tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-87421012572207615282024-03-07T20:56:18.980-08:00Cuba Humanitarian AssistanceJohn McAuliffhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02738853658043094283noreply@blogger.comBlogger44125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8742101257220761528.post-47105469728444761112008-10-31T10:48:00.000-07:002008-10-31T10:50:00.793-07:00Pastors for Peace Construction Team Ignores Embargo and Travel BanGRANMA<br />October 31, 2008<br /><br />Solidarity Without a Visa: Pastors for Peace in Pinar del Rio<br /><br />Once again members of the Pastors for Peace organization defy the US<br />blockade against Cuba, this time to help out with the recovery effort<br />in Pinar del Rio.<br /><br />RONALD SUAREZ RIVAS<br /><br />With the same determination that they have handled the most absurd and<br />brutal pressures of the US government to keep them from delivering<br />humanitarian aid to Cuba, members of the Pastors for Peace<br />organization have joined the recovery effort in Pinar del Rio.<br /><br />"THE BLOCKADE IS THE MOST DIABOLICAL EVER CONCEIVED AGAINST A SISTER<br />PEOPLE," SAID MANOLO.<br /><br />They have come without the permission of their government because they<br />believe that nobody has the right to impose limits on the fraternal<br />love between sister peoples. The decision could wind them up in jail,<br />but they assure that their commitment with Cuba is above any risk.<br /><br />The still fresh memory of the tragedy lived in New Orleans after<br />Hurricane Katrina brought a uneasy feeling about what they would find<br />here; nonetheless, the reality of the island has once again surprised<br />them.<br /><br />"We were expecting to find the streets covered with mud, dejected<br />people, but everything is organized. We've seen clean towns, houses<br />and schools being rebuilt, children receiving classes, the health<br />centers operating. It's been a great surprise to see that Cuba is<br />standing," said Rev. Manolo de los Santos Gonzalez, who heads the<br />brigade of 20 including masons, carpenters, plumbers and electricians<br />who responded to the call from the interfaith religious organization.<br /><br />Based on our experience in other parts of the world where there have<br />been similar disasters we thought the situation would be similar.<br />After Katrina, Pastors for Peace went to New Orleans. "We were there<br />gathering bodies," he said.<br /><br />The reverend said that even today in New Orleans it looks like a<br />hurricane just hit. "Everything is the same. The houses are ruined.<br />The people are dispersed throughout the country. The only thing that's<br />been rebuilt is the tourist zone, which serves to continue enriching<br />the government."<br /><br />Here, in contrast, you wouldn't think two hurricanes had hit, said<br />Manolo de los Santos. "Despite the destruction, everybody is working.<br />They haven't stopped to lament the damage, but instead are<br />concentrated on what needs to be done to advance. It's something we<br />want to take back to the United States so that people know that the<br />recovery after a natural disaster depends above all on the will of the<br />government and the people."<br /><br />When a little over three months ago Manolo visited Puerto Esperanza as<br />part of the Pastors for Peace Friendship Caravan he never imagined he<br />be back so quickly.<br /><br />"When we saw the news of the hurricanes we knew we had to do<br />something. We sent letters to progressive organizations and the people<br />responded immediately. The goal was to obtain 20 persons and more than<br />50 offered. This demonstrates the affection felt by people in the US<br />for Cuba," said Manolo de los Santos.<br /><br />Since their arrival in Puerto Esperanza on October 21 the brigade<br />members have worked in the reconstruction of the Santos Cruz Special<br />Education School, a center that was severely damaged by the winds of<br />Gustav and Ike.<br /><br />"Today you see things that a week ago weren't there: a roof, the pipes<br />and the electric systems ready," said Manolo, noting however that the<br />greatest inspiration is communicated by their presence alongside the<br />victims, at the risk of facing severe punishment when they return to<br />their country.<br /><br />"Those of us that are here did not ask the US government for a license<br />because we believe that no administration can regulate the way one<br />people shares with another.<br /><br />"We believe that the blockade is the most immoral and diabolical<br />instrument conceived against a country and must end. For that reason<br />Pastors for Peace comes each year without asking for authorization.<br /><br />"It's true that each time they cause more problems. They threaten us<br />with fines. They tell us that they are going to take us to court, that<br />they will imprison us. But nothing will make us renounce our<br />commitment with Cuba," concluded Manolo de los Santos.John McAuliffhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02738853658043094283noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8742101257220761528.post-1735562952141654682008-10-11T08:29:00.000-07:002008-10-11T08:30:37.912-07:00Coping with Food Shortages<p class="MsoNormal">In food crisis, <st1:country-region st="on"><st1:place st="on">Cuba</st1:place></st1:country-region> limits sales so all can eat<o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">By ANNE-MARIE GARCIA – 20 hours ago<o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">HAVANA (AP) — Cuba is limiting how much basic fruits and vegetables people can buy at farmers' markets, irritating some customers but ensuring there's enough — barely — to go around.<o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">The lines are long and some foods are scarce, but because the government has maintained and even increased rations in some areas, Cubans who initially worried about getting enough to eat now seem confident they won't go hungry despite the destruction of 30 percent of the island's crops by hurricanes Gustav and Ike last month.<o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">"Of the little there is, there is some for everyone," 65-year-old Mercedes Grimau said as queued up behind more than 50 people to buy lettuce, limited to two pounds per person.<o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">"I'm not afraid that I will be left without food, but it's a pain to think about all the work we are going to have to go through," Grimau added. "Two or three months ago the farmers markets were well-stocked."<o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><st1:country-region st="on"><st1:place st="on">Cuba</st1:place></st1:country-region>'s government regularly stockpiles beans and other basics, and Economics Minister Jose Luis Rodriguez said authorities are ready to increase the $2 billion they already spend on food imports annually. The world credit crisis won't affect much of those imports because <st1:country-region st="on">U.S.</st1:country-region> law forces communist <st1:country-region st="on"><st1:place st="on">Cuba</st1:place></st1:country-region> to use cash to purchase American farm goods. But imports from other countries bought with credit could become more difficult or expensive.<o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">The government is delivering all items distributed each month on the universal ration that provides Cubans with up to two weeks of food — including eggs, beans, rice and potatoes — at very low cost. In some hard-hit provinces, extra food has been added.<o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">But the rest of the food Cubans supplement their diets with at supply-and-demand farmers markets and government produce stands has dwindled, prompting the government to limit consumer purchases and cap prices on items including rice, beans, root crops and fresh greens.<o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">Rodriguez has sought to dispel speculation about a replay of the desperate early 1990s, when shelves were bare and people survived for weeks on one small meal daily. Cubans who lived through deprivation after the <st1:place st="on">Soviet Union</st1:place>'s collapse say the current food situation doesn't come close.<o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">"It is true that it will take us some time to bring the agricultural production up to the levels that existed before the hurricanes," Rodriguez told state television this week. "Nevertheless, there is no reason to speculate or assume that there will be any hunger."<o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">Although Cuba's relative financial isolation partially protects it from the jolts of the world economy, an extended credit crisis could stunt the island's foreign currency income if Cubans living abroad lose jobs and stop sending family remittances, or if potential tourists can no longer afford to travel.<o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">But now, <st1:country-region st="on"><st1:place st="on">Cuba</st1:place></st1:country-region>'s top challenge is to increase local production of fruits and vegetables sold at the farmers' markets.<o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">Waiting at one market on a recent morning, 55-year-old homemaker Regla Suazo said, "At least with the measures I know I can buy something." Shortly thereafter, the first truck of the day pulled up with green beans, green onions, guavas, avocados, corn, squash, cassava root and sweet potatoes.<o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">But quantities were much smaller than usual. Vendor Nadia Gomez, who received nothing that day, said police checkpoints leading into Havana now turn away trucks unauthorized to market produce in the capital or have been ordered send their goods to harder-hit areas.<o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">Cuban agricultural officials expect six months of food shortages, and are increasing short-cycle crops such as salad greens and taking other measures to ensure everyone gets enough to eat.<o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">At Cuatro Caminos farmers market, among <st1:city st="on"><st1:place st="on">Havana</st1:place></st1:City>'s largest and most varied, vendor Juan Carlos Martinez lamented he had only papayas, guavas and pineapples to sell. "This isn't the business it used to be," he said.</p>John McAuliffhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02738853658043094283noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8742101257220761528.post-42061282991584147032008-10-10T08:43:00.000-07:002008-10-10T08:47:01.626-07:00US Blocks Direct Family Assistance Through CANF<p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal">Cubans in <st1:state st="on">Florida</st1:State> frustrated that <st1:place st="on"><st1:country-region st="on">U.S.</st1:country-region></st1:place> cut off their aid to island</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">Foundation appeals decision by government</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">sun-sentinel.com/news/local/cuba/sfl-flbcubahelp1009sboct09,0,1640950.story<o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><st1:place st="on">South Florida</st1:place> Sun-Sentinel.com<o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">By Alexia <st1:city st="on"><st1:place st="on">Campbell</st1:place></st1:City><o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><st1:place st="on">South Florida</st1:place> Sun-Sentinel<o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">October 9, 2008<o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">Click here to find out more!<o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">One man wants to send his niece in <st1:country-region st="on"><st1:place st="on">Cuba</st1:place></st1:country-region> money to rebuild a room of her flattened home. Another man wants to get arthritis medicine to his aunt, who moves around in a makeshift wheelchair. One woman looks for ways to send food to a cousin who waits for promised government aid.<o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">For two days in September, it was easy. Cubans in the <st1:country-region st="on"><st1:place st="on">United States</st1:place></st1:country-region> could send money directly to hurricane victims on the island, thanks to a temporary easing of federal restrictions on remittances.<o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">But federal officials last month amended the license they granted to the Cuban American National Foundation.<o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">Now it prohibits direct aid to people on the island.<o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">As the foundation appeals the decision, South Florida Cubans struggle to keep hope alive in their homeland.<o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">"It's completely frustrating," said Pedro Abigantus, a Pembroke Pines resident whose niece was left homeless in eastern Cuba after Hurricanes Gustav and Ike plowed through her house more than a month ago.<o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">Current <st1:country-region st="on">U.S.</st1:country-region> law limits Cubans in <st1:country-region st="on">America</st1:country-region> to sending no more than $300 every three months to immediate family members in <st1:country-region st="on"><st1:place st="on">Cuba</st1:place></st1:country-region>.<o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">Abigantus, 71, can't send money to his niece unless someone travels there.<o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">He wants to help his niece and her husband piece together a room for themselves and their little girl.<o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">"To find one nail — it's impossible," Abigantus said. "They straighten out the same old nails and use the same old wood."<o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">About 1,200 people wired money to <st1:country-region st="on"><st1:place st="on">Cuba</st1:place></st1:country-region> through the foundation after the U.S. Department of Treasury first granted the license and after hurricanes damaged more than 100,000 homes on the island.<o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">Two days later, the $250,000 limit the license allowed was hit, the foundation said.<o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">Federal officials didn't explain why direct aid was briefly allowed and then taken away, said Sandy Acosta Cox, spokeswoman for the foundation.<o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">The Treasury Department now won't publicly confirm or deny that the license was ever issued.<o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">"There are no words to describe this," said Acosta Cox.Fred Valdes, 60, of <st1:city st="on">Hollywood</st1:City>, heard news that part of the roof at his aunt's house near <st1:city st="on"><st1:place st="on">Santa Clara</st1:place></st1:City> blew off. His aunt, who lives alone and suffers from arthritis, moves around in a wheelchair made from a chair mounted on two bike wheels. Her house has no power and she drinks water from a well in her yard, he said.<o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">"Enough is enough," said Valdes, who wants to send her medicine and money. "Forget the politics, let the help go in."<o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">Copyright © 2008, <st1:place st="on">South Florida</st1:place> Sun-Sentinel</p>John McAuliffhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02738853658043094283noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8742101257220761528.post-1483404974892868102008-10-09T06:59:00.001-07:002008-10-09T06:59:56.993-07:00Food ShortagesCuba bolsters food rations to counter shortages<br />Wed Oct 8, 2008 4:33pm EDT<br /><br />By Marc Frank<br /><br />HAVANA (Reuters) - Fruits and vegetables are getting hard to find across Cuba after hurricanes wiped out crops, but the government is tapping food reserves to bolster the monthly food ration that Cubans have received for decades.<br /><br />It said it would step up imports when needed to make sure no one goes hungry, a situation that could arise by December when diplomats estimate Cuba's reserves will run out.<br /><br />A survey of major cities and the hardest-hit provinces found that supplies of vegetables and fruits had dried up, even in the usually well-supplied black market. But starches and proteins could still be found with an effort.<br /><br />"The problem is you have to be at the markets when something comes in, because supply is irregular," said Carlos Pena, a state worker in Holguin province.<br /><br />Hurricanes Gustav and Ike struck the communist-run island in a 10-day period starting August 30, causing $5 billion in damage and wiping out of 30 percent of Cuba's crops.<br /><br />Cubans say the monthly ration usually provides enough basic food to get through about two weeks, and then they have to supplement it with purchases.<br /><br />Across much of the country the ration has been increased with additional rice, beans, sugar, cooking oil, a few cans of fish and meat, crackers and other basics, according to people interviewed.<br /><br />They said they had been told the additional food would be provided through March, which is when the government has said it expects the shortages to ease.<br /><br />LINING UP FOR LETTUCE<br /><br />In the few provinces where there was little storm damage, which includes Havana, rations have not been increased and some food that normally would have gone to the Cuban capital was being diverted to needy parts of the country.<br /><br />As a result, Havana food markets have been more barren than before the storms.<br /><br />At one of the city's urban gardens begun to increase food supply during the deprivation that followed the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991, at least 100 people stood in line on Wednesday to buy the day's primary offering, lettuce.<br /><br />"I don't think we'll have enough lettuce for everybody in line," one of the vendors said.<br /><br />In measures that some critics say have only worsened the storm-induced shortages, the Cuban government has slapped price controls on staples and limited how many pounds of rice, for example, an individual can purchase.<br /><br />It also has cracked down on sales outside the state-controlled distribution system and pressured farmers to sell only to the state.<br /><br />Street vendors have disappeared across the country and what is available at private markets has dwindled.<br /><br />Camaguey resident Evelio Cisneros said he got basics such as rice and beans at a state store on Tuesday, then found pork and avocado at a private market.<br /><br />"There is much less since the storms, but there is food at a decent price to buy," he said.<br /><br />(Editing by Jeff Franks, Michael Christie and Xavier Briand)John McAuliffhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02738853658043094283noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8742101257220761528.post-59349344334428550992008-09-29T21:27:00.000-07:002008-09-29T21:30:23.835-07:00Insight from Inside: A Cuban View of the Migration RiskThere is no doubt that a worsening of economic and social conditions in Cuba will provoke an increase in legal and illegal immigration, mainly to the US. It can get out of hand, but not easily.<br /><br /><br /><br />In previous situations, Boca de Camarioca in the 60’s, Mariel in the 80’s and the last one in the mid 90’s, always the Cuban authorities had, in some justified way, allowed it to go on until the US authorities were forced to some kind of agreement. But it was always first provoked by rigid US policies that did not take in consideration the consequences of such policies.<br /><br /><br /><br />I think that the Cuban Government and Party have the means and political tools to avoid such a situation today, but it is obviously a possibility.<br /><br /><br /><br />As you have been probably able to watch, the destruction in Pinar del Río, Holguín and Las Tunas, but not only in these provinces, has been enormous and it has hit private houses in the worst way. Just as much, it also hit agricultural production and electrical energy infrastructure.<br /><br /><br /><br />There is already a certain scarcity of sweet potatoes (bonitato), malanga (I don’t know the name in English), bananas and plantain, fresh pork and goat meat and others basic food in the “agromercados” and it will get worse. There is also a problem in the CUC ("dollar") stores to get cooking oil (you can only get soya oil), tomatoe paste, canned fish and meat, frozen chicken, cheese and fresh meat. <br /><br /><br /><br />The only solution is a rapid recuperation of agricultural production. The private agricultural sector is the main producer, but can not do it by itself, It is needed that the state farms under their various forms of organization increase production, something they have been unable to do in 50 years, without huge investment in machinery, fertilizers, insecticides and other inputs that are no longer available.