Viewing from December 2007

Cuba-China trade increased 23 percent to more than US$2.2B in '07

Campaign News | Monday, 31 December 2007

HAVANA: Trade between Cuba and China grew by 23 percent to more than US$2 billion (€1.4 billion) in 2007, solidifying China's place as the communist-run island's second-largest economic benefactor behind oil-rich Venezuela.China is Cuba's second-largest trading partner and the top importer of Cuban products, especially nickel and sugar, Cuba's official ... read more

Cuba's Focus Shifts for 2008

Campaign News | Monday, 31 December 2007

by Circles Robinson for Prensa LatinaIf you are already convinced that the only thing Cuba needs is for Fidel Castro to pass on and then to embrace the United States, there's not much reason to go on reading this commentary.However, if you believe an island nation of 11.2 million inhabitants ... read more

Santiago de Cuba Boasts 230 Centenarians

Campaign News | Saturday, 29 December 2007

Santiago de Cuba, a city with more than one million inhabitants, now has 230 persons at least 100-years-old, product of the growing life expectancy on the island.Nationally the 100 and over group is now around 2,500 and growing.There are currently 44 teams of gerontology specialists and about 1,000 senior citizen ... read more

Fidel's Address to the National Assembly

Campaign News | Friday, 28 December 2007

There Hasn't Been a Day in My Life When I Haven't Learned Something, by Fidel CastroComrades of the National Assembly:You have no easy task on your hands. On January 1st, 1959, surrounded by the accumulated and deepening grievances that our society inherited from its neo-colonial past under U.S. domination, many ... read more

Cuba reports strong growth for fourth year

Campaign News | Friday, 28 December 2007

By Marc Frank, ReutersCuba said on Friday its economy grew 7.5 percent in 2007, the fourth year the Communist-run country has reported a big increase in the gross domestic product since being plunged into crisis by the Soviet Union's demise.Economy and Planning Minister Jose Luis Rodriguez told a year-end session ... read more

Over 50,000 Houses Built in Cuba

Campaign News | Monday, 24 December 2007

Construction of more than 50,000 houses in Cuba in 2007 is a sign of gradual recovery of the sector in the Island, reported the main Cuban TV news program.In remarks to the program, Vice President of the National Housing Institute Oris Silva highlighted the effort made by different entities and ... read more

Chavez proposes oil barter scheme

Campaign News | Saturday, 22 December 2007

Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez has said Central American and Caribbean states could pay for oil with services or products like bananas and sugar.Speaking in Cuba at the regional Petrocaribe summit of oil consumers and exporters, Mr Chavez said they were creating a "new geopolitics of oil".The group is not at ... read more

Caracas gives Cuba industrial lift

Campaign News | Thursday, 20 December 2007

By Marc Frank in HavanaCuba is to open an abandoned oil refinery this week and a project to expand a nickel plant will go live by the end of the year, as the island resumes industrial development after the years of crisis that followed the Soviet Union’s demise.Venezuelan President Hugo ... read more

Cuba eyes more foreign investment in agriculture

Campaign News | Thursday, 20 December 2007

By Marc FrankHAVANA, Dec 20 (Reuters) - Cuba may accept more foreign investment in agriculture to try to reduce food imports and revive state lands that have fallen into disuse, an official at the Foreign Investment and Cooperation Ministry told Reuters on Thursday."We are analyzing how to increase investment in ... read more

Report Finds U.S. Agencies Distracted by Focus on Cuba

Campaign News | Wednesday, 19 December 2007

By MARC LACEYCatching Americans who travel illegally to Cuba or who purchase cigars, rum or other products from the island may be distracting some American government agencies from higher-priority missions like fighting terrorism and combating narcotics trafficking, a government audit to be released Wednesday says.The report, from the Government Accountability ... read more

Fidel Castro hints at retirement

Campaign News | Tuesday, 18 December 2007

Cuba's ailing communist leader, Fidel Castro, has raised the possibility that he may never return to the presidency.In a letter read out on state TV, Mr Castro, Cuba's leader since 1959, said he had a duty not to hold on to power or obstruct the rise of younger people.Last year, ... read more

Cuba democracy and plan Colombia

Campaign News | Tuesday, 18 December 2007

from the Miami HeraldSpending bill to bolster Latin AmericaHouse and Senate negotiators struck a deal on Latin America aid, trimmingPlan Colombia and boosting outlays for Cuba democracy.WASHINGTON - Cuba democracy programs will get a big boost, and million of dollars in aid to Colombia will be redirected from military to ... read more

