Check out this link

http://www.peoplesworld.org/communists-to-tackle-right-wing-extremism-at-nationwide-conference

STATEMENT BY THE EDITORIAL BOARD OF MLTODAY.COM
ON THE STATE DEPARTMENT’S DENIAL OF PERMISSION FOR
CUBAN DIPLOMATS TO TRAVEL TO NEW YORK CITY FOR THE
LEFT FORUM, March 16-18th

The Editorial Board of MLToday.com strongly protests the State
Department’s refusal to grant two Cuban diplomats in Washington, DC
permission to travel to New York City to participate in The Left Forum
the week-end of March 16-18th.

Patricia Pego, First Secretary, and Juan Lamigueiro, Deputy Chief of
the Mission, at the Cuban Interest Section in Washington were slated
to participate in a panel sponsored by MLToday.com on New Developments
in Cuba and a second panel on The Cuban Five.

Cuban diplomats based in Washington, DC and at the United Nations in
New York cannot travel outside a 50 mile radius without first
obtaining permission from the State Department

Founded as the Socialist Scholars Conference, The Left Forum is the
largest annual gathering of left academics, students, labor and
community activists. Held this year at Pace University in New York
City it attracted over 5,000 registrants.

The MLT Editorial Board wishes to thank the Cuban diplomats, based at
Cuba’s United Nations Mission, who did such an excellent job on very
short notice, filling in for their Washington colleagues. They were
received with gratitude and appreciation by a crowd so anxious to hear
their presentation that it overflowed the assigned room.

For more than 50 years the U.S. government has maintained an illegal
and criminal blockade of Cuba that has caused untold damage and injury
to Cuban citizens and Cuban society. But it is now very clear that
the illegal blockade is also used to deny American citizens the
freedom to hear Cuba?s point of view.

With the Obama Administration stepping up enforcement of the blockade
itself; with the administration trying to prevent Cuba from being
invited to the Summit of the Americas in Colombia next month; and with
the U.S. government attempting to prevent Americans from hearing first
hand from Cubans themselves, it is reasonable to ask ?Why is the
American government afraid of Cuba??

We urge all our friends and supporters to answer that question and
then call your congressperson to protest

March 19, 2012

www.MLToday.com

In April and May 2012 the Cuba Soldiarity Campaign will host Beyond the Frame, a major exhibition by 26 of Cuba’s leading artists in support of the campaign for Justice for the Miami Five. The exhibition will also feature the work of renowned British and international artists, all of whom have donated their work for free to raise awareness and funds in support of the Miami Five campaign.

Paintings by Antonio Guererro and cartoons by Gerardo Hernandez, two of the Miami Five, will also be on show.

For full details of Beyond the Frame exhibitions in London and Glasgow and associated events see:

http://www.cuba-solidarity.org.uk/news.asp?ItemID=2153

Shortly following his release in October 2011, Miami Five prisoner Rene Gonzalez recorded an interview for the Cuba Solidarity Campaign and Unite the union’s new campaigning DVD on the Miami Five.

Watch the interview and the new campaign films here:

http://www.cuba-solidarity.org.uk/news.asp?ItemID=2209

In a massive victory for Miami Five campaign supporters, Rene Gonzalez has just
received permission to travel to Cuba for two weeks to visit his critically ill
brother in hospital.

Read the full story and US court ruling here now:
http://www.cuba-solidarity.org.uk/news.asp?ItemID=2210

Via: http://www.humaniteinenglish.com/spip.php?article1990

ORIGINAL FRENCH ARTICLE: C’est ainsi que les Grecs vivent…
by Fabien Perrier

Translated Wednesday 7 March 2012, by Pauline Harrowell and reviewed by Henry Crapo

The Greek people have been subject to endless austerity for two years now: wage and pension cuts, removal of collective labour agreements, VAT increases, destruction of public services… How are the Greeks managing to live? Some ordinary people tell us about their daily lives.

Special correspondent

87-year-old Stelios Sandalakis is queuing at a soup kitchen in the Psiri district with around a hundred others. He used to have a mobile fruit stall. His retirement pension is 600 euros, a derisory amount that is not enough to live on day to day. “I’ve had to come here to eat for the last two years,” he explains, and goes on: “I gave everything I had to my children, but they can’t help me either.”

