HAVANA, Cuba, April 30 (acn) Voices of political and social personalities and organizations throughout the world are on the rise to demand the end of the nearly 50-year-old economic blockade of the US against Cuba.
Recently in Portugal, a call was made through one of Antena Uno’s radio programs asking for the lifting of the American measure against the island and demanding the release of the five Cuban men imprisoned in the US.
The call was made by Armanda Fonseca, president of the Portugal-Cuba Association in an interview on a radio broadcast dedicated to analyzing the first 100 days of President Barack Obama’s term, Prensa Latina reported.
Fonseca said there is no justification for maintaining the blockade imposed on Cuba nearly 50 years ago and noted that it is the only measure of its kind implemented in the world and it has been the longest one ever. She also added that it has been widely rejected and considered as genocide.
The activist said lifting the blockade and establishing normal relations with Cuba is an urgent matter for president Obama, if he is going to be consistent with the minimum ethical norms he has proclaimed.
This is also the desire of nearly the entire world, and was recently claimed at the Summit of the Americas, where Latin American countries demanded the end of the blockade, she stated.
Fonseca also noted that it was not the Cuban Revolution that sponsored terrorism against the US, while recalling that thousands of people have died in Cuba because of terrorist acts from American territory.
(Call in Portugal to End the US Blockade Against Cuba)
jueves, 30 de abril de 2009
Cuba Stregthens Epidemic Controls at Its Borders
HAVANA, Cuba, April 30 (acn) “In view of the spread of the swine flu over many countries, Cuba has tightened up the epidemiological controls at its borders, ports, docks, and airports,” said Ángel Manuel Álvarez Valdés, head of International Health Control Program of the Public
Health Ministry.
The official told Granma newspaper that the country has the qualified personnel and the necessary means to isolate and take travelers who are potential suspects of being infected with this highly contagious influenza to health facilities. The disease is caused by a virus that,
according to the World Health Organization, “had been never seen before,” he noted.
Dr. Álvarez Valdés said that as part of the increase in international health control, the personnel are constantly briefed with the latest information on the world behavior and development of the disease. At the same time, “health briefings” are carried out with all the workers at
airports and ports, in order to increase general awareness.
Those in charge of international epidemiological control will be also informed if there’s anything suspicious related to the passengers before sea or air transport reaches Cuban soil. Upon their arrival, travelers will have to sign a Health Declaration stating their country and city of
departure, whether they have had symptoms of the disease in the last ten days, and whether they have been in contact or not with people infected.
The head of the International Health Control Program of the Ministry of Health said that “This ‘bulwark’ of our national health system is ready to timely and efficiently fight any eventuality on our borders.”
(Reforzada vigilancia epidemiológica en fronteras)
Health Ministry.
The official told Granma newspaper that the country has the qualified personnel and the necessary means to isolate and take travelers who are potential suspects of being infected with this highly contagious influenza to health facilities. The disease is caused by a virus that,
according to the World Health Organization, “had been never seen before,” he noted.
Dr. Álvarez Valdés said that as part of the increase in international health control, the personnel are constantly briefed with the latest information on the world behavior and development of the disease. At the same time, “health briefings” are carried out with all the workers at
airports and ports, in order to increase general awareness.
Those in charge of international epidemiological control will be also informed if there’s anything suspicious related to the passengers before sea or air transport reaches Cuban soil. Upon their arrival, travelers will have to sign a Health Declaration stating their country and city of
departure, whether they have had symptoms of the disease in the last ten days, and whether they have been in contact or not with people infected.
The head of the International Health Control Program of the Ministry of Health said that “This ‘bulwark’ of our national health system is ready to timely and efficiently fight any eventuality on our borders.”
(Reforzada vigilancia epidemiológica en fronteras)
Caribbean Festival Committee Created in Santiago de Cuba
SANTIAGO DE CUBA, Cuba, April 30 (acn) The Organizing Committee of the 29th Caribbean Festival, to be held here from July 3rd through the 9th and aimed at reaffirming the cultural identity and traditions of the peoples, has been constituted in this city.
