sábado, 25 de abril de 2009

Cuban mulattresses are born in the Dominican Republic

Camagüey, Clásicas cuban mulattresses werw born in the Dominican Republic, modeladaed by the ceramist Martha Jiménez, after three months of work, according to the laws of the artists program in residence PRIMAVERA 2009.

The High gallery of Chavon, of the Foundation Cultural homonym Center ,shows their sculptures, drawings and acrylic, next to the North American Esperanza Cortés works and the French Jean-Pierre Frey, also participants of the space open to the international art.

Martha Jiménez received in 1997 the Prize UNESCO to the best group of works for the Sculptural Group Plaza del carmen Square, summoned in the city of Camagüey, where resides.

According to DOMIPRESS, the artist of San German,of the county of Holguín, with residence in Camagüey “ got the best comments on their "angelfishes", the piece "the gossipers" and the other presented sculptures.”

“Martha Jiménez Pérez apparently didn't scant efforts to make to surrender the time and to take out the best thing of yes in the treatment of the formidable pieces in terracotta policromaded that presents us in diverse formats, since sculpting the mud, to leave it in an appropriate drying and then to go by the fire to obtain results is not an easy task”, he adds the agency.

Besides the public's praise, she received the medal of the Fourth International Triennial of the Ceramic Tile (elit-tile 2010) that grants the Foundation Ignerio / Art and Archaeology, for her contribution to the art and solidarity between the towns of Cuba and the Dominican Republic.

The representation of the feminine figure with a divergent canon of the current for the deformation in the ways, accentuate the attractiveness and the values of each aesthetic proposal, where she meditates with Creole grace around her gender in the contemporary world, with the legacy of the literature of manners characteristic of the popular traditions of herr nation.

Member of the Association of Latin American Studies (LASA), Martha surpasses the 60 collective and personal exhibitions in Cuba, Dominican Republic, Canada, Chile, Mexico, France and United States, and shows the Distinction For the National Culture, among other recognitions.
(Yanetsy León González )

Crocodiles Raised in Captivity Proliferate in Cuban

Camagüey. The American crocodile (Crocodylus acutus) raised in captivity for their further insertion into wild environmentally suitable areas and their relocation to others for boosting its repopulation are goals of those who work in a reptile farm, located in the municipality of Minas, northern Camagüey.

The workers of this farm owned by the Protection and Preservation of the Flora and Fauna Company have been involved in several projects for achieving their objectives, through handling the environment in a sustainable way and educating the people so that they can appreciate more, take care and advantage of the species now in danger.

Since 2004 this farm has been raising the acutus, perhaps one of the largest species of crocodiles. Today 700 individuals are ranched there, of which 150 are adults and the rest are for replacement, development or raising.

The staff is also working on programs related to the environmental education, the restoration of the degraded habit, the inventory of the living flora, the bird monitoring and also implement anti-fire measures. (Raisa Mestril Gutiérrez/ Translated by Gualveris Rosales Sanchez/Radio Cadena Agramonte).

An Impressive Gesture

Fidel Castro RuzI confess that many times I have meditated on the dramatic story of John F. Kennedy. It was my fate to live through the era when he was the greatest and most dangerous adversary of the Revolution. It was something that didn’t play a part in his calculations. He saw himself as the representative of a new generation of Americans who were confronting the old-style, dirty politics of men of the sort of Nixon whom he had defeated with a tremendous display of political talent.

He had behind him his history as a combatant in the Pacific and of his adroit pen.

Because he was over-confident, he was dragged into the Bay of Pigs adventure by his predecessors, since he had no doubts about the experience and professional capacity of all those men. His failure was bitter and unexpected, a scant three months after his inauguration. Even though he was on the point of attacking the Island with his country’s powerful and sophisticated weaponry, on that occasion he didn’t do what Nixon would have done: use the fighter-bombers and land the Marines. Rivers of blood would have flowed in our Homeland where hundreds of thousands of combatants were ready to die. He controlled himself and came up with a categorical phrase that is hard to forget: “Victory has a thousand fathers, but defeat is an orphan.”

His life continued to be dramatic, like a shadow that accompanied him at all times. On the strength of wounded pride, he again succumbed to the idea of invading us. This brought on the October [Missile] Crisis and the most serious risks of thermonuclear warfare that the world has ever known until the present day. He emerged from this test as an authority thanks to the mistakes of his chief adversary. He seriously wanted to talk with Cuba and that’s what he decided to do. He sent Jean Daniel to talk with me and return to Washington. His mission was being carried out at that moment when the news of President Kennedy’s assassination arrived. His death and the strange way in which it was orchestrated and carried out, was truly sad.

