About six years ago, a Cuba solidarity group I was associated with in DC held a "town hall" meeting on Cuba. We had an all-star line-up: Leonard Weinglass, Jose Pertierra, and Lucius Walker. Lucius gave a breathtaking presentation about the devastation caused by the blockade, most of it to do with health. If I can find the tape of his presentation, I will try to transcribe and send a summary to this list.
ACN: US Blockade Hampers Housing Programs in Cuba
Posted by: "Walter Lippmann" walterlx@earthlink.net walterlx
Thu Apr 2, 2009 11:26 am (PDT)
US Blockade Hampers Housing Programs in Cuba
HAVANA, Cuba, April 2 (acn) The U.S economic, commercial and financial
blockade against Cuba has prevented the progress in the housing sector in
the island since its main constrain has been the lack of material and
financial resources, said a Cuban official in a UN's meeting in Nairobi,
Kenya.
Washington's measure has hindered access to the markets and credits for
the purchase of materials, products and technologies, explained Victor
Ramirez Ruiz, President of the National Institute for Housing at the High
Level Segment of the 22nd session of the Governing Council of the United
Nations Human Settlements Programme, UN-HABITAT.
However, the Cuban Government has made considerable efforts to gradually
improve the housing situation in the country. He added that in spite of
problems that commonly affect developing countries, Cuba has been able to
establish a system of people settlements with balanced space and social
distributions.
The effort is a clear demonstration of the importance of the role of the
State in achieving social development by interrelation between various
settlements based on their peculiarities and potentialities, said
Ramirez.
http://www.cubanews.ain.cu/