<br /><br /><br /><br />As the destruction is shown by TV, people get surprised to see how poor the houses were before the hurricanes, and slowly everybody is starting to realize that it will take decades to bring housing to, even, the previous poor situation. <br /><br /><br /><br />An immediate political result of the destruction is the solidarity and unity of purpose that brings among the people. This is probably true in every country. In Cuba it is even more so, as the Government and Party had created a solid organization that includes more and more people to people solidarity, to confront hurricanes and heavy rains. Also because of the quick and effective response to start reconstruction, that includes, even, cultural groups with well known artists performing in the more severely affected areas. Of course the limited resources are the main problem.<br /><br /><br /><br />But, is difficult to predict how the mood will change as the reality of an even poorer country, with even more economic and social problems, takes hold slowly of people's minds.<br /><br /><br /><br />So, yes it is almost certain that there will be an increase of emigration. Whether it will be massive and illegal, depends of many factors. Of course the impact of a limited in time lift of the embargo, or the increase in remittances and traveling, will help to avoid that this problem gets out of hand. As has happened in the past, I doubt the US Administration will take in consideration the consequences of their fanatic anti-evolution policies. Even without massive emigration, it is always safer for you not to provoke problems to your neighbor that can affect you in the long run.John McAuliffhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02738853658043094283noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8742101257220761528.post-31050557702907034292008-09-24T20:36:00.000-07:002008-09-24T20:37:39.891-07:00Washington Post on Hurricane Impact There and Here<p class="MsoNormal">Hurricanes Shift Debate On Embargo Against <st1:country-region st="on"><st1:place st="on">Cuba</st1:place></st1:country-region><o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">By Joshua Partlow<o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><st1:state st="on"><st1:place st="on">Washington</st1:place></st1:State> Post Foreign Service<o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">Wednesday, September 24, 2008; A01<o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">LOS PALACIOS, <st1:country-region st="on">Cuba</st1:country-region> -- A pair of devastating storms have prompted new calls for the <st1:country-region st="on">United States</st1:country-region> to end its long isolation of <st1:country-region st="on"><st1:place st="on">Cuba</st1:place></st1:country-region>, including from hard-line exile groups that are pushing for the Bush administration to loosen restrictions they had long favored.<o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">For the first time in the 47-year history of the <st1:country-region st="on">U.S.</st1:country-region> trade embargo against <st1:country-region st="on">Cuba</st1:country-region>, <st1:state st="on"><st1:place st="on">Washington</st1:place></st1:State> has offered direct aid to the island's Communist government, long dominated by Fidel Castro and his younger brother, Raúl, who is now nominally in charge. The offer marks a slight softening of the Bush administration's policy toward <st1:country-region st="on"><st1:place st="on">Cuba</st1:place></st1:country-region>, motivated in part by a new generation of Cuban Americans who think a more open approach to the island during a time of political transition could help bring about a lasting change in government.<o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">But even the most hawkish Cuban exile groups are pushing the Bush administration to go much further. Traditionally a voice for greater isolation of the Castro government, the Cuban exile lobby has asked Congress to lift the four-year-old rules that limit Cuban Americans to sending $300 every three months to immediate family on the island and to making just one trip to <st1:country-region st="on"><st1:place st="on">Cuba</st1:place></st1:country-region> every three years. Some have even proposed a temporary suspension of the trade embargo, a cause taken up by a few members of Congress.<o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">So far, though, the Cuban government has rejected the <st1:country-region st="on">U.S.</st1:country-region> offer, preferring instead to rely on relief aid that arrives daily by the planeload from <st1:country-region st="on"><st1:place st="on">Russia</st1:place></st1:country-region> and other more sympathetic countries. The Cuban government has mobilized the military to help in the reconstruction effort, including here in this hard-hit stretch of western <st1:country-region st="on"><st1:place st="on">Cuba</st1:place></st1:country-region>, while legions of volunteers are picking coffee beans and other crops to salvage this year's harvest and working to repair damaged homes.<o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">"I will not be surprised if we're looking at a major immigration crisis in the next few months," said Silvia Wilhelm, executive director of the Miami-based Cuban American Commission for Family Rights, an organization that promotes closer U.S.-Cuba relations, who visited the island after the hurricanes. "We're talking a situation that is very critical for the Cuban people."<o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">The question of who should help the Cubans in times of need and to what degree has shaped <st1:country-region st="on">Cuba</st1:country-region>'s relationship with the <st1:country-region st="on"><st1:place st="on">United States</st1:place></st1:country-region> for decades. The severe damage done by the storms appears now to be changing the debate. The hurricanes, which hit the island one after the other in just over a week, damaged an estimated 500,000 homes and ruined 30 percent of the nation's crops.<o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">Four days after Gustav struck <st1:country-region st="on">Cuba</st1:country-region> on Aug. 30, the <st1:country-region st="on"><st1:place st="on">U.S.</st1:place></st1:country-region> government offered to send an assessment team to the island and $100,000 in emergency funding for humanitarian groups. The Cuban government has estimated that the damage from the two storms totals $5 billion, and it dismissed the offer as too paltry to be serious.<o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">But on Sept. 13, six days after Hurricane Ike barreled into the island of 11.4 million people, the Bush administration raised its offer to $5 million, which <st1:country-region st="on"><st1:place st="on">U.S.</st1:place></st1:country-region> officials called an unprecedented proposal of direct aid to the Cuban government. In the past, <st1:country-region st="on"><st1:place st="on">U.S.</st1:place></st1:country-region> aid to the island has been channeled through nongovernmental relief organizations. The Bush administration has authorized an additional $8 million in private <st1:country-region st="on"><st1:place st="on">U.S.</st1:place></st1:country-region> donations to be distributed in that way.<o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">The Cuban government requested building materials instead of the blankets and "hygiene kits" the aid included, said José Cárdenas, the U.S. Agency for International Development's acting assistant administrator for Latin America and the <st1:place st="on">Caribbean</st1:place>.<o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">"These people are in dire need," he said. "We certainly hope that they would just accept it and get this stuff to the people who need it."<o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">In an attempt to fulfill the request for building materials, the <st1:country-region st="on"><st1:place st="on">U.S.</st1:place></st1:country-region> government on Friday proposed sending 8,000 "shelter kits," which include zinc roof sheeting, lumber, tools and wire. Cárdenas said the value of the aid is $6.3 million. So far, the Cuban government has not responded.<o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">But Fidel Castro, who because of illness handed over official power to Raúl in February but remains highly influential, has signaled that the Communist Party would reject the <st1:country-region st="on"><st1:place st="on">U.S.</st1:place></st1:country-region> aid on principle.<o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">"Our country cannot accept a donation from the government that blockades us," he wrote recently in Granma, the party's daily newspaper. "The damage of thousands of lives, suffering, and more than $200 billion that the blockade and the aggression of the Yankees has cost us -- they can't pay for that with anything."<o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">Despite the offers, many Cuban exiles who favor more contact with the island have sharply criticized the Bush administration.<o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">"A whole group that you could consider extreme right-wing a year ago is now in favor of two very important changes," said Alfredo Duran, a <st1:city st="on"><st1:place st="on">Miami</st1:place></st1:City> lawyer and a member of the Cuban Committee for Democracy, a moderate exile group that favors dialogue with the Cuban government. Referring to proposals to lift restrictions on remittances and travel to <st1:country-region st="on"><st1:place st="on">Cuba</st1:place></st1:country-region> and the fuller debate emerging among Cuban exiles about the embargo itself, Duran said: "A lot of people in the past would not even talk about it. They basically shunned the issue."<o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">Last week, El Nuevo Herald, a traditionally hard-line Spanish-language newspaper in <st1:city st="on"><st1:place st="on">Miami</st1:place></st1:City>, published an editorial supporting a proposal by Sen. Christopher J. Dodd (D-Conn.) to lift the restrictions on remittances and travel for six months. Even in "normal times," the editorial read, the measures were "highly unpopular."<o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">"Now, they offend intelligence and sensibility," the paper said. "That absurd strategy does not benefit North America's best interests nor puts pressure for the return of freedom to <st1:country-region st="on"><st1:place st="on">Cuba</st1:place></st1:country-region>."<o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">The Cuban American National Foundation, historically the most powerful Cuban exile organization, still supports the embargo. But it is now actively campaigning to eliminate the travel and remittance restrictions, and recently sent a letter to President Bush urging him to waive them. The president of the foundation, Francisco Hernandez, said the Cuban government is taking advantage of the storms to win international political support while the Bush administration is "tying the hands of its friends, the Cuban American community."<o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">"We all have, down here in Miami, a terrible sense of frustration at this administration at this time, because we are wasting the greatest opportunity for those who want freedom and democracy in Cuba to help and to be agents of change in Cuba," said Hernandez, who took part in the 1961 Bay of Pigs invasion and described the current U.S. policy as an "even bigger mistake."<o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">Meanwhile, <st1:country-region st="on">Russia</st1:country-region> has sent planeloads of supplies to help storm victims; <st1:country-region st="on">Brazil</st1:country-region> and <st1:country-region st="on"><st1:place st="on">Spain</st1:place></st1:country-region> have also contributed. President Hugo Chávez of <st1:country-region st="on">Venezuela</st1:country-region>, a close Cuban ally, visited <st1:city st="on"><st1:place st="on">Havana</st1:place></st1:City> this week and is expected to give a lucrative aid package.<o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><st1:city st="on"><st1:place st="on">Havana</st1:place></st1:City>, the seaside capital, was largely spared the brunt of the storms. But many important industries suffered serious losses.<o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">The winds flattened fields of sugar cane, the coffee harvest was hurt badly, and tobacco-curing sheds collapsed. Millions of acres of crops were damaged in the storms. The destruction left an estimated 200,000 people homeless and left others facing severe damage and long delays in the arrival of building supplies to repair what remains.<o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">"Everything was destroyed -- look at this," said Linda Meléndez, the sun beating down into what was her living room before Hurricane Gustav tore the roof off her home here in this city of 40,000 people set among cultivated fields.<o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">The Cuban government had classified her house as a partial loss, she said, preventing her family from receiving wood to build a temporary backyard hut.<o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">"How long can we wait for materials?" she said.<o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">On the way west out of <st1:city st="on"><st1:place st="on">Havana</st1:place></st1:City>, metal electricity towers, one after the other, lay on the ground, their cables slumped between them. Houses had been shorn of their corrugated roofs.<o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">Here in Los Palacios, every house appeared to have sustained at least some damage. But the rebuilding effort, in comparison to the chaos of neighboring <st1:country-region st="on"><st1:place st="on">Haiti</st1:place></st1:country-region>, has been orderly.<o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">Rubble and debris have been swept into piles along every street. Several residents said the government had assessed the damage and outlined the building materials they were supposed to receive. Many people were living with friends and neighbors, had moved into public buildings or were constructing small wooden shacks in their yards until the supplies arrived.<o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">"I have never seen a storm like this; it was terrible," said Mario de Jesús Fuentes <st1:city st="on"><st1:place st="on">Campos</st1:place></st1:City>, a 55-year-old retiree who lost his roof and the big mango tree in the back yard.<o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">His family went 15 days without electricity. Prices of gasoline and cooking oil have risen. The stores have shortages of rice, he said, and there is hardly any meat at the butcher's.<o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">"We have no money now," said his mother, Encarnación Campos, 81, who has a son living in <st1:city st="on">Riverside</st1:City>, <st1:state st="on">Calif.</st1:State> "It's unfair the Cubans can't send help to their relatives in <st1:country-region st="on"><st1:place st="on">Cuba</st1:place></st1:country-region>. I don't agree with these rules."<o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>John McAuliffhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02738853658043094283noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8742101257220761528.post-72919450960420998562008-09-24T19:51:00.000-07:002008-09-24T19:53:35.350-07:00Letter from Cuba Stiudy Group Executive Director<div class="clearfix mBot10"> <img src="http://media.washingtontimes.com/media/twt/img/icons/logo_print.gif" class="fLeft" /> </div> <div class="prnt_date"> <h1> Thursday, September 25, 2008 </h1> </div> <div class="prnt_title"> <h1>LETTER TO EDITOR: Help for Cuba</h1> </div> <div class="prnt_author"> </div> <div class="prnt_note"> <p> For observers of the diplomatic chess match being played between Havana and Washington over humanitarian relief to the victims of hurricanes Gustav and Ike in Cuba, it is easy to overlook the positive steps taken by the U.S. government following its initial timid offer of $100,000 in assistance. </p> <p>Despite at least five rejections by the Cuban government of U.S. offers of assistance, the administration has moved quickly to get assistance to the victims of the hurricane damage in Cuba. </p> <p>These measures include: expediting licenses for nonprofit organizations wishing to send assistance to Cuba, delivering approximately $1.7 million in aid through nongovernmental organizations working in Cuba, and authorizing the sale of $250 million in agricultural goods to Cuba, including lumber. </p> <p>The latest U.S. offer includes $6.3 million worth of construction materials to help Cuba rebuild. Though these offers fall short of the immense estimated need for the Cuban people (projected to be between $4 billion and $5 billion), they represent positive steps that deserve praise. </p> <p>U.S. officials have proved their willingness to work with Cuban officials (even sit down with them) to make the legitimate U.S. offer of assistance more palpable for a regime with an already bruised ego. </p> <p>This tragedy has presented the U.S. government with a unique opportunity to demonstrate the generosity of America. U.S. officials' willingness to take these positive steps is evidence that some in our government understand the importance of this opportunity. </p> <p><span style="font-weight: bold;">Recognizing the Cuban government's stubborn unwillingness to accept U.S. assistance, these officials would do well to press on the administration the value of family-to-family assistance in circumstances such as this and advocate to suspend restrictions on travel and remittances to Cuba by Cuban-Americans.</span> </p> <p>The U.S. government's willingness to take these steps stands in contrast to a cruel regime that rejects the assistance its people so desperately need and prefers to play politics rather than ensure the well-being of its citizens. </p> <p> TOMAS BILBAO </p> <p> Executive director </p> <p> Cuba Study Group </p> <p> Washington </p> </div>John McAuliffhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02738853658043094283noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8742101257220761528.post-46672666545148128392008-09-24T08:47:00.000-07:002008-09-24T08:48:34.039-07:00My letter to Secretary GutierrezDear Secretary Gutierrez,<br /><br />You are quoted in the Miami Herald today:<br /><br />''It's hard to understand -- hard -- how they put politics ahead of suffering,''<br /><br />We agree that Cuba should be more flexible about receiving US hurricane assistance. However, I also think that Washington is putting politics ahead of suffering at least as much as Havana.<br /><br />FRD has circulated on line the following letter to the President which currently has about 950 signers, many of whom are Cuban American. I encourage you to review the list and browse through the comments <a href="http://www.ipetitions.com/petition/Cubafloodaid/signatures.html" eudora="autourl">http://www.ipetitions.com/petition/Cubafloodaid/signatures.html</a>.<br /><br /><dl><dd><b>Because of the devastation suffered by Cuba from Hurricanes Gustav and Ike, and the history of conflict and suspicion between our countries, creative means must be found to enable the traditional compassion of Americans to express itself in assistance to the Cuban people in a timely fashion.<br /></b></dd><dt><br /></dt><dd><b>We urge an immediate 180 day suspension by Presidential order, or by legislation, of Treasury and Commerce Department restrictions and licensing requirements for humanitarian travel and remittances by all Americans and assistance from not-for-profit organizations granted tax-exempt status by the IRS.<br /><br /></b></dd></dl>Only such an action can liberate the caring and generosity of hundreds of thousands of Americans with personal links to Cuba and depoliticize the means of transmittal and acceptance. It will create a different atmosphere between our countries that makes the practical details of government to government aid far easier to negotiate.<br /><br />Without this kind of paradigm changing breakthrough, officials of both countries will continue to posture and score points with their respective audiences, and the Cuban people will pay the price.<br /><br />Sincerely,<br /><br />John McAuliff<br /><x-sigsep> </X-SIGSEP><p>+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++<br /><br />John McAuliff<br />Executive Director<br />Fund for Reconciliation and Development<br />145 Palisade Street, Suite 401<br />Dobbs Ferry, NY 10522</p>John McAuliffhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02738853658043094283noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8742101257220761528.post-69420087585416099242008-09-24T07:28:00.000-07:002008-09-24T07:29:54.443-07:00US Offers Construction Materials<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="100%"> <tbody><tr><td rowspan="2" bgcolor="#ffffff" valign="top"> <table align="center" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="97%"> <tbody><tr><td valign="top"><br /> <div id="pageContainer" class="storyDetail"> <div id="col2"> <div class="content printable"> <div id="printButton"><a href="http://www.miamiherald.com/1264/v-print/story/697445.html#" onclick="javascript:window.print(); return false;"><img src="http://media.miamiherald.com/images/site_logo_149x40.gif" alt="Print This Article" border="0" /></a></div> <div id="pagetitle"> </div> <div id="wide"> <div id="storyDate-Links"> <span class="pubDate">Posted on Wed, Sep. 24, 2008</span> </div> <h2 id="storyTitle">Cuba silent on latest U.S. aid offer</h2> <div class="byline">BY FRANCES ROBLES</div> <div id="storyBody">The Cuban government has not officially responded to Washington's latest no-strings offer to provide $6.3 million in light construction materials to benefit hurricane victims. Havana has rejected three previous offers.