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Cuba Hurricane Gustav - update from Susan - our woman in Havana |
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Written by Sharon Skup
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Sunday, 14 September 2008 17:09 |
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Subject: hi there...Hurricane Gustav 2nd email ( 1st email follows below with background info)
Date: Sun, 31 Aug 2008 23:28:55 -0700Hi there. I'm tired today because of everything I've had to do, cleaning up the front of the house, the roof, putting the plants back, repotting some plants, talking with neighbours, etc.Electricity came back this morning and gas a bit later. Other parts of the street were without electricity until late afternoon. The Isla de la Juventud and central Pinar del Rio were hit terribly hard. The worst damages in 50 years. Gusts up to 340 kph. That's not a typographical mistake - 340 kph! Recorded. But no loss of life. None. And electricity brigades from other provinces already arriving in the affected areas by early morning today, with repairs already underway, plus public health making sure that no illnesses or epidemics result from stagnant water, etc. And people already working together cleaning up, rebuilding temporary shelters out of fallen timbers and blocks, optimistic. You should hear the interviews with simple local people. The confidence they have that they'll get the necessary assistance from the state to rebuild and start again.At the same time, many Cubans already talking about their concern about what will happen - again - if and more likely when Gustav hits New Orleans. People must be terrified there. Tomorrow I'll try to send you a little update on the extent of damages. Just in the central part of Pinar some 86,000 homes affected and/or destroyed. The Isla completely without electricity and many areas incomunicado. The only communciation via ham radio and some cell phones. The images from planes, which we're already seeing on TV, is horrendous!But not one life lost. Although there were some injuries, some 19 people injured in various locations from falling roofs or busted in doors and windows. But no one critical.Couldn't write earlier as the email link was problematic... G'night.Susan
Subject: update on Hurricane Gustav
Date: Fri, 29 Aug 2008 22:50:40 -0700Hi there. Some of you have been following the development of what is now, once again, Hurricane Gustav, and writing me constantly with your concerns and support, and others of you, well, have been more silent although I know you're still thinking of me. Thought you'd like an update of what's happening in the Caribbean waters south of Cuba. For those of you who haven't been following Gustav in any detail, and if you want more details, go to the website of either the National Hurricane Center (US) or the Instituto de Meteorologia (INSMET - Cuba). Just typing in the name should be enough to get you to their site... Anyway, after battering Haiti and Jamaica, and now the Cayman Islands, and turning from a category 1 hurricane to a tropical storm as it went over the mountains of Haiti and Jamaica, it's now turned back into a solid category 1 hurricane as it moves over the Caribbean. And it looks like it'll hit Pinar del Rio and Isla de la Juventud at the least, and, if it turns just a tiny bit more towards the northwest, it could be a direct hit on Havana or Matanza. As of 8 this evening, it was 145 km east of the Grand Caymans and 370 km southeast of the Isla of Youth, with sustained winds of 130 kph and moring northwest at 11 kph. The central pressure is slowly but steadily dropping and was 975 a couple of hours ago. And it's growing. Just so you'll know how big it is, at noon today, when it was still a high-level tropical storm, the diametre of wins with a force between 64-117 kph was some 450 km from one side to the other. That's huge! And it's anticipated that it'll get larger as it continues to grow, likely into a category 2 hurricane and possibly into category 3 before it actually hits Cuban land. You see, the Caribbean Ocean is really warm - between 32-24 degrees celsius - just what hurricanes like to be able to grow bigger and stronger. Pinar del Rio and Isla de la Juventud have already been put into the phase of Hurricane Alarm, usually reserved for when a hurricane is right on top of you. Provincia Habana, the city of Havana and Matanzas, as well as the southern coast of Cuba in the western and central parts of the country, are all on Hurricane Alert. At the very least, we're going to be getting very strong and sustained rains, likely beginning tomorrow at some time. Even if Gustav passes only over the more western part of Pinar del Rio, the "rain wheel" (what I call it" of Gustav will cover the entire western and central part of the country. So, what have people been doing? And what have I been doing? Besides all the usual things that Cuban Civil Defense does, which most of you know pretty well: evacuations of people in zones with the greatest danger of inundations, securing transport (interprovincial trains and buses were are now cancelled until further notice; planes too), evacuation centres, food, medical assistance, etc. Ensuring emergency energy supplies, special attention to water and gas supplies, protecting crops and seeds and green houses and irrigation systems, moving livestock to higher grounds, distributing food products to the population, taking down solar energy systems from mountain areas and putting them into safe storage, and lots of other things. Cuba is good at this and does it in good time; nothing at the last moment. But then there are the things that people do on their own: cleaning out external drains, making sure there's nothing on roofs that could become deadly projectiles in strong winds, etc. I did all of this some days ago. For the past several days, people have also been stocking up on food supplies, especially things that don't require a lot of