Radio Havana Cuba-23/24 December 2000 Via NY Transfer News * All the News That Doesn't Fit Radio Havana Cuba - News Update - 23-24 December 2000 . *NATIONAL CELEBRATION OF TEACHER'S DAY IN VILLA CLARA *CONCERT DEDICATED TO THE TRIUMPH OF THE CUBAN REVOLUTION *CUBAN PARLIAMENT APPROVES $755 MILLION FOOD SUBSIDY FOR 2001 *CUBAN-ARAB FRIENSHISHIP ASSOCIATION DEMANDS ISRAELI WITHDRAWAL *125th ANNIVERSARY OF THE INGLATERRA HOTEL CELEBRATED IN HAVANA *MORE EMPHASIS IN 2001 ON ACCESS TO CULTURE AND THE FLOW OF INFORMATION . *NATIONAL CELEBRATION OF TEACHER'S DAY IN VILLA CLARA Havana, December 23rd (RHC)- Due to its excellent results in the education sector Villa Clara, in Cuba's central province, will be the site for the national celebration event for Teacher's Day on Saturday. Luis Ignacio Gomez, Cuba's Education Minister, affirmed that this province forged the path leading to quality of education and teaching plus a high level of scholarship with high academic results. In Villa Clara school attendance surpasses 98 percent, and many schools have been restored by the teacher's own efforts. This resulted in classes starting with a maximum of 20 students per class in primary schools and 30 in secondary school classes. It has guaranteed, without doubt, say observers, a better educational process. *CONCERT DEDICATED TO THE TRIUMPH OF THE CUBAN REVOLUTION Havana, December 23rd (RHC)-- Today's monthly concert performed by the Elementary School of Music, Manuel Saumell, will be dedicated to the 42nd anniversary of the Triumph of the Cuban Revolution. This traditional musical event will also celebrate the coming of the New Millennium and with it, the end of the year 2000 and the 20th Century. Piano and saxophone students joined by the chorus from the School of Music will give the performance. *CUBAN PARLIAMENT APPROVES $755 MILLION FOOD SUBSIDY FOR 2001 Havana December 23 (RHC)--The Cuban Parliament has approved a 755 million dollar Food Subsidy for the year 2001. In an editorial in today's newspaper Granma, the government's aim is to maintain stable prices for basic food products, it was affirmed. The paper recalls that despite the adverse circumstances and the ever-tightening U.S. economic war against Cuba, the island's government has never abandoned its policy of subsidizing in key sectors, such as the food industry. Granma points out that due to the Helms-Burton Law and other extraterritorial U.S. anti-Cuba legislation preventing U.S. farmers from selling their products to Cuba, the island has to pay over 100 million dollars extra annually to buy food products that could be purchased at significantly lower prices in the United States. Finally, the editorial recalls that 89 percent of calories, as well as 93 percent of proteins and the 80 percent of the fat that Cubans consume every year come from the national market and state subsidies. Other subsidized sectors in Cuba include energy and transportation, while others such education and health are totally free-of-charge. *CUBAN-ARAB FRIENSHISHIP ASSOCIATION DEMANDS ISRAELI WITHDRAWAL FROM OCCUPIED TERRITORIES Havana, December 23 (RHC)-- The President of the Cuban-Arab Friendship Association, renowned Cuban orthopedist Dr. Rodrigo Alvarez Cambras, demanded Israel's compliance with UN resolutions, calling for the withdrawal of all Israeli troops from the occupied Palestinian territories. Speaking to the press in Havana, Alvarez Cambras also condemned the U.S.-led blockade against Iraq. The Cuban-Arab Friendship Association works jointly with Cuba's Arab Association, assisting numerous students from the Middle East who are taking courses here in Cuba. *125th ANNIVERSARY OF THE INGLATERRA HOTEL CELEBRATED IN HAVANA Havana, December 23rd (RHC)--The Inglaterra Hotel, which opened its doors on December 23rd, 1875, will celebrate its 125th anniversary this Saturday with several activities, including the launch of their new winter menu. The hotel, designed and built by Cubans, incorporates many artistic features by top Cuban artists and craftspeople, which reflect the Island's commitment to combine tourism and culture. The four star hotel with 83 rooms is going into its 125th anniversary having fulfilled its main economic projections and contributing the equivalent of more than 100 thousand dollars in hard currency to the Cuban economy. This is the Havana's oldest hotel. It has cultural, historical and architectural value, which won it national monument status in 1982. Viewpoint: *MORE EMPHASIS IN 2001 ON ACCESS TO CULTURE AND THE FLOW OF INFORMATION Cuba's national educational system has been developed to guarantee complete training of all of its citizens, while actively expanding their cultural horizons. The Cuban Revolution began its social endeavors with this as its principal task. And this work, reinforced over the last four decades, has more force and emphasis than ever today. This constant improvement of the level of public instruction is, perhaps, the most successful experiment of any country in the Third World. The educational program was initiated 42 years ago, at the beginning of the 60's, with the elimination of illiteracy, actively supported by existing students and teachers. The goal of literacy was pursued in a sensitive and dynamic manner and resulted in the creation of schools nation wide. The voluntary teachers who went to work all over Cuba set up the basis of a national system of education which has given - and continues to give - the country a technical work force which is necessary for its socio-economic development. Cuba does not have to import technical expertise and, in fact, is in the lead in sending professional volunteers to aid other Third World countries. Cuba has, today, the highest ratio of doctors per person in the world, with 168 for each 1,000 inhabitants. All Cuban children and young people are schooled and the population's overall level of knowledge is one of the highest in the world. Today the Cuban Revolution, in the middle of an intense struggle against ultra right wing external aggression, has initiated a nationwide cultural educational program, using the national TV network. This has been done in an organized and systematic manner with televised classes at regular hours in the early morning and repeated late at night. The instruction includes language courses, artistic and literary appreciation and, later, other topics will be incorporated and developed. The population has responded with great enthusiasm. Most of them follow the classes daily using the course materials and publications which are on sale for a very modest price all over the country. One of the immediate results of this endeavor is to raise the value of learning, which had lost ground in the last few years. Parallel with this development is a lively movement of public information and debate on radio and television where, amongst other topics, the negative campaigns run by external right wing forces are aired and discussed. These vigorous offensives by the Cuban Revolution, will create a powerful and influential basis in the universal struggle for equality, justice and decency. (c) 2000 Radio Habana Cuba, NY Transfer News. 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