Cuba , Rights to Defend

Brazil Wants to Be Cuba's Number-One Trade Partner
HAVANA, Cuba, May 30 (acn) Brazil’s Foreign Minister, Celso Luiz Nunes Amorim, said on Friday that his country wants to be Cuba’s number-one partner, and he announced new projects between both countries in the short term. At the opening of a business seminar in Havana, the Brazilian foreign minister said that he wanted to express not only Brazil’s willingness, but its firmest and deep desire to take part in the current stage of Cuban economy. The Brazilian minister, who started a two-day official visit to Cuba this Friday, said his country will contribute with the technological development, food production, and the building of infrastructures on the Cuban archipelago. Amorim told reporters that both countries are currently working on actions that will favor economic sectors such as industrial production and services, agriculture equipment and the building of roads. He said the deals are expected to be signed within two or three weeks. Meanwhile Cuban Foreign Trade Minister Raul de la Nuez, said that trade and economic relations with Brazil are in “the best moment of their history.” "We count on political, economic and technical conditions that favor thepresent state of relations,” said De la Nuez, adding that in 2007 commercial relations with Brazil reached 450 million dollars, and that by the end of April this year, bilateral trade went up to 58 percent compared to the same period last year.

Cuba-Brazil Subscribe Accord on Food Production
HAVANA, Cuba, May 30 (acn) The foreign ministers of Cuba and Brazil signed a cooperation agreement on growing soy in Cuba. Felipe Perez Roque (Cuba) and Celso Luiz Nunes Amorim (Brasil) today in Havana penned the understanding, which is a complementary adjustment to the existing cooperation accord for scientific, technical, and technological assistance. At the Foreign Ministry building in Havana, Perez Roque pointed out that under this accord Cuba will count on advice from Brazilian experts on growing soy. This occurs at a time when food production has become especially critical around the world. For his part, Amorim praised the excellent relations between the two countries and said Brasilia wants to become Cuba's number one commercial partner. "We share many visions, especially regarding the integration of Latin American and Caribbean nations, a difficult process hindered by cultural resistance of people who are not used to seeing the region united," said the visitor. Amorim also referred to the recent creation of UNASUR (Union of South American Nations) as an “extraordinary victory,” highlighting that this is an integrationist body open for the rest of the countries of the region. Perez Roque noted that in official talks, Amorim had previously updated him on the situation of UNASUR and said an important regional meeting is being organized to take place in Brazil by year end.

Rights to Defend
While some people concentrate their attention on mercenaries and enemy agents, or agitate, threaten and even create armed conflicts as an excuse for their supposed anti terrorist crusade, they maintain a historic and hypocritical silence on the true dramas of humanity. The sudden rise of food prices, which has even affected certain basic products at markets in large wealthy countries, is a serious and dangerous reality that cannot be hidden or manipulated any longer.The UN Human Rights Council seriously discussed the issue of whether food, that is, the right to a piece of bread, would be a priority of the political debate. Of course, this is not a new issue. In any case its sudden resurgence, and concern over disturbances that could arise, has made the issue return to the headlines. The Food and Agriculture Organization warned decades ago of the presence of 800 million hungry people in the world and the urgent need to reduce the embarrassing figure. From then to date, the powerful nations increased their agricultural subsidies to the disadvantage of producers in underdeveloped countries, have maintained the growing deterioration of the environment and drained energy reserves with its negative repercussion in other areas. Promises for help to poor nations never became reality. The result is an increase of over 50 million more hungry over the initial UN figure. Now, the uncontrolled price of basic products threatens to add new hordes of poor to the list.Meanwhile, in the world of squander, the US launches $48 billion in wasted food into the garbage each year and spends $8 billion dollars a year on cosmetics and $17 billion on pet food.

