Friday 25 March 2011

CSC statement on the death of Leonard Weinglass


The Cuba Solidarity Campaign was saddened to learn of the passing of Leonard Weinglass, lead lawyer for the Miami Five, who died on Wednesday 23 March. Leonard was an inspirational defense attorney who represented political and civil rights cases throughout his career including the Chicago 7 in their 1968 trial, Angela Davis, and Mumia Abu-Jamal.

Len was much loved and admired and a good friend of CSC. In November 2007 he toured the UK as our guest to raise awareness of the case of the Miami Five with MPs, amongst the legal profession and members of the public. On behalf of all our members and supporters of the Five in Britain CSC sends its sincere condolences to the friends and family.

Len’s death is a great loss for the five, for all who knew him and for justice in the world, but we are sure he would support us in quoting Che Guevara in his honour as a rallying call in the ongoing campaign for the Miami Five: “I don’t care if I fall as long as someone else picks up my gun and keeps on shooting.”

In his memory we will continue to fight for justice for the Miami Five and ensure thousands more pick up this cause."

Rob Miller, Director, Cuba Solidarity Campaign

http://www.cuba-solidarity.org.uk/news.asp?ItemID=2002

Tuesday 8 March 2011

Alberto Granado Passes Away in Havana


Alberto Granado passed away at age 88 on Saturday in Havana. Granado was a great friend of Ernesto ‘Che’ Guevara and travelled with him throughout South America as retold in the movie Motorcycle Diaries.

Granado’s relationship with Che from an early age was an example of simple and sincere friendship. A loyal friend of Cuba, Granado left his mark in Cuba in his work to develop schools and teachers in the fields of Medicine and Genetics.

Floral wreaths from the leader of the Cuban Revolution, Fidel Castro, and from Cuban President Raul Castro, were placed beside his coffin displayed at the Funeral Home in Calzada and K.

Alberto Granado was creamated and as per his wishes his ashes will be scattered in Cuba, his country of birth, Argentina, and in Venezuela.

http://www.juventudrebelde.co.cu/

More than 1.5 Million Cubans Are Teenagers

Sancti Spiritus, Cuba Feb 25 (Prensa Latina) With more than 1.5 million people in the 10-19 age group, teenagers make up almost 14 percent of the Cuban population.

The largest number of young people in that age group lives in the provinces of Havana, Santiago de Cuba, Granma and Holguin, it was reported at a workshop to kick off activities for the 20th anniversary of the Guidance Center for Youth, Adolescents and Family in Sancti Spiritus province, according to the National News Agency (AIN).

Speaking at the workshop, Dr. Francisca Cruz Sanchez, a member of the board of directors of the Ibero-American Federation on Adolescence and Youth, said the 10-19 age group needs to be taken more into account for an adequate education.

Cruz, who is also president of the Adolescence Department of the Cuban Pediatrics Society, said the principal causes of death for that age group are related to accidents and malignant tumors.

Rafael Wert, director of the Sancti Spritus guidance center, said that families, schools, and society all have a responsibility and the capacity for helping children and young people overcome problems and conflicts.

There was a consensus at the workshop that in adolescence, fundamental activities are related to teensâ�Ö relationships with friends, which is why it is important to have an influence on the group as a whole for good habits in dressing, speaking, tastes, preferences and behaviour

http://www.plenglish.com/

Seven Filmmakers Shooting a Portrait of Havana 2011


Havana, Mar 7 (Prensa Latina) Puerto Rican actor Benicio del Toro started the first traces of a film portrait of the Cuban capital, whose design will complete another six directors, each with different histories and a common focus.

According to sources from the Cuban Film Institute, the film, a Franco-Spanish co-production made up of seven short, aims to offer an image of an eclectic city that looks towards future, 2011's Havana captured in the passing of a week.

The shooting, which is up to May 6, will be in charge of Del Toro, who made his debut as producer, Laurent Cantet, Gaspar Noe, Elia Suleiman, Pablo Trapero, Julio Medem, and Juan Carlos Tabio.

The idea that unites them is the intention of capturing "from their sensibilities, backgrounds and styles", the energy and vitality that makes the Cuban capital a unique city, the heart that beats in it from the beating of its different neighborhoods, atmospheres, generations and cultures.

The cast involves enviable names such as Emir Kusturica, Josh Hutcherson, Daniel Brühl, Jorge Perugorria, Mirta Ibarra, Vladimir Cruz, Daisy Granados, and Elia Suleiman among others, who will provide more details of the project in an upcoming meeting with the press.

With different arguments Siete dias en la Habana (Seven days in Havana) is grounded in a solid dramatic unity and common locations, linked to the body and spirit of the city as the Hotel Nacional de Cuba and the seawall-drive, one of the sites that nests the intimate pulses of the people, the breath and life of the capital.

Cuban writer Leonardo Padura assume the general coordination of the scripts of the film produced by Alvaro Longoria, Gael Nouaille, Didar Domehri, Laurent Baudens and Fabian Pisani and the executive producing of Pilar Benito and Cristina Zumarraga


http://www.plenglish.com/