Cuba goes to the polls in local elections

Morning Star report by Tom Mellen

Cuban citizens turned out in force on Sunday to vote for local assemblies across the socialist country.

Shortly before the polling stations closed, around 8.1 million people had voted to elect local representatives to the country's 169 municipal assemblies of People's Power - a turnout of almost 93 per cent.

About 15,000 representatives on the local assemblies are elected every two-and-a-half years.

Candidates are not chosen by party officials and do not need to be members of the Communist Party.

They are nominated by a show of hands at gatherings of the community-level Committees for the Defence of the Revolution.

As in other countries, each voter places a check mark by the name of the candidate they want and balloting is secret.

While participation is not mandatory, it is strongly encouraged as a civic duty.

National Electoral Commission head Ruben Perez Rodriguez described the high turnout as "a yes for the motherland, for Cuba, for the revolution and for socialism.

"It is a yes for the political system that we have adopted, that we defend and love," Mr Rodriguez went on.

After casting his vote, Cuban parliament president Ricardo Alarcon noted that, unlike in capitalist countries, Cuban candidates are barred from campaigning and are nominated, not on the basis of how much money they can raise, but on their "merits and capabilities."

"This is an electoral process where truth rules - it is very different to those in many countries, where deception, votes purchasing and corruption are ever present on election times," Mr Alarcon declared.

As well as resolving grassroots issues such as problems with refuse collection or noisy neighbours, the local assemblies also elect those who will fill regional assemblies and the national parliament, which in turn decides who will serve on the Council of State, Cuba's cabinet.

Provincial and national parliament elections are held every five years.

Cubans aged 16 years or older can vote, and even younger schoolchildren are encouraged to play a role - each ballot box is guarded by two children from the Young Pioneer movement.

full report from Morning Star


http://www.cuba-solidarity.org.uk/

Saving life, saving Mother Earth

COCHABAMBA, April 22.— Cuba will firmly and resolutely support the Cochabamaba agreements to defend Mother Earth, affirmed Cuban Vice President Esteban Lazo Hernández, addressing more than 35,000 people attending the closing event at the First People’s World Conference on Climate Change, which was brought to a close on Thursday afternoon by Bolivian President Evo Morales, PL reports.

Lazo passed on greetings from the leader of the Cuban Revolution, Fidel Castro and Cuban President Raúl Castro.

He stated that the people’s summit in Cochabamba demonstrated popular awareness on climate change and contributed to the quest for real solutions to this crucial phenomenon that is threatening the survival of humanity.

In his closing words Bolivian President Evo Morales Ayma stated that the meeting "Opens up hope for the world to fight for the life and survival of the planet."

For his part, Hugo Chávez, president of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela, urged the social movements to unleash a new battle aimed at the UN conference planned for December of this year in Cancun, Mexico.

Chávez pointed to the capitalist system as the cause of the climate debacle and urged the people to overthrow it and implement socialism, the only path toward the salvation of the peoples.

During the event, Ecuadorian Lina Kawuanski and American Vico Enosti read out the principal conclusions of the Cochabamba forum, listed in a document titled "Agreement of the Peoples."

Translated by Granma International

http://www.granma.cu/

BRITAIN AND CUBA -building better relations

3 EASY STEPS
to contacting your parliamentary candidates
The Cuba Solidarity Campaign needs your help to find out prospective parliamentary candidates' views on Cuba in the run up to the 2010 General Election.

Over the next few weeks more than 2,000 candidates will be fighting for your votes. By sending this letter you can help us make sure that Cuba is on the agenda.

■Step 1 Enter your details on the letter opposite so that we can identify candidates in your area. The website will now automatically find your candidates for you.
■Step 2 Choose which candidates you wish to write to. (Please tick all candidates if possible).
■Step 3 Click SEND! Then please forward this action to your friends and family.
PLEASE REMEMBER TO LET CSC KNOW ANY RESPONSES THAT YOU RECEIVE email to campaigns@britainandcuba.org

www.britainandcuba.org

Cuba Puts Final Touches to Elections

Havana, Apr 23 (Prensa Latina) Cuban voters and authorities are shaping final details for a successful holding of elections on Sunday, April 25.

On that day, at least 8.40 million electors are expected to cast their vote to choose 15,093 delegates to the Municipal People's Power Assemblies (local governments).

In those electoral districts where no candidate gets more than 50 per cent of valid votes, a second round will be held on May 2.

According to official figures, 34,766 candidates have been nominated for their capacities and merits in assemblies attended by 86.84 percent of electors.

