Reflections of Fidel

When the U.S. government hypocritically offered $100,000 as aid in the face of the disaster brought about by Hurricane Gustav, subject to an on-site inspection to confirm the damage, the response was that Cuba is unable to accept any donations from the country that is blockading us; that the damage had already been calculated and that what we were calling for was that it not prevent the export of essential materials and credits associated with commercial operations.

Certain people in the North starting screaming their heads off that Cuba’s rejection was inconceivable.

A few days later, when Ike lashed the country from Punto de Maisí to Cabo de San Antonio, the neighbors of the North were a bit more subtle. They sweetened their language. They talked of aircraft ready to leave with materials worth $5 million; that it wouldn’t be necessary to assess because they had already done so by their own means, which cannot be any other than spying on our country. This time they would put the Revolution in a predicament, so they believed; if they [the Cubans] dared to reject the offer, they would find themselves in problems with the population. Perhaps they thought that nobody had seen the images broadcast by U.S. television of the UN occupation forces in Haiti dispatching food to a hungry population who fought for it across barbed wire fencing, with the result of even children being injured.

Hunger in that country is the fruit of the historic and ruthless plunder of nations. Right there, in Les Gonaïves, our doctors were risking their lives helping the population of that city as they are doing in almost 100 percent of that nation’s municipalities. That cooperation continues there, as in dozens of nations of the world, despite hurricanes. The categorical response to the new and astute Note was: “our country cannot accept a donation from the government that is blockading us, although it is disposed to buy indispensable materials that U.S. companies place on the export market, and requests authorization for supplies of the same, as well as the credits that are normal in all commercial operations.”

“If the government of the United States does not wish to do this on a permanent basis, the government of Cuba requests that it authorize this for the next six months, particularly taking into account the damage occasioned by hurricanes Gustav and Ike, and that the most dangerous months of the cyclone season are yet to come.”

It was not made arrogantly, because that is not Cuba’s style. It can be appreciated in the Note that the idea was modestly expressed of how the prohibition being suspended for a limited time period would be sufficient for us.

Carlos Gutiérrez, the U.S. secretary of commerce, discounted any temporary lifting of the blockade on Friday the 12th.

It is obvious that the government of that powerful country cannot understand that the dignity of a people has no price. The wave of solidarity with Cuba, ranging from large to small countries with resources and even without resources, would disappear on the day that Cuba ceases to be honourable. Those in our country who are upset about that are totally mistaken. If it was $1 billion instead of $ 5 million, they would meet the same response. There is no way to pay for the harm to thousands of lives and the suffering, or the more than $200 billion that the blockade and Yankee aggressions have cost.

The partial official report explains to the people that, in less than 10 days, the country was affected by damages assessed at more than $5 billion. But it was also explained that those figures were based on historical and conventional prices that have nothing to do with reality. The very clear explanation that, “calculations on the loss of housing stock are based on historical and conventional prices, not the real value in international prices, should never be forgotten. Suffice it to note that in order to have an endurable housing stock that can resist the strongest winds, one element is required, which is in very short supply: a workforce. This is needed both for temporary repairs and for lasting construction. That workforce has to be divided among all the other centers of production and services, some of which were significantly damaged, hence the real value of homes in the world and recouping the corresponding investment is many times greater.”

The blow from Nature was severe, but it is also heartening to know that there will be no truce or respite in our battle.

The economic crisis that is hitting the United States and, as a consequence, the rest of the nations of the world, has no definitive response; but here, yes, there are responses to natural disasters and to any attempts to put a price on our dignity.

Fidel Castro Ruz
September 16, 2008

A letter from Fidel to Randy Alonso, director of the “Roundtable” program

Dear Randy,

Yesterday’s “Roundtable” program was particularly interesting and the information provided was extremely valuable. It is a pity that at that time the whole island was without electricity, from Punta de Maisí to Cabo de San Antonio. Just a few family homes in the Camilo Cienfuegos district that were able to resist the fierce winds had power. An underground cable connected to the generator at the Luis Díaz Soto Hospital reached that area.

