Second chance for Africa’s Buena Vista Social Club
Second chance for Africa's Buena Vista Social ClubBy James FletcherBBC News
It might be one of the greatest musical missed opportunities.
In 1996, Malian musicians Djelimady Tounkara and Bassekou Kouyate were due to travel to Cuba to record an album with local players. But visa problems meant they could not go, so the session in Havana went ahead without them.
The result was the Buena Vista Social Club, which became one of the biggest-selling world music albums ever.
The album and documentary of the same name made stars of musicians like Compay Segundo, Ruben Gonzalez and Omara Portuondo.
Fourteen years later, the two men from Mali, one of Africa's musical powerhouses, have carved out their own successful careers.
But there is a twinge of regret when Tounkara remembers how he felt watching the Buena Vista Social Club take off.
"First of all, I'm a Muslim – it didn't work out and that was because of God," he told the BBC World Service.
"I was a bit jealous because I should have been there, because they sold a lot of albums and made money. Well, I don't know if I was jealous, but I regretted it a lot."
'Music poured out'
Now he has got a second chance.
Producer Nick Gold was the man behind the original sessions, and although the success of the Buena Vista Social Club kept him busy for many years, he held on to his idea of a collaboration between Malian and Cuban players.
Early in 2010, he was finally able to get the musicians together in a studio in Madrid.
From Mali there was Tounkara, who plays guitar, and Kouyate, who plays a type of West African lute called an ngoni.
The key Cuban player was guitarist Eliades Ochoa, who brought with him a band of Cuban musicians.
"As soon as they started playing, it just gelled, and it flowed and flowed," says Gold.
"We were only recording for a week, but this music just poured out, and it was just incredible."
"They managed to fuse this Cuban music with a lighter edge. It's played in this beautifully soft way that welcomes you in."
Shared history
Mali and Cuba may seem worlds apart, and the collaboration may not seem obvious at first sight. But the two countries' musical paths are intertwined.
When newly independent Mali became a socialist state in the 1960s, Cuban music was actively promoted in Mali.
"We were very good friends with Fidel Castro," says Tounkara.
"Cuban music was on LP records, you took your guitar and you learned it. There are bits where you feel that it's come from Africa, it's almost the same rhythms."
In fact, you can hear the Cuban influence in much African music – from Congo to Senegal.
While the Malian musicians were well schooled in Cuban sounds, Cuban guitar player Eliades Ochoa admits his knowledge of Malian music is a little shakier.
"I can't tell whether the music is from Mali or from some other part of Africa, but I love African music," he says.
"In any African music we feel something, there is an atmosphere which makes us think about Cuban music."
Another Buena Vista?
"A lot of the Cuban songs are humorous double entendre songs, which was slightly lost on the Malians"Nick Gold, Producer of AfroCubism
One stumbling block in the studio was language. The Malians speak French and English, the Cubans Spanish.
Another player on the album was Toumani Diabate, the virtuoso master of the kora, a West African harp. He explains how they found common ground.
"The note F on the guitar is the same F on the kora, same on the ngoni, same on the balafon [xylophone]," he says.
"And it's the same in London, same in Bamako, same in Cuba. So the music has created its own language, it doesn't have any borders."
The lyrical gap was harder to bridge.
"A lot of the Cuban songs are humorous double entendre songs, which was slightly lost on the Malians," says Gold.
"And the Malian songs are all much deeper songs about fate and going very in-depth into their legends, so there were raised eyebrows at each others' songs."
The sessions have now been released as an album under the name AfroCubism, and a world tour is underway.
So can they hope to replicate the success of Buena Vista Social Club?
That was the result of a perfect storm: The story of the veteran musicians caught the world's attention, aided by the documentary film by Wim Wenders.
The album was also released when music downloading was in its infancy, and CD sales were at their peak.
But Tounkara is undeterred.
Talking about whether the original success can be repeated, there is a twinkle in his eye and he laughs a long, warm laugh.
