From: "Walter Lippmann" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> ================================= CubaNews Summary - September 4, 2001 ============================================ US, ISRAEL, WITHDRAW FROM DURBAN (sort of) Citing criticism of Israel, Washington, followed by Tel Aviv, withdrew their delegations. Pretoria then began efforts to prevent other withdrawals from the conference by others through emergency meetings and possible changes in the language of draft resolutions. Black delegates from the US and their allies opposed and protested Washington's pullout from the meeting, but to no avail. (Wait, there's a bit more to this than meets the eyes of the New York Times' editors...) Here are key final lines in the New York Times coverage: "the South African government warned that by leaving, the United States might give the impression that it was ducking tough issues, like race relations within its own borders. "It will be unfortunate if a perception were to develop that the U.S.A.'s withdrawal from the conference is merely a red herring demonstrating an unwillingness to confront the real issues posed by racism in the U.S.A. and globally," said the Pretoria government. http://www.nytimes.com/2001/09/04/international/04RACE.html DISPUTED UN DRAFT TEXT AND POWELL STATEMENT: http://www.nytimes.com/2001/09/04/international/04RTEX.html http://www.reuters.com/news_article.jhtml?type=topnews&StoryID=195729 HOWEVER: Amy Goodman, on DEMOCRACY NOW IN EXILE is reporting that the US is leaving a single participant in the conference who will retain delegate status. Israel, unsurprisingly followed suit. The US and Israel plan to send in their proposed amendments by telephone! Talk about having your cake and eating it, too! Now they have the drama of a stage-managed withdrawal, while still being able to maneuver within the formal conference structure itself. You can listen to the uncensored broadcasts of Democracy Now on either of these two sources: www.wbix.org or www.kpfa.org GREAT PHOTO OF FIDEL SPEAKING IN DURBAN: http://news.lycos.com/news/photo.asp?section=SearchResults&photoId=amdf45060 &q=Cuba ============================================== FIDEL VISITS BRAZIL BRIEFLY ON HIS WAY HOME: His surprise visit to Brazil was notable for the many things he worked on while spending just a few hours in town. Read the AP's account http://news.lycos.com/news/forms/printstory.asp?section=World&storyId=236591 &topic=Cuba ============================================== MEXICO'S FOX FORSEES GREAT TRUST WITH U.S. In a signed commentary, Mexican Presidente Fox says he predicts greater cooperation and trust with the US, despite remaining areas of difference. Regarding Cuba he notes: "Greater trust will also allow more productive forms of interaction in our hemisphere. Mexico and the United States can jointly work to broaden and deepen human rights and democracy in the Americas. Although we will not always see eye to eye, our growing partnership will allow us to disagree constructively on regional and global issues like the proper way to engage Cuba at a moment of change." http://www.nytimes.com/2001/09/04/opinion/04FOX.html?searchpv=nytToday ============================================ 52 CUBANS SMUGGLED TO THE US THIS WEEKEND Yesterday we read a report saying there were 22, but now another 30 have been discovered. Lucky for them, due to the Cuban Adjustment, all will get to remain in the US. http://www.chron.com/cs/CDA/story.hts/nation/1033059 ========================================== A NEW WORLD FOR HAITIANS Yes, there's a bit of Horatio Alger in this, but in a beautiful story (page one, column one, top of the fold) the LA Times reports on how well some Haitians have been doing in the Miami area, despite all their many disadvantages. This is a very long but very inspriring story. For readers of this list, the following paragraphs are particularly relevant: Few wanted them here. They were black. They were predominantly poor. They spoke a language of their own, Creole. Many were sick. There was a widespread rumor in South Florida for years that they were endemic tuberculosis carriers, and fears they might have AIDS. If Americans knew anything about their native land, it was probably unfavorable. Haiti was a place of voodoo and zombies. As the number of Haitians landing swelled, U.S. authorities moved to a policy of long-term detention that many American blacks denounced as rank racism. Cubans, meanwhile, were getting a much better deal. For one thing, they were fleeing communism, while the bulk of the Haitians were deemed only to be seeking a higher standard of living. In Miami, a refugee from Cuba could count on the legal and economic benefits secured by a powerful, well-established ethnic community. Haitians usually got nothing. And, unlike the Haitian boat people, many arriving Cubans were educated professionals, valued additions to the South Florida economy, and most were white. Under current immigration rules, most Haitians who try to enter the United States without papers