Comrades,

We also value the demand you are making today demanding the end of the cruel blockade and the removal of Cuba from the spurious list of countries sponsoring terrorism.

The economic, commercial and financial blockade is the main obstacle to our development; it prevents us from obtaining indispensable inputs and impacts all areas of society. It is a hostile policy that also deprives the U.S. people of the medical, cultural and scientific potential that Cuba offers.

We demand respect for our sovereignty and an end to the illegal occupation of the Guantanamo Naval Base.

It is essential to face the disinformation campaigns against the Cuban Revolution and the aggressions in the digital networks promoted by the circles of power in the U.S. with the aim of breaking the will of Cubans to remain free and independent.

The unity and creative resistance of our people demonstrate that [neo]imperialism has no capacity to overcome the force of truth and ideas.

Cuba will continue to defend peace, building an ever more just socialist society in solidarity with the oppressed peoples of the world.

Hasta la Victoria Siempre!

Communist Party of Cuba

Havana, Jan 24 (Prensa Latina) The Cuban government today approved a three-month increase in the social benefit for maternity, as part of the actions planned to correct distortions and boost the economy in 2024.

Granma newspaper reported that the communiqué informing the measure, published on the government’s official networks, explains that protecting the most precious thing for our family, infants, is a priority for the Revolution.

Granma adds that from this moment on, mothers and fathers will be able to be with their babies until they are 15 months old, three more than the 12 months established so far. This is the second time in less than five years that Cuba has adopted a resolution of great benefit for parents and their families.

In October 2021 the approval by the Council of State, Decree Law 56 “On Working Mothers and the Responsibility of Families” increased and equalized guarantees for working mothers in the state and non-state sector.

This decree is also noteworthy because it included the payment of 100 percent of the worker’s salary in the event of a risky pregnancy and the elimination of the requirement of having worked 75 days to be entitled to receive economic and social benefits.

In turn, the entry into force of Decree Law 71 in 2023 extended the exercise of the right to protection for the care of the daughter or child to other working persons.

This new regulation introduced changes in line with the Family Code as a consequence of multiparentality, adoptive, assisted and socio-affective filiation.

cross-posted from: https://lemmygrad.ml/post/3373992

Havana, Jan 19 (Prensa Latina) Cuban President Miguel Díaz-Canel today ratified the historical commitment and solidarity of Cuba with the cause of the Palestinian people.

“For Cubans, Palestine is a close sister nation; the cause of its people has always been defended by the Revolution,” the president wrote in his account on the X social network.

Díaz-Canel noted that in days of so much horror in the Gaza Strip due to Isn'treal aggression, Cuba renews its firm commitment to a free Palestine.

In various international scenarios, Cuba has demanded a just, comprehensive and lasting solution to the Palestinian-Isn'treal conflict, including the creation of an independent Palestinian state within the pre-1967 borders, with East Jerusalem as its capital and the return of refugees.

According to official figures, since the beginning of the Isn'treal aggression last October 7, more than 24,400 Palestinians were killed in the Gaza Strip, over 61,500 were wounded and other thousands were declared missing.

cross-posted from: https://lemmygrad.ml/post/3373985

Havana, Jan 19 (Prensa Latina) The Cuban Foreign Ministry reiterated its firm and unchanging support to the principle of "one China", stating that the Caribbean country recognizes Taiwan as an inalienable part of China's territory.

In an official statement, the Foreign Ministry expressed Cuba’s support to Beijing “in the face of the pretensions of secessionist forces and external actors to take advantage of this issue to undermine the territorial integrity and sovereignty of the People’s Republic of China, intervene in its internal affairs and undermine regional and international peace and security”.

The text reaffirms that “Cuba’s position is consistent with United Nations General Assembly resolution 2758 of October 25, 1971, and with the position of the overwhelming majority of the international community that officially recognizes the People’s Republic of China as the sole and legitimate representative of the entire Chinese people”.