At Aspropyrgos, in the Athens suburbs, the workers of the Greek steel company Helleniki Halivourgia, have been on strike since 1st November following the loss of 16 jobs on 31st October, 18 more on 1st November, and further losses after that. Dimitris Papadikolao, 29, is one of the strikers. He was fired on 2nd December. Before, he was earning “1200 euros before tax; now I’ll get unemployment benefit for 6 months,” he explains. How much is the benefit? 359 euros under the new arrangements. “I’m a single man without any children. All I can think of to do is to go to Saudi Arabia or Qatar,” he says, sadly.

Andreas Makris is a hospital porter in the Athens public hospital. In October 2009 he was earning 1100 euros per month net, over 12 months, with two bonuses of around 900 euros net. “I could manage OK on my salary, but now I only get 739 euros a month net over twelve months and two bonuses at Christmas and Easter of 380 euros each. Rent in Greece costs at least 300 euros,” he explains. His working week has increased as well. In 2009 and 2010 he was working 7.5 hours a day, 5 days a week. Since 2011 it has gone up to 8 hours a day.

Even senior civil servants are not immune. Barbara, around 40 years old, is one of them. Before the crisis she was earning 3200 euros net. Now she only gets 2000 euros. On top of this, she doesn’t even know if the organisation she works in will still be in existence. What does her future hold? “Unemployment, clearly! I don’t know what I’ll do!” she wonders, and adds, as if to cheer herself up “Because of the crisis I’ve given up my flat and I’m sharing with my best friend.”

Most people in Greece are finding any way they can to make savings. In restaurants which are increasingly empty it’s not unusual to see customers leaving with a little bag containing food they haven’t been able to eat.

Central American Solidarity

By Nuria Barbosa León – Journalist with Granma and Radio Havana

March 7, 2012. (Translated by W. T. Whitney Jr.)

http://www.rebelion.org/noticia.php?id=145865&titular=solidaridad-centroamericana–

A young woman with brown skin suggesting Latin American indigenous heritage spoke deliberately and quite softly with a Central American accent. She agreed to participate in a dialogue for readers of Granma

My name is Dalena Cataví Lozano. I study medicine in the third year at the Salvador Allende Hospital in the Cuba Capital.

Shall we speak about your origins?

I come from Guatemala, from the town of Pastores, with around 1000 inhabitants, located in Sacatepequez Department. My area is a tourist zone, much visited because of old architecture there. They call it the territory of eternal spring because its seasons allow for harvest of all kinds of flowers, fruits, and vegetables. I live in the central region, my people remaining relatively near the department capital. There are lots of mountains and also a river called Guacalate, known for its mystique, because they say its waters are holy. It now suffers from environmental contamination.

What about the population there?

My town was founded by Spanish colonizers but many indigenous people identified as Quiché live there. They maintain their culture and tradition. They wear typical, handmade clothing with elaborate embroidery and colors. The colors relate to the nature and history of each locality.

What kind of work do most of the people in your region do?

They are mostly farmers, and like most rural areas, poverty and bad living conditions prevail there.

What does your family do?

My grandparents were farmers. My grandfather grew fruit and vegetables and my grandmother sold them in the market. They worried about an education for their children to the extent of what was possible. We say they had between 13 and 15 children. My father became a teacher. He was able to pursue his career only through much sacrifice as he alternated studies with badly paid work. He now teaches in a primary school. My mother is a housewife. My father helped her finish pre-university studies, but at that academic level she doesn’t obtain employment easily. I have a younger brother.

How did you know about the scholarship for Cuba?

A cousin living at a distance from me informed me about the possibility of going to Cuba to study. I decided to work toward the scholarship and that took four years of my life. It was all quite difficult because I didn’t have resources to organize the paperwork. Also my school doesn’t give out a bachelor’s diploma. And no one would accept my certificate without a countersignature. I didn’t have the money to pay a university in my country for it to be involved with my achieving the purpose of studying in Cuba. In those four years I had to immerse myself in work because I could not start at a University. On that account I really value being able to be here, and I am striving quite hard to finish the course.

Why did you decide to study medicine?