Dedicated to the Republic of Honduras and its culture, this Caribbean fiesta will welcome important intellectuals and artists from the region, and will become a space for the promotion of artistic expressions like dance, theater, music, and literature.
The Commission was set up at the Caribbean Centre of eastern Santiago de Cuba province, which will be in charge of organizing and coordinating the academic and cultural activities of the multi-ethnic event.
The director of the Centre, Orlando Vergés, told the press that some 40 stages for travelling street performances will be created, and various spots in the city, which traditionally open their doors for the main activities of the Fire Fiesta, as this event is also known.
The Festival will have Santiago de Cuba as its main venue, while Guantánamo province will have a second. It is sponsored by the Caribbean Centre and the Ministry of Culture and backed by the Cuban Institute for Friendship with the Peoples (ICAP) and the Cuban Union of
Writers and Artists (UNEAC).
Attending the meeting to create the Organizing Committee were local authorities from the government and the Communist Party, as well as officials from organizations and institutions that will contribute to the success of this traditional fiesta of Caribbean culture.
(Constituido Comité Organizador del Festival del Caribe)
Dedicated to the Republic of Honduras and its culture, this Caribbean fiesta will welcome important intellectuals and artists from the region, and will become a space for the promotion of artistic expressions like dance, theater, music, and literature.
The Commission was set up at the Caribbean Centre of eastern Santiago de Cuba province, which will be in charge of organizing and coordinating the academic and cultural activities of the multi-ethnic event.
The director of the Centre, Orlando Vergés, told the press that some 40 stages for travelling street performances will be created, and various spots in the city, which traditionally open their doors for the main activities of the Fire Fiesta, as this event is also known.
The Festival will have Santiago de Cuba as its main venue, while Guantánamo province will have a second. It is sponsored by the Caribbean Centre and the Ministry of Culture and backed by the Cuban Institute for Friendship with the Peoples (ICAP) and the Cuban Union of
Writers and Artists (UNEAC).
Attending the meeting to create the Organizing Committee were local authorities from the government and the Communist Party, as well as officials from organizations and institutions that will contribute to the success of this traditional fiesta of Caribbean culture.
(Constituido Comité Organizador del Festival del Caribe)
Site Where Cuba Discoverer Landed Was Restored
HOLGUIN, Cuba, Apr 30 (acn) Efficient preservation work has been performed to maintain the heritage values of the historic site of Bariay Cay, in eastern Holguín province, where Christopher Columbus landed in 1492.
The works consisted of applying a filler along the coast with a rocky center, a cream white covering, and plants on the surface to reforest the Eastern strip.
This sector of the cay, the point of arrival of Christopher Columbus in Cuba on October 28, 1492, was seriously eroded.
A phenomenon that had robbed some 150 meters of that coast in a thousand years, was particularly visible over the last few decades, and was endangering the museum - built on the site of what used to be the first community of aboriginal fishermen seen by Columbus.
Engineer Jesús Franco, a specialist with the Unit for Coastal Investment of the Center for Environmental and Technological Research and Services, explained that circumstances associated with the geological characteristics of the coast had influenced the erosion.
Also having a bearing on it were the global climate changes, the prevailing hydrodynamics, and the deterioration of traditional vegetation, basically replaced by areas of coconut cultivation.
The restoration works are aimed at the restoration of Bariay's landscape, appreciated by the Genoese sailor 516 years ago -a place of undeniable tourist attraction, 45 kilometers north of the city of Holguín, in the municipality of Rafael Freyre.
(Rehabilitan sitio por donde llegó Colón a Cuba hace 516 años)
The works consisted of applying a filler along the coast with a rocky center, a cream white covering, and plants on the surface to reforest the Eastern strip.
This sector of the cay, the point of arrival of Christopher Columbus in Cuba on October 28, 1492, was seriously eroded.
A phenomenon that had robbed some 150 meters of that coast in a thousand years, was particularly visible over the last few decades, and was endangering the museum - built on the site of what used to be the first community of aboriginal fishermen seen by Columbus.
Engineer Jesús Franco, a specialist with the Unit for Coastal Investment of the Center for Environmental and Technological Research and Services, explained that circumstances associated with the geological characteristics of the coast had influenced the erosion.