When this energy, so necessary to our era, is absent, there are many shortages and nothing functions. We yearn for the day when all those homes capable of withstanding hurricanes, which I talked about some days ago, are able to receive electricity via underground cables. Unfortunately, this will take some time and will be a tremendous expense.

For a second, I imagined what would have become of the inhabitants of our island in the face of the natural disaster that has just occurred without the Civil Defense system and the population’s emergency services, such as hospitals, polyclinics, bakeries, information centers and other similar services, if these had not had available electrical energy.

The images of homes and other buildings destroyed, crops ruined, trees brought down, rivers bursting their banks, houses invaded by water in low-lying areas, people swept away by the force of rapid currents and saved thanks to the desperate efforts of others; these were devastating. I think that some of these images should be re-broadcast in the future so that those who had their televisions switched off will be able to witness them.

We must never forget the scenes of the men from the Armed Forces and their special troops carrying out missions to aid and support the population and the victims. The actions of the Firefighters Corps were very impressive, risking their lives, wading through dangerous currents to help their compatriots.

You need rigorous training and courage to fulfill these tasks. Only in very exceptional circumstances are we aware that these men exist and they prepare themselves in silence for critical moments. I confess that I thought the images of José Ramón Machado Ventura and Ramón Espinosa Martín, first vice president of the Council of State and chief of the Eastern Army, respectively, were very moving; weather-beaten by the struggle, together with much younger comrades, presidents of the Defense Councils, they tirelessly visited the places that had been worst hit and immediately indicated the measures that should be adopted. This also occurred with other high-ranking Party leaders, together with Joaquín Quinta Solá, former head of the Central Army and current deputy minister of the FAR, and Leopoldo Cintra Frías, chief of the Western Army, and the presidents of the Defense Councils in the provinces and municipalities they visited.

I saw with more clarity than ever before the value of symbols. The Cuban flags shone like never before on the shoulders of Party leaders, be they women or men, at this difficult and testing time. These are the subjective factors without which all would be lost and without which victory would not be possible.

The work carried out by the journalists, who did not sleep or rest, at times defying the rain and wind, has been excellent, informing the country of the events, transmitting truths, examples and experiences, which made us feel that we are part of a national community interlinked with all the inhabitants of the planet. The peoples of the world who have sent their messages of solidarity, even though a large part of them are suffering from poverty and attacks by nature, which the consumer societies with their sophisticated technologies are driving towards a point that is incompatible with human survival itself.

The time will come to analyze the objective factors, the rational and optimum use of material and human resources; what must be done in every concrete place, where we should or should not invest; what to do with every cent; respond to every question that has to be asked in situations of emergency. And under normal circumstances, when everything returns to its place and the normal lives of children, adolescents, and adults continuing moving forward, always prepared to fight and win without ever becoming disheartened in the face of the adversities of today or of tomorrow.

Our duty is to overcome!

Fidel Castro Ruz
September 10, 2008

We had hardly recovered from the emotional impact and material damage caused by the unexpectedly strong winds of Hurricane Gustav on the Isle of Youth and Pinar del Rio, when news were received of sea floods caused by Hanna. Then, the worst news of all: that the very intense Hurricane Ike, turning southwest under pressure from a strong anti-cyclone located north of its course, would strike over more than 1,000 kilometers throughout the national territory.

This means, in fact, that the entire country will be impacted by three hurricanes; and some places will be hit twice.

What will remain of the bananas, fruits and vegetables in the intensive-farming areas? Where will there be any beans and other grains? Where will there be a sugarcane or rice plantation? Where will there be a poultry, pork or dairy production center? The entire nation is now in what in military terms is defined as combat alert.

The problems posed in the reflection that defined Gustav as a nuclear strike have multiplied. The principles guiding our conduct are still the same, just that much greater efforts will be required.