In this sense, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs highlights in its statement that “Cuba also recognizes and supports the efforts of the Chinese Government to achieve national reunification”.

The Hatuey Project has been working since July, 2022 to provide material aid for Cuba's medical needs, to help Cuba overcome the crippling effects of the 60-year long U.S. blockade of Cuba combined with the unjust "State Sponsor of Terrorism" designation. Watch the new video above summarizing our work since then, and please help our efforts by donating what you can. 100% of your tax-deductible donation goes to providing medicine for Cuba. We are happy to be partnering with IFCO/Pastors for Peace in this important work.

Donate

On behalf of The Hatuey Project, we thank you for your past support, and hope you will be able to continue to support this valuable solidarity project in the future.

We wish you all a Happy New Year, with health, happiness, and success in all your endeavors. For true peace and justice and an end to the Blockade in 2024!

Gloria La Riva, Coordinator, The Hatuey Project
Rachel Viqueira, MHS, Epidemiologist
Andira Alves, New England Hatuey Coordinator
Nadia Marsh, MD, Assoc. Prof. of Clinical Medicine
Simon Ma, MD, MPH, Family Medicine
Leni Villagómez Reeves, MD
Will Kohr, RN

(Taken from an email sent to me by the Hatuey Project. Emphasis original.

Cuban revolutionary leader Fidel Castro died of natural causes seven years ago today after surviving 634 CIA assassination attempts.

Using exploding cigars, a contaminated diving suit, poisoned drinks, poisoned pens, paramilitary invasions, CIA-built special weapons, and assassination plots with the Cuban Mafia, Washington's intelligence service tried every trick in the book to eliminate Castro. However, he survived to the age of 90, passing away peacefully in 2016.

By Alejandra Garcia on November 19, 2023 from Havana

In little more than a month, 12,000 Palestinians have been killed by [neocolonialism], including 5,000 children, before the passive gaze of the governments of the world. It is the people of these countries who are protesting in large numbers for an end to the conflict that is leaving Palestine in ruins, in almost non-existent living conditions. Every day, thousands and hundreds of thousands of demonstrators around the world take to the streets in favor of peace, and Cuba does not remain indifferent either, as our government and the people call in one voice for a cease-fire and the self determination of the Palestinian people.

On Friday, in a gesture of profound respect, Cuban President Miguel Diaz-Canel and other leaders invited 144 young Palestinians studying medicine in Cuba to a meeting at the Palace of the Revolution. And it was emotional and heartbreaking.

“What a shame of humanity. Tears and even words are not enough to alleviate the pain of the Palestinian people who are being wiped out in an act of extermination perpetrated by Israel,” the Cuban president stressed.

Fifty-three out of the 144 Palestinians who attended the meeting live in the Gaza Strip. This is the case of Maria, 22, who has already witnessed four wars in her country. She expressed her gratitude for the act of solidarity at the Palace of the Revolution, one of the many others that have taken place throughout the Caribbean country in support of the Palestinian people since October 6.

“In Gaza, mothers carry their children twice: once in their wombs and once in their shrouds. It’s hard to be away from family, but my mother has asked me to continue studying, not to give up, because medicine is the noblest job in the world. ‘Raise up your name and the name of Palestine, she told me,” the young student recounted.

Mohammed Ahmed Zannoun, who has been in Cuba for nine months, told how he and his friends cannot let the day go by without talking to their families. “What do we Palestinians want? A free homeland. We are not asking for anything else,” he said, adding how grateful he and his fellow students are for Cuba’s support amid so much indifference from the international community.

One prevailing sentiment prevailed in the auditorium. “Our territory won’t be razed to the ground, and our people won’t be exterminated because there will always be a combatant left standing.” And an image prevailed as well; that of the students placed on the shoulders of the Cuban leaders a traditional keffiyeh that symbolizes the Palestinian people, the same item that Fidel once wore on the shoulders of his uniform.

