The comparisons, sometimes, are necessary

By:Ernesto Pantaleòn Medina

The last September 8, 2008, the Cubans received (and of what way) a bad news: the hurricane "Ike" had destroyed a good part of the country, but the day 9 we already had another news, this good time: the town rose on the brashes and fallen trees, on the satiny crops, and as a single arm rushed to the recovery.

Some weeks later, another meteorological phenomenon of great intensity, "Paloma", crossed the oriental region of the archipelague and left a sad rake of collapses and floods.

Without stopping the works that had undertaken, thousands of men and women should tighten their forces to resist the lash that only in Santa Cruz del Sur, coastal population of the county of Camagüey, demolished 300 properties almost and damaged severely other 200. A couple of months later the constructions run off with of what will be the new establishment, in a surer area, far from the coast.

From regions fewer affected, and still of those that suffered the effects of the nature, manufacturers' brigades, electricians and non specialized people went, as the peasants that insisted immediately in the restoration of the houses of curing tobacco in Pinar del Río.

Hundred of thousands of having evacuated received sure housing in schools or other facilities far from the areas of danger, and that for their conditions guaranteed the security of the most valuable well in today's Cuba: the human life. Medical care, constant information through television and the radio, appropriate feeding, even the one prescribed old men, sick persons or children, who stayed in a stable way, next to the most transcendent thing in situations like those described: the solidarity, a hand friend in the place and the precise moment
And although the comparisons could not sometimes be good, in some cases they are necessary and definitories

Several years after the "Katrina", thousands of black North American don't have housing, neither grieve services of health and the education exhibits big breaches.

Has not a high percent of the population of New Orleans returned to its residence places, neither data that allow to predict a soon return, exist because where to make comfortable to restart a life that the waters were taken? Thousands of knocked down houses or crawled by the floods still wait for a modest constructive effort that doesn't arrive.

No authority was able to foresee the disaster, neither there is apparently who remedies it.
And what is worse: to who to go? that it is known, don't exist in the United States societies protectors of the black , neither there are that occupies in charge of the Indian or of the poor person in favor of who no hand rises, as it is not with an imperative gesture, that that places a vertical finger on the lips, and that seemed to say: " silence, men and women without rights."

Chile´s Michelle Bachelet to Pay Official Visit to Cuba

HAVANA, Cuba, Feb 10 (acn) Chile’s President Michelle Bachelet today begins an official visit to Cuba at the invitation of President Raul Castro Ruz. Bachelet is heading an official delegation made up of cabinet members, parliamentarians and entrepreneurs.

The visit to Cuba by the Chilean President will contribute to further strengthening friendly and cooperation links between Cuba and Chile, Granma daily reports.

During her stay in Cuba, President Bachelet will hold official talks with her Cuban counterpart Raul Castro; she will attend the inauguration of the 18th International Book Fair, which is dedicated to her country, and she will also tour places of economic, scientific, historic and cultural interest.

(Llegará hoy a Cuba la Presidenta de Chile)

Cuban President Returned Home After Visiting Russia, Angola and Algeria

HAVANA, Cuba, Feb 10 (acn) President Raul Castro returned to Cuba after having paid official visits to Russia, Angola and Algeria.

Early on Tuesday, Raul Castro and his delegation were welcomed at Havana's Jose Marti International Airport by Cuba's First Vice President Jose Ramon Machado Ventura and other government officials, Granma daily reported.

The successful world tour by the Cuban President contributed to further strengthening political, economic and friendly relations with the governments and peoples of Russia, Angola and Algeria.

Shortly after leaving Algeria, the third and last leg of his trip, Raul Castro and his delegation was seen off in Algiers by President Abedelaziz Bouteflika.

The Cuban delegation was made up of Revolution Commander Ramiro Valdes Menendez, also Communications and Information Technologies; First Deputy Minister of the Cuban Armed Revolutionary Forces, Army Corps General Leopoldo Cinta Frias; the Vice President of the Cuban Council of Ministers Ricardo Cabrisas; Foreign Minister Felipe Perez Roque and Foreign Investment Minister Rodrigo Malmierca.



(Regresó Raul a la patria)