Cuba

cross-posted from: https://lemmygrad.ml/post/7752393

Organized by the Frente Revolucionario por Cuba en las Redes - (Grupo La Manigua- Revolución Pa' Rato, Canal de Karlitos Marx and Europa por Cuba)

The Bay of Pigs invasion, which will be 63 years old this year 2024, is part of a series of actions that confirm the long history of state terrorism perpetrated by the United States against Cuba. This attack on our country and sovereignty had as its corollary a heroic resistance that gave rise to one of the most glorious deeds of our Caribbean nation, a fact known as the first great defeat of imperialism in America.

• Girón: A page in the history of State terrorism against the largest of the Antilles, the first victory against imperialism in America.
• The socialist character of the Cuban revolution: a new perspective in the face of the thrust of world capitalism and a trail of international solidarity for Cuba.
• Validity of this great defeat: possibility and necessity to defeat the enemy in its multiple forms.

In a recent article, The New York Times attempts to delegitimize Cuban medical collaboration in Latin America through unfounded accusations seeking to tarnish one of Cuba's greatest expressions of international solidarity. They resort to the rhetoric of labeling it as "human trafficking and forced labor," acting, once again, as the spearhead of the U.S. government's hostility toward the island.

In a recent article, The New York Times attempts to delegitimize Cuban medical collaboration in Latin America through unfounded accusations seeking to tarnish one of Cuba's greatest expressions of international solidarity. They return to the rhetoric of classifying these efforts as "human trafficking and forced labor," acting, once again, as the spearhead of the US government's hostility toward the island. Talk of "modern slavery" is baseless and responds to a US political campaign to discredit Cuban medical cooperation, which has benefited millions of people around the world.

Internationalist collaboration is a voluntary and supportive program that adheres to international South-South cooperation schemes, where Cuba provides highly qualified human resources to support countries with public health needs. Part of the income generated is allocated to physicians and another part to the Cuban public health system, which helps sustain and strengthen the national health system in Cuba, recognized worldwide for its quality and efficiency.

Furthermore, no country has abandoned Cuban medical missions; on the contrary, several governments defend and value the collaboration, recognizing that working conditions meet international standards. Cuban medical cooperation not only saves lives but also strengthens the health systems of recipient countries, contributing to regional integration and social development, in line with the ethical and humanitarian principles that have inspired Cuba for more than six decades.

Why Cuban medical missions do not constitute human trafficking

Johana Tablada, Deputy Director General for the United States at the Cuban Ministry of Foreign Affairs, strongly stated that the conditions that would constitute human trafficking do not exist in these programs.

https://www.facebook.com/share/v/16AX9SqV3f/

Voluntariness and consent: Cuban health professionals voluntarily decide to participate in the missions, without coercion or deception.

Fair compensation: They receive a salary for their work, part of which is allocated to the Cuban health system to support the public model, and another part is given to the doctors.

Freedom of movement: They are not imprisoned or deprived of their personal liberty during the missions.

Legitimate international cooperation: The programs adhere to South-South cooperation schemes recognized by the United Nations, based on solidarity and fair exchange between countries.

International recognition: Organizations such as the WHO and governments of host countries value and defend Cuban medical collaboration as a humanitarian and professional contribution.

Furthermore, Tablada has pointed out that it is contradictory for the United States to criticize Cuban medical collaboration while maintaining aggressive policies that affect public health in Cuba and the region.

The media campaign attempting to present Cuban medical collaboration as a scheme of exploitation and human trafficking is a political manipulation without any real basis. The truth is that Cuba offers an example of international solidarity, professional ethics, and humanitarian commitment that has saved millions of lives and strengthened public health in numerous countries, especially in Latin America and the Caribbean.

Trump and the intensification of anti-Cuba policy

The United States campaign against Cuban medical missions is part of a broader framework of intensification of the policy of maximum pressure and blockade against Cuba, which seeks to economically and politically suffocate the island to force a change in its sociopolitical system. This offensive includes the recent reinstatement of Cuba to the list of state sponsors of terrorism, an arbitrary and baseless measure that seeks to further isolate the country internationally.

On February 25, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced the expansion of visa restrictions for individuals linked to the Cuban public health system, particularly against Cuban officials and others associated with international medical missions. This policy, initially promoted by Rubio and the corrupt former Senator Bob Menéndez, is an outrage intended to damage the reputation and functioning of Cuban medical cooperation, which has saved millions of lives worldwide.

Cuban Foreign Minister Bruno Rodríguez Parrilla denounced the decision as based on falsehoods and intended to benefit interest groups in the United States, while ignoring the rights and needs of the Cuban people.

