Viewing from May 2008

University lecturers reaffirm solidarity with Cuba

Campaign News | Friday, 30 May 2008

Stuart Watkin reports for the UCU conference in ManchesterDelegates at the University and Colleges Union(UCU) conference in Manchester overwhelmingly passed a motion on 28 May praising the work of the Cuba Solidarity Campaign and reaffirming the unions support for Cuba. The motion tabled by Northumbria University UCU branch agreed "to ... read more

Join online discussion with family of Che

Campaign News | Friday, 30 May 2008

Contemporary vision of Che Guevara in his 80 birth anniversaryThe "Che Guevara" Center of Studies and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Cuba call to the Forum Debate: "Contemporary vision of Che Guevara in his 80 birth anniversary".The online discussion will take place on Thursday, June 5th, 2008 from 3pm-5pm ... read more

Changes in Cuba?

Campaign News | Thursday, 29 May 2008

Salim Lamrani provides an alternative to the western media's reporting on recent changes in CubaThe Western press has been untiring with respect to the changes happening in Cuba after Raúl Castro's election as president of the Republic and celebrated a possible liberalization of the island's economy. (1)But, as always when ... read more

More doctors ready for China quake aid

Campaign News | Thursday, 29 May 2008

Fidel Castro has expressed Cuba's readiness to send additional medical personnel for earthquake relief efforts in China, adding to the three dozen doctors dispatched there earlier this month, official media reported Wednesday."Cuba has medical workers who are well-trained, and eager to help the Chinese people ... if the government of ... read more

New website on Che Guevara launched

Campaign News | Thursday, 29 May 2008

The Che Studies Center launched a new website dedicated to Argentinean-Cuban Ernesto “Che” Guevara in commemorationof the 80th anniversary of the birth of the guerrilla fighter.The website, www.che80.co.cu, was presented on Thursday in Havana at apress conference by members of the Che Studies Center, the Pablo de LaTorriente Brau Center ... read more

Urge your MP to sign EDM 1405 on Cuba

Campaign News | Wednesday, 28 May 2008

The UK Government will vote on whether to eliminate sanctions against Cuba at the forthcoming Council of Europe meeting in June.An Early Day Motion No.1405 has been tabled in parliament calling on the British government to play a constructive role at the meeting and vote to end sanctions.Please contact your ... read more

US diplomat accused as link between dissidents

Campaign News | Wednesday, 28 May 2008

The United States' top diplomat in Havana allegedly delivered private funds from a Miami exile jailed on weapons charges to a leading dissident on the island, Cuban officials said Monday.Cuban state security officials released a series of emails at a new conference purporting to show that dissident Martha Beatriz Roque ... read more

Miami 5 prisoner speaks to CSC

Campaign News | Wednesday, 28 May 2008

Father Geoff Bottoms reports on prison visit and meeting with one of the Five Cuban heroesFernando Gonzalez is one of the Miami Five. He is presently serving nineteen years for conspiracy, false identity, and failure to disclose himself as a foreign agent following a flawed trial in Miami where the ... read more

May Day delegation is largest ever

Campaign News | Wednesday, 28 May 2008

More than 140 British trade unionists took part in Havana’s inspirational May Day celebrations this year. According to the CTC (Cuba’s equivalent to the TUC) the UK contingent was the largest international union delegation ever to attend Havana’s 1st May celebrations.Among the British trade unionists who watched half million Cubans ... read more

Medical aid arrives in China

Campaign News | Tuesday, 27 May 2008

Some 4.5 tons of Cuban medical aid arrived in Chengdu City, capital of the Chinese province of Sichuan to help treat the victims of last May 12 earthquake.The donation, consisting of serums and other medications was transferred to the local People?s Hospital “Number One” in Chengdu by members of one ... read more

Cuba supports press freedom

Campaign News | Tuesday, 27 May 2008

By Peter Phillips*“You cannot kill truth by murdering journalists,” said Tubal Paez, president of the Cuban Journalists Union. One hundred and fifty Cuban and South American journalists, ambassadors, politicians, and foreignguests gathered at the Jose Marti International Journalist Institute tohonor the 50th anniversary of the death of Carlos Bastidas Arguello ... read more

European Commissioner advocates normalising relations

Campaign News | Tuesday, 27 May 2008

The European Commissioner for Development and Humanitarian Assistance, Louis Michel, advocated on Monday the normalization of relations between the European Union and Cuba.According to Granma news daily, Michel , who participated in a debate at the venue of the European Parliament in Brussels, insisted on the need to eliminate the ... read more

Del Toro dedicates award to 'Che'

Campaign News | Monday, 26 May 2008

Puerto Rican actor Benicio del Toro, who won the Cannes award for Best Actor for his interpretation of “Che” Guevara in Steven Soderbergh's film with the same name, said the prize belonged to Ernesto Guevara."All the awards belong to Che? this is Che’s project and history,” said the actor at ... read more

Monty Don returns in revolutionary mood

Campaign News | Monday, 26 May 2008

Writer, broadcaster and national treasure Monty Don was in revolutionary mood as he made his first public appearance since a stroke led to his retiring as presenter of Gardeners' World.Of his health, Don said: "I'm fine. I'm recovering well. I can't do regular TV -you know what it's like, 12 ... read more

