>from: [EMAIL PROTECTED] >subject: Havana Radio news/views Aug 23,24 >Subject: Radio Havana Cuba-23 August 2000 23:00 > >Radio Havana Cuba-23 August 2000 23:00 > >Via NY Transfer News * All the News That Doesn't Fit > >Radio Havana Cuba - News Update - 23 August 2000 23:00 > > >*CUBANS CELEBRATE 40 YEARS OF THE FEDERATION OF CUBAN WOMEN >*ROUNDTABLE: FURTHER DISCUSSION OF THE CUBAN ADJUSTMENT ACT >*PRECAUTIONS AGAINST TROPICAL STORM DEBBY >*ALARCON WELCOMES DELEGATION FROM UKRAINIAN COMMUNIST PARTY >*PROGRAM TO IMPROVE CITRUS EXPORTS ON THE ISLE OF YOUTH >*CUBAN MUSICIANS RECEIVE INTERNATIONAL PRAISE AT POPKOMM '2000 >*Viewpoint: MAFIA TACTICS AGAINST THE CUBAN REVOLUTION ARE DOOMED TO >FAILURE > > >*CUBANS CELEBRATE 40 YEARS OF THE FEDERATION OF CUBAN WOMEN > >Havana, August 23 (RHC)-- The President of the Federation of Cuban >Women, Vilma Espin, highlighted the active participation of women in >the defense of the Revolution. > >Speaking on the occasion of the 40th anniversary of the FMC, Vilma >Espin recalled that the organization was founded during very >difficult times and that one of its first activities was to encourage >rural women to further their education. She also stated that the >Federation of Cuban Women has contributed to women's involvement in >health care, social services, employment as well as administrative >and managerial responsibilities. > >This morning's edition of the daily Granma published a special >feature on the achievements of Cuban women during these 40 years of >Revolution. The newspaper article points out that the women's >organization -- which currently has more than 3000 affiliates -- has >made a decisive contribution to the preservation of equity and social >justice. The FMC has permanently defended the rights of women, >incorporated women into social and community work and confronted >rising problems and difficulties, such as the ones emerging during >the recent economic crisis. > >Granma also emphasized that Cuban women led many demonstrations to >rescue Elian Gonzalez from his kidnappers in Miami and are currently >active in the campaign against the Cuban Adjustment Act and the U.S. >economic blockade in general. > >On the occasion of the 40th anniversary of the Federation of Cuban >Women, a special roundtable will be aired live on Cuban radio and >television Wednesday evening to discuss the achievements made by >women in Revolutionary Cuba. > > *ROUNDTABLE: FURTHER DISCUSSION OF THE CUBAN ADJUSTMENT ACT > >Havana, 23 August (RHC)--Tuesday's roundtable discussion, aired live >on Cuban TV and transmitted on the international airwaves of Radio >Havana Cuba, focused again on the Cuban Adjustment Act - U.S. law >designed to stimulate illegal migration from Cuba to the Florida >coast, by offering instant residency, stipends, housing, and a >variety of other benefits exclusively to Cubans taking this illegal >and dangerous trip. > >This evening's roundtable, composed of Cuban journalists, explored >a dimension of the Cuban Adjustment Act designed to internally >destabilize Cuban society by provoking domestic chaos. The panel >analyzed one of many illegal departures from the island, this one on >August 2nd, in which a group of thugs and their families hijacked a >fishing boat off the coast of Pinar del Rio. In this incident, four >fishermen were assaulted, tied up, threatened with death if they >interfered with the hijacking, and taken forcibly to the United >States. > >While the four fishermen were allowed to return to Cuba upon their >request, the hijackers, responsible for assault, robbery, and >kidnapping, were not subject to prosecution by U.S. authorities for >any of their crimes and were subsequently paraded by the Cuban- >American mafia as heroes. The panel pointed out that the same royal >treatment by U.S. authorities and the Miami mafia was given to a >Cuban national who brutally killed a Cuban Coast Guard official in an >illegal departure last year. And the list goes on and on. > >Roundtable participants analyzed the internal destabilization >component of the Cuban Adjustment Act as part of a larger 40 year >U.S. war against the island. U.S. policy makers understand that such >a policy deliberately exploits economic hardship, common among Third >World counties, and serves to further intensify the four-decade-old >U.S. economic blockade against Cuba. Complemented by a socio- >economic package deal not even available to