Time's 100 most Influential People of 2009

The Time 100 most influential people list is a prestigious list to be on, if you somehow make it you will be in the company of champions for human rights, US presidents, financiers and Nobel prize winners. But if you look closely at the current polling results it's clear that our politicians and activists have far less influence on the world than say... Miley Cyrus and Britney Spears.

Britney Spears (while I type this) is in the number 9 position, the Jonas Brothers are in 16th place and US President Barack Obama is in 17th. Miley Cyrus is at number 20 while Aung San Suu Kyi (Nobel Peace Prize winner) sits at number 23, one position ahead of basketball player Kobe Bryant.Yoani Sanchez is at number 32 just behind Zac Efron and evil dictator Robert Mugabe at number 35 is far more influential than say... Hilary Clinton who is number 42, directly behind the current Pope. Just to say how crazy we are: investment guru Warren Buffett (at number 93) is less than Thomas Beatie (the pregnant man)...

This is just a crazy segway into the real reason behind my post, somehow, this list list matters, Cuban blogger Yoani Sanchez made it on last year, help get her on there again (and kick Miley Cyrus off) by clicking the widget in the top right hand corner of this blog.

Muchacho Enfermo

Cuban author threatened, they even called his mother!

A book launch planned for Monday February 16th in Havana, hosted by world famous blogger Yoani Sanchez, for the new book of Orlando Luis Pardo Lazo called Boring Home is now threatened by the government.

Early this morning a blog post on Octavo Cerco showed an email that is circulating on the Caubarte.cu intranet. An email that is a not so subtle threat to OLPL and to those planning to attend the meeting. Yoani Sanchez has posted about it on Generation Y a few hours following the post on Octavo Cerco and shows the same email.

OLPL`s mother also received a call to tell her to warn her son not to go. I mean seriously, how sad is that when a government resorts to calling your mom?

I'll post a copy of the email here but please refer to the above mentioned websites for more insight and details:


I’ve heard a there’s a message circulating, by email, promoting the presentation on this coming Monday, the 16th, outside La Cabaña, of a book by Orlando Luis Pardo Lazo, and that it will be presented by the infamous and counterrevolutionary blogger, Yoanni Sánchez, who is well compensated by the empire.

A few months ago a photo of Pardo Lazo also circulated, masturbating over a Cuban flag, an act that outrages all the sons of this country and of other latitudes because this is an insult to a symbol of the country. His literary work is little known, however this fact was disclosed as part of the propaganda against Cuba.

Pardo Lazo has become a puppet at the service of Yoanni and her clique.

I don’t think they would carry out this stupid activity, to do so will give them a fright like that I’ve read in the “summons,” and I’ve also had news of some disagreeable surprises they are going to find there.

I still can't believe they called his mom...

Muchacho Enfermo

One last push for Yoani and Ahsin!

There is still time to get in two votes for each of them before polls close tomorrow night!

Please vote for Ashin and for Yoani

Voting update!

You can vote every 24 hours!
There's 6 days left! that means 6 votes per reader!

Vote for Yoani!

Yesterday I asked you all to support Ashin Mettacara for the Weblog log awards as he was nominated in the "Best Asian Blog" category. Today I am asking you to show your support for Yoani Sanchez as her blog Generation Y has been nominated in the "Best Latino, Caribbean or South American Blog" category.

Yoani is Cuba's most famous blogger, her blog has been blocked from within the island, she has gone head to head with Mariela Castro, she has been interviewed by countless TV stations and was voted by Time magazine as one of the world's most influential people.

Yet, her government still finds ways to harass her and the handful of blogger that blog in Cuba about Cuba. In December both her and her husband, along with another blogger Claudia Cadelo, were summoned by the Ministry of the Interior and were told in no uncertain terms that they should cancel a meeting of Cuban bloggers that was planned for the following weekend. These awards help raise awareness about her cause and help keep her out of jail.

Just as you did yesterday by voting for Ashin Mettacara, please take 30 seconds out of your day and show your support for Yoani and all of the other Cuban bloggers who risk their freedom to fight for freedom speech and freedom of opinion.

Muchacho Enfermo

50 years later...

I could start my blogging year by talking about Gaza or about how Russia is cutting Ukraine's gas again, I could speak about the war in Afghanistan or about Hoder who is still in jail for his blog. But instead I'll I'll start the year by blogging, again, about Cuba.