Monty Don returns in revolutionary mood

Campaign News | Monday, 26 May 2008

Writer, broadcaster and national treasure Monty Don was in revolutionary mood as he made his first public appearance since a stroke led to his retiring as presenter of Gardeners' World.Of his health, Don said: "I'm fine. I'm recovering well. I can't do regular TV -you know what it's like, 12 ... read more

Hurricane preparedness drills begin

Campaign News | Sunday, 25 May 2008

Cuba will carry out the civil defense exercise Meteoro 2008 this weekend, to test the preparation of the country for the upcoming hurricane season starting June 1.In statements published on Granma newspaper today, Colonel Jose ErnestoBetancourt Lavastida explained some of the preventive measures to be taken during and after the ... read more

Energy revolution shows results

Campaign News | Sunday, 25 May 2008

By Orfilio PelaezIn less than three years, Cuba has saved 961,419 tons of fuel directly resulting from measures adopted in the different programs comprising what is called the Energy Revolution, said Vicente de la O, director of the state-run Union Electrica power company.Speaking with legislators on the recently seated Energy ... read more

Highest rate of over 100-year-olds

Campaign News | Saturday, 24 May 2008

About 1,800 Cubans are over 100 years old, making it the country with the highest rate of centenarians, an expert said Saturday.Eugenio Selman-Housein, chairman of the 120 Years Club and previously head of former Cuban leader Fidel Castro's medical team, also said "life expectancy has gone up to almost 80 ... read more

Dialing for dollars in Cuba

Campaign News | Saturday, 24 May 2008

By MacheteraThere are so many things wrong with this story that it would be hard to know where to begin, so let’s start with Tuesday’s headline in El Nuevo Herald, the Spanish language fiefdom of the Miami Herald, which says “Dissident Cuban Woman Says Government Hounds but Doesn’t Allow a ... read more

Green stories video links

Campaign News | Saturday, 24 May 2008

A clip from the BBC's Around the World in 80 Gardens (2008) introduces the urban organic food gardening revolution in Havana, Cuba. Also athree-part talk by Cuban permaculturist Roberto Perez that delves deeper into Cuba's green revolution, and an interview with the makers of The Power of Community: How Cuba ... read more

Indonesia to issue Castro, Che Guevara stamps

Campaign News | Friday, 23 May 2008

Indonesia will issue stamps depicting revolutionaries Fidel Castro and Che Guevara to commemorate a visit made by the Southeast Asian nation's founding president to Cuba 48 years ago.One edition of the stamps, which will be released next week, shows then president Castro holding a traditional Indonesian dagger as his visiting ... read more

'Camello' says goodbye to Havana

Campaign News | Wednesday, 21 May 2008

The infamous but necessary humped-backed publicbuses which locals dubbed “camellos” in Havana say good bye to thestreets of the capital after Chinese and Russian made buses came in onrelief.For thirteen consecutive years, the camellos have been the only choicefor average people among the 2.5 million inhabitants in Havana back andforth ... read more

Cuba proves links US diplomats and terrorists

Campaign News | Tuesday, 20 May 2008

Cuba denounced on Monday the scandalous links between US diplomats based in Havana and terrorists resident in theUnited States, by means of which Cuban counterrevolutionaries receivefinancial and material support.Over a dozen e-mails and a video recording were presented as proof bythe Director of the State Security Historic Investigations Department,Manuel Hevia, ... read more

FBU conference report

Campaign News | Tuesday, 20 May 2008

Luis Marron, Political Counsellor at the Cuban Embassy spoke at a fringe meeting organised by CSC and VIC at the FBU conference in Southport.Delegates heard Luis Marron explain that change had been going on in Cuba since 1959 and there will continue to be changes for the better for the ... read more

Cuban government backs calls to combat homophobia

Campaign News | Sunday, 18 May 2008

By Andrea Rodriguez, Associated PressCuba's gay community celebrated unprecedented openness - and high-ranking political alliances - with a government-backed campaign against homophobia on Saturday.The meeting at a convention center in Havana's Vedado district may have been the largest gathering of openly gay activists ever on the communist-run island. President Raul ... read more

Cuban workers campaign to Free the Five

Campaign News | Thursday, 15 May 2008

Cuban Parliament President Ricardo Alarcon spoke Tuesday in Havana about the importance of taking advantage of the Cuban Workers Federation (CTC) labor relations, contacts andinternational events to generate support for the cause of the Cuban Five.Alarcon attended the meeting of leaders of the CTC presided over by General Secretary Salvador ... read more

Terror suspect honoured in Miami

Campaign News | Wednesday, 7 May 2008

Luis Posada Carriles, a terror suspect abroad, enjoys a 'coming-out' in MiamiBy Carol J. Williams for the Los Angeles TimesA dinner with 500 fellow Cuban exiles honors the militant and former CIAoperative, now 80 and still wanted in Venezuela on terrorism charges.The dapper octogenarian in a crisp blue suit, his ... read more

Cuba accentuates freeing the Five

Campaign News | Saturday, 3 May 2008

World urged to renew solidarity with Cuban FiveThe President of the Cuban Parliament, RicardoAlarcon de Quesada, said on Friday that the world should renew its solidarity with five Cuban anti-terrorist fighters who remain unjustly imprisoned in the United States.Speaking at an International Solidarity Conference that is taking place at Havana’s ... read more