preparation. Also candles. I also made sure to have a good supply of things that my cats like to eat. I anticipate that by tomorrow afternoon, if Gustav continues on his present course and the atmospheric pressure starts to change in this area, that Mariposa will do her usual pre-hurricane thing of sitting out on the front veranda, clearly nervous, and looking up at the sky until the rains start. At which time she makes a beeline for inside the house. As you know, many animals - cats, dogs, horses, pigs, birds, etc. - are very sensitive to changes in atmospheric pressure. There's no doubt but that Mariposa notices this and that it makes her nervous and worried. It'll be interesting to see if Luisito does the same, as I've never been with him in a hurricane. But earlier this week, when there was a specially heavy rainstorm, he was very nervous and only wanted to sit on my lap, following me around the house crying when I had to get up. So, if Gustav continues on the trajectory that he's indicating now, tomorrow morning I'll fill up my 60-litre plastic drum with clean water, which I'll then use for drinking and cooking for the next ten days, which is about how long it takes for the regular piped-in water to completely clean out. But between the cistern in the garage entrance and the tank on top of the house, there's not much problem with water supply. I'll also move the potted plants off the veranda walls and put them into the corners, which gives them very good protection from the winds. I may bring the smaller potted plants into the house. And I may give a support cord to the noni. Oh yes, I'll also prepare the kitty's hurricane cat box, which consists of a large round plastic washbasin. Works perfectly for the 24-36 hours that it'll be needed.Plus I'll get the candles ready, as when winds reach 60 kph sustained the electricity and gas are cut off as a preventive measure. And I'll get my little Sony radio and batteries ready as well as the flashlight.And voila! I'm set. And so are the cats. I've also received calls from neighbours (Nora and Juan Carlos, who some of you know) saying that if I need any help tomorrow, to let them know, since I'm on my own at the moment in the house.Anyway, I'm sending you all these details so you'll know I'm ok. Of course, it could be that Gustav does something weird like hurricanes can often do, and turns around and goes back to where it came from, or some such thing. Tropical storms and hurricanes are strange weather systems. They can make figure eights and 90 degree turns and go backwards. After all, Fay went in and out of Florida four times as she made her way up the western coast of the peninsula, the first time in Florida's history that such a thing has happened.So we're dealing with unpredictable weather systems when we're dealing with hurricanes.But Cuba is good at this stuff. Puts saving lives first and puts all its resources to this task. The next thing is protecting the economy. Meanwhile I'm reading a wonderful novel called Art & Lies by British writer Jeanette Winterson. Her prose is poetry.And two days ago I bought my favourite flower, coincidentally called Mariposa, that gives off that exquisite aroma that fills the entire house. I got THREE bunches!And yesterday I got some DELICIOUS strawberry-flavoured Cuban-made yoghurt. And at a decent price. I also bought two yummy avocados from some of my neighbours whose family member, visiting from Ciego de Avila, brought them to sell in Havana. Each one cost 7 pesos. Big avocados. Fresh. Beautiful yellow-green colour inside. Sweet. 7 pesos. That's just under 25 cents.And today I got some wheat bread. And honey even.And yesterday I finished translating, for Cubanow, a very interesting (but long) outline of a new film that's going to be made in Cuba. Called Water. That's right. The "Spanish" title is Water. Set in Jamaica. About attempts of some of the local corrupt, in cahoots with foreign (yes, US) interests, to privatize water and the people's struggles to stop this. Good storyline. Interesting characters. I'll let you know when the movie comes out. I don't think this particular translation was for the digital website as it came from the presidencia (head honchos) of the Ministry of Culture.Sometimes we translate books, such as the correspondence between Fidel and Che back in the 50's when the struggle was just starting in the Sierra Maestra. Interesting stuff, this.Wow!So I'm ready, whether or not Gustav shows his face. Love, Susan |
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Last Updated on Sunday, 14 September 2008 18:53 |
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Cuba Hurricane news- Cubanow-good source of news |
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Written by Sharon Skup
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Sunday, 14 September 2008 16:54 |
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Post-Hurricane Ike – Cubanow - a good source of news 12 Sep/08 email from Susana Hurlich – our “woman” in Havana Hola - As some of you know, since early this year I've been working as a Spanish-to-English translator for Cubanow, a Cuban arts and culture news site (under the Ministry of Culture) aimed at English-speaking readers. It features cultural events, new works of art and related important figures, as well as new thoughts in the world of art and culture. The website also covers important international political and social events. The website is www.cubanow.net and it's a free service. As of now (very likely tomorrow, says General Editor Jorge Garrido), it will be providing a Special Daily Service on the impact of the hurricanes in Cuba: what has happened, what are the real ravages caused by Gustav and Ike, how the country is recovering, the international assistance that is arriving, etc. It'll be a summary of the main information published in Cuba about the damages caused by Gustav and Ike and will include up-to-the-minute news about recuperation efforts and international aid offered by nations and organizations. Susana Hurlich |