"This project is really good, and I want this one to sell more than the first one."
http://www.bbc.co.uk/caribbean/news/story/2010/11/101130_buena_vista.shtml
Amid doubts, Cubans pursue private sector dreams
Amid doubts, Cubans pursue private sector dreamsReutersBy Jeff Franks Jeff Franks
HAVANA (Reuters) – For some, it is the pursuit of a dream, for most, a necessity. Whatever the motive, a steady stream of Cubans are taking the government up on its offer to let them work for themselves instead of the state.
At municipal labor offices around the country, Cubans are filing in with plans that include everything from opening small restaurants to renting out rooms as they seek one of 250,000 self-employment licenses to be issued in Cuba's biggest reform in years.
About 30,000 of the permits have been handed out, state-run press reported, and another 16,000 are pending in the first few weeks of President Raul Castro's plan to improve the Communist-led island's economy by expanding the private sector and cutting government's role.
The licenses are key to Castro's gamble that he can slash 1 million jobs from state payrolls, absorb the unemployed through private businesses and keep Cuba on the socialist straight-and-narrow for years to come.
The government, which controls most of the economy and employs 85 percent of Cuba's workforce, has outlined 178 jobs or sectors where self-employment will be permitted. It will retain a heavy dose of control through regulations and stiff taxes of 25 percent to 50 percent of net income.
The reform is criticized by some experts as being too limited, but others view it as a reasonable first step toward greater change in one of the world's last Communist countries.
Clutching a raft of government forms, license applicants wait in line for an opportunity they say is welcome and, despite worries about their chances for success, worth a try.
"I have always wanted to have my own business," said Ismael Hidalgo, who plans to leave his construction job and do what he always wanted to do – raise animals for sale.
"I think the measures they are taking are very good. Let each one live from what they are capable of doing. Let them live from their own sweat," he said, standing outside a dimly lit government office in Central Havana.
Maria Caridad Sulton, who will open a small cafeteria, said: "I hope that everything goes better. I think that workers will be able to see the fruit of their labor and a little more."
SMALL EXPECTATIONS
Like most of the applicants interviewed, Caridad said she does not expect to make a lot of money, only enough to supplement a meager pension.
Cubans receive various social benefits, but they earn an average salary equivalent to about $20 a month and insist that they need more to live.
"Necessity, necessity and more necessity. If I didn't have the necessity, I wouldn't do this," said Caridad's husband, Pedro Sarracent Belon, a retired weight lifting coach. "This is a plan for surviving."
He and others share a concern that taxes and regulation may be too big a burden for the new entrepreneurs, particularly in a country where taxes have been almost nonexistent under the Communist government installed after the 1959 revolution.
"I was born in this revolutionary process and I don't know what taxes are," said Sarracent, 56. "I'm doing this test, but I think there are going to be a lot of failures."
Yudenia Artiles, who plans to sells snacks in the street, was equally skeptical because of taxes, but also because she believes Cuba's economic problems will get worse with the planned government layoffs.
"There's no money," she said. "Now the war is going to be in the street, a lot of competition between vendors in the street, and you're going to always see problems."
According to government figures, 20 percent of the licenses granted so far have gone to people who want to sell food.
Like many other Cubans, Artiles has been plying her trade illegally to make ends meet, so a license will allow her to do it without threat of arrest or worse.
She pulled back her shirt sleeve to show a bruised shoulder that she blamed on a whack from a baton-wielding cop.
"The police mistreat you a lot. I have a 'bastonazo' from a policeman for illegally selling sweets," she said.
There are other worries as well.
Many people fear that the government will open the door to private enterprise, then close it as it did during the economic crisis of the 1990s.
While that experience has discouraged some would-be entrepreneurs, it helped Emilio Perez decide to seize the moment and seek a license to rent out a room in his house and to sell food.
"You have to grab this chance. It's now or never," he said. "This is Cuba, what will happen tomorrow, I don't know, but he who doesn't take the risk neither wins nor loses."
