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“The more you know about a new country before traveling to it, the more you will learn while there.” -- Anon.
Readings on Cuba
Judging from his many sayings, Anon must have been a very wise man. Seriously though, it is in accordance with the above thought that I have prepared a program of background readings on Cuba. They will be e-mailed to members of our delegation during the six weeks prior to our trip. The hope is that they will not only be read but also discussed among the delegation. That way we can begin to get to know one another while also deepening our understanding of the readings. Just hit the reply button and I will send your comments on to the rest of the delegation. You can also get additional information about Cuba from the links listed at the end of the links section of the site.
Click on the title of an article for the online version, or to the right to download it.Chapter 1. HISTORY AND UNDERDEVELOPMENT OF CUBA
1a) "Cuban National Identity" by Cliff DuRand (download)
1b) Juan Antonio Blanco in conversation with Media Benjamin
1c) "Ripe Fruit" by Noam Chomsky
1d) “Experiences and Perspectives of Socialism in Cuba” by Miguel Limia (download)
Chapter 2. RACE
2a) "African-Derived Traditions in Cuba" by Jualynne Dodson (download)
2b) "Race and Revolution", an interview with Assata Shakur
2c) "Cuba Begins to Answer its Race Question" and "Letter from Cuba: Island of Faith; As Havana's Fortunes Fall, Yoruba's Prayers are Rising Up" by Eugene Robinson
2d) “Afro-Cubans in Cuban Society” by Wayne Smith
2e) "Culture for All is Not Utopian" by Mireya Castaneda
Chapter 3. CUBAN HEALTH CARE
3a) "No Child Left Behind" by Martin Schotz and Jane Crosby
“Zero Infant Mortality in Cuban Mountains”
3b) “Development Within Underdevelopment? New Trends in Cuban Medicine” by Ernesto Mario Bravo (download)
3c) "The Immorality of Collective Punishment" by Cheryl Mwari
3d) “Inside Cuba’s Prisons: Health Care and Vocational Training” by Susan Hurlich (download)
3e) “Cuba’s Doctors Without Borders” by Derrick O’Keefe
3f) "Cuban Doctors Have Dramatic Effect"
"World Bank Head Praises Cuba"
"Mission Statement of the Latin American School of Medicine"
3g) “Cuba Challenges America and Europe” by Nisa Islam Muhammad (download)
3h) “African Core to Humanitarian Programs?” by Jualynne Dodson
Chapter 4. AGRICULTURE
4a) “Cuba’s Security in Fresh Produce” by Eliza Barclay
4b) “Radical Reorganization and Cutback of Cuba’s Sugar Industry” by Jonathan Silberman, Martin Koppel and Mary-Alice Waters
4d) "Denial of Food and Medicine" by Genevieve Howe
4e) speech at the World Food Summit by Fidel Castro (download)
Chapter 5. YOUTH
5a) “Cuba Leads Latin America in Primary Education” from New York Times
“Cuba’s Lessons on Caring for Children”
5b) “Young People: Interrupted Dreams” by Marelys Valencia Almeida
5c) “Rap and Revolution” by Margot Olavarria
5d) “Tribute to John Lennon” by Ricardo Alarcon (download)
Chapter 6. WOMAN IN CUBA
6a) speech by Vilma Espin (download)
6b) "La Guinera Social Brigade" by Marc Frank
6c) “Is There a Place for Feminism in the Revolution?” by Carolina Aguilar & Alicia Chenard
6d) “Cuban Strategies for Women’s Employment in the 1990s: A Case Study of Professional Women” by Marta Nunez Sarmiento
Chapter 7. DEMOCRACY AND HUMAN RIGHTS
7a) "Cuba: Reevaluate Democracy from a Third World Perspective" by Olga Fernandez (download)
7b) “Cuban Democracy” by Cliff DuRand (download)
7c) "Cuba's Political System" by Charles McKelvey.
