Humboldt and Gauss in the Streets of Havana

The German Culture Festival brought Alexander von Humboldt (1769–1859) once again to the streets of Havana, this time accompanied by his compatriot Carl Friedrich Gauss (1777–1855), known as the Prince of Math, one of the men who anticipated the course of non-Euclidian Geometry.

GERMAN NOVELIST Daniel Kehlmann.

The two learned men came hand in hand with the novel La medición del mundo (Measuring the World), a book that has become one of the most internationally resounding successes from that European country’s field of letters in this first decade of the new millennium. It was presented at the house named after the German naturalist, located in Old Havana’s historical area.

The novel, taking a meeting between Humboldt and Gauss, recreates the parallel lives of these men who lived in the same epoch, but the author takes good care not to offer a biographical version.

La medición del mundo, on the contrary, goes for the delusions and certainties of their intellectual and human concerns, for the nobility and misfortunes of the two men, and has an imaginative literary construction that takes the novelist close to the resources of Latin American magic realism.

It’s an enjoyable narration that includes, besides the main characters, others like a declining Emmanuel Kant, a Daguerre that nervously wants to capture a blurred picture, and a heretical and hedonistic Bompland, very different from the pale image usually given of Humboldt’s American adventure companion.

Daniel Kehlmann (Munich, 1975) studied philosophy and literature and lives in Vienna. His first novel was published when he was 22 years old. But it was Yo y Kaminski (Kaminski and I), published in 2003, that won him both the favor of critics and the public for the first time. His novel Ich und Kaminski (Yo y Kaminski, Barcelona, 2005), from 2003, gave him world fame. With La medición del mundo (2005) he has experienced the great leap forward.

"I wanted to write like a crazy historian", he said when asked what was true and what wasn’t in a story that, although it’s a tribute to memory and intelligence, contradicts the rigorous Cartesian codes of European rationalism.

The author has won the Kleist Prize, one of the most illustrious German awards, and was a finalist in the Deutscher Buchpreis (German Book Prize / PEDRO DE LA HOZ).

Children Demand an End to Child Labor at UN Headquarters

GENEVA, June 12.— More than 600 children gathered in front of the UN headquarters in Geneva on the World Day against Child Labor to demand an end to this illegal practice, EFE reported.

The children entered the UN building to attend the plenary session of the International Labor Organization (ILO), "on behalf of all the children of the world."

This event is the last of a long list of activities organized in this city to promote awareness among citizens, with a focus on children, regarding child labor.

The ILO dedicated its conference to the World Day against Child Labor, especially to girls.

This organization estimates that some 100 million girls are victims of child labor in the world.

Call in Portugal to End the US Blockade Against Cuba

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)

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 15^th 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)

Panamanian First Vice President Visits Cuba

HAVANA, Cuba, March 16 (acn) Panamanian First Vice President and Foreign Minister, Samuel Lewis Navarro is on a working visit to Cuba.

According to Granma news daily, during his stay in the Caribbean Archipelago, the distinguished visitor will meet with Cuban Foreign Minister, Bruno Rodriguez Parrilla, and with other state and government officials.

They will discuss bilateral relations and other topics of international interest.

(Se encuentra en Cuba Primer Vicepresidente y Canciller de Panamá)

Measures in Favor of Banks Will Not Solve World Crisis

HAVANA, Cuba, March 3 (acn) Experts from several nations participating in the 11th International Meeting of Economists on Development Problems, underway in Havana, said on Monday that the current world financial and economic crisis can not be solved through initiatives that only favor banks.

This was one of the main topics for discussion during the first day of the event, which is being attended by more than 1000 delegates from 47 nations.

The theme was analyzed in a panel called "From the Financial to the Global Economic Crisis: Impacts and Lessons" with the participation of Argentinean Claudio Katz, American Jan Kregel and Belgian Christian Ghymers.

"We cannot continue trying to rescue institutions that went bankrupt, because that is typical of capitalism. The real regulations have to be made by the people," Katz said.

He added that the increase in military spending and wars are other expressions of the current global recession.

For his part, Ghymers noted that today's collapse, that is affecting the whole capitalist system, is a result of neo-liberal globalization and the accumulation of debts.

Meanwhile, Egyptian Samir Amin, President of the Third World Forum, said that the government of Barack Obama and his economic team in the United States are unable to solve the current world crisis.

The 11th International Meeting of Economists on Development Problems was inaugurated on Monday in Havana's Conventions Palace in the presence of Leonel Fernandez, President of the Dominican Republic and Jose Ramon Machado Ventura, the Cuban First Vice President.

(Crisis global no se resuelve con medidas a favor de la banca )

Guatemalan President Sees Off Students to Cuba

HAVANA, Cuba, Feb 13. Alvaro Colom, President of Guatemala, saw off 80 low-resource youngsters going to Cuba on scholarships to study at the Latin American Medicine School (ELAM), in Havana.