Maximum age of most candidates is 50 years, 87.3 percent are high school or university graduates, and 9,190 of them are delegates already, a post for which they get no income.

After a dynamic test or rehearsal four days ago, president of the National Electoral Committee Ana Maria Mari asserted that Cuba is ready.

We verified coordination of work with different entities, regarding communication and notification systems and liaisons, she said.

In opinion of President of the Cuban Parliament Ricardo Alarcon, the whole electoral process has to be carried out with rigour, methodically and in a critical spirit, as demanded by head of State Raul Castro.

http://www.prensa-latina.cu/

SCSC AGM 2010

The STUC building in Glasgow's woodside was the venue for the Annual General Meeting of the Scottish Cuba Solidarity Campaign(SCSC). The meeting followed on from the AGM of Scottish Medical Aid for cuba and started with a review of events and actions from the past year which included speakers at Mayday marches in both Glasgow and Edinburgh, A Cuba reception at the STUC conference, Miami 5 street stalls,The festival of politics event
The Cuban Ambassador's visit to scotland and cross party group meetings amongst others.

The prioities for the coming year were discussed, with the Miami 5 as a priority and then all 3 elected posts were re-elected with a vote of thanks to all who contributed to the campaign.

Finally, our guest speaker, Luis Marron, the political councillor from the Cuban embassy in London updated us on the situation in Cuba.

The AGM was folowed by a Havana Club reception and nibbles

Tribute to Vilma on her 80th birthday anniversary

Vice President José Ramón Machado Ventura
with Asela de los Santos and family members
of the heroine at the Memorial to Vilma Espín



SANTIAGO DE CUBA.— Cuban Vice President José Ramón Machado Ventura presided over the inauguration of the Vilma Espín Guillois Memorial, which testifies to the humane influence of our Cuban heroine, outstanding combatant and paradigm of revolutionary womanhood.

The memorial pays tribute to Vilma on the 80th anniversary of her birth and is a reference point for understanding her legacy of fortitude, generosity and patriotism, affirmed Havana City Historian Eusebio Leal during the ceremony, which included the participation of her children, relatives and other close friends.

The six rooms in the museum summarize the different stages of Vilma’s life and work and conserve dozens of photos, thoughts, personal garments, graphics, and illustrations that renew the legacy of this mother, wife, combatant, and exceptional female leader.

Music composed by Commander of the Revolution Juan Almeida Bosque and performances by Orfeón Santiago, the Children’s Choir, and dance pieces from the Vocational School of Arts, and Fátima Patterson offered the artistic component of the inauguration. Frank Fernández played several pieces on the piano that were once sung by Vilma Espín, among them lullabies to her children and Agustín Lara’s "Cielito lindo."

Army Corps General Abelardo Colomé Ibarra, member of the Political Bureau and minister of the interior, as well as Central Committee Armando Hart, Yolanda Ferrer and Lázaro Expósito, attended the inauguration.

The tribute to Vilma Espín also included the placing of flowers before the obelisk holding her remains in the Mayarí Arriba Mausoleum and a cultural gala "Al nacer de la ternura," which took place in the Dolores Concert Hall in Havana.

Translated by Granma International

http://www.granma.cu/

Experts Study Climate Change Impact on Cuban Coasts

“It is too late to regret the mistakes we made in dealing with nature; we have no other choice than adapting ourselves to upcoming changes and we are focusing on this direction,” said the head of the Oceanography, Physics and Chemistry Agency with the Geocuba Marine Studies Enterprise, engineer Fermin Vega in statements to Juventud Rebelde.

This institution, along with other Cuban scientific agencies, is undertaking a macro-project led by the Environment Agency of the Ministry of Science, Technology and the Environment (CITMA), aimed at studying climate Change.

“Vega explained that the macro-project will assess climate change effects on Cuban coastal areas and the seas surrounding the archipelago, as well as spot areas considered vulnerable to variations of the sea level, tidal currents and waves, among other oceanographic parameters.

“We expect the sea level around Cuba to rise 27 centimeters over the next 50 years, and 85 centimeters in 100 years. We are currently reinforcing research to achieve more accurate predictions. Last year we focused on the Los Colorados archipelago, north of western Pinar del Rio province. And we want to keep researching this year in this zone and in the Gulf of Batabano, southern Cuba.”

The experts say that major problems linked to sea level growth have to do with the flow of salty water into local aquifers. In the face of the situation, they suggested the immediate planting of mangroves and other plant varieties, whose roots are able to withhold sediment and thus help preserve coastal areas.