Where I live there is only one facility that a nurse attends who works only two hours a day, between ten and twelve in the morning. I worked in a primary school and I knew many children who were sick and did not receive medical attention. My children had a lot of needs. There was one student ten years old that affected me a lot. She was dealing with her mother who was sick and caring for her four brothers. Of course, she was absent a lot and didn’t succeed in going beyond the second grade in spite of being a good learner. I remember her sad face when she told me about her mother having died. Five children were alone and abandoned. That has to change in my country.

Why did you come to Cuba?

It was the first and the only door that opened up to my aspirations to study. In my town they know about the quality of [Cuban] doctors. In Cuba there is no hiding the solidarity and honesty of their work. The patient is a sick person, not merchandise. I witnessed also the aftereffects of a hurricane and got to know the Cuban doctors who didn’t skimp on efforts to help the people. They didn’t set hours nor did they rest, as they attended so hard to what people needed. I learned about the way Cuban doctors were working. In solidarity, they helped everyone.

What did you know about Cuba before coming?

The name and country I knew from classes. Cuba was mentioned in the news, and I never heard anything good. . I have the criterion that each country has its virtues and failings just like people do. Nevertheless in spite all the negative news there was always a phrase about recognizing the educational level in Cuba and preparation of its doctors.

How many years have you been in Cuba?

Over three years.

What is Cuba worth now, in your opinion?

It’s not as bad as they made me think. I’ve gotten to know many people. These days we are going among the population to detect cases of dengue. We knock at the door and they take us in with affection, asking about our country. They chat and want to know about my culture. I adapt easily to everything. I didn’t suffer for not having tortillas every day. I don’t need anything, because the Cubans gave us a uniform, book, a place to stay, food, and supplies, all free. My professors and instructors were friendly and affectionate. It was very pretty, the experience of taking the airplane and coming to Cuba.

In Cuba do you maintain your culture and beliefs?

They’ve never kept us from going to church. In fact we participate in all the church activities. I am Catholic and ever since our arrival we are close to the church.

How have relations been with other Latin American students?

Something very gratifying and interesting. To know people from other countries, to live together with them every day like family is a unique and emotional experience, one in which you appreciate the way someone walks, how she talks, what she says. It all makes an impression.

In Cuba what activities do you participate in?

I really like the cultural events at the Latin American School of Medicine (ELAM). (*) I participate in the culinary part as we show off typical dishes. Other guys dance or sing. That activity marks the identity of each country.

What will your future be when you graduate?

I am coming to want to be an obstetrical doctor, but I realize that in the profession there are many other specialties attractive to me. I have the mentality of whatever the specialty I am studying I have to bring it back to my town. I would like to work in an outpatient facility and perhaps found a hospital. Also, I want to travel and involve myself with other cultures, to know the “boo-boos” of each country and help out. I know there are places under the rocks (as they say in my country). I would enjoy going there and offering my efforts.

What would you say to the Cuban people?

I want to thank them for their solidarity

(*) The Latin American School of Medicine is a university located in Havana. It was founded on March 1, 1999 through the initiative of Cuban President Fidel Castro and constitutes part of the integrated health program developed after October, 1998 owing to natural disasters caused by Hurricanes Mitch and George. Doctors graduate from that university in basic general medicine with an orientation toward primary health care. Tuition and student residence are absolutely free through a Cuban system of scholarships. At the university they offer services assuring the general development of students, like incorporation of cultural events according to country, sports, elective courses, educational literature etc. Every year some 1500 scholarship students matriculate, according to spaces made available to various countries. Presently there are more than 10,000 foreign students associated with this project, from 55 countries, and they represent 104 indigenous communities in Latin America.

Furthermore, in Cuba there are 11,000 scholarship students studying in Cuba through the ALBA Project, which is the integration agreement of the Bolivarian Alliance for the Peoples of Our America formed by Venezuela, Bolivia, and Ecuador among other countries.

Data are taken from the Cubadebate website

(http://www.cubadebate.cu/noticias/2010/03/16/matricula-de-la-escuela-latinoamericana-de-medicina-en-cuba-llega-a-los-10-000-estudiantes/)
****************************************************************
Solidaridad centroamericana

Nuria Barbosa Leon. (periodista de Granma y Radio Habana Cuba) 07-03-2012

http://www.rebelion.org/noticia.php?id=145865&titular=solidaridad-centroamericana–

Una joven de piel morena, rasgos de indígena latinoamericana, hablar pausado y muy bajo, con acento de la zona centroamericana,
accedió a ofrecer un diálogo a los lectores de Granma.