Later I met close family members who visited Cuba. I never mentioned the unpleasant aspects of his policy against our country, nor did I refer at all to the attempts to eliminate me. I met his son when he was an adult, who had been a young child when his father had been the president of the United States. We got together as friends. His own brother Robert was also assassinated, multiplying the drama shadowing that family.

At the distance of so many years, information arrived about a gesture that impressed me.

These days, while so much was being said about the lengthy and unfair blockade of Cuba in the upper echelons of the continent’s countries, I read a news item in Mexico’s La Jornada: “At the end of 1963, the then Attorney General Robert F. Kennedy sought to overturn the ban on travel to Cuba and today his daughter, Kathleen Kennedy Townsend, wrote that President Barack Obama ought to take this into account and support legislative initiatives that would allow all Americans to travel to the island.

“In official documents declassified by the National Security Archive research centre it is recorded that on December 12, 1963, less than one month after the assassination of John F. Kennedy, Attorney General Robert F. Kennedy sent a communication to Secretary of State Dean Rusk, urging the removal of regulations prohibiting Americans from traveling to Cuba…

“Robert Kennedy claimed that the prohibition violated American freedoms. According to the document, he affirmed that the current restrictions on travel are inconsistent with traditional American freedoms.

“…That position was unsuccessful inside the Lyndon B. Johnson administration and the State Department decided that to suspend the restrictions would be perceived as a softening of the Cuban policy and that they were part of the joint effort made by the United States and other American republics to isolate Cuba.

“In an editorial article by Kathleen Kennedy printed today in The Washington Post, Robert’s daughter expresses her wish that her father’s position be adopted by the Barack Obama government, and that this should be the position promoted by Attorney General Eric H. Holder Jr. while the Obama government weighs the next step it will take with Cuba, one that should be pushing for allowing more than just Cuban-Americans to travel freely to the island and dealing with the rights of all Americans, most of whom are not free to go.

“Kathleen Kennedy writes that just as Obama found out at the summit meeting last week-end, Latin American leaders have adopted a coordinated message on Cuba: the time is here to normalize relations with Havana…By keeping on trying to isolate Cuba, they essentially told Obama, Washington has only succeeded in isolating itself.

“Thus, the niece of the president who attempted to invade and overthrow the Cuban Revolutionary government and impose the blockade, adds her voice now to the ever-growing chorus in favor of reversing these policies which were put in place half a century ago.”

A worthy article by Kathleen Kennedy!

Fidel Castro Ruz
April 24, 2009
1:17 p.m.

NAM Meeting will Define Common Stance amidst Complex World Scenario

HAVANA, Cuba, April 24 (acn)The Non-Aligned Ministerial Meeting to Open in Havana next April 27 will define a common position towards the complex world scenario, marked by serious economic crisis, said Abelardo Moreno, deputy foreign minister and ambassador to the United Nations.

Reports say that over 120 countries and more than 60 ministers, most of them foreign affairs ministers have confirmed attendance at the gathering, scheduled to take place April 27 to 30 at Havana´s Conventions Palace.

Also invited is the President of the UN General Assembly Miguel D´ Escoto, who recently called a meeting at the UN, to be held June 1-3 in an effort to look at solutions to the current world financial and economic crisis.

Abelardo Moreno said that the Havana meeting was particularly significant since it will be the last ministerial gathering under Cuba´s mandate, which will make the final arrangements for the 15th NAM Summit scheduled for Egypt, July 11 to 16.

The Cuban deputy foreign minister explained that the 467-parragraph Final Declaration of the meeting was drawn up during intense negotiations in New York over the past few weeks. The document will be discussed at the Havana gathering, though the most important thing is tat the working guidelines of the Non-Aligned, the reaffirmation of its guiding principles were agreed to in New York.

Moreno described the Declaration as “detailed and diverse,” and he noted that it assesses the current international situation and addresses issues like the decolonization and self-determination processes, regional conflicts, human rights, migration and drug trafficking, natural resources.

In one of its paragraphs the document underlines the necessity of ending the nearly 50-year US economic, financial and commercial blockade of Cuba and calls for the return to Cuba of part of the eastern territory of Guantanamo, occupied by Washington against the will of the Cuban people. The document also extends support and solidarity to the Bolivan government of Evo Morales.

The NAM meeting will work in two parts: a high level official gathering, April 27-28 and at ministerial level, April 29-30, Moreno said.

As to the role played by Cuba as Chair of NAM, Abelardo Moreno said that the Caribbean nation contributed to achieving a strong movement with high coordination level at the Group of 77, and in which reaching agreements and solidarity already are part of everyday practice.

(Reunión ministerial del NOAL definirá posición común en el complejo escenario global)

Half a Million Children to be Vaccinated against Polio

HAVANA, Cuba, April 24 (acn) The second stage of the 48th Vaccination Campaign against Poliomyelitis began this Friday simultaneously in all Cuban provinces to conclude on April 30, in which nearly half a million children will be immunized against this disease.