(Additional reporting by Nelson Acosta and Rosa Tania Valdes; Editing by Stacey Joyce)
http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20101130/wl_nm/us_cuba_reform_businesses
Los artistas se alzan contra Cuba por su postura antigay
Los artistas se alzan contra Cuba por su postura antigayELMUNDO.es | MiamiActualizado martes 30/11/2010 12:27 horas
Artistas latinos como Juanes y Calle 13 se han plantado ante las informaciones que apuntan a una postura 'antigay' por parte de Cuba.Ana de la Reguera. I ELMUNDO.es
Ana de la Reguera. I ELMUNDO.es
La actriz Ana de La Reguera escribió en su Twitter: "Cuba se suma en la ONU al voto de países que consideran la homosexualidad delito. 5 de ellos aplican pena capital por ese motivo. Horror!". La actriz de películas como 'Backyard' e 'Hidalgo' manifestó así su inconformidad con el tema.
Por su parte el cantante colombiano Juanes aseguró a la entrada de un concierto que le "parece grave, cada quien debe tener la libertad de como quiera ser y punto, es todo lo que tengo que decir".
René Pérez, vocalista de Calle 13, también quiso unirse a la oposición de sus compañeros a la consideración de la homexualidad como un delito. "Eso debe estar mal. Eso no debe ser jamás un delito, nunca. Tengo amigos que son homosexuales y no es nada mal, es ridículo que sea delito", indicó.
http://www.elmundo.es/america/2010/11/30/gentes/1291137447.html
PROCEDERES CONTRA EL OBRERO
PROCEDERES CONTRA EL OBRERO30-11-2010.Aimée CabreraCorresponsal de Misceláneas de Cuba
(www.miscelaneasdecuba.net).- Aún se escuchan opiniones optimistas de quienes no ponen en dudas lo positivo de aplicar los lineamientos de la política económica y social, los cuales quedarán ratificados en el VI Congreso del Partido Comunista de Cuba, PCC, a celebrarse en abril del 2011.
De manera indirecta, los mismos apoyan la reducción de plantillas que dejará en l calle a miles de trabajadores. Los que quedan en sus puestos de trabajo tienen que mantenerse callados y soportar todo tipo de chantaje de sus dirigentes administrativos y sindicales. Son pocos los que se arriesgan y utilizo dos casos: uno aparecido en la prensa independiente, y otro en el diario Trabajadores.
Ambos son testimonio de cómo se maltrata al obrero cubano y se le niega, con explicaciones inexplicables sus más mínimos derechos laborales. El expuesto por el periodista Valentín Balart, de la agencia APLA, para Cubanet, describe como el trabajador de comunales residente en la localidad de Morón no recibe completo sus salarios.
Cuando al cuarto mes del injusto proceder se dirigió a sus jefes para que le dieran una explicación convincente, sólo recibió evasivas, a pesar de haber perdido en 3 meses, más de cuatrocientos pesos trabajados.
La otra queja es de un capitalino que labora en la Unidad Estatal de Tráfico. En este centro sus trabajadores reciben 0.60 CUC por concepto de almuerzo, pero los que llegan tarde, pierden de inmediato el derecho a almorzar ya que para tener derecho al mismo hay que cumplir con la jornada de trabajo completa.
No se especifican los motivos de sus llegadas tarde, pero todo trabajador que no tenga otra opción que el transporte público, o que tenga que realzar alguna gestión en una entidad que al terminar la jornada ya está cerrada dan lugar a demoras considerables porque los ómnibus no paran en las paradas, o es obligado retornar dos o tres veces al sitio de la gestión y demorarse hasta el desespero, para recibir la misma negativa.
De que vale pues, que los Lineamientos señalen en Empleo y salarios que "Asegurar que las medidas salariales garanticen que cada cual reciba su trabajo, y que este genere productos y servicios con calidad". Mientras que más adelante mencione que "Mantener los comedores obreros donde resulten imprescindibles, asegurando el cobro de sus servicios a precios sin subsidios".