<p>The U.S. State Department told Cuban diplomats in Washington on Friday that the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) was ready to send $6.3 million in corrugated zinc roofs, nails, tools, lumber, sheeting and light shelter kits by ship to benefit some 48,000 people hit by back-to-back devastating hurricanes.</p><p>But speaking at a New York church Monday, Cuba's vice president said Washington can keep making its proposals, but what it should really do is lift the trade embargo.</p><p>''They will continue making proposals,'' First Vice President José Ramón Machado Ventura said at a speech Monday in Manhattan. ``If they really want to help the Cuban people, why don't they lift the embargo? They try to say that Cuba is trying to sacrifice its own people for politics when the most politicized thing is the blockade.''</p><p>Havana has already turned down flights full of disaster relief supplies and -- as of Monday night -- had not responded officially to the latest offer from Washington.</p><p>''It's hard to understand -- hard -- how they put politics ahead of suffering,'' U.S. Commerce Secretary Carlos Gutierrez said in a phone interview with The Miami Herald on Monday. ``They said last time that they needed building materials, so we added building materials. It's frankly very surprising that the leadership -- whoever is making the decisions -- is putting pride, power and their own ego ahead of the suffering of the Cuban people.''</p><p>The diplomatic note went ignored amid several reports that Cubans receiving cash storm aid from an exile group in Miami were being threatened by state security.</p><p>Melba Santana, the wife of a political prisoner in Las Tunas, said that when she attempted to distribute some money to neighbors from $300 in storm aid sent by the Cuban American National Foundation, state security agents threatened to criminally charge her.</p><p>''Let's see how far they are willing to take this, how far they are willing to sacrifice people's suffering,'' Santana said in a telephone interview. ``It was a miserable little $10 I was giving out and people are in need.''</p><p>The most recent proposal comes on the heels of a diplomatic clash between Havana and Washington over two powerful storms that hit the island in as many weeks. When Hurricane Gustav slammed into western Cuba on Aug. 30, the U.S. government offered $100,000 in aid and a disaster assessment team, a standard initial response to natural disasters that was widely criticized for not being generous and tied to conditions.</p><p>Cuba turned it down, saying an assessment team was an unnecessary pretext.</p><p>''We don't need experts. Our storm assessment experts are better,'' Machado said. ``They wanted to send spies so they could continue slandering us.''</p><p>When Ike hit the east and west coasts of Cuba destroying thousands of buildings in its path, Washington came back with the identical aid package.</p><p>Cuba blasted it and asked for a temporary reprieve from the U.S. embargo instead.</p><p>Washington came under heavy criticism again for insisting on the assessment team and making such a paltry initial offer. The USAID went back a third time, lifting the conditions and increasing the aid to $5 million in goods and cash.</p><p>The Cuban government's official response said what the nation really needed was credits to purchase construction materials. The U.S. embargo prohibits American companies from selling such materials to Cuba on credit. Current law allows food and lumber sales paid upfront in cash.</p><p>USAID said $1.7 million of Washington's aid is already making its way to Cuba through nongovernmental organizations.</p></div> </div> </div> </div> </div></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><br /></td></tr></tbody></table> <hr color="#cccccc" size="1" width="97%"> <center> © 2008 Miami Herald Media Company. All Rights Reserved.<br />http://www.miamiherald.com </center> <div id="mistatstag" style="display: none;"> <!-- SiteCatalyst: McClatchy WorkBench Stats Tag v.1.0 --> <script language="JavaScript" type="text/javascript" src="http://media.miamiherald.com/mistats/sites/mia/miamiherald.js"></script> <script language="JavaScript" type="text/javascript" src="http://media.miamiherald.com/mistats/products/pubsys_s_code.js"></script> <script language="JavaScript" type="text/javascript"> <!-- measure_popularity=true; mistats.msr = 'MIA|MA'; mistats.cmsid='GUID: 562221407692679568 | Story: 697445'; mistats.pagelevel='Story'; mistats.pagename='Story: 697445|Cuba silent on latest U.S. aid offer'; mistats.version='1.0|v-print'; mistats.taxonomy='News|World|||'; mistats.channel='This Week in Cuba'; mistats.popular='1264|697445|http://www.miamiherald.com/1264/v-print/story/697445.html'; mistats.popstoryurl='http://www.miamiherald.com/1264/v-print/story/697445.html'; mistats.popstoryheadline='697445|Cuba silent on latest U.S. aid offer'; mistats.contentsource='miamiherald|XMUltra| <a href="mailto:frobles@MiamiHerald.com">frobles@MiamiHerald.com</a>|BY FRANCES ROBLES'; mistats.pubdate='2008/09/23'; mistats.moddate='2008/09/22 H23'; mistats.keywords='americas,cuba,natnews'; --> </script> <script language="JavaScript" type="text/javascript" src="http://media.miamiherald.com/mistats/products/pubsys.js"></script> <script language="JavaScript" type="text/javascript" src="http://media.miamiherald.com/mistats/finalizestats.js"></script> <script type="text/javascript" src="http://edge.quantserve.com/quant.js"></script> <noscript><img src="http://mcclatchy.112.2O7.net/b/ss/nmmiami/1/H.10--NS/0?pageName=Story:%20697445%7CCuba%20silent%20on%20latest%20U.S.%20aid%20offer&server=www.miamiherald.com&channel=This%20Week%20in%20Cuba&c1=http%26%2358;%26%2347;%26%2347;www.miamiherald.com%26%2347;1264%26%2347;v-print%26%2347;story%26%2347;697445.html&c3=Story&c4=miamiherald%7CXMUltra%7C%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%3Ca%20href=%22mailto:frobles@MiamiHerald.com%22%3Efrobles@MiamiHerald.com%3C/a%3E%0A%7CBY%20FRANCES%20ROBLES&c6=MIA%7CMA&c28=&h1=MIA%7CMIAMIHERALD%7CNews%7CWorld%7C%7C%7C%7CThis%20Week%20in%20Cuba" height="1" width="1" border="0" alt="" /></noscript> <!-- End SiteCatalyst: McClatchy WorkBench Stats Tag v.1.0 --> </div>John McAuliffhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02738853658043094283noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8742101257220761528.post-22883385577506868732008-09-24T07:23:00.000-07:002008-09-24T07:24:02.917-07:00Cuban Government Position<blockquote class="CITE" cite="" type="cite"><div>Granma</div> <div>Havana. September 19, 2008</div><br /><div>Statements by Foreign Minister Felipe Pérez Roque</div> <div>Genocide and the latest anti-Cuba propaganda show</div><br /><div>By María Julia Mayoral</div><br /><div>Statements by Foreign Minister Felipe Pérez Roque THE economic, commercial and financial blockade imposed by the United States for 50 years is the main obstacle to Cuba's development, the well-being of the Cuban people and, under the current circumstances, all the work involved in recovering from the extensive damage caused by Hurricanes Gustav and Ike, stated Cuban Foreign Minister Felipe Pérez Roque in Havana.</div><br /><div>He affirmed that, since its implementation, the blockade has resulted in more than $93 billion in losses, which at current dollar values is the equivalent of $224.6 billion. He noted that this figure is based on conservative estimates, including only duly documented losses; there are many direct and indirect effects that have not been quantified.</div><br /><div>Last year saw the most brutal implementation of the blockade, the foreign minister said. At today's prices, economic damage in 2007 totaled $3.775 billion. Irrational persecution of businesses, banks and citizens of the United States and other countries continues, including the obstruction of Internet sites related to Cuba, he noted.</div><br /><div>At our country's proposal, this coming October 29, a draft resolution will be submitted to the United States General Assembly for a vote on the necessity of ending the economic, commercial and financial blockade. It will be the 17th time that the issue has been put to the consideration of that important body and, last year, Cuba's demand received a "yes" vote from 184 of the 192 member nations.</div><br /><div>Cuba is confident that it will once again receive the overwhelming support of the international community, Pérez Roque affirmed. "The blockade is a violation not only of our rights but of the sovereignty of third countries and the rights of their businesses and citizens. It flagrantly violates the rights of the U.S. people and Cubans who live there, and according to the Geneva Convention, qualifies as an act of genocide," he affirmed.</div><br /><div>QUITE DIFFERENT ATTITUDES</div><br /><div>In response to questions from reporters, the minister said that, in the wake of the disasters caused by Gustav and Ike, more than 20 countries have offered Cuba humanitarian aid, donations and cooperation projects, and another dozen have sent messages of encouragement and their willingness to cooperate. This contrasts with the attitude taken by the United States.</div><br /><div>A U.S. State Department information sheet published a few days ago confirmed an attempt to launch a propaganda campaign in order to try to divert attention from the broad debate and the reiterated appeals of the international community to lift the blockade on Cuba, Pérez Roque noted.</div><br /><div>That information sheet, titled "Humanitarian Assistance to the Cuban People after Hurricanes Gustav and Ike," says that after Gustav's passing, the U.S. government granted licenses for $250 million in agricultural sales to Cuba. This is an attempt to present the bureaucratic process imposed on U.S. companies - which includes obtaining licenses from the State and Treasury Departments, plus other agencies - as proof of that government's willingness to sell food to Cuba, when in reality, the obstacles to that process still prevail.</div><br /><div>That distortion was described by the foreign minister as "blatant manipulation," because everyone knows that food sales are not new; they have existed for several years, and they are not aid. Cuba must buy these products and pay for them upfront, in violation of regular international practices, but that was a stipulation of the U.S. government. Neither Cuban nor U.S. banks can participate in payment transactions; they have to recur to banks in third countries. This is not a question of trade, because it is a one-way operation. Cuba is prohibited from exporting to the U.S. market, and the ships that come to our countries return empty to the United States.</div><br /><div>The State Department document also says that the U.S. government provided immediate emergency aid of $100,000 to non-governmental organizations participating in humanitarian aid operations in our country. "We don't have the slightest idea of where that money ended up," Pérez Roque said, "and we never asked for it."</div><br /><div>The information sheet states that the United States is willing to provide up to $5 million. It has already made itself clear about the Cuba issue, Pérez Roque noted. This is a U.S. propaganda operation to try to make itself look like the "good guy," as Fidel commented in a recent "Reflection" column.</div><br /><div>The State Department sheet also says that the U.S. people are the greatest providers of humanitarian aid to the Cuban people; this is based on the manipulation of the following figures: According to the U.S. claim, last year, $20.6 million in non-agricultural humanitarian aid came to Cuba, along with $40.5 million in medical donations, making a total of $61 million. "We can confirm that during 2007, Cuba received donations from U.S. NGOs worth $6.1 million; in other words, 10 times less."</div><br /><div>In 2000, before President Bush entered the White House, more than 160 U.S. NGOs were participating in that humanitarian effort. They were institutions of diverse types from virtually every U.S. state and had licenses from the government of the time. Due to persecution by the Bush administration, today there are only 21 NGOs with licenses, Pérez Roque commented.</div><br /><div>"For us, the main value of those deliveries is not based on figures but the nobility of the gesture, and we appreciate the efforts by U.S. NGOs who carry out that work in a noble and friendly way that speaks to the best values of that country's people and is done from a position of respect for and sympathy toward Cuba."</div><br /><div>According to the State Department, last year the people of that country sent humanitarian aid to Cuban people in the form of gifts worth $179 million, taking into account shipments from residents in that country to their relatives in Cuba. "The idea that the United States would try to present this as an effort by its government is insolent, because President Bush intensified the regulations and prohibitions related to this issue, reduced the value of permitted packages and changed the content of what can be sent, the frequency of deliveries and the category of those who may receive these packages, because they arbitrarily redefined the concept of family," he said.</div><br /><div>"It is our duty to clarify the truth for public opinion, while that propagandistic aberration is being pursued with the goal of diverting attention from the main issue: we have not asked the United States for help because we cannot accept donations from a government that is blockading us; we are prepared to buy indispensable materials that U.S. companies place on the export market; we are requesting authorization for the supply of these resources and the normal credits used in commercial operations.</div><br /><div>"If the U.S. government does not wish to do so definitively, Cuba has requested that it authorize these measures for the next six months, taking into account the damages caused by hurricanes Gustav and Ike and the fact that the most dangerous months of the hurricane season are yet to come."</div><br /><div>To date, the U.S. government has not responded to the request officially reiterated for the third time a few days ago, Pérez Roque noted. This is still pending a response, but meanwhile, that country is mounting propaganda shows of rhetoric, of ill-intentioned publicity, at a time when our people are facing a situation of danger and pain.</div><br /><div>Referring to imperialism's real intentions, Pérez Roque noted that, this year, the U.S. government is spending - through just one of its agencies, USAID - $46 million on its mercenary groups in Cuba, with the aim of promoting internal subversion, and $40 million on maintaining its illegal, anti-Cuba radio and television broadcasts. "This is not even taking into account the CIA and other agencies."</div><br /><div>While the two hurricanes caused enormous devastation, the Cuban people and government are confident that we will continue moving forward, Pérez Roque stated. "Despite all of the adversities, including the ruthless and prolonged blockade, our country will continue moving forward and will do so with the united strength of all of its sons and daughters, without leaving anyone abandoned. We will demonstrate once again what a popular revolution and a people in power are capable of doing," he affirmed.</div><br /><div>In response to a question about relations with the European Union, the foreign minister observed that some progress has been made on normalization in recent months, especially since the EU finally decided to renounce its attempts to impose sanctions on Cuba.</div><br /><div>The EU made a proposal for political dialogue which Cuba accepted, but first it will be necessary to discuss and establish its foundations, and that means this must be done between equals, with respect for the independence of nations, the principle of non-intervention in domestic affairs, and of the sovereign equality of countries, he emphasized.</div><br /><div>Translated by Granma International .</div></blockquote>John McAuliffhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02738853658043094283noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8742101257220761528.post-77020590851340502652008-09-24T07:19:00.000-07:002008-09-24T07:20:47.726-07:00Holguin Rebuilding Problems<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="100%"> <tbody><tr><td rowspan="2" bgcolor="#ffffff" valign="top"> <table align="center" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="97%"> <tbody><tr><td valign="top"><br /> <div id="pageContainer" class="storyDetail"> <div id="col2"> <div class="content printable"> <div id="printButton"><a href="http://www.miamiherald.com/1264/v-print/story/696053.html#" onclick="javascript:window.print(); return false;"><img src="http://media.miamiherald.com/images/site_logo_149x40.gif" alt="Print This Article" border="0" /></a></div> <div id="pagetitle"> </div> <div id="wide"> <div id="storyDate-Links"> <span class="pubDate">Posted on Wed, Sep. 24, 2008</span> </div> <h2 id="storyTitle">Shortages hamper attempts to rebuild after Hurricane Ike</h2> <div class="byline">BY MIAMI HERALD STAFF</div> <div id="storyBody">The hammer will not leave Alfredo Pérez's side as he sleeps under the night sky.<p>With no roof over his head -- like many in this seaside village -- Pérez uses the hammer to protect his family's valuables from intruders who may want to pilfer the crumbled chunks of brick, rusty nails, and aged wooden beams he has salvaged and plans to use to rebuild his home ''<em>poquito a poquito</em>'' or ``little by little.''</p><p>Supplies are hard to come by. Even the rusty nails bent out of shape are a hot commodity throughout the northeastern provinces hardest hit by Hurricane Ike -- a storm that slammed into this region on Sept. 7 as a major Category 3 storm with 125 mph winds and gained strength at various times during its two-day trek across the island.</p><p>''This will set us back 100 years,'' Pérez said of Ike's impact on Cuba, an island in which many regions outside the capital city of Havana still rely on horse and buggy as a means of transportation.</p><p>Whatever Ike's winds did not take from the Pérez family was left at the mercy of the thrashing waves. Their home, like numerous others in the town, was steps away from the turquoise blue sea.</p><p>''Do you know what an atomic bomb does?'' asked resident José Armando León, 72, standing near an open field where his house once stood in the neighboring city of Banes. ``This is what happened here, it's like an atomic bomb was dropped and we were left with nothing.''</p><p>The ferocity of Ike's island-wide path of destruction is no longer news to villagers who have been living in the devastation for two weeks. They understand the magnitude of the storm -- the fact that more than 444,000 homes were damaged across the country, 932 of those in the northeastern Holguín province. They know about the eight storm-related deaths and that thousands of acres of crops like banana and sugar cane were ravaged.</p><p>They can deal with the thought of not having a roof over their head -- grateful that neighbors, relatives and schools offer shelter. Even hunger is not much of an issue as neighbors share food and batches of rice and plantains are cooked at local schools for dinners.</p><p>The information most residents here seek from outsiders trickling in from more populated urban areas is any updates on reconstruction efforts. With phone lines still down, villagers rely on those passing through town to relay information. And rumors are rampant.</p><p><strong>VENEZUELAN HELP</strong></p><p>Some residents said local leaders have told them the Venezuelan government was tallying the homes without roofs and would dispatch supplies and workers to help rebuild. Others clung to hopeful rumblings that churches outside of the country were going to be allowed to bring donations to the remote areas.</p><p>While hoping for supplies to come in, most families aren't waiting around for the government to fix their crumbling homes, clear the roads or erect downed electric poles.</p><p>''We're just helping until the government can come out and help. It's all of our duty,'' said Hugo Alberto Betancourt, 80, as he and three others attempted to position the concrete post of an electric pole into place in Banes.</p><p>Outside of the nearby beach town of Gibara, just 30 minutes west of Banes, a man named José Ricardo, 32, washed his buggy in a stream that covered what was normally the road out of town.</p><p>When the water finally subsides, he and other neighborhood volunteers plan to clear the drainage system of all the debris caused by Ike. He said the neighbors had no qualms about fixing the road themselves in the absence of government assistance.</p><p>''We do it for the good of everyone,'' he said. ``Do you know what it's like to have to pull off your shoes and roll up your pants to walk in the water everyday?''</p><p>Like his neighbors, Pérez wasted no time trying to figure out which pieces of wood were long enough to form into the shell of a roof. His wife, Irene, 60, walked about the neighborhood attempting to find spoons, cups, clothes that the sea waves pushed as far as three blocks from their home.