Cuba News-May 2010

Cuban Ballerina to Visit New York in June
Friday, May 7 2010-Alicia Alonso, a prima ballerina from Cuba, is returning to New York and the American Ballet Theatre to celbrate her 90th birthday at the place where she got her start in dance seven decades ago.

Cuba Suffers Exodus of the Best and the Brightest as Economy Remains in the Doldrums
Sunday, May 9 2010-Havana is being emptied of young people who are choosing emigration after Raul Castro's promises of more freedom come to nothing.

The Latest on Cuba-April 2010

Cuban Church Leader Speaks of Harsh Crisis
April 20, 2010-the head of the Roman Catholic Church in Cuba speaks of a harsh crisis in regards to the current situation of the Cuban people.

Poll Shows Americans want Better Ties with Cuba
April 19, 2010-an opinion poll revealed 58% of those surveyed supported full diplomatic relations between the U.S. and Cuba.

Cuba News

Cuba-The New York Times
The most recent news on Cuba provided by the New York Times. Castro and Cuba-US relations are both commented on.

Dissident Drowns Attempting Return to Cuba
April 7, 2010-Associated Press-A Cuban opposition activist who moved to the U.S. and was denied permission last year to return home has drowned trying to sneak back to the communist island nation aboard a boat, fellow dissidents said Wednesday.

Miami Herald
Link to the Miami Herald website. Frequent information from Cuba and other Cuban related issues. 

Fellow Prisoner Dies

Havana Journal
February 24, 2010-Cuban dissident Orlando Zapata Tamayo is dead after an 80-day hunger strike to demand better jail conditions. Orlando was arrested with Normando back in 2003 due to opposition against the Cuban Government.

Recent News from Cuba

Amnesty Calls for More Freedom in Cuba
March 16, 2010-The human rights group Amnesty international appealed to Cuban President Raul Castro to release political prisoners and scrap laws that restrict fundamental freedoms, using the seventh anniversary of a major crackdown on dissent to call for change.

Castro's Cuba at 50
Pictures of Cuba posted by The New York Times Magazine.

Cuba-The New York Times
The latest news articles on Cuba from The New York Times.

Cuban Crackdown Anniversary Marked with Protest
March 18, 2010-Hundreds of government supporters surrounded a small group of Cuban dissidents as they marched through Havana on Thursday on the seventh anniversary of the arrests of their loved ones, screaming abuse but otherwise allowing the protest to proceed peacefully.

Links to Normando

The following links provide more information on Normando's current condition and other activists looking to bring justice to this case:

Blog: "Uncommon Sense: For a Free Cuba. And More."

Havana Journal: Update on Cuban Dissident Normando Hernandez Gonzalez

Bloomberg.com: Mother of Jailed Writer to Sit With First Lady at Bush Speech

Cuba: Insufficient Medical Assistance for Normando in Solitary Confinement

Cuba in the News-February 2010

Spain Asks Cuba for Better Treatment of Political Prisoners
Latin American Herald Tribune-During a meeting in Madrid last Thursday, Spain asked the Cuban government to provide better humanitarian treatment for ailing dissidents; the meeting was held to discuss the state of human rights on the communist-ruled island.

Cuba Criticizes U.S. Diplomats for Meeting with Dissidents
February 20, 2010-Cuba criticized U.S. diplomats Saturday for meeting with political opponents after bilateral talks on immigration in Havana, accusing the American diplomats of "promoting subversion."

Cuban and U.S. Officials Meet in Havana to Discuss Migration
February 19, 2010-Dagoberto Rodriguez, Cuba's deputy minister of foreign affairs, met with U.S. delegation led by Craig Kelly for several hours this past Friday to discuss migration issues.


Cuba Blasts U.S. Leaders for Meeting With Dissidents
February 20, 2010-Cuba scolded a top U.S. delegation Saturday for meeting with political opposition leaders following high-level immigration discussions, saying it proves Washington is out to topple the country's communist government.