In addition, other pressure measures are being considered, such as the suspension of travel and remittances, which would directly affect Cuban families and the national economy. Mauricio Claver-Carone, the White House special envoy for Latin America, and anti-Cuban Congressman Carlos Giménez have publicly expressed their support for these coercive policies, demonstrating the continuation of a hostile agenda that continues despite international calls for the normalization of relations.

In response, President Miguel Díaz-Canel Bermúdez has strongly rejected these actions, calling them unjust, arbitrary, and part of an economic and media war against Cuba.

"It's foolish to think that the U.S. government, instead of soldiers and weapons, can send doctors under the same supportive and preferential conditions as Cuba," the Cuban president stated.

They have reaffirmed the country's commitment to international solidarity and medical cooperation, fundamental pillars of Cuban foreign policy and a genuine expression of its humanism.

This repressive framework is not an isolated incident, but rather the manifestation of a systematic policy of blockade and siege that seeks to weaken Cuba through economic, diplomatic, and media pressure. However, the Cuban people and their government remain steadfast in their resistance to imperialism, defending their sovereignty, dignity, and right to build their own social project based on social justice and international solidarity.

The campaign against Cuban doctors is, ultimately, another chapter of US aggression that Cuba will confront with the same courage and unity it has demonstrated for more than six decades. Medical cooperation will continue to be an example of altruism and commitment to humanity, in the face of the maneuvers of those who seek to use lies and coercion to subdue a free people.

🇨🇺🇨🇳 This is the incredible story of a chance meeting between a Chinese blogger and an elderly Cuban, and an old pilot's dream of getting back on a plane to travel from Havana to Beijing. 🇨🇺🇨🇳

Source -> http://cubacoopera.uccm.sld.cu/datos-y-estadisticas/indicadores-de-servicio/

The site no longer works BUT the list of countries is also mentioned by DW here -> https://www.dw.com/es/misiones-m%C3%A9dicas-cubanas-cu%C3%A1ntas-d%C3%B3nde-y-por-qu%C3%A9/a-53054180

Next, to identify technological trends and technology development, we investigated the valuable technologies of socialist countries for which patents were applied for at international patent offices. Figs. 2–5 present the trends in patent numbers published or registered at the four large patent offices.

These trends are based on the time the individuals, organizations, or companies applied for the patents. Notably, compared to the other three countries, Cuba has been more active in publishing patents at every patent office.

Moreover, Cuba also started publishing patents much earlier than the other three countries, showing Cuba’s innovation capacity is significantly stronger than that of other socialist countries. This indicates that the Cuban government was aware of the importance of IP since the early 1980s, and that some of its technologies were advanced enough to be exploited.

[…]

We identified the leaders in innovation and technology development in socialist countries by investigating applications for patents. Table 4 lists the applicants for each socialist country. In Cuba, patents were rarely applied for by individuals. Most applications were submitted by centers or laboratories.

Among all Cuban applicants, the Center for Genetics Engineering and Biotechnology (Centro de Ingeniera Genetica y Biotecnologia) represented nearly half the number of patents. This center has been Cuba's most important biological and biomedical research institute for the past several years.

Next came the Center of Molecular Immunology (Centro de Inmunologia Molecular), National Center for Scientific Research (Centro Nacional de Investigaciones Cientificas), Dalmer Laboratories Inc. (Laboratorios Dalmer S.A.), and the Chemical Bioactive Center (Centro de Bioactivos Quimicos). These centers and laboratories accounted for 70% of applications and were all founded by the country, indicating that the Cuban government has concentrated its innovation strategy on the fields of biotechnology and genetic engineering.

It can be seen that technological innovation was led by the state rather than the private enterprise under Cuban socialist economic model.

Met a Cuban IT technician today in Brazil, he came with his coworker to install my WiFi modem and stuff.

My dad knows I'm a filthy commie and said "hey he's from Cuba!" and I promptly said (to remain neutral as to not cause anything) "I'd love to go to Cuba, cause here in Brazil people either say it's hell on earth or heaven on earth, so I'd like to see it for myself". The Cuban guy, which was very likeable said "there's a politician here in Brazil who says the truth: every May 1st we were coerced into partaking in the May Day Parade or else we'd be screwed over in the future, there are many people in poverty, it's a dictatorship, the military high ups get mansions and the populace lives in squalor, the government makes incentives for the people to use dollars because the bureaucrats can use those to travel abroad etc".

Honestly, I do believe he's telling the truth, because he lived and grew there in a town close to Havana, I forgot the name. His dream was to move to the US, and as someone who worked there I told him " if you're not a qualified worker you're gonna have a bad time, there's lots of poverty, yadda yadda".

What to think of this? Every single metric I've seen of Cuba shows it's better than its Caribbean neighbours, in basically every way besides what those far right institutes say.