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Operation Miracle Benefits More than One Million People |
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Written by Sharon Skup
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Tuesday, 08 July 2008 23:10 |
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HAVANA, Cuba, July 8 (acn) Almost 1.2 million people from 32 Latin American and Caribbean countries, including 152,000 Cubans, have benefited from the Operation Miracle free eye surgery program, implemented by Cuba four years ago. The announcement was made on Monday by Dr. Elia Rosa Lemus, an official of the Cuban Council of State, speaking at the Health and Sports Commission of the Cuban Parliament. Lemus noted that this humanitarian project, which is part of the Bolivarian Alternative for the Americas (ALBA), aims at treating – free of charge – people affected by blindness or correctable diminished sight. According to Dr. Lemus, the program has 51 ophthalmological centers and 84 surgical positions in more than 30 countries. In 2008 alone, she added, the program has benefited more than 48,000 Cubans. In addition, Lemus stressed, Cuba has a school of ophthalmology in which almost 1,000 youths are currently studying, which will contribute to increase these ophthalmological services to other peoples in need. The 12 permanent working commissions of the Cuban National Assembly (Parliament), constituted with a provisional nature last May, are in session on Monday and Tuesday at Havana’s Convention Center. Each commission discusses specific topics related to the social and economic life of the country. Más de un millón de personas beneficiadas con Misión MilagroCuban News Agencywww.cubanews.ain.cu
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Canadian MPs Sign Support for Cuban Five |
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Written by Sharon Skup
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Tuesday, 08 July 2008 23:08 |
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Canadian Network on Cuba StatementJointly with La Table de Concertation de Solidarité Québec-CubaJuly 7,2008 On the initiative of Francine Lalonde, Bloc Québécois MP for La Pointe-de-l’Île and Foreign Affairs critic, 56 Members of Parliament signed a letter demanding justice for the Five Cubans imprisoned in the United States and for their families. In a good collaborative gesture with the Bloc Québécois, Libby Davies, MP for Vancouver East, organized the letter signing within the New Democratic Party. The letter explaining the case of the Five was signed by 40 Bloc Québécois and 16 New Democratic Party MPs. During the week of June 23-27, 2008 the letter was forwarded to the Honourable David Emerson, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Canada with copy to Mr. Michael Mukasey, Attorney General of the United States, and Mr. David Wilkins, Ambassador of the United States to Canada. The letter indicates that Fernando González Llort, René González Sehwerert, Antonio GuerreroRodríguez, Gerardo Hernández Nordelo and Ramón Labañino Salazar, known internationally as the “Five” and imprisoned in the United States for more than 9 years, have undergone an unfair trial and conditions of detention which contravene the Constitution of the United States and international law. The letter signed by 56 MPs hinges, inter alia, on Amnesty International, on the United Nations Working Group on arbitrary detentions, which stems from the United Nations Commission on Human Rights, and also on a group of 110 British members of Parliament who denounced the conditions of the trial and the imprisonment. The letter also mentions that these five people are held in five separate maximum security prisons and are kept for long periods in isolation cells; two of them have been denied their right to family visits. It also states that, since the Atlanta Court of Appeal declared that the verdicts against the Cuban Five were invalid, nothing justifies their imprisonment any longer or the arbitrary situation that is extremely painful for the Cuban Five and their families. In 1998 the Cuban government had given to the American authorities a thick report which showed that terrorist acts were being plotted on American soil by anti-Cuba groups living primarily in Miami. The information was gathered largely from data collected by the Cuban Five who had infiltrated these groups; but rather than acting on this information, it was the Cuban Five who were arrested on September 12, 1998. Other members of Parliament in the world have denounced the injustice made against the Five and theirfamilies, such as Karel De Gucht, Belgian Minister of Foreign Affairs, who made a statement last June30th. In Québec, in addition to many ordinary citizens, well-known personalities such as ClaudetteCarbonneau, president of the CSN, Elsie Lefebvre, Bloc Québécois Party former MP as well as 93 personalities gave their support to the Five. In Canada, Ms. Libby Davies, NDP MP for Vancouver East, gathered signatures of other MPs from her party. The support of the NDP MPs for the Five is added to that of the Labour Congress of Canada and the Canadian Federation of Students, among others.In October 2007 Ms. Francine Lalonde met in her office of Pointe-aux-Trembles, with Ms. ElizabethPalmeiro, wife of Ramón Labañino, one of the Five. Canadian Network on Cuba Working in friendship and solidarity with
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. www.canadiannetworkoncuba.ca The Canadian Network on Cuba was founded on September 2, 2002 by representatives of Canada-Cuba solidarity organizations, trade unions, NGOs, and political parties. The Canadian Network on Cuba and the Table de concertation de solidarité Québec-Cuba support fully the Bloc Québécois and the New Democratic Party in this joint call for justice and add our voices to those of our MPs. We will continue in our joint efforts to bring justice for the Five by making their case known to the public of Québec and Canada and also in collaboration with other justice seeking organizations in the United States and elsewhere in the world. We demand justice for the Five and their families! Contact:Nino Pagliccia 604-831-9821;