This stage includes children less than three years old who received the first dose during the first period of the campaign from February 27 to March 5 earlier this year, reported Granma newspaper.

In addition 9-year-old children will receive the anti-polio reactivation shot during this stage by the end of which around half a million kids will become immune to this disease.

Cuba eradicated polio, malaria, smallpox, chickenpox, new-born tetanus, diphtheria and meningoencephalitis over 40 year ago through vaccination campaigns.

(Comienza hoy en toda Cuba la 48 Campaña Antipolio)

Cuba Asks for Preferential Call Rates for Third World

HAVANA, Cuba, April 24 (acn) Cuba spoke out in favor of underdeveloped countries, in particular for the more vulnerable to the global economic crises, at the 4th World forum of Communication Policies that concludes today in Lisbon, Portugal.

The Cuban delegation proposed to the conference, attended by representatives of more than 191 governments and more than 550 companies, the establishment of preferential phone call rates for Third World nations, Juan Fernandez, one of the island’s participants told ACN.

Fernandez, Cuba Communications and Information Ministry’s consultant explained that the proposal said the incomes from the payments for international calls could be invested by the poorest nations in the development of the infrastructure needed to support those systems.

World Bank’s reports said incomes in Africa for incoming calls from the United States dropped to the half from 1998 to 2002, and it is expected to get worse.

Cuba also rejected discriminatory actions regarding interconnection and access to public internet sites, in the meeting which is the most important event organized by the International Telecommunications Union (ITU).

Government representatives, of the communications industry and the global regulations community have exchanged views about key aspects of policies related to the dramatic changes in information and communications technologies.

Founded as the International Telegraph Union in Paris on 17 May 1865, currently ITU is the second-oldest international organization still in existence, established to standardize and regulate international radio and telecommunications. Its main tasks include standardization, allocation of the radio spectrum, and organizing interconnection arrangements between different countries to allow international phone calls.

It is one of the specialized agencies of the United Nations, and has its headquarters in Geneva, Switzerland, next to the main United Nations campus.

(Concluye hoy foro mundial de política de telecomunicaciones)

Cuban Farmer Shows how to Make Good Use of the Land in Crucial Times

HAVANA, Cuba, April 24 (acn) Ariel Gonzalez is a Cuban farmer in central Eastern Ciego de Avila province, who has achieved a record black bean harvest, which is well over the production amount established for that grain variety by the Cuban Agriculture Ministry.

Gonzalez collected nearly 2 and a half tons of beans per hectare, while the established estimate for that crop is 1,2 tons. According to Felix Palau, an expert with the Agronomy Faculty of the local Maximo Gomez University, there are no records in Cuba about a similar yield of black beans, which depends on the planting season (September 15- January 10) and the attention given to the crop.

The example of how to get the most out of the land given by Gonzalez must be followed by other private and cooperative farmers amidst growing food process at the international market and as the Caribbean nation is looking forward to increasing the availability of food for the population.

Gonzalez works at the Jose Marti cooperative farm, in the locality of Ceballos; he produced a black bean variety known as CC 25-9, which is ready for harvesting 90 days after planted.

The Cuban farmer owns seven hectares of land, he leased in usufruct. He is being supplied resources by the Ministry of Agriculture, which he considers crucial to increase the agricultural yield. Gonzalez is one of the Ciego de Avila farmers who also have achieved significant production of tobacco leaves and different vegetable varieties.

The use of scientific methods, the high fertility of lands and the application of knowledge are basic factors to achieve good production, said Gonzalez, who expects to graduate as Agronomic Engineer by the end of the current school year.

(Muestra campesino cubano cómo extraerle todo a la tierra)

Municipal Intensive Care Wards Successful in Cuba

HAVANA, Cuba, April 24 (acn) The positive impact of the opening intensive care wards in municipal policlinics across the country since 2004 was highlighted at an international meeting on the specialty underway in Havana.

Juan Ulises Castillo, head of the Emergency and Therapy of the National Medical Emergency Center, explained to ACN that there are 122 intensive care wards, equipped with top technology and with qualified staff to provide quality service. He noted that 95 percent of the cases have been successfully treated.

The expert said that those areas have contributed to the increase of the quality of life and a drop in mortality from heart attacks, as the new service includes advanced treatments and the reception of heart and brain conditions, which are the main causes of death in Cuba.

Dr. Castillo stressed that the intensive care units shortens the time before the first aid, transportation and remission, which in turns reduces the risks generated by such conditions.

The service has reached the mountain communities as well through the Plan Turquino project.

