Thousands of Cubans protest US measures
More than 10,000 Cubans gathered Saturday at
Tribuna Abierta, in the central province of Sancti Spiritus' Jatibonico
municipality, to protest measures announced on May 6 by the United
States against the island.
At the political rally, which usually takes place at weekends at a
locality in Cuba, Participants rejected Washington's decision to harden
the economic, financial and commercial blockade unilaterally adopted
against the island more than 40 years ago.
US President George W. Bush decided to disburse 59
million US dollars in the next two years to launch measures aiming to
reduce the money remitted by Cuban emigrants to their families in the
island, and other actions seeking to drown the national economy and
promote a rebellion.
Participants also expressed support for the position voiced by Cuban
President Fidel Castro last June 21, when he warned that a war against
Cuba could never be won by the invading power.
They urged for justice for five Cubans convicted in the United States
for allegedly acting against the country's national security.
WCS Mourns the
Loss of Amazon Conservationists
The Wildlife Conservation Society mourns the loss of two dedicated
conservationists working in the Brazil’s Mamirauá Sustainable
Development Reserve, who were killed in a plane crash on Friday, May
14th.
Sílvia Amélia Roenick, 30, and Divina Santos, 39, died, along with 31
others, when a commuter plane crashed while approaching an airport in
Manaus, in the Brazilian state of Amazonas. Roenick coordinated
Mamirauá’s agricultural program, while Santos was part of a crew working
on the research of ornamental fish for sustainable exports.
“The Wildlife Conservation Society is deeply saddened by this tragedy,
and we extend our sympathies to the families and friends of Sílvia and
Divina,” said Carlos E. Quintela, director of WCS’s Brazil Program.
“We are convinced that this tragedy won't stop our determination to
continue the work. These two people will be remembered as important
contributors to the efforts of biodiversity conservation and the
improvement of the lives of the traditional Amazonian populations,” said
Helder Queiroz, scientific and technical director of Mamirauá.
Considered one of the most successful conservation projects in Latin
America, the Mamirauá Sustainable Development Reserve was developed by
WCS conservationist Dr. José Márcio Ayres, who realized that local
people living around this unique ecosystem were the key to protecting
it.
Today Mamirauá, along with the adjacent Amanã Sustainable Development
Reserve and Jaú National Park represent one of the largest blocks of
protected rainforest on earth, spanning some 20,000 square miles.
Salvadoran
troops in Iraq to move to "safer place"
Salvadoran President Elias Antonio Saca said on Saturday that his
country's troops deployed in the Iraqi city of Najaf will be moved "to a
safer place" till their mission ends in July, reports reaching here
said.
Saca told a press conference in San Salvador that the decision to move
the contingent of the Cuscatlan Battalion was made so that their
humanitarian tasks are conducted "with a better protection."
He also said that a third contingent of Salvadoran soldiers could be
sent to Iraq to replace the current one.
"If the decision to send the third contingent contributes to the peace
in Iraq and helps the new Iraqi government, we wouldn't doubt to
authorize," he said.
In February, El Salvador sent about 380 soldiers to Iraq to replace
another group of 360 soldiers that had been deployed there for six
months to carry out reconstruction tasks.
In April, a 19-year-old Salvadoran soldier, Natividad Mendez Ramos, was
killed in combat in Iraq and 12 others were wounded.
El Salvador is the only country of the five that comprised the Plus
Ultra Brigade, led by Spain in Najaf, that decided to maintain their
troops in Iraq after the Spanish, Nicaraguan, Honduran and Dominican
contingents withdrew.
Lubbock
native confirmed U.S. ambassador to Venezuela
William Brownfield, a Lubbock native, will
become the new U.S. Ambassador to Venezuela after confirmation Friday by
the U.S. Senate.
"Bill Brownfield has a long and distinguished career in America's
foreign service, most recently as ambassador to Chile," said U.S. Sen.
Kay Bailey Hutchison, R-Texas. "He is a proven public servant and will
be a valuable envoy to Venezuela at a critical time."
U.S. Sen. John Cornyn, R-Texas, was also pleased with Brownfield's
appointment and with the Senate's quick action in filling the po sition.
"Venezuela is an important trading partner, and the president made an ex
cellent choice to represent our interests and maintain our relationship
in Caracas," he said. "Bill's entire career has been devoted to foreign
service, and his experience is a welcome asset as he takes on this new
challenge."
Although Brownfield, 52, is a Lubbock native, his family is from
neighboring Terry Coun ty, Hutchison's office said, and comes from four
generations of ranchers and cotton farmers.
Brownfield graduated in 1974 from Cornell University and attended the
University of Texas School of Law from 1976-1978. He also graduated from
the National War College in 1993, Hutchison's office said. He entered
the foreign service in 1979, her office added.
Cornyn's office said that Brownfield is currently chief of mission to
the Republic of Chile. He previously served as deputy assistant
Secretary of State for the Bureau of Wes tern Hemisphere Affairs and
Counselor for Human itarian Affairs in Geneva. The office also said that
he served in Argentina and El Salvador and had a previous assignment to
Venezuela.
In addition to English, Brown field speaks Spanish and French, Cornyn's
office said.
He will replace current Venezuelan Ambassador Charles S. Shapiro.
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