What I've gathered from the conversation is that every poor country is similar, from Burkina Faso to Burundi to Laos and Cuba. It's not really a fault of "socialism" but rather a fault of the global North-South dynamic and how it pushes global south countries to be like this as to provide cheap labour and commodities.

Any thoughts on this comrades? I'm sorry if I'm wrong on anything, my theory is not the best and neither is my practice. Thank you for your time.

cross-posted from: https://lemmy.ml/post/23115538

from the Cuban online publication CUBADEBATE [contains many photos]
Translated by Irais Maria García Portelles for CubaNews

Dear Friend,

Another hurricane is about to make landfall in Cuba. Hurricane Rafael, now a Category 2 storm, is fast approaching. The ongoing U.S. blockade is exacerbating an already complex crisis, limiting access to essential materials for reconstruction and basic public services—desperately needed to respond to a storm of this magnitude.

Thanks to your incredible support, we surpassed our $150,000 goal for the #LetCubaLive relief campaign and have already sent two life-saving shipments. A third shipment with more generators and supplies will go by air this week.

But this hurricane means the situation is worsening. Cuba needs our help now more than ever. Can you contribute again, even a small amount, to send more emergency aid? Every dollar we send in aid challenges the blockade and shows that we stand with our neighbors in their time of need.

Join us in this urgent effort: peoplesforum.org/cubarelief

(Taken from an email sent to me by The People's Forum. Emphasis original.)

The first and most important factor is the economic, financial and commercial blockade imposed by the United States. This blockade has prevented the island from experiencing normal economic development for several decades.

As a result of the blockade, essential innovations in energy production and transport infrastructure have been put on hold for decades. Cuban engineers and technicians try to keep up with the demands, carrying out maintenance work, repairs and more repairs. But wear and tear is simply taking its toll.

What’s more, since then President Donald Trump reinstated Cuba on the U.S. list of countries supporting terrorism in the final days of his term [2021], no normal international financial transactions have been possible. This adds to the problem caused by the refusal of most major banks to make payments to Cuba, to avoid heavy fines from the U.S. government.

Cuba has been striving for years to switch to renewable energies. But, as you can imagine, this also requires huge investments. Much has already been achieved in the field of solar and wind power. In the meantime, demand for electricity continues to grow. Indeed, in today’s Cuba, air conditioners, washing machines, freezers and refrigerators, rice cookers, televisions, etc. can be found in the remotest corners of the country.

Much of Cuba’s energy is still produced from petroleum. Until a few years ago, Cuba was able to benefit from advantageous trade agreements with oil-producing Venezuela. But these disappeared when that country was subjected to a series of sanctions by the Obama administration from 2014 onwards. In addition, Trump later made financial transactions with the United States impossible.

In October 2023, President Joe Biden relaxed certain coercive measures against Venezuela, before reimposing them starting in April 2024. As a result, Cuba once again has to buy oil on the other side of the world, in hard currency.

In such a situation, it’s obvious that Cuba can barely keep its head above water in terms of energy production. The same would be true for any country faced with such causes.

However, information on this context and the impact of these causes is hard to find in the corporate media. The Belgian newspaper De Morgen, for example, states: “The country is also suffering from U.S. sanctions,” as if this were an incidental detail.

[…]

Clearly, many inflammatory messages are circulating on Cuban social media, spread by those who, for the umpteenth time, think it’s now or never. [Some] people are lobbying for régime change, meaning the end of socialism and the beginning of the neoliberal market.

In this respect, the neighboring island of Puerto Rico is a good example of where energy privatization is leading. LUMA Energy has been causing huge blackouts there for years due to the inefficiency of privatization.

Another example from the region is Ecuador, where power cuts last more than 10 hours a day. These are two countries that don’t have to deal with economic warfare and blockades.

cross-posted from: https://lemmy.ml/post/22048345

By EDITH M. LEDERER
Updated 5:05 PM EDT, October 30, 2024

Source: IEA

Right now, Cuba is facing a severe moment of crisis. Amidst a devastating electrical blackout, a hurricane, and the ongoing brutal U.S. blockade, the Cuban people are facing urgent, life-threatening conditions. As neighbors, we have a responsibility to act and support the Cuban people in this moment of crisis. We aim to raise $100,000 to send essential supplies — generators and food — to the island.

Imagine if your neighbor's home was plunged into darkness, and their family left without food or power. Would you stand by, or would you help? Right now, just 90 miles from our shores, this is the reality for millions of Cuban families. On top of natural disasters and the U.S. government's deliberate attempt to strangle the Cuban economy and limit its ability to trade, the Cuban people are left in a dire situation. We must act now.