Also having a bearing on it were the global climate changes, the prevailing hydrodynamics, and the deterioration of traditional vegetation, basically replaced by areas of coconut cultivation.
The restoration works are aimed at the restoration of Bariay's landscape, appreciated by the Genoese sailor 516 years ago -a place of undeniable tourist attraction, 45 kilometers north of the city of Holguín, in the municipality of Rafael Freyre.
(Rehabilitan sitio por donde llegó Colón a Cuba hace 516 años)
Angolan Women's Leader Receives Cuban Writer in Luanda
HAVANA, Cuba, April 30 (acn) The leader of the Angolan Women's Organization (OMA), Lucía Ingrés, received Cuban writer Limbania Jiménez on Wednesday. Jiménez collaborated in the sphere of education in that African country, where she lived for three years.
Ingrés and two OMA executive committee members welcomed the intellectual at the headquarters of the ruling Angolan Liberation Movement in Luanda.
Prior to the meeting, the visitor, along with Ingrés, Cuban ambassador Pedro Ross, and other diplomats from the archipelago, placed a wreath at the monument dedicated to Angolan heroines.
Jiménez is the author of the books Mujeres sin fronteras (Women without Borders) and Heroínas de Angola (Heroines of Angola), as well as co-author of A pecho limpio (Boldly).
The first of these works was initially conceived to reflect the participation of Cuban women in the Angolan conflict, but it went beyond this objective and included more than 500 internationalist women from numerous countries from Africa and Latin America.
The Cuban writer met the current president of OMA during a stay in the Congo, a country where she trained leaders of the newly created women's organization at the time in that former Portuguese colony, Prensa Latina news agency reports.
Shortly after the proclamation of Angola's liberation from colonialism, Jiménez stayed for three years in that nation.
She also thanked OMA for the help and support it has given in the battle for the release of the Five Cuban antiterrorists unjustly incarcerated in the United States since 1998.
Gerardo Hernández, René González, Fernando González, Ramón Labañino and Antonio Guerrero were condemned in Miami to severe sentences, ranking from 15 years to two life imprisonments, for monitoring the activities of Florida-based, anti-Cuban terrorist groups.
(Dirigente femenina de Angola recibe a escritora cubana)
Ingrés and two OMA executive committee members welcomed the intellectual at the headquarters of the ruling Angolan Liberation Movement in Luanda.
Prior to the meeting, the visitor, along with Ingrés, Cuban ambassador Pedro Ross, and other diplomats from the archipelago, placed a wreath at the monument dedicated to Angolan heroines.
Jiménez is the author of the books Mujeres sin fronteras (Women without Borders) and Heroínas de Angola (Heroines of Angola), as well as co-author of A pecho limpio (Boldly).
The first of these works was initially conceived to reflect the participation of Cuban women in the Angolan conflict, but it went beyond this objective and included more than 500 internationalist women from numerous countries from Africa and Latin America.
The Cuban writer met the current president of OMA during a stay in the Congo, a country where she trained leaders of the newly created women's organization at the time in that former Portuguese colony, Prensa Latina news agency reports.
Shortly after the proclamation of Angola's liberation from colonialism, Jiménez stayed for three years in that nation.
She also thanked OMA for the help and support it has given in the battle for the release of the Five Cuban antiterrorists unjustly incarcerated in the United States since 1998.
Gerardo Hernández, René González, Fernando González, Ramón Labañino and Antonio Guerrero were condemned in Miami to severe sentences, ranking from 15 years to two life imprisonments, for monitoring the activities of Florida-based, anti-Cuban terrorist groups.
(Dirigente femenina de Angola recibe a escritora cubana)
Ceremony in Jamaica on Cuba's Literacy Teaching Program
HAVANA, Cuba, April 30 (acn) Jamaica's Minister of State, Robert Monteague, and religious leaders from that island presided over the graduation of 14 facilitators and 8 participants in the pilot program of the country's literacy teaching project using the 'Yes I Can' Cuban
teaching method.
The activity, held at the Anglican Church of Gayle, St. Mary, was attended by the Cuban ambassador in Kingston, Gisela García; Cooperation Office official Jorge Crespo; the representative of Cuba's Ministry of Education in Jamaica, Ángel Bravo; and lecturers working in that nation.
