Weekly Cuba News Roundup: October 15th, 2021
The Guardian’s story title “Cuba denies opposition permission for march in Havana after July protests” is aptly, and ironically followed below by a Miami Herald story, “Cuban activists say pro-democracy march will go ahead despite government’s disapproval.” Go figure. Is this not the biggest game of chicken ever? It would be funny if people’s lives weren’t on the line. Hence, not funny at all. So now, as we get closer to November 15th (the new protest date), we wait and see… What’s going to happen?
In other news, Cuba’s vaccine is now being given to children as low as two years old. Artist and activist Tania Bruguera is going to leave Cuba but she wants prisoners released in return – and she’s negotiating for it. Florida Republicans want to sanction non-Cubans who work with the Cuban government (eh, Marco Rubio, for the record, we don’t so hands off). And, NPR documents Omar Vivó, a 45-year-old Cuban migrant’s 3,000 mile journey on foot to the United States.
By the way, none of the opinions in any of the stories shared on this page represent ours; we’re just sharing them with you. If you are a journalist or you have seen a story that you’d like us to consider for future weekly news roundups, please send us a note and a link to the story here. (Hero image: David Rotbard)
The Guardian: Cuba denies opposition permission for march in Havana after July protests
Cuba has denied government opponents permission to stage what they said would be a peaceful march for civil liberties in the capital Havana and a few other provinces on grounds it was part of efforts to overthrow the government, according to a letter handed to organizers. Read more at theguardian.com.
Miami Herald: Cuban activists say pro-democracy march will go ahead despite government’s disapproval
Cuban local authorities denied a request Tuesday for an islandwide anti-government demonstration planned for Nov. 15 by a broad coalition of young Cubans, artists and dissidents, arguing it was a provocation backed up by the U.S. government aimed at destabilizing the country. The organizers said they intend to march regardless, according to a statement published in Facebook in the afternoon. Read more at miamiherald.com.
Newsweek: As U.S. Considers First COVID-19 Vaccine for Kids as Young as 5, Cuba Offers it to 2-Year-Olds
As public health debates continue to rage across the United States, at least one COVID-19 vaccine maker has submitted a request to authorize the jab for children, a development that sparked further discussions on safety and efficacy. Read more at newsweek.com.
Four Rum Brands Vying to Become the Spirit of Cuba
Havana Club is Cuba’s top selling and most popular rum but three other brands are also competing for the island’s #1 spot.
Miami Herald: Florida Republicans want Biden to sanction non-Cubans who do business with the regime
A group of Republicans in Congress wants to give the president widespread authority to sanction non-Cubans who do business with the country’s defense, security and intelligence sectors, the latest policy response from Washington after widespread pro-democracy protests in Cuba in July. Read more at miamiherald.com.
ART News: Tania Bruguera Agrees to Leave Cuba in Exchange for Release of Prisoners
Tania Bruguera, whose art and activism has been an ongoing subject of controversy in Cuba, has offered to leave the country for the United States in exchange for the release of imprisoned activists, Hyperallergic reported. Read more at artnews.com.
Here’s How You Can Support Art Brut Cuba: Cuba’s Outsider Artists
Samuel Riera’s Art Brut Cuba opens channels for Outsider Artists to sell their art when they otherwise couldn’t earn a living from their work.
NPR: He left Cuba for the U.S., and wound up trekking through 60 miles of dangerous jungle
Photo: Carlos Villalón for NPR
Following a muddy trail through the rainforest of northern Colombia, Omar Vivó was trying to reach the United States, one step at a time. But getting across the Darién Gap, the name for the vast, roadless jungle separating Colombia from Panama, was proving to be a hard slog. Vivó, a 45-year-old Cuban migrant, stopped frequently to rest and smoke cigarettes and dump the river water out of his rubber boots. Read more at NPR.org
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El Equipo
Hola todo el mundo. Sometimes our stories are sourced from multiple people on our team. Or, we like to keep you guessing... You know... anonymous. And, for that, soy el escritora; "El Equipo." We exist to amplify the voices of writers, photographers, and content creators in the space between the United States and Cuba, and we also feature stories from Puerto Rico, Latin America, and the Latinx community in the US. Topics of interest are personality-driven and include pop culture and music, featured current events, climate and the environment, and travel and tastemakers. Oh, and of course we're always 100% independent. No governments, businesses or other influencing factors play a role in our work.
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