those either born in the >U.S. or any country other than Cuba, the panel noted, it's of little >wonder why Cubans continue to risk their lives, and the lives of >others, for economic opportunism. > > *PRECAUTIONS AGAINST TROPICAL STORM DEBBY > >Guantanamo, August 23 (RHC)-- As Tropical Storm Debby approaches >the northern coast of eastern Cuba, more than 4000 people in >Guantanamo Province have been evacuated to safer areas. The storm, >which was at hurricane force on Tuesday, was downgraded to a tropical >storm early Wednesday morning. Meteorologists expect that Debby will >once again reach hurricane force winds as the storm moves out over >the open sea. > >The National Civil Defense has announced that people are being >evacuated from the municipalities of Baracoa and Maisi - areas that >are most likely to be flooded by intense rains. It was also reported >that 9000 head of cattle have been taken to higher ground and the >harvest has been intensified, in an effort to gather crops before >they are damaged by high winds and flash flooding. Special medical >brigades have been sent to Maisi and are on stand-by. > >In the eastern province of Holguin, officials from the Sugar >and Construction Ministries have moved to protect their areas, while >tons of cargo have been off-loaded from ships and taken further >inland. > >In addition, tourist facilities in the area under the hurricane watch >have also been evacuated. > > *ALARCON WELCOMES DELEGATION FROM UKRAINIAN COMMUNIST PARTY > >Havana, August 23 (RHC)-- Cuban Parliament President Ricardo Alarcon >has welcomed a delegation from the Ukrainian Communist Party, led by >Piotr Simonenko. > >Alarcon expressed his satisfaction with their visit, which he said >will contribute to strengthening the links between the two nations. >For his part, the leader of the Ukrainian delegation told reporters >that he was interested in learning how Cubans are dealing with new >social and economic conditions. > >The Central Committee of Cuba's Communist Party invited the >Ukrainian delegation. Upon their arrival, the delegation -- invited >by the Central Committee of Cuba's Communist Party -- visited the >Tarara Beach Resort, where thousands of young Ukrainians affected by >the Chernobyl nuclear catastrophe receive medical attention by Cuban >doctors. > > *PROGRAM TO IMPROVE CITRUS EXPORTS ON THE ISLE OF YOUTH > >Nueva Gerona, August 23 (RHC)-- The Isle of Youth has undertaken a >program to improve the quality of citrus exports. > >Some 20 kilometers south of Nueva Gerona, at the Julio Antonio Mella >Farm, more than 200 agricultural workers are involved in gathering >grapefruit with the purpose of achieving the highest possible >agricultural yield per hectare and with the quality required for sale >on the world market. > >According to the deputy director of the local citrus enterprise, >Victor Hugo Gonzalez Santos, the harvest will surpass 34,000 tons >this year. He told reporters on the Isle of Youth that measures have >been taken to reduce the consumption of oil and energy and to >increase efficiency. > > *CUBAN MUSICIANS RECEIVE INTERNATIONAL PRAISE AT POPKOMM '2000 > >Cologne, August 23 (RHC)-- With the participation of renowned >Cuban musicians at the closing of the International Record Industry >Fair Popkomm '2000, Cuban music took the lead. The Fair was held in >Cologne, Germany and featured a wide panorama of Latin American >music. > >Cuban pianist Chucho Valdes shared the stage with Dominican Michel >Camilo at the Cinenova Hall. Both musicians gave ample proof of >being among the best Latin Jazz interpreters in the world. > >The salsa Orchestra Klimax, led by Cuban musician Giraldo Piloto, >performed in concert to a standing-room only crowd at the >Stadtgarden. Meanwhile, the Cuban band Orishas, which fuses Yoruba >chants with hip-hop, also performed a sell-out concert and received a >standing ovation. > >The Cubadisco exhibition site at Popkomm '2000 was one of the most >visited. Cuban Deputy Minister of Culture Ruben del Valle and the >president of Cuba's International Record Industry Fair, Ciro >Benemelis, led the Cuban delegation to the fair. They met with >cultural authorities from the German State of Nordrhein Westfalen and >the city of Cologne, discussing future cultural exchanges in music >and dance. > > *Viewpoint: MAFIA TACTICS AGAINST THE CUBAN REVOLUTION ARE DOOMED TO >FAILURE > >The Cuban people have heroically struggled