The Green Screen

On Friday, the US government announced the widest loosening of travel restrictions since President Bill Clinton, deepening the so-called “people-to-people” provisions, allowing for American students, religious and cultural groups to visit Cuba, as well as for American citizens to send remittances.

“All of the measures are good. This is a welcome step toward a more effective Cuba policy, because history has proven that policies that increase the free flow of information and strengthen civil society have been the most effective in bringing about successful transitions”, says Carlos Saladrigas who heads the Cuban Study Group in Washington DC.

The changes reverse measures put in place by George W. Bush, an ally of hardline anti-Castro Cuban-American voters in Florida between 2000 and 2004. They come as an upgrade of those President Obama made in 2009, increasing the ability of Cuban-Americans to visit family and send cash to relatives

Although the new measures do not allow US tourists to travel to the Caribbean island, they permit American citizens to send up to $2,000 a year to Cubans who are not members of the country’s Communist Party to support “private economic activity.” The Cuban government relaxing its control of the economy in September last year. During the first three months of this year, half-a-million public-sector workers will be laid off – most of them are expected to become self-employed.

Now on top of Miami, Los Angeles and New York City, any international airport with a properly established customs and immigration facilities will be allowed to offer authorised charter services to Cuba.
http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/b1d5f9bc-20d8-...z1B8WWH2xF

If you have difficulty accessing the above link (you have to be a registered subscriber) the following link has the same info' http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2011/jan...bargo-cuba

Yup.... good old US freedom. They are premitted to send up to $2000 a year. They should be able to send as much as they want, when they want.

And who is going to know whether someone is in the communist party or not? How are they gonna prove that?

What do the Cubans in Cuba want? I think this is the most important thing we should ask. I have heard a lot of criticism of Obama. Does anyone know what the feelings are of the people who are in Cuba?

(Jan 16, 2011 02:25 PM)Zellig Wrote: [ -> ]What do the Cubans in Cuba want? I think this is the most important thing we should ask. I have heard a lot of criticism of Obama. Does anyone know what the feelings are of the people who are in Cuba?

Most of the people I talked to in Cuba had mixed feelings. While the blockade is causing a lot of hardship, they are worried about the idea of unfettered American tourists.

I wonder if the tradeoff would be worth it? Would enough Americans go to Cuba to make up for the other tourist who would stop going? The most common reason I heard for picking Cuba to travel to as opposed to any other hot winter destination was "No Americans".

(Jan 16, 2011 02:58 PM)bsenka Wrote: [ -> ]

(Jan 16, 2011 02:25 PM)Zellig Wrote: [ -> ]What do the Cubans in Cuba want? I think this is the most important thing we should ask. I have heard a lot of criticism of Obama. Does anyone know what the feelings are of the people who are in Cuba?

Most of the people I talked to in Cuba had mixed feelings. While the blockade is causing a lot of hardship, they are worried about the idea of unfettered American tourists.

I wonder if the tradeoff would be worth it? Would enough Americans go to Cuba to make up for the other tourist who would stop going? The most common reason I heard for picking Cuba to travel to as opposed to any other hot winter destination was "No Americans".

Me too... and the most common reason people don't go back is the bland food.

(Jan 16, 2011 03:59 PM)mscarde Wrote: [ -> ]... and the most common reason people don't go back is the bland food.

The food was pretty good for us. No complaints whatsoever. I guess if you were expecting Mexican spicy you'd be disappointed, but you're not in Mexico.

What blockade????

Cubans want jobs with decent pay - Si !!!

(Jan 17, 2011 02:31 PM)Lillian Wrote: [ -> ]What blockade????

Time to take it out and look around!!!!! LMAO!!!!

Interesting read :::
http://miamiherald.typepad.com/nakedpoli...auds-.html

Ileana Ros-Lehtinen is on Maria Elvira Live tonight...

(Jan 17, 2011 04:20 PM)Steve_YYZ Wrote: [ -> ]

(Jan 17, 2011 02:31 PM)Lillian Wrote: [ -> ]What blockade????

Time to take it out and look around!!!!! LMAO!!!!

HEY STEVE..good picture of ya

There is no blockade...by now you should now what is the definition of that word. The US is Cuba's 5th or 6th trading partner..selling food and medicine. What we have is an unilateral trade embargo based on cash purchases and no credit...this has resulted in the US being the only trading nation selling to Cuba that is now OWED millions/billions....VERY SMART IMO

BTW..in case you and others have forgotten what 'blockade' means:

The isolation of a nation, area, city, or harbor by hostile ships or forces in order to prevent the entrance and exit of traffic and commerce.

(Jan 17, 2011 06:49 PM)Lillian Wrote: [ -> ]

(Jan 17, 2011 04:20 PM)Steve_YYZ Wrote: [ -> ]

(Jan 17, 2011 02:31 PM)Lillian Wrote: [ -> ]What blockade????