Legislar, y controlar más
Planteó Ricardo Alarcón al dejar constituida, provisionalmente, la Comisión de Asuntos Económicos de la Asamblea Nacional
Susana Lee - granma.
La Comisión Permanente de Asuntos Económicos de la Asamblea Nacional del Poder Popular quedó constituida ayer, con carácter provisional hasta su aprobación definitiva en el próximo periodo ordinario de sesiones del órgano supremo del poder del Estado.Osvaldo Martínez, Luis M. Castanedo y Liliana Ezquerra, fueron seleccionados para dirigir las labores de la Comisión, provisionalmente.En la reunión, presidida por Ricardo Alarcón de Quesada, Jaime Crombet Hernández-Baquero y Miriam Brito Sarroca, presidente, vicepresidente y secretaria de la Asamblea Nacional, respectivamente, se informó que la Comisión quedó integrada por 30 diputados, la mayoría de ellos elegidos por primera vez para esta VII Legislatura.Al hacer la presentación de sus miembros, Miriam Brito explicó que para presidirla fue ratificado Osvaldo Martínez Martínez, director del Centro de Investigaciones de la Economía Mundial.Luis M. Castanedo Smith, del Secretariado Nacional de la CTC, y Liliana Ezquerra Carripio, vicepresidenta del Consejo de la Administración Provincial en Ciudad de La Habana fueron seleccionados como vicepresidente y secretaria.En sus palabras en la sesión inaugural, Alarcón insistió en perfeccionar el funcionamiento de las comisiones parlamentarias en momentos en que el Segundo Secretario del Partido, General de Ejército Raúl Castro, ha llamado a fortalecer la institucionalidad del país.Debemos legislar, fiscalizar, controlar más y lograr una mayor participación popular con una labor más intensa y sistemática de las comisiones.Al respecto planteó que la Comisión de Asuntos Económicos debe desempeñar un papel más activo en la discusión del plan y el presupuesto con los trabajadores, y en el control periódico de su ejecución en las asambleas provinciales y municipales del Poder Popular.En esta primera jornada Jorge Lezcano Pérez, asesor del Presidente de la ANPP, intercambió con los diputados acerca del funcionamiento del sistema del Poder Popular, y José Luis Rodríguez García, titular de Economía y Planificación, y Georgina Barreiro Fajardo, de Finanzas y Precios, informaron acerca de las tareas fundamentales de sus organismos.La Comisión conocerá hoy de las misiones de los ministerios de Turismo, Industria Sideromecánica, Trabajo y Seguridad Social, Inversión Extranjera y Colaboración Económica, Comercio Exterior, Auditoría y Control y el Banco Central.

Constituidas las doce comisiones de la Asamblea Nacional
La reorganización de las comisiones, las pone en sintonía total con las prioridades del Estado y el Gobierno de cara a los próximos cinco años http://www.juventudrebelde.cu/cuba/2008-05-31/constituidas-las-doce-comisiones-de-la-asamblea-nacional/,

EE.UU. debe reflexionar sobre su política hacia Cuba
Afirmó el destacado académico Song Xiaoping, director del Centro de Estudios sobre Cuba de la Academia de Ciencias Sociales de China
http://www.juventudrebelde.cu/internacionales/2008-05-31/eeuu-debe-reflexionar-sobre-su-politica-hacia-cuba/,

Martí es Cuba
JR ha publicado desde el pasado 27 de mayo un selección de las cartas dirigidas por los pioneros cubanos al Presidente de Estados Unidos rechazando su grosera ofensa al Héroe Nacional http://www.juventudrebelde.cu/cuba/2008-05-31/marti-es-cuba/,