Mi nombre es Dalena Cataví Lozano, tengo 25 años, estudio medicina en el tercer año en la facultad Salvador Allende de la capital cubana.

Hablemos de su procedencia

Vengo de Guatemala, del poblado Pastores, con unos mil habitantes y ubicado en el departamento de Sacatepequez. Mi zona es turística, muy visitada por la arquitectura antigua que guarda. Se le nombra como el territorio de la eterna primavera porque sus estaciones permiten la cosecha de todo tipo de flores, frutos y verduras. Vivo en la región central, mi pueblo queda relativamente cerca de la capital del departamento, cuenta con muchas montañas, un río nombrado Guacalate, conocido por su mística porque se decía que sus aguas eran benditas. En estos tiempos sufre de la contaminación ambiental.

¿Cómo es la población del lugar?

Mi poblado fue fundado por colonizadores españoles pero en él viven muchos indígenas de la etnia quiché que mantienen su cultura y tradición. Visten trajes típicos confeccionados a mano con muchos bordados y colores. Es un traje muy valorado porque su confección demora meses y años. Los colores están atribuidos a la naturaleza y a la historia de cada localidad.

¿En qué laboran la mayoría de los pobladores de su región?

Se dedican a la agricultura y como toda zona rural abunda la pobreza y las malas condiciones de vida.

¿Su familia a qué se dedica?

Mis abuelos vivieron de la agricultura. Mi abuelo cultivaba frutas y verduras y mi abuela, los vendía en el mercado. En la medida de sus posibilidades se preocuparon por una educación a sus hijos. Hablamos que ellos tuvieron entre 12 y 15 hijos. Mi papá se hizo maestro, pudo sacar su carrera con mucho sacrificio alternando el estudio con algún trabajo mal pagado. Ahora es maestro en una escuela primaria. Mi mamá es ama de casa. Mi papá la ayudó a terminar el grado de bachiller pero con ese nivel académico no se consigue empleo fácilmente. Tengo un hermano menor.

¿Cómo sabes de la beca a Cuba?

Una prima que vive alejado de mi casa me informó de la posibilidad de venir a estudiar a Cuba, me propuse luchar por la beca y eso me llevó cuatro años de mi vida. Todo se dificultó porque no había recursos para poner en orden la papelería. También el colegió no emitía un título de bachiller y no me aceptaban una certificación sin ser avalada. Yo no tenía recursos para pagar una universidad en mi país por lo que me aferré a lograr mi propósito de estudiar en Cuba. En esos cuatro años tuve que incorporarme a trabajar porque no pude matricular en una universidad. Por eso yo valoro mucho el poder estar acá y me esfuerzo demasiado para concluir la carrera.

¿Por qué decides estudiar medicina?

En el lugar donde vivo sólo existe un ambulatorio atendido por una enfermera que labora sólo dos horas al día, entre las diez y las doce de la mañana. Yo laboré en una escuela primaria y conocí a muchos niños enfermos sin recibir asistencia médica. Mis niños tenían muchas necesidades. Incluso tuve una alumna que me conmovió, con 10 años enfrentaba la enfermedad de la madre y el cuidado de sus cuatro hermanos. Por supuesto se ausentaba con mucha frecuencia y no lograba rebasar el segundo grado a pesar de estar apta en el aprendizaje. Recuerdo su cara triste al comunicarme de la muerte de su madre. Cinco niños quedaron solos y desamparados. Eso debe cambiar en mi país.

¿Por qué venir a Cuba?

Fue la primera y única puerta que se abrió ante mis aspiraciones de estudiar. En mi pueblo se conoce de la calidad de los médicos, no se puede ocultar la solidaridad y la honestidad con que se trabaja en Cuba, donde el paciente no es una mercancía sino un enfermo. Fui testigo, también, de las consecuencias de un ciclón y conocía a médicos cubanos que no escatimaron esfuerzos para socorrer a la población. No tenían horarios, ni descanso por tal de atender a los necesitados. Yo aprendí de la forma en que trabajaban los médicos cubanos. Ellos solidariamente ayudaron a todos.

