jueves, 13 de enero de 2011

Latin America: Issues to Analyze

The insistence of the new popular Latin American governments in constructing what they are calling 21st Century Socialism raises issues to be analyzed.

For many, it deals with a different world within the progressive community. For others however, at least for me, the current processes in the region are following the steps of the founders of the revolutionary theory.

If we take a look at this legacy, we know that figures like Karl Marx,Frederick Engles or Vladimir Ilich Lenin, the revolution was not catechism or dogma, but a body of live ideas closely related to reality and thecharacteristics of each nation and of course, far from idealism and strange interpretations.

The Cuban Revolution itself, born out of objective and subjective emergencies of our people is precisely the first regional example of the consequent application of those transformation principles of each place and specific moments.

But within the budgets of the 21st Century Socialism that before anydemand of those that act in consequence with its universe, the calls for efficiency are true elements.

It deals with a process of change, including our own Revolution, requiresshowing at each moment, by imperative political elements, its superiority in relation with the capitalist system in working towards an increase inthe quality of life of its people.

Lenin himself, several years prior to the Bolshevik victory in Russiaexplained that one of the first tasks for the new State would be to demonstrate to the masses that to improve the quality of life would be apriority for the new authorities.

To make this a reality, there must be efficiency in the economic andsocial sphere. Economies must contribute with each nations´ key resources that materially support the advancement.

Then the social aspect because there must be a radical change in the relations of production and the ways of distribution in order to eradicate the old practice of favoring the reduced number of exploiters with theconsequent exclusion of the majority.

Efficiency is a common word in many speeches carried out by progressive Latin American leaders of today and something that is expanding and consolidating in the region including our own current economic transformation process.( Néstor Núñez / AIN)

Cuba Holds the Ceremony Award of the Cuban Scientific Journalism and Communication Contest

SANTA CLARA, Cuba - The documentary ‘Villa Clara Marine Coastal Environment’, by Rogelio Mora, from the Center of Environmental Studies and Services (CESAM), was awarded on Wednesday the grand prize of the Alfredo Nieto Dopico Scientific Journalism and Communication Contest.

The documentary, which highlights the importance of protecting biodiversity in the coastal area of the central Cuban province of Santa Clara, also received recognition by the Social Communicators Association.

The delegate from the Ministry of Science, Technology and Environment (CITMA), Maria del Carmen Velazco, highlighted Mora’s work, taking into account that in 2010 he made a commendable work on environmental education through audiovisual pieces.

The radio award was given to journalist Lisdey Rega from the radio station Estereocentro for a series of works on students who are members of scientific societies.

A program dedicated to the protection of a vegetal specie of Santa Clara, by producer Arnaldo Diaz, from Telecubanacan, was also awarded.

The press award was presented to journalist Ricardo Gonzalez, from the Vanguardia Newspaper, for his work ‘Expedition to Jumagua’; and the photography award was given toJose Antonio Pegudo, from CESAM for a trio of images of the fauna of that province.

Aliam Camacho, a CITMA specialist, referred to the quality of the more than 40 works presented in the contest, and said that 27 of these works will represent the province in the Gilberto Caballero National Journalism and Communication Festival, sponsored by CITMA. (acn)

Cuba Welcomes University Students from 70 Nations

HAVANA, Cuba - Deputy Higher Education Minister Gil Ramon Gonzalez informed on Wednesday that there are youngsters from over 70 countries presently studying in Cuba.

In a press conference held at the Higher Education Ministry, Gonzalez pointed out that in the present academic year there are over 78,000 Cuban and foreign students in 63 universities.

At the end of the 2009-2010 course, close to one million 82,000 university students had graduated in the Caribbean nation since the triumph of the Revolution, thanks to the creation of a plan of scholarships for those centers of higher studies, he stressed.

That project began on November 7, 1960, at the University of Havana, recalled one of its founders, Gerardo Emilio Chong, who added that the initiative made it possible for youngsters from different territories and social condition to study at the center of higher studies.

Students of engineering, architecture and medical sciences were benefited from that program promoted by Commander in Chief Fidel Castro, who attended the inauguration of the first university dormitory, he pointed out.

