[NYTr] Major Events in Cuba During 2007

[All the News That Doesn't Fit]

Agencia Cubana de Noticias (ACN) - Dec 27, 2007
http://ainch.ain.cu/mailman/listinfo/ingles



Major Events in Cuba during 2007 (I)

AIN Special Service


Reflections of President Fidel Castro

As a result of his progressive recovery of health, on March 28th, 
President Fidel Castro's first reflection entitled "Over 3 billion 
People Condemned to Premature Death" was published, in which he warned 
of the grave consequences for humanity of the imperialist idea of 
producing fuel instead of food.

Up to now, over 60 reflections have been published by the national and 
foreign press, the Cuban people have been informed of the 
political-ideological and cultural problems of the world and his 
perspectives.


Cuban Heroine Vilma Espin Passes Away

Cuba was shaken on June 18th with the sad news of the passing away of 
Vilma Espin, Heroine of the underground movement and the Sierra 
Maestra, the tireless fighter for the rights of women and children.

The following day, millions of Cubans across the island mourned the 
lost of the exemplary revolutionary.

Her ashes were placed in the in the "Frank Pais" Eastern 2nd Front 
Mausoleum alongside others that were part of that rebel group during 
the war of liberation.


Record Number of UN Members Condemned Washington's Blockade

Ever since 1992, once again the UN General Assembly condemned the 
genocidal US economic blockade against the island, but this time a 
record number of 184 backed the Cuban resolution.

Such decision by the international community has a special 
significance, having occurred only a few days after President George W. 
Bush urged the governments of the world to join its anti Cuba policy.  
The economic, commercial and financial blockade imposed against Cuba 
for over 45 years by the United States was characterized in 2007 as 
stronger, affecting all spheres of Cuban society to the tune of over 89 
billion dollars.


Historic Speech by First Vice President Raul Castro on July 26

Defense Minister Raul Castro spoke during the main ceremony 
commemorating the 54th anniversary of the attack against the Moncada 
Garrison, which included a profound analysis of the complex 
international situation in which the Revolution moves ahead with its 
social programs and strongly criticized the mistakes, errors and other 
subjective matters in the construction of socialism and which hurt its 
development.  The Cuban official urged the population to debate and 
look for proposals and solutions to improve the socialist system.


Praiseworthy Results of the Energy Revolution

The third year of the Energy Revolution brought praiseworthy results 
and at the end of 2007, 75 percent of the Cuban families that cooked 
with kerosene now use electricity.

The year was marked by the installation of a number of fuel oil and 
diesel generators increasing the generating capacity and making its 
distribution much more secure.

During the period close to one million connections were renewed, as 
were 18,000 circuits in urban and rural zones, gradually eliminating 
the areas of low and unstable voltage.  Over four and a half million 
electrical appliances were substituted at a value of close to 10 
billion pesos.


Personalities from 27 Countries Demand the Rights of the Cuban Five

A significant moment in the campaign in favor of the five Cuban anti 
terrorists incarcerated in the United States was the creation in 
December of an International Commission for the Right of Visits of Olga 
Salanueva and Adriana Perez, wives of Rene Gonzalez and Gerardo 
Hernandez.

Over 100 personalities from 27 countries, among them Nobel Peace Prize 
laureate Adolfo Perez Esquivel (Argentina) and Rigoberta Menchu
(Guatemala)  are working to get the truth out to the international 
public opinion on the case and demand that the US government respects 
the rights to family visits for the Cuban Five.

Gerardo and Rene, together with Fernando Gonzalez, Ramon Labañino and 
Antonio Guerrero were all sentenced to long unjust prison terms during 
a biased trial in Miami totaling 4 life terms and 77 years in prison.


40th Anniversary of the Death in Combat of Ernesto Che Guevara

The 40th anniversary of the death in combat of Comandante Ernesto Che 
Guevara turned into an international commemoration of profound 
ideological content, While the city of Santa Clara was hosting the main 
central activity in Cuba for that important date, later Venezuelan 
President Hugo Chavez aired his weekly Alo Presidente program from that 
central Cuban city dedicated to the Heroic Guerrilla for the first time 
since July 31st, 2006 when President Fidel Castro spoke live on the 
program.

(To be Continued)