¿Qué conocías de Cuba antes de venir?

El nombre y el país lo conocí en clases. En las noticias se mencionaba a Cuba y nunca escuché nada bueno. Soy del criterio que cada país tiene sus virtudes y defectos al igual que las personas. Sin embargo a pesar de todo lo negativo en las noticias siempre hubo una frase para reconocer el nivel educacional de Cuba y la preparación de sus médicos.

¿Cuántos años llevas en Cuba?

Más de tres.

¿Qué opinión le merece Cuba en estos momentos?

No es tan mala como me la hicieron imaginar. He conocido a muchas personas, en estos días realizamos pesquizajes en la población para detectar casos de dengue. Tocamos a la puerta y nos reciben con cariño, preguntan de nuestro país, platican y quieren saber de mi cultura. Yo me adapto fácilmente a todo, no sufrí por no tener la tortilla de maíz como plato en las comidas, tampoco veo las carencias porque los cubanos nos dieron uniforme, libros, alojamiento, comida y avituallamiento, todo de gratis. Mis profesores e instructores fueron amables y cariñosos. Fue muy linda la experiencia de tomar el avión y venir a Cuba.

¿Mantienes su cultura y creencias en Cuba?

Nunca nos han prohibido ir a la iglesia, de hecho participamos en todas las actividades de la iglesia. Soy católica y desde que llegamos nos acercamos a la iglesia.

¿Cómo ha sido la relación con otros estudiantes latinoamericanos?

lgo muy agradable e interesante. Conocer a personas de otros países, convivir con ellos diariamente como familias es una experiencia única y emocionante, uno se fijas en la forma en que camina, en cómo habla, en qué cuenta. Todo causa impresión.

¿En qué actividades has participado en Cuba?

Me gustan mucho las galas culturales de la ELAM (Escuela Latinoamericana de Medicina) (*) Yo participé en la parte culinaria para exhibir platos típicos. Otros muchachos bailaban o cantaba. Esa actividad marcaba la identidad de cada país.

¿Cuál será tu futuro al graduarte?

Vine queriendo ser médico obstetra pero me doy cuenta que en la profesión hay otras especialidades que me atraen. Tengo la mentalidad de sea cual sea la especialidad que estudie debo volver a mi pueblo. Quisiera laborar en un consultorio o quizás fundar un hospital. También quiero viajar y vincularme a otras culturas, conocer las llaguitas de cada país y ayudar. Se que hay lugares que están bajo la piedra (como dicen en mi país) Me gustaría llegar allí y brindar mi esfuerzo.

¿Qué les dirías a los cubanos?

Les quiero agradecer por su solidaridad

(*) Escuela Latinoamericana de Medicina: universidad situada en La Habana ( Cuba ). Se fundó el 1 de marzo de 1999 por iniciativa del presidente cubano Fidel Castro y constituye parte del Programa Integral de Salud que se desarrolla desde octubre de 1998 debido a los desastres naturales causados por los huracanes Mitch y George . En esta universidad se gradúan médicos generales básicos que trabajarán orientados a la atención primaria de salud. La colegiatura y la residencia estudiantil son absolutamente gratuitas según el sistema de becas de Cuba. En la universidad se brindan servicios que garantizan la formación general de los estudiantes como: la incorporación a manifestaciones culturales por países, la práctica del deporte, cursos electivos, literatura docente, etc. Todos los años matriculan aproximadamente 1500 becarios, según las plazas que se conceden por países. Actualmente hay más de 10 000 estudiantes extranjero vinculados a este proyecto, de 55 países y están representadas 104 comunidades originarias de América Latina.
En Cuba hay además 11.000 becarios del proyecto ALBA, el acuerdo de integración del Acuerdo Bolivariano de las Américas formado por Venezuela, Bolivia y Ecuador entre otros.

Datos tomados del sitio web Cubadebate

(http://www.cubadebate.cu/noticias/2010/03/16/matricula-de-la-escuela-latinoamericana-de-medicina-en-cuba-llega-a-los-10-000-estudiantes/)