CUBA Y EL PROBLEMA DE LOS ALIMENTOS
Por: Eduardo MazaLA HABANA, 31 DE MAYO (WORLD DATA SERVICE).- La humanidad enfrenta en estos momentos una crisis de los alimentos provocada por el modelo agroindustrial actual dependiente de petróleo y agravada por la expansión de la práctica de convertir los alimentos en combustibles con el fin de garantizar el derroche de las sociedades de consumo.En este cuadro se hace imprescindible una alianza estrecha entre agricultores y consumidores y la participación del estado como regulador de políticas agrarias que tiendan a mejorar el bienestar del pueblo con fórmulas populares.En Cuba el presidente Raúl Castro ha distinguido como un dirigente muy preocupado por los asuntos de la alimentación de la población desde que a inicios de los 90 y con la desaparición de los proveedores del antiguo campo socialista lanzó aquella frase que advertía: "los frijoles son tan importantes como los cañones".En el pasado Pleno del Comité Central del Partido Comunista el también general de ejército planteó: "La producción de alimentos debe constituir una tarea principal para los dirigentes del Partido, que es preciso estén conscientes de que en el presente y hasta donde es posible vislumbrar el futuro, es un asunto de máxima seguridad nacional".Tanto Raúl Castro como el presidente venezolano Hugo Chávez, conscientes de los retos de hoy coinciden en que la independencia alimentaria es parte fundamental de la política y que no puede haber soberanía posible sin independencia alimentaria.En consonancia el hermano menor del convaleciente líder Fidel Castro, instó a los primeros secretarios del PCC a poner en práctica "en el terreno" medidas "que han comenzado a aplicarse en la agricultura, sobre todo la labor de las delegaciones municipales recién constituidas", con el fin de hacer frente a la carestía de alimentos.El partido comunista ha tomado estas exigencias con la seriedad debida y por ello el primer vicepresidente José Ramón Machado Ventura y miembro del Buró Político de esa organización política, en una asamblea local de dicho partido celebrada en la occidental Pinar del Río aseveró que "la búsqueda de la seguridad alimentaria es un desafío estratégico para Cuba".El conocido médico guerrillero destacó que los cambios climáticos y el uso de alimentos para producir combustibles han provocado una crisis que no es coyuntural."Los cuadros partidistas deben contribuir a las garantías alimentarias vinculados siempre con la masa trabajadora", dijo en esa ocasión.Por su parte el secretario general de la Central de Trabajadores de Cuba (CTC), Salvador Valdés Mesa en las palabras pronunciadas el desfile del primero de mayo afirmó que"Para los cubanos es decisivo un salto en la producción de alimentos. Como un desafío".El líder proclamó que "es fundamental concentrar los esfuerzos en el incremento de la producción y la productividad, sobre todo de alimentos; en la elevación de la calidad de cuanto hacemos…; en la sustitución de importaciones y el aumento de las exportaciones".Y acotó "Amenazados como estamos, no sólo por el galopante incremento de los precios de los alimentos en el mercado mundial y su escasez en los países originarios, sino también por el crudo bloqueo que Estados Unidos impone a la Isla, elevar la producción y la calidad de los alimentos es vital para garantizar la seguridad alimentaria en un país que se resiste a ser colonia nuevamente".Antes de la aguda crisis económica que comenzó a principios de la década de 1990, que redujo a niveles inusitados los volúmenes de cosechas agropecuarias, los cubanos producían una parte importante de los productos básicos de la alimentación: arroz, leche, carnes y vegetales.Ahora, 15 años después, el país hace inversiones millonarias y aplica medidas que estimulan los precios de los productos, para rescatar renglones vitales en la alimentación popular. Se conoce que las provincias que cuentan con las mejores tierras, productores avezados y suficiente agua, son La Habana, Matanzas, Ciego de Ávila, Cienfuegos y Villa Clara, las que reciben el grueso de los recursos.Entre el paquete de medidas tomado con el fin de dar un salto en esas producciones figuran la aplicación de nuevos precios a la leche vacuna, la carne de cerdo, la papa y otros renglones, lo que constituye un estímulo para los productores como vía importante para sustituir importaciones, elemento que contribuye también a la independencia alimentaria.En el oriente del país se acomete la llamada "obra cubana del siglo", que es un canal de trasvase de agua que solucionará definitivamente los problemas con el precioso líquido en esas provincias donde viven millones de cubanos y existe una importante masa ganadera.Dentro de todo este cuadro existen experiencias locales como las del Programa de Innovación Agropecuaria Local (PIAL), en que varias fincas del municipio habanero de Batabanó han mejorado sus cosechas y la crianza de ganado. El éxito radica en el aprovechamiento de las condiciones naturales y la apertura a ideas renovadoras, particularmente sobre la diversificación de cultivos. Por ejemplo se trabaja en ese lugar fuertemente con la soja, que es el futuro de la alimentación animal aquí.Una experiencia edificante que fructificó en una colección de variedades de esta leguminosa, rica en proteínas, ha favorecido el fomento de la ganadería en ese territorio, distante unos 50 kilómetros de La Habana. En esta esfera y ante el encarecimiento de los fertilizantes se han utilizado los llamados abonos verdes, plantas como la canavalia (Canavalia ensiformis), conchita azul (Clitoria ternatea), frijol de terciopelo (Mucuna sp) y el dólicho (Dólicho lablab), que mejoran las cualidades químicas y biológicas de los suelos, además de contrarrestar la proliferación de hierbas. Según datos, desde sus inicios en 2000, el PIAL ha beneficiado a más de 8.000 productores en nueve de las 14 provincias de Cuba. El objetivo fundamental de esa iniciativa es dar mayor espacio al campesinado en las políticas de producción alimenticia de la Isla y descentralizar el sistema de innovación en ese sector. Los alimentos se han trocado muy caros con la presente crisis, y a guisa de ejemplo se puede mencionar que Cuba gastó en 2007 unos 1.600 millones de dólares en la importación de alimentos, una cifra que este año se elevará a 1.900 millones de dólares por el ascenso vertiginoso de los precios en el mercado internacional.Pero esas importaciones realizadas se enfrentan principalmente a una triste paradoja, que alrededor de la mitad de la tierra cultivable cubana permanece improductiva. Según Orlando Lugo Fonte, presidente de la Asociación Nacional de Agricultores Pequeños "el gobierno cubano estudia la posible entrega de tierras ociosas a productores privados, un proceso iniciado ya en la producción de tabaco y café".Se impone una revolución en la agricultura y las mentes.