Estas y otras exposiciones contempladas en el documento de gran demanda pública parecen quedar recogidas nada más que por escrito, si bien trabajadores como los mencionados no pudieron acercarse a sus directivos para solucionar sus afectaciones Utilizar las secciones periodísticas existentes, y dar a conocer todo tipo de injusticia laboral se hace obligatorio, como única y legítima vía.
http://www.miscelaneasdecuba.net/web/article.asp?artID=30703
RETOMA LA DICTADURA CASTRISTA OFENSIVA CONTRA LAS DAMAS DE BLANCO
RETOMA LA DICTADURA CASTRISTA OFENSIVA CONTRA LAS DAMAS DE BLANCO30-11-2010.Héctor Julio Cedeño NegrínPeriodista Independiente
(www.miscelaneasdecuba.net).- Aunque esta vez en forma taimada y sutil, debido a las múltiples condenas expresadas a nivel internacional por el uso de la violencia brutal contra las valientes señoras, la dictadura vuelve a proyectar el desmantelamiento y la desaparición de Las Damas de Blanco y para ello trabaja
El plan que se había trazado con relación a los Presos Políticos no le salió del todo bien, aunque logró a fuerza del engaño y la confabulación, la salida al extranjero de la mayoría de los aprehendidos en la Causa de los Setenta y Cinco despachados hacia el destierro, por la satrapía gobernante. Pero los que decidieron quedarse, se han convertido en verdaderas piedras en los zapatos de los dictadores.
En realidad los objetivos trazados por la tiranía castrista no fueron ni remotamente conseguidos, pues la Unión Europea, UE, no levantó la Posición Común, ni el gobierno de los Estados Unidos eliminó las restricciones a los viajes de los norteamericanos y mucho menos prestó atención al utópico canje de alguno de los cinco espías del tirano, por el funcionario norteamericano secuestrado por el gobierno cubano. Por lo que la promesa hecha por el sátrapa trastornado sobre el supuesto regreso antes del fin de año de alguno de sus confidentes condenados en los Estados Unidos, no se cumplirá.
A estas alturas del partido, poca ventaja ha obtenido la dictadura, que continúa en situación crítica, tanto en lo político, en lo económico, como en lo social e intenta al menos salir de esta espina mortal atravesada en la mitad de su garganta, que son las Damas Indiscutibles. Por ello han tratado a toda costa de romperlas desde adentro, activando a sus agentes infiltradas. Por la labor sus fieles serán recompensadas, pero antes deberán obtener resultados tangibles, lo que les resultará arto difícil, pues las estrategas dentro de esas aguerridas mujeres vestidas de blanco sientan cátedra.
El poder de convocatoria de las sediciosas, reveló ser insignificante y rápidamente resultaron neutralizadas, desenmascaradas y separadas. Su verdadera intenciónera la de crear un grupúsculo para el choque dentro de la institución. Para de esa forma fracturarlas, constituyendo un quimérico sindicato que asumiera, supuestamente, la defensa de las damas. Además suscribieron una misiva que le fue enviada al Cardenal Jaime Ortega y Alamino, intentando implicar a la Iglesia Católica en cuestiones ajenas a su misión eclesial e incluso a su labor mediadora. Esta carta, redactada en burdos términos, inadecuados e irrespetuosos, utilizando firmas falsificadas y métodos engañosos, son muy propios de la Policía Política castrista, que es la verdadera organizadora de la conspiración y está detrás de toda esta patraña, como lo han estado en todas las componendas anteriores.
Ahora las insurrectas ante su rotundo fracaso, se han declarado en ficticia huelga de hambre, de la que tenemos información fidedigna. Con el objetivo inexcusable de armar un gran escándalo, para tratar de denigrar la encomiable labor de Las Damas de Blanco. Claman, a voz en cuello, por la presencia de la prensa internacional e independiente para amplificar su traición y tratar de desacreditar a quien, en todos estos años ha realizado una loable faena, prestando su domicilio y sacrificando, su familia, su tiempo y su salud, para dedicarlo por entero, a esta causa. Implicando además a otras damas insobornables e inclaudicables, que son un verdadero impedimento para conseguir sus fines.
