May 1st: A day of revolutionary reaffirmation

Cuban workers and their families will attend this May 1st parade across the different squares of the country, under the slogan "United in the duty”. In this commemoration, people will express their full support to the Cuban Revolution.

The Cuban Workers Federation (CTC) recently issued a call urging the people to participate in the national May 1st celebrations in response to an ongoing anti-Cuba media campaign by the United States and its European allies.

“In the face of this smear campaign, all Cuban workers —who have never yielded and will never accept blackmail— will ratify our support of the Revolution with the same strength of our five compatriots who remain unjustly imprisoned in US jails, and whose freedom we will demand once again,” the text reads.

Like it or not the Empire, the assistance to this call for the homeland is an act of reaffirmation to Socialism, as the Cuban people did last Sunday during municipal elections carried out across the island, in which the majority of government representatives in the communities were elected in the first round.

But the enemies of the Cuban Revolution tries to disguise this undeniable truth, as part of the media war against Cuba, arguing that people attends the call issued by the CTC as mandatory.

Several comments in the media network echo these messages, repeated with the intention of planting the idea that popular support for the Cuban Revolution is fictitious, and that it arises from constraint and threats.

The truth is not object of concern to the enemies of the Cuban Revolution in handling the news. The technique of persuasion is one of the elements used by the U.S. government for 50 years, trying to defeat the resistance of Cuban people, hence the repeated use of lies in their propaganda, with the combination of repeating key words, set phrases and basic arguments, to penetrate the minds of recipients.

The war of thought against Cuba is well orchestrated, and that persuasion is achieved by the principles of psychology and social conductive psychology. It is a well-designed psychological work to influence gradually in the minds of people.

The Humberto Solas Low-Budget Film Festival begins in its usual venue: Gibara

The international low-budget film festival is one of the most popular of the alternative film circuit. Since its first edition in 2003, it gathers filmmakers from around the world committed to defending more humane and aesthetic films made with modest resources.
The coastal town of Gibara is the usual venue for the event that takes place this time from April 19 to 25.
Cuban filmmaker Humberto Solas founded the low-budget Film Festival and choiced Gibara as the principal venue. The town is a hefty 800-kilometre trek from Havana and an hour’s drive along poor roads from both Holguín (which boasts an international airport) and the pristine beaches of Guardalavaca.
Gibara was declared a National Monument in 2004. Despite the remoteness, relocating the Festival is unlikely because of the very close relationship which bas been built through years between the festival and the people of Gibara.
During this year´s festival, several Culture Centres of this city will host forums for debates on current issues related to film production, theatre, painting, dance and literature will also have a space including art exhibitions by renowned Cuban artists, and the Objetivo Fishara photo exhibition.
Around 160 works of diverse formats, genres, countries, and styles will participate in the event. Of these, more than 70 will be in the official section divided into groups of fiction, documentary, animation and video art.
Contenders from Argentina, Chile, Brazil, Colombia, Mexico, Spain, France, Germany and Cuba, will animate this film fest under the guide of a 12-member jury of producers, critics, essayists and writers.
During the preceding seven years, the low-budget Film Festival has established itself as an autonomous cultural and community forum. It has developed a welcomed space for encounter, reflection and has laid the foundation for a network of independent filmmakers and small events with the objective of creating joint projects in the alternative field.

Cuban electoral system: we can speak about democracy

As democracy and human rights in Cuba are included in the list of US actions against the Revolution, the closeness of elections to be held in April 25 in the island, is an intensive anti-Cuban propaganda by the enemy.

Trying to denigrate the Cuban Revolution, they have affirmed that under the dictatorship of the Castro’s brothers, there is not democracy or freedom or elections in Cuba. The US Government has repeated this lie a thousand times, hoping to make it true.

With increasing strength the capitalist world defends its idea of democracy, but their actions are inconsistent with their words, by the existence of mechanisms that restrict most popular participation in government issues, and believed the false image of freedom to choose representatives, only because the centre of representative democracy is competition between contenders for power; a circus armed around to the polls, in which the people have no liability whatsoever to the election.

