Claudia4Libertad

CUBA SOLIDARITY DAY MAY 21

May 21st is Cuba Solidarity Day, marking a day to promote peaceful democratic change in Cuba and to focus on the Cuban prisoners of the conscience.There are various events in the US and other countries that have been organized to promote awareness of the plight of the Cuban people and the political prisoners, but if you don't have an event near you, you can still help by signing this petition to ask for the release of the 220 political prisoners currently languishing in Cuban jails.  Their jail sentences are in violation of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights.  Click here to go to the petition.

Help Wish Dr. Biscet a Happy Father's Day

Dr. BIscet's daughter, Winnie, posted a request on her Facebook, asking for supporters of her father to send her their thoughts so she can send them to him on Father's Day.

"I WANT THAT PEOPLE WRITE SOMETHING TO MY FATHER ANYTHING THEY WANT TO SAY TO HIM. IT HAS TO BE IN SPANISH! IM GOING TO SEND ALL THOSE WRITING TO HIM AS SOON YOU SEND IT TO ME. I KNOW HE WILL LOVE IT. I WANT TO D[O] IT FOR "FATHERS DAY" PLEASE SEND TO MY EMAIL (winnie_biscet@yahoo.com)"

If you would like to send your support, please email Winnie at the above email. It's the very least we can do for a hero.

Yoaní Sánchez Is Denied Visa

Yoani Sanchez, whose blog from Cuba, "Generación Y" earned her the "Ortega y Gassett Award" and 15,000 euros (123,000 dollars) was denied authorization to travel to Spain to receive the award. Zoe Valdes, a Cuban novelist in exile in Paris, and freed political prisoner Raul Rivero, poet and journalist in exile in Spain, spoke out about the softer side of Raul Castro being meaningless when he denies something like this. Rivero is no stranger to being punished for writing. Once a writer for the state controlled media, he later founded Cuba Press, for independent journalists. He and his wife were harrassed by authorities and Raul was arrested in the Black Spring Crackdown in 2003 and sentenced to 20 years in prison. He was freed in 2004 for frail health and now lives in exile in Spain. There he can carry all the propaganda about the regime that he wants, because the Cuban people won't hear it there. More on this later.

Professor Tony de la Cova on Blogging 4 Libertad

On Thursday, Jorge Barroso and I had the honor of interviewing Dr. de la Cova on Blog Talk Radio. Or original 30 minute interview went over 60. We asked him about Marti, Batista, caudillos and the future of Cuba. It was a very informative hour that I would love to share with you. However, Jorge discovered that for some reason, not one word was recorded on Blog Talk Radio. To say I am aggravated is a gross understatement. I'm trying to find out what happened so it doesn't happen again. I'm sorry to everyone I asked to listen!

Professor Antonio de la Cova on Blogtalk Radio

Tomorrow night I will have the honor of interviewing professor and author of The Moncada Attack, Dr. Antonio de la Cova on Blogging for Libertad on Blog Talk Radio at 8:00 EST with Jorge Barroso of jluix.com.  The topic is "Everything  You Wanted to Know About Cuban History But Are Afraid to Ask."  Actually, we only have 30 minutes but part 2 will be next Thursday.  Cuban history is so detailed and complex, it seems questions always pop up for me and I have heard the same from others, and Professor de la Cova is an amazing source of information- too bad you won't be able to earn college credits just for listening to him! 

So, email your questions or call in at 8:00 and don't be shy!

Resistencia Catia Caracas y Premio 11 de abril

On Sunday a blogger from Venezuela, Resistencia Catia Caracas gave me the distinction of the three-year old "11 de abril" award for bloggers who support freedom.  I am honored that she considered my blog worthy of mention.  The name "11 de abril" refers to the date when hugo chávez was briefly toppled in a coup attempt lasting 47 hours and 19 lives were lost.  It is to commemorate the lives of the brave individuals who tried to restore democracy to Venezuela that this award got its name. Venezuelan Alexis Marrero is the creator of this award and he maintains his constant fight for freedom through his blog, http://alexismarrero.blogspot.com/.