</p><p>Irene said she regretted leaving behind these essentials and family photos she had posted on her walls when she followed government orders to evacuate before Ike struck. The family fled to Banes where sturdier concrete apartment buildings fared better. She has not spoken much since Ike hit.</p><p>''I feel that if I open my mouth to talk about this my soul will escape out of my body,'' Irene said, as tears rolled down her blue eyes.</p><p><strong> LUXURY HOTEL</strong></p><p>The Pérezes don't know when power will be restored, but from their house they can see a couple of blocks down the road where the state-run luxury hotel Las Brisas has power running via generators.</p><p>The government has placed a special focus on making sure hotels and urban centers have power, assuring that the mainly European tourists have air-conditioned rooms and hot running water.</p><p>The state-run newspaper Ahora, which covers Holguín province, recently reported that recovery priority has been placed on the tourism industry in the eastern provinces.</p><p>''The damage to hotels is recoverable,'' a hotel representative told Ahora. ``We have the resources needed to return to normality in a short time and get ready for the upcoming season.''</p><p>Down the street from Pérez's house, the Villa Bahia -- a seafood restaurant and popular tourist bar -- was shut down because of damage. But soon after Ike passed, government employees traveled from the southeastern province of Granma to help in recovery efforts. They gathered broken bits of brick by hand, attempting to form a wall. ''If we fix this now, it's good for the tourists,'' said a construction worker named Rufino as he laid down a brick. ``If it's good for the tourists, it's good for us.''</p><p>Repairs on the island have been a patchwork affair.</p><p>Some towns have had their straw-roof homes replaced with metal sheets just a week after the storm. In other towns, residents have been given two pieces of metal here, some straw for their roofs there. Further delaying progress in the eastern provinces is the fact that areas on the western end of the island like Pinar del Río and the Isle of Youth were battered by back-to-back storms starting with Hurricane Gustav on Aug. 30.</p><p>Pérez predicted he would be able to rebuild his roof within a month. But he was not sure when he might be able to replace the other basic possessions lost to the storm, including a mattress, plates and cups.</p><p><strong>DAILY TREK</strong></p><p>His wife has joined neighbors on a daily trek.</p><p>When the sun begins to set, she heads inland by foot to spend the night at a friend's apartment more than 30 minutes away. Her husband, like other men of Playa Guardalavaca, stays behind with the hammer at his side to guard what's left of their tattered home.</p><p>Looking toward the tranquil sea whose ferocious waves swept away their possessions, Pérez repeated the mantra spoken by many throughout Cuba's remote areas.</p><p>''<em>`La vida no es facil</em>,'' he said. ``Life is not easy.''</p><p>The name of the correspondent who filed this report was withheld because the journalist lacked the visa required by the Cuban government to report from the island.</p></div> </div> </div> </div> </div></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><br /></td></tr></tbody></table> <hr color="#cccccc" size="1" width="97%"> <center> © 2008 Miami Herald Media Company. All Rights Reserved.<br />http://www.miamiherald.com </center> <div id="mistatstag" style="display: none;"> <!-- SiteCatalyst: McClatchy WorkBench Stats Tag v.1.0 --> <script language="JavaScript" type="text/javascript" src="http://media.miamiherald.com/mistats/sites/mia/miamiherald.js"></script> <script language="JavaScript" type="text/javascript" src="http://media.miamiherald.com/mistats/products/pubsys_s_code.js"></script> <script language="JavaScript" type="text/javascript"> <!-- measure_popularity=true; mistats.msr = 'MIA|MA'; mistats.cmsid='GUID: 562220537868664667 | Story: 696053'; mistats.pagelevel='Story'; mistats.pagename='Story: 696053|Shortages hamper attempts to rebuild after Hurricane Ike'; mistats.version='1.0|v-print'; mistats.taxonomy='News|World|||'; mistats.channel='This Week in Cuba'; mistats.popular='1264|696053|http://www.miamiherald.com/1264/v-print/story/696053.html'; mistats.popstoryurl='http://www.miamiherald.com/1264/v-print/story/696053.html'; mistats.popstoryheadline='696053|Shortages hamper attempts to rebuild after Hurricane Ike'; mistats.contentsource='miamiherald|XMUltra|<a href="mailto:cuba@MiamiHerald.com">cuba@MiamiHerald.com</a>|BY MIAMI HERALD STAFF'; mistats.pubdate='2008/09/22'; mistats.moddate='2008/09/22 H07'; mistats.keywords='americas,front,cuba,5news,storm'; --> </script> <script language="JavaScript" type="text/javascript" src="http://media.miamiherald.com/mistats/products/pubsys.js"></script> <script language="JavaScript" type="text/javascript" src="http://media.miamiherald.com/mistats/finalizestats.js"></script> <script type="text/javascript" src="http://edge.quantserve.com/quant.js"></script> <noscript><img src="http://mcclatchy.112.2O7.net/b/ss/nmmiami/1/H.10--NS/0?pageName=Story:%20696053%7CShortages%20hamper%20attempts%20to%20rebuild%20after%20Hurricane%20Ike&server=www.miamiherald.com&channel=This%20Week%20in%20Cuba&c1=http%26%2358;%26%2347;%26%2347;www.miamiherald.com%26%2347;1264%26%2347;v-print%26%2347;story%26%2347;696053.html&c3=Story&c4=miamiherald%7CXMUltra%7C%3Ca%20href=%22mailto:cuba@MiamiHerald.com%22%3Ecuba@MiamiHerald.com%3C/a%3E%7CBY%20MIAMI%20HERALD%20STAFF&c6=MIA%7CMA&c28=&h1=MIA%7CMIAMIHERALD%7CNews%7CWorld%7C%7C%7C%7CThis%20Week%20in%20Cuba" height="1" width="1" border="0" alt="" /></noscript> <!-- End SiteCatalyst: McClatchy WorkBench Stats Tag v.1.0 --> </div>John McAuliffhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02738853658043094283noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8742101257220761528.post-46132900622827656642008-09-24T07:12:00.000-07:002008-09-24T07:15:36.585-07:00Recovery Problems<div id="pageContainer" class="storyDetail"> <div id="col2"> <div class="content printable"> <div id="printButton"><a href="http://www.miamiherald.com/1264/v-print/story/698934.html#" onclick="javascript:window.print(); return false;"><img src="http://media.miamiherald.com/images/site_logo_149x40.gif" alt="Print This Article" border="0" /></a></div> <div id="pagetitle"> </div> <div id="wide"> <div id="storyDate-Links"> <span class="pubDate">Posted on Wed, Sep. 24, 2008<br /><br /></span>In Cuba, recovery is slow and uncertain<br /><br /></div> <div class="byline">BY MIAMI HERALD STAFF</div> <div id="storyBody">Swamped by chest-high flooding caused by recent hurricanes, the humble residents of this desolate fishing village on Cuba's southern coast found one small cause for celebration recently: homemade ice cream.<p>On a clattering, old metal contraption rigged up in a drab concrete compound, Marlen Vargas López, a smiling soul with close-cropped hair, whipped up a fresh batch and pulled a lever to fill cone after cone with chocolate, the flavor of the day.</p><p>''It's refreshing,'' said one young man, stopped in front of the store in the scorching afternoon sun. ``At least it relieves the heat.''</p><p>The ice-cream treat was about all there was for sale at El Recreo, one of the few shops open in the dismal location south of Havana. Clara Balladares Gomes, another store clerk, said there were no snacks, no bottled water and no soft drinks at the rundown outlet.</p><p>While the flooding from Hurricanes Gustav and Ike has receded, filthy pools of stagnant water still lined the streets in front of the wood shack homes on a recent afternoon, giving off a stench.</p><p>The shanties were scarcely habitable before the western region of Cuba -- from the Gulf of Batabanó to the agriculture-rich province of Pinar del Río -- was pummeled by back-to-back hurricanes within eight days beginning Aug. 30. Now, the homes are musty, and many roofs leak when it rains.</p><p>Spotting newcomers in the street, a middle-aged woman in worn shorts trailed after the visitors, offering to provide overnight accommodations and meals at a ''<em>casa particular</em>,'' or private home that takes in guests.</p><p>Now, more than ever, she could use the money.</p><p><strong>THE DEVASTATION</strong></p><p>The twin natural disasters may be the worst to ever hit the communist island, with preliminary damage estimates for the two storms reaching an estimated $5 billion. According to reports in the Cuban newspaper Opciones, more than 444,000 homes were damaged, with some 63,249 destroyed. The electric grid was badly crippled. Gustav wiped out more than 800 tons of premium Cuban tobacco.</p><p>Numerous other crops also have been damaged. Last week, along a main highway in Pinar del Río, a small group of field workers, kneeling in a field of shallow water, used their hands to pull plants by the roots. One weary worker lifted his head and explained that much of the crop ``is damaged.''</p><p>Hurricane preparedness and massive evacuations clearly helped to minimize human injuries. Even hotel rooms on the island include detailed information on what to do in case of a hurricane. Several locals said they are used to the storms and closely monitor their tracks to know if they need to respond.</p><p><strong>THE RELIEF EFFORT</strong></p><p>Despite the devastation in the village of Surgidero de Batabanó, small boys -- the sons of local fishermen -- played in the street, merrily sloshing in filthy puddles.</p><p>Elsewhere, the government seemed to be working hard on the relief effort. In tourist-popular Viñales last week, many government workers joined in a cleanup, and workers from the electrical company were out in full force in a bid to restore power, erecting new poles and stringing lines.</p><p>Cuban officials blame whatever shortcomings are encountered on the U.S. embargo.</p><p>In the state newspaper Granma, an article said that a half-century economic war against the island will make it more difficult to rebuild, given that Cuba is a small country with limited financial resources.</p><p>But the government has reported little about the repeated offers of aid by the United States, which have been consistently turned down.</p><p>In the remote area of Surgidero de Batabanó, there was little sign of government aid on a recent afternoon, although two large tractor-trailer trucks, loaded with building blocks, rumbled through town on a delivery.</p><p>Even so, the residents of Surgidero de Batabanó count themselves relatively lucky compared with their neighbors.</p><p>The village, which sits about 30 miles south of Havana, serves as a launching point for ferries to the Isla de la Juventud, or Isle of Youth, a popular tourist destination that was devastated by the two hurricanes.</p><p>The island, off Cuba's south coast, remains in the dark after the consecutive storms knocked out electricity.</p><p><strong>A COMMUNITY IN RUIN</strong></p><p>Formerly known as the Isle of Pines, the island has a prison that once served as a cell for a young revolutionary named Fidel Castro. After a failed attack on the Moncada army barracks in Santiago de Cuba on July 26, 1953, Castro and his accomplices were put on trial for the insurrection against Fulgencio Batista's government. At the trial, he declared he had no fear of prison, declaring that, ``History will absolve me.''</p><p>Most of the private homes on the isle that take in guests were among those leveled, making it difficult for residents who relied on precious tourist dollars. According to Cuban press reports, 80 percent of the poultry farming on the Isle of Youth also was seriously affected.</p><p>No one knows how long it will be before the isle will be able to restore enough infrastructure to attract tourists, who head there for its age-old cave paintings and outstanding coral reefs. But, for now, many travel officials are steering tourists away.</p><p>At Havana's airport last week, a ticket agent for Cubana airlines urged against visiting the Isle of Youth.</p><p>''Why would you want to go there?'' she asked. ``It's 100 percent finished.''</p><p>The name of the correspondent who filed this report was withheld because the reporter did not have the journalist's visa required by the Cuban government to report from the island.</p></div> </div> </div> </div> </div>John McAuliffhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02738853658043094283noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8742101257220761528.post-76558407205588896432008-09-23T18:19:00.000-07:002008-09-23T18:30:48.803-07:00Both Governments Put Politics Above People<h2>Bush Plays Politics as Cubans Suffer</h2>http://www.americanprogress.org/issues/2008/09/cuban_crisis.html/print.html<p class="byline"> <span> By <a href="http://www.americanprogress.org/aboutus/staff/MillerStephanie.html">Stephanie Miller</a> | </span> <span class="timestamp">September 23, 2008</span></p><p class="byline"><span class="timestamp">Center for American Progress<br /></span> </p> <p>With all of the talk and debate about the Bush administration's response to the financial crisis engulfing Wall Street, little attention is being paid to urgent and time sensitive legislation a few members of Congress have introduced in the last few days that would allow the United States to more effectively and meaningfully respond to the devastating humanitarian crisis in Cuba in the wake of Hurricanes Gustav and Ike.</p> <p>Congressman Bill Delahunt (D-MA), and Senators Chris Dodd (D-CT) and Richard Lugar (R-IN), have introduced legislation that would temporarily ease heightened restrictions on direct family travel, remittances, and relief packages to Cuba that have been in place since 2004. Senators Dodd and Lugar's legislation contemplates widening the items that the Cuban government can purchase with cash to include items necessary for relief response. These are critical and important legislative measures that are even more noteworthy during this time of Wall Street bailouts because neither the House nor Senate initiative <a href="http://www.marketwatch.com/news/story/cuba-groups-urge-hurricane-aid/story.aspx?guid=%7BA22F0625-EFD1-4846-BCA6-0FF66C504392%7D&dist=hppr">would cost tax payers a thing</a>.</p> <p>Efforts to respond to the crisis to date have been <a href="http://www.miamiherald.com/news/americas/cuba/story/696437.html">hijacked by political posturing</a> by both the Bush administration and Raul Castro's government. The Bush administration has been <a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2008/09/11/us/11miami.html?_r=2&adxnnl=1&oref=slogin&adxnnlx=1222197950-2VxZVfWZrdP2iqmtPE6ggg">offering aid and refusing to ease the restrictions</a> on direct family travel and remittances that it tightened significantly in 2004, and the Castro government is refusing to accept any aid that does not involve a removal of the trade embargo. This leaves Cubans to confront the devastation on their own and Cuban Americans feeling despair as they hear from their relatives about the plight of people on the island.</p> <p>Marlene Azola told the House Committee on Foreign Affairs, Human Rights, and Oversight last week during her <a href="http://www.internationalrelations.house.gov/110/arz091808.pdf">congressional testimony</a> that while Haitian Americans can travel freely to Haiti to help their family and friends in the wake of Hurricanes Gustav and Ike, Cuban Americans cannot exercise the same freedom. The Cuban people, not the Cuban government, are the ones suffering the most as a result of this policy. Even the President of the Cuban American Foundation of Miami, Francisco J. Hernandez—a man who participated in the Bay of Pigs invasion and has spent 49 years struggling against the Castro regime—<a href="http://www.internationalrelations.house.gov/110/her091808.pdf">said at the same congressional hearing</a>:</p> <p style="margin-left: 40px;">"It is indefensible and intolerable that this issue be used to play politics while lives hang in the balance and while the ability to assist exists ... While we cannot force the Castro regime into providing a quick and even response to the crisis, we can unleash the goodwill and humanitarian support that the Cuban American community is eager to provide."</p> <p>It is ironic that the same people who obsess about the growing influence of Venezuela's president Hugo Chavez and Russia in the Western Hemisphere—countries that have already provided aid relief to the Cuban people—are the ones stuck in a political jockeying match with the Castro regime that does nothing for the interests of the Cuban people or the interests of the United States in the hemisphere. As a <a href="http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/opinion/chi-0918edit2sep18,0,4316155.story"><i>Chicago Tribune </i>opinion writer</a> noted, "When the Castro brothers are history and the Cuban people contemplate what comes next, what they'll remember is that in September 2008, Hugo Chavez and Vladimir Putin were their friends. And we weren't."</p>John McAuliffhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02738853658043094283noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8742101257220761528.post-28466594404675285052008-09-21T15:26:00.000-07:002008-09-21T15:27:24.539-07:00Canada Provides $700,000 in assistance<div id="docTitle"> <h1>Canada helps Cubans affected by Hurricanes Gustav, Hanna and Ike</h1> </div><!--docTitle--><!--Attention ligne utilisée pour l'impression--> <p><!--Attention ligne utilisée pour l'impression--><br />The Government of Canada today announced a $400,000 contribution to assist the people of Cuba affected by Hurricanes Gustav, Hanna and Ike. </p><p>Of that amount, $200,000 will be transferred to the International Federation of the Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC), allowing the IFRC and the Cuban Red Cross to provide emergency humanitarian assistance to 40,000 Cubans whose lives have been devastated by the impact of the hurricanes. Provisions will include water filters, temporary shelter materials, and other much-needed emergency supplies such as kitchen sets, jerry cans, mosquito nets, towels, mattresses and sheet sets. This is in addition to the $100,000 provided on September 6 for initial emergency responses in Cuba, Haiti and the Caribbean. </p><p>In addition, $200,000 has been set aside for the Cuba Community Development Fund to support relief and reconstruction proposals submitted by local Cuban organizations. </p><p>Canadian officials are monitoring all regions of the Americas that have been hit by the recent storms and will continue to work with trusted humanitarian partners to ensure that this assistance is making a difference. </p><p>– 30 – </p><p><b>Information:</b> </p>Media Relations Office<br />Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA)<br />Telephone: 819-953-6534<br />E-mail: info@acdi-cida.gc.caJohn McAuliffhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02738853658043094283noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8742101257220761528.post-22543829139554192992008-09-19T11:44:00.000-07:002008-09-19T11:45:27.982-07:00Hurricanes Could Produce Migration Crisis<h1><st1:place st="on"><st1:country-region st="on">Cuba</st1:country-region></st1:place>'s October surprise<o:p></o:p></h1> <p class="modtime"><st1:place st="on"><st1:city st="on">LAWRENCE</st1:City></st1:place> WILKERSON AND PATRICK DOHERTY:</p> <p class="modtime">last updated: September 18, 2008 09:13:40 PM<o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">If you live in <st1:place st="on"><st1:city st="on">Galveston</st1:City>, <st1:state st="on">Texas</st1:State></st1:place>, Hurricane Ike will be remembered for its destruction. But history may remember the ninth named storm of the 2008 season for swinging the 2008 presidential campaign.<o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">That's because Ike devastated a little island off <st1:state st="on">Florida</st1:State> named <st1:country-region st="on"><st1:place st="on">Cuba</st1:place></st1:country-region>. In fact, <st1:country-region st="on"><st1:place st="on">Cuba</st1:place></st1:country-region> sustained damage from four hurricanes: Fay, Gustav, Hanna and Ike. Gustav hit the Western end of <st1:country-region st="on"><st1:place st="on">Cuba</st1:place></st1:country-region> as a Category 4 storm. Ike entered the east of <st1:country-region st="on"><st1:place st="on">Cuba</st1:place></st1:country-region> as a strong Category 3 then shredded the full length of the island for three days. There were reports of walls of water 50 feet high hitting the north shore.<o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">In a country of more than 11 million people, 2.7 million evacuated their homes when Ike came through. Today, 444,000 homes in <st1:country-region st="on"><st1:place st="on">Cuba</st1:place></st1:country-region> are damaged, meaning up to 2.2 million Cubans are living dangerously or wondering when it will be safe to go home.<o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">Food supplies on the island are nearly exhausted. The crops and livestock for domestic consumption and cash crops like tobacco and sugar cane, necessary for the hard currency to import food - are devastated. The island's electrical grid is severely damaged and in some places non-existent. Communication towers are down across the country. Roads are blocked with rubble from collapsed buildings, trees, or just washed away. Schools, hospitals, and clinics have suffered extensive damage or are non-functioning.