English Translations of Cubans Writing From the Island
Ivan Garcia, 14 June 2017 — What you lose last is hope. And those who have plans to immigrate to the United States maintain bulletproof optimism. Close to a small park in Calzada street, next to Rivero’s funeral home, dozens of restless people await their appointment for the consular interview at the American Embassy located … Continue reading “Cuba Awaits New Trump Proposals / Iván García”
14ymedio, Reinaldo Escobar, Havana, 8 February 2017 – Now underway is the second meeting of young journalists at the Jose Marti International Journalism Institute in Havana. The main objective of the event, organized by the Cuban Journalists Union (UPEC), is to discuss “journalism and citizen participation, and communication in the context of updating Cuba’s social-economic … Continue reading “Young Cuban Journalists Look at Their Profession / 14ymedio, Reinaldo Escobar”
14ymedio, Zunilda Mata, Havana, 29 August 2016 — The biggest dream of those ousted is to live to tell the tale. Each passing day since he was removed from his post as Fidel Castro’s personal secretary, Carlos Valenciaga feels he is closer to outliving him. His fantasy in the midst of the old books, the dusty … Continue reading ““Pajama Plan” at the National Library / 14ymedio, Zunilda Mata”
14ymedio, Havana, 31 July 2016 – Since the proclamation in which Fidel Castro temporarily delegated power on 31 July 2006, the former president has met with two popes, has received visits several European, Asian and Latin American leaders and has written hundreds of articles under the title “Reflections.” However, his role in the daily lives … Continue reading “Chronology: Ten Years Without Fidel Castro / 14ymedio”
Somos+, Jose M. Presol, 1 January 2016 — “The Revolution declares its absolute and reverent respect for the constitution, which was given to the people in 1940, and restores it as the official legal code. It declares the only flag to be the tricolor with the lone star and carries it forth as always, glorious … Continue reading “January 1, 1959: The Beginning of a Betrayal? (Part 1) / Somos+, Jose Presol”
Announcements made by United States President Barack Obama and his administration have sparked an intense controversy about the Cuban conflict. Many opponents and civil society activists, within the island and in exile, have lamented, especially, the lack of transparency and the unilateral and unconditional nature of the new measures. It is indisputable and indispensable that … Continue reading “Forum for Rights and Freedoms / Estado de Sats (see endnote)”
Empty lenses and blocked wagons Raúl Rivero Madrid – It now appears that the stubborn, closed, dogmatic, blind that will not see the changes of the Cuban regime are the human rights activists, the Ladies in White, independent journalists, former political prisoners and opponents will wake up tomorrow under a repressive atmosphere that continues. It … Continue reading “Dancing and Enjoying The National Symphony / Angel Santiesteban”
Last week a friend asked me if the coming of democratic changes to Cuba would result in independent journalism. I stopped to meditate, because there are answers that shouldn’t be thrown out there without carefully weighing them. In the seconds I remained silent passing through my head were all the images and moments of those … Continue reading “Independent Journalists: Journalists / Yoani Sanchez”
“Corrupt lawyer and judge. Raúl Castro, help me. Unjust eviction.” Unfortunately, in Cuba anybody with a Communist Party ID, a title that gives them a substantial amount of power, and personality disorders that will predispose them to abuse their authority, can conspire against any defenseless citizens and strip them of their property. If there are economic … Continue reading “Conspiring With Impunity / Rosa Maria Rodriguez”
The Cuban government’s closeted or open friends are right to speak and write about transformations in the repressive work of the regime. It’s true, there are always others persecuted. In each period there are new names and faces. There lie the real changes. This week, the PEN Club’s Writers in Prison Committee has issued a … Continue reading “The Changes and the PEN Club / Angel Santiesteban”
By Ignacio Estrada Cepero, Independent Journalist Havana, Cuba. Last weekend the America Theatre presented the show “Another Dawn”. The staging brought the Havana audience musical themes composed by Meme Solis one of Cuba’s most famous musicians. After his departure into exile his compositions were banned on Cuban stages, until this, the first tribute. Meme’s musical … Continue reading “Another Dawn / Ignacio Estrada #Cuba”
After a month of rehearsal, Il Gruppetto presented on August 31st at 5:00 pm, in the old Palacio de las Cariátides del Malecón de La Habana, their spectacular Showtime, the universe of musical theater,which reinvents our Broadway-styled musical and attempts to “offer the original creators’ point of view and fill them, transform it with our … Continue reading “Showtime / Miguel Iturria Savon”
This article- written by Luis Felipe Rojas Rosabal- was published on the digital newspaper “Diario de Cuba” on August 23rd, 2012. Every so often I cleanse my soul and body. Better said: I cleanse the area around my body, because I can’t cleanse my soul any more. I organize the room where I write in … Continue reading “Trash / Luis Felipe Rojas”
Citizen Demand for Another Cuba As Cubans, legitimate children of this land and an essential part of our nation, we feel a deep sorrow at the prolonged crisis that we are experiencing and the demonstrated inability of the current government to make fundamental changes. This obliges us, from civil society, to seek and demand our … Continue reading “For Another Cuba – Citizen Demand for Another Cuba”
The National Orlando Zapata TamayoFront of Civil Resistance and Disobedience condemns the brutal and arbitrary arrests of those who inrecent days have beenvictimized includingtwo of the most important leaders of the internal Cuban Resistance. I refer to former political prisoners Jose Daniel Ferrer Garcia and Angel Moya Acosta as they were getting ready to join … Continue reading “Communicated from the Front in solidarity with the prisoners in Palma Soriano / Jorge Luis García Pérez Antunez”