Cuba continues to fight against property crimes and corruption
Cuba’s attorney general noted that, “if in the years past, the consequences of these misdeeds were combated, today we recognize the need to fight their causes.” Cuba continues to fight against property crimes and corruption, a phenomenon that has increased over the last few years, said Attorney General Juan Escalona Reguera speaking before members of the newly formed Commission on Constitutional and Juridical Matters of the National Assembly.The leader explained that successes in these and other tasks are due fundamentally to the united action with other organizations and institutions, such as the ministries of the Interior and Audit and Control.Escalona referred to the change in the position on confronting crime in the country, stressing that, “if in the years past the consequences of these misdeeds were combated, today we recognize the need to fight their causes.”“In terms of crimes committed by young people, it is often not their responsibility, but that of the conditions of the society in which they have lived. Often they come from dysfunctional homes, households in which the parents are separated...“Today works is being done in the prisons so that these youth can be transformed. This means our jails must be transformed into schools of technology, where the offenders learn useful occupations, so that when completing their sanction they can be an important and prepared part of the work force and incorporate into society,” added Escalona.Supreme Court President Rubén Remigio Ferro shared the facts that there still exist more than 200 judicial vacancies across the country and that people under 30 hold more than 30 percent of those judgeships filled.“For a long time we have suffered the exodus of professionals, something that has also happened in other branches of the judicial sector, such as the prosecutor’s office. These jobs require of a great deal of responsibility and commitment,” said the nation’s top judge.“We have also initiated a plan for renovating the local courts, which will even include the acquisition of new furnishings – though this process will not be completed this year,” pointed out Remigio Ferro.( j rebelde)

Cooperación médica cubana
Más de 126 mil médicos han prestado colaboración en un centenar de países
Destaca Evo Morales cooperación solidaria de Cuba http://www.ain.cu/2008/mayo/mayo30iggsalud.htm,