Castro says he won't cling to office

Campaign News | Monday, 17 December 2007

HAVANA (AFP) - Ailing Cuban leader Fidel Castro said in a letter read on television Monday that he would not cling to office or obstruct the rise of a new generation of leaders, raising speculation about his political future."My basic duty is not to cling to office, nor even more ... read more

Minister: More than $2 billion will upgrade Cuba's transportation system over 5 years

Campaign News | Saturday, 15 December 2007

The Associated PressHAVANA: Cuba will spend more than $2 billion over five years to upgrade its dilapidated public transportation system, state media reported Saturday.The Communist Party newspaper Granma quoted Transportation Minister Jorge Luis Sierra saying the improvements include adding 1,500 buses to the public fleet.Vice Minister Joel Beltran Archer said ... read more

Interview with Miami 5 lawyer

Campaign News | Thursday, 13 December 2007

Leonard Weinglass speaks exclusively to CSCTHE Miami Five’s lead attorney has earned international acclaim by achieving stunning victories in a string of the United States’ most historic civil rights cases.Those who have met veteran campaigner Leonard Weinglass cannot fail to be impressed by his quiet, unassuming manner combined with his ... read more

Cuba to sign international human rights agreements

Campaign News | Thursday, 13 December 2007

BY PEDRO MARGOLLES, Granma International staff writerCUBA is shortly to sign two important agreements in relation to human rights, announced Cuban Foreign Minister Felipe Pérez Roque during a press conference commemorating International Human Rights Day on December 10.The minister specified that these are the International Covenant on Economic, Social and ... read more

Legendary ballerina's letter ignites massive support from US stars

Campaign News | Monday, 10 December 2007

Cuban ballet legend Alicia Alonso appeals to US to end travel banU.S. Cuba Cultural Exchange (USCCE), a national network of artists and presenters, took the initiative from Alicia Alonso’s letter (http://www.cubaresearch.info/alicialetter) to create a campaign to end the ban the U.S. has imposed infringing on the rights of artists in ... read more

Leonard Weinglass Tours UK to Rally Support for the Miami Five

Campaign News | Wednesday, 5 December 2007

By Stephen Hallmark, CSC Campaigns ManagerTHE MIAMI Five’s lead attorney Leonard Weinglass has captivated audiences across the UK talking about the Cubans’ unjust imprisonment.During a highly successful 10-day UK tour the inspirational civil rights activist and veteran campaigner has sought to build international support for the Cubans in order to ... read more

Crowds Flock to "Inspirational" Latin America 2007 Conference

Campaign News | Wednesday, 5 December 2007

by Stephen Hallmark, Campaigns ManagerMORE than 600 people attended the Latin America 2007 Conference to hear about the inspirational developments sweeping the continent.And after rousing speeches from a host of top speakers the audience was not to be disappointed.In the words of Tony Benn the conference really did give delegates ... read more

Cuba Nominates Castro for President

Campaign News | Monday, 3 December 2007

AFPSANTIAGO DE CUBA, Cuba (AFP) - Fidel Castro was nominated Sunday as a National Assembly candidate, signaling that the Cuban leader was not yet ready to give up politics and could even return to the presidency.The 81-year-old communist leader, not been seen in public since he temporarily stepped down in ... read more

Realizan en Londres evento de solidaridad “América Latina 2007 (Spanish)

Campaign News | Saturday, 1 December 2007

REINO UNIDO, 12 de diciembre de 2007. Por tercer año consecutivo se celebró en Londres el evento “Latin America 2007”, organizado por la Campaña de Solidaridad con Cuba y el Centro de Información sobre Venezuela y con el co-auspicio de un considerable número de sindicatos locales.El evento tuvo lugar en ... read more

Exitosa visita al Reino Unido de Leonard Weinglass, abogado de los Cinco Héroes (spanish)

Campaign News | Saturday, 1 December 2007

REINO UNIDO, 12 de diciembre de 2007. El abogado norteamericano Leonard Weinglass, que encabeza el equipo encargado de representar a los Cinco Héroes cubanos injustamente encarcelados en los Estados Unidos, impresionó a todos los que acudieron a escucharlo en las reuniones que se celebraron a lo largo de su gira ... read more