viernes, 4 de febrero de 2011

FAO Recognizes Cuba’s Work to Protect Forests

HAVANA, Cuba, Feb 4 - The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) recognized Cuba’s efforts in the protection of forest areas and in favor of reforestation programs.To mark the beginning of the International Year of Forests, FAO released the State of the World’s Forests (SOFO) report, which comes out every two years and assesses the status of global forest resources. SOFO 2011 includes information on trends in forest management, production of forest products, and raw forest cover data.

Cuba annually increases its forest cover and the plan is to have 3.2 million hectares of forests areas by the year 2015, which is 29,3% of the national territory.

Since the triumph of the Cuban Revolution in 1959, reforestation efforts have been underway to counteract the deforestation suffered during the colonial period and as a result of the development of the sugar industry, among other factors.

As part of these efforts, Cuba has a center for forest research with seven experimental stations across the island and 1,200 forest engineers. (acn)

Japanese Television Network Broadcasts Programs on Cuba

HAVANA, Cuba, Feb 4 - The Mainichi Broadcasting System (MBS) of Japan premiered a series of four programs on Cuba, which offered viewers of the Asian nation an overview on the Caribbean island. A team of the MBS traveled to Cuba in December to shoot the documentary, which highlights tourist attractions and tackles important aspects of the history of the Revolution, the www.cubaminrex.cu Web site reports.

The documentary shows, for example, achievements of the pharmaceutical industry and of public health and education on the island, in spite of the blockade imposed on Cuba by Washington for almost half a century now.

Likewise, it highlights the significance the 6th Congress of the Cuban Communist Party –to be held in April- will have.

MBS gets to two million viewers in the region of Kansai, including five important prefectures.(acn)

Only FIDE Woman Judge in Central Am Acknowledged in Cuba

HOLGUIN, Cuba, Feb 4 - The only FIDE woman judge of Central America and the Caribbean, Cuban Barbara Lopez-Chavez, was acknowledged on Thursday in the eastern province of Holguin by local authorities for her work.

Lopez-Chavez is one of the three judges participating in the national chess women’s championship underway in Cuba.

Lopez-Chavez was a founder of the Latin American Higher Chess Institute in 1992, where she worked as a professor to later become a judge.

In the same year, she received the certificate of national Judge and then in 2006 she received the FIDE title.

Lopez-Chavez is expecting to participate for the first time this year in the Capablanca in Memoriam 2011 Tournament, which will bring more than 100 chess players to Cuba.

After the event, she is hoping to receive the FIDE International Judge title. (AIN)

martes, 1 de febrero de 2011

Latin Americans Demand End of US Blockade against Cuba

HAVANA, Cuba, Feb 1 - Claudio Patat, national coordinator of the Argentinean contingent that is part of the 18th South American Solidarity-with-Cuba Brigade, condemned the economic, commercial and financial blockade imposed by the United States on the island. In his statements to the Prensa Latina news agency, he also denounced the unfair imprisonment in US jails of Fernando Gonzalez, Ramon Labañino, Antonio Guerrero, Gerardo Hernandez and Rene Gonzalez, condemned for informing on plans of violent actions against Cuba, conceived in Florida.

The member of the Argentinean Movement of Solidarity with the Caribbean nation asserted that they’re working with a lot of rigor in his country, especially in Buenos Aires.

Likewise, Venezuelans from various walks of life will send over the next few days dozens of postcards to President Barack Obama with requests for the release of the five Cuban antiterrorist heroes, according to information provided by activist Rosalinda Chanaga, coordinator of the Venezuela-Cuba Movement of Mutual Solidarity.

She told the Prensa Latina news agency that this group plans new actions to spread the truth abut the case of Gerardo, Rene, Antonio, Ramon and Fernando, and on the injustice being committed against them -unjustly incarcerated since 1998.

Some 300 committees are working in 111 nations to support the cause of these Cuban antiterrorists.

On this issue, the El Nacional newspaper, from the Dominican Republic, published that about 30 organizations of that country asked the United States to lift the unjust and inhuman blockade maintained by Washington against the island for almost half a century now.

The organizations, making up the Committee in Solidarity with Cuba, underlined that the States have the right to self-determination and that nobody –no matter how strong it feels- has the power to condemn them to any kind of blockade, reads a note published by the Cuba
Foreign Ministry’s Web site.

Also, Cubans living in Nicaragua held their 2nd National Meeting, in which they condemned the siege laid to the island by the US and demanded the immediate release of The Five. (acn)

Works by Top Cuban Painters Presented in Tokyo

HAVANA, Cuba - A collective exhibition of paintings from Latin America and the Caribbean in Tokyo included works by notable Cuban painters Servando Cabrera, Manuel Mendive, Rene Portocarrero and Nelson Dominguez. The exhibition’s curator was renowned Japanese professor Takeshi Kanagawa and its 70 pieces excelled for their excellent portrayal of the vast and rich culture of the region and its various artistic trends, the www.cubaminrex.cu Web site reported.

Over 5,000 visitors enjoyed the exhibition, organized by the diplomatic missions of Latin America and the Caribbean accredited to Japan and located at the popular mirador on the 42nd floor of the Metropolitan Government building.

