English Translations of Cubans Writing From the Island
Perhaps, dear reader, this name may remind you of little or nothing, but for me, and for all of us who have the privilege of knowing him, it means a lot. I met him a few months after being released from prison in 2007. I had gone to Colon with my wife to visit her … Continue reading “Ernesto Mederos Arrozarena”
“Ungrateful! Talking trash about the Revolution and today you have a name only because it gave you free health care and education. Besides, it guarantees you a monthly allotment of basic goods while around the world millions of people die from hunger every day.” “You know, I don’t like talking bad about anyone behind their … Continue reading “No Problem”
A tragic fashion. Objectionable to many. The only option the opponents have. They believe that in this way they can force the regime. It is their war cry. But it is not a new weapon. Already in 1972 a 53-day hunger strike took the life of opponent Pedro Luis Boitel. It was before the era … Continue reading “Hunger Strikes, Weapon of Cuban Dissidents”
There are particular stores in Havana to chose from. In some, you will find arts and crafts made by hand. Others are better sorted than the Cuban outlet of Adidas or Zara. This is the case with the “shopping” establishment of Rufino, age 45 and retired because of an illness. In his house he sells … Continue reading “The Business of the "Pacotilla" in Havana”
First Convivencia Literary Contest 2010 Minutes of the Jury Prize in the Essay category: Utopia, Challenges and Difficulties in Today’s Cuba. By Dimas Castellanos Marti, of Bayamo, who lives in Havana Unanimously and in one of the most difficult discussions that taken by this jury, it emerged as the decision in the prize for a … Continue reading “Minutes of the First Convivencia Contest 2010”
By Dagoberto Valdés Dear Prize Winners, Ladies and Gentleman of the Jury, Friends: Coexistence Magazine, less than three years old, begins the journey of literary and artistic competitions, next to the wall of a family that has given us a home without borders. After three years spanning the distances, we could mimic the famous poet … Continue reading “The Words of Dagoberto Valdés at the Awards Ceremony for the First Literary Contest of the Magazine Convivencia”
Sandy Olivera is a young Cuban who, two years ago, emigrated as a political refugee to the United States. His girlfriend remained on this side of the sea. A week ago, he returned to Cuba to marry her. The formalization of the marriage took place in the Specialized Notary at 23rd and J, in Vedado, … Continue reading “The Foreignization of Cubans”
Being a journalist in Cuba is like performing black magic. Investigating a story or getting reliable data is like trying to catch hold of a mirage. With a faltering voice, people whisper information to you that there is no way of confirming. I will give examples. Having some drinks one hot night on the balcony of his … Continue reading “Being a Journalist is Almost Impossible in Cuba / Ivan Garcia”
It is organized for the weekends in the city of Havana. It takes place in public spaces, avenues or wide plots of undeveloped land. Trucks arrive and improvise points of sales- some sell directly from their vehicles, on boxes, on the floor. The offers vary: viands (potato, sweet potato, yucca, bananas), fruits, vegetables, meat derivatives, … Continue reading “The Capital Dresses Itself for the Fair”
When I first went to his home, what struck me most was an old glass cabinet. Inside, sorted by date, were national newspapers from at least ten years before. Lacking a computer and Internet, this had been the main source of information for Arnaldo Ramos Lauzurique (b. Havana, 1942), an economist who believed in the revolution while he worked in … Continue reading “An Economist Behind Bars”
The corner of 23 and L is the center of Havana. It is always lively. At any hour. Together, as if they were shaking hands, we have the Habana Libre hotel, the Coppelia ice cream parlour and the Yara cinema. There are too many blown bulbs amongst the neon lights of the cinema billboard which barely manages to announce a British film, … Continue reading “Neither Strawberry Nor Chocolate”
Carrying out any sort of political analysis or political prediction in Cuba is almost like an Indiana Jones adventure. The media does anything it can to misinform. They barely extract any bit of information from those in power. There is no way of getting any official statistics or facts. When one is an independent journalist … Continue reading “What Will be the Next Move?”
While some prisoners of the Black Spring of 2003, like Pablo Pacheco and Adolfo Fernandez Sainz, have their optimism levels up in the clouds, there is much more caution amongst the feelings of the Ladies in White. In fact, there is much pessimism. The doctor Lidia Lima, wife of the prisoner of conscience Arnaldo Ramos … Continue reading “More Doubts than Optimism”
Note to readers of this blog: The text that follows is extensive. It is a reply to statements made in recent days by the BBC’s correspondent in Havana, Mr. Fernando Ravsberg, as part of statements he made in an interview with his fellow countryman, journalist Emiliano Cotelo, during Ravsberg’s recent stay in Madrid. The complexity … Continue reading “Open letter to the BBC of London / Miriam Celaya”
It seems like a kids’ game. Two sides. Good guys and bad guys. The Cuban government tries to make us look like a bunch of crooks, fools, delinquents, mercenaries, and traitors to the country. But life is much more complex. It has mixes. Nothing is black and white. A wrongful precedent is created when the … Continue reading “Delinquents and Loyalists”