are still returned home. Cubans benefit from a policy known as "wet foot/dry foot," under which they are sent back if intercepted at sea, but allowed to stay if they manage to set foot on American soil. Read the full story here: http://www.latimes.com/templates/misc/printstory.jsp?slug=la%2D000071467sep0 4 =========================================== LAURIE GOERING VISITS FAMOUS CUBAN RESORT The Chicago Tribune's correspondent in Havana goes to a spa near Pinar Del Rio. She gets the full mudbath and a massage. And while she whines about a few things, she walks out happy at he end, writing: "I walk out feeling remarkably relaxed. Amazing what a little wallow in the mud can do." For this she paid $48.00. I's unclear from her text if the $48.00 was for both of them, or just one... It would have cost Goering far more in the US. She could get a full hours massage in Havana for $5.00. I know this because I went to he local gym near where I stayed in Vedado and found this out. I only regret now that during my stay in Cuba, I didn't go there myself. Next time... http://www.chicagotribune.com/templates/misc/printstory.jsp?slug=chi%2D01090 40215sep04 ========================================= NEWLY DISPLAYED ART IN HAVANA MUSEUM Here's a photo of one of the many pieces of art which were formerly owned by the rich which have now been displayed in the new Cuban national arts museum: http://news.lycos.com/news/photo.asp?section=SearchResults&photoId=amdf46066 &q=Cuba ========================================= CUBAN GRAPEFRUITS LEAPS AHEAD OF US And, the US Dept. of Agriculture, in a report issued November 2000, stated that Cuba could become an important supplier of fruits, vegetables and organic foods to the U.S. market if all food trade barriers are eventually removed by Congress http://www.ciponline.org/cuba/newsarchives/november2000/rt111600fruit.htm ======================================== SEYCHELLES PRESIDENT WINS NEW TERM VICTORIA, Seychelles (AP) -- Scores of rival political supporters clashed Monday hours after incumbent President France Albert Rene was declared winner of Seychelles' closest election since independence 25 years ago, police said. ................................ Seychelles was once seen as the Cuba of the Indian Ocean after Rene's socialist-inspired coup in June 1977, a year after independence from Britain. Until recently, state control of the economy has been the norm. (Omitted from the article was the fact that Sechelles' president was participating at the UN anti-racism conference in Durban while this was going on. This suggests he felt comfortable with his security as an office-holder to be away from his small country at a time like this to attend an essentially educational event in South Africa.) FULL DETAILS http://www.nytimes.com/aponline/international/AP-Seychelles-Elections.html?s earchpv=aponline ========================================== FRANCISCO ARUCA DISCUSSES LOCAL POLITICS In a quite different direction from his usual programming, radio commentator Francisco Aruca begins an effort to bring forth better solutions to the continuing social and political problems which exist in Dade County. Listen to the discussion through his website. Be sure to read his summary of the issues he's concerned about at the page: http://www.rprogreso.com/ =========================================== ANNOUNCEMENT OF RENO ANNOUNCEMENT After all the teasers, Janet Reno says she will finally announce her announcement today, according to the Washington Post in a long profile today. Two of the more interesting paragraphs in it are: Her most notable actions came in the first and last years of her tenure. The first was her decision to order an assault on the Branch Davidian compound near Waco, Tex., that led to the fiery deaths of 75 people who had been engaged in a tense standoff with federal authorities. A later investigation concluded that the fire was not caused by the federal agents. The other decision was her insistence that 6-year-old Elian Gonzalez be returned to Cuba with his father over the vehement opposition of the Cuban American community in South Florida. She authorized sending agents to remove the young boy by force from the home of his relatives, who had been fighting to keep him in the United States. http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A36563-2001Sep3.html MIAMI HERALD STORY http://www.miami.com/herald/digdocs/018972.htm ============================================== ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ This summary prepared by Walter Lippmann. Read the essay TWO MONTHS IN CUBA and other reports and commentaries on Cuba: http://www.blythe.org/ _________________________________________________ KOMINFORM P.O. Box 66 00841 Helsinki Phone +358-40-7177941 Fax +358-9-7591081 http://www.kominf.pp.fi General class struggle news: [EMAIL PROTECTED] subscribe mails to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Geopolitical news: [EMAIL PROTECTED] subscribe: [EMAIL PROTECTED] __________________________________________________
