Monthly Archives: February 2008
From Socialist Paradise to Ethanol Republic?
February 22, 2008, 3:09 pm
Cuba: From Socialist Paradise to Ethanol Republic?
Posted by Keith Johnson
Guevara_blog_20080222145959.jpg
Venderemos! (Wikipedia)
In the wake of El Comandante's decision to turn Cuba over to his brother
Raul, speculation over the island's future has been rife, including
here. But the idea that post-Castro Cuba, free of the U.S. embargo and
Cold War posturing, could… Continue reading
Lawyers still pursuing Cuban property cases
Lawyers still pursuing Cuban property cases
It's not as extensive as in years past, but several South Florida firms
continue to pursue Cuba-related legal work, hoping the investment one
day will pay off.
Posted on Sun, Feb. 24, 2008
BY NIALA BOODHOO
[email protected]
George Harper remembers sponsoring the first Post-Castro Cuba conference
for the Florida Bar Association in 1992. Like… Continue reading
Castro rejects idea of major political change on eve of Cuba’s leadership change
Castro rejects idea of major political change on eve of Cuba's
leadership change
Posted on Sun, Feb. 24, 2008
By ANITA SNOW
HAVANA –
(AP) — Fidel Castro on Saturday rejected the idea of major political
change after Cuba's parliament chooses a new president — his final
published comments as the nation's longtime leader.
The article on the front page… Continue reading
‘Surrounded by Water’ illustrates the hopes and fears of isolated Cubans
Mixed feelings on the horizon
'Surrounded by Water' illustrates the hopes and fears of isolated Cubans
By Cate McQuaid
Globe Correspondent / February 24, 2008
An endless sea made up of thousands of small fish hooks rendered in
felt-tip pen looms in Yoan Capote's drawing "Isla (Diptico-estudio para
unos cuadros)", the art work given center stage in "Surrounded by Water:… Continue reading
Tourism ‘golden era’ ends in Cuba
February 21, 2008
Tourism 'golden era' ends in Cuba
Travellers interested in visiting Cuba are being advised to go now
before an invasion of American tourists begins
Tom Chesshyre
Tour operators believe that the US travel embargo of Cuba could be
lifted in the wake of this week's announcement that Fidel Castro is
stepping down – ending a "golden era"… Continue reading
Cuba oil production dropping, expert says
Cuba oil production dropping, expert says
Fri Feb 22, 2008 11:11pm GMT
MIAMI, Feb 22 (Reuters) – Cuba's oil production, which peaked at 65,000
barrels per day in 2003, has fallen to 51,300 bpd due to declining
output from the country's primary oil field, a Miami-based energy expert
said on Friday.
Jorge Pinon, a former oil company executive and now… Continue reading
The end of the Cuban Revolution
The end of the Cuban Revolution
published: Sunday | February 24, 2008
Martin Henry, Contributor
Fidel Castro's Cuban Revolution is dead – but not buried yet. But long
before the birth of the revolution, astute observers of socialism saw
that the system was inherently unstable and destined to collapse. When
the Russian Revolution was only five years old, Austrian economist… Continue reading
Facts about Cuba’s Communist party
Facts about Cuba's Communist party
Sun Feb 24, 2008 1:15am EST
(Reuters) – Fidel Castro retired as Cuba's head of state this week after
49 years in power, but he retains a powerful position at the head of the
ruling Communist Party.
Here are some facts about the party:
* The Cuban Communist Party (PCC) has 820,000 card-carrying members, out… Continue reading
Facts about Cuba’s one-party political system
Facts about Cuba's one-party political system
Reuters
Published: Saturday, February 23, 2008
Cuba's National Assembly is widely expected to name Raul Castro as head
of state on Sunday following Fidel Castro's announcement on Tuesday that
he is retiring. The following is an outline of Cuba's one-party
communist system.
* Cuba is a one-party socialist republic, in which political power is… Continue reading
Cuban exiles trapped in emotional limbo
SOUTH FLORIDA | CUBAN EXILES
Cuban exiles trapped in emotional limbo
Is Castro dead or alive? Will there be change in Cuba? Now, an FIU
professor has given a name to the emotional seesaw that plagues many
Miami exiles — unresolved mourning.
Posted on Sun, Feb. 24, 2008
BY LUISA YANEZ
[email protected]
At the Ferdinand Funeral Home and Crematory in… Continue reading
In Cuba, Hopes for a New Capitalist Season
In Cuba, Hopes for a New Capitalist Season
Castro Resignation Could Open a Path For Small Businesses
By Manuel Roig-Franzia
Washington Post Foreign Service
Sunday, February 24, 2008; A15
COJIMAR, Cuba, Feb. 23 — Idalberto Estrada really wanted to make a sale.
He slashed a slender blade through the barklike brown skin of a yuca
root, a staple of the… Continue reading
Cuba after Fidel: what next?
Published on Workers' Liberty (http://www.workersliberty.org)
Cuba after Fidel: what next?