En la carta muy mal confeccionada y enviada al Cardenal, piden que se las releve y plantean que sienten un gran temor (sintomáticamente, un requisito indispensable para clasificar como refugiadas) y que se encuentran indefensas para continuar con esta lucha. Y aunque expresan que el exilio es sólo una aspirina para los problemas de Cuba, piden ser exiliadas. Estas señoras fueron relevadasde inmediato por las Damas de Blanco en relación al relevo que ellas mismas habían solicitado en su epístola al Cardenal. Como las Damas no entregan visas, no pueden resolver la petición de asilo. Pero por haber violado el reglamento, que ellas se comprometieron a obedecer cuando decidieron integrarse a la fundación feminista, fueron definitivamente apartadas de entre Las Damas de Blanco.
Esta expulsión afecta sólo a dos integrantes de las féminas, porque todas las que podían haber tenido alguna relación con el caso, se retractaron o afirmaron haber sido engañadas, manipuladas y utilizadas sus firmas indebidamente o sin su consentimiento. Se trata de Maritza Castro y Nerys Castillo. El día en que se tomó la decisión de excluirlas, se realizó una reunión, efectuada a puerta cerrada y en ella se encontraban presentes cuarenta y ocho Damas de Blanco. Igualmente fueron consultadas varias damas residentes en el interior de la isla.
Este caso se suma a otros muchos intentos para provocar la división entre las integrantes de nuestras valientes heroínas. Pero para los que expresan la lógica, de que entre las integrantes de una institución puedan prevalecer múltiples criterios, lo que es símbolo de la democracia dentro de las agrupaciones, le podemos contestar, que todo el que provoca división en una de nuestras formaciones opositoras está convencido de que quien se beneficia en todos los casos, es la dictadura, por lo tanto es un agente de esta y para ella trabaja. Y no hace falta colgarle un cartelito a la espalda, sino pintárselo a todo color, en la piel.
Verdaderamente estas señoras implicadas en el denunciado incidente, ya habían participado en otros e incluso estuvieron al borde de la expulsión en una ocasión anterior, por la provocación de conflictos dentro de la formación femenina. Se les había otorgado una nueva oportunidad, ante su aparente arrepentimiento. Una de ellas fue desautorizada por el Preso Político a quien representaba y de quien era la esposa, debido a que le traicionó con otro hombre, por lo que el considera que debía ser expulsada. Esta petición no se había consumado en consideración a sus hijos menores y se le había otorgado a la mujer, el estatus como apoyo. Al final se demostró que no sólo traicionó al hombre si no a las propias Damas de Blanco.
Sin pretender inmiscuirme en cuestiones internas de quienes mucho admiro, Las Damas de Blanco, pero por la información que poseo, debido a mi cercanía a todas ellas, considero un deber inexcusable realizar algunas aclaraciones, que he plasmado en este escrito, porque se de la pretensión de la tiranía castrista de intentar destruirlas y de la creciente intención de difamarlas. Cualquier aclaración ante esta campaña, debe ser consultada con ellas mismas.
http://www.miscelaneasdecuba.net/web/article.asp?artID=30697
Cuba to release last of Black Spring dissidents, cardinal says
Cuba to release last of Black Spring dissidents, cardinal says Posted : Mon, 29 Nov 2010 14:52:27 GMT
Madrid – Cuba will release the final batch of dissidents jailed in the so-called Black Spring of 2003, Cuban Cardinal Jaime Ortega said Monday during a visit to Spain.
Forty of the 52 dissidents who had remained in prison from the initial group of 75 jailed in the Black Spring have arrived in Spain so far, along with other released Cuban prisoners. One of the 52 stayed in Cuba after being set free.
