From: John Clancy <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
Reply-To: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
Date: Sun, 7 Jan 2001 14:30:35 -0800
To: [EMAIL PROTECTED], [EMAIL PROTECTED]
Subject: [CubaNews] Havana Radio Jan 4,5. View-Social Security.Children safe
f
*MEXICAN PRESIDENT WILL VISIT CUBA IN MARCH
*JUSTICE MINISTER OPTIMISTIC ABOUT CUBA'S FIGHT AGAINST DRUG-
TRAFFICKING
*42nd ANNIVERSARY OF THE CUBAN REVOLUTION IS CELEBRATED IN LAOS
*CUBA PROMOTES SPECIAL COURSE ON INTERNET ON THE PRESERVATION OF
ORCHIDS
*INTERNATIONAL CRAFTS FAIR OPENS JAN 28th
*RENOWNED CUBAN JOURNALIST AGUSTIN PI DIES IN HAVANA
*Viewpoint: SOCIAL SECURITY EXPANDING IN THE NEW MILLENNIUM
.
*MEXICAN PRESIDENT WILL VISIT CUBA IN MARCH
Havana, January 4 (RHC)-- Mexican President Vicente Fox will
officially visit Cuba in March. The new Mexican ambassador in Havana,
Ricardo Pascoe, made the announcement while meeting with Cuban
President Fidel Castro.
During the meeting, the Cuban president presented the Mexican
ambassador with a letter for Fox, along with a box of Cuban cigars.
Fidel Castro expressed interest in strengthening bilateral relations
with Mexico as part of furthering Latin American integration.
Ricardo Pascoe will officially present his credentials as new
ambassador in Havana on January 10th.
*JUSTICE MINISTER OPTIMISTIC ABOUT CUBA'S FIGHT AGAINST DRUG-
TRAFFICKING
Havana, January 4 (RHC)-- Cuban Justice Minister Roberto Diaz
Sotolongo told reporters today in Havana that the island is entering
a new year and new century in a strong way to confront drug-
trafficking, and to stop the entrance of narcotics into Cuban
society. Sotolongo added that Cuban authorities will also work to
fight drug-trafficking to other countries.
Closing another year of intense work against drug trafficking, the
President of the National Drug Commission spoke about Cuba's ability
to combat drug-trafficking in the Caribbean despite lacking
sophisticated technologies.
The Cuban justice minister said that thanks to the country's efforts
and without signing an anti-drug agreement with the United States,
the island's authorities have stopped many drug- traffickers from
reaching the U.S., which is the largest consumer of narcotics in the
world.
Cuba currently has 27 international anti-drug cooperation agreements
signed with countries in Latin America, the Caribbean and Europe.
*42nd ANNIVERSARY OF THE CUBAN REVOLUTION IS CELEBRATED IN LAOS
Vientiane, January 4 (RHC)-- A celebration of the 42nd anniversary of
the Cuban Revolution was held in the Laotian capital with the
participation of the vice president of that country's parliament,
Khambou Sounixay.
Other leaders of the Laotian Popular Revolutionary Party also took
part in the solidarity activity, along with officials of the
provincial government and representatives of student and grassroots
organization.
Cuba's ambassador in Laos, Maria Aida Nogales, and the vice president
of Laotian Parliament both spoke about the historic and friendly ties
with the Cuban people.
They also discussed the difficulties on the island provoked by
Washington's blockade against Cuba.
*CUBA PROMOTES SPECIAL COURSE ON INTERNET ON THE PRESERVATION OF
ORCHIDS
Havana, January 4 (RHC)-- Specialists from the Botanical Gardens in
Soroa, located in western Pinar del Rio province -- which has over
25,000 plants, including some 700 species of orchids -- are offering
courses on the Internet to promote the preservation of orchids in the
world.
The courses are in both Spanish and English, and include the
basic principles of botany of the orchid as well as its protection
and preservation.
The Internet courses also include creating orchid identification and
the naming of individual plants. A video on the orchids is also
included in the Internet.
*INTERNATIONAL CRAFTS FAIR OPENS JAN 28th
Havana, January 4 (RHC)--On the occasion of the 148th anniversary of
Cuba's National Hero Jose Marti, Havana will open its doors on
January 28th to the International Crafts Fair, FIART 2001.
Representatives from 13 countries are expected to attend.
FIART 2001 will run until February 4th and will present an
interesting mosaic of creations. These will include a commercial
exhibit of provincial subsidiaries of the Cuban Cultural Heritage
Fund.
Fashion shows, with a collection of textiles designed by Cuban
artists, will open this year's FIART. There will also be conferences
on the international sale of crafts through fairs as well as the
legal protection of Cuban crafts.
*RENOWNED CUBAN JOURNALIST AGUSTIN PI DIES IN HAVANA
Havana, January 4 (RHC)-- Renowned Cuban journalist and intellectual
Agustin Pi passed away on Wednesday in Havana at the age of 81. Pi
had an important influence on the country's literature during the
20th century.