7d) "Cuban Resistance to Hegemony Theories on Multiparty Politics and Pluralism" by Arnold August
7e) speech at U.N. Commission on Human Rights by Felipe Perez Roque (download)
7f) “On the Varela Project” by Debra Evenson (download)
7g) Juan Antonio Blanco continues his conversation with Medea Benjamin
7h) “Dialog on Civil Society”
Chapter 8. U.S.-CUBAN RELATIONS
8a) "Clinton's Vision for 'Democracy' in Cuba" by Ricardo Alarcon (download)
8b) "The Passion for Free Markets" by Noam Chomsky
8c) “Effects of US Embargo Against Cuba” by Remy Herrera
8d) “OFAC Sanctions Comparison” by Cubanalysis
8e) “Bush Call for Regime Change in Cuba Violates OAS Charter” by Wayne Smith and Chloe Schwabe
8f) “Who is a Terrorist?” by Wayne Smith
8g) “Cuba in the Cross-Hairs: A Near Half-Century of Terror” by Noam Chomsky
8h) Cuba's Report to the UN Secretary General on General Assembly Resolution 57/11 (download)
Chapter 9. THE SPECIAL PERIOD
9a) “The Third Worldization of Cuba” and “Running on Empty” by Cliff DuRand (download)
9b) “Cuban Revolution Survives Economic Crisis” by Harry Targ (download)
9c) “Regulating Revolution” by Genevieve Howe
9d) “Economic Stability Over Last Five Years” from Granma
9e) “Remarks on Elian” by Cliff DuRand (download)
Chapter 10. CUBA ON 911
10a) September 11, 2001 Statement by Government of Republic of Cuba (download)
10b) “Everything is Not Lost, Yet” September 19 Statement by Government of Republic of Cuba (download)
10c) September 22 & 29, 2001 speeches by Fidel Castro (download)
10d) “U.N. Measures to Eliminate Terrorism” by Cuba’s Ambassador Bruno Rodriguez Parrilla, October 1, 2001 (download)
10e) October 6, 2001 speech by Fidel Castro (download)
10f) May 10, 2002 speech by Fidel Castro (download)
10g) May 25, 2002 speech to the American People by Fidel Castro (download)
10h) June 1, 2002 reply to President Bush by Fidel Castro (download)
10i) June 8, 2002 further reply by Fidel Castro (download)
10j) "Terrorism and Civil Society" by Philip Agee(download)
Chapter 11. Education.
11a) "Cuba Today: A Nation Becoming a University" by Cliff DuRand (download)
Click on the title of an article for the online version, or to the right to download it.Chapter 1. HISTORY AND UNDERDEVELOPMENT OF CUBA
1a) "Cuban National Identity" by Cliff DuRand (download)
1b) Juan Antonio Blanco in conversation with Media Benjamin
1c) "Ripe Fruit" by Noam Chomsky
1d) “Experiences and Perspectives of Socialism in Cuba” by Miguel Limia (download)
Chapter 2. RACE
2a) "African-Derived Traditions in Cuba" by Jualynne Dodson (download)
2b) "Race and Revolution", an interview with Assata Shakur
2c) "Cuba Begins to Answer its Race Question" and "Letter from Cuba: Island of Faith; As Havana's Fortunes Fall, Yoruba's Prayers are Rising Up" by Eugene Robinson
2d) “Afro-Cubans in Cuban Society” by Wayne Smith
2e) "Culture for All is Not Utopian" by Mireya Castaneda
Chapter 3. CUBAN HEALTH CARE
3a) "No Child Left Behind" by Martin Schotz and Jane Crosby
“Zero Infant Mortality in Cuban Mountains”
3b) “Development Within Underdevelopment? New Trends in Cuban Medicine” by Ernesto Mario Bravo (download)
3c) "The Immorality of Collective Punishment" by Cheryl Mwari
3d) “Inside Cuba’s Prisons: Health Care and Vocational Training” by Susan Hurlich (download)
3e) “Cuba’s Doctors Without Borders” by Derrick O’Keefe
3f) "Cuban Doctors Have Dramatic Effect"
"World Bank Head Praises Cuba"
"Mission Statement of the Latin American School of Medicine"