Colom highlighted that Cuba is sharing with Guatemala the results of its sacrifices, of a revolution for the people and with people.

"These comrades can go to ELAM because of a people that fought for their freedom" said the head of state and added his admiration and respect for the Cuban Revolution, for its people and its leaders.

The ceremony took place at the National Culture Palace, and was attended by the chosen youngsters, their relatives and members of the Cuban diplomatic Mission in Guatemala. This scholarship program for Latin American and other countries was started by Cuba 10 years ago.

Celso Cerezo, Guatemala's Health Minister urged the youngsters to come back to work in the always forgotten interior of Guatemala. He also praised the outstanding work performed by the Cuban doctors in that Central American nation.

The 80 youngsters will join 538 Guatemalan students of medicine and 71 studying other specialities in Cuba.

Eliseo Zamora, business attaché at the Cuban Embassy highlighted that Guatemalans have already graduated as doctors and another 38 as sports and physical education majors.

(Presidente guatemalteco despide a 80 jóvenes estudiantes)

Michelle Bachelet says She is Satisfied to be in Cuba

HAVANA, Cuba, Feb 11 . We are very happy to be in Havana and to be the first Chilean head of state to come here in the past 37 years, said Michelle Bachelet upon her arrival at the Jose Marti Intenational Airport Tuesday evening, where she was welcomed by First Cuban Vice-President Jose Ramon Machado Ventura.

Bachelet is being accompanied by a large delegation made up of cabinet officials, parliamentarians and entrepreneurs. She expressed her gratefulness for the fact that Chile is the guest of honor at the 18^th International Book Fair.

We hope this visit will further strengthen regional integration, political dialog and the search of common solutions to the challenges we are facing in our region, said the Chilean President.

Michelle Bachelet is scheduled to hold official talks with Cuban President Raul Castro. She will attend the inaugural ceremony of the International Book Fair and will tour different places of economic, scientific, cultural and historic interest.

(Satisfecha presidenta de Chile por su presencia en Cuba)

President Raul Castro Stresses Cuba-Algeria Positive Relations

HAVANA, Cuba, Feb 8 . Cuban President Raul Castro today underscored the positive character of official relations between Cuba and Algeria, after he met with Abdelaziz Bouteflika, head of state of that African nation.

The Cuban leader held official talks with the Algerian President on Sunday at the Presidential Palace in the capital Algiers, according to a Cuban TV report.

Referring to his meeting with President Bouteflika, Raul Castro said that they addressed bilateral relations and cooperation issues, and that Cuba and Algeria fully share views on main international issues.

After explaining that bilateral relations between both countries have strengthened with the passage of time, the Cuban President stressed the need to further expand relations in the economic area and progressively work towards the complementation of both economies.

The Cuban head of state announced upcoming meetings between Cuban and Algerian officials to expand bilateral cooperation relations, which date back to 1963 when Cuba sent 52 medical doctors to help the Algerian people, PL news reported.

Raul Castro also referred to an eye-treatment hospital currently working in Algeria with the assistance of Cuban personnel and the setting up of companies to produce vaccines, plus the technological transfer in the field of hemo-derivatives.

The Cuban President said he was impressed with his visit this morning to the Sanctuary of the Martyrs, where he laid a wreath to those killed in combat during the independence war against French colonialism. The place raised in 1982 on a hill in the capital Algiers, pays homage to the victims of the national liberation war.

Raul Castro also corroborated the gratitude of the Algerian people to Cuban solidarity, highlighted by the huge media coverage of the visit by the Cuban President and his delegation to that country.

(Destaca Presidente cubano relaciones con Argelia)

Organization of Ibero-American States Highlights Cuban Education

HAVANA, Cuba , Jan 28 (acn) The Secretary General of the Organization of Ibero-American States (OIS), for Education, Science, Culture, Alvaro Marchesi Ulastres said Cuba is an example on education.

Marchesi made the statement during the Pedagogia 2009 International Education Congress underway in Havana, where he gave a special lecture about the organization’s educational goals for Ibero-America in 2021.

The official talked about results of global studies that show Cuba as nation with the highest educational performance in the learning of math for six grade students.

He highlighted the effort of Cuban experts in the field, and noted their contribution to the erradication of illiteracy in Venezuela and Bolivia in the years 2006 and 2008, respectively.

Likewise, Marchesi praised the Nicaraguan government’s commitment to eradicate illiteracy by July this year with the collaboration of Cuban teachers.

The OIS secretary general analyzed the educational problems of the region, where only 50 percent of 5-year-old children go to school, while malnutrition affects 7 million of Ibero-American children.