and resisted for more than >forty years against the most powerful empire on the face of the >earth. Their efforts have gained the respect of the entire >international community, given that despite the difficulties, the >people of this Caribbean island have been able to carry out a social >project that has not been seen in any other part of the Third World. >And, perhaps more importantly, Cuba has shown the ability of >selflessly sharing its solidarity with the rest of the underdeveloped >world. > >On the other hand, the wealthy countries - those that dominate the >planet's economy and absorb the riches produced by the rest of the >world - have not found it possible to share even a small part of >their infinite wealth with the poor. Despite this sad reality, Cuba >- a Third World country that is criminally blockaded and the target >of Washington's aggressive policies - has sent tens of thousands of >professionals and technicians to the most remote regions of the >world. This action contrasts sharply with the attitude of the >developed countries, which refuse to even recognize >their responsibility in keeping the rest of the Third World in abject >poverty. > >Cuban doctors and medical personnel -- working in Africa, Central >America and Haiti -- could actually do even more if they had access >to the latest medicine and technical equipment: tools that could be >used to serve the needs of millions of people who die of curable >diseases. In some of the countries where they offer their services >free-of-charge, Cuban medical personnel have reported that many >people have never before seen a doctor or nurse. In spite of the >difficulties, Cuban health specialists have been able to >significantly reduce the alarming levels of infant mortality >in countries where they serve. How much more could Cuban doctors >and technicians do if they had access to more resources? Perhaps due >to the selfless work of Cuba's finest professionals, the enemies of >the Cuban Revolution have stepped up their efforts to destroy the >island's image. The actions of the right wing Cuban-American >community in southern Florida - kidnapping and holding six-year-old >Elian Gonzalez against the will of his father and the entire >international community - demonstrated to what levels those people >will stoop. The case of Elian Gonzalez was a scandalous defeat for >the Miami mafia and a tremendous victory for the people of Cuba and >the United States, who worked together to reunite a father with his >son. With this stunning chapter as a back-drop, the right wing Miami >crowd is focussing its attention on luring doctors and medical >personnel from their heroic internationalist tasks, as well as taking >aim at the island's athletes as they prepare for the Sydney Olympics. >Perhaps they are so blinded by their arrogance and hatred of the >Cuban Revolution that they just can't see. > >If they'd take the time to open their eyes, maybe... just maybe... >they'll be able to see that their latest tactics aimed at destroying >an essential element of Cuba's internationalism is also doomed to >failure. > >(c) 2000 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] >=================================================== >nytcari-08.23.00-23:35:18-18609 > > *********** > >sender: [EMAIL PROTECTED] >Delivered-To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] >Date: Thu, 24 Aug 2000 From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] >Subject: Radio Havana Cuba-24 August 2000 > >Radio Havana Cuba-24 August 2000 22:00 Via NY Transfer News > * All the News That Doesn't Fit > Radio Havana Cuba - News Update - 24 August 2000 22:00 > > >*CUBAN PRESIDENT AWARDS OUTSTANDING CUBAN WOMEN >*ROUNDTABLE: WOMEN AND THE CUBAN REVOLUTION >*GUANTANAMO ENDS HURRICANE WATCH, REMAINS ALERT FOR HEAVY RAINS >*MEXICAN GOVERNOR OF QUINTANA ROO ENDS VISIT TO CUBA >*PARTAGAS HABANO HOUSE REACHES SALES OF $2 MILLION >*CUBAN HIGH JUMPER SOTOMAYOR TO COMPETE IN SYDNEY >*Viewpoint: CHILD PROSTITUTION A GROWING INTERNATIONAL PROBLEM > > >*CUBAN PRESIDENT AWARDS OUTSTANDING CUBAN WOMEN > >Havana, August 24 (RHC)--In Havana, Cuban President Fidel Castro >Wednesday attended an activity on the occasion of the 40th >anniversary of the Federation of Cuban Women, FMC. > >In a solemn ceremony held at Havana's Revolution Palace, the Cuban >leader awarded 44 outstanding FMC members the Mariana Grajales and >Ana Betancourt Medals. > >The