By AWL
Created 22 Feb 2008 – 12:45pm
The Chinese road?
Samuel Farber, Cuban "Third Camp" Marxist and author of The Origins of
the Cuban Revolution Reconsidered, was interviewed about the book in US
socialist journal Against the Current (November 2006) [1]. Here we
reprint an extract with… Continue reading
Planes, rooms and automobiles in Cuba
Planes, rooms and automobiles in Cuba
Car at auto show in Havana"Cuba's tourism infrastructure has improved in
leaps and bounds over the past decade," said Christopher P. Baker,
author of several Cuba guidebooks, as well as "Mi Moto Fidel:
Motorcycling through Castro's Cuba" and "Cuba Classics: a Celebration of
Vintage American Automobiles."
However, Baker noted in an e-mail Wednesday, tourism… Continue reading
Freed dissidents expose Castro’s brutal regime
Freed dissidents expose Castro's brutal regime
By Graham Keeley in Barcelona
Last Updated: 3:32pm GMT 23/02/2008
Four dissidents freed this week after five years in inhumane conditions
in a Cuban prison have revealed the dark side of Fidel Castro's regime.
The four – José Gabriel Ramón Castillo, Omar Pernet Hernández, Alejandro
González and Pedro Pablo Álvarez – described regular beatings,… Continue reading
Social reforms that may be in Cuba’s sights
Social reforms that may be in Cuba's sights
Published on Friday, February 22, 2008
HAVANA, Cuba (AFP): Even before Fidel Castro announced his decision to
leave power this week, Cubans have been stirring over the possibility of
social reform.
A video of university students boldly challenging the communist
government circulated on the Internet earlier this month and appeared in
state… Continue reading
What is the dictator doing right now?
What is the dictator doing right now?
Posted on Sun, Feb. 24, 2008
By CARL HIAASEN
ADay in the Life of a Retired Dictator:
7:30 a.m. For breakfast it's my usual bowl of Mueslix with plantains.
Then I call Raúl to get the latest numbers on the sugar cane crop, which
haven't improved by one lousy hectare since yesterday.
8:15… Continue reading
WHAT WILL FIDEL CASTRO’S NEW ROLE BE?
WHAT WILL FIDEL CASTRO'S NEW ROLE BE?
Posted on Sun, Feb. 24, 2008
You can't call Fidel Castro commander in chief or president anymore, but
in the midst of his retirement, he has held on to another of Cuba's most
powerful job titles: first secretary of the Communist Party.
Castro announced Tuesday that he would not accept a nomination to… Continue reading
McCain blasts Obama’s offer to meet Cuban leader
CAMPAIGN 2008
McCain blasts Obama's offer to meet Cuban leader
Cuba emerged as a flash point in the presidential nominee race, with
John McCain assailing Barack Obama for not ruling out talks with Fidel
Castro's successor.
BY LESLEY CLARK
[email protected]
Barack Obama's offer to meet face to face with Fidel Castro's successor
is ''dangerously naive,'' Republican presidential candidate John McCain… Continue reading
Cuba’s new openness: People talking publicly about economy, personal expression
Cuba's new openness: People talking publicly about economy, personal
expression
By Doreen Hemlock | Havana Bureau
February 21, 2008
It felt like a different country.
Back in Cuba after eight months away, I found the mood had changed to a
new openness.
People were saying publicly what they'd only whispered privately before.
And many urged far-reaching solutions to daily problems… Continue reading
Hong Kong Paper: Hanoi Loses Drinking Pal As Castro Moves On
Hong Kong Paper: Hanoi Loses Drinking Pal As Castro Moves On
Posted on: Saturday, 23 February 2008, 09:00 CST
Text of report by Hong Kong newspaper South China Morning Post website
on 23 February
Mix Cuban rum with fresh Vietnamese mint, limes and sugar and you have
the perfect Mojito cocktail -at least if you are serving it to drinkers… Continue reading
Food not politics on Cuba’s mind
Food not politics on Cuba's mind
BY Maite Junco
DAILY NEWS STAFF WRITER
Saturday, February 23rd 2008, 12:28 PM
Fidel Castro's announcement this week that he's stepping aside has all
eyes on Cuba's election tomorrow. Galeano/AP
Fidel Castro's announcement this week that he's stepping aside has all
eyes on Cuba's election tomorrow.
HAVANA – Many Cubans here are fond of… Continue reading
Cuba’s revolution not worth price
THE OPPENHEIMER REPORT
Cuba's revolution not worth price
Posted on Sun, Feb. 24, 2008
BY ANDRES OPPENHEIMER
[email protected]
MEXICO CITY — Now that Mexico is officially describing Cuba's newly
retired President Fidel Castro as an ''outstanding figure,'' the
Brazilian president calls him a ''mythical'' leader and the world media
are doing verbal pirouettes to avoid calling him a dictator, it's… Continue reading