<o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">And it will only get worse. With at least $5 billion of damage done to a nation where the average monthly salary is $17, the economy will not be able to support the Cuban population for quite some time. Even the Cuban military is on short-rations with perhaps a week left. With food shelves empty, hoarding and black market price gouging will quickly squeeze all families, displaced or not, with little to no income and no subsistence agriculture to fall back on. As the vast majority of Cubans become malnourished and post-disaster diseases increase in prevalence, the political situation is likely to become much more volatile within <st1:country-region st="on"><st1:place st="on">Cuba</st1:place></st1:country-region>.<o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">All this could occur within the next six weeks. Faced with a displaced, hungry and frustrated population, <st1:city st="on"><st1:place st="on">Havana</st1:place></st1:City> could do what it has done in the past: allow a mass migration to head north. In 1980, responding to unrest triggered by economic downturn, Havana launched the Mariel boatlift that brought 125,000 Cuban immigrants over a five-month period to South Florida. In 1994, facing another economic catastrophe, the Castro government allowed at least 35,000 Cubans to leave the island - an episode that cost the U.S. Treasury more than $500 million.<o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">The U.S. government is now offering Cuba a $1.5 million package of temporary shelter for 10,000 families and household items for 8,000 with an additional $3.5 million conditional on the survey of a U.S. disaster assessment team.(1) In contrast, Haiti, which was hit by three storms, has already received $19 million in aid from the U.S. government. Even <st1:country-region st="on">Burma</st1:country-region>, which has a military dictatorship more repressive than <st1:country-region st="on"><st1:place st="on">Cuba</st1:place></st1:country-region>'s and was ravaged by Cyclone Fargis, received $50 million in aid.<o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">Indeed, an increase in funding for traditional humanitarian items is not what <st1:country-region st="on">Cuba</st1:country-region> needs or wants from the <st1:country-region st="on"><st1:place st="on">United States</st1:place></st1:country-region>. Their government believes that there would be no prospect of a crisis if the <st1:country-region st="on"><st1:place st="on">U.S.</st1:place></st1:country-region> economic embargo were not blocking them from purchasing the needed supplies on the open market. It can get food from other countries in the region. Rather, <st1:country-region st="on"><st1:place st="on">Cuba</st1:place></st1:country-region>'s infrastructure needs repair. They need electrical components like poles, cable, and transformers. They need heavy-duty construction equipment and materials. The only market that can respond fast enough is the <st1:country-region st="on"><st1:place st="on">United States</st1:place></st1:country-region>.</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">Without those supplies, the boats could very well sail before November. Americans with family in <st1:country-region st="on"><st1:place st="on">Cuba</st1:place></st1:country-region> will be furious with the Bush administration for placing politics over saving lives. Cuban refugees who make it onto <st1:country-region st="on"><st1:place st="on">U.S.</st1:place></st1:country-region> soil will benefit from the wet-foot/dry-foot policy that other Latino immigrants - a key demographic this cycle - view with considerable hostility. <st1:place st="on">South Florida</st1:place> is already reeling from the domestic economic recession and a new load of low-skilled immigrants will put downward pressures on wages and exclusion will risk increased levels of criminal activity. At a minimum, CNN will be showing pictures of thousands of malnourished and water-logged Cubans being picked up on the high seas and then sent to the notorious U.S. Naval Station at Guantanamo, only to be repatriated to a growing catastrophe.<o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">It is now time to lift the embargo, let <st1:country-region st="on"><st1:place st="on">Cuba</st1:place></st1:country-region> buy what it needs and move on. The <st1:country-region st="on"><st1:place st="on">U.S.</st1:place></st1:country-region> policy of isolation to bring about regime change has failed to achieve its goals for fifty years. Fidel has grown old and retired. <st1:country-region st="on"><st1:place st="on">Cuba</st1:place></st1:country-region> is no longer sponsoring revolution overseas but exporting doctors and nurses instead. And by giving <st1:city st="on"><st1:place st="on">Havana</st1:place></st1:City> a ready-made excuse for economic failure, the embargo has the perverse effect of supporting the Castro regime rather than weakening it.<o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">The Bush administration is between a rock and a hard place. If it continues with business as usual, <st1:city st="on">Havana</st1:City> may very well decide the outcome of the <st1:country-region st="on"><st1:place st="on">U.S.</st1:place></st1:country-region> elections. If it moves to end the embargo and <st1:country-region st="on">Cuba</st1:country-region> purchases the supplies it needs to rebuild, it will have prevented the disaster that it foresaw but <st1:country-region st="on"><st1:place st="on">Cuba</st1:place></st1:country-region> will cease to be an electoral goldmine for the GOP.<o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><st1:country-region st="on"><st1:place st="on">America</st1:place></st1:country-region> needs to put politics aside. It is time to do the right thing. Protect the lives of innocent Cubans, protect our electoral process, end a 50-year-old failed policy, and be good Samaritans after all.<o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">Col. Lawrence Wilkerson was chief of staff to Secretary of State Colin Powell. Patrick Doherty participated in the humanitarian operation in Kosovo and the Balkans. They are chairman and director, respectively, of the U.S.-Cuba Policy Initiative at the New America Foundation, 1630 Connecticut Avenue NW, 7th Floor, Washington, D.C. 20009; Web site: www.newamerica.net.<o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">This essay is available to McClatchy-Tribune News Service subscribers. McClatchy-Tribune did not subsidize the writing of this column; the opinions are those of the writer and do not necessarily represent the views of McClatchy-Tribune or its editors.<o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">© 2008, New <st1:country-region st="on"><st1:place st="on">America</st1:place></st1:country-region> Foundation</p>John McAuliffhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02738853658043094283noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8742101257220761528.post-58108244672561263412008-09-19T08:13:00.000-07:002008-09-19T08:14:51.511-07:00Test of Cuba MFA Statement Sept. 10<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;" align="center"><b style=""><span style="font-size: 14pt; font-family: Arial;" lang="EN-GB">STATEMENT BY THE MINISTRY OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS</span></b><span style="font-size: 14pt; font-family: Arial;" lang="EN-GB"><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; font-family: Arial;" lang="EN-GB"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; font-family: Arial;" lang="EN-GB">Yesterday, September 9, 2008, at 11:50 A.M., the Department of State conveyed to the Interests Section of Cuba in Washington Note Nº 252/18 in which, after expressing its regrets for the additional damage caused to the Cuban people by hurricane Ike, it insists in the visit to our country of a “humanitarian assessment team” to “inspect the affected areas”. <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; font-family: Arial;" lang="EN-GB"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; font-family: Arial;" lang="EN-GB">Today, September 10, at 7:20 P.M. the Interests Section of Cuba in Washington sent to the Department of State Note Nº 046/08, in which it conveys its appreciation for the expressions of regret by the Government of the United States for the damage caused in Cuba by hurricane Ike, and reiterates that Cuba does not require the assistance of a humanitarian assessment team as it has a sufficient number of trained specialists to deal with this task. <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; font-family: Arial;" lang="EN-GB"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; font-family: Arial;" lang="EN-GB">The Note emphasizes that if the Government of the <st1:country-region st="on">United States</st1:country-region> is really willing to cooperate with the Cuban people it is requested to allow the sale to <st1:place st="on"><st1:country-region st="on">Cuba</st1:country-region></st1:place> of indispensable material, such as materials for roofing, for building repairs and for the re-establishment of electric networks.<span style=""> </span><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; font-family: Arial;" lang="EN-GB"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; font-family: Arial;" lang="EN-GB">Likewise, it reiterates the request that the Government of the <st1:country-region st="on">United States</st1:country-region> suspend the restrictions preventing <st1:country-region st="on">U.S.</st1:country-region> companies from providing private commercial credits to <st1:country-region st="on">Cuba</st1:country-region> for the purchase of foodstuffs in the <st1:country-region st="on"><st1:place st="on">United States</st1:place></st1:country-region>.<span style=""> </span><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; font-family: Arial;" lang="EN-GB"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; font-family: Arial;" lang="EN-GB">The Note also calls the attention of the Department of State that the visit to <st1:place st="on"><st1:country-region st="on">Cuba</st1:country-region></st1:place> of a humanitarian assessment team is not required to allow the sale of the aforementioned materials and to authorize private credits for the purchase of foodstuffs. <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; font-family: Arial;" lang="EN-GB"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; font-family: Arial;" lang="EN-GB">Lastly, the Note of the Interests Section of Cuba underscores to the Department of State that its Note Nº 252/18 insists in a request that the Government of Cuba had already replied to in Note Nº 1886 of September 6, 2008, of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, but, and it is highly significant, it does not actually respond to the two concrete requests made by the Government of Cuba to the Government of the United States in order to cope with the damage caused by hurricane Gustav, that it once again reiterates.<span style=""> </span><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; font-family: Arial;" lang="EN-GB"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; font-family: Arial;" lang="EN-GB">On the other hand, during the last few hours, spokespersons of the Government of the <st1:country-region st="on">United States</st1:country-region> have attempted to justify the refusal by President Bush to allow the sale to <st1:country-region st="on">Cuba</st1:country-region> of indispensable materials and to authorize private commercial credits to purchase foodstuffs in the <st1:country-region st="on"><st1:place st="on">U.S.</st1:place></st1:country-region> <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; font-family: Arial;" lang="EN-GB"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; font-family: Arial;" lang="EN-GB">Secretary of State, Condoleezza Rice, affirmed categorically on Sunday, September 7: “I don’t think that (…) the lifting of the embargo would be wise”. <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; font-family: Arial;" lang="EN-GB"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; font-family: Arial;" lang="EN-GB">The Spokesman of the Department of State, Sean McCormack, insisted, on Monday, September <st1:metricconverter productid="8, in" st="on">8, in</st1:metricconverter> a press briefing, on the alleged importance that Cuba accept an assessment team to inspect<span style=""> </span>damage “in situ”. Responding to the observation of journalists that other countries have provided assistance without demanding a previous inspection of damage in the field, McCormack responded evasively: “”See if the Cuban Government changes its mind about allowing us to help the Cuban people”. <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; font-family: Arial;" lang="EN-GB"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; font-family: Arial;" lang="EN-GB">On his part, the Cuban American Carlos <st1:city st="on">Gutiérrez</st1:City>, <st1:country-region st="on">U.S.</st1:country-region> Commerce Secretary and Co-Chairman of the commission in charge of implementing the Bush Plan against <st1:country-region st="on">Cuba</st1:country-region> expressed hypocritically yesterday: “…we reiterate our offer to allow a USAID team to travel to <st1:place st="on"><st1:country-region st="on">Cuba</st1:country-region></st1:place> to assess the situation”. <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; font-family: Arial;" lang="EN-GB"><span style=""> </span><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; font-family: Arial;" lang="EN-GB">This is a cynical attitude of the Government of the <st1:country-region st="on"><st1:place st="on">United States</st1:place></st1:country-region>. It attempts to suggest that it is desperate to cooperate with <st1:country-region st="on"><st1:place st="on">Cuba</st1:place></st1:country-region>, and that we are the ones refusing. It lies shamelessly.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; font-family: Arial;" lang="EN-GB"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; font-family: Arial;" lang="EN-GB">Why does the Government of the <st1:country-region st="on">United States</st1:country-region> insist in the pretext of carrying out an inspection “in situ” when the information disseminated regarding the serious effects caused by the hurricanes in <st1:place st="on"><st1:country-region st="on">Cuba</st1:country-region></st1:place> is widespread and obvious?<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; font-family: Arial;" lang="EN-GB"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; font-family: Arial;" lang="EN-GB">Why does it use the precondition of sending an inspection team, something that no one else has done among the scores of countries that are already generously cooperating with <st1:country-region st="on"><st1:place st="on">Cuba</st1:place></st1:country-region>?<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; font-family: Arial;" lang="EN-GB"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; font-family: Arial;" lang="EN-GB">Why does the Government of the <st1:country-region st="on">United States</st1:country-region> refuse to allow <st1:country-region st="on">Cuba</st1:country-region> to purchase materials for building repairs, roofing or components for the re-establishment of electrical networks in the <st1:country-region st="on"><st1:place st="on">U.S.</st1:place></st1:country-region>?<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; font-family: Arial;" lang="EN-GB"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; font-family: Arial;" lang="EN-GB">Why does it forbid <st1:country-region st="on">U.S.</st1:country-region> companies and their subsidiaries in all countries, to provide <st1:country-region st="on"><st1:place st="on">Cuba</st1:place></st1:country-region> with private credit for the purchase of foodstuffs, which today are essential to ensure food for the affected population and to replace reserves in the event of new hurricanes?<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; font-family: Arial;" lang="EN-GB"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; font-family: Arial;" lang="EN-GB">These are the questions that the U.S. Government must answer. <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; font-family: Arial;" lang="EN-GB"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; font-family: Arial;" lang="EN-GB">These are the questions that the international community, that overwhelmingly supports <st1:country-region st="on">Cuba</st1:country-region> in its struggle against the blockade, poses to the Government of the <st1:country-region st="on"><st1:place st="on">United States</st1:place></st1:country-region>. <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; font-family: Arial;" lang="EN-GB"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><st1:country-region st="on"><span style="font-size: 14pt; font-family: Arial;" lang="EN-GB">Cuba</span></st1:country-region><span style="font-size: 14pt; font-family: Arial;" lang="EN-GB"> has not asked the Government of the <st1:country-region st="on"><st1:place st="on">United States</st1:place></st1:country-region> for any gift whatsoever. Simply to be allowed to purchase. <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; font-family: Arial;" lang="EN-GB"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; font-family: Arial;" lang="EN-GB">Anything else is pure rhetoric, pretexts and justifications that no one believes. <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; font-family: Arial;" lang="EN-GB"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><st1:country-region st="on"><st1:place st="on"><span style="font-size: 14pt; font-family: Arial;" lang="EN-GB">Cuba</span></st1:place></st1:country-region><span style="font-size: 14pt; font-family: Arial;" lang="EN-GB"> will go forward. No hurricane, blockade or aggression will be able to prevent it. <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; font-family: Arial;" lang="EN-GB"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; font-family: Arial;" lang="EN-GB"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; font-family: Arial;" lang="EN-GB"><span style=""> </span>Ministry of Foreign Affairs of <st1:country-region st="on"><st1:place st="on">Cuba</st1:place></st1:country-region><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; font-family: Arial;" lang="EN-GB"><span style=""> </span><span style=""> </span><st1:city st="on"><st1:place st="on">Havana</st1:place></st1:City>, September 10, 2008<o:p></o:p></span></p>John McAuliffhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02738853658043094283noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8742101257220761528.post-21799869580319002782008-09-19T07:41:00.001-07:002008-09-19T07:41:46.330-07:00Sisters of Charity Material Aid<p class="MsoNormal"><st1:city st="on">Miami</st1:City> nuns put politics aside to help storm-battered <st1:place st="on"><st1:country-region st="on">Cuba</st1:country-region></st1:place><o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">BY MYRIAM MARQUEZ</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><st1:city st="on"><st1:place st="on">Miami</st1:place></st1:City> Herald Sep. 18, 2008<o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">Behind the yellow tape blocking the side street in a residential neighborhood in <st1:city st="on">Miami</st1:City>, dozens of volunteers under white tents pack empty <st1:place st="on"><st1:city st="on">Corona</st1:City></st1:place> boxes with juice, beans, rice and medicines. Sister Rafaela Gonzalez, a sprightly 75, directs the action as the beep, beep, beep of a forklift topped with bottles of water alerts volunteers to move out of the way.<o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">''This has been my job for 30 years,'' she says, smiling.<o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">Her ''job'' in the Catholic order of the Daughters of Charity of St. Vincent de Paul is to serve the poor with good deeds as much as kind words. Feed the hungry, give drink to the thirsty, clothe the naked, shelter the homeless -- Catholic works of mercy that know no political boundaries, only God's love.<o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">As people from <st1:city st="on">Miami</st1:City> to <st1:state st="on">Washington</st1:State> debate loosening travel rules or the <st1:country-region st="on">U.S.</st1:country-region> trade embargo toward <st1:country-region st="on"><st1:place st="on">Cuba</st1:place></st1:country-region> after two back-to-back hurricanes, the nuns have nothing to debate. Their No. 1 job is saving lives as much as souls. The politicians and the demagogues can point fingers and raise suspicion about donated goods being skimmed by Cuban government officials, but the nuns have 14 years of experience seeing their containers get in the right hands.<o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">Now is no time to debate. It's time to do -- and our community knows it.<o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">The Daughters of Charity have found overwhelming support from <st1:place st="on">South Florida</st1:place> residents eager to help more than a million Cubans left homeless by hurricanes Gustav and Ike. They're also helping direct supplies to two local Catholic churches -- Notre Dame and St. James -- that are organizing shipments to <st1:country-region st="on"><st1:place st="on">Haiti</st1:place></st1:country-region>.