Also in that capital, Cuban ambassador to Japan, Jose Fernandez de Cossio, held a fraternal meeting with the vice-president of the Japanese Communist Party, Yasuo Ogata, and deputy Akira Kasai, whom he explained the main elements of the Draft Guidelines of the Economic and Social Policy of the Party and the Revolution.

The Japanese communist leaders took an interest in knowing the scope of the recent measures adopted by the US government towards Cuba, with regard to which the diplomatic clarified that they don’t modify the illegal and punitive nature of the criminal blockade.

He set out how that this siege, imposed on the island for almost half a century now, is designed to cause the greatest difficulties and shortages possible to the people in their daily life, trying, in this way, to undermine the social base of the Revolution and destroy it. (acn)

Havana University Holds Workshop on Haiti

HAVANA, Cuba - The Group on Caribbean Studies of the University of Havana held the workshop “Haiti, a year after”.

In view of the current situation in Haiti, a year after the earthquake of January 12, 2010, experts and cooperants met to offer their support and discuss the reality of this Caribbean nation.

The president of the Group, PhD. Digna Castañeda, talked about the importance of getting acquainted with the history of that country so as to understand its population.

Castañeda added that Haitians are still facing the aftermath of such a natural disaster and the cholera epidemics.

The politologist and professor from the International Relations Higher Institute (ISRI), PhD. Luis Suarez Salazar, offered an overview on Haiti’s geographic, political, economic and social panorama, and commented on the future of its population.

Suarez noted that, a year after the earthquake, 75 percent of the residents in Puerto Principe are still homeless, and the cholera epidemics is expected to affect some 400 000 people.

He added that almost half a million children still wander around the streets without being able to go back to school because more than 80 percent of the education sector is private and very expensive.

The rector of the Latin American School of Medicine (ELAM), Dr Juan Carrizo Estevez, highlighted the humane quality of the Haitian people.

He pointed out that more than 600 Haitian students graduated from ELAM, while there are other 400 still studying there.

The workshop was also attended by historian and member of UNEAC, PhD.

Gloria Leon Rojas, as well as by members of the Henry Reeve International Brigade, who shared experiences from their missions in Haiti. (acn)

Cuban Cooperants in Guatemala Demand the Release of the Cuban Five

HAVANA, Cuba- Members of the Cuban Medical Brigade in Guatemala demanded the immediate release of five Cuban antiterrorists, unjustly imprisoned in the US since 1998. On the occasion of their 9th National Scientific Festival, the cooperants working in 18 out of the 22 Guatemalan departments passed a resolution condemning the biased treatment these men received during their trials.

The document affirms that Gerardo Hernandez, Ramon Labañino, Antonio Guerrero, Fernando Gonzalez and Rene Gonzalez ––internationally known as the Cuban Five –– were just trying to prevent terrorist actions against Cuba by right-wing groups settled in Miami.

The resolution makes reference to the double standard policy of Washington, which condemns the Cuban Five, whereas it protects renowned terrorists who walk free through the US.

The Cuban cooperants promised to spread the truth about the Cuban Five wherever they take their humanitarian work.

The document will be sent to US president Barack Obama to demand him to use its constitutional prerogatives in favor of Gerardo, Ramon, Fernando, Antonio, and Rene.

The Cuban cooperants also demanded the extradition of Luis Posada Carriles to Venezuela, or a fair trial in US for his terrorist crimes and not for migration fraud, as he is being charged at present in El Paso, Texas.(acn)

Ecuadorian President Receives Cuban Foreign Minister

HAVANA , Cuba - The president of Ecuador, Rafael Correa, received Cuban foreign Minister Bruno Rodriguez Parrilla, on Monday, at the Palacio de Carolendet, in Quito.

The Cuban Minister, on official visit, and the Ecuadorian president, attended the ceremony of the changing of the presidential guard in the historical center of Quito, reports a press release by Prensa Latina agency news.

The Ecuadorian Foreign Minister, Ricardo Patiño, told Prensa Latina that the relations with Cuba are a priority given that Cuba is one of the strategic nations for their diplomacy.

Patiño praised the international solidarity of Cuba with Ecuador, the homeland of Eloy Alfaro. He mentioned that there are about 2 000 young Ecuadorians studying Medicine in Cuba, without asking anything in return.

Both ministers chair the 2nd Meeting of the Mechanism of Political Consultation between the two countries to strengthen the historical relations of friendship and solidarity and to boost cooperation programs in different sectors.

At the Palacio de Najas, Rodríguez talked, by videoconference, with the Cuban doctors of the Operacion Milagro in the Ophthalmologic Center of Latacunga, who have done more than 100 000 free sight surgeries.

The Cuban diplomat will meet on Tuesday with Ecuadorian Vice President Lenin Moreno to discuss the topic of Cuban cooperation in the study of people with disability and their follow-up in prevention and attention stages.

Rodriguez will also meet with Augusto Barrera, metropolitan major, in the context of the declaration of Quito as the Latin American capital of Culture in 2011.

The Cuban Foreign Minister arrived in Quito on Sunday, and was received by deputy foreign minister Kintto Lucas and Jorge Rodriguez, the Cuban ambassador to Ecuador.(acn)