Odds and ends
- At Cubanet, an independent journalist’s review of the once-censored Seven Against Thebes (discussed here), which played in Havana from October 20 to November 11. Excerpt: “It’s not about mysteries, but rather about communion – and communication – between the dialogues on stage and some keys to our reality, ‘recreated’ by the author in the actors’ voices, always tense and expectant in that besieged city that reminds us of our own, and of this island that has deported so many Polynices and still guards against an enemy army that doesn’t arrive.”
- A new blog in Spanish, Cambio de Epoca, written by Jose Antonio Blanco and hosted at CubaEncuentro.
It is sickening to see the NYTimes turn a story about an innovative, much honored restoration program into an indictment that not all Cubans have benefitted. This is particularly rich coming from the NYTimes, which has shown no such criticism of the wholesale displacement of hundreds of thousands of its own citizens under "progress" and "redevelopment" in Manhattan and Brooklyn.
ReplyDeleteAs someone who studies and works on urban redevelopment and preservation issues, Cuba's program is a model to the world. In most cities under a capitalist model, old neighborhoods get gentrified and the old residents are forced out by the market to somewhere else less desirable, without consultation, and dislocated from all they knew (institutions, friends, neighbors). Profits are taken by the speculator and slowly a neighborhood loses its charm as big chains and rich people move in. A Disneyland is created. Everyone who worked for years to make the neighborhood better are worth no more than the old carpets thrown away.
In Havana, all the effort is for a true restoration, which involves the cultural and social context. Phases 1 and 2 have been heavy on hotels and tourist facilities in order to raise the cash for the residential projects. Most get to return to their buildings when restored, or are taken care of -allowed to stick together with neighbors in upgraded apartments if conditions do not allow a return (if they were not legal, or overcrowded). It is a brilliant plan, which is only possible under socialism. If capitalism were to ever arrive, expect mock restoration and social exclusion and dislocation... and plenty of Starbucks.
you pathetic wretch, you're probably posting from Starbuck's...
ReplyDeleteIgnore the substance and head straight towards the anonomous name calling. Nice one
ReplyDelete