Archive - Jul 15, 2009

Cuban officials describe the meeting as a fruitful working session that validates the usefulness of the mechanism of these talks.

If Cuba were to be hit by another big hurricane, it will not accept direct humanitarian assistance from the United States. The Cubans’ rationale has a certain logic: if a man is being choked, does it make sense for him to accept a glass of water from the person who’s choking him? So, why not simply lift the embargo?

Prior to the embargo, Cuba was the largest export market for U.S. rice. The U.S. Chamber of Commerce estimates the U.S. embargo of Cuba costs the economy $1.2 billion a year in lost sales and exports. Lifting the payment restrictions will allow farm families to enter a vibrant, growing market in Cuba.

Cuba's birthrate has been decreasing steadily for years provoking a population decrease. Aging and reduced fertility are the chief causes of the continued decline in the Cuban population.

Though the output is declining in diverse state-run enterprises, including those that produce tires, soap, soda and ice cream, in none of the workplaces where production is paralyzed has anyone been laid off; the labor force is being employed for maintenance work and other functions.

Though the output is declining in diverse state-run enterprises, including those that produce tires, soap, soda and ice cream, in none of the workplaces where production is paralyzed has anyone been laid off; the labor force is being employed for maintenance work and other functions.