Monthly Archives: December 2012

The official press is full of articles on the refurbishing of parts and equipment that have been out of service for ten, twenty, thirty years or more, as well as on the use of primitive tools and techniques in agricultural … Continue reading →

Photo: Peter Deel When power has been exercised unilaterally in a country by one person for too long — applying formulas capriciously by using political and state institutions and organizations, as well as others created specifically to implement them — it becomes very difficult … Continue reading →

MY VERY BEST WISHES ON CHRISTMAS AND I HOPE THAT IN THE COMING YEAR ALL YOUR WISHES COME TRUE. December 23 2012

The Havana Cemetery is once again in the news and a reason for concern among the city’s inhabitants. Its plight is an ongoing Via Crucis. Ever since church officials were relieved of responsibility and administrative duties were taken over by … Continue reading →

Photo: Peter Deel The need for change, reform or updating is inherent to any economic, political and social system which intends to survive over time. A few years ago, when the urgent need for change to Cuban socialism began to … Continue reading →

While I was having a conversation with the poet Rafael Alcides on “the human and the divine,” something we do regularly, he reminded me that the terms right and left, as applied to different political positions, appeared in Cuba at … Continue reading →

Photo: Rebeca Every year, when reading essays by film critics on the various works presented at the so-called Festival of New Latin American Cinema, what stands out is the never-ending lament on the need to win over a public “unfortunately … Continue reading →

In recent days talks have been taking place in Havana between delegations from the Colombian government and the FARC. This constitutes a positive and necessary step in efforts to find a solution to the violent conflict that for many years … Continue reading →

Photo: Peter Deel At least once a week (Fridays) I acquire the newspaper Granma, to track its Letters to the Editor section, the only place where people can raise some problems and give some opinions other than the official ones, … Continue reading →

Photo: Peter Deel Usually, when the death of some figure addicted to “the model” is announced, whether it be someone from the sciences, the arts, sports or some other field, among the relative merits mentioned are his having been faithful … Continue reading →