English Translations of Cubans Writing From the Island
14ymedio, Luz Escobar, Havana, 24 December 2015 — Cuban kitchens and restaurants are preparing for Christmas Eve. The menu that is placed on the tables will evidence the purchasing power of each family and deepen social differences. While some make reservations in exclusive places with gourmet food, others will be satisfied with products from the … Continue reading “Christmas in Cuba: Turkey or Hot Dogs? / 14ymedio, Luz Escobar”
The Inverted Pyramid Ángel Santiesteban-Prats, Havana, 17 September 2015 — It always irritates me that it is accepted, ironically, for the Cuban dictatorship to ply its totalitarian propaganda and be visible in foreign countries, via the media and its “solidarity”committees, when not even Cubans themselves in their own country are not allowed to claim freedom … Continue reading “The Pope, So as Not to Say Anything, Said Nothing / Angel Santiesteban”
Ivan Garcia, 17 September 2015 — For Nicolás Sarmientos, 73, making his usual rounds between the farm market, the bodega and the carters who sell fruits and vegetables in Havana is almost an extreme sport. Although in theory we are knocking on the door of autumn, in Cuba the thermometers are soaring. The Meteorological Institute announced … Continue reading “Cuba Awaits the Pope in Record Heat and Repression / Ivan Garcia”
Reinaldo Escobar, Mexico, 15 September 2015 – Two convocations have been made to the Cuban people asking them to receive Pope Francis, one from the Communist Party, and one from Cardinal Jaime Ortega, the Archbishop of Havana. Both give details of the apostolic visit of the Supreme Pontiff of the Catholic Church and the Head of … Continue reading “Crossed Convocations to Receive the Pope / 14ymedio, Reinaldo Escobar”
14ymedio, Havana, 6 June 2015 — The opposition leader Martha Beatriz Roque witnessed the controversial incident that occurred last Thursday, 2 July, at the residence of the head of the United States Interests Section in Havana, during the celebrations of that country’s Independence Day. A group of government opponents rebuked Cardinal Jaime Ortega y Alamino for … Continue reading “Martha Beatriz Roque: “In Cuba there are political prisoners, but they don’t all appear on the lists” / 14ymedio”
The plight of journalist Valle Roca draws attention to the risks faced by independent reporters in Cuba and the complicity of the United States and other countries. Sampsonia Way Magazine, Orlando Luis Pardo Lazo, 29 June 2015 — If you are an independent reporter in Cuba—that is, if you are an illegal reporter in Cuba, since the … Continue reading “An Urgent Call for Independent Journalism in Cuba / Orlando Luis Pardo Lazo”
14ymedio, Miriam Celaya, Havana, 3 July 2015 — The traditional celebration offered by the US Interests Section in Havana, on the anniversary of the Independence of the United States, had on this occasion a special connotation for being the first one to take place following the announcement of restoration of relations between that country and Cuba, … Continue reading “Independence Day / 14ymedio, Miriam Celaya”
Archbishop Oscar Arnulfo Romero. Photo courtesy Radio Onu Ángel Santiesteban-Prats, 23 May 2015 — The beatification of Father Arnulfo Romero is the mirror where, for El Salvador, Latin America, and the world, the pastors of God should look and reflect, in order to attend the spiritual and material needs of their flock, which simply means remaining alongside … Continue reading “The Church That Is Oblivious to Reality / Angel Santiesteban”
Generation Y, Yoani Sanchez, Havana, 12 May 2015 — The official reception at the airport, the photo shaking hands with the host, the wreath laid at the statue of José Martí and the expected lecture at the University of Havana. How many foreign politicians have followed this script in recent months? So many that we have lost count. A … Continue reading “Welcome Hollande, Goodbye Hollande / Yoani Sanchez”
14ymedio, 11 May 2015 — The arrival in Cuba of French President Francois Hollande has fueled the controversy about whether the presidents and other foreign leaders visiting the island should meet with representatives of civil society. The debate has intensified since it was announced that the agenda of the French President, Francois Hollande, on Cuban … Continue reading “Should foreign leaders meet with civil society when they visit Cuba? / 14ymedio”
14ymedio, Juan Carlos Fernandez, Pinar del Rio, 26 March 2015 – “How much everything has changed! How gorgeous the Cathedral is with those add-ons!” exclaimed a Catholic layman on returning to visit his native Pinar del Rio after three decades of exile. The improvement of the infrastructure of the diocese, which started with the arrival … Continue reading “Rise and Fall of a Diocese / 14ymedio, Juan Carlos Fernandez”
Ivan Garcia, 11 March 2015 — During the hot summer of 2013 I remember Blanca Reyes, wife of the poet and journalist Raul Rivero, writing letters to the pope in the Vatican, to the Mothers of the Plaza de Mayo in Argentina and to Nelson Mandela in South Africa, reminding them that Fidel Castro had … Continue reading “The Ladies in White Should Change Their Political Profile / Ivan Garcia”
14ymedio, Reinaldo Escobar, Havana, 18 March 2015 — Twelve years after the Black Spring, 14ymedio chats with some of the former political prisoners currently living on the Island. Two questions have been posed to those activists condemned in March 2003: one about their decision to stay in Cuba, and the other about how they see … Continue reading ““No matter where I live, I will keep working for the freedom of Cuba” / 14ymedio, Reinaldo Escobar”
Ivan Garcia, 20 February 2015 — Fifty Cuban and foreign journalists attended the press conference that a delegation of congressional Democrats headed by Nancy Pelosi held on the afternoon of Thursday, February 19 outside the residence of Lynn Roche, the U.S. Interest Section’s public affairs officer. Nancy Pelosi, born in Maryland in 1940, traveled to Havana … Continue reading “Do Cuba and the United States Need to Rebuild Trust? / Ivan Garcia”
14ymedio, Luz Escobar, Havana, 19 February 2015 — On Thursday afternoon, the Democratic leader Nancy Pelosi led a press conference in which she provided a summary of her visit to Cuba, in addition to answering questions from foreign journalists and independent press. The meeting was held on the outside of the residence of Lynn Roche, Head … Continue reading “Nancy Pelosi excited by the work of her delegation to Cuba / 14ymedio, Luz Escobar”
