By Helen Yaffe on August 4, 2021
image: Uttam Ghosh, tri continental
The violent protests that erupted in Cuba in early July were the first serious social disturbances since the “Maleconazo” of 1994, 27 years ago. Both these periods were characterized by deep economic crises. I was living in Havana in the mid-90s and witnessed the conditions that triggered the uprising: empty food markets, shops and pharmacy shelves, regular electricity cuts, production and transport ground to a halt. Such were the consequences of the collapse of the socialist bloc, which accounted for about 90% of the island’s trade. (more…)
By Carolina Vásquez Araya on August 2, 2021
photo: Bill Hackwell
“Actions are loves and not good reasons”, as popular saying goes that fits us perfectly. If there is something that unites Latin American peoples, it is a past full of frustrations, social struggle, violence, repression and abuse. Also, of course, an enormous dose of hope that arises before and after each change in their governments and each social outburst provoked by their betrayals. (more…)
By Atilio A. Boron on August 1, 2021
photo: Bill Hackwell
A few days ago Joe Biden announced that the troops stationed in Afghanistan will return to the United States on August 31, 2021. This date will mark the shameful failure of “Operation Freedom’s Sentinel” as well as that of NATO’s “Resolute Support Mission”. Indeed, following the 9/11 attacks, the United States and its European allies invaded Afghanistan and began the longest military adventure in U.S. history. (more…)
August 1, 2021
Venezuelan Foreign Minister and his Peruvian counterpart, meet to strengthen ties between Caracas and Lima.
During a meeting held on Friday in Lima on the occasion of the inauguration of the president-elect of the South American country, Pedro Castillo, the head of Venezuelan diplomacy Jorge Arreaza and his Peruvian counterpart Héctor Béjar discussed the “recovery of comprehensive relations” between the two countries. (more…)
By Arianna Álvarez Avalo; a young Cuban student on August 2, 2021
Where were those who link the words “aid” and “humanitarian” when the United States banned a ship from China with supplies to fight Covid and help the Cuban people? Where were they when Trump banned monetary aid to families on the island, when an inhumane policy was intensified in the midst of a global crisis and a deadly disease, when he banned the purchase of fans from U.S. companies by leaving tankers at sea? (more…)
By Alejandra Garcia on August 1, 2021
photo: Abel Rojas Barallobre
US President Joe Biden proved again that his political agenda towards Cuba is very similar to that of his predecessor Donald Trump. On Friday afternoon, the head of the White House received a group of Cuban emigrants, promoters of the change of government in Cuba, to outline the guidelines that his administration should follow towards the Caribbean country in the months to come. (more…)
August 1, 2021
photo: Abel Padrón Padilla
On July 25 — the very day when Cuban-Americans who walked 1300 miles to end the U.S. economic war against Cuba arrived in Washington, DC — the U.S. State Department issued a statement alleging its support for the human rights of the Cuban people. (more…)
By Marcelo Colussi on July 30, 2021
photo: Bill Hackwell
For some time now, American social science has been talking about failed states. A misleading concept, by the way. States do not fail. If in any case there are societies that live in the greatest poverty, or rather with enormous asymmetries due to an inequitable distribution of wealth among classes, this is a product of their own history, of their economic-social and political dynamics. (more…)