“We Cubans learned to defend the Palestinian cause from the internationalist and humanist vision of the historic leader of our Revolution, Commander in Chief Fidel Castro Ruz, who was always a friend of that nation that demands its right to self-determination,” the president declared.

This Friday, the Cuban and Palestinian flags also illuminated the facade of the José Martí monument in the emblematic Plaza de la Revolución, thanks to renowned Cuban artists.

The island has expressed on numerous occasions its unconditional support for the right of Palestine to be a free and sovereign state, with its capital in East Jerusalem and in pre-1967 borders. This yearning has been frustrated by the interference of US-backed [neocolony], whose land confiscation, illegal settlements, and widespread discrimination have inflicted suffering on the Palestinian population, stripping them of their fundamental rights.

“We strongly condemn Israel’s genocide. We will accompany Palestine in fulfilling its dream. As Fidel once said, it is time to put an end to the philosophy of dispossession so that the philosophy of war dies due to lack of incentives,” the Cuban president concluded.

(Taken from an email sent to me by the Cuba and Venezuela Solidarity Committee. Emphasis original.)

In times of so much pain, I stand in solidarity with the Palestinian people, and join the worldwide call for the immediate cessation of the genocide in Gaza.

I join all voices speaking out against the colonial usurpation of the Palestinian territories and the cruel and merciless persecution of their citizens.

It is time to call for the release of all Palestinian prisoners in order to guarantee the freedom of the kidnapped [neocolonial] soldiers.

I also stand in solidarity with people of the Jewish faith, who confront Zionism with dignity and courage throughout the world. I join those who condemn violations of international law by [neocolonialism], and cry out: “Not in our name” or “Palestine: From the river to the sea.”

In these terrible days of genocide in Gaza, I have been moved to hear the tender sound of the word “habibi” (love) amid the sobs of children as they kiss their loved ones for the last time, alongside the heartbreaking scenes of mothers, fathers, siblings, health workers weeping in despair for the innocent lives torn away by Zionist barbarism.

Humanity feels an incurable pain and an indignation that is hurting every day.

In socialist Cuba, it is a different story. There are enough doctors, nurses and other medical workers, psychiatrists and psychologists to cover the entire Cuban population. “The physician to citizen ratio in Cuba is the world’s highest, with 8 physicians to every 1,000 citizens, more than double the ratio of physicians to citizens in the U.S. (Gonzalez Mendez, 2005; Campion & Morrissey, 2015)

In Cuba, “Mental and medical healthcare are free and fully integrated. Early diagnosis and intervention are standard, as each patient is known by their community doctor/nurse team from infancy through old age and by yearly home visits.” (“Learning about mental healthcare in today’s Cuba: An interview with the president of the Cuban society of psychology,” — Linz, Sheila J & Ruiz, Alexis Lorenzo, 2020)

If informed by a family member of a psychiatric problem, an intervention in Cuba can occur early before the mental health problem becomes a crisis. Doctors and nurses have established relationships with their patients, and usually live in the same community with government-supported, rent-free housing to foster long-standing relationships (“Briefing on the Cuban Mental Health System,” Jeffrey Kleinberg, 2018).

If the profit motive is removed, a “cure” for the dreaded mental ‘diseases’ of schizophrenia, paranoia, bipolar disorder or any of the diagnoses contained under the rubric of SMI is relatively simple and effective, as is demonstrated in Cuba. This occurs despite the crippling sanctions imposed by the United States.

Díaz-Canel stressed that, “It is necessary to remove the international barriers that have hindered access to knowledge by developing countries and their use of such determining factors for economic and social progress.”

We were able to offer to the world the solidarity that Washington did not give to the Cuban people with our medical brigades, in the worst moments of the pandemic.

We are pleased that Cuba was able to successfully develop three homegrown COVID-19 vaccines, as well as immunize its pediatric population as of two years of age and vaccinate more than 90 percent of Cubans, in spite of the blockade.

As is known, the government of Cuba has expressed its willingness to move towards a better understanding with the government of the United States and to foster civilized and cooperative relations, based on mutual respect and without prejudice to the sovereignty of the United States.

