / Yoani Sánchez”
From civil society, the Estado de SATS project, is an attempt to create a space for citizen participation. Its director, Antonio G. Rodiles, responds to questions from the readers of DIARIO DE CUBA. Omar Laffita: First, greetings. I have seen your programs and I want to say that the interview with El Sexto has been one … Continue reading “We are an active part of the transition, not just observers / Antonio Rodiles, Estado de SATS”
Holy Emmanuel I Selassie I JAH RASTAFARI, Light of This World and Creator of the Universe, May the Peace be in InI and his holy spirit illuminate us and protect everyone. Let it be so! Blessings, my adored family. After the passing of the tense moment, I ask you, my love: how did you see everything? … Continue reading “Letters from Rastafarian Ñaño (Hector Riscart) from a Cuban Prison / Orlando Luis Pardo Lazo”
Public spaces In a recent column I published an anecdote with which I’m sure you agree: our meeting in 2004, by chance, on the corner of Palacio de los Matrimonios in Vedado, after months without seeing each other, in which, very concerned about the political and cultural pressures you were under, you told me, “You’re … Continue reading “Interview of Cuban writer Ángel Santiesteban Prats by Amir Valle – Part 4 of 4”
I’m too lazy to get out! But I do not regret having gone to the meeting yesterday of the last Thursday of each month at the journal Temas (Topics). The theme was the self-employment. A large audience, including 24 Communications students from a university in southern California. I expanded my horizons as a housewife. I … Continue reading “Topics Meeting on Self-Employment / Regina Coyula”
By Antonio Rodiles Introduction The Sixth Congress of the Cuban Communist Party just concluded, leaving a trail of questions to be clarified. Most of the televised debates turned into semantic discussions, while a few dealt with practical mechanisms to achieve stated objectives. Listening to the speeches, which at some moments were limited exclusively to mentioning … Continue reading “Economic Transformations, Property Rights, and Cuba’s Current Constitution / Estado de Sats, Antonio Rodiles”
By Antonio Rodiles The government document regarding guidelines for economic and social policy seeks to outline a new design for Cuban society. This new design envisions an economy essentially separated into three distinct sectors: 1) Large Enterprises: This segment contemplates those sectors with the highest profitability. Here we find tourism, the new Economic Zones (for … Continue reading “The Government Guidelines for the Economy and the new Cuban Economic and Social Structure / Estado de Sats / State of Sats”
[In this part of an unedited interview, which I don’t know when it will be published, I respond to the question: “Ciego de Ávila: Love or scorn?”] I have tried to invent the province lovingly, although for that I had to give a primary form to that love without obligation until it was more or … Continue reading “Huge Hell Whether it Works or Not (For the Poetry of the ’90s) / Francis Sánchez”
Unmoved. Challenging the laws that prohibit street sales, looking for the shelter from the bad weather, for a while Uncle Banano has been moving forward with his wheelbarrow and good humor. He shouts out of tune: I selllll bananaaas, the bessst!!! Cuban bananas are expensive and Uncle Banano knows their price better than anyone. It … Continue reading “Short Words for Uncle Banano / Dora Leonor Mesa”
“Between individuals as between nations, respect for the rights of others is peace.” Benito Juarez From the pages of Granma we learned, on April 9: “The United States confiscated more than $493,000,000 from 2010 to date,” and in addition that this was, “a part of the economic blockade imposed on our country for more than … Continue reading “Do what I say… / Rosa María Rodríguez Torrado”
Corruption — the action of corrupting — is the result of many causes, that range from personal conduct to the political-economic system of each country. It is an ancient social phenomenon to that occurs to a greater or lesser extent in all societies and has been present throughout the history of Cuba. In the colony, … Continue reading “Corruption and the Morality of Survival / Dimas Castellano”
Translator’s note: This interview is from the digital magazine Cubaencuentro, from November 14, 2011. It was conducted by Luis Manuel García Méndez. We interviewed Alexis Romay, a graduate of The City University of New York’s master’s program in Spanish Language and Literature, author of the novel Salidas de emergencia (Emergency Exits) and the poetry collection … Continue reading “Cuba Archive Truth and Memory Project / Alexis Romay”
