Stories about Cuba from December, 2008
Cuba: García Márquez Gives Scriptwriting Workshop
In Cuba, Zenia Regalado writes about Colombian author Gabriel García Márquez’ annual workshop given at Havana's International School of Theater and Television [es]. Ten students participate in the workshop with the aim of writing a movie script.
Cuba: Visit by Carlos Lage to Matanzas Province
José Miguel Vázquez writes about the recent visit of Carlos Lage [es], Vice President of the Council of State of Cuba, to the province of Matanzas to inaugurate a new electrical grid.
Cuba, Brazil, U.S.A.: Composer Honoured
AfriClassical is thrilled that the Brazilian city of Sao Paolo is honouring renowned Cuban composer Leo Brouwer.
A Kenyan experience in Cuba
Diana Kimani writes at the African Path about her impressions of Cuba as a Kenyan.
Cuba: Damas March for Human Rights
Both Uncommon Sense and The Cuban Triangle report that the Damas de Blanco marched through Havana on Wednesday – without incident – to commemorate International Human Rights Day.
Cuba: Gabo in Havana
Both Yohandry's Weblog (ES) and Havana Times blog about Nobel Laureate Gabriel Garcia Marquez's visit to Cuba “for the final days of the Havana Film Festival, an annual event that he rarely misses.”
Cuba: Idealogical Monogamy
“If concepts such as ‘sick’ have now been banished from the study of homosexuality, why does the adjective ‘counterrevolutionary’ continue to be used for those who think differently”: Yoani Sanchez puts the question to Mariela Castro Espin, the director of the Cuban National Center for Sex Education.
Cuba: Human Rights Day
Today is International Human Rights Day - an annual reminder of the day on which the United Nations General Assembly proclaimed the Universal Declaration of Human Rights back in 1948. Sixty years later, Cuban bloggers (particularly from the diaspora) remain vocal about the many human rights abuses that plague the island of their birth.
Cuba: Journey of the Bloggers
As Cuban blogger Yoani Sanchez begins “the planned journey of the bloggers” deemed “counterrevolutionary” by the government, she explains: “In the blogger phenomenon there are a thousand ways to camouflage oneself” – and Uncommon Sense applauds her cleverness: “Freedom one day will prevail in Cuba, and nothing the dictatorship does...
Cuba: Two Sides of Che?
Havana-based Circles Robinson wonders how Cuban audiences will react to the new film about Che Guevara, while diaspora blogger Uncommon Sense advises readers to enroll in “The Ché Guevara Re-Education Program.”
Cuba: Government Officials Tell Bloggers to Cancel Planned Meeting
A Cuban blogger meet-up scheduled for December 6 is in danger of being cancelled by the authorities. The event, which has been in the planning stage for months and had 25 confirmed attendees, is being deemed “counterrevolutionary.” This is according to a recent conversation between officials from the Interior Ministry and one of the island's most well-known bloggers Yoaní Sánchez of Generación Y, who was one of the bloggers recently summoned to the local police station.
Cuba: government opposes bloggers meet-up
Cuban blogger (and 2008 Best of Blogs winner) Yoani Sanchez of Generación Y reports [ES] on her meeting with two interior ministry officials, after she was summoned to a police station. When they told her to cancel a planned bloggers’ meet-up, she asked for the order in writing. Babalu Blog...
Cuba: police summon blogger
Cuban blogger Yoani Sanchez of Generación Y — who just a few days ago won the Best of Blogs award for best weblog in the world — reports [ES] that she has been summoned by the police for questioning today.
Cuba: Castro Attends Beatification
Havana Times and Yohandry’s Weblog (ES) blog about the beatification ceremony of Cuban Friar Jose Olallo Valdes.
Cuba: Journalist of the Year?
Uncommon Sense reports that “imprisoned Cuban independent journalist Ricardo González Alfonso is a finalist for Reporters Without Borders’ Journalist of the Year awards.”
Cuba: Latin American Film Festival in Havana
The 30th Annual Latin American Film Festival featuring 114 films in all, begins in Havana, Cuba according to Jorge García Sosa of Alo Cubano [es].
Cuba: Eye on the Prize
Generation Y is thrilled about her win in the Best of Blogs contest, but says: “We still lack that which is the most coveted prize: the right to dialogue, dissent and to dye ourselves in the political colors of our choosing within our Island.”
