Marce Cameron

Daring to dream 鈥 reflecting on Fidel鈥檚 legacy

For years, those who had hoped and prayed for his death were repeatedly disappointed by a photo, a news clip or a commentary in that unmistakable style.

The rumours always proved unfounded. Fidel Castro, who had dodged some 600 attempts on his life orchestrated by the CIA, was very much alive and making the most of his twilight years.

There were no rumours this time. His brother Raul, voice quavering with emotion, read out a brief statement on TV and a sombre stillness descended on the Cuban archipelago.

Cuban Communist Party to launch post-Congress debate amid divergent visions

In the wake of Obama's historic visit, the Cuban Communist Party held its 7th Congress on April 16-19 in the Havana Convention Centre. Beneath a backdrop featuring a huge likeness of Fidel Castro, PCC secretary Raul Castro delivered the main report on behalf of the Central Committee. Fidel being Fidel, many Cubans would have been reassured by his surprise appearance at the closing session on the eve of his 90th birthday. Traditionally, PCC congresses are the culmination of a months-long process of consultation with the Party's activist base and the wider Cuban society.

Vale Maria Voukelatos

Maria Voukelatos, a passionate socialist and animal liberation activist, died suddenly and unexpectedly on March 26. Nothing suggests she took her own life. While the cause is still unknown, her death at home in Sydney was likely quick and painless. She was 37.

Barack Obama's plans for Cuba

A second round of talks between US and Cuban diplomats began in Washington on February 27, with the aim of restoring diplomatic relations. US President Barack Obama announced, in what he termed the most significant Cuba policy shift in more than 50 years, that he will pursue diplomatic relations and urge Congress to dismantle the US blockade of Cuba.

Obama鈥檚 new Cuba policy: McDonald's in Old Havana?

鈥淚 want to see Cuba before everything changes,鈥 is how many reacted to Barack Obama鈥檚 surprise December 17 announcement that he would restore diplomatic relations with Cuba 鈥 severed by the US in 1961 鈥 and urge Congress to lift the US blockade. Seeing Cuba for oneself can only be encouraged, but those who fear that it will soon be transformed by American tourists, US corporations and commercialism need not rush to book flights.

East Timorese doctor: 'Cuban medicine is about human values'

When East Timor won its independence from Indonesia in 1999, the country's medical infrastructure in rural areas was almost non-existent. When then-Cuban President Fidel Castro heard about the problem at a regional summit, he offered to send Cuban doctors free of charge 鈥 as many as were needed. So began the largest Cuban medical assistance program outside Latin America. In 2010, after a six year program of study in Cuba, the first of nearly 500 East Timorese medical students graduated and took up their posts in East Timorese villages and towns.

Fidel Castro: Time to remember his legacy

This isn鈥檛 an obituary. Every now and again those who hope and pray for his death spread yet another rumour, only to be disappointed by a photo or a commentary in that unmistakable style, confirming that Cuban revolutionary leader Fidel Castro is very much alive and making the most of his twilight years. When the inevitable does happen, the world, admirers and detractors alike, will pause for reflection. The corporate media will saturate our inner recesses with words and images that convey, for the most part, how the 1% appraise his life and legacy. Just imagine the gloating on Fox News.

Cuba: Corporate press wishful thinking on 'transition'

鈥淯nder Raul Castro, Cuba has begun the journey towards capitalism. But it will take a decade and a big political battle to complete, writes Michael Reid鈥. So began the lead article of the London Economist magazine鈥檚 March 24 special issue on Cuba, under the heading 鈥淩evolution in retreat鈥. It is a familiar refrain, but how much truth is there to it? Unfortunately for the credibility of The Economist, authoritative mouthpiece of the Anglo-imperialist ruling class, it鈥檚 a dog鈥檚 breakfast of factual errors, illogical arguments and wishful thinking.

Cuba鈥檚 alternative to privatisation

Cuban President Raul Castro has urged the Caribbean nation's citizens to contribute to a free and frank debate on the future of Cuba鈥檚 socialist project. For the Cuban Communist Party (PCC), the aim of this debate is twofold: to strive for consensus on a new Cuban model of socialist development and to empower Cuba鈥檚 working people to implement what has been decided. In other words, to advance a socialist renewal process in the face of entrenched opposition from within the administrative apparatus.

Cuba debates its socialist future

Two decades after the demise of Soviet bureaucratic 鈥渟ocialism鈥 and the onset of its 鈥淪pecial Period鈥 crisis, Cuba is immersed in an ongoing debate on the future of its socialist project. When Raul Castro became interim president in August 2006, he called for free and frank debate. He launched a series of nationwide consultations in the lead-up to the Sixth Congress of the Cuban Communist Party (PCC) in April last year. Intersecting with these organised debates is a wider discussion in Cuba鈥檚 revolutionary press, academic journals and other institutional spaces.

Cuba seeks new socialist model

The Sixth Congress of the Cuban Communist Party (PCC), held in April, 鈥渆ndorsed for the first time a fundamental change in the political and economic model鈥, said Cuban political scientist and Temas editor Rafael Hernandez. This does not mean abandoning Cuba鈥檚 socialist project, but renewing this project after two decades of the post-Soviet 鈥淪pecial Period鈥. This is a deep structural crisis in Cuba鈥檚 post-capitalist, centrally-planned economy and an ideological and ethical crisis of the nation鈥檚 socialist vocation.

Cuba seeks socialist renewal

The Sixth Congress of the Cuban Communist Party (PCC), held April 17-21, coincided with the 50th聽anniversary of Cuba鈥檚 historic defeat of the US-backed invasion at the Bay of Pigs and Fidel Castro鈥檚 proclamation of the socialist character of the Cuban Revolution. When Fidel, 85, made a surprise appearance at the Congress closing session, many of the thousand delegates were overcome with emotion as aides helped him to his seat next to President Raul Castro.