The origin of this award is explained here.

The fight to make the public aware of the lack of freedom and human rights of Cubans and now the deterioration of rights in Venezuela is a worthwhile fight. As Cubans suffer, not because of the embargo as many would have us believe, but because everything they truly need- the basic freedoms that those of us who live in a democratic society take for granted, are denied them. They aren't hungry because of the US- they are hungry because the castros ration their food and don't make plentiful amounts available (even though the US EXPORTS millions of dollars worth of food to them every year, as do other countries) or pay them enough money to afford decent meals even if they could buy one.  They don't have freedom to speak out against the government not because the US won't let them, it's because the castro regime will punish them.  They don't have snitches from the CDR living among them to rat them out to officials because the US put them there, castro did.  So until people realize that Cubans suffer as a result of the oppressive regime that is going on 50 years, the blogs will continue to do whatever possible to call attention to the suffering.  And until hugo chavez restores what he has begun to do to the Venezuelan people and stops taking lessons from the castro handbook, the Venezuelan blogs will continue to protest, just as the university students in Venezuela have been doing.  It's 2008, and information gets to places that it previously could not, in spite of rules and laws because of brave people in these countries willing to take a risk and spread the word. 

Part of the award is to pass the distinction along to 15 other blogs in or outside of Venezuela who deserve mention for their fight to defend the value of freedom and democracy. 

In accepting this award I have agreed to the following rules which serve to bring attention to the events of April 11 and to share more freedom blogs with others:

1. Quien recibe el premio y lo acepta debe escribir un post que enlace el origen del premio y un link al blog que lo otorga. (Whoever receives this prize and accepts it must write a post that links to the origen of the prize and a link to the blog that gave the award.)

2. Luego se debe entregar dicho premio a 15 blogs venezolanos o extranjeros en cuyas páginas se defiendan los valores de la democracia y la libertad. (The prize should then be given to 15 Venezuelan or foreign blogs on whose pages the values of democracy and freedom are defended.)

3. Escribir un post en relación con la lucha por los derechos humanos con un link al blog que he entregado el premio. (Write a post in relation to the struggle for human rights with a link to the blog that has given the award.)

I have chosen the following blogs to pass along this distinction because of their dedication to writing about the realities of Cuba and Venezuela and for defending the freedoms of both countries:

Albertodelacruz.com

Cubanology.com

CubaCompanioni

Cubanazos.com

latinamericanstudies.org

jluix.com

Wall Street Cafe

The Real Cuba

Uncommon Sense

Medicina Cubana

Nuestra Cuba Libre

Ninety Miles Away

Asymetric

El Confeti

The Coalition of Cuban-American Women

There are other well-known blogs that have already been given this award- check the comments section which is where they are being posted. (Babalu, for example, also received this award from another blogger.)

Washington Implements Cuban Reunification Program

In an effort to reduce the number of Cubans risking their lives to flee the castro regime in makeshift boats or being smuggled into the U.S., forty thousand visas will be granted in addition to the twenty thousand that are allotted each year to Cubans to come to the U.S. Cuban here with parents, siblings and grandparents are eligible and the wait time is supposed to decreased from seven years to ten months. Of particular mention is that regime sympathizers are not eligible.

My question is, after Cubans apply and file documents, will they be punished for wanting to leave? Will they lose their homes or jobs or be ostracized? If that stops, then maybe illegally leaving the island won't be as prevalent.

Veremos.

Beauty and the Beast- Ana Margarita's Story Set to Hit the Big Screen

Ana Margarita Martinez, who I had the pleasure to interview a few months ago, is about to have her life shown on the big screen.  She said she can't reveal details at this time but confirmed a report in El Nuevo Herald that said she would soon be the subject of a movie.  Ana Margarita, for those who don't know, was duped into marrying a Cuban spy who was sent to the US to pose as a member of the Miami exile community and infiltrate the Brothers the Rescue organization.  He was also working for the CIA but his allegiance became clear when he showed up in Cuba three days after castro shot down the Brothers to the Rescue planes in 1996, killing four people. After losing her job and her home, she eventually found her way and the light at the end of the tunnel. She sued the regime for rape and won millions, although whether she will ever see that money remains to be seen.