The 11 who are still behind bars have rejected Spain's offer to accept them. Cardinal Ortega said he had a "clear promise" that the 11 would be released, though he could not say when.
Some of them might choose to travel to the United States, Ortega said.
Ortega, who has mediated in attempts to persuade Havana to free dissidents, met with some of the dissidents now living in Spain.
Following weeks of negotiations, the Roman Catholic Church and the Cuban government made a deal in early July, for the release of the 52 dissidents jailed in the Black Spring.
A total of 75 dissidents were then handed prison terms of up to 28 years on charges such as being "mercenaries" in the service of the United States.
http://www.earthtimes.org/articles/news/355735,spring-dissidents-cardinal-says.html
Cuba Will Free Dissidents and Allow Them to Stay
Cuba Will Free Dissidents and Allow Them to StayPublished November 29, 2010Fox News LatinoAP
Nov 25: Spanish Foreign Minister Trinidad Jimenez, right, shakes hands with Jaime Ortega, archbishop of Havana, Cuba, during his visit.
Cuba will release 11 jailed dissidents to complete a July agreement to free 52 people jailed since a 2003 crackdown – and it may happen before Christmas.
Speaking in Madrid, Havana Archbishop Jaime Ortega said the 11 will be allowed to remain in Cuba but that at least one of them may travel to the U.S.
He did not say exactly when the release would take place. Ortega spoke after meeting 15 former Cuban prisoners now living in Spain.
One of the ex-inmates, Juan Carlos Herrera, said the cleric had told them the final 11 would be released by Dec. 25, but this could not be confirmed.
Cuba agreed in July to release the 52 prisoners, and most of the 41 already freed have moved to Spain.
All the releases were supposed to be completed by Nov. 8, but the deadline was missed.
Ortega said the former inmates he met in Madrid expressed concern about some of their family members still in Cuba, their own legal status in Spain and their future.
The release deal was negotiated by the church with help from Spain. Ortega flew to Madrid last week to meet with Spanish Foreign Minister Trinidad Jiménez.
Besides the dissidents, Cuba has also recently freed another 11 people jailed for other crimes. They also went to Spain.
http://latino.foxnews.com/latino/politics/2010/11/29/cuba-release-dissidents-christmas/
Effort underway to sell more ND beans to Cuba
Effort underway to sell more ND beans to CubaMonday, November 29, 2010 3:53 PM CST
North Dakota officials are working on finalizing an agreement for the sale of an additional 1,000 metric tons of dry edible beans to Cuba.
"Five thousand tons will leave North Dakota next month and the Cubans have bought another 5,000 tons from China," said North Dakota Agriculture Commissioner Doug Goehring, who recently returned from Cuba. "This is an opportunity for us to build on our reputation as a ready dependable supplier of high quality commodities."
Goehring led a seven-member North Dakota trade delegation on a four-day trade mission to Cuba. The delegation included Randy Schneider, president of the North Dakota Ethanol Producers Association; Alan Juliuson and Todd Sorenson, directors of the Northarvest Bean Growers Association; Ken Bertsch, state seed commissioner; and two North Dakota Department of Agriculture staff members, Stephanie Sinner, a marketing specialist, and Dave Nelson, state entomologist.
"Overall, it was a very successful trip in further strengthening our trade ties with Cuba," Goehring said. "Members of our delegation said it exceeded their expectations."
Goehring said negotiations for exporting North Dakota seed potatoes are moving forward.
"It appears that we are in the final discussions for getting signatures on the phytosanitary documents," he said. "Our potato growers have donated and offered to ship 45,000 pounds of North Dakota potato varieties to Havana for planting trials. We hope to ship this in time for the 2011 planting season."
Goehring said he learned that Cuba is looking to source dry distillers grains (DDGs), sunflower seeds for oil and barley malt.
"We were very surprised to learn that the Cubans already use 140 to 160 metric tones of DDGs each year from various sources and they would like to source a portion of that from North Dakota," Goehring said. "We are looking over the Cuban import specifications for supplying these DDGs from North Dakota. This could be a huge boost to our state's ag exports."