Linked to the Group Origenes and with such writers as Jose Lezama
Lima, Cintio Vitier and Eliseo Diego, Agustin Pi was published in the
most important magazines on the island.
After the triumph of the Cuban Revolution, Pi participated in the
formation of the country's editorial policy and dedicated five years
to writing for the Granma daily newspaper.
During his lifetime, he was awarded with many honors, including the
National Culture and Felix Elmuza Orders.
*Viewpoint: SOCIAL SECURITY EXPANDING IN THE NEW MILLENNIUM
The Cuban people will have social security guaranteed in the year
2001 as a result of the approval, last December, by the island's
National Assembly of People's Power of the National Budget which
includes necessary funding for this important activity.
Social security -- funds and services used to pay pensions to
retired workers and to offer special financial assistance to mentally
and physically disabled persons who do not rely on family support --
constitutes a priority for the Cuban state.
In other countries of the world, particularly in Third World nations,
such a social security policy does not exist or is in serious trouble
due to several reasons like government corruption and economic
miseries characterizing capitalist society.
The island's budgetary funds for the year 2001 reach 605 million
Cuban pesos, a little below last year due to a recent salary increase
in several economic sectors and the reduction of unemployment and
subsidized laid-off workers who lost their jobs following the
economic crisis that hit Cuba during the past decade.
Latin America is often rocked by huge protests staged by thousands
of retired people who demand on-time payment of social security
pensions. Add to that millions of unemployed persons and those
suffering extreme poverty who urge their governments to take
appropriate steps in that respect, obtaining positive results invery
few cases.
The worst thing is that the economic environment in which people make
their living is based on neo-liberal globalization that offers little
hope, since no country operating under this modern capitalist formula
has yet been able to solve social securityproblems which continue to
worsen.
In the year 2001, Cuban pensioners and retired people will obtain
their financial assistance in a timely manner from a planned 1.8-
billion-peso fund. Some new 80,000 people are expected to increase
the number of those targeted by social security to more than one
million 400,000.
Another 200 million pesos have been assigned to social assistance
programs, which are carried out by 200 institutions dedicated to
assist senior citizens and the disabled, as well as more than 130
thousand persons who are financially supported by the Cuban state.
There are no abandoned persons in Cuba or lack of State support,
with assistance often coming without request. New groups of social
workers have recently been organized with volunteer students who are
carrying out a census in urban and rural areas. The information from
the census will help to improve assistance from institutions
operating in that field.
This social security initiative is one more program being implemented
by the Cuban Revolution in the new century.
(c) 2001 Radio Habana Cuba, NY Transfer News. All rights reserved.
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NY Transfer News Collective * A Service of Blythe Systems
Since 1985 - Information for the Rest of Us
339 Lafayette St., New York, NY 10012
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===================================================
rhc-eng-23102 2001-Jan-05 02:25:24
**********
from: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
subject:Havana Cuba Jan 5 2001
Via NY Transfer News * All the News That Doesn't Fit
Radio Havana Cuba - News Update - 05 January 2001
.
*FIDEL CONGRATULATES ICAP ON INSTITUTE'S 40th ANNIVERSARY
*UNIVERSITY OF HAVANA CELEBRATES ITS 273 YEARS
*NATIONAL FORUM ON SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY GETS UNDERWAY IN HAVANA
*CUBA'S POPULATION GROWTH ALMOST AT ZERO
*WORKSHOP ON SOCIAL AND CULTURAL ANTHROPOLOGY BEGINS SATURDAY
*CUBAN CHILDREN SPARED THE MISERY OF YOUNGSTERS AROUND THE WORLD
.
*FIDEL CONGRATULATES ICAP ON INSTITUTE'S 40th ANNIVERSARY
Havana, January 5 (RHC)-- Cuban President Fidel Castro has sent a
message of congratulations to the Cuban Institute of Friendship with
the Peoples (ICAP) on the institution's 40th anniversary. Fidel
Castro praised the organization for what he called "its noble and
universal objectives of friendship and solidarity."
The message from the Cuban leader was read during a special activity
held Thursday evening in the Cuban capital to commemorate the 40th
anniversary of ICAP. The President of the Cuban Institute of
Friendship with the Peoples, Sergio Corrieri, addressed the event,
which was attended by high-ranking members of the Cuban government.
Sergio Corrieri reviewed the past 40 years of the island's
friendship institute -- noting that ICAP is no longer simply an
organization that welcomed solidarity groups and delegations that
came to Cuba during the early 1960's and into the 70's and 80's. He
emphasized that today ICAP is an active promoter of the Cuban
Revolution throughout the world - with strong relationships developed
with hundreds of solidarity committees and activists around the
world.
The President of ICAP also presented awards to the organization's
most outstanding departments and workers. Special recognition was
given to those who worked on the Second World Conference of
Friendship and Solidarity with Cuba, which was held in Havana last
November.
