Diaries

In Caracas, Even Squirrels Are to Be Feared

The Facebook account I opened when I arrived in Caracas lists around 200 people under the category of Friends. Truth is, I’d be surprised if I actually knew more than 5 of them personally. Since things have been extremely tense this week, I posted a photo I thought would help people relax a bit.

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Dietary Fraud & My Mom’s Ration Book

My mother has long suffered from high blood pressure, diabetes and glaucoma. Three years ago, she underwent surgery for a neoplasia of the colon. Thus, the physician had assigned her an official diet consisting of chicken, viands and milk, a dietary allotment which must be renewed every year as of the date the diet is prescribed.

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I Hate You

Before anything else, I would like to offer my apologies to all U.S. citizens, particularly to those who are against war and terrorism. This post is in no way aimed at them. It is, rather, aimed at their government.

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Brawling on Cuban Buses

The intense heat of summer has only just insinuated itself and buses are already crammed to the bursting point with people bound for the beach. The difference now is that, thanks to the purchase of a great many new vehicles, people wanting to go for a refreshing dip have many more transportation options at hand.

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A Green Home for Cuba

The “Proposals for Our Immediate Future” published by the CASA-CUBA Laboratory (Laboratorio CASA-CUBA,) have furnished us with a magnificent tool for collective action.

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A Problem Not Restricted to the Amazon

It looks as though one does not need the violence of capitalism or a neo-liberal government to deliver the nation’s resources to private interests, through the mediation of a mob of bureaucrats. Apparently, it does not matter if the quality of a whole city’s drinking water is what’s at stake.

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The Pleasure of Watching a National Assembly Session

Today, Venezuela is a politically effervescent country, divided into two, well-defined camps: those who support Maduro’s presidency because they are followers of Chávez’ ideas, and those who support Capriles because they are detractors of Chávez’ national project.

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Like Crossing Niagara Falls on a Bicycle

The new laws recently passed in Cuba met with considerable enthusiasm. Article 81 of the Housing Law affords individuals the right to transfer ownership of their properties to blood relatives who may be separated from them by up to four degrees, regardless of whether these individuals have left the country legally or not.

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