Today Ana Margarita is a Public Relations consultant and as a result of her work and from the celebrity her very public life has brought her, counts among her friends and acquaintances some of Miami's most elite and famous. With that in mind, I'm very curious to see who plays her and who will get the part of the dastardly Juan Pablo Roque.  More importantly, I am hoping that she remains involved with the film so that it doesn't turn into a vehicle to make the castro regime look misunderstood and Roque to look like he wasn't all that bad, rather a victim of the United States.  This movie deserves to be told with dignity, in the same manner that Ana Margarita has tried to live her life after it was turned upside down and inside out twelve years ago.

Below: Ana Margarita with Steven Bauer (bestill my heart!)

Raul, You're Such a Tease!

Last week cell phones that a Cuban can't afford to buy if he saved for a year and now, tell them what they get, Johnny!

A NIGHT IN A CUBAN HOTEL!!

::::applause:::::

That's right, Bob!  For just $173 dollars (average) per night, a Cuban can stay in one of the hotels which were formerly only for tourists and foreigners! But the average Cuban only makes $16-$20 per month.  How can Cubans afford to stay in such a hotel?

APRIL FOOLS! 

THEY CAN'T!!!

duh, you fell for that one, didn't you?

Read the rest of the sad-to-say not a prank HERE.

Cell Phone Ban in Cuba Lifted. ¿Y qué?

Today it was announced that raúl castro has lifted the ban on ordinary Cuban citizens owning a cell phone.  It's big news- even the Cuban national newspaper, Granma has it on the front page.

This news was not as good as one might think.  In fact, I was conflicted.  On the one hand, I am loathe to see raúl as a reformer because, well, you can't teach an old dog new tricks.  It's hard to reconcile 50 years of tyranny with a few months of relaxed rules.  But part of me really wants to give him a chance and the benefit of the doubt.

I mean, you have to start somewhere, right?  Is raúl inching his way toward leaving a legacy as a reformer before reform is thrust upon him, perhaps?  Is he having second thoughts now that his brother is an invalid?  Does he truly want to ease in these changes that will benefit the Cuban people who for so long have been cut off from the rest of the world without cell phones, cable and satellite tv, internet and periodicals? (Save those ingenious few who have illegal satellite or cell phones.) It would appear to the average American that castro is moving in the right direction.  I won't deny that.  It's not a step backwards, at least.  And by doing this, it leads me to believe that fidel is truly in a vegetative state or sedated out of his mind, for I cannot imagine him going along willingly with this plan any other way.

But then you have to consider this fact:

"Telecommunications monopoly Empresa de Telecomunicaciones de Cuba S.A., or ETECSA said it would allow the general public to sign prepaid contracts in Cuban Convertible Pesos, which are geared toward tourists and foreigners and worth 24 times the regular pesos Cuban state employees are paid in."

The average Cuban makes 408 CUBAN pesos (or about $20 US). This is not the same as a convertible peso. Cubans do not get paid in convertible pesos, they get Cuban pesos.  Foreigners, though, can exchange their currency for Cuban Convertible Pesos, valued at about $1.12 USD. Cuban convertible pesos are worth 24 Cuban pesos. Got that? So, um, how are the Cuban people supposed to buy a cell phone with money they can't get?  Not to mention that even if they did have it, they can't afford it with what they earn. Maybe another change raúl might consider is currency reform- perhaps, oh, eliminating the convertible peso, for starters? And then he might want to consider raising wages.  There has been talk of this, but so far that's all it has been.  Talk.

So you see my conundrum. I do want to believe in raúl, that his black, withered, heart has somehow begun to pump again.  Who wouldn't want to believe that the man has had an all-too-late epiphany?  But I can't.  Not when the ban on cell phones being lifted seems little more than an empty gesture. Keep going raúl.  If not, your legacy will be as meaningless as lifting this ban.

More here.