Everyone from Reuters to Al Jazeera was talking about it... Even local papers here were talking about it. The Globe and Mail had a great little slide show. 50 years of Revolution. 50 years of hard times. 18,263 days of censorship. 438,312 hours of living under the same government without a free election.

I didn't get a chance to finish my year in blogs... but here's a just a few (and please feel free to add to the list) few blogs about Cuba that everyone should check out, blogger from within the island and Cuban expats write about their love and their sadness and the hardships. Zurama the other of one of these blogs suggested that Cuban bloggers should dress in black today to mourn 50 years of having no freedom... that, for all of us, should speak volumes.

http://www.desdecuba.com/generationy/
http://octavocercoen.blogspot.com/
http://desdecuba.com/sin_evasion_en/
http://desdecuba.com/reinaldoescobar_en/
http://el-guama.blogspot.com/
http://habanemia.blogspot.com/
http://penultimosdias.com/
http://zuramascuba.blogspot.com/

Muchacho Enfermo

New years eve reflections and wishes for the new year

I'm sitting in my kitchen sipping on a beer and reflecting back on 2008. The whole tumultuous year that has seen Canada through another election, one in Quebec, the financial meltdown, renewed violence in Gaza, the whole business with Irak, my travels throughout the Americas and Canada. Looking back on the amazing people I've met (you all know who you are, despite the fact that some of you can't even view my blog), the things I've seen and done. Looking back on all this... I'm happy. I'm happy I went where I went, I'm in some strange way glad for the meltdown that forced me into a new life. All in all, 2008 was a huge success for me and I'm sad to see it go.

For 2009, despite the fact I'm sad to see 2008 finish, I'm looking forward to 2009, if only for my friends my Cuba. One more year forward is one year closer to change. I keep this little island country in my heart everyday and everyday I knock on wood for change.

For 2009 here are my wishes:
-For my blog: I want to increase my traffic, figuring this out is tough for me but I hope I can get more people here and spark some meaningful debates.
-For Canada: I wish that our politicians grow up and step up and figure out what we need in this time of crisis.
-For Gaza: I wish that there is a compromise that will finally end decades of bloodshed.
-For Africa: I wish an end to corruption of government, for the world to finally realize that Africa needs us.
-For South America: To realize that they are all sovereign nations without the need for radical views or extremist governments (ie Bolivia, Venezuela).
-For Russia: For Putin not to pass the laws he plans on passing.
-For Hoder: Freedom from Iranian jail and for the spotlight to be brought to Human Rights in that country.
-For Burma: For the struggle for human rights come to an end. For my friend and fellow blogger Ashin Mettacara not go to prison.
-For the US: That Obama really is change for the better.
-For Cuba: I wish for Cuba freedom, all sorts of freedoms. I wish for free elections, for reforms and for freedom of thought and expression. For Yoani Sanchez to continue paving the way for other revolutionaries.
-For my fellow bloggers: I wish the strength to carry on the good fight in the face of adversity or low readership. You are all making a difference no matter how small, you change the world one person at a time. Never give up.

In conclusion that's my motto for 2009: Never give up.

Muchacho Enfermo

Mariela Castro and US agree on Human Rights

The US this week was the only western nation to vote a against a non-binding declaration proposed by the UN to decriminalize homosexuality. In voting against this motion the US is sending a clear message that although it has signed the Declaration of Human Rights 60 years ago, it seems that it considers homosexuality to be outside of that declaration and that sexual preference is not a basic Human Right.

In Cuba, Mariela Castro (daughter of Raul Castro and director of the Cuban National Center for Sex Education) was holding a conference on the inclusion of homosexuals and transgendered people into Cuban society. At this conference she was asked by Yoani Sanchez (author of Generation Y)if Cuba's acceptance of gay and transgendered rights would open the door for a more widespread reform on Human Rights, such as giving Cubans the right to have political opinions. Mariela answered that this was outside her field of responsibility. Later in a letter she wrote, she more or less indicates that a discussion about gay rights is in no way related to a discussion about greater Human Rights.

So.... without even talking to each other about it both Cuba and the US seem to think that sexual preference is not really related to Human Rights. Maybe these two feuding nations have more in common then they like to admit.