Texas delegation optimistic about trade deals with Cuba
By ALFREDO CORCHADO / The Dallas Morning News
HAVANA – John Chumbley of the North Texas town of Dorchester didn't let the language barrier stop him from putting his best foot forward in a country at odds with his own."My name's John," he told strangers, his greeting flavored with a not-so-gentle twang. "I'm from Texas. How is your day going?"When told that his Cuban hosts may not have understood his words, the head of Dorchester Grain Co. replied: "That's OK. Everyone understands a friendly smile."Mr. Chumbley's open attitude and can-do approach exemplify the spirit of the 24-member Texas delegation now on a four-day trade mission to Cuba. Nearing the end of their trip, members of the delegation were upbeat, saying that the Cubans were serious about doing more business with Texas producers and that contacts made now will pay dividends down the road – regardless of whether the trip leads to immediate deals.And it may. With Raúl Castro taking the country's helm from his ailing older brother Fidel, the Texans expressed hope that gradual changes under way in Cuba and a new U.S. president next year may lead to expanded trade between the two nations. The U.S. has maintained a broad trade embargo against Cuba since 1962. And the Bush administration has sharpened travel limits and other exchanges. But a 2000 agreement allows the sale of food and medicine, and the U.S. Treasury and the Cuban government approved the trip by the Texas delegation. Texas Agriculture Commissioner Todd Staples, the leader of the delegation, said Friday that possible deals were in the works much earlier than expected."Thus far, the trip has exceeded our expectations and our goals," he said. "The negotiations have moved beyond the abstract into concrete terms."He added: "They've been very cordial. I sense a sincere desire to do business with Texans."It's been more than 45 years since the last official Texas visit to Cuba, but the two sides quickly found common ground, reaffirming existing trade relations and laying the foundation for expanded ties. The four-day visit ends today. Texas and Cuba, the Western Hemisphere's last communist nation, share a long history. • Beaumont-based Sunset Rice became an established brand in Cuba decades before the revolution. • The King Ranch in South Texas had large holdings in the heartland near Camaguey, raising prized cattle.• And on Fidel Castro's first and only trip to the United States, in 1959, he stopped in Houston, met with a group of livestock producers, and donned a 10-gallon cowboy hat for the cameras."Cubans like us because as Texans we've never gotten over the fact that we were a republic first," said Rosalee Coleman, first vice president of the Independent Cattlemen's Association of Texas Inc. "We're independent-minded, strong- willed, stubborn and straight talkers. We say we're from Texas, not the United States. I think we can do business together."Cautious optimismThe Texans include producers and traders of livestock, cotton, beans, rice, soybeans and wheat as well as shipping officials and even small operators. Delegation member Karen Provost grows lavender plants in the Texas Hill Country to make soap and other products."I was impressed at how well we were received," said Michelle Tubilla of San Antonio-based Moose Milk, with offices in Dallas. "They really know how to break the ice."Not everyone agrees that the two sides should be doing business, though U.S agricultural exports to Cuba averaged more than $350 million from 2004 through 2006, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture. And since 2001, Texas has averaged about $25 million annually in agricultural trade with Cuba.Even with U.S. government approval, Michael Parmly, chief of the U.S. Interests Section in Havana, issued a warning to the Texas visitors. "My advice: Watch your pocketbook," he said. Mr. Parmly said the Cuban government remains a repressive, totalitarian regime determined to hold on to power at the cost of its people."My advice is get to know the Cubans, but not just the officials," said Mr. Parmly, who ends his three-year term in July. "Listen to ordinary Cubans. Look for business opportunities, but don't do anything yet. I wouldn't spend a dime on any sector. Yet the potential in this country is enormous." Mr. Staples takes a different approach."We're neighbors, and I think it's important to be neighborly with your neighbors," he said.Potential poultry dealPotential deals were developing on cotton, grain and poultry. Mr. Staples said the poultry deal, in particular, could be "pretty significant."Frank Walker, 68, president of Walker Ltd., a McKinney company that represents food manufacturers, plans to return within 60 days to sign a deal to supply packaged desserts for the tourism industry, one of Cuba's top money makers. "They wanted me back in two weeks, but I said two months works best for me," Mr. Walker said. "They're astute and know what they want."Pedro Álvarez, president and chief executive officer of Alimport, Cuba's import agency, also expressed optimism. "There are opportunities that we can explore, with or without the U.S. trade embargo," he said, calling the Texas delegates ambassadors. "Greetings to the people of Texas," he added.There were a few glitches on the trip. Asked if the trip had raised any concerns, Mr. Staples replied, "Just the price of long-distance calls." And some of the Cubans struggled to interpret Texas-accented English."I've been taking English classes for the last three months," said Camilo Espinoza López, of Cuba's Economic Ministry. "But these people don't speak English, right? They say 'folks,' not 'people,' with a strange pronunciation.""Well, that's all right," Mr. Staples responded, laughing. "They talk so fast that I couldn't understand their Spanish, either."SEE HOW CHANGES in Cuba hint at a new society. Nation/World dallasnews.com/extra