3g) “Cuba Challenges America and Europe” by Nisa Islam Muhammad (download)
3h) “African Core to Humanitarian Programs?” by Jualynne Dodson
Chapter 4. AGRICULTURE
4a) “Cuba’s Security in Fresh Produce” by Eliza Barclay
4b) “Radical Reorganization and Cutback of Cuba’s Sugar Industry” by Jonathan Silberman, Martin Koppel and Mary-Alice Waters
4d) "Denial of Food and Medicine" by Genevieve Howe
4e) speech at the World Food Summit by Fidel Castro (download)
Chapter 5. YOUTH
5a) “Cuba Leads Latin America in Primary Education” from New York Times
“Cuba’s Lessons on Caring for Children”
5b) “Young People: Interrupted Dreams” by Marelys Valencia Almeida
5c) “Rap and Revolution” by Margot Olavarria
5d) “Tribute to John Lennon” by Ricardo Alarcon (download)
Chapter 6. WOMAN IN CUBA
6a) speech by Vilma Espin (download)
6b) "La Guinera Social Brigade" by Marc Frank
6c) “Is There a Place for Feminism in the Revolution?” by Carolina Aguilar & Alicia Chenard
6d) “Cuban Strategies for Women’s Employment in the 1990s: A Case Study of Professional Women” by Marta Nunez Sarmiento
Chapter 7. DEMOCRACY AND HUMAN RIGHTS
7a) "Cuba: Reevaluate Democracy from a Third World Perspective" by Olga Fernandez (download)
7b) “Cuban Democracy” by Cliff DuRand (download)
7c) "Cuba's Political System" by Charles McKelvey.
7d) "Cuban Resistance to Hegemony Theories on Multiparty Politics and Pluralism" by Arnold August
7e) speech at U.N. Commission on Human Rights by Felipe Perez Roque (download)
7f) “On the Varela Project” by Debra Evenson (download)
7g) Juan Antonio Blanco continues his conversation with Medea Benjamin
7h) “Dialog on Civil Society”
Chapter 8. U.S.-CUBAN RELATIONS
8a) "Clinton's Vision for 'Democracy' in Cuba" by Ricardo Alarcon (download)
8b) "The Passion for Free Markets" by Noam Chomsky
8c) “Effects of US Embargo Against Cuba” by Remy Herrera
8d) “OFAC Sanctions Comparison” by Cubanalysis
8e) “Bush Call for Regime Change in Cuba Violates OAS Charter” by Wayne Smith and Chloe Schwabe
8f) “Who is a Terrorist?” by Wayne Smith
8g) “Cuba in the Cross-Hairs: A Near Half-Century of Terror” by Noam Chomsky
8h) Cuba's Report to the UN Secretary General on General Assembly Resolution 57/11 (download)
Chapter 9. THE SPECIAL PERIOD
9a) “The Third Worldization of Cuba” and “Running on Empty” by Cliff DuRand (download)
9b) “Cuban Revolution Survives Economic Crisis” by Harry Targ (download)
9c) “Regulating Revolution” by Genevieve Howe
9d) “Economic Stability Over Last Five Years” from Granma
9e) “Remarks on Elian” by Cliff DuRand (download)
Chapter 10. CUBA ON 911
10a) September 11, 2001 Statement by Government of Republic of Cuba (download)
10b) “Everything is Not Lost, Yet” September 19 Statement by Government of Republic of Cuba (download)
10c) September 22 & 29, 2001 speeches by Fidel Castro (download)
10d) “U.N. Measures to Eliminate Terrorism” by Cuba’s Ambassador Bruno Rodriguez Parrilla, October 1, 2001 (download)
10e) October 6, 2001 speech by Fidel Castro (download)
10f) May 10, 2002 speech by Fidel Castro (download)
10g) May 25, 2002 speech to the American People by Fidel Castro (download)
10h) June 1, 2002 reply to President Bush by Fidel Castro (download)
10i) June 8, 2002 further reply by Fidel Castro (download)
10j) "Terrorism and Civil Society" by Philip Agee(download)
Chapter 11. Education.
11a) "Cuba Today: A Nation Becoming a University" by Cliff DuRand (download)
