Saturday, May 26, 2018

Cuba's New President Optimistic, Practice to Date

Diaz-Canel: US Hostility to Cuba Won’t be Eternal


Cuban President Miguel Diaz-Canel.
Cuban President Miguel Diaz-Canel. | Photo: Reuters

The recently inaugurated Cuban president praised art as a way of building bridges.

May 24 (teleSUR) Cuban President, Miguel Diaz-Canel, does not believe that the current hostile attitude of the United States toward Cuba can last forever, and believes that they can find the “will” and “points of contact” to move forward from a position of respect.
The president was meeting with some of the Cuban artists who participated in the Festival of Cuban Arts that was held in Washington D.C. this month, and said that art can build bridged between the two countries.
“I don’t believe that the current position will be eternal, and things like what you have accomplished in Washington… can open the way,” he said, praising the artists’ talent and commitment.
“You showed that we can live together in peace despite our differences.”
Lamenting that the administration of Donald Trump has attempted to “roll back the process of recovery with which we wanted to normalize relations,” the recently inaugurated president said that there still remain “points of contact.”
“If there is the will, respect, and equality, we can continue back on that construction.
From May 8-20, the Kennedy Center in Washington D.C. hosted the largest-ever Cuban arts festival in the United States. The occasion featured around 400 artists ranging from musicians, dancers, actors, filmmakers, fashion, design and cooking.
http://thecubanhandshake.org/diaz-canel-us-hostility-to-cuba-wont-be-eternal/



Cuba's new leader just faced his first crisis. It gave us a glimpse of his governing style


May 24, 2018 12:00 AM
Updated May 25, 2018 04:47 PM

Tuesday, May 15, 2018

Cienfuegos Conference on Bartolomé de Las Casas October 23-26


II INTERNATIONAL WORKSHOP ON SOCIORELIGIOUS STUDIES
23rd -26th October, 2018
UNIVERSITY OF CIENFUEGOS, CUBA.

The Center of Sociocultural Anthropology “Samuel Feijóo” calls for the II International Workshop on Socioreligious Studies, as part of the II International Conference of the University of Cienfuegos which will take place on October 23rd -26th. Socioreligious studies began to be developed in the University of Cienfuegos fifteen years ago with the creation of the Sociocultural Studies Degree. Since then, investigations on the religious legacy of the region of Cienfuegos have been fostered.
These researches have been complemented by post graduate programs and the Master´s Degrees on Historic Studies and Cuban Sociocultural Anthropology, as well as on Sociocultural Studies. As a result, today there is a significant number of researches on important topics such as families, institutions and religious manifestations.
On the other hand, one of the goals the Center of Sociocultural Anthropology “Samuel Feijóo” is to promote investigations on the work of Bartolomé de Las Casas, the Priest who was closely related to the process of conquest and colonization of Cuba. The links of Las Casas with region of Cienfuegos as well as his transcendental thinking are significant topics to be investigated and socialized. 
Based on the reach of the full papers accepted, the organizing committee will conveniently organize workshops, symposiums, round tables, panels or seminars about the following topic areas:
Topic areas:
1.      Theories and methods of study on religion.
2.      Philosophic, anthropological, historic and sociocultural dimensions of religion. 
3.      Changes of the religious phenomenon: the catholic pluralism and the intricacies of the evangelic world.  The Cuban religions of African origins. Heritage, culture and identity.
4.      Religion, Heritage, and Cultural Tourism. The religious heritage and its potential for the development of Cultural Tourism  
5.      The religious and humanist legacy of Bartolomé de Las Casas.


Panels:
Propuesta de paneles:
Panel 1. Theories and methods of study. Dimensions of religion. 
Panel 2. Changes of the religious phenomenon: the catholic pluralism and the intricacies of the evangelic world. 
Panel 3. The Cuban religions of African origins. Heritage, culture and identity.

Panel 4. Bartolomé de Las Casas in the conquest and colonization. Significance of his work and his humanist legacy.

Abstracts, papers and inscriptions may be sent to:

Abstract reception deadline: June 15th, 2018


Inscription Fees:
Speakers/ Delegates: 150.00 CUC.
Students (undergraduate): 80.00 CUC
Guests: 80.00 CUC
Cuban Peso Convertible
Short courses: 30.00 CUC. (National delegates pay in CUP)


For more information, contact Iliana Ferriol iferriol@ucf.edu.cu 

Thursday, May 10, 2018

Holguin Congress of Ideas October 25 - 27

The Casa de Iberoamerica is sponsoring its thirteenth Congress of Ideas October 25 and 27, 2018 in the Cuban city of Holguin.  It attracts about 300 academics and writers from universities all over Cuba, with a preponderance from Holguin, Santiago, Havana, Villa Clara and Ciego de Avila.   The Congress offers a strong intellectual anchor for a faculty led trip and an opportunity to develop collaboration with new schools and academic disciplines.

Paper presentations are grouped in six Forums: Sociodemographic studies; Hispanic Migratory Processes and National Identity; Culture, Tourism and Sustainable Development; Social Thought and National Identity; Gender Studies; Cultural Groups and Artistic Processes   Registration information and suggested paper topics are here http://www.casadeiberoamerica.cu/convocatorias/52-xiii-ibero-american-congress-of-thought  (Registration for the conference and associated costs other than housing totals approximately $150.)  

For further information about the Congress, write to Arismaray Reyes Gonzalez <yaram5727@gmail.com> or John McAuliff <jmcauliff@ffrd.org>.

Daily flights to Holguin are available on Jet Blue from Ft. Lauderdale and American Airlines from Miami.


After the Congress, the Fund for Reconciliation and Development will lead a two or three day visit to Baracoa, focusing on coconut production and history