Leonel Fernandez: Jose Marti Inspires all Freedom-Loving People

HAVANA - ACN

03/04/2009

Jose Marti is a source of inspiration for all the people fighting for freedom, dignity and decorum, said today Dominican Republic's president Leonel Fernandez Reyna. He also called for Latin American integration and condemned the U.S blockade to Cuba.

Fernandez spoke about the importance of Latin American and Caribbean integration to face the international financial crises. He said the region should be able to unify ideas through unity and that those criteria should be presented at the United Nations.

Full story here

Honduran President Harshly Criticized Current Globalization

HAVANA - ACN

03/04/2009

Honduran President José Manuel Zelaya severely criticized on Tuesday the current neo-liberal globalization and suggested to use part of the money allocated for the financial recovery of banks to fighting poverty on the planet.

In the presence of Cuba’s First Vice-president José Ramón Machado Ventura, the Central American head of state lectured participants in the event on the adjustments required by globalization. He highlighted that the current economic collapse of world capitalism is more serious than the cyclic crisis that has affected that system, which has served to show its deficiencies and mistakes and the resounding failure of the neo-liberal model.

Full story here

ALBA Oil Fleet Purchases First Tanker

CARACAS - Periodico 26

TRANSALBA Transport Co. received its first tanker ship, the Petion, named after Haitian national hero Alexandre Petion, announced Petroleos de Venezuela (PDVSA) on Monday.

The company said the Panamex type vessel has a 72,700 ton deadweight, and will be destined to transport crude oil from the refinery in Puerto La Cruz, Venezuela and the Camilo Cienfuegos Refinery in Cuba, reported Prensa Latina.

A second tanker, with the name Sandino, is expected to be delivered in March. By having its own fleet the TRANSALBA transportation costs will drop.

Full story here

Cuban Justice Minister Denounced U.S Blockade at the UN

HAVANA - ACN
03/03/2009

Cuba's Justice Minister, María Esther Reus, denounced the economic, financial and commercial blockade of the U.S against Cuba at the 10th session of the UN’s Human Rights Council.

Reus said she hopes someday she will be able to announce in Geneva that the blockade has been lifted and that the five Cuban anti-terrorists held in American jails have been released, reported Prensa Latina news agency.

Full story here

ALBA Member Countries Create Permanent Commission

HAVANA - ACN
03/02/2009

The member countries of the Bolivarian Alternative for the Americas (ALBA), the bloc that is working for regional integration and cooperation in Latin America and the Caribbean, have approved the creation of the Permanent Commission of this organization.

The agreement was reached during a recent session in Caracas, Venezuela, of the 8th Meeting of the ALBA Political Commission that was attended by delegations from Cuba, Bolivia, Dominica, Honduras, Nicaragua and Venezuela.

Full story here

International Event on Globalization Begins in Havana

HAVANA - ACN
03/02/2009

The 11th International Encounter of Economists on Globalization and Development Problems that begins on Monday in Havana will be the most important of its kind held so far.

"The current global economic crisis makes it the most important so far,"said the president of the organizing committee, Roberto Verrier.

According to Verrier, some 1,500 delegates from 60 countries as well as representatives from 27 international institutions, including the United Nations and a special envoy from the President of the UN General Assembly, will participate in the meeting.

Other important personalities that will take part in the event include Dominican President Leonel Fernandez and his Honduran counterpart Jose Manuel Zelaya as well as US Nobel laureates for Economy Robert Mundell, Robert Engle and Edmund Phelps.

Verrier added that 10 presidents of Central Banks, almost 20 Ministers of Economy, the UNESCO Deputy Director and the President of the ALBA (Bolivarian Alternative for the Americas) Bank are also in Havana for the meeting.

"We will analyze the topic of the global economic crisis in two working sessions, on Monday and Tuesday. Then, on Wednesday, we will discuss ways in which social movements and economists from developing countries can contribute to facing this crisis," Verrier explained.

According to the president of the organizing committee, other topics to be discussed include trade, the Doha Round, ALBA and regional integration.

The 11th International Encounter of Economists on Globalization and Development Problems will conclude next Friday.

Bolivia: Legacy of Che Guevara endures

Lainie Cassel
28 February 2009
greenleft.org.au

A half century ago, a young doctor and Cuban guerilla sought to bring revolution to Bolivia and was brutally murdered for his efforts. Forty years after the death of Che Guevara, hundreds of Cuban doctors have been welcomed to assist Bolivians in establishing a fair and just society.

The role of Cubans as a mechanism for development is a trend that began in Venezuela under the direction of President Hugo Chavez and has recently been adopted by countries such as Bolivia and Ecuador.

As Latin America shifts towards the left, Cuban citizens have become the island’s most important “export”, proving to be a potent threat to US influence in the region.

The poorest country in South America, Bolivia’s majority indigenous population has faced a long history of poverty. However, under the direction of the first indigenous president, Evo Morales, the government promises a drastic change from the past.

click for full story