The Secretary General of the Cuban Workers Confederation, Pedro Ross
Leal, also addressed the special activity commemorating the 40th
anniversary of ICAP. He praised the organization for holding high the
banner of the Cuban Revolution worldwide - disseminating the truth
while confronting Washington's constant campaign of lies.
*UNIVERSITY OF HAVANA CELEBRATES ITS 273 YEARS
Havana, January 5 (RHC)-- Today marks the 273rd anniversary of the
founding of the University of Havana. The ceremony took place where
the university was originally inaugurated in Old Havana.
According to university officials, the University of Havana was
never isolated from the country's social process, and was especially
linked to the student struggle against dictator Fulgencio Batista in
the 1950's.
Celebrations for the 273rd anniversary of the University of Havana
were held at the university's original location with the
participation of students, professors, government leaders and the
public.
*NATIONAL FORUM ON SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY GETS UNDERWAY IN HAVANA
Havana, January 5 (RHC)-- The 13th National Forum on Science and
Technology got underway on Friday in Havana with the participation of
over 1000 delegates. The event will analyze technological solutions
that will benefit the Cuban economy and environment.
The 529 selected papers deal with food, biotechnology,
pharmaceutical industry, health, tourism, recreation and energy.
During the 13th Forum on Science and Technology, a special commission
will be meeting at Havana's Latin American School of Medicine to
analyze the experiences of Cuban health professionals, offering their
services free-of-charge abroad.
As part of the forum, a scientific-technical exhibition was
inaugurated at Havana's Expo-Cuba exhibition hall on Cuban
inventions.
*CUBA'S POPULATION GROWTH ALMOST AT ZERO
Havana, January 5 (RHC)-- Cuba has entered the 21st century with
a population of 11,200,000, a life expectancy of 75 years and a
growth rate that has practically come to a halt.
Rolando Garcia, Director of the Center for Demographic Studies of
the University of Havana, said that there are currently one million
people over 75 years of age.
Garcia added that according to Cuban experts, the island will never
reach a population of 12 million, although in about 20 years the
population on the island will reach 11 million 700 thousand.
The Cuban official concluded by saying that the new century began
with more women than men.
*WORKSHOP ON SOCIAL AND CULTURAL ANTHROPOLOGY BEGINS SATURDAY
Havana, January 5 (RHC)-- Experts from Venezuela, Haiti, the United
States and Cuba will meet on Saturday in Havana to discuss religion
and its practices on the continent in the 5th Workshop on Social and
Cultural Anthropology.
The event begins with a cultural activity in historic plazas
throughout Old Havana with demonstrations of traditional religious
activities in the region.
The Workshop is part of activities celebrating the 15th anniversary
of Havana's Casa de Africa museum and cultural center.
Participants will also be treated to videos on ethnology, including
one on Orishas and another on Afro-Cuban art.
.
Viewpoint:
*CUBAN CHILDREN SPARED THE MISERY OF YOUNGSTERS AROUND THE WORLD
Each day more statistics are made known about the horrifying
conditions of poverty and degradation under which millions of the
world's children are forced to live. Though this tragedy has been
public knowledge for years, the world's nations, including the most
developed, are failing to adequately respond to the crisis. The
United Nations Children's Fund, UNICEF, has made extensive
international studies which reveal the plight of millions
of children, mostly in the Third World, abandoned and victims of the
most horrible crimes. The reports show small children forced to work
in inhuman conditions; others sexually abused by adults; children
kidnapped to have their organs extracted and sold for transplants and
street children murdered to "clean up" the cities.
It is painful to see in big cities, including in Latin America,
thousands of boys and girls dirty and abandoned, forced to make a
living for themselves by polishing shoes, cleaning windshields,
selling trinkets or simply begging in the streets.
Massacres of street children have become tragically commonplace in
Brazil's big cities, where groups of vigilantes have machine-gunned
homeless children. Children are also working in mines and on
construction sites, doing the most heavy and dangerous jobs. Studies
show that children are being kidnapped and taken to Europe and the
United States to be sexually exploited or where their organs are sold
to the highest bidder.
Then there is the total lack of education and medical assistance
which turns indigent young children into criminals and vagrants,
making them a burden on society, living out their lives in pain and
anger.
But, as Cuban Vice President Carlos Lage once told the United
Nations: "Not one of those children is Cuban." In Cuba, a poor, Third
World country, not a single child is without a school or a teacher,
not a single child is without medical attention, or social security
and not a single Cuban child lives without the love and support of
his fellow Cubans.
(c) 2001 Radio Habana Cuba, NY Transfer News. All rights reserved.
=================================================================
NY Transfer News Collective * A Service of Blythe Systems
Since 1985 - Information for the Rest of Us
339 Lafayette St., New York, NY 10012
http://www.blythe.org e-mail: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
===================================================\
rhc-eng-31568 2001-Jan-06 16:52:54 " JC
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