Texas to do Business with Cuba
http://www.politicalaffairs.net/article/view/6931/1/,

Cultural Relations between the US and Cuba - Can they be strengthened with Castro's exit? http://www.culturaldiplomacynews.org/index.php?aid=275,

Anti-Guantanamo protesters convicted for illegal Supreme Court demonstration
Deirdre Jurand [JURIST] A Washington DC Superior Court found 34 members of anti-war activism group Witness Against Torture [advocacy website] guilty Thursday on misdemeanor charges of illegal protesting. Police arrested 71 group members at a protest [JURIST report] in front of the US Supreme Court in January, where they were demonstrating for the closure of the Guantanamo Bay prison [JURIST news archive]. They were indicted on charges of violating an ordinance barring demonstrations on court grounds. Officials charged 35 protesters, and the Superior Court judge dismissed charges against one for lack of evidence. The defendants, who represented themselves, argued that they were exercising their right to free speech [advocacy press release], but the judge found that they had continued to violate the ordinance despite police warnings. They were scheduled to be sentenced Friday. The Washington Post has more.At their court appearance [JURIST report], protesters wore orange jumpsuits similar to the ones worn by Guantanamo detainees and some identified themselves using the names of detainees as a way to "symbolically grant the Guantanamo prisoners their day in court" [advocacy press release]. During the trial, one defendant turned his back to the judge and, when arrested for contempt of court, yelled that the judge had committed a crime against justice. The January 11 protest took place on the sixth anniversary of the opening of the Guantanamo Bay teror detention facility in Cuba.

Cuba Si Saudi Arabia No
Written by John Michael Spinelli
How Diplomacy Not Denial Can Make Cuba Our New Saudi Arabia http://thejournal.epluribusmedia.net/index.php/category-table/32-issues/99-cuba-si-saudi-arabia-no,

Cuba, antítesis del Capitalismo
Resulta previsible un futuro luminoso en la mayor de las Antillas, mayor aún en la magnitud en que adquiera cuerpo concreto el concepto de Revolución expuesto por el compañero Fidel. http://www.kaosenlared.net/noticia/cuba-antitesis-del-capitalismo,

¿Qué socialismo queremos? Reflexiones sobre un socialismo de nuevo tipo http://www.kaosenlared.net/noticia/que-socialismo-queremos,

Lessons from Cuba
http://www.jamaica-gleaner.com/gleaner/20080601/cleisure/cleisure5.html,

END the US Blockade of Cuba!
http://english.pravda.ru/opinion/columnists/31-05-2008/105407-blockadecubaend-0,

Democrats See Cuba Travel Limits as a Campaign Issue in Florida http://www.nytimes.com/2008/06/01/us/01florida.html?_r=1&adxnnl=1&oref=slogin&ref=us&adxnnlx=1212314416-NGSYg1nLJzUvu1B+CDsvkQ,

Día Internacional de la InfanciaHijos de una isla asombrosa http://www.juventudrebelde.cu/cuba/2008-06-01/hijos-de-una-isla-asombrosa/,

Tras las fórmulas para garantizar la seguridad alimentaria http://www.juventudrebelde.cu/cuba/2008-06-01/tras-las-formulas-para-garantizar-la-seguridad-alimentaria/,

Analizan sensible problema de la vivienda
La Comisión de Industria y las Construcciones de la Asamblea Nacional se propone fiscalizar este programa http://www.juventudrebelde.cu/cuba/2008-06-01/analizan-sensible-problema-de-la-vivienda/,

Economía
La integración latinoamericana avanza por los caminos del ALBA
http://www.opciones.cu/,


The proper response to Castro
US elections 2008: Pandering to Cuban exiles is an election-year staple, but the next US president should open talks with Cuba
http://commentisfree.guardian.co.uk/stephen_kinzer/2008/05/the_proper_response_to_castro.html,