Participants in the program expressed their appreciation to the Cuban government for its cooperation and read messages from those who had learned how to read and write, who for the first time could read a text in English, receiving applause and praise from those present in the
ceremony.
An acknowledgement was made of the work of the project's coordinator, Eduardo Orrely Herrera, for his devotion to the task of teaching the students to read and write and preparing facilitators, who're ready to move on to the second stage of the project.
Pedagogue Leonela Relys Díaz, from eastern Camagüey province, is the author of 'Yes I Can', an audiovisual program awarded by UNESCO, at whose disposal Cuba has put this method, free of charge, and which has already born fruit in countries of Latin America, Africa and Oceania.
(Acto en Jamaica por inicio de programa "Yo sí puedo")
teaching method.
The activity, held at the Anglican Church of Gayle, St. Mary, was attended by the Cuban ambassador in Kingston, Gisela García; Cooperation Office official Jorge Crespo; the representative of Cuba's Ministry of Education in Jamaica, Ángel Bravo; and lecturers working in that nation.
Participants in the program expressed their appreciation to the Cuban government for its cooperation and read messages from those who had learned how to read and write, who for the first time could read a text in English, receiving applause and praise from those present in the
ceremony.
An acknowledgement was made of the work of the project's coordinator, Eduardo Orrely Herrera, for his devotion to the task of teaching the students to read and write and preparing facilitators, who're ready to move on to the second stage of the project.
Pedagogue Leonela Relys Díaz, from eastern Camagüey province, is the author of 'Yes I Can', an audiovisual program awarded by UNESCO, at whose disposal Cuba has put this method, free of charge, and which has already born fruit in countries of Latin America, Africa and Oceania.
(Acto en Jamaica por inicio de programa "Yo sí puedo")
Restored singular balcony in patrimonial area
Camagüey, Apr 30 . A singular balcony of the century XVIII show its image restored to people from Camagüey and visitors in the local sector declared Cultural Patrimony of the Humanity.
That exceptional architectural element is external, Mexican ballad, salient and with roof of tiles, and constitutes a sign of extreme reduced presence in the oldest part in the local urban historical center, National Monument.
The concluded restoration of the facade of the formerly elegant housing closed the first phase of the restoring program of the property, task in charge of the office of the Historian of the City of Camagüey (OHCC).
One of the enormous constructions of the constructive peak of the XVIII century in the then Village of Santa María del Puerto del Príncipe, resides contiguous to one of the corners of the Maceo Square, and to half block of the old Weapons Square , current Agramonte Park .
Located in Independence Street , it has two plants, and a balcony almost everything substituted by means of a reproduction in the present it works.
The work includes, also, among other actions, to repair the fragment of existent general roof and to restore the damaged part, as well as to restore the floor of the second plant, it expressed the AIN the ingenier Yanelys Pérez, made responsible with the execution of the project.
According to that foreseen, in the course of the year it will be installed in the property the Center of Cultural Administration of the Office of the Historian of the City (OHCC), he added the source.
There the officials resided among other people Ubaldo de Arteaga and Diego Félix deArteaga, father and son, respectively.(Adolfo Silva Silva )
That exceptional architectural element is external, Mexican ballad, salient and with roof of tiles, and constitutes a sign of extreme reduced presence in the oldest part in the local urban historical center, National Monument.
The concluded restoration of the facade of the formerly elegant housing closed the first phase of the restoring program of the property, task in charge of the office of the Historian of the City of Camagüey (OHCC).
One of the enormous constructions of the constructive peak of the XVIII century in the then Village of Santa María del Puerto del Príncipe, resides contiguous to one of the corners of the Maceo Square, and to half block of the old Weapons Square , current Agramonte Park .
Located in Independence Street , it has two plants, and a balcony almost everything substituted by means of a reproduction in the present it works.
The work includes, also, among other actions, to repair the fragment of existent general roof and to restore the damaged part, as well as to restore the floor of the second plant, it expressed the AIN the ingenier Yanelys Pérez, made responsible with the execution of the project.
