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Fidel Castro Ruz

An undefeated Fidel inspires us with his example

An undefeated Fidel inspires us with his example
It was not in vain that Fidel united dozens of leaders from sister countries and more than a million Cubans in Havana, moved an entire people along the funeral procession that followed the route traveled by the Caravan of Liberty in 1959 – this time in reverse – and concentrated in this heroic city more dignitaries and friends from abroad and hundreds of thousands of Cubans from the country’s eastern provinces

Massive posthumous tribute to Comandante en Jefe Fidel Castro in Santiago de Cuba’s Antonio Maceo Plaza de la Revolución.

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Photo: Estudio Revolución
Santiago de Cuba.—”All the glory in the world would fit within a kernel of corn,” wrote Cuba’s national hero José Martí, but today it seems that all of the glory in the world fits in a small cedar chest draped with a Cuban flag, bearing a simple inscription: Fidel Castro Ruz, with no letters indicating military rank or position, that weighed heavy in the hearts of those present in this city’s Antonio Maceo Grajales Plaza de la Revolución.
It was not in vain that Fidel united dozens of leaders from sister countries and more than a million Cubans in Havana, moved an entire people along the funeral procession that followed the route traveled by the Caravan of Liberty in 1959 – this time in reverse – and concentrated in this heroic city more dignitaries and friends from abroad and hundreds of thousands of Cubans from the country’s eastern provinces.
“I am Fidel!” was the cry that emerged from the hearts of those moved by the national anthem, because only an undefeated Comandante en Jefe, who inspires us with his example, is able to reproduce himself in men, women, and children committed to continuing his work and making his ideas their own.
As witnesses Fidel had, along with his family and brother – a comrade in all battles – a Black brother who faithfully accompanied him in ideas and action, Juan Almeida Bosque, immortalized in a sculpture on the Heredia Theater flanking the Plaza, as well as the Bronze Titan Antonio Maceo whose likeness calls us to battle.
Thus the pain, the sadness, the silence accumulated over the days since the night of November 25, were during the final tribute transformed into the determination to honor Fidel with commitment.

Continue reading An undefeated Fidel inspires us with his example →

Fidel Castro

¡Hasta la victoria siempre! The world bids farewell to a giant of world history / Spanish/Enlgish

 

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Ha nacido una nueva estrella en el firmamento

Los compañeros de Casa de las Américas NY nos
unimos al inmenso dolor del pueblo Cubano,
por el fallecimiento de nuestro querido comandante.
Su ejemplo de lucha revolucionaria nos han de hacer
más fuerte en nuestro empeño en defensa de la revolución
y lograr más temprano que tarde el levantamiento del
criminal bloqueo a nuestra patria Cuba.

A los detractores del querido comandante que hoy
celebran en Miami la muerte de este, decimos que nada
ni nadie podrá empañar tan radiante figura.
Hoy el comandante “se pasea serena y tranquilamente
por la sombra de la muerte.”

A new star has been born in the Universe.

The companions of Casa de Las Améreicas NY
partake in the immense pain of the Cuban people,
due to the death of our beloved commander.
His example of revolutionary struggle makes
us stronger in our efforts to defend the revolution
and to achieve sooner than later, the lifting of the
criminal blockade of our homeland Cuba.

To the detractors of the beloved commander celebrating
his death in Miami today, we tell you that nothing and no
one will be able to tarnish such a radiant figure.

Today the commander “walks serenely and peacefully
through the shadow of death.”

Blockade

Minute by minute: Cuba vs. the blockade, in the United Nations

Minute by minute: Cuba vs. the blockade, the world has the floor
Follow the presentation of Cuba’s resolution in the United Nations calling for an end to the U.S. blockade • Witness international condemnation of this hostile policy.

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Author: Granma | internet@granma.cu
october 26, 2016 12:10:04

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12:25.- Final vote: 191 in favor // 2 abstentions // and zero against. For the first time in history, the world unanimously rejects the U.S. blockade against Cuba.

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12:10.- Rodríguez thanked Samantha Power for her touching words regarding the Cuban doctor who contracted Ebola whilst serving on an internationalist mission in West Africa, noting however, that Cuban medical assistance has been hindered by Washington’s financial persecution of the island.

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12:07.- The Cuban Minister highlights the incalculable human losses caused by the blockade; noting that there is not a single Cuban family that has not suffered its effects.

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Continue reading Minute by minute: Cuba vs. the blockade, in the United Nations →

Cuba and US Relations

President Obama issues directive consolidating changes to Cuba policy

On Friday, October 14, U.S. President Barack Obama, issued a presidential policy directive aimed at consolidating changes adopted with regard to Cuba, and making the new policy toward the island irreversible

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Author: Barack Obama | internet@granma.cu
october 14, 2016 10:10:30

On Friday, October 14, U.S.  President Barack Obama issued a presidential policy directive aimed at consolidating changes adopted with regard to Cuba, and making the new policy toward the island irreversible, reports Prensa Latina.
According to the document “Under the new policy, the United States expands and promotes authorized engagements with Cuba to advance cooperation on areas of mutual interest, and increase travel to, commerce with, and the free flow of information to Cuba,” although the over 50-year economic, financial and commercial blockade remains in force.
The text disseminated by the White House notes that “Since the United States announced on December 17, 2014, that it would chart a new course with Cuba, we have re-established diplomatic relations and have made progress toward the normalization of our bilateral relationship,” including the opening of embassies, among other actions.
“This new directive consolidates and builds upon the changes we’ve already made, promotes transparency by being clear about our policy and intentions, and encourages further engagement between our countries and our people,” reads a statement issued the same day by President Obama, regarding the new policy directive.
The cited document continues, “Consistent with this approach, the Departments of Treasury and Commerce issued further regulatory changes today, building on the progress made over the last two years, to continue to facilitate more interaction between the Cuban and American people, including through travel and commercial opportunities.”
According to the U.S. President “These changes are representative of the progress I saw firsthand when I visited Havana,” last March. The new measures announced by the U.S. Departments of Treasury and Commerce, which are set to enter into effect on Monday, October 17, include new avenues for joint cooperation projects in the fields of scientific research, and U.S. imports of Cuban manufactured pharmaceutical products.
Meanwhile, U.S. citizens permitted to travel to the island under the 12 authorized categories will be able to import, for their personal use, unlimited quantities of Cuban rum and cigars in their luggage.
The U.S. agriculture sector will be able to export items such as pesticides or tractors to Cuba; transactions which will no longer require the island to pay in advance and in cash.
The restriction which prevented hundreds of foreign ships which had docked in Cuba from making port in the United States in order to load or unload for a period of 180 days, is also being lifted. The U.S. Department of the Treasury also announced that scholarships for scientific research and religious activities will be made available.
Full text of Presidential Policy Directive available here: https://www.whitehouse.gov/the-press-office/2016/10/14/presidential-policy-directive-united-states-cuba-normalization Full text of President Barack Obama’s statement regarding the Presidential Policy Directive on Cuba available here: https://www.whitehouse.gov/the-press-office/2016/10/14/statement-president-presidential