<o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">In just six days, the sisters have sent four 40-foot containers with $100,000 worth of food, water and medicines to the <st1:place st="on"><st1:placetype st="on">Port</st1:PlaceType> of <st1:placename st="on">Havana</st1:PlaceName></st1:place>. Two of those containers already are feeding people in hard-hit Pinar del Río province. On Thursday, they prepared another two long containers as dozens of volunteers worked in synchronized fashion to categorize and pack boxes and fill the trucks.<o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><st1:place st="on"><st1:placename st="on">Hialeah</st1:PlaceName> <st1:placetype st="on">High School</st1:PlaceType></st1:place> students dropped off a truckload of donated goods by noon. The mail carrier dropped off donations from as far as <st1:state st="on"><st1:place st="on">California</st1:place></st1:State>. The phone wouldn't stop ringing.<o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">THE BEGINNING<o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">It all started with Sister Hilda Alonso, the 87-year-old nun who heads the Daughters of Charity in <st1:city st="on"><st1:place st="on">Miami</st1:place></st1:City>. She ran the Colegio La Inmaculada, a school for girls in <st1:city st="on"><st1:place st="on">Havana</st1:place></st1:City> before the revolution closed Catholic schools and kicked out priests and nuns. After teaching and running schools in Puerto Rico, and working in <st1:country-region st="on">Haiti</st1:country-region> to open St. Vincent de Paul orders -- ''the need was so great'' -- she started her mission in <st1:city st="on"><st1:place st="on">Miami</st1:place></st1:City>.<o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">Since 1994, the six nuns have sent containers to <st1:country-region st="on"><st1:place st="on">Cuba</st1:place></st1:country-region> with donated food, medicines and even medical equipment to help pregnant women, children with Down syndrome, patients with leprosy and the elderly in church-run retirement homes.<o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">For years, her former Inmaculada students have dropped by the nuns' tidy, spare home with donations, knowing they will get to the right people.<o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">As she sat at her metal desk next to her twin-size bed with a white cotton cover in her little bedroom, Sor Hilda, as the sister is called in Spanish, noted that by the end of this week the nuns will have shipped about six containers -- as much as they usually do in the entire year.<o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">''It's been extraordinary, the generosity of those who live here,'' she told me, adding that people of all ethnicities were coming by to give.<o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">It's not just goods -- it's also money that's needed. It costs $5,000 to ship a 40-foot container to <st1:country-region st="on"><st1:place st="on">Cuba</st1:place></st1:country-region>.<o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">I had heard about Sor Hilda's good works for years, and this summer I had visited her with a friend to learn more about this little woman from tobacco country in Pinar del Río who has taken on such a mammoth job. For all her years of hard work, she's still the Energizer Bunny -- but without the drums to call attention to herself.<o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">As one Inmaculada volunteer told me Thursday about the nun she knew in <st1:country-region st="on"><st1:place st="on">Cuba</st1:place></st1:country-region>, ``She is humility personified.''<o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">NEVER STOPPING<o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">Now the sisters are working around the clock to get emergency aid to <st1:country-region st="on"><st1:place st="on">Cuba</st1:place></st1:country-region>. The sisters have a long record of getting U.S.-licensed goods to the island without Cuban government interference. Sor Hilda has gone there herself to ensure goods get to the nuns in La Víbora neighborhood in <st1:city st="on"><st1:place st="on">Havana</st1:place></st1:City> who then distribute the donations.<o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">The nuns in <st1:country-region st="on"><st1:place st="on">Cuba</st1:place></st1:country-region> go to the docks and inspect the containers -- then one will ride with a trusted driver to make sure the food gets to those who need it and doesn't end up in the black market.<o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">''We are sending to the places that have seen the worst devastation,'' she said.<o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">Next week, the nuns will start collecting sheets and other needs. But today, it's all about food, water and other essentials.<o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">Most of all, it's about unconditional love.<o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">The Daughters of Charity of St. Vincent de Paul are accepting food, water, medicine and linens for hurricane victims in <st1:country-region st="on"><st1:place st="on">Cuba</st1:place></st1:country-region> at <st1:address st="on"><st1:street st="on">500 NW 63rd Ave.</st1:Street>, <st1:city st="on">Miami</st1:City></st1:address>. Or call 305-266-6485 for more information.<o:p></o:p></p>John McAuliffhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02738853658043094283noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8742101257220761528.post-58391172292475049032008-09-19T07:22:00.000-07:002008-09-19T07:25:39.965-07:00Chicago Tribune editorial<p class="MsoNormal">Aid for the enemy<o:p><br /></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style=""> </span>September 18, 2008<o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">Americans have rightly focused on the terrible devastation Hurricane Ike caused in <st1:state st="on"><st1:place st="on">Texas</st1:place></st1:State> and local residents' frustrated efforts to return and rebuild. Don't forget, though, that Ike caused havoc before it hit the <st1:country-region st="on"><st1:place st="on">U.S.</st1:place></st1:country-region><o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">Back-to-back hurricanes, Gustav and Ike, destroyed thousands of homes in <st1:country-region st="on"><st1:place st="on">Cuba</st1:place></st1:country-region>, wiped out crops across the island and knocked out much of its electrical grid. <st1:country-region st="on"><st1:place st="on">Cuba</st1:place></st1:country-region> doesn't have the billions of dollars it needs to rebuild, but the Castro government wants nothing to do with the Bush administration's idea of help.<o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">It would, however, like to buy some food and roofing nails and the like. The Bush administration says no.<o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><st1:country-region st="on"><st1:place st="on">U.S.</st1:place></st1:country-region> officials have offered $100,000 in aid, but insist the money be funneled through independent humanitarian groups, not the Castro government. The U.S. State Department also offered to send disaster experts to assess the damage, hinting that more money would follow once the need was documented.<o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">Cuban officials declined the offer, partly because they couldn't stomach the conditions and partly because <st1:country-region st="on">Russia</st1:country-region>, <st1:country-region st="on"><st1:place st="on">Venezuela</st1:place></st1:country-region> and others are willing to give money with no strings attached.<o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">Long-standing animosity between the two governments makes it nearly unthinkable for <st1:country-region st="on">Cuba</st1:country-region> to accept charity from the <st1:country-region st="on"><st1:place st="on">U.S.</st1:place></st1:country-region>, and vice versa. Then-Cuban President Fidel Castro offered to send one of his vaunted medical teams to help victims of Hurricane Katrina in 2005, but the White House said no. The year before, <st1:country-region st="on">Cuba</st1:country-region> sniffed at a <st1:country-region st="on"><st1:place st="on">U.S.</st1:place></st1:country-region> offer of $50,000 in aid after Hurricane Charley, calling it "ridiculous and humiliating."<o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">If the <st1:country-region st="on">U.S.</st1:country-region> is sincere about helping this time, <st1:country-region st="on">Cuba</st1:country-region> says, it can start by lifting restrictions that prevent <st1:country-region st="on"><st1:place st="on">Cuba</st1:place></st1:country-region> from buying construction materials. It could also let <st1:country-region st="on">Cuba</st1:country-region> buy food and supplies from <st1:country-region st="on"><st1:place st="on">U.S.</st1:place></st1:country-region> businesses on credit, which would require a change in the policy—enacted in 2001 after Hurricane Michelle—that allows such sales, but only in cash.<o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">Many Cuban Americans, meanwhile, want Bush to loosen restrictions on travel across the straits and suspend limits on how much money they can send to relatives on the island. They're joined by Sen. Barack Obama, who supported such changes even before hurricane season, and by Democratic congressional candidate Raul Martinez, who's trying to unseat Republican Rep. Lincoln Diaz-Balart, a <st1:country-region st="on"><st1:place st="on">Cuba</st1:place></st1:country-region> policy hard-liner.<o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><st1:city st="on">Martinez</st1:City> and Obama are gambling that the once-formidable Cuban exile voting bloc is losing its grip on <st1:state st="on">Florida</st1:State> politics, inviting better relations between the <st1:country-region st="on">U.S.</st1:country-region> and <st1:country-region st="on"><st1:place st="on">Cuba</st1:place></st1:country-region>. Others, including Obama's rival Sen. John McCain, aren't ready to go there.<o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">The Bush administration says it may increase caps on how much Americans can donate to relief agencies working in <st1:country-region st="on">Cuba</st1:country-region>, but the nearly 50-year-old trade embargo is off limits until <st1:country-region st="on"><st1:place st="on">Cuba</st1:place></st1:country-region> releases its political prisoners, holds free and fair elections and embraces American-style democracy.<o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">"The embargo is very separate," Commerce Secretary Carlos Gutierrez says.<o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">Tell that to the Cuban people reeling from the ravages of hurricanes Gustav and Ike.<o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">In the twisted exile logic that has long dictated our policy toward <st1:country-region st="on"><st1:place st="on">Cuba</st1:place></st1:country-region>, letting them go hungry is something we do for their own good. They'll thank us later, after they shake off the communists and see the light. Not likely.<o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">When the Castro brothers are history and the Cuban people contemplate what comes next, what they'll remember is that in September 2008, Hugo Chavez and Vladimir Putin were their friends. And we weren't.</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">www.chicagotribune.<wbr>com/news/<wbr>opinion/chi-<wbr>0918edit2sep18,<wbr>0,4316155.<wbr>story</p>John McAuliffhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02738853658043094283noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8742101257220761528.post-57031400020576839472008-09-18T19:06:00.000-07:002008-09-18T19:07:41.137-07:00Political Conflict Over Aid<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">Posted on Wed, Sep. 17, 2008<o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">Political dispute delaying <st1:country-region st="on">U.S.</st1:country-region> storm aid to <st1:country-region st="on"><st1:place st="on">Cuba</st1:place></st1:country-region><o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">BY <st1:place st="on"><st1:country-region st="on">FRANCES</st1:country-region></st1:place> ROBLES</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><st1:city st="on"><st1:place st="on">Miami</st1:place></st1:City> Herald</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">In contrast to millions of dollars in relief aid sent to <st1:country-region st="on">Haiti</st1:country-region>, the <st1:country-region st="on">U.S.</st1:country-region> government has funneled just $100,000 to <st1:place st="on"><st1:country-region st="on">Cuba</st1:country-region></st1:place> so far -- even as reports surface that the communist country's hurricane wreckage is far worse than the Castro government is letting on.<o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><st1:country-region st="on"><st1:place st="on">Cuba</st1:place></st1:country-region> suffered island-wide destruction when Hurricane Ike smashed buildings and homes in 169 municipalities coast to coast. A new report by a Miami-based group made public Thursday indicates that 537,000 homes were damaged across the island, and 3.2 million people remain without power.<o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><st1:country-region st="on">Haiti</st1:country-region>, also hit in the past weeks by a devastating string of storms that left hundreds dead and one million homeless, has received $20 million in <st1:country-region st="on"><st1:place st="on">U.S.</st1:place></st1:country-region> aid.<o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">The funding discrepancy comes as a diplomatic spat between <st1:country-region st="on">Cuba</st1:country-region> and the <st1:country-region st="on"><st1:place st="on">United States</st1:place></st1:country-region> mires relief efforts.<o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">Although the <st1:country-region st="on">U.S.</st1:country-region> government said <st1:country-region st="on">Cuba</st1:country-region>'s refusal to accept a disaster assesment team prevents it from doing more, criticism against <st1:state st="on"><st1:place st="on">Washington</st1:place></st1:State> is beginning to mount.<o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">The Bush administration is expediting licenses to U.S.-based organizations that allows an increase in cash that can be sent to residents on the island. Many are taking advantage of the new rules to help storm victims. But some say <st1:country-region st="on"><st1:place st="on">U.S.</st1:place></st1:country-region> assistance is falling far short of what's needed.<o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><st1:country-region st="on">Russia</st1:country-region> sent four cargo planes with tons of emergency supplies and construction materials, and Fidel Castro called <st1:country-region st="on"><st1:place st="on">Venezuela</st1:place></st1:country-region>'s aid ''most generous.'' <st1:country-region st="on">China</st1:country-region> provided $300,000, and <st1:country-region st="on">Cuba</st1:country-region>'s state newspaper Granma said <st1:country-region st="on">Brazil</st1:country-region>, <st1:country-region st="on">Argentina</st1:country-region> and <st1:country-region st="on"><st1:place st="on">Mexico</st1:place></st1:country-region> had also offered assistance. <st1:country-region st="on"><st1:place st="on">Spain</st1:place></st1:country-region> also has sent planeloads of relief supplies.<o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><b style="">''The United States, in the past, has acted honorably and quickly in response to hurricanes in Central America, tsunamis in Indonesia and earthquakes in Pakistan: they come in first, with the most resources and without conditions,'' said Frank Mora, a Cuba expert at the National War College in Washington.<o:p></o:p></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><b style=""><o:p> </o:p></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><b style="">''That has not been the case for <st1:country-region st="on"><st1:place st="on">Cuba</st1:place></st1:country-region>. It's embarrassing and shameful that politics has inserted itself at a time when so many Cuban people on the island are suffering,'' Mora said.<o:p></o:p></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">Jorge Mas Santos, president of the Cuban American National Foundation, called the <st1:country-region st="on"><st1:place st="on">U.S.</st1:place></st1:country-region> offer ``insulting.''<o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">The <st1:country-region st="on">U.S.</st1:country-region> government offered $100,000 and an inspection team after Hurricane Gustav hit western <st1:country-region st="on"><st1:place st="on">Cuba</st1:place></st1:country-region> Aug. 30. <st1:country-region st="on"><st1:place st="on">Cuba</st1:place></st1:country-region> turned down the offer, saying the country was not looking for giveaways but to make purchases.<o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><st1:city st="on">Havana</st1:City> insisted the United States instead lift the provisions of the embargo that prevent <st1:country-region st="on">Cuba</st1:country-region> from getting private credits from <st1:country-region st="on"><st1:place st="on">U.S.</st1:place></st1:country-region> companies. The Cuban Foreign Ministry published a statement Thursday saying the U.S. State Department repeated the same offer Wednesday after Ike -- and it was again rejected.<o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-weight: bold;">''The </span><st1:country-region style="font-weight: bold;" st="on"><st1:place st="on">United States</st1:place></st1:country-region><span style="font-weight: bold;"> government behaves cynically. It tries to suggest that it is desperate to cooperate with </span><st1:country-region style="font-weight: bold;" st="on"><st1:place st="on">Cuba</st1:place></st1:country-region><span style="font-weight: bold;"> and that we refuse,'' the foreign ministry statement said. ``They lie unscrupulously. If they want to cooperate with the Cuban people, then we request allowing the sale to Cuba of indispensable materials, such as tarps for roofs and other items to repair homes and to reestablish the electrical network.''</span><o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">Said U.S. Commerce Secretary Carlos Gutiérrez: ``<st1:country-region st="on"><st1:place st="on">Venezuela</st1:place></st1:country-region> sent an assessment team -- it's standard procedure worldwide. It allows us to be effective, because it allows us to get what they want. The question is: Why do they feel threatened by the presence of a handful of technical experts who just want to help? I'm surprised that the assessment team has become such a big deal.''<o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">The U.S. State Department said the team is not a precondition for aid but did not explain why aid wasn't sent after the team was refused.<o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">''Although the Cuban government has declined the offer of a humanitarian assessment team, we remain willing to send one,'' State Department spokeswoman Heide Bronke said. ``We are evaluating how best to provide additional humanitarian relief for Cuban victims of this disaster.''<o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">She added that the <st1:country-region st="on"><st1:place st="on">U.S.</st1:place></st1:country-region> government increased existing authorizations for U.S.-based aid groups to provide more cash to help storm victims. CANF got such authorization, and the line grew quickly.<o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">''We had over 400 people come fill out 600 applications,'' said CANF spokeswoman Sandy Acosta Cox. ``We were holding people in the parking area. It was like that all day.''<o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">The political spat comes as new estimates on the extent of damages in <st1:country-region st="on"><st1:place st="on">Cuba</st1:place></st1:country-region> begin to emerge. Miami-based business consultant Teo Babún, of Babún Group Consulting, said information coming from the island shows widespread devastation.<o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">According to his organization's report, more than half a million homes were damaged and almost 350 bridges wiped out. He said 600 municipal water wells were damaged and some 500 miles of telephone and power poles are down. At least 150,000 people remain in shelters.<o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">The town of <st1:city st="on">Herradura</st1:City>, in the <st1:place st="on"><st1:placetype st="on">province</st1:PlaceType> of <st1:placename st="on">Pinar Del Río</st1:PlaceName></st1:place>, was destroyed.<o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">''I would say the situation in <st1:country-region st="on">Cuba</st1:country-region> is similar to what we saw during Andrew in <st1:place st="on">South Florida</st1:place>,'' Babún said. ``It's very, very bad.''