What really defines the possibility of involvement by the people in government is what happens in Cuba. Our model differs from others, but its primary objective is that each citizen should feel an important part of society, under equal conditions and opportunities.

A Spanish journalist summed up the nature of the Cuban electoral system, and the points that argue why Cubans can speak on democracy.

1. Membership is universal, automatic and free for all citizens eligible to vote, from 16 years of age.

2, The nomination of candidates is made directly by the voters themselves at public assemblies (in the so-called democratic countries are the political parties that nominate the candidates).

3. There are no discriminatory election campaigns, offensive, defamatory, manipulated or millionaire campaigns.

4. Elections are transparent. The ballot boxes are guarded by children and young pioneers, as they are sealed in the presence of the population, and the counting is done publicly, and can engage the national and foreign press, diplomats, tourists and all the people in general.

5. Requirement that all are elected by the majority. The candidate is only elected if he gets over 50% of the valid votes cast. If this result is not achieved in the first round, candidates that received the most votes, will go into the second round.

6. The vote is free, equal and secret. All Cuban citizens have the right to elect and be elected. As no party lists, one votes directly for the candidate you want.

7. All representative bodies of state power are elected and renewable.

8. All those elected must job performance accountability to voters for their actions.

9 All those elected can be recalled at any time during their mandate.

10. The deputies and delegates are not professionals and therefore not paid a salary.

11. Deputies to the National Assembly (Parliament) are elected for a term of 5 years.

12. The integration of the Parliament is representative of the most diverse sectors of Cuban society.

13. One deputy is elected for every 20,000 inhabitants, or fraction greater than 10,000. All municipal territories are represented in the National Assembly, and the core base of the system, the constituency, actively participates in its composition. Each municipality elects at least two deputies, and from that figure, are selected proportionately as many deputies as there are inhabitants. 50% of the deputies must be delegates from the constituencies, who have to live in the territory of the same.

14. The National Assembly elects from its deputies, the State Council and the Chairman. The President of the State Council, is Head of State and Head of Government. This means that the head of the Cuban government has to undergo two elections: first be elected as MP by the people, for the direct and secret vote; and then by the other Members, also by the free, direct and secret vote.

15. As the National Assembly is the Supreme Organ of state power and legislative, executive and judicial functions are subordinated to it, the Head of State and Government can not dissolve it.

16. The legislative initiative belongs to many factors in society, not only deputies, the Supreme Court and the Prosecutor, but also of trade unions, students, women, social and individual citizens, requiring them to exercise in this case legislative initiative at least 10 000 citizens who are eligible voters.

17. The laws are subject to majority vote of the Deputies. The specifics of the Cuban method is that a law does not take the discussion of the Whole until, through repeated consultation with deputies, and taking into account the proposals they have made, is clearly shown that there is majority consent for discussion and approval. The application of this concept acquires greater relevance when it comes to public participation, along with the deputies, in the analysis and discussion of strategic issues. On those occasions the Parliament moves to the workplace, students and peasants coming true direct democracy and participatory.

The main quality of the Cuban political system is its capacity for continuous improvement, depending on the needs presented to perform a full, true and systematic participation of the people in the direction and control of society, the essence of any democracy.

April 4th, a date to celebrate in Holguin

Holguin comes on 4 April to the 465th Anniversary of its founding as Hato, it became later a village and city, known today in Cuba as "the city of the parks" by the high number of these public spaces available for its nearly 300 00 inhabitants, characterized by their kindness and creativity.

Just a few days for the celebrations, Holguin residents are involved in the remodelling and beautification tasks like the restoration of important part of the central area of the city, the rehabilitation and paving of streets, widening of road access and resuscitation of street lighting, among others.

One of the priority actions is the construction of the Plaza Cuatro de Abril, because in addition to joining the celebrations, it will become a cultural-recreational complex for the enjoyment of all people.

It is fair to admit the good done by many people who deal with the renovation works to beautify the surroundings of the old city, because the beauty that surrounds us turns life more pleasant. It is a beautiful song from the heart of colleagues who model the city for enjoyment of all of us.

