Viewing from May 2009

Cuba pushes its 'medical diplomacy'

News from Cuba | Saturday, 30 May 2009

By Michael Voss , BBC News, HavanaThe waiting room at Cuba's largest eye hospital, Pando Ferrer, is packed with patients.Many come from across Latin America and the Caribbean, with everything paid for by the Cuban government.Basil Ward is from Barbados and is in Havana to have a cataract removed for ... read more

Lawyers for the 5 respond to document presented by the US Attorney General's Office

Campaign News | Saturday, 30 May 2009

by Nylian Vázquez García, Reprinted from Juventud RebeldeThe president of the Cuban Parliament, Ricardo Alarcón de Quesada, announced on Friday, during the prime time TV program The Round Table, that the defense of the five Cuban antiterrorists has already presented the response to the U.S. government's opposition to the Supreme ... read more

Lawyers for the 5 respond to document presented by the US Attorney General's Office

News from Cuba | Saturday, 30 May 2009

by Nylian Vázquez García, Reprinted from Juventud RebeldeThe president of the Cuban Parliament, Ricardo Alarcón de Quesada, announced on Friday, during the prime time TV program The Round Table, that the defense of the five Cuban antiterrorists has already presented the response to the U.S. government's opposition to the Supreme ... read more

World Day against Homophobia marked in Cuba

News from Cuba | Friday, 29 May 2009

By Sarah Estevez fr CubaNowCuba Marked World Day against Homophobia on 18 May with cultural and educative actions and a rally in a centrally located Havana park under the slogan “Diversity.” The activity was attended by Parliament President Ricardo Alarcon.The activities were organized by the National Center for Sexual Education ... read more

U.S. to compete in first Cuba track meet since '92

News from Cuba | Thursday, 28 May 2009

U.S. track and field athletes will compete this weekend in Cuba for the first time in 17 years in what officials said was a sign of warming relations between the two countries.Thirteen Americans form part of a field of more than 240 athletes from 15 countries battling for medals in ... read more

Cuba's lessons in survival

News from Cuba | Wednesday, 27 May 2009

Andrew Simms writes from the Hay Festival for the GuardianCuba has endured the decline of oil, extreme weather and an economic crisis. Could it teach us how to do the same?The hiss from the audience could have been shock, surprise or a simple misunderstanding. A woman whose question stretched almost ... read more

Cuba announces new austerity plan

News from Cuba | Wednesday, 27 May 2009

By Michael Voss, BBC News, HavanaCuba has announced it will introduce an austerity programme in June to try to offset the impact of the international financial crisis and reduce energy use.Unless energy use is reduced over the summer there could be blackouts, the authorities warn.Details of the restrictions have yet ... read more

Washington opposes revision of Cuban Five case by US Supreme Court

News from Cuba | Tuesday, 26 May 2009

The president of the Cuban Parliament, Ricardo Alarcon, said on Monday that the US Government announced this weekend that it is against the revision by the US Supreme Court of the case of five Cuban anti-terrorist fighters who remain unjustly imprisoned in the United States.Gerardo Hernndez, Ramn Labaino, Antonio Guerrero, ... read more

Former CSC chair and trade union leader Ken Gill dies

Campaign News | Saturday, 23 May 2009

Ken Gill, former chair of CSC died on Friday 23 May 2009.The Campaign suffered its greatest loss with the death of Ken Gill who had been chair of the Cuba Solidarity Campaign and a member of the Campaign’s National Executive from 1993- 2008.In recognition of the central role he had ... read more

An interview with Gerardo Hernandez

Campaign News | Thursday, 14 May 2009

By Saul LandauUS film maker Saul Landau is making a film about the five and carried out an in depth interview with Gerardo Hernandez on 1 April 2009.Before his 1998 arrest, Gerardo directed the operations of the other Cuban State Security agents who infiltrated violent groups in the Miami area ... read more

FBU motion in support of Cuba

Campaign News | Thursday, 14 May 2009

Support for Cuba grows within frie brigades unionThe Fire Brigades Union conference in Scarborough passed a motion on 14 May unanimously praising the achievements Cuba has made over the last 50 years. The motion proposed by the Dumfries and Galloway branch called for “the UK and devolved governments to make ... read more

Obama budget tweaks broadcasts to Cuba

News from Cuba | Wednesday, 13 May 2009

By LAURA WIDES-MUNOZ, AP Hispanic Affairs WriterPresident Barack Obama may be trying to reach out to Cuban leaders, but his 2010 budget suggests he isn't looking to cut the U.S. government's controversial broadcasts to the island anytime soon.The president's budget proposal calls for about $32.5 million for the broadcasts, down ... read more

Cuban parliament president dismisses Obama

News from Cuba | Saturday, 9 May 2009

By ROB GILLIES for Associated PressCuban Parliament President Ricardo Alarcon dismissed President Barack Obama's recent overtures to Cuba and said Saturday the new U.S. administration's stance is a continuation of an illegal, unjustifiable and failed policy.Obama has suggested it may be time for a new beginning with Cuba, and the ... read more

CSC receives honour from Cuban unions

Campaign News | Thursday, 7 May 2009

The Cuba Solidarity Campaign received a medal from the the Central Trabajadores de Cuba (CTC)during the May Day International Solidarity Conference on 2 May.The award, which was given to CSC in recognition of the solidarity work with Cuban workers was also received by 50 other trade union leaders and solidarity ... read more

Juventud Rebelde interviews CSC on the 'Wish you were here' campaign

Campaign News | Thursday, 7 May 2009

Interview in Spanish from Cuban national weeklyImpulsan en el Reino Unido solidaridad con CubaRob Miller, director de la Campaña de Solidaridad con Cuba en el Reino Unido, conversó con JR sobre las acciones para modificar positivamente la política británica hacia la IslaPor: Luis Luque ÁlvarezEl canciller británico, David Miliband, debe ... read more

Radio Havana Cuba Interview with Leonard Weinglass

News from Cuba | Monday, 4 May 2009

Weinglass: "The Cuban Five probably have more support internationally than any case that has come before the court."As we near May 28th, the date the US government will file its papers opposing the Supreme Court taking the case of Gerardo Hernandez, Ramon Labanino, Antonio Guerrero, Fernando Gonzalez and Rene Gonzalez, ... read more

Chavez condemns US report on terrorism

News from Cuba | Saturday, 2 May 2009

By Rachel Jones for the Associated PressPresident Hugo Chavez on Friday condemned a U.S. report that alleges Venezuela fails to cooperate in fighting terrorism and called on President Barack Obama to end the decades-long trade embargo against Cuba.Two weeks after Chavez and Obama exchanged smiles and handshakes at a summit ... read more