We will continue to promote and facilitate the broadest possible ties with numerous sectors of this country that want to get closer to Cuba.

Pentagon press secretary Brig. Gen. Patrick S. Ryder called the WSJ report “inaccurate” during a June 8 briefing. “We are not aware of China and Cuba developing any type of spy station,” said Ryder, adding that “the relationship that those two countries share is something that we continuously monitor.” (thehill.com, June 8)

White House national security spokesman John F. Kirby then denied the WSJ story. “I’ve seen that press report. It’s not accurate,” Kirby told MSNBC. (June 8) How the media and the politicians handled the false report illustrated how the U.S. ruling class and its political system is geared to moving toward confrontation and war.

Show solidarity with the workers of Cuba and all of the people who have suffered for literally no reason and join us in demanding an end to the blockade.

Batista wanted Haydée Santamaría to divulge Fidel’s whereabouts. To force her to speak, the torturers showed her her brother’s eyes and Boris’ dismembered genitalia. This grotesque act of intimidation, however, did not break her revolutionary strength. She defied her own torturers and remained silent. “If you did that to them, and they didn’t talk, much less will I.”

Santamaría wrote to her mother from prison: “Abel will always be with us. Cuba exists, and Fidel is alive to build the Cuba that Abel wanted.” She said, “Abel is not dead, for to die for your country is to live.”

[…]

Santamaría’s political convictions were based on experience, not just theory or pure logic. She saw that it was not enough to change one politician for another, that it became necessary to change systems in order to change humans. “Changeover had to be total. Then it had to be ours, absolutely ours. . . . For me, to be a Communist does not mean only joining a party; it means having an attitude towards life.”

The most important concept underlying mental health services in Cuba is the strength of the relationship between mental health care and Cuban society as a whole. Mental health care is completely integrated into Cuban society. The orientation of health care in general is preventive, through education and frequent contact, so that potential health problems are spotted early before they become serious. Psychologists and other mental health workers are included.

Teams make regular visits to people in their sector, focusing especially on high-risk groups, such as children from birth to four years old, the elderly, people with diabetes and people with high blood pressure — all as part of an exercise of preventive medicine.

Since March 13, Cuban banks have been accepting the Mir card issued in Russia, which allows cash withdrawals by converting rubles into Cuban pesos and favors transactions by tourists or businessmen from the Eurasian nation on the island.

Since March 13, Cuban banks have been accepting the MIR card, issued in Russia, which allows making cash withdrawals by converting rubles into Cuban pesos, and which favors transactions by tourists or businessmen from the Eurasian nation on the island. This payment system defies the criminal blockade imposed by the United States on Cuba for more than six decades, because it establishes links between financial organizations of the two countries, including third parties that use these gateways. The Russian agency Sputnik recently quoted the Russian ambassador to Havana, Andrei Guskov, who put forward these arguments and added that the implementation of this system should have a positive effect on the increase in the flow of Russian tourists to the island. Likewise, Professor Luis René Fernández Tabío, researcher at the Center for Research on International Economy of the University of Havana, said that "it is a contribution to the balance of payments, and with it the country can import goods and services from the Eurasian nation," in addition to protecting the bilateral link from the negative impact of the blockade. For Fernández Tabío it is also a window that contributes to break the direct and indirect effects of the economic war applied against Russia through Western sanctions, which prohibit the import and export of goods, services and technology. The Cuban expert explained that the MIR payment system constitutes a step outside the Swift system, and could favor the incorporation of Cuba to a method of transactions at the moment it becomes generalized, either within the BRICS (Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa) or other alternative mechanisms created to escape the predominance of the dollar and its entire system of unilateral coercive economic measures, illegal from any point of view and violators of human rights.

In a March 2020 talk to the National Network on Cuba, University of Glasgow lecturer Dr. Helen Yaffe stated that Cuba initiated biotechnology five years before the first capitalist biotech company was established. Dr. Yaffe explained that Cuban biotech was nonprofit — based on collaboration, not competition — and is tied to their education system.