Goehring said the demand for oil sunflowers and barley malt is also exciting, since North Dakota dominates U.S. production of both crops.
In addition to meeting with high level Cuban officials, the North Dakota delegation also met with officials from the U.S. Interest Section, which represents the U.S. State Department in Cuba.
http://www.farmandranchguide.com/articles/2010/11/29/ag_news/regional_news/news39.txt
An Irish Tune-Up for Cuba
An Irish Tune-Up for Cuba
Una Corda — The Soft PedalSheila LanganIrish America MagazinePublished Monday, November 29, 2010, 2:07 PM
National Piano Workshop, Havana, Cuba – From the portfolio Una Corda – The Soft Pedal.
Since 2006, many visitors traveling from Ireland to Cuba have carried slightly heavier than usual suitcases. In addition to their clothes, toiletries and other necessities, they have been carrying piano parts and tools for tuning and repair. They have transported a total of more than 500 pounds, to date, all of which has been given to Havana's National Workshop for Musical Instrument Repair. This courier program is run by Una Corda, an Irish non-profit organization, and is recognized by the Centre of Coordination for International Collaboration of the Cuban Ministry of Culture. Una Corda, which takes its name from the piano's soft pedal, is dedicated to reinvigorating the National Workshop – to giving Cubans the tools and skills to repair the many pianos that have started to deteriorate due to Cuba's isolation and its hot, humid climate. In addition to the courier program, the organization sends Irish musicians and piano tuners over to Cuba with the aim of not only helping to repair pianos in the workshop, but also of teaching people how to make repairs themselves and pass on the knowledge. When David Creedon went to Cuba in 2008, he carried his own luggage, some glue and sandpaper from Una Corda, and an additional item: a Canon 1ds Mark III camera. The Cork photographer has exhibited internationally and received much critical acclaim for his last show, Ghosts of the Faithful Departed: haunting, evocative shots of the interiors of abandoned houses in Ireland. It first exhibited in Chicago, with the help of Sarah McCarthy, a Chicago woman who was fascinated by Creedon's work, and was one of the largest touring shows in Europe in 2008. Creedon first heard about Una Corda when he caught the tail end of a 3:00 a.m. radio program in his car. At the time, he was working on a series of images of 57 Steinway pianos purchased by the Irish government, so the snippet about the project in Cuba naturally piqued Creedon's interest. He then got in touch with Ciaran Ryan, the program's founder, who encouraged him to make the trip to Cuba. After a long wait for his visa, the photographer was on his way. He fondly recalls his first trip to National Workshop for Musical Instrument Repair, located off the beaten track in Santo Tomás, between Árbol Seco and Subirana in Centro Havana: "Not many tourists venture to this part of town and when I arrived I felt unsure about the location as there seemed to be nobody about, but my driver was insistent that this was the right place. I was uncertain if I should stay in the car or get out when a man peeked out of a doorway and quickly disappeared only to return thirty seconds later waving the Irish Tricolor." Creedon's latest exhibition, Una Corda – the Soft Pedal, features photographs he took during his ten days at the National Workshop. His arresting, large-scale images are on display at the Irish Arts Center in New York until January 9th. The thirteen photographs take viewers inside the workshop for an intimate look at the pianos in the midst of or in need of repair. In one, dusty piano keys sit on a table in a crooked line. In another, an old, ornate piano leg is just visible in a dark corner, surrounded by tools and worktables. In other shots, Creedon moves closer to the pianos, focusing on almost unrecognizable components of the instrument that make for stunning abstract images. By featuring the pianos both wholly and in pieces, his photographs almost mimic the disassembling and reassembling that takes place in the workshop. Surprisingly, Creedon hadn't initially considered exhibiting the photographs he took in Cuba. But when Joanna Groarke, the program and production manager at the Arts Center, saw the images, she encouraged Creedon to consider collaborating on a show. Anyone who sees Una Corda will be very glad she did. Gallery hours are Monday-Friday 10:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m. Call 212-757-3318 ext. 203 for an appointment.