Muchacho Enfermo

Now in English

Claudia Cadelo's blog is now being translated into English! For those of you who haven't had the pleasure, or just weren't able to read her Spanish one I'm putting a link to her English version in my blogroll. If you liked Generation Y (which links to her as well) you will also love this blog. Check it out.

Muchacho Enfermo

Free the BlogFather

I figured this is important so I put it here too...

Last week I posted about Cuban bloggers Yoani Sanchez, Reinaldo Escobar and Claudia Cadelo who were all summoned by the Ministry of the Interior to "discuss" their dissident views. A few days later I posted about the BlogFather who had been arrested in Iran after being accused of being a spy for Israel. Many other blogs reported this, including a blog by Mark Mackinnon a prominent foreign correspondent and author.

I wanted to say that for those of you who have facebook, there is a group dedicated to his release: http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=37459792838&ref=ts . Our feelow blogger faces death in Iran, his home country and we might be able to help. Please join this facebook group or visit the page and see what you can do!

Muchacho Enfermo (changing my logo in honor of the BlogFather)

injustice for all! Another Cuban blogger summoned

I woke up again this morning to find an email in my inbox saying that another Cuban blogger had been summoned to 21 and C. Claudia Cadelo is due to appear this afternoon at 2pm at same police station and probably interrogation room where Generation Y blogger Yoani Sanchez was summoned yesterday.

Stay tuned to Black Sheep of Exile for updates on Claudia's situation.

I'd like everyone who reads it to post about it in their blog, just because she isn't famous doesn't mean she isn't a blogger like the rest of us. Raise awareness people. Give a voice to the voiceless. Thanks

Muchacho Enfermo

The Voices of Fear

I was having trouble deciding where to post this... do I post it in my personal ranting blog that no-one reads or my political commentary blog that 2 people read? Well... I decided to post it both places because I believe that this counts as a political rant.

Before you read on, I’ve been told I should keep my posts short so people read them: I’ll do the best I can.

Most of you have heard of Cuban blogger Yoani Sanchez; she was summoned for “questioning” this morning at the infamous 21 and C police station in Vedado. She wasn’t in fact questioned. She was told "We want to advise you that you have transgressed all the limits of tolerance, with your proximity to elements of the counterrevolution".

Referring to a scheduled meeting, that will bring together Cuban bloggers from inside and outside Cuba, they informed her that, "The activity planned in the next few days, can not be realized". (taken from Sunrise in Havana).

Also let's not forget the arrest last summer of Porno Para Ricardo frontman Gorki Aguilar for something crazy like “the intention to commit moral crimes against the state”... It’s no secret Cuba is run by totalitarian assholes.... but sometimes it just goes too far.

Last October I was in the airport in Jardine del Rey waiting for my plane home and I had nothing to read on the flight back. I walked over to a little vending booth thing and said “what book can I buy with 10cuc?” the attendant smile and handed me a book. I gave her the money.

Once on the flight I started reading the book. It’s called “Absolved by History” and it contains a bunch of bullsh!t quotes that say that Fidel is awesome. It’s all lies folks. These quotes are not dated and for the most part the praises are given by dead people, by crazy Hollywood actors and by other dictators. I was mad at this book and today more so then ever. Let me show you a quote as it appears in the book:

“We wish everyone to know that we, Cuban writes, artists, and also dream makers, are with Fidel now and always” Cuban Intellectuals.

Do the events of Gorki and Yoani sound like the writers and artists are with Fidel? I don’t think so. Remember people, there’s hundreds of stories like theirs these are just the ones we’re lucky enough to hear. Also remember that by reading their blogs and listening to their music you're making their voices heard. And that my friend has the Cuban government running for the hills. The voices you give these people scare this government.

Muchacho Enfermo

Yoani is safe and Sound

http://desdecuba.com/generaciony/

Alright folks, Yoani is home and she has posted on the Generation Y, the spanish version, a brief outline of her encounter with my good friends at the Ministry of the Interior.
Enjoy the article folks. For my part I'm just glad she's home.

Muchacho Enfermo

More on Yoani

As posted on The Black Sheep of Exile we all need to step up and raise awareness with our local press and officials. We have to be ready to rock people, be ready to help in any way we can!
The internet has no borders and no government, together we can do anything.