<o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">The damage estimate is from $3 billion to $4 billion, Babún said, but the Cuban government is unlikely to want to release such a dire assessment. That figure coincides with an estimate by the United Nations.<o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">''I think the Cuban government first of all hasn't done a full assessment and is trying to double-check with their assessment teams,'' he said. ``<st1:country-region st="on"><st1:place st="on">Cuba</st1:place></st1:country-region> is a military regime, so they are very concerned about providing information they consider secret or detrimental to the state. That is information they are not accustomed to giving out.''<o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">The Cuban government also probably would be uncomfortable having a <st1:country-region st="on">U.S.</st1:country-region> military warplane arrive in <st1:country-region st="on"><st1:place st="on">Cuba</st1:place></st1:country-region> handing out aid, experts said.<o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">''The Cuban government isn't accepting the <st1:country-region st="on">U.S.</st1:country-region> donations; they only accept those from <st1:country-region st="on"><st1:place st="on">Russia</st1:place></st1:country-region> and other friendly countries,'' said Diego Suarez of the Cuban Liberty Council. ``For them it is more important to not accept the <st1:country-region st="on"><st1:place st="on">U.S.</st1:place></st1:country-region> donations than to help the people.''<o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">Miami Herald staff writers Liza Gross, Casey Woods and Patricia Mazzei and translator Renato Pérez contributed to this report.<o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">© 2008 Miami Herald Media Company. All Rights Reserved.<o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">http://www.miamiherald.com</p>John McAuliffhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02738853658043094283noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8742101257220761528.post-36150039404335970492008-09-18T11:36:00.000-07:002008-09-18T11:38:21.719-07:00Dodd statement and amendment summary<p class="MsoNormal">This effective response brings relief to innocent victims of the storms and it projects an American message of concern and hope for our Caribbean neighbors.</p> <p class="MsoNormal"> </p> <p class="MsoNormal">Unfortunately, Mr. President, I can’t say the same for our response to the crisis caused by the hurricanes that have battered the lives of the 11 million citizens of Cuba. Evacuations of two million citizens helped reduce the loss of life, but the damage is immense. Hurricanes Gustav and Ike destroyed 150,000 homes and seriously damaged 200,000 others. The United Nations estimates that Cuba has suffered between $3 billion and $4 billion in losses. Hundreds of thousands of victims are without shelter, fresh water and electricity; damage to agriculture is massive; food and medicines are in short supply; and the need for materials to repair homes vastly overtakes supply.</p> <p class="MsoNormal"> </p> <p class="MsoNormal">The State Department has offered to disburse $100,000 in emergency funds through the United States Interests Section – our embassy in Havana – which is a step in the right direction. In addition, over the weekend, the State Department offered an emergency shipment of $5 million of assistance to Cuba. Cuban officials – in a short-sighted move, in my opinion – rejected the offer, saying they would not accept a handout from a country that would not sell those same items to them. </p> <p class="MsoNormal"> </p> <p class="MsoNormal">The Administration has also authorized certain U.S.-based NGOs – whose activities the Administration has previously approved – to provide larger amounts of humanitarian assistance, including cash donations to approved recipients in Cuba, for 90 days. </p> <p class="MsoNormal"> </p> <p class="MsoNormal">These government-approved channels for assistance to government-approved recipients are not nearly enough. They disallow, moreover, the outpouring of assistance from Americans who want to help directly and generously as Americans do in times of crisis – and not just through Administration-approved channels. </p> <p class="MsoNormal"> </p> <p class="MsoNormal">Large numbers in the Cuban-American community, eager to help family in Cuba directly, are blocked from doing so by tough regulations that the Administration implemented in 2004 in its effort to promote the collapse of the Castro regime. These regulations drastically impair Cuban-Americans’ ability to visit family in Cuba – even under extraordinary circumstances such as the death of a loved one – and drastically impair their ability to send cash assistance to family in the same manner as all other Caribbeans, Central Americans and Mexicans do. </p> <p class="MsoNormal"> </p> <p class="MsoNormal">Mr. President, it’s no secret that the US embargo on Cuba has been a dismal failure and, rather than weaken the Cuban government and force it to change, has only served to weaken the Cuban people and deprive them of hope. The Administration’s tougher regulations circumscribing Americans’ right to help family and friends in dire need in Cuba are part of that same failed policy. </p> <p class="MsoNormal"> </p> <p class="MsoNormal">Apparently some in the Bush Administration believe that holding firm on embargo policy – even during a humanitarian disaster – will discredit Fidel or Raul Castro and lead to their precipitous downfall. When human suffering is as massive as we see in Cuba today after these hurricanes, there’s no room for such cynicism.</p> <p class="MsoNormal"> </p> <p class="MsoNormal">Despite the obvious need for a total overhaul of policy toward Cuba, the amendment that Senator Lugar and I have introduced today addresses only the immediate humanitarian crisis, and only on a temporary basis. </p> <ul><li><!--[if !supportLists]-->For a period of 180 days, our amendment would lift prohibitions on Americans with family in Cuba to travel to the island to provide help and hope during the crisis.</li></ul> <ul><li><!--[if !supportLists]--><!--[endif]-->Also for 180 days, it would ease restrictions on cash remittances by any American to Cuban people at this time of extreme need. </li></ul> <ul><li><!--[if !supportLists]-->It would expand the definition of gift parcels that Americans are authorized to send to Cuban people or NGOs in the next 180 days to include food, medication, clothing, hygiene items and other daily necessities.</li></ul> <ul><li><!--[if !supportLists]-->It would allow the cash sale, using mechanisms similar to those already in place for the sale of agricultural products, of certain items that Cubans need to rebuild their homes for a period of 180 days.</li></ul> <p class="MsoNormal">I want to be clear. These measures do not lift the embargo, but rather they merely loosen some of the less-humane regulations implemented in 2004 in direct response to a humanitarian crisis.</p> <p class="MsoNormal"> </p> <p class="MsoNormal">They are modest steps that allow the greatness and the generosity of the American people to shine through, without political and ideological filters. I can think of no better way of giving the Cuban people a message of hope than for them to feel the warm generosity and care of the American people.</p> <p class="MsoNormal"> </p> <p class="MsoNormal">The intent of this amendment has broad support. In a letter to President Bush last week, the US Conference of Catholic Bishops wrote, “In light of the devastation and humanitarian disaster caused by recent hurricanes in Cuba and the efforts of extended families, friends and organizations to reach those in need, I urge you [President Bush] to suspend – even temporarily – Treasury and Commerce Department restrictions and licensing requirements for humanitarian travel and remittances by American citizens and assistance by not-for-profit organizations. At times of crisis, there are simple and basic acts of charity on which people rely.”</p> <p class="MsoNormal"> </p> <p class="MsoNormal">The Catholic Bishops and numerous NGOs are right, and we know it. We must help.</p> <p class="MsoNormal"> </p> <p class="MsoNormal">To those who think that refusing to help will somehow serve the U.S. national interest, I make just two observations. We need to be honest with ourselves: to be seen as wanting the Cuban people to suffer and starve – while we rush to the aid of their Caribbean neighbors – is not going to contribute to our common goal of promoting a peaceful, democratic transition in Cuba and good relations between our countries in the future. </p> <p class="MsoNormal"> </p> <p class="MsoNormal">Moreover, as we stand on the sidelines, other countries are more than willing to fill the vacuum. President Chávez of Venezuela has been “most generous,” according to press reports. Russia has sent four cargo planes with tons of emergency supplies and construction materials. China has provided $300,000, and Spain also has sent planeloads of relief supplies. Brazil, Argentina and Mexico are also offering assistance – without political restrictions.</p> <p class="MsoNormal"> </p> <p class="MsoNormal">Mr. President, our amendment takes modest steps to deal with massive need.</p><a href="http://dodd.senate.gov/index.php?q=node/4553">Full text here</a><br /><p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p>John McAuliffhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02738853658043094283noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8742101257220761528.post-30640337087856257792008-09-18T11:27:00.000-07:002008-09-18T11:36:16.340-07:00Dodd, Lugar Amendment Text, Cosponsors<center><pre>Amendment to S3001, Defense Appropriations Bill<br /><br />[Page: S8790] <b><a href="http://frwebgate.access.gpo.gov/cgi-bin/getpage.cgi?dbname=2008_record&page=S8790&position=all"> <cite>GPO's PDF</cite></a></b></pre></center> <p> <b>SEC. 1253. EASING RESTRICTIONS ON GIFT OR RELIEF PACKAGES FOR 180 DAYS.</b></p><p> (a) <em>In General</em>.--Except as provided in subsection (d), for the 180-day period beginning on the date of the enactment of this Act, the President may not limit the size, quantity or frequency, or the carrying, transporting or shipping of personal gift items and relief supplies (not for sale or resale) that are eligible to be shipped through existing or new mechanisms established expressly for the delivery of such packages. Such items and supplies may be sent to Cuba by any person who is subject to the jurisdiction of the United States and the President shall rescind, for such 180-day period, all regulations in effect on the date of the enactment of this Act that so limit such items.</p><p> (b) <em>Personal Gift Items</em>.--For purposes of this section, the term ``personal gift items'' includes goods intended to improve the daily life of the Cuban people, including clothing, medication, foodstuffs, personal hygiene items, and other daily necessities.</p><p> (c) <em>Relief Supplies</em>.--For the purposes of this section, the term ``relief supplies'' means any item intended to provide temporary or permanent shelter to hurricane victims in Cuba, or intended to facilitate repairs to personal dwellings in Cuba damaged during the 2008 hurricane season.</p><p> (d) <em>Statutory Construction</em>.--Nothing in subsection (a) may be construed to prohibit the prosecution or conviction of any person committing an offense described in section 1956 of title 18, United States Code (relating to the laundering of monetary instruments) or section 1957 of such title (relating to engaging in monetary transactions in property derived from specific unlawful activity).</p><p> </p><p> <b>PART II--ALLOWANCE OF CASH SALE OF RELIEF SUPPLIES, FOOD, AND MEDICINES</b></p><p> <b>SEC. 1261. EXEMPTION FROM PROHIBITIONS AND RESTRICTIONS ON CASH SALES AND EXPORT OF FOOD, MEDICINES, AND RELIEF SUPPLIES TO CUBA FOR A PERIOD OF 180 DAYS.</b></p><p> (a) <em>In General</em>.--Except as provided in subsection (b), for the 180-day period beginning on the date of the enactment of this Act, any prohibition or restriction in law or regulation on trade or financial transactions with Cuba shall not apply with respect to the cash sale and export of any agricultural commodity, farm machinery or equipment, medicine, medical device, or relief supplies, or with respect to travel incident to the sale or delivery of any agricultural commodity, farm machinery or equipment, medicine, or medical device, or relief supplies to Cuba.</p><p> (b) <em>Exceptions</em>.--Subsection (a) does not apply to--</p><p> (1) any prohibition or restriction imposed under the Export Administration Act of 1979 (50 U.S.C. App. 2401 et seq.) or successor statute for goods containing parts or components on which export controls are in effect under that section; or</p><p> (2) any prohibition or restriction imposed under section 203 of the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (50 U.S.C. 1702) insofar as the prohibition or restriction is exercised to deal with a threat to the national security of the United States by virtue of the technology incorporated in such machinery or equipment, or supplies.</p><p> (c) <em>Supersedes Existing Law</em>.--Subsection (a) supersedes the Trade Sanctions Reform and Export Enhancement Act of 2000 (title IX of H.R. 5426 of the 106th Congress, as enacted into law by section 1(a) of Public Law 106-387, and as contained in the appendix of that Act) or any other provision of law.</p><p> <b>SEC. 1262. DEFINITIONS.</b></p><p> In this part:</p><p> (1) <b>AGRICULTURAL COMMODITY</b>.--The term ``agricultural commodity''--</p><p> (A) has the meaning given the term in section 102 of the Agricultural Trade Act of 1978 (7 U.S.C. 5602); and</p><p> (B) includes fertilizer.</p><p> (2) <b>MEDICAL DEVICE</b>.--The term ``medical device'' has the meaning given the term ``device'' in section 201 of the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (21 U.S.C. 321).</p><p> (3) <b>MEDICINE</b>.--The term ``medicine'' has the meaning given the term ``drug'' in section 201 of the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (21 U.S.C. 7321).</p><p> (4) <b>RELIEF SUPPLIES</b>.--The term ``relief supplies'' means any item intended to provide temporary or permanent shelter to hurricane victims in Cuba, or intended to facilitate repairs to personal dwellings in Cuba damaged during the 2008 hurricane season. </p>Cosponsors<br /><br /><a href="http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/bdquery/?&Db=d110&querybd=@FIELD%28FLD004+@4%28%28@1%28Sen+Lugar++Richard+G.%29%29+01387%29%29">Sen Lugar, Richard G.</a> [IN] - 9/15/2008<br /><a href="http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/bdquery/?&Db=d110&querybd=@FIELD%28FLD004+@4%28%28@1%28Sen+Durbin++Richard%29%29+00326%29%29">Sen Durbin, Richard</a> [IL] - 9/15/2008<br /><a href="http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/bdquery/?&Db=d110&querybd=@FIELD%28FLD004+@4%28%28@1%28Sen+Baucus++Max%29%29+00066%29%29">Sen Baucus, Max</a> [MT] - 9/15/2008<br /><a href="http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/bdquery/?&Db=d110&querybd=@FIELD%28FLD004+@4%28%28@1%28Sen+Kerry++John+F.%29%29+01379%29%29">Sen Kerry, John F.</a> [MA] - 9/16/2008<br /><a href="http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/bdquery/?&Db=d110&querybd=@FIELD%28FLD004+@4%28%28@1%28Sen+Feingold++Russell+D.%29%29+01331%29%29">Sen Feingold, Russell D.</a> [WI] - 9/16/2008<br /><a href="http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/bdquery/?&Db=d110&querybd=@FIELD%28FLD004+@4%28%28@1%28Sen+Leahy++Patrick+J.%29%29+01383%29%29">Sen Leahy, Patrick J.</a> [VT] - 9/16/2008<br /><a href="http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/bdquery/?&Db=d110&querybd=@FIELD%28FLD004+@4%28%28@1%28Sen+Enzi++Michael+B.%29%29+01542%29%29">Sen Enzi, Michael B.</a> [WY] - 9/16/2008<br /><a href="http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/bdquery/?&Db=d110&querybd=@FIELD%28FLD004+@4%28%28@1%28Sen+Dorgan++Byron+L.%29%29+00308%29%29">Sen Dorgan, Byron L.</a> [ND] - 9/16/2008<br /><a href="http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/bdquery/?&Db=d110&querybd=@FIELD%28FLD004+@4%28%28@1%28Sen+Harkin++Tom%29%29+00501%29%29">Sen Harkin, Tom</a> [IA] - 9/16/2008<br /><a href="http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/bdquery/?&Db=d110&querybd=@FIELD%28FLD004+@4%28%28@1%28Sen+Lincoln++Blanche+L.%29%29+01570%29%29">Sen Lincoln, Blanche L.</a> [AR] - 9/16/2008John McAuliffhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02738853658043094283noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8742101257220761528.post-55137931344525896492008-09-18T11:07:00.000-07:002008-09-18T11:16:32.135-07:00Support for legislation to ease restrictions<div> <div class="storyHeadlines"> <div> <h1 id="StoryContent_TopPageNavigation_Headline" class="storytitle">Cuba Groups Urge Hurricane Aid to Cuba</h1> </div> </div> <div id="StoryContent_TopPageNavigation_PageInformation" class="PageLinksTop"> <div id="StoryContent_TopPageNavigation_MissingAuthorSpacer" class="HeadlineSpacer"><br /></div> <div id="StoryContent_TopPageNavigation_LastUpdated" class="StoryHeadlineDetails" style="color: rgb(163, 163, 163);">Last update: 11:12 a.m. EDT Sept. 18, 2008</div> </div> </div> <div class="p"> WASHINGTON, Sept 18, 2008 /PRNewswire-USNewswire via COMTEX/ -- The Center for Democracy in the Americas, The Latin America Working Group, and The Washington Office on Latin America, released the following statement urging the U.S. government to provide hurricane relief for Cuba:<br /><br /></div> <div class="p"> The United States has an opportunity to save lives - and to turn a diplomatic corner - if we can rise above politics and allow Cuban Americans to aid family members back in Cuba which has been savaged by two tropical storms and two hurricanes in just 30 days.<br /><br /></div> <div class="p"> America's wealth, geography and large Cuban-American community make us ideally suited to see that Cubans now suffering get the shelter, food, drinking water and medicine they need. America's first instinct is always to aid victims and to save lives; we should give it free reign. </div> <div class="p"> And what could be worse for the United States' standing in Latin America than to see governments as disparate as the European Union, Brazil, Venezuela, Russia, and China rushing to offer assistance to Cuba, while U.S. politics stop Cuban-Americans from responding to the needs of their relatives on the island?<br /><br /></div> <div class="p"> Today, Cuban-American families are blocked from providing aid by restrictions tightened in 2004, and yet they could be the guiding force behind the delivery of humanitarian aid to the island.<br /><br /></div> <div class="p"> Senator Chris Dodd (D-CT) and co-sponsor Richard Lugar (R-IN) have offered an amendment that would temporarily allow Americans with families in Cuba to travel to Cuba or to send cash and parcels including food, medicine, clothing and other necessities to relatives in Cuba, to help them recover from hurricane damage. The legislation would also allow American merchants to sell Cubans the supplies they need to rebuild damaged homes to replant ravaged farms.<br /><br /> Representatives Bill Delahunt (D-MA) and Jeff Flake (R-AZ) have introduced similar bipartisan legislation which should be considered by the House.<br /><br /></div> <div class="p"> This suspension of economic sanctions would last only 180 days. It would cost taxpayers nothing. It would allow families to take care of their own. And it would demonstrate that America is a compassionate nation, able and eager to help end the suffering of our friends, the Cuban people. </div> <div class="p"> Now, before deprivation and disease do further damage to people's lives, Congress should pass this legislation and the President should sign it.<br /><br /></div> <div class="p"> SOURCE Center for Democracy in the Americas </div>John McAuliffhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02738853658043094283noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8742101257220761528.post-5710783163346683802008-09-18T10:59:00.000-07:002008-09-18T11:00:35.344-07:00Follow up letter to Delahunt hearing<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">September 18, 2008<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">The Honorable William Delahunt<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">The Honorable Jeff Flake <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">The Honorable Jo Ann Emerson<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">The Honorable Ray LaHood<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">The Honorable Ron Paul<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">The Honorable Donald Payne<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Dear Esteemed Members of the House of Representatives<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">I wish to thank you for your comments and testimony on behalf of ending restrictions on travel by Americans to <st1:country-region st="on"><st1:place st="on">Cuba</st1:place></st1:country-region> at this morning’s hearing.