Cuban Council of State awards the Mariana Grajales and Ana >Betancourt Medals to women who have made significant contributions to >the development of the country. > >During the activity the President of the Federation of Cuban Women, >Vilma Espin, recalled the participation of Cuban women during the >years of struggle for Cubaís independence against Spanish colonialism >and the fight against the Batista dictatorship which led to the >triumph of the Cuban Revolution in 1959. > > *ROUNDTABLE: WOMEN AND THE CUBAN REVOLUTION > >Havana, August 24 (RHC)-Wednesday evening's roundtable, aired live on >Cuban TV and transmitted internationally on the airwaves of Radio >Havana Cuba, centered on the theme of the role of women in the Cuban >Revolution. The roundtable, composed of women representing various >key sectors of Cuban society, analyzed the integral part women play >in socio-economic development. > >The panel opened the session by celebrating the 40th anniversary of >the Federation of Cuban Women - with its president Vilma Espin >present - delineating its involvement in the incorporation of women >politically, economically, and socially in all spheres of >Revolutionary society. Achievements were highlighted in the areas of >health care in which a significant percentage of women not only work >as doctors and nurses in Cuba, but also participate in medical >internationalism abroad in Africa and Latin America. In sports, >Cuban women have come away with gold medals in the Olympic Games. In >the educational arena, women have participated in pedagogical >development at all levels, fostering levels of academic preparation >unparalleled in the Third World and even many industrial countries. >Women comprise over 60 percent of the professional work force >in Cuba. Panelists pointed out that female participation in the Cuban >national assembly and social services is at a high percent, and has >served to consolidate and preserve equality and social justice in >defending the rights of women. The roundtable concluded with a round >of congratulations for Vilma Espin, the and all women participating >in the revolutionary struggle for a better society and a more just >and equitable world. > > *GUANTANAMO ENDS HURRICANE WATCH, REMAINS ALERT FOR HEAVY RAINS > >Havana, August 24 (RHC)--Cuba's National Civil Defense Agency >Thursday morning announced that the eastern provinces are back to >normal following the threat of what is left of Hurricane Debby. > >According to Cuban authorities the eastern provinces of Guantanamo, >Santiago de Cuba and Granma were advised to be on the lookout for >intense tropical storms, especially in mountainous regions. > >The Cuban Civil Defense Agency added that strict security measures >must be taken while returning previously evacuated populations to >their homes in light of storms affecting various parts of the >Caribbean. > > *MEXICAN GOVERNOR OF QUINTANA ROO ENDS VISIT TO CUBA > >Havana, August 24 (RHC)--The Governor of the Mexican state of >Quintana Roo, Joaquin Ernesto Hendricks, has wound up an official >visit to Cuba. > >The Mexican official signed various agreements with Cuban tourism, >education and foreign investment sectors. > >The delegation from Quintana Roo arrived last Sunday in Havana and >extended its stay on the island due to the threat of Hurricane Debby. > >Cuba and the Mexican state have put together a joint commission >on multi-destination tourism in the region, which will facilitate >tourism between the two nations, including the participation of both >the Dominican Republic and Puerto Rico. > > *PARTAGAS HABANO HOUSE REACHES SALES OF $2 MILLION > >Havana, August 24 (RHC)--The Partagas Habano House has sold two >million dollars worth of cigars so far this year. > >The Partagas Habano House celebrates its 7th anniversary in November >which coincides with the 155th anniversary of the Partagas Royal >Cigar Factory of the world famous Habanos, including over 30 >different brands of cigars. > >Habano Houses have been created in a number of countries, managed by >a Cuban-Spanish-French Conglomerate. > > *CUBAN HIGH JUMPER SOTOMAYOR TO COMPETE IN SYDNEY > >Sotomayor, presently taking a week off from intensive training, will >be present for the Sydney Olympic Games accompanied by 20 Cuban >trainers, it was announced today. > >Sotomayor, who two days ago suffered an injury during an >international competition in Italy, is taking a week of