Cuba calls for strengthening of South-South cooperation
Campaign News | Wednesday, 9 April 2008
Speaking before UNESCO, Cuban officials defended
the need to strengthen South-South cooperation in all fields so as to
counteract forces of globalization that widen the gap between developed
countries and the Third World.
Speaking at the 179th meeting of UNESCO’s Executive Council, Cuban
delegate Maria de los Angeles Florez called for an end to the brain
drain in the South. She said this practice by the richest nations draws
away skilled workers who have been trained in developing countries,
depriving these nations of human resources for sustainable development.
In an effort to boost South-South cooperation, Florez reiterated the
offer to donate the Cuban “Yes, I can” literacy training method to
UNESCO. More than 3 million people have learned to read and write in 28
countries where the program has been implemented.
“Much could be done if only a negligible part of the billions spent on
advertising or of the 800 billion dollars used for armaments were used
on literacy campaigns,” said the Cuban delegate.
The director of the Cuba’s UNESCO office added that her country
encourages the development of international cooperation actions based on
equity, development and sustainability to face climate change. She also
criticized the fact that modern science is increasingly directed by
consumer demand rather than by social needs.
Florez said all countries should make sure that their respective ethnic,
religious and linguistic cultures are respected, while guaranteeing the
preservation of their nations’ heritage.
The homogenization of the culture and the creation of a pseudo-culture
are the most powerful weapons that could lead to destruction and
ideological domination, she noted.