The Civil Defense did not lose a second. Comrades in positions of responsibility in both the Party and the government have been moving everywhere. The cadres must demand discipline, withhold their emotions and exercise their authority. The television, radio and printed press are assuming a great responsibility in exercising their informative tasks.

The world has observed with admiration our people’s conduct in the face of the ravages of Gustav. As our enemies were cynically rubbing their hands with glee, our friends who – as has been made evident – are many, are determined to cooperate with our people. The seeds of solidarity planted for many years are growing everywhere. Aircraft from Russia and other countries have been flying in from thousands of kilometers away with products that cannot be measured by their volume or price, but by their significance. We have received donations from small states like Timor Leste, and messages from important and friendly nations like Russia, Vietnam, China and others, have expressed a readiness to cooperate as much as possible with the investment programs that we will have to immediately undertake to reestablish and develop production.

The sister Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela, and its President Hugo Chávez, have adopted measures that constitute the most generous gesture of solidarity that our homeland has known.

Despite the intensity of the blows received and those still to come, I think that our country is in a position to save the lives of its citizens, and families will receive material assistance and food for as long as they need, until they recover – in the shortest possible time – the capacity for food production. This assistance cannot be the same in every municipality since the damages are not the same, neither is the time period needed to get back on their feet.

At this moment we are besieged by hurricanes. We should be more rational than ever and fight wastage, parasitism and complacency. We have to act with absolute honesty, avoiding demagoguery or any concession whatsoever to weakness or opportunism. The revolutionary militants should set an example. They should give and receive confidence. They should give everything for the people, even their lives if that should be necessary.

Fidel Castro Ruz
September 7, 2008

It is not an overstatement. This is the general expression of many compatriots. It was the impression of the Revolutionary Armed Forces Chief of Staff Major General Alvaro Lopez Miera, an experienced soldier, when he saw the twisted steel towers, the shattered houses and the devastation everywhere in the Isle of Youth.

Footage of Hurricane Gustav (external link)

“It has been a hard blow; I couldn’t even imagine it,” Ana Isa Delgado, the Party secretary and president of the Defense Council in that important municipality, said in a voice that was hoarse but steady and resolute. “I’ve never seen anything like it in the almost 50 years I’ve lived here!” said an astounded resident. A young soldier getting out of an amphibious vehicle shouted, “Let’s demonstrate that we are ready to give our lives for the people!”

In Herradura, looking at the devastation all around him, Army Corps General Leopoldo Cintra Frías shared his admiration for and amazement at the people’s courage and said, “This is like seeing a nuclear explosion.” He came close to seeing one in Southwest Angola, if the South African racists had decided to drop one of the seven bombs supplied them by the U.S. government on the Cuban-Angolan forces. That was a calculated risk, however, and the most convenient tactics were adopted.

Polo was accompanied by Olga Lidia Tapia, Party first secretary and president of the Provincial Defense Council, who never doubted for a second the results of the efforts and determination of her compatriots.

In all honesty, I daresay that the photos and film footage shown on national television on Sunday reminded me of the desolation I saw when I visited Hiroshima, victim of the first nuclear strike in August 1945.

With good reason, it is said that hurricanes release an enormous amount of energy, equal, perhaps, to thousands of nuclear weapons like the ones used on the cities of Hiroshima and Nagasaki. It would be worthwhile for a Cuban physicist or mathematician to do the relevant calculations and make a comprehensible presentation.

Now the battle lies in feeding the hurricane’s victims. The difficulty does not lie in reestablishing electricity as soon as possible. The problem in the Isle of Youth is that only two of 16 bakeries — all equipped with electric ovens and generators — were able to operate immediately; the buildings had been severely damaged. They needed to receive bread or crackers. The amount of roofing and other materials needed for housing at this time is enormous. And the Isle of Youth is separated from the main island by the sea. It’s not enough to fill up trucks with food and material to send there directly.