In Cuba pre-school teaching for 6-year-old children is universal and 99 percent of those from zero to five years of age receive educational attention in kindergartens and through a program of non- formal education.

During the first working session of the Congress on Tuesday at Havana’s Convention Center, more than 3,000 delegates from 44 countries discussed pedagogy prospects for the 21st century and theoretical and methodological fundamentals of citizen’s moral education, among other
topics.

(Resalta organismo internacional logros de educación cubana) -Daydee Díaz
Fleites

Ecuadorian President Reiterates Rejection of US Blockade of Cuba

HAVANA, Cuba, Dec 29 (acn) Ecuadorian President Rafael Correa reiterated on Saturday his rejection of Washington’s almost fifty-year-old economic blockade of Cuba and said he hoped US President-elect Barack Obama will put an end to this policy after he assumes power next month.

According to Prensa Latina news agency, in his weekly radio and television address last Saturday, Correa sent a message of solidarity to the Cuban people and congratulated them on the occasion of the 50th anniversary of the Cuban Revolution.

The leader said that the triumph of the Revolution in Cuba on January 1st, 1959, was a turning point in the history of Latin America and the Caribbean and a break with the traditional social and economic conditions of the region.

“Perhaps only the independence struggles of the 19th century could be compared with the Cuban Revolution. Which country of our region could resist only three months of a blockade by the United States?” Correa asked.

After recalling that Cuba has resisted for 50 years, he predicted that the Caribbean nation will be one of the most prosperous countries of Latin America and the Caribbean once the blockade is lifted due to its human talent, its technological development and the social cohesion of
the nation.

50th Anniversary of Cuban Revolution Celebrated Around the World

HAVANA, Cuba, Dec 29 (acn) The 50th anniversary of the Cuban Revolution and the achievements of the Cuban people in the past five decades were celebrated during this past weekend in several countries around the world.

During a press conference in Cairo, Egypt, the Cuban ambassador to this African nation, Angel Dalmau, recalled that all citizens in the Caribbean country have free and universal access to education and health services.

He added that thousands of students from Africa, Asia, Europe, Latin America and the Caribbean have graduated from Cuban universities and other schools.

Meanwhile, in Beijing, the Central Television of China broadcast on Sunday a musical gala with the participation of Cuban and Chinese artists in honor of the Cuban Revolution.

For its part, El Periodico news daily of Guatemala published an interview with the Cuban ambassador in Guatemala City, Omar Morales, who gave details about the social transformations carried out in Cuba.

Morales stressed that the first achievement of the Cuban Revolution was to rescue the nation’s independence and sovereignty.

Celebrated in Russia anniversary 50 of the Cuban Revolution

Havana, Dec 24 . - Cultural veiled, competitions of infantile drawings, confers and other activities are carried out in Russia in back to the Cuban Revolution in its 50 anniversary.

As part of those celebrations was presented in Moscow and in San Petersburgo the edition in Russian of the book A hundred Hours with Fidel, under the title Biography to two voices.

The Russian movement of solidarity we will win- that agglutinates to the labor movement of Moscow and organizations of leftist orientation - gave to the diplomatic mission of the Island an official statement in which expresses its admiration for the bigger than the Antilles.

Anatoli Lashin, coordinator of that organization, described as true feat the fact that Cuba, during 50 years, builds a socialist society practically to some steps of United States, the imperialistic superpower.

He said that the prowess is even bigger when that socio-political project is built under a permanent hostility and the application of an aggressive politics, as the economic, commercial and financial blockade that tries to surrender to the Cuban town.

"The Cuban geste deserves total admiration and we trust in that the Revolution will resist and will remain as guide's lighthouse for other towns in the planet", Lashin underlined.

Cuba Will Participate in Expo Shanghai 2010

HAVANA, Cuba, Dec 23 (acn) Cuba will be present in Expo Shanghai 2010 that will take place in this Chinese city with a pavilion of 500 square meters located in an area reserved for Latin American countries.

The announcement was made by the Cuban ambassador in China, Carlos Miguel Pereira, who added that Cuba is working hard to prepare its exhibition for this important event that will be attended by more than 150 countries.

During a ceremony to sign a contract that accredits the Caribbean nation’s participation in Expo Shanghai 2010, Pereira recalled that Cuba was one of the first countries to confirm its attendance and that a National Organizing Commission was created for this purpose.

For his part, Hong Hao, head of the Coordinating Bureau of the event,also recalled that 2010 will mark the 50th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Cuba and China.

Hao added that Expo Shanghai 2010 will be an excellent opportunity to explore common businesses and to strengthen cooperation in several sectors.

The exhibition, which will take place between May and October 2010, will include more than 20,000 activities and it is expected to draw the attention from nearly 70 million visitors, according to the organizers of the event.