FARC rebel group in Cuba to negotiate peace talks

FARC  rebel group to negotiate with Columbian government in Cuba

        

Progress is going on in Cuba where the dangerous rebel group the FARC (Fuerzas Armadas Revolucionarias de Colombia) are negotiating peace deals with the Columbian government. Like Cuba the FARC is a left wing group that believes in a Marxist paradigm where they represent the poor rural people of Columbia. The problem with this unfortunately are its methods. They kidnap people for ransom, kill people, produce drugs and distribute them. The government has met with high ranking leaders of the FARC in Cuba and have been given a one year deadline to reach a peace deal. This means they won’t be staying in Cuba for too long because it will not last very long they are hoping “This has to be a process of months, rather than years. In other words, this should not last any longer than November next year at the latest, and I would say (it should be) earlier than that,” president Juan Manuel Santos said. The Columbian government have killed lots of FARC rebel groups lately to speed up the process for this decade long conflict to end.

                I find it rather interesting that these talks occur in Cuba. The reason I think it’s a good idea is because if conflicts occur in negotiations I think killings could happen but it being in a foreign country it would be wrong. Another reason I think it’s smart they are doing this in Cuba is to focus on negotiations only. If talks were to be in Columbia they could easily be distracted and be in danger whereas in Cuba they can only talk about peace deals and finding an agreement. I hope agreements will be made soon so we can end the long conflict of the FARC and the Columbian government to improve the country.

http://www.euronews.com/2012/12/03/farc-given-one-year-deadline-to-reach-colombia-peace-deal/

Haiti to Change Adoption Laws

Haiti is in the process of trying to pass a legislation to change it's adoption laws. The legislation has gone before the Senate for review and awaits approval from both houses of Parliament. The legislation is being made to make Haiti match up with international adoption laws. Some of the changes include the requirement of informed consent from both biological parents. It also has the general director of the government's social welfare agency's office as a "central authority". Other requirements that couples adopting a child must be married for five years, with one spouse at least 30 years old and a single person filing for adoption must be at least 35. There are also more sanctions that will be applied to Haitian orphanages that are in sub-standard living condition.

All these efforts are being made to put an end to the neglect of these children. Orphans have been shipped out of the country to a family that had no prior background check and half the time the adoptive parents put them back up for adoption. There are even cases have been found were children were adopted and shipped out of the country to the Dominican Republic and were forced into servant labour. 

Source

Chavez back in Cuba

 Chavez back in Cuba
Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez arrived in Havana early Wednesday November 28^th for a new found of medical treatment. Venezuela is soon to have their own regional elections so the timing of this is not the greatest. Right now it is still un clear how long Chavez who now declares himself cancer free would stay in Cuba. The state of Cuba mentioned that Chavez will undergo several sessions of hyperbaric oxygen therapy. This treatment helps prevent and mend bone damage caused by radiation therapy. It involves breathing oxygen in a sealed chamber that has been pressurized at up to three times normal atmospheric pressure.

           

 Hugo Chavez

This is not the first time Chavez has utilised medical treatments in the state of Cuba. From June 2011 to May 2012, he underwent cancer treatment. Chavez using Cuba`s medical system shows just how strong it is and that the billions of dollars invested it in have shown to bring benefits to the people. Cuba has become a top notch medical state where hopefully for the country of Venezuela it can make Hugo Chavez healthier so he can run the country more effectively.

Cuba to Eliminate Exit visa

Cuba to Eliminate Exit visa

Massive news coming out of Cuba where the Cuban government has decided to remove the exit visa on the Cuban people. This eliminiation of the exit visa has a dramatic impact on travel for the Cuban people. Now they will have  much less problems  traveling into foreign countries under this new policy. This removal of the exit visa is definitely Raul Castro's biggest advancement since his time under leading Cuba. Though this exit visa does ease traveling there are still specifics that complicate traveling more so than other countries. 

''The decree still imposes limits on travel by many Cubans. People cannot obtain a passport or travel abroad without permission if they face criminal charges, if the trip affects national security or if their departure would affect efforts to keep qualified labour in the country.''

 This new exit visa is shocking to me and also to other Cuban members because it seems they are changing from the goals they fought for. ''Look, I ask myself how far are we going to go with these changes. They have me a little confused because now all that was done during 50 years, it turns out we're changing it," said Maria Romero, a cleaning worker who was headed to her job Tuesday morning. "Everything they told us then, it wasn't true. I tell you, I don't understand anything." This massive change has left everyone wondering whether this is a step in the right direction for Cuba or is it a step backwards in their strive for independence.

http://www.ctvnews.ca/world/cuba-to-ease-travel-restrictions-eliminate-exit-visa-1.997529

It is the most significant advance this year in President Raul Castro's five-year plan of reforms that has already seen the legalization of home and car sales and a big increase in the number of Cubans owning private businesses.

Read more: http://www.ctvnews.ca/world/cuba-to-ease-travel-restrictions-eliminate-exit-visa-1.997529#ixzz2CpM6YXkQ

2000 Haitians Protest in the Streets

Yesterday, about 2,000 people in Haiti's capital, took to the streets protesting against the Haitian government saying that it is corrupt and ineffective. These protestors are demanding that President Martelly step down as President and leave the country. 

This is not the first anti-government demonstration this year. In September, several thousand people marched to criticize the Martelly administration for not doing enough to keep down the cost of living.

Protestors chanting in the streets and burning debris leftover from the storm

President Michel Martelly is a former pop star who was sworn in as president last year. Many Haitians hoped his government would improve their living situation after the 2010 earthquake but many people are saying that he has fallen short of their expectations. The Martelly government has not mentioned anything on the matter thus far.

Post Hurricane Cholera UPDATE

The International Organization for Migration has officially announced that there is a significantly higher increase in cholera cases than what was originally predicted. The IOM has counted 3593 new confirmed cases of the infection as well as 837 suspected cases. The spokesperson for the IOM, Jumbe Omari, says that 10 000 cholera kits were handed out in 31 camps around Port-au-Prince. These kits include fresh drinking water, food and antibiotics that will help the sick until they can be seen by a doctor.

Hurricane Sandy hits Cuba

Hurricane Sandy hits Cuba

Category 2 hurricane Sandy has left Cuba in harms with its heavy rains and blistering winds. 11 Cuban residents passed away because of hurricane Sandy.  The Cuban country has been mourning the death of these 11 people but its not the only problem that the hurricane created. Precious resources such as crops and homes have been destroyed because of vicious Sandy. The hurricane mostly hit the eastern part of Cuba    in cities like Santiago. Power went out all over Cuba where thousands of tourists were evacuated.

Luckily Cuba in comparison to other Caribbean countries have a much better way of handling hurricanes. Cuba uses what they have learned from past hurricanes to find solutions on what the hurricane damaged. Cuba also has good infrastructures where even though the hurricane hit them hard, most buildings and structures withstood the power of sandy. Cuba will move forward with this hurricane as they have many times in the past and re start normal operations. 

http://www.cbc.ca/news/world/story/2012/10/25/hurricane-sandy-cuba-bahamas.html