Time to take it out and look around!!!!! LMAO!!!!

HEY STEVE..good picture of ya

There is no blockade...by now you should now what is the definition of that word. The US is Cuba's 5th or 6th trading partner..selling food and medicine. What we have is an unilateral trade embargo based on cash purchases and no credit...this has resulted in the US being the only trading nation selling to Cuba that is now OWED millions/billions....VERY SMART IMO

BTW..in case you and others have forgotten what 'blockade' means:

The isolation of a nation, area, city, or harbor by hostile ships or forces in order to prevent the entrance and exit of traffic and commerce.

http://www.reuters.com/article/idUSTRE70D5H520110114

Smart, yes... Unless you are the beneficiary of this trade.

(Reuters) - U.S. food sales to Cuba fell by 30 percent from January through November compared with the same period in 2009, meaning trade has halved in the last two years as Cuba bought more from allies, a U.S.-based group said on Friday.

Cuba imports about 60 percent of its food, and the United States has been the country's top provider for years despite political tensions and an almost five-decade-old U.S. trade embargo.

A Cuban official who has played a key role in the food trade between the countries has not been seen in Cuba for nearly a month and Cuban sources say he has defected to the United States.

U.S. food exports to Cuba through November were $344.3 million compared with $486.7 million during the same period in 2009, according to figures released by the U.S.-Cuba Trade and Economic Council, a New York-based group monitoring commerce between the two countries.

The Caribbean nation is required to purchase agricultural goods with cash under a 2000 exemption to the embargo, but Havana is cash-strapped due to the impact of three hurricanes in 2008, the global financial crisis and inefficiencies in the state-dominated economy.

Cuban purchases from the United States of frozen poultry, wheat, soy products, corn, beans and other products peaked at a record $710 million in 2008, then fell 24 percent in 2009.

The report said Cuba was turning more to countries such as Brazil, France, Canada, Russia and China where it could purchase food on credit. The communist-led island was also giving preference to state-run suppliers over private ones, the report said.

Meanwhile, rumors have swirled in Cuba and abroad since late December that the Cuban official -- who acted as a go-between with U.S. politicians, trade groups and businesses to foster food sales -- is in the United States.

Pedro Alvarez headed up state food importer Alimport when the trade began in 2001. He was replaced in 2008, serving briefly as president of the Chamber of Commerce before being fired early last year under suspicion of corruption.

An employee at Alimport and another at the Chamber of Commerce said Alvarez had not been seen since December and it was "common knowledge" he fled to the United States.

Neither the United States nor Cuba have confirmed reports carried by some Miami media and Cuban-American websites that Alvarez left Cuba.

The employees said they wished to remain anonymous because of the sensitivity of the subject and restrictions on talking to foreign journalists.

(Reporting by Marc Frank; Editing by Frank Jack Daniel)

And for the record;

http://www.google.ca/search?hl=en&client...d=0CBgQkAE

Definitions of blockade on the Web:

* obstruct: hinder or prevent the progress or accomplishment of; "His brother blocked him at every turn"
* barricade: render unsuitable for passage; "block the way"; "barricade the streets"; "stop the busy road"
* obstruct access to
* a war measure that isolates some area of importance to the enemy
* impose a blockade on
* prevents access or progress
wordnetweb.princeton.edu/perl/webwn

* A blockade is an effort to cut off food, supplies, war material or communications from a particular area by force, either in part or totally. ...
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blockade

(Jan 17, 2011 06:49 PM)Lillian Wrote: [ -> ]

(Jan 17, 2011 04:20 PM)Steve_YYZ Wrote: [ -> ]

(Jan 17, 2011 02:31 PM)Lillian Wrote: [ -> ]What blockade????

Time to take it out and look around!!!!! LMAO!!!!

HEY STEVE..good picture of ya

There is no blockade...by now you should now what is the definition of that word. The US is Cuba's 5th or 6th trading partner..selling food and medicine. What we have is an unilateral trade embargo based on cash purchases and no credit...this has resulted in the US being the only trading nation selling to Cuba that is now OWED millions/billions....VERY SMART IMO

BTW..in case you and others have forgotten what 'blockade' means:

The isolation of a nation, area, city, or harbor by hostile ships or forces in order to prevent the entrance and exit of traffic and commerce.

LMAO..... shouldn't that read NOT OWED millions/billions?......

The United States embargo against Cuba (described in Cuba and Latin America as el bloqueo, Spanish for "the blockade") is a commercial, economic, and financial embargo imposed on Cuba.

Embargo.... Blockade..... semantics really.

Steve..not semantics but the truth

Cuba could buy what the people need...but it cannot because it is broke.. Why is it broke? Because this regime destroyed its viable economy and it continues to be the worst (incompetent) system that one could ever imagine

In the meantime, the US sells for cash..unlike those others who are owed millions/billions..DUH