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About Eugene weekly. (Eugene, Oregon) 1993-current | View Entire Issue (Feb. 25, 2016)
A WORKING CLASS NEIGHBORHOOD IN HAVANA American embargo, it was hard to get building supplies. For almost 30 years, the Soviet Union helped to counteract this situation, but after the USSR imploded in 1990, the Cuban people faced a decade of severe privation called “the special period,” in which they were forced to impro- vise to survive until Cuba found new ways of supporting itself. This Caribbean nation has a long history of excellence in medical care. Wealthy people from elsewhere in the region — and even from remote countries in Africa and elsewhere — sometimes travel there for serious operations. Nowadays Cuba sends many of its fine, locally trained doctors abroad and trades their services for badly needed imports like food and oil. Cut off from the West’s artificial herbicides, pesti- cides and fertilizers, it has become a leader in organic agri- culture and has developed “green” medicines and vaccines that it also exports. Among its other exports are nickel, sugar, seafood and honey. The concern of its politically undemocratic but idealistic one-party system that no class of individuals own much more than the rest has impeded obvious solutions for some of its problems. Particularly, the deterioration of its housing stock. Until recently the government didn’t allow artisans like electri- cians, carpenters and plumbers to set up their own businesses to make needed repairs for others for a fee. Even after they reluctantly approved, they didn’t permit inde- pendent businessmen to hire peo- ple aside from family members to work for them. Meanwhile the nation’s private homes and apart- ment buildings fell deeper into dis- repair. Paladares — appealing, pri- vately owned restaurants, family owned and operated — fill a public need all over Cuba but thus far it’s unthinkable that any family or company might set up a chain of such restaurants. And here we run into other consequences of earlier racial patterns. Since whites dominated business before the revolution, whites remaining in Cuba are more likely to have the skills and inclination to set up their own businesses now. Second, since almost all those who left Cuba were white, virtually all remittances from relatives abroad have come and continue to come to white Cubans, supplying them with capital. Finally, enterprises like restaurants are often set up in private homes. Many large, comfortable, conve- niently located homes remain in the hands of white fami- lies who remained in Cuba. The Airbnb accommodations thriving all over the nation tend to be offered in just such homes. Six days after our delegation landed in Cuba, Pope Francis arrived to universal acclaim. Much of the pope’s enthusiastic welcome stemmed from the notion that he’s played an important role in the recent thaw between this country and the U.S. One widely accepted story claims CLASSIFIEDS To place a classified ad: CALL 541.484.0519 EMAIL classy@eugeneweekly.com WEB classifieds.eugeneweekly.com WRITE 1251 Lincoln St. Eugene, OR 97401 VISIT our office Monday-Friday 9am-5pm that after the death of Nelson Mandela in December 2013, when dignitaries from around the world converged on South Africa for his funeral, the pope convinced Barack Obama and Raúl Castro, Cuba’s president since 2008, to shake hands and, thanks to the pope’s influence, negotia- tions between our two countries have continued ever since. Just days after the pope’s visit to Cuba and before his meeting with President Obama a few days later, we learned that, thanks to new actions by Obama, credit cards soon would be usable, U.S. telecommunications compa- nies would be authorized to build towers in Cuba, and limits on remittances from the U.S. would be removed. In a dramatic change of policy, U.S. banks were permitted to facilitate leases and loans formerly forbidden and vital to international trade. Polls tell us that 73 percent of Americans favor restor- ing normal relations between the U.S. and Cuba. American farmers would love to sell their produce to this market just 90 miles from home. American corporations are eager to establish footholds in this Caribbean neighbor with a well- educated, healthy, yet low paid population where Canadian, Brazilian and Spanish companies already are working with the Cuban government on projects. On Dec. 11, American officials announced that direct postal service would soon resume between Cuba and the U.S. Since Jan. 27, U.S. banks have been allowed to pro- vide direct financing for most American exports to the island nation. Still up for discussion is how to settle claims for the property seized by the Castro regime 55 years ago, though Cuban diplomats argue that damage to their econ- omy caused by the American embargo greatly exceeds the value of any property expropriated. No one expects these issues to be resolved immediately. Still whenever they are, let’s hope that normalizing rela- tions will lead to beneficial economic and political reforms in Cuba. Let’s hope, also, that the regime’s positive achievements — like free health care and education for all — will survive. ■ EVENTSCALENDAR LINE ADS: $11/3 LINES ADDITIONAL LINES: $4 Jeff W. Ryder DC, LAc, Certifi ed Rolfer™ FOR SALE Appliances KEGORATOR Mini fridge style. In great cond. Specialty tap handles + co2 tank. 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Info at www.davidwoaks.com @EUGENEWEEKLY ART WALK FEB 27 5-9 PM Relieve Stress Massage Take Time Out Give Your Body The Attention it Deserves Lucia McKelvey , LMT 541.683.3286 Days, Evenings, Weekends 439 W 2nd Ave - Taekwondo - Hatha Yoga - Zen Yoga & Meditation - Yoga & Ayurveda - Bo Yoga - Capoeira - Integrated Martial Arts - Kids Classes All classes $10 or less. corestarcenter.com Nationally Certified LIC. # 8250 eugeneweekly.com • February 25, 2016 39
