Author: Irina Echarry

Machismo Continues to Kill in Cuba

Leydi Laura Garcia Lugo lived in La Esperanza, she was in the fourth year of her medical career at the University of Medical Sciences of Villa Clara. She was only 24 years old with a whole life ahead of her.

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Is Cuba Part of the Global Women’s Struggles?

Another International Women’s Day is here today. I’ve previously described how these days take place in Cuba, between boredom and ignorance; how a date of struggle has become a vain celebration. Very few women here try to join the true spirit of this day; the vast majority continue to be content with the congratulations of their colleagues and among themselves.

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Ghosts from the Back County at the Havana Book Fair

In the Alejo Carpentier room of the Cabaña Fortress, on February 11, the title “Fantasmas de Monte Adentro” (Ghosts from the Back Country) by Lidia Caridad Hernández, was presented as part of the activities of the 28th edition of the International Book Fair of the Havana.

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Post-Tornado Life in Havana

Alfredo couldn’t believe he’s drunk so little water over these past few days. He normally drinks over two liters per day, but he’s had to get by with just a few glasses. After the tornado of January 27th, everything is in shortage except for misfortune…

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A Tornado within the Family in Regla, Cuba

I tried to secure a window and I saw a strange light. I immediately wanted to know how my brother was so I called his house, but nobody answered. I called his cellphone, he didn’t have any signal. I was overcome by anxiety: the blackout, the howling wind, the announcement of a possible storm, everything I needed to insist on making that call.

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This Is the Company You Were Hoping For

She used to spend her days at a dump. She blended right in with the earth because of her brown skin and people would throw garbage on top of her; she’d run away afraid and then come back. With her long legs and her slim body, she would walk slowly as if her existence in this world weighed her down.

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It’s Going to Be a Tough Year in Cuba

When 2018 drew to an end there wasn’t any rejoicing on our streets, in fact you could pick on people’s agony of having to keep up a tradition at all costs. Cubans have always grumbled about problems, but now they aren’t just complaining, they are also mentioning a solution almost like they used to in the ‘90s…

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Government’s Private Taxi Experiment Backfires, Population Pays the Price

On the government’s nightly TV show Mesa Redonda, (The Round Table) several officials have been “following” the national transport issue. Sitting comfortably in their seats and confident that they speak nothing but the truth, they explain how the new measures that regulate the “experiment” to “structure” private taxi drivers’ work will be implemented.

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The 40th Havana Film Festival Set for Dec. 6-16

The 40th edition of Havana’s International Festival of New Latin American Cinema is on our heels. The Cuban capital will fill with movie debuts, retrospectives, exhibitions and tributes for ten intense days, from December 6th-16th. A lot of people in the capital take their vacations each year at this time.

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Zoosadism in Cuba and No Law to Punish it

As you’ve probably heard, a zoosadism case has gone viral on social media. I found out from a post published in the Cuba against Animal Abuse group, which was created to report degrading acts that humans carry out on animals. I recommend you sign up to this group to keep up-to-date with what is going on in our country in this respect.

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