http://www.irishcentral.com/IrishAmerica/An-Irish-Tune-Up-for-Cuba-110985339.html
Cuba’s Joint Venture Phone Company, In Bed With The Censorship
Yoani Sanchez – Award-Winning Cuban BloggerPosted: November 29, 2010 07:10 PM
Cuba's Joint Venture Phone Company, In Bed With The Censorship
Dark night, a blackout in the vicinity of the Buena Vista neighborhood in Playa. The dilapidated shared taxi I'm taking stalls, and with an exhausted snort refuses to start again. A passenger and the driver are trying to fix it, while on both sides of the street we see people are sitting outside their houses, resigned to the power outage. I look in my wallet for my mobile, wanting to tell my family I'm delayed so they won't worry about me. It's an ugly picture: we are surrounded by darkness, in an area where crime isn't child's play, and to top it off my cellphone doesn't work. Every time I try to dial a number I get the message, "Call Failed." Finally, the car is purring again and we manage to advance, but the telephone service is not restored to the useless gadget and I feel like throwing it out the window. When I get home I discover that Reinaldo can't call from his, either, and that my blogger friends can't even receive text messages.
Our only mobile phone company cut the service for all of Friday night and part of Saturday, canceling for more than 24 hours a service for which we paid in convertible currency. With its announcements of "instant communication," Cubacel comports itself as if it is an accomplice to the ideologically motivated censorship; supporting the reprimand from the political police, it puts an error message on our screens. It uses its monopoly power to punish those clients who deviate from the official line of thought. Part of its business capital, provided by foreign investors, is used to support the infrastructure of a momentary or prolonged boycott of certain cell phone numbers. A contradictory role for a company that should connect us to the world, not leave us hanging when we need it most.
It is not the first time this has happened. Every so often someone flips a switch and leaves us in silence. Curiously, it happens when there is important news to report and urgent information to bring to light. The forced cancellation of the concert by the group Porno Para Ricardo may have been the trigger for the phone company to violate his own maxim of keeping us, "in touch with the world." The possible cremation of the body of Orlando Zapata Tamayo and everything that is happening around that event could be another reason to turn off our voices. What is certain is that on Friday night — in the midst of the darkness and worry — Cubacel failed me again, showing me the military uniform that hides beneath its false image as a corporate entity.
Yoani's blog, Generation Y, can be read here in English translation.Translating Cuba is a new compilation blog with Yoani and other Cuban bloggers in English.
http://desdecuba.com/generationy/http://translatingcuba.com/
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/yoani-sanchez/cubas-joint-venture-phone_b_789533.html
Cuba Legalizes Private Property Rental
Cuba Legalizes Private Property Rental2010-11-30 10:46:19 Xinhua Web Editor: Zhangxu
Cuban authorities have allowed citizens to rent rooms, gardens, roofs and swimming pools to help the establishment of small businesses, the official daily Granma said in a Monday editorial.
The government has also authorized the rental of rooms and houses for Cubans seeking to alleviate the shortfall of 500,000 homes.
"This will be considered as an alternative employment," Granma said, a reference to the expected initial cut of half a million state jobs over the next six months.
Owners must pay tax according to the space they rent, plus tax on income and social security contributions. Landlords can also hire domestic servants or gardeners.
The government will cancel the lease license or confiscate the property of anyone found breaking the law.
"These kinds of activities will be monitored and controlled," Granma said. "Total compliance with the law is required."
The Cuban authorities began discussing self employment as a method of boosting the nation's ailing economy in October. Business proposals include coffee shops, gyms, carpenters, locksmiths and watchmakers.
The new opportunities of self employment could provide a new source of income to supplement Cuba' s current state salaries of about 20 dollars a month.
Cuban leader Raul Castro described the salaries as insufficient in his inaugural speech in July 2007.
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