Cuba News Roundup: November 5th, 2021 – Startup Cuba TV
While we sit here in our studio eating leftover Halloween candy, we’re starting to recognize that world peace may actually not be possible this year. That and more in this week’s roundup. 
First, let’s start with the positive; Atlanta Braves outfielder Jorge Soler became the second Cuban-born baseball player to win the World Series MVP award. Congrats to Jorge and to the Atlanta Braves for their 2021 Series win! In other news, things are starting to heat up as we’re now only ten days out from Cuban dissidents’ planned (peaceful) protests, on November 15th. If you recall (you don’t actually need to recall anything because it’s in the news every day) the Cuban government has said “no” to the protests. The protesters responded, “We’re doing it anyway.”
Such is the case with playwright Garcia Aguilera who has become public enemy number one. He and other dissidents continue to be targets and/or are being exiled from their country. Meanwhile in the U.S. forty house democrats voted against a resolution supporting protesters in Cuba. Crypto art continues to grow in Cuba. And, Miami politicians slam the Vatican for its (lack of) response to the Cuban government. All this is happening at the same time that 31 Cubans who landed in the Florida Keys and Bahamas were just sent home.
By the way, none of the opinions in any of the stories shared on this page represent ours; we’re just sharing them with you. If you are a journalist or you have seen a story that you’d like us to consider for future weekly news roundups, please send us a note and a link to the story here. (Hero image: Alejandro Rojas)
Garcia Aguilera at his home in Havana. Photo: CNN
A skinny, bespectacled, left-leaning playwright whose works until recently were promoted by the government would seem an unlikely candidate to become Cuba’s public enemy number one. Read more at cnn.com.
Cuban photographer Gabriel Guerra (R) works in his studio in Havana, Cuba, October 29, 2021. Photo: REUTERS/Alexandre Meneghini
Cuba, a Communist-run country known for its antiquated cities and cars and spotty internet service, has become a growing hotspot for crypto art. Photographers and artists like Guerra use digital crypto platforms to access markets and audiences that previously would have required artists to leave the country, or a buyer to hop on a flight to the island. Read more at reuters.com.
A month ago, Cuban artist Hamlet Lavastida was forced into exile by the communist government, which he accuses of being afraid of those that speak out in defense of freedom. Read more at rawstory.com.
March 29, 2022
The status of these wonderful native Cuban animals ranges from vulnerable to critically endangered.
Forty House Democrats voted against a resolution on Wednesday that condemned the Cuban government and supported protesters in the country. Read more at thehill.com.
Image: Encyclopedia Britannica
Cuba is again on the EU’s agenda after large-scale protests took place in July 2021 and as activists plan further demonstrations for November. In the wake of the July protests, there has been strong pressure from within the European Parliament for the EU to impose sanctions on Cuban government officials who suppressed the protesters and suspend the main agreement governing the Cuba-EU relationship. Meanwhile, the EU and the governments of multiple EU members have criticized the Cuban regime’s harsh response to the protests. Read more at carnegieeurope.eu.
U.S. Border Patrol said 18 Cuban migrants landed on Sugarloaf Key on Oct. 28, 2021, on this fishing boat. Photo: U.S. Border Patrol
The U.S. Coast Guard returned 31 Cubans to their home country on Tuesday who were stopped at sea in four separate incidents since last week off the Florida Keys, mainland and the Bahamas. Read more at miamiherald.com.
February 10, 2023
Samuel Riera’s Art Brut Cuba opens channels for Outsider Artists to sell their art when they otherwise couldn’t earn a living from their work.
Photo: Fit Ztudio/Shutterstock.com
The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has caused an estimated five million deaths globally, as well as over 248 million documented infections with the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). The rapid development of safe and effective vaccines was rightly given top priority, leading to the rollout of several vaccines at the end of 2020. Read more at news-medical.net.
December 1, 2023
Top bartenders and mixologists from around the world pitched up in Cuba’s top beach resort last year to compete in the IBA World Cocktail Championship shining a spotlight on global drinks and craft cocktails.
Three members of Congress from Miami-Dade have called out leadership within the Roman Catholic Church for its weak response to human rights protests in Cuba. Read more at floridapolitics.com.