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Because of the urgency of sending additional assistance to Cubans facing great hardship, I hope a means may be found to bring this issue to the floor of the House and Senate before the recess, perhaps in the form of a concurrent resolution urging that the President direct OFAC to establish until the end of his Administration a temporary general license for humanitarian travel, remittances and assistance by all Americans and IRS recognized not-for-profit organizations.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Hopefully bipartisan adoption will influence the President to reconsider his policy.<span style=""> </span>His action and a recorded vote will be noted by some Americans casting ballots on November 4<sup>th</sup>.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">The following letter to the President, the Speaker and the Majority Leader of the Senate has in the last week been signed by a diverse group of more than 800 Americans, including many of Cuban origin, several of whom have attached moving personal comments. <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><b style="">“Because of the devastation suffered by Cuba from Hurricanes Gustav and Ike, and the history of conflict and suspicion between our countries, creative means must be found to enable the traditional compassion of Americans to express itself in assistance to the Cuban people in a timely fashion. <o:p></o:p></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><b style=""><o:p> </o:p></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><b style="">We urge an immediate 90 day suspension by Presidential order, or by legislation, of Treasury and Commerce Department restrictions and licensing requirements for humanitarian travel and remittances by all Americans and assistance from not-for-profit organizations granted tax-exempt status by the IRS.” <o:p></o:p></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Signers list at <a href="http://www.ipetitions.com/petition/Cubafloodaid/signatures.html">http://www.ipetitions.com/petition/Cubafloodaid/signatures.html</a> <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">The fastest and least politicized way for Americans to provide assistance to Cubans is to give all of us the freedom to go there and/or to use <st1:place st="on">Western Union</st1:place>, with no intermediary institution receiving political or financial benefit, be it Cuban or American. <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Sincerely,<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="position: relative; z-index: 1;"><span style="position: absolute; left: -26px; top: -1px; width: 208px; height: 62px;"></span></span><!--[endif]--><o:p> </o:p><span style="font-size: 12pt;">John McAuliff<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Executive Director<o:p></o:p></span></p>John McAuliffhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02738853658043094283noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8742101257220761528.post-12157053820934796702008-09-18T06:43:00.000-07:002008-09-18T06:48:10.548-07:00Petition transmission cover letter to Rep. Delahunt<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">September 18, 2008<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">The Honorable William Delahunt<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Chairman<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Subcommittee on International Organizations, Human Rights, and Oversight<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">US House of Representatives<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Dear Mr. Chairman;<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Congratulations for holding the important hearing this morning on “Families Torn Apart: Human Rights and U.S. Restrictions on Cuban-American Travel”.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">No doubt one focus of today’s discussion will be special issues raised by hurricane caused devastation in Cuba and the widespread call for temporary suspension of restrictions on travel and remittances.<span style=""> </span><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">To that end, I wish to submit for the hearing record this letter and the attached on-line petition to the President and the Speaker of the House calling for a ninety day suspension of travel, remittance and aid restrictions for all Americans which in one week has been signed by a very diverse group of more than 800 persons, many of whom have attached moving comments. <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style=""> </span>(The continuously growing list can be<a href="http://www.ipetitions.com/petition/Cubafloodaid/signatures.html"> found</a> at <a href="http://www.ipetitions.com/petition/Cubafloodaid/signatures.html">http://www.ipetitions.com/petition/Cubafloodaid/signatures.html</a> )<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">The text is attached along with a list of some of the initiating signers, many of whose names and organizations will be familiar to you.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">A strikingly similar letter was written to President Bush by the President of US Conference of Catholic Bishops, Francis Cardinal George<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.5in;"><b style=""><span style=""> </span></b><b style=""><span style="font-size: 12pt;">I urge you to suspend -- even temporarily -- Treasury and Commerce Department restrictions and licensing requirements for humanitarian travel and remittances by American citizens and assistance by not-for-profit organizations.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.5in;"><b style=""><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">While the need to address the special interest of Cuban Americans is understandable from both a humanitarian and political perspective, it is important to not create an invidious distinction between them and many other Americans who have close friends and professional colleagues in Cuba to whom they also wish to send personal support and visit at this moment of extreme need.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">OFAC is to be congratulated for permitting the Cuban American National Foundation to in effect bypass remittance limits by serving as a channel for direct personal assistance to Cubans, whether or not family related. <span style=""> </span>I wonder whether similar permission would be given to organizations which do not have a history of hostility to the Cuban government.<span style=""> </span><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">The fastest and least politicized way for Americans to provide assistance to Cubans is to give all of us the freedom to use Western Union and other public services, with no intermediary institution receiving political or financial benefit, be it Cuban or American. <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Sincerely,<o:p></o:p></span></p><span style="font-size: 12pt;">John McAuliff<o:p></o:p></span> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Executive Director</span></p><p class="MsoNormal">Fund for Reconciliation and Development<br /><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">cc:<span style=""> </span>The Honorable Howard Berman<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style=""> </span>The Honorable Jo Ann Emerson<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style=""> </span>The Honorable Ray LaHood<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style=""> </span>The Honorable Thaddeus G. McCotter<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style=""> </span>The Speaker of the House<o:p></o:p></span></p>John McAuliffhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02738853658043094283noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8742101257220761528.post-54889371025144671552008-09-17T10:52:00.000-07:002008-09-17T10:59:58.888-07:00Cuba's Preliminary Damage Report<div>Excerpted from Granma article of 9/16/08<br /><br />For updated reports from the UN's Relief Web, <a href="http://www.reliefweb.int/rw/rwb.nsf/doc106?OpenForm&rc=2&cc=cub">click here</a>.<br /><br />And although during Gustav no human lives were lost, during the days of Ike — as was opportunely reported — we mourned the deaths of seven citizens in a number of provinces, not just as a direct result of the hurricane’s effects, but of a failure to strictly observe measures adopted by the Civil Defense authorities.</div><br /><div>SUBSTANTIAL MATERIAL LOSSES</div><br /><div>Very preliminary assessments of the damage caused in the less than 10 days during which the two hurricanes impacted national territory place total losses at around five billion dollars.</div><br /><div>Unquestionably, one of the most calamitous effects of Gustav and Ike was on housing: more than 444,000 homes damaged, a large number of them with partially or totally destroyed roofs and other impacts; and of that total, 63,249 houses completely demolished.</div><br /><div>Every province was affected. The final figures have not yet been determined, given that these could increase due to the combined effects of heavy rainfall and the passing of the first few days. However, the majority of the effects were directly related to those places hit hardest by the worst of the rainfall and winds, in addition to flooding and coastal deluges before, during and after: Pinar del Río and the Isle of Youth, particularly by Gustav (with its Category 4), and Holguín, Las Tunas and Camagüey by Ike (Category 3).</div><br /><div>This may also be described as the most complex type of problem — not only because in the case of housing it leaves more than 200,000 people homeless for some time, and hundreds of thousands more whose homes require repairs — but because building and rebuilding involves financial investment and resources in the millions, and requires years of intense work.</div><br /><div>MAIN EFFECTS OF GUSTAV IN OTHER AREAS</div><br /><div>The preliminary assessment of Gustav’s damage reveals that the most significant impact was in the special municipality of the Isle of Youth and Pinar del Río province, mostly in the towns of San Cristóbal, Los Palacios, Consolación del Sur, Viñales, La Palma, Minas de Matahambre, Candelaria and Bahía Honda.</div><br /><div>It should be taken into account that estimates of housing losses are based on historic and conventional prices, not real values at international prices. Suffice it to say that in order to have a durable house that can stand up to the fiercest winds, one essential element is necessary and very scarce: a labor force. This is needed both for temporary repairs and lasting construction. That labor force has to be divided among all centers of production and services, some significantly damaged, which is why the real value of a house in the world and the recovery of the corresponding investment is much greater.</div><br /><div>• The situation is critical for the 120,105 houses affected by Gustav in Pinar del Río province, particularly in the municipalities of Los Palacios and San Cristóbal.</div><br /><div>• Associated with impact on housing, more than 4,000 water storage tanks for apartment buildings were damaged.</div><br /><div>• In western Cuba, serious impacts were reported on the electric power infrastructure:</div><br /><div>Along the 220-kW Mariel-Pinar del Rio transmission line, 137 towers were destroyed, and along the 110-kW line, 13 towers were destroyed.</div><br /><div>Among other elements: 4,500 posts knocked down, 530 transformers broken and 5,000 streetlights damaged.</div><br /><div>• In the special municipality of the Isle of Youth, 100% of electrical lines were affected.</div><br /><div>• More than 55,700 hectares of crops suffered total losses in western Cuba, mostly tubers and sugar cane. In addition, 877 organic vegetable gardens and 392 intensive farming sites were affected.</div><br /><div>• Eighty percent of the Isle of Youth’s poultry industry was seriously affected, and 100% of that industry was affected in the eight municipalities of Pinar del Río that were hit.</div><br /><div>• In the tobacco sector, 3,414 storage facilities were destroyed and 1,590 damaged, and more than 800 tons of tobacco was affected.</div><br /><div>• More than 180,000 hectares of tree farms were affected.</div><br /><div>• In industrial food production: 28 bakeries, eight sweet shops and a fruit and vegetable preserves enterprise were affected, mostly by the total loss of their roofs, but they did have generators.</div><br /><div>• 4,355 tons of food in warehouses and neighborhood stores were affected.</div><br /><div>• The main damage to the national radio system occurred as a result of the total destruction of its medium-wave towers (2) and the television tower on the Isle of Youth, affecting radio and television services. A similar situation occurred in Pinar del Río, to the towers of facilities in San Cristóbal, La Palma and Los Palacios and their three television centers. In Havana, the centers in Artemisa and Bauta were damaged.</div><br /><div>• In telecommunications, 9,316 services were affected, most of them in the special municipality (7,797) and Pinar del Río (1,021).</div><br /><div>• Losses are still being calculated in computer equipment, televisions and VCRs. In the health and education sectors, 794 computers were affected.</div><br /><div>• In the public health sector in the western region, considerable damage was done to 31 facilities, including 26 hospitals, 18 polyclinics, 191 doctors’ offices, 14 senior citizen homes and 41 pharmacies, with the most critical situation on the Isle of Youth and several municipalities in Pinar del Río: San Cristóbal, Los Palacios, La Palma and Consolación del Sur.</div><br /><div>• In education, 1,160 schools were affected, included 599 in Pinar del Río, 218 in La Habana province, 225 in City of Havana, and 87 on the Isle of Youth.</div><br /><div>• Important installations were destroyed in the Nueva Gerona port, and the Isle of Youth’s airport, and almost all passenger transport was affected there.</div><br /><div>MAJOR DAMAGE CAUSED BY IKE</div><br /><div>Without assessments being concluded, at the close of this report on September 12, the worst damage by province occurred in the aforementioned provinces, mostly in the following municipalities:</div><br /><div>• Guantánamo: Baracoa and Maisí.</div><br /><div>• Holguín: mostly in the capital city of Holguín, Banes, Antilla, Moa, Rafael Freyre, Mayarí and Gibara.</div><br /><div>• Las Tunas: the capital, Puerto Padre, Manatí and Jesús Menéndez.</div><br /><div>• Camagüey: the capital, Nuevitas, Guáimaro, Najasa, Florida, Sibanicú, Minas and Santa Cruz del Sur.</div><br /><div>• Ciego de Avila: the capital, Venezuela, Baraguá y Majagua.</div><br /><div>• Sancti Spíritus: the capital, Trinidad and La Sierpe.</div><br /><div>• Villa Clara: Manicaragua, Encrucijada, Santo Domingo and Sagua la Grande.</div><br /><div>• Cienfuegos: Cumanayagua and Aguada de Pasajeros.</div><br /><div>• Matanzas: the capital, Unión de Reyes, Calimete, Perico and Jagüey Grande.</div><br /><div>All municipalities in those provinces were affected, with only the worst affected listed above. Losses in the other municipalities will not be ignored.</div><br /><div>With respect to principal effects, major losses were reported in the provinces of La Habana and City of Havana, although proportionally not as much as in the rest of the country.</div><br /><div>Once again, Pinar del Río and the Isle of Youth were lashed by the winds, and this time, much more by water. The aftereffects of the hurricane were slow to disappear.</div><br /><div>• Electric power services were affected throughout almost the entire country, which was left in darkness by the direct effect of the wind and heavy rains and by the measures of protection applied to prevent further damage.</div><br /><div>• Moreover, reconstruction work was complicated in almost every province 24 hours after the storm headed out to sea.</div><br /><div>• Initially, electric power was reestablished with the use of micro-systems via generators, which are being gradually phased out with the activation of the National Electric Power System, except in the provinces of Santiago de Cuba, Granma and part of Guantánamo, where it was possible to connect them to the Renté thermoelectric power plant. Pinar del Río province and the special municipality of the Isle of Youth are still getting power from micro-systems, and will continue to do so until transmission lines are reestablished, which will be done as soon as possible.</div><br /><div>As of September 12, the provinces had electric power in the following percentages: Las Tunas, Camagüey and Holguín: not above 30%, due to the magnitude of breakdowns in their basic distribution networks; Granma and Santiago de Cuba in excess of 99%, and Guantánamo, 94%, although Maisí and Baracoa, the hardest-hit municipalities, were at 53% and 79%, respectively; Ciego de Avila in excess of 92%; La Habana, almost 92%; Matanzas, 90%; Villa Clara, 87.2%; Cienfuegos, 94.7%; and Sancti Spíritus, 84%, all with their provincial capitals, as a rule, at higher percentages. Some of the most backward municipalities also suffered major damage to their grids.</div><br /><div>City of Havana exceeded 98%, although there were specific outages to be resolved (burned-out transformers, branch lines, etc.), concentrated in Boyeros, Habana del Este, Plaza, Cerro and Playa.</div><br /><div>The regions most compromised and complex, Pinar del Río and the Isle of Youth, were at a little over 55% and almost 67%, respectively.</div><br /><div>• Mini- and micro-hydroelectric plants have been seriously affected.</div><br /><div>• Wells for supplying manufactured gas to the capital have continued to operate. Only one Energás turbine is working to maintain vitality, for which some wells are being kept open to provide gas to the system.</div><br /><div>• There are generalized outages in communications due to fallen trees, telephone posts and transmission towers, with some community television stations deactivated.</div><br /><div>• Damage to agriculture is reported as a consequence of Ike in 205 greenhouses, and most of the facilities for semi-protected crops.</div><br /><div>• All coffee-growing areas in eastern Cuba were affected, essentially destroying the harvest in some of the most productive municipalities due to the combined action of rain and wind in areas like Mayarí, Sagua de Tánamo, Maisí and Granma province.</div><br /><div>• In the eastern provinces, 32,305 hectares of plantain were lost, plus more than 10,000 hectares of other crops.</div><br /><div>• At the close of this report, more than 500,000 poultry had been registered as lost, 100,000 of which were slaughtered and sold to the population. Damage to poultry stock was significant in Sancti Spíritus, Matanzas, Las Tunas and Camagüey.</div><br /><div>• In sugar cane, 156,600 hectares were reported as flattened, 518,879 hectares flooded and 3,895 hectares of new cane lost, and approximately 40,000 tons of sugar was reported as requiring reprocessing due to having got wet.</div><br /><div>• There were also notable effects in the Ministry of Sugar varied crop areas, with damage recorded to more than 10,000 hectares of plantain, rice, beans and others, including organic vegetable gardens.</div><br /><div>• Generalized serious effects to roofs and windows of industrial facilities were reported. Production at all factories was halted for different reasons, and many of these remain in that situation.</div><br /><div>• The Ministry of Domestic Trade reported damage to 49,000 tons of storage capacity, with the worst to Holguín’s Warehouse Base, where 12,750 tons of products and 1,111 stores were seriously damaged.</div><br /><div>• Partial or total destruction was reported to 2,642 Ministry of Education facilities, mostly roofs and windows, as well as 186 child care centers, and severe damage was reported to schools in Holguín, Las Tunas and Camagüey.</div><br /><div>• The Ministry of Higher Education reported damage to the universities of Cienfuegos, Sancti Spíritus, Matanzas, Villa Clara, Holguín; the municipal headquarters of Puerto Padre in Las Tunas and the Institute of Agricultural Science in Havana.</div><br /><div>• Damage was reported to 146 cultural institutions and 82 sports facilities, including six sports initiation schools (EIDE); 13 athletics colleges (ESPA) and academies; two faculties of Physical Culture; five provincial baseball stadiums and 32 municipal ones; eight multipurpose auditoriums; 13 community schools and two swimming pool complexes.</div><br /><div>• In health facilities, the greatest damage reported was to the neonatal services of the Enrique Cabrera, Aballí, Gineco-Obstétrico Eusebio Hernández, 10 de Octubre and William Soler hospitals, as well as the Fructuoso Rodríguez Orthopedic Hospital.</div><br /><div>• Roads were affected by fallen trees and flooding. All the bridges on Cayo Coco causeway and its water pipeline were damaged. Access, with much precaution, can be had over La Farola, Guantánamo province; the Las Tunas-Holguín and Holguín-Moa sections are being inspected, and access was blocked on two sections of the National Highway. Thousands of kilometers of roads and streets were damaged throughout the country.</div><br /><div>• Seven ports are closed and there is serious damage to the roofs of port warehouses in Vita, Carúpano and Nuevitas, with damage to pedestrian walkways and signs at the entrances to all ports.</div>John McAuliffhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02738853658043094283noreply@blogger.com0