2010-U.S. and Cuba Relations

Obama Administration to Spend Millions on Cuba
February 3, 2010-The president officially loosened Cuba travel and money remittance policies in 2009, and now plans to spend millions on programs designed to bring about Democratic change in Cuba.

Cuba: Accord on Human Trafficking Sought with U.S.
January 28, 2010-According to foreign minister, Bruno Rodriguez, Cuba wants to negotiate an agreement with the United States to slow the trafficking of its citizens fleeing the island. 

Updates Coming Soon!

Roger Williams University Pen Collaborative has been on break for the past month but has plans of continuing with the fight to free Normando Gonzalez at the beginning of the semester in January. To all our followers, we encourage you to pay attention and be aware of the upcoming changes to our blog. Thank you to those followers and please spread the word in support of Normando.

Bloggers in Cuba

Special Report: Chronicling Cuba, bloggers offer fresh hope
The Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) has recently published a special report on the independent blogging culture that is emerging in Cuba.

Current Events in Cuba

Cuba-The New York Times
A Cuban blog hosted by the New York Times that gives the latest information on Cuban relations.

Kennedy Library Gets Hemingway Papers From Cuba
October 29, 2009-Cuba's Ministry of Culture is giving copies of 3,000 letters and documents, amassed during Ernest Hemingway's years in cuba from 1939 to 1960, to the John F. Kennedy Presidential Library and Museum in Boston.

U.S. Embargo on Cuba Again Finds Scant Support at U.N.
October 28, 2009-Trade between the United States and Cuba remains strict as a result of the American trade embargo against Cuba.

Cuba Magazine Slams "Bad Taste" Castro Sister Book
November 2, 2009-An official Cuban publication is labeled as "a bad taste commercial operation" after revealing that the younger sister of Fidel and Raul Castro worked for the CIA in Cuba in the early 1960s.

Cuba Cuts Back on Rationed Products
November 7, 2009-Cubans are now forced to pay full price for potatoes and peas, two foods that are essential to islanders and were once rationed at only a fraction of the cost; making the decades-old subsidies become nearly eliminated.

New England's 7th Spanish-language Paper Begins Publishing
November 6, 2009-A group of Latino journalists in Massachusettes has launched New England’s seventh Spanish-language weekly newspaper.

Attention RWU Students & Faculty

Tonight there will be a Cuban inspired dinner in honor of Normando Hernandez Gonzalez in the upper commons dining facility.

Between 5 and 7 pm members of the PEN Collaborative will be available to provide information on Normando's story as well as distributing letters to be signed and mailed to various government officials in hopse of getting the word out about Normando and bringing justice to an imprisoned journalist.

For all who attend, we look forward to meeting you and hope you enjoy a taste of Cuban culture!

Cuban Blogger Wins Top Honor in Journalism

Yoani Sanchez: Virtually Outspoken in Cuba 

October 17, 2009-A 34-year-old Cuban writer, editor and linguistics scholar, Yoani Sanchez, became the first blogger to win one of the Maria Moors Cabot Prizes given by Columbia University for journalism that advances inter-American understanding.

Cuba News (October 2009)

Justices to Decide if Detainees Can be Freed in US 

October 21, 2009-The decision to allow prisoners held at Guantanamo Bay in Cuba a fair trial has been up for discussion among the Obama administration. 

Spanish FM Shuns Dissidents During Cuba Visit

October 19, 2009-Spain's foreign minister, Miguel Angel Moratinos, met with Cuban leader Raul Castro and other government leaders this past Monday, but passed on a chance to visit dissidents, political activists, independent Cuban journalists or members of Havana-based human rights organizations in fear of enraging the Cuban government. 

Cuba in the News (Week 10/5/09)

The Cuba Feed
October 14, 2009-The Cuba Feed is a frequently updated news feed of current events in Cuba, published by The New York Times.