The doctor highlighted the effort by the Cuban government for the implementation of the initiative as the total cost of the investments for each facility is around 200,000 U.S dollars, just for the medical equipments that include monitoring systems for the heart, blood preasure, artificial breathing, etc.

Dr. Castillo is attending the 5th International Congress of Emergency and Intensive Care concluding today in Havana’s Convention Palace.

(Demuestran efectividad terapias intensivas municipales)



Cuba Represented at International Book Fair in Buenos Aires

HAVANA, Cuba, Apr 24 (acn) Cuban publishing houses and writers are participating in the 35th International Book Fair in Buenos Aires, Argentina, which was inaugurated on April 23rd and will run until May 11th.

Exhibiting their publications on the Cuban stand are the Capitán San Luis and Ediciones Cubanas, publishing houses, besides others from the Enterprise for Information Technologies and Advanced Data Transmission Services (CITMATEL), the Center for the Development of Information on Public Health (CEDISAP), and the Center for José Martí Studies.

The web site of the Cuban embassy in Argentina reports that the Society of Argentinean Writers will pay tribute to Havana’s Casa de las Américas, on the occasion of the 50th anniversary of that cultural institution.

Also scheduled are book launchings and presentations by Cuban writers, among them Senel Paz and José Luis Méndez.

Paz, who is also a scriptwriter and a journalist, will present his most recent novel, “En el cielo con diamantes” (In the Sky with Diamonds), besides offering a conference on Cuban literature.

Méndez, who is also a professor and a researcher, will do the same with the texts “Los años del terror 1974-76”, “La república de Miami” and “Mercenarios cubanos en África. Una historia de la contrarrevolución cubana (1961-91)”, among other titles.

Cuba Day will be celebrated on Saturday, as part of which a cultural activity will take place. It will include items from traditional music to contemporary sounds.

This is the 26th occasion that Cuba has participated in this type of fair, described as the great event of Argentinean culture.

(Cuba en Feria Internacional del Libro de Buenos Aires)

Cuban Population Continues to Decrease

HAVANA, Cuba, April 24 (acn) The Cuban population decreased in number for the third year in a row by the end of 2008, according to official figures released by National Statistics Office (ONE).

According to the information, there were 11, 236, 099 Cubans residing in the country by the end of December last year, 691 citizens less than the year before.

The year 2006 marked a turning point for demographic indicators, since it was the first in a three-year period to witness a progressive reduction in the number of inhabitants.

The negative balance between 2006 and 2005 reached 4, 793 persons, while that relationship between 2007 and 2006 reported 2, 253; the decreasing trend has progressively slowed down and it almost stood still based on the fact that the birth rate increased in 2008.

A slight growth of general mortality might have a negative impact, but it is a natural phenomenon related to the aging of the population, whose average age has increased with some 2 million inhabitants over 60 years, nearly half of them are in their 70´s and more than 85 years old.

In Cuban demographic history there were only two occasions in which the population decreased; first in 1899, close to the end of the Independence War (1895-1898) and later in 1980, following a mass emigration.

The population fall over the past three year has been the result of a decrease of fertility indicators, which reported a favorable peak last year, though such an increase is not likely to keep taking place. Another two indicators that are taken into consideration in such a phenomenon are emigration and general mortality, which have maintained at steady levels.

In the late 1960´s and early 1970´s the Cuban population experienced its fastest growth, after increasing to 9 million up from 8 million people in just six years. Later, the process slowed on its way up until reaching 10 million inhabitants in 12 years and it continued with similar performance to the number of 11 millions.

(Continua decrecimiento demográfico en Cuba)

Cuban Vaccines against Asthma Prove very Effective

HAVANA, Cuba, April 24 (acn) After more than a decade of research, Cuban scientists announced that three vaccines to treat asthma have proven very effective; the information was released during the 2nd Ibero-American Encounter on Allergy Research, which wound up today in Varadero, Matanzas province.

Doctor Alexis Labrada, an expert with the Cuban Bio-Preparations Center (BIOCEN) told the Cuban News Agency that the vaccines, known as VALERGEN, have been registered and introduced in the Cuban health care system. The treatment with the medication has achieved lasting effects of between five and 10 years in asthmatic patients, and it is being applied in all allergy services throughout the country.

The vaccines are being administered on patients who show early and light clinical asthma symptoms, and they have contributed to the reduction in the use of medications, unlike other symptomatic treatment currently being applied.

The progressive introduction of VALERGEN was prioritized for allergy services in Cuban hospitals and polyclinics, while its offer to other countries interested in getting the vaccines is currently under consideration, said the scientist.

One of the main immediate goals of BIOCEN is that of achieving vaccination by means of sublingual medicine drops, which would have a favorable impact on patients, said Doctor Raul L. Castro, another expert with the Cuban scientific institution.

(Exponen eficacia de vacunas cubanas contra el asma)