The ceremony to mark the 50th anniversary of the Movement of University Scholarships will take place on January 19 at the Main Lecture Hall of the University of Havana, as announced by the institution’s Vice-rector, Norma Barros.(anc)

The ALBA-1 Fiber Optic Cable is transported to Venezuela

HAVANA, Cuba - The ALBA-1 fiber optic cable that will be laid between Venezuela and Cuba and then to Jamaica is being transported from France to the Bolivarian country by the French Île de Batz ship.

Before its departure from the port of Calais, the vessel was visited by Cuban ambassador Orlando Requeijo and by the scientific attaché of that mission, Dennis Casares, who expressed their interest in the details of the transfer, the Granma newspaper report on Wednesday.

The ship’s captain, Pierre Emmanuel Dautry, informed that the vessel is carrying over 1,600 kilometers of cable in its holds, as well as sophisticated technology for its laying and an underwater robot that will facilitate the monitoring of operations.

The new technology will be in operation this year and will multiply the island’s connection with other countries by 3,000, according to information provided by Cuban and Venezuelan authorities.

The link will make it possible to break the blockade of communications, imposed by the United States on Cuba, to expand integration between Latin America and Caribbean nations, and to strengthen Cuban-Venezuelan relations.

At present, the Caribbean island’s access to the network is only by satellite, a situation that limits communications because they depend on an expensive, narrower band.

Meanwhile, conditions are created in Cuba to receive the underwater cable that will soon begin to be laid between Camuri, north of Venezuela, and Siboney beach, near the city of Santiago de Cuba, on the southeast part of the island.(acn)

Cuba and the United States Held New Round of Migration Talks in Havana

HAVANA, Cuba, Jan 13 - A new round of migration talks between Cuba and the United States was held on Wednesday in Havana. The delegations were headed by Cuba’s Deputy Foreign Minister Dagoberto Barrera and by the US’s Principal Assistant Secretary of State for Western Hemisphere Affairs, Roberta Jacobson.

The Cuban News Agency reproduces the full text of a press release issued on Wednesday by the Cuban delegation to this new round of migration talks.

“A new round of migration talks between the United States and Cuba took place on January 12, 2011. Both countries’ delegations to the meeting were headed by Mrs. Roberta Jacobson, Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for Western Hemisphere Affairs and Mr. Dagoberto Rodríguez Barrera, Deputy Foreign Minister, respectively.

“The meeting developed in an atmosphere of respect. An assessment was made of the way in which both parties have complied with their commitments under the migration accords in force. The meeting recognized there has been a significant reduction in risky illegal departures from Cuba to the United States as a result of the efforts carried out by both countries to cope with migrant smuggling and illegal migration.

“Deputy Foreign Minister Dagoberto Rodríguez expressed: ‘It was a fruitful exchange aimed at moving on to the establishment of more effective mechanisms of cooperation to combat illegal migrant smuggling.

Cuban authorities have systematically responded to U.S. requests and have provided valuable information as well as testimonies and evidence suitable for prosecuting smugglers before U.S. courts. Cuba reiterated its interest in strengthening bilateral cooperation in this area.’

“The Cuban delegation reaffirmed once again that migrant smuggling will not disappear nor could a legal, safe and orderly migration be achieved between our two countries as long as the Cuban Adjustment Act and the wet foot/dry foot policy –which encourage illegal departure of Cubans to the United States–, remain in place.

“The Cuban delegation reiterated its willingness to maintain these exchanges.” (acn)

Raul Castro Meets with Visiting Mexican Political Leader

HAVANA, Cuba, Jan 13 - The Second Secretary of the Cuban Communist Party (PCC), Raul Castro, met on Wednesday in Havana with the president of Mexico’s Partido Revolucionario Institucional (PRI) and vice president of Socialist International (SI) —a worldwide organization of social democratic, socialist and labor parties—, Beatriz Paredes Rangel, who is on a working visit in Cuba.

According to a note read on Cuban television, during the meeting, both leaders spoke about the current state of relations between the two parties and other topics of international interest.

Also present in the meeting was Cuba’s Foreign Minister Bruno Rodriguez Parrilla.(acn)