According to that foreseen, in the course of the year it will be installed in the property the Center of Cultural Administration of the Office of the Historian of the City (OHCC), he added the source.
There the officials resided among other people Ubaldo de Arteaga and Diego Félix deArteaga, father and son, respectively.(Adolfo Silva Silva )
Filial of Camagüey organizes of economists and accountants National Encounter on Local Development PDF to Print Electronic mail
Camagüey, 30 Apr. - The filial of Camagüey of the Association of Economists and Accountants of Cuba organize the first National Encounter on Local Development, fixed of the six at next May eight.
Specialists of the 14 counties and of the special municipality Island of the Youth confirmed their participation in the appointment, in which will be presented around 30 works of high scientific level.
The program of the event includes round tables, shops and conferences.
Professionals of the counties from Cienfuegos to Guantánamo will also attend that are formed like doctors in Local Development in the University of Camagüey.
The Sugar Village will welcome the delegates and companies this encounter that will have permanent headquarters in the city of Camagüey. (Aramís González Cruz)
Specialists of the 14 counties and of the special municipality Island of the Youth confirmed their participation in the appointment, in which will be presented around 30 works of high scientific level.
The program of the event includes round tables, shops and conferences.
Professionals of the counties from Cienfuegos to Guantánamo will also attend that are formed like doctors in Local Development in the University of Camagüey.
The Sugar Village will welcome the delegates and companies this encounter that will have permanent headquarters in the city of Camagüey. (Aramís González Cruz)
Cuba´s Mandate as NAM Chair Acknowledged at Ministerial Meeting
HAVANA, Cuba, April 29 (acn) The role played by Cuba as Chair of the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM) during nearly three years was acknowledged today by participants at the Ministerial Meeting of the Coordinating Bureau of the Third World Organization.
UN General Assembly President Miguel D´Escoto that the foundational principles of the Movement, such as fighting imperialism, neo- colonialism, apartheid, Zionism and its position against all form of discrimination, are still valid, particularly amidst the current world crisis.
D´Escoto recalled Fidel Castro´s words when addressing the UN General Assembly 30 years ago as he demanded a new world order that would eliminate the huge gap standing between rich and poor nations.
The UN official expressed his acknowledgment to the Cuban leader and his people for their solidarity. He also invited Cuban president Raul Castro and the other heads of state and government of NAM to attend the next UN conference, in which the world crisis will be discussed, so that they express their hopes and principles.
NAM must fight so that justice will be made in the case of the five Cuban antiterrorists incarcerated in US jails, for the lifting of the US blockade of Cuba, for the defense of the Palestinian and Puerto Rican peoples´ rights to self-determination.
Other speakers at the opening session were Al Samani Al Wasila, Sudan Foreign Minister and president of the Group of 77 plus China, and Charles Ngakula, Defense Minister of South Africa, who is representing the African continent.
The session also heard the statements by Indonesia and Ecuador´s foreign ministers, Nur Hassan Wirayuda and Fander Falcon, representing Asia and Latin America and the Caribbean, respectively, as well as Belarus´ deputy foreign minister Serguey Aleynik for Europe. All of them congratulated Cuba for its praiseworthy role as NAM Chair.
The meeting is taking place at Havana´s Conventions Center, with over 100 delegations attending. Raul Castro called on participants to work for the success of the 15th NAM Summit of Heads of State and Government, to take place in Egypt next July.
The Cuban President, who has presided NAM for almost three years, reiterated the importance of unity among all and of multiplying NAM´s presence in international forums.
(Reconocen papel de Cuba en presidencia de los No Alineados Fidel Rendn)
UNESCO Congratulates Bolivia on Educational Achievements
HAVANA, Cuba, Apr 29 (acn) The 181st session of Executive Council of the United Nations Education, Science and Culture Organization (UNESCO) in Paris has approved a letter of congratulations for Bolivia, by virtue of its success in the battle against illiteracy taking the Cuban method Yes I Can as a starting point.
The South American nation declared itself as a Territory Free of Illiteracy in December, with the support of Cuba and Venezuela and within the context of the South-South cooperation, reads the document issued by UNESCO, Prensa Latina news agency reports.