In Cuba: New Project to Help Children Born with Malformations

Cuba is undertaking a nationwide survey of residents with congenital anorectal malformations in children who can benefit from surgery. The project began in the framework of the Fourth Conference on Paediatric Surgery to be held March 22 to 27 in Havana.

The survey aims to identify possible patients that could benefit from surgery at one of the island’s specialized paediatric surgical hospitals, such as the William Soler Hospital in Havana, and the Octavio de la Concepción de la Pedraja in Holguin.

The results of the survey will be imputed into a national database, coordinated by Dr. Jianeya Manzano Suárez, a specialist in paediatric surgery from the province of Holguin.

Other activities linked to the conference include an international workshop on the treatment of anorectal malformations, surgical demonstrations and live broadcasts via satellite from the Medical and Surgical Research Center of Cuba (CIMEQ) to the conference room at the Havana Convention Center.

The workshop will be given by Dr Alberto Peña, from the United States. Peña is one of the leading authorities on the subject and is the author of several books and articles on anorectal disorders in infants, many that are part of the curriculum in Cuba.

Patients with this type of congenital malformation require several surgeries, often requiring the a temporary colostomy, prior to definitive treatment, which can sometimes be delayed due to the existence of other more severe anomalies or concomitants medical conditions.

Dr Rafael Trinchet Soler, president of the Cuban Society of Paediatric Surgery, said that "the course is designed as a top-level training course and will be attended by delegates from all paediatric surgical services of the country.”

Dr Rafael Trinchet Soler, who is also the president of the Latin American Society of Paediatric Surgery, explained that the meeting will increase the quality of care provided to these patients and, in particular to newborns with these conditions.

Holguin also works to strenghten the health system

Every year the province of Holguin hosts important international and national events on Health like those related to Natural and Traditional Medicine, Hereditary Ataxia and Cardiology, among others.

This week it begins in this city, the National Workshop on Medical Emergencies with the participation of medicine students and specialists from different Cuban universities.

The meeting, organized by the University of Medical Sciences "Mariana Grajales" and the University Student Federation in Holguin, aims to prepare future physicians to deal with possible complications before clinical manifestations with these characteristics.

The event takes place within the framework of the second Territorial Forum of hypertension and related diseases, which allows students to encourage research on this topic.

Representatives of all medical colleges of the island have confirmed their participation in the event, which also includes the presentation of researches on the topic.

The hypertension affects millions of people worldwide, so the need to establish an analysis and behaviour in patients with different pathologies.

The results of research conducted by students, lectures by visiting scholars and exchange among professionals, will provide a higher quality treatment to patients”, Said Dr Medrano Ojeda, one of the.

The Holguin Culture Fiesta

Each January the people of Holguin celebrate the Culture Festival, an important event held in this province to celebrate the 258 anniversary of Holguin being granted the title of City and Seat of Government.

This time the event was held from January 13 to 18, and it was dedicated to the 51 Anniversary of the Cuban Revolution and homaged poet Lalita Curbelo Barberán and Doctor in Medical Sciences, Pura Aviles Cruz. A photo exhibition about Lalita Curbelo´s life and work, as well as lectures and visits to the house where she was born, presently a cultural complex, were some of the activities developed.

The program of activities also included a parade from the house of Lieutenant Governor to the Calixto García Park, the opening gala in front of the Culture Center, the opening of the City Hall, the granting of Music Awards and a tribute to distinguished personalities of the city.

The traditional parade was attended by the authorities of Culture, the Government and the Party. The gala, featuring groups and soloists such as Golden Voices, Ernesto Infante and Martha de la Paz, recalled two prominent figures: the late poet Lalita Curbelo Barberán, who is honored, and Dr. Pura Avilés.

After the cultural event of Thursday afternoon, activities were multiplied: Workshops on History, craftsmanship fairs, panels examining the work of poets, book sales, literary café, exhibitions, theatre plays and music.

During the event, the fourteenth City Hall was opened to fans of the Visual Arts on Saturday in the Provincial Culture Center.

This event of the Arts has provided the necessary space to display the creative work of the growing number of painters, sculptors, engravers and photographers born in this city and that today distinguish our visual knowledge, nationally recognized.