“Based on the results of this initiative, the Urban Planning Institute took decisions aimed at restricting the construction of homes in zones that are vulnerable to floods,” the expert said.

“Similar regulations are being applied to hotel construction projects. Investments in this regard are planned with these factors in mind. Some day, whole settlements will have to be evacuated, though such a process will take place progressively. These changes will not take place in a sudden manner or in the short run. We are already taking preventive measures in this direction, so to be prepared,” engineer Fermin Vega pointed out.

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

US Tried to Thwart Cuba Revolutionary Triumph

Havana, Apr 16 (Prensa Latina) The US government tried to avoid the triumph of the Cuban Rebel Army in 1958.

The strategic basis of the role then played by the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) was the stimulation of a "third force" able to get rid of dictator Fulgencio Batista, who no longer guaranteed the protection of US interests on the island.

At the same time, it intended to hinder the displacement of the 26 de Julio Revolutionary Movement headed by Commander in Chief Fidel Castro Ruz.

That maneuver was in line with what is known within the CIA as "political action operation," that is, clandestine support for individuals or organizations in third countries better responding to US political and economic interests.

Documents later declassified by the CIA reveal that in December 1958, the agency's Paramilitary Division planned to throw arms from the air.

They could not materialize it because they had planned it for the first days of January 1959, when the dictatorship had collapsed due to the rebel forces' opposition.

Since August 1958, the Department of State had been plotting a political Latina American mediation to avoid the rebel triumph, and had been committed to creating a mediating commission of the Organization of American States (OEA) since October.

An additional CIA alternative was that its old collaborator Justo Carrillo, along with ex Colonel Ramon Barquin, were to head a Military Board to take Batista out of power, as a way not to recognize the Rebel Army as lawful.

They failed to accomplish those objectives

http://www.prensa-latina.cu/

Havana Club Rum Museum Celebrates First Decade

Since its inauguration on March 31, 2000, the institution has excelled as one of the main promoters of Cuban culture and traditions where music, painting and the popular Cuban rum go hand in hand

Havana and a true exponent of the history of the most authentic Cuban rum, celebrated on Wednesday the 10th anniversary of its foundation.

Since its inauguration on March 31, 2000, the institution has excelled as one of the main promoters of Cuban culture and traditions where music, painting and the popular Cuban rum go hand in hand.

During this past decade, more than one million people, mainly tourists from Germany, France, England, Canada, Spain and Italy, have visited the museum.

Visitors receive information about the origins of Havana Club and its production process, including the stages of sugar cane selection, fermentation, distillation, aging, and final mixture.

Visitors can also enjoy traditional Cuban music, typical dishes and cocktails and buy all kinds of Havana Club rums, cigars and other souvenirs.

The museum has galleries for painting exhibitions and sometimes hosts night shows recreating the environment of the 1950s.

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

Cuban National Ballet Warmly Welcomed in London

HAVANA, Cuba, April 1 (acn) The Cuban National Ballet’s performance of Swan Lake in a packed Coliseum Theater in London, England, was rewarded with an ovation by an audience of 2,500 people.
According to the CubaDebate website, the choreographic version of the classic ballet by Cuban prima ballerina assoluta Alicia Alonso excelled for its high technical and artistic level.

Each of the dancers on the leading roles, Viengsay Valdés as Odette-Odile, Carlos Acosta as prince Sigfrido and Javier Torres as

sorcerer Von Rothbart, were able to seduce the public with their enthusiasm.

Backed by the Symphonic Orchestra of the Theater directed by maestro Giovanni Duarte, the evening reached its climax when Alicia Alonso, escorted by the dancers, went out on stage to wave at the spectators.

The Cuban National Ballet is scheduled to perform at the Coliseum until April 4, and then they will travel to Manchester to debut in the Lowry Theater, as part of a Great Britain tour.

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

Social Security Guaranteed in Cuba

Juventud Rebelde spoke with Esther Criollo, a specialist at the National Institute of Social Security, after the 12th Central American and Caribbean Conference on Social Security that recently concluded in Havana.

Criollo explained that all workers in Cuba automatically receive their pension within 30 days of retiring thanks to a mechanism that works on the basis of universality and guarantees protection to the entire population.

“In Cuba, social security is guaranteed by the State. It is considered a constitutional right that forms part of the concept of development and goes hand in hand with economic and social progress.”

Criollo also said that Cuba is affected by the economic crisis and the US blockade.

http://www.juventudrebelde.co.cu