The UNESCO body valued the Bolivian experience, which served that nation to reach one of the pillars of the Dakar Framework of Action for 2015.
Bolivian ambassador to France, Luzmila Carpio, made reference to testimonies of some of those who’ve learned how to read and write and thanked Cuba and Venezuela for their help and solidarity in the National Program undertaken by her country.
She recalled that the literacy campaign in the Andean nation was carried out in the Aymara, Quechua and Spanish languages, an unmistakable proof of the efficiency of the Cuban Literacy Teaching Program ‘Yes I Can’.
While speaking at the forum made up by 58 member nations, Cuba’s ambassador to UNESCO, Héctor Hernández, spoke about the social movement headed by President Evo Morales to face the scourge of illiteracy.
In 33 months, over 800,000 people learned how to read and write in that South American country.
On behalf of his country and especially the pedagogues that responded to the Dakar call, the Cuban diplomat expressed his satisfaction for having supported this educational feat obtained by the Bolivian people.
(Felicita la UNESCO a Bolivia por logros en educación)
The South American nation declared itself as a Territory Free of Illiteracy in December, with the support of Cuba and Venezuela and within the context of the South-South cooperation, reads the document issued by UNESCO, Prensa Latina news agency reports.
The UNESCO body valued the Bolivian experience, which served that nation to reach one of the pillars of the Dakar Framework of Action for 2015.
Bolivian ambassador to France, Luzmila Carpio, made reference to testimonies of some of those who’ve learned how to read and write and thanked Cuba and Venezuela for their help and solidarity in the National Program undertaken by her country.
She recalled that the literacy campaign in the Andean nation was carried out in the Aymara, Quechua and Spanish languages, an unmistakable proof of the efficiency of the Cuban Literacy Teaching Program ‘Yes I Can’.
While speaking at the forum made up by 58 member nations, Cuba’s ambassador to UNESCO, Héctor Hernández, spoke about the social movement headed by President Evo Morales to face the scourge of illiteracy.
In 33 months, over 800,000 people learned how to read and write in that South American country.
On behalf of his country and especially the pedagogues that responded to the Dakar call, the Cuban diplomat expressed his satisfaction for having supported this educational feat obtained by the Bolivian people.
(Felicita la UNESCO a Bolivia por logros en educación)
Efficient Potato Harvest in Cuban Province Backs National food Programs
HAVANA, Cuba, April 29 (acn) With a record yield of produce like potato and tomato, agricultural workers in the central-eastern of Ciego de Avila support national food plans amidst the current world economic crisis.
Reports say that private and state-owned farms in the territory collected over 110 million pounds of potatoes, considered the highest production over the past five years. The goal was reached thanks to good planning and appropriate availability of resources before the start of the
campaign.
The availability of necessary chemical fertilizers, pesticides and other expendables in sufficient amounts as well as the appropriate performance of watering systems made it possible to reach the record production, which also included a record yield of tomatoes (more than 50 million
pounds), similar to high levels collected in the 1980´s, Agriculture Ministry sources reported.
Part of the produce was preserved in cold stores to guarantee a steady supply to the local market, while the surplus was transported to the eastern provinces of Holguín, Las Tunas, Camagüey, Granma and Santiago de Cuba.
In order to get the most out of the collected produce, all five processing plants in Ciego de Avila are working at full capacity to produce different derivatives like tomato paste and pure.
Reports say that private and state-owned farms in the territory collected over 110 million pounds of potatoes, considered the highest production over the past five years. The goal was reached thanks to good planning and appropriate availability of resources before the start of the
campaign.
The availability of necessary chemical fertilizers, pesticides and other expendables in sufficient amounts as well as the appropriate performance of watering systems made it possible to reach the record production, which also included a record yield of tomatoes (more than 50 million
pounds), similar to high levels collected in the 1980´s, Agriculture Ministry sources reported.
Part of the produce was preserved in cold stores to guarantee a steady supply to the local market, while the surplus was transported to the eastern provinces of Holguín, Las Tunas, Camagüey, Granma and Santiago de Cuba.
In order to get the most out of the collected produce, all five processing plants in Ciego de Avila are working at full capacity to produce different derivatives like tomato paste and pure.
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