Our Armed Forces have sent airfield and land and air transport specialists. Day and night, with the help of generators, planes can land on the Isle of Youth’s airports. Their mission is to wage a battle for the people without wasting any resources. They will act with the same spirit in devastated areas of Pinar del Río (province). All agencies and institutions have their assigned tasks; they are all important. But goods do not come out of the blue. Sharing involves sacrifice. Let’s not give ourselves the luxury of forgetting this in a few days.

Adverse events should serve to make us work more efficiently every day and for rationally and fairly using every piece of material. We must fight against our own shallowness and selfishness. One hundred million dollars signifies just nine dollars per inhabitant, and we need much more. We need 30 times, 40 times that figure just to meet our most basic needs. That effort must come from the work of our people. Nobody can do it for us.

Obviously, our capacity to disseminate news has increased and our people, who know how to read and write, are also highly educated.

Kcho, the painter, went by plane to the Isle of Youth, his birthplace, and sent us a letter about the high morale of his compatriots. These are a few paragraphs:

“Dear Fidel:

“It seemed important to me, after arriving on the island and seeing with my own eyes and feeling with my body everything that was happening, to get in touch with Richard so that you could know about the terrible situation in this special municipality.

“I have no words to express the reality of what I saw yesterday in the Isle of Youth. In all my 38 years, I have never seen anything like it and the people I talked to in my province have never seen anything worse, but incredibly, their morale is still sky-high… Many have lost their homes and almost everyone’s belongings, beds, mattresses, TV sets, refrigerators, etc., are ruined. Most of the population is in this situation; it is estimated that of the 25,000 homes on the island — and this is not the final figure — some 20,000 have been affected to some extent, and half of those 20,000 have no roofs or are totally destroyed.

“…The brigade of 52 electrical line workers from Camagüey worked until 3 a.m. and started work again today at 6:30 a.m. with tremendous determination. They are expecting another group of 60-plus workers from Holguín…

“… There are still many unresolved problems, such as houses that were destroyed by Hurricane Michelle in 2001.

“There are serious problems with food… The island is like a prison right now, precisely because it is an island, even though flights have resumed… Money has no value because there is nothing to buy and nowhere to go to buy anything.

“Human solidarity is the most important thing right now. Morale is high but that will not last forever; it will be necessary to resolve some things in the coming days. As electric power is reestablished, (it would be good to) create information points where people can gather to learn about what is going on in the country and the municipality, or just to listen to music or spend some time together.

“Right now the province is ‘a theater of military operations during a truce,’ where people are happy because they’re still alive, and not thinking much about having lost their belongings. They are trying to save what’s left and adjusting to that new situation, but as the days go by their morale may fall and they could become depressed.

“…The conditions in the hospital are subhuman, and only the determination and convictions of revolutionary men and women are making it function.

“Pineros (the people of the Isle of Youth) are revolutionary and combative and everybody is working tirelessly (patients, relatives and medical personnel). The 32 patients requiring hemodialysis — each accompanied by a relative and nurses — arrived in the capital yesterday at approximately 4:00 p.m. They had spent 48 hours without treatment but they were doing fine.

“The morale of the pineros is high, and they are happy with the work being done by the corresponding institutions, and by the fact that not one human life was lost in Pinar del Rio, the Isle of Youth or Matanzas.

“I think that for the Isle to return to what it was will take a lot of time with work and a lot of resources, as if it were a province, because now, everything is devastated.”

With his letter, he (Kcho) sent eloquent photos of the devastation. On the envelope, he drew an outline of the Isle of Youth with a Cuban flag flying.

The excellent painters who have always accompanied our battles of ideas might leave a record of this episode and encourage our people in their epic struggle.

Orfilio Pelaez in the Granma (newspaper) told us about a hurricane that hit in 1846 with a record minimum pressure of 916 hPa registered by a machine. That happened 162 years ago, when there was no radio, television, movies, Internet or many other means of communication that sometimes clash, creating chaos in our minds.