New York Philharmonic Won't Go to Cuba Without Patrons
October 1, 2009-The New York Philharmonic has cancelled its trip to Cuba at the end of October because the United States government is preventing a group of patrons from going along, thus leaving the orchestra without the necessary donations to support the trip.

Showcase: Sisyphean Days in Cuba
September 30, 2009-A photojournalists blog of Cuba using multimedia to depict the country in its current state.

Leader Ousted, Honduras Hires U.S. Lobbyists
October 7, 2009-The U.S. demands to restore power to Manuel Zelaya as Honduran president have been resisted by the de facto goernment and its supporters.

House-Senate Panel Offers Plan for Gitmo Detainees
October 5, 2009-Terror suspects held at Guantanamo Bay in Cuba are being allowed the opportunity to continue to be transferred into the United States to face trial.

House Approves Defense Policy Bill Over Objections
October 8, 2009-A major defense policy bill that calls for continued development of a costly alternative engine for the Pentagon's next-generation fighter jet was passed by the House last Thursday.

Bringing Attention to Imprisoned Bloggers in Cuba

Journalism Watchdog Calls for Cuba Blogger Freedom
September 11, 2009-Earlier this month, the Boston Globe published an article on a U.S.-based journalist watchdog group calling for an end to what is described as "systemic harassment" of bloggers and independent journalists in Cuba, urging the international community to step up its lobbying on the bloggers' behalf.

The United States and Cuba Relations

Cuba Somewhat Conciliatory Toward Washington at UN
September 28, 2009-Cuba tells the United Nations that the communist regime is ready to normalize relations with the United States.

US Beats Cuba 10-5 to Win Baseball World Cup
September 27, 2009-The United States defended its baseball World Cup title with a 10-5 victory over Cuba.

AP Newsbreak: US, Cuba held Unannounced Talks
September 29, 2009-Representatives of the U.S. and Cuban governments held "high-level" talks in Havana, raising hopes for a thaw in long-icy relations.

U.S. Official Meets With Cuban Authorities
September 29, 2009-Ways to improve cooperation on migration and the fight against drug trafficking have been recently discussed between Cuba and the United States.

A More Conciliatory Ahmadinejad at the U.N.
September 23, 2009-American politics including Cuba.

Belafonte Calls for Better US-Cuba Relations
September 18, 2009-American singer speaks about about US-Cuba relations and hopes for progress in the right direction.

Timeline: Castro's Cuba
A slide show of video and images of Cuba, specifically a general overview on Castro's Cuba.

Attention RWU Students & Faculty

There will be a Cuban inspired dinner on Friday, November 4th in the commons in honor of Normando.

The goal is to provide information on Normando's story and ask for your support in bringing justice to imprisoned writers in Cuba.

We look forward to seeing you there!

Sincerely,

RWU's Pen Collaborative

Cuba in the News

The Cuba Feed 

A continuously updated news feed on Cuba published in The New York Times.

Cuba: U.S. Officials Visit to Discuss Mail Service 

September 17, 2009-a brief article in The New York Times on re-establishing a direct mail service between the United States and Cuba. 

An Artful Visit to Cuba Made Easy 

September 9, 2009-traveling to Cuba is becoming less strict leading people to take vacations to the island with a focus on Cuban culture. 

Cuban Exile's Plan for a Ferry from Miami to Havana is Awaiting U.S. Approval 

September 12, 2009-A ferry between the U.S. and Cuba is cheaper than flying. 

US, Cuba talk about restarting direct mail service  

September 17, 2009-the Boston Globe goes into detail on mail service between the U.S. and Cuba, particularly how mail would be transported, methods of payment and postal security. 

Cuba Won't Make Moves to Better US Relations

September 17, 2009-Despite the U.S. desire for some reforms that will lead to better ties, Cuba refuses to cooperate. 

Obama Extends Cuba Embargo 1 Year

September 15, 2009-President Obama says he will not lift the embargo until Cuba undertakes democratic and economic reforms.