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Last Updated on Tuesday, 08 July 2008 23:21 |
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Canada & US Break US Blockade of Cuba |
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Written by Sharon Skup
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Tuesday, 08 July 2008 23:03 |
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Canadian and US Humanitarian Aid Arrives in Cuba – Breaking US blockade against Cuba The Friendshipment Caravan arrived in Cuba this July weekend with 100 tons of humanitarian aid after overcoming some impediments at the US-Mexico border where US customs agents seized 35 computers from them. These computers were destined for classrooms, clinic and hospitals in Cuba. These are 31 classrooms, clinics and hospitals that now will not have the opportunity to have computers." Smith vowed to "maintain a demonstration until we get the computers back" The U.S. government has forced the issue by turning back on previous actions and nderstandings" said Rev. Lucius Walker, Executive Director of IFCO/Pastors for Peace. "They have intentionally provoked and harassed us, he continued. "We will not be intimidated. We have made every effort to be cooperative and they have responded with aggression. These computers are the same type as the hundreds we have taken in the past", said Rev. Walker. Members of the Pastors for Peace caravan quickly launched an emergency outreach campaign to their elected representatives, local community networks, and local media.They demonstrated in the Customs compound, chanting" Si se puede" and "Cuba si, bloqueo no."
The Caravan brought a humanitarian donation of computers, vehicles, medical equipment, and educational, artistic and sports equipment.
The members of Pastors for Peace, which is a project of the US’s Inter-religious Foundation for the Community Organization, with numerous other non religious organizations from Canada and the US collected the aid during a tour of 12 cities in Canada and 125 in the United States.
The caravanistas are challenging an inhumane US law by delivering aid and traveling to Cuba without a license. They range in age from 8 to 86, and include Irish, British, German, and Canadian citizens as well as US citizens. Seven members of the caravan are Cuban-Americans. The Caravan also includes a contingent of hip hop and spoken word artists who will be meeting up with their fellow artists in Cuba. Although they come from a broad variety of ages and backgrounds, the caravanistas are united in their determination to bring an end to the immoral and unjust blockade against Cuba. Explaining why they are participating in this year's Friendshipment Caravan, caravanistas said: "A person does not need an ancestral connection with Cuba in order to believe that what America has done and continues to do is not only immoral but also denies us [US citizens] our right to travel as Americans." "It is our obligation as citizens to be informed about what is happening 90 miles off our shores; I am addressing this by witnessing it with my own eyes." Pastors for Peace is a project of the Interreligious Foundation for Community Organization (IFCO), an ecumenical agency with a 40-year history of work for social justice.
Rev. Walker added that during this tour they explained the case of the Cuban Five – as they are internationally known – who were arrested in 1998 for infiltrating anti-Cuba right-wing groups in South Florida that were organizing and carrying out terrorist actions against the Caribbean nation.
On Monday, the solidarity group will participate in a workshop on the Cuban economic development and its electoral system. Later, they will pay tribute to Rev. Martin Luther King and will also attend a rally in solidarity with Cuba at the Jose Marti National Library in the Cuban capital.More information and photo images of the caravan are available at www.pastorsforpeace.org.For more info about the Cuban Five:
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Website in USA: http://www.freethefive.org |
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Cuba Hurricance Gustav/Hanna/Ike news |
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Written by Administrator
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Monday, 02 June 2008 08:40 |
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12 Sep/08 email from Susana Hurlich – our “woman” in Havana Post-Hurricane Ike – Cubanow - a good source of news Hola - As some of you know, since early this year I've been working as a Spanish-to-English translator for Cubanow, a Cuban arts and culture news site (under the Ministry of Culture) aimed at English-speaking readers. It features cultural events, new works of art and related important figures, as well as new thoughts in the world of art and culture. The website also covers important international political and social events. The website is www.cubanow.netand it's a free service. As of now (very likely tomorrow, says General Editor Jorge Garrido), it will be providing a Special Daily Service on the impact of the hurricanes in Cuba: what has happened, what are the real ravages caused by Gustav and Ike, how the country is recovering, the international assistance that is arriving, etc. It'll be a summary of the main information published in Cuba about the damages caused by Gustav and Ike and will include up-to-the-minute news about recuperation efforts and international aid offered by nations and organizations. Susana Hurlich |
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Last Updated on Sunday, 14 September 2008 17:01 |
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