“Cuba bet on biotechnology very early, opening the first research manufacturing facility in the country in 1981,” said Agustín Lage, founder and former director of BioCubaFarma’s Center of Molecular Immunology. “Those early steps set the stage for the sector’s current performance in Cuba — supplying over 60% of the country’s essential medicines list, exporting to more than 40 countries, registering innovative products, showing tangible impact in public health and owning more than 2,000 patent filings worldwide.”

Havana, March 14 (ACN) The director of Mexico’s Institute of Social Security Zoe Robledo announce on Tuesday the increase in the hiring of Cuban doctors.

During a press conference given on Tuesday by President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador, Robledo explained that the number of Cuban doctors to Mexico will double the nearly 600 specialists already working in that country, according to PL news agency.

In May 2022, Cuba and Mexico signed a health accord including the training of medical professionals, research, vaccines, drugs and the hiring of Cuban doctors by Mexico.

HAVANA, Cuba, Mar 14 (ACN) Cuban authorities and institutions congratulate today the country's media workers, on the occasion of the Press Day, which evokes the creation of the newspaper Patria, considered a paradigm of revolutionary journalism.

Miguel Diaz-Canel, First Secretary of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of Cuba (PCC) and President of the Republic, stressed that the national press, with ethics and truth as principles, honors every day the publication founded on March 14, 1892 by national hero Jose Marti.

On Twitter, the president wished happy day to the press professionals, and said that in Cuba that profession fights against inefficiency and brakes to development, while recognizing the effort and results.

Meanwhile, the President of the National Assembly of People's Power, Esteban Lazo, highlighted in his congratulations the loyalty of the press workers to Marti's legacy and their dedication to the homeland and the Cuban people.

For his part, Prime Minister Manuel Marrero said on the same social network that the professionals of the press sector exercise their work with passion and honor.

The journalists' guild closes today the day of celebrations for its day, with the closing of the 2nd International Colloquium Patria, the presentation of the Jose Marti and Juan Gualberto Gomez National Journalism Awards, and a political-cultural event on the steps of the University of Havana.

March 11-12, Fordham University, NYC

International US-Cuba Normalization Conference

An International Conference on US-Cuba Normalization will be held next weekend, March 11-12. The conference is an in-person event at Fordham University in New York City, but the Plenary sessions will also livestreamed. Pre-registration for the conference for in-person and virtual attendance is required, and can be done here.

The conference is packed with events:

Saturday, March 11:

• 9:15-11:45 am: Cuba solidarity short film festival
• 12:00 pm: Plenary session, featuring a keynote presentation by Noemi Rabaza Fernandez, First Vice-President, Cuban Institute of Friendship with the Peoples (ICAP) and a presentation on prospects for removing Cuba from the "State Sponsors of Terrorism" list
• 2:00-3:30 pm: Concurrent panels
• Cuba and the African diaspora, featuring presentations by Ambassador Yuri Gala Lopez – Deputy Permanent Representative, Cuban UN Mission and Professor Kenia Serrano, Dean of Preparatory School of Languages, University of Havana, Coordinator, Cuba in Africa Oral History Project
• Women's Rights in Cuba today, featuring three panelists from the Federacíon de Mujeres Cubanas (FMC)
• Cuba and Youth Solidarity
• Cuba and the Labor Movement
• 4:00-5:30: Concurrent panels
• Organizing the movement in the streets
• Resolutions and legislative outreach
• Solidarity travel
• 8:00-9:30 pm: Public rally featuring a message from the Cuban Ambassador to the United States, Lianys Torres Rivera

Sunday, March 12

• 9:30 am: Special film presentation
• 11:00-2:00 pm: Closing plenary

Full details about the conference and all the speakers can be found on the conference website.

(Message courtesy of an email from the Cuba and Venezuela Solidarity Committee.)