The Cuban population at that time was at least 12 times smaller. Using slave and semi-slave labor, the country exported the largest amount of sugar and coffee for a considerable part of that century. Retirement did not exist, life expectancy was much lower, and the illnesses of old age were almost unknown, as was mass education, which is so much needed for the development of so many brains and brawn. Natural resources were abundant. Hurricanes had a big impact but did not signify a national disaster. Climate change, quite far-off, was not even a subject of discussion.

In the Granma (newspaper) of today, Tuesday, the same journalist tells us about the heroic feats of our people in their battle for recuperation, and the fruits of efforts made in recent years. For his part, Rubiera, the scientist, made a detailed observation of the ruins of the Meteorology Institute facilities in Paso Real de San Diego during his tour of Pinar del Rio; he saw how the wind-measuring equipment registered 340 kilometers (per hour) when it was destroyed by strong gusts of wind. It was been announced that he will speak as part of the “Roundtable” (TV/radio program) today. He has theories about what happened.

Juan Varela, for his part, has reported on damage to the largest agricultural farm in Güira de Melena, Habana province. This farm should have produced about 140,000 tons of root vegetables, grains and green vegetables this year. As I see it, losses in work time, food products, farming and irrigation equipment, fuel and other costs, at international prices, total millions just at that enterprise.

However, the most impressive event, because of the human drama portrayed, was reported by journalist Alfonso Nacianceno and photographer Juvenal Balan: the odyssey of the five crew members of the Langostero 100 (lobster boat) from Batabanó in Habana province. These workers had been ordered back to port like all the other fishing boats, in due time. By pure chance, they were delayed. On Saturday, as the hurricane was quickly advancing, communication with them was lost. I had said in two previous reflections: “We’re lucky to have a Revolution! No citizen will be abandoned to his fate.”

I found out the lobster boat was incommunicado on Saturday, almost at midnight. Raúl had given me news of the situation; he was confident in the fishermen’s experience in dealing with storms and hurricanes. He told me that at dawn, he would send the necessary resources to find them. As soon as the weather improved, the search started; it eventually involved 36 boats, three helicopters and two planes for almost two days. There was no trace of the (lobster) boat, but they found the shipwrecked men. What they describe is incredible; whoever is familiar with the sea knows what it means to spend endless hours hanging on to an oar and then a buoy.

The revolutionary miracle happened and the fishermen were rescued.

But let’s not get carried away by illusions. This hurricane has left behind 100,000 homes hit to a lesser or greater extent and the almost total loss of things needed after a tragedy, as Kcho explains in his letter.

How many safe, hurricane-proof homes does Cuba need? No less that 1.5 million houses for a total of 3.5 million families. Let’s estimate what it would cost internationally for such an investment according to figures used worldwide.

A family in Europe has to pay at least $100,000, plus interest, for which they contribute $700 per month of their income for l5 years. Ten billion dollars is the approximate cost of 100,000 homes for average-size families in the developed countries, which are the ones that determine the prices of industrial and food products in the world. To this, we must add the cost of social facilities that were affected and must be rebuilt, economic facilities and those required for development.

It is only from our work, I repeat, that the resources will come. While the new generations are carrying out this task, the men and women of this country need the solidarity, courage and combativeness shown by the people of Pinar del Río and the Isle of Youth.

The empire is going through a difficult test at this time, in the second half of the year, involving its ability to deal with the difficulties brought about by its lifestyle at the expense of other peoples. Now they need a change at the wheel.

Bush and Cheney have almost been left out of the Republican campaign for being warmongers and undesirables. There is no debate about changing the system; it is about how to preserve it at a lesser cost.

Developed imperialism will end up killing everyone trying to enter its territory to become wage slaves and have something to eat. It is already doing so. The chauvinism and egotism generated by that system is huge.

We know that and we will continue developing solidarity, our greatest resource within and outside of our country.

Fidel Castro Ruz
September 2, 2008