The Cuban people are resilient. They've faced over 65 years of a cruel U.S. blockade, but this moment is unique: the triple threat of blockade, hurricane, and blackout makes this moment especially urgent. Entire communities are left without power and resources to make it through the day.

We have a responsibility to help. Donate what you can and rally your community to support this urgent fundraiser for our neighbors in need.

(Taken from an email sent to me by the ANSWER Coalition. Emphasis original.)

Thank you for your incredible support of our Let Cuba Live: Bread for Our Neighbors campaign. Because of your generosity, we successfully delivered 800 tons of flour to produce bread for families in Cuba, offering hope and sustenance during a critical moment.

But Cuba needs us again. The Cuban people are now facing an unprecedented crisis — a triple threat of a devastating hurricane, ongoing blackouts, and the crushing U.S. blockade. Many are without power, people are struggling to rebuild, and families are facing food shortages.

We're launching an urgent humanitarian aid campaign to send generators and food supplies, but we can't do it without you. Your support right now could mean the difference between light and darkness for a family struggling under the weight of the U.S. blockade.

Can you help the Cuban people again? Donate now.

We know how much you care, and we're grateful that you stand with Cuba. By donating, you will help provide immediate relief and send a powerful message of solidarity: that in their darkest and most challenging moments, our neighbors are not alone.

Please donate today and help us deliver life-saving aid to those most affected.

Thank you again for your unwavering support and compassion.

In solidarity,

Manolo De Los Santos

Executive Director, The People's Forum

(Taken from an email sent to me by Manolo de los Santos. Emphasis original.)

We did it! Thanks to your generous donation, today 800 tons of wheat flour have safely arrived in Cuba and will provide bread for millions of people in the provinces of Pinar del Rio, Artemisa, Mayabeque, Matanzas and Havana. This urgent campaign has been months in the making, with hundreds of thousands of dollars donated by over 1,300 people like you to help address this food crisis manufactured by the U.S. government and its blockade against Cuba.

While this critical campaign has succeeded in carrying out this delivery, it wasn't without significant hurdles created by the blockade. In the process of organizing the campaign, we reached out to 14 different grain producers in the U.S. to purchase the massive order but received not a single positive response. In order to successfully complete the delivery, the grain had to be shipped from Turkey and suffered delays because of the U.S. government's policy of extreme and arbitrary harassment of Cuba's foreign trade, which is meant to create desperation for the people of Cuba and has brutal consequences.

The Biden administration in its remaining months before January has the power to swiftly end this crisis of hunger. It could remove Cuba from the "State Sponsors of Terrorism List," an unfounded designation imposed in 2017 by Trump that restricts vital financial and trade transactions.

The "Let Cuba Live: Bread for Our Neighbors" campaign is just one part of the larger fight against the U.S. blockade on Cuba. The people of the U.S. will continue to fight against this brutal blockade and build bridges of solidarity with our neighbors in Cuba. Donations are still being accepted to help offset the costs of this massive delivery—please consider an additional donation, or share with your friends and neighbors. Together we will continue to break the blockade!

In solidarity,

Manolo De Los Santos
The People's Forum

(Taken from an email sent to me by Manolo de los Santos.)

Despite the embargo and the global chaos, Cuban researchers quickly managed to find effective vaccines against COVID-19: Abdalá or CIGB-66, designed by the Center for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology and authorized for use by the regulatory authority Cecmed in July 2021 and Soberana 2 or Finlay-FR-2, from the Finlay Institute, authorized for use in August 2021.

National vaccination campaigns began in April 2021. Before that, Cuba had helped foreign countries, including those in the North, by sending doctors free of charge to Italy — to Lombardy in March 2020, then in Sicily and Calabria. This was the first time that Cubans provided treatment in Western Europe. In mid-2020, Cuba accepted France’s request for aid in its overseas departments and sent 2,579 health professionals to 24 countries.

Fifty countries have purchased recombinant interferon alfa 2B, the preventive anti-COVID-19 drug manufactured in Cuba, which has produced millions of doses for Southern countries. In Cuba, the campaign against the pandemic starting in January 2020 mobilized 28,000 medical students who visited 4 million people per day.

• Despite all the difficulties, social progress has never stopped, and the quality of care offered to the population by its free health system has held up. A societal choice is made — cooperation and solidarity in an egalitarian and peaceful society rather than individualism and competition in an unequal and violent society. And this health system is integrated into a vision of harmony between humankind and nature — because the protection of the environment is real, with reforestation, organic farming and more measures.

Cuban researchers have therefore risen to the forefront in the world and, by remaining in the country, choose to serve their people — and often other peoples with their missions abroad. So we say: Gracias a Cuba.