doctor >ordered rest. Doctors at the Pisa University Clinic conducted a >thorough medical check of his left leg, determining that the high >jumper's injury was minor. > >Sotomayor was slightly injured when he hit the bar while jumping over >the 2.28 meter mark whilst practicing. This was his third official >presentation after the IAAF lifted a two year sanction related to >alleged doping charges. His first appearance was in Montauban, >France, on August 15th and three days later in Monaco with 2.28 and >2.30 meter marks. > >Sotomayor will remain in Viarregio a couple of extra days before >continuing his training for the Olympic Games. > >Close to 20 Cuban sports trainers will be training and advising >athletes from other nations taking part at the Sydney Olympic games >as part of the island's internationalist work. > >Currently, some 500 sports specialists offer their services in 46 >countries while more than nine thousand of them have rendered their >services in roughly 100 countries since 1970, when Cuba first >initiated sports solidarity work. > > *Viewpoint: CHILD PROSTITUTION A GROWING INTERNATIONAL PROBLEM > >>From Bangkok to Lima, from San Salvador all the way to the southern >Italian >town of Andria - we are seeing increasing cases of sexual >abuse of children >and child prostitution. This sad situation is >almost always the result of >the growing poverty that is sweeping the >Third World. > >Sex tourism is on the rise in Asia - which is now the continent >hardest hit by this trade. According to analysts, the plague of child >prostitution reached epidemic proportions following the financial >crisis that hit Asia in 1997. > >During a recent regional conference on the issue of child >prostitution and sexual abuse, organized by the United Nations in >Bangkok, participants heard from experts who showed that the number >of young people leaving school and working the streets to survive has >risen astronomically. It was also revealed that pedophiles - those >who have an abnormal sexual attraction to children - are paying less >for a night with a small child, given that the increasing supply and >demand have driven down the prices of little boys and girls. For >example, in Asia alone, it is estimated that nearly one >million children sell their bodies to foreign visitors - an illicit >industry that is generating more than five billion dollars a year. > >Statistics show that the two Asian countries that are leading the >world in child prostitution are India -- where half a million >children are victims of sexual abuse -- and Thailand -- with nearly a >quarter of a million children forced into prostitution. > >Unfortunately, weak legislation and/or corrupt government officials >have allowed the dramatic situation to continue. Many pedophiles - >some actually caught in the act - have been released only hours after >being arrested due to legal loopholes or financial bribes. Twenty >British citizens were recently charged with sexual abuse of children >in Thailand, but they were allowed to leave jail - and fly out of the >country - after they were able to post bond. But Asia isn't the only >area of the world that is experiencing this growing social problem. >In Lima, the Peruvian capital, newspaper ads announce that children >can be purchased for anywhere between 25 to 200 dollars a night. In >El Salvador child abuse has dramatically risen in the first quarter >of this year, with many of the children murdered afterwards. And in >Italy a recent case involving the murder of two little girls >has horrified a nation which is one of the safest nations in Europe >for children. > >The exploitation of children is perhaps one of the most >decadent consequences of the principle of putting profits before >people. A principle that controls the majority of the world's >economies today. > >(c) 2000 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] >=================================================== >nytcari-08.24.00-22:14:17-9147 " JC > > _______________________________________ KOMINFORM P.O. Box 66 00841 Helsinki - Finland +358-40-7177941, fax +358-9-7591081 e-mail [EMAIL PROTECTED] http://www.kominf.pp.fi _______________________________________ [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subscribe/unsubscribe messages mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] [EMAIL PROTECTED] [EMAIL PROTECTED] [EMAIL PROTECTED] ________________________________________