The 'DeFidelization' of Cuba
by Tom Gjelten
Listen Now [3 min 45 sec] add to playlist
Weekend Edition Saturday, May 31, 2008 · There are signs in Cuba that Fidel Castro's power is truly waning, despite that many Cubans have a hard time believing that his rule is really over. http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=91028137&ft=1&f=1004,

Granma, Letter to the editor:
How can we solve electricity problems inside our homes?
The Energy Revolution has unquestionably represented an important step in the country’s development and for Cuban families, at an investment only possible in a nation like ours.The increase in electricity generating capacity, the improvement of the power distribution network, the decrease of low voltage areas, the replacement of breakers and measuring instruments and the substitution of the main energy suppliers for more efficient ones are important and decisive tasks carried out by workers that have been acknowledged by society.However, a problem that’s not new has taken on a greater connotation with the purchase of new appliances including electric stoves, pressure cookers, and water heaters: the deficient internal wiring of many homes, which generally were not prepared to assimilate the changes.Hence, it’s not enough to solve problems related to electricity generation and distribution. Efficiency inside homes and buildings must also be guaranteed, both in the state and residential sectors, and the latter is the focus of this letter.The electricity company provides its service up to the meter, but who can we turn to for help in the solution of problems originated inside the house? Which organization is in charge of dealing with this issue? Where can we purchase suitable electric wire, outlets and switches? Where can we find electricians to make the improvements?I don’t think the problem is easy to resolve but we have to deal with it, like the service companies of the Peoples’ Power (local government offices) have done to provide after-sales service at state repair shops for the rest of the items purchased by the population.It’s sad to hear how some people are solving these problems, above all, when you are aware of the fact that the solution in many cases involves illegalities, corruption and other crimes. Where do the individuals that do the work get the materials for which they charge a sum that workers cannot pay with their salaries?The materials must come from places where they exist, be it a warehouse or a construction site, and from someone who steals them. Finally they end up in the hands of illegal vendors who sell them to people in need that so far don’t have this service guaranteed. That brings me back to the initial question: Who solves the problem from the meter and on into the home? J. Carrazana Valdes



Soborno y corrupción.
Los sucios manejos de la CIA
http://www.rebelion.org/noticia.php?id=68188,



América Latina en alerta roja por la inflación y la crisis alimentaria
- El temor a la crisis alimentaria y a la inflación (emergentes de la suba del petróleo y de los alimentos) que ya impacta y se extiende en todo el mundo, comienza a posarse como un fantasma sobre América Latina generando el alerta de los gobiernos y organizaciones oficiales que estudian distintas medidas de "acción inmediata" para neutralizar sus efectos. El capitalismo enseña, una vez más, sus dientes. http://www.insurgente.org/modules.php?name=News&file=article&sid=13772,

Cinco millones de niños africanos mueren antes de los cinco años
Más de 10 millones de niños y niñas mueren todos los años en el mundo antes de cumplir cinco años y de ellos, la mitad corresponden al continente africano, según un informe del Fondo de las Naciones Unidas para la Infancia (Unicef), divulgado con motivo de la Conferencia Internacional de Tokio sobre Desarrollo de África, que terminó ayer. El estudio Situación de Niños y Niñas en África 2008 analiza éxitos y fracasos de los gobiernos africanos en materia de salud y supervivencia de la población infantil, que complementa el informe realizado por esa agencia del foro mundial. Los datos son impactantes. Solo 22% de los nacimientos del mundo ocurren en África, pero la mitad de las 10 millones de muertes de niños y niñas en el planeta cada año, ocurren en este continente. África es el único continente donde la mortalidad de menores de cinco años aumentó desde los años setenta. Muchos de esos pequeños mueren por enfermedades que pueden ser evitadas y curadas. La malaria es la causa de la muerte del 18% de los menores de cinco años en África, señala el informe, mientras las enfermedades que causan diarrea y neumonía, con mayor incidencia en las comunidades pobres, causan el 40% de los fallecimientos. (IPS)