Still, those who listen and call to Radio Mambi are older generation Cubans who believe militarism is justified.
On January 5, 2007, another caller to "La Mesa Redonda" (The Round Table) urged Perez-Roura and his listeners that the US must do MORE to help the Cubans on the island, specifically suggesting a naval blockade. Perez-Roura replied that "ojala con tiempo"(hopefully with time) the US would approve such an option.
On January 12, 2007, Perez-Roura invited Ernesto Diaz Rodriguez, member of Alpha 66, to denounce the US indictments on Luis Posada Carriles. He basically reiterated an important point on how far some Cubans are willing to go. He mentioned that it was a "sacred pledge... to fight (or struggle) to free Cuba without counting on anybody, nor asking permission from anyone, whatever the price may be."
On January 23, 2007, in another "Tome Nota" radio commentary, Perez-Roura made it very clear that he would not consider any other alternatives to the US/Cuba conflict. He said that their struggle "would not permit, at the last minute, for an agreement to be reached... In Cuba there must be change. There cannot be a succession. There cannot be a transition, where everything definitely stays the same, because we know well how Communists are."
According to Perez-Roura's praise of Luis Posada Carriles and Santiago Alvarez, I'm sure he and others at Radio Mambi would be very happy with a violent coup to settle their anger.
On December 22, 2006 ("En Caliente" morning show), a caller made it very clear what kind of "struggle" Radio Mambi really wants.
Caller: ... because [in Cuba] what we must do is fight, and throw rocks, do anything, and from here [in Miami] guide it. Often we are afraid of others' criticisms because we want everything [in Cuba] to be by the law. With the Communist government, there can be NOTHING by the law. It has to be based on FORCE! Otherwise, they will never be liberated!
Enrique Encinosa (co-host with Perez-Roura): "I'm very much in agreement. If the ten thousand who signed the Varela Project, instead of signing, had instead taken to the streets with ten thousand boxes of matches, it would be over in a day."
Tuesday, February 6, 2007
Radio Mambi and Ten Thousand Boxes of Matches
Radio Mambi Goes to War
If one listens to Radio Mambi (WAQI) regularly, South Florida's number one Spanish AM radio station, one would become convinced of an imminent war between Cuba and the US.
On this morning's round table program, Ninoska Perez-Castellon, confidently stated that a coup d'etat is "extremely justified" in the case of Cuba. Also in Venezuela and Bolivia, as a matter of fact. I'm sure she meant in the same manner which occurred in Venezuela with the help of the US in 2002. And, this past Friday (Feb. 2) in his regular radio commentary "Tome Nota", Armando Perez-Roura said that the US should review its Kennedy-Khrushchev agreement of non-aggression towards Cuba. Perez-Roura believes that the agreement is null and void since the collapse of the USSR. In Radio Mambi, there is always room for war.
Yet, this sentiment is shared by many Cubans in South Florida. In 2004, Florida International University conducted a poll of 1,202 Cuban-Americans and found that 46.5% favored a "direct US military action to overthrow the Cuban government," while only 29.6 opposed. The same sentiments were seen in Broward county. But, within the Cubans who came AFTER 1985, there was a split of 41.8% in favor of US military action and 43.7% opposed. And, those who came after 1985 made up most of the respondents polled (32.4%).
On this morning's round table program, Ninoska Perez-Castellon, confidently stated that a coup d'etat is "extremely justified" in the case of Cuba. Also in Venezuela and Bolivia, as a matter of fact. I'm sure she meant in the same manner which occurred in Venezuela with the help of the US in 2002. And, this past Friday (Feb. 2) in his regular radio commentary "Tome Nota", Armando Perez-Roura said that the US should review its Kennedy-Khrushchev agreement of non-aggression towards Cuba. Perez-Roura believes that the agreement is null and void since the collapse of the USSR. In Radio Mambi, there is always room for war.
Yet, this sentiment is shared by many Cubans in South Florida. In 2004, Florida International University conducted a poll of 1,202 Cuban-Americans and found that 46.5% favored a "direct US military action to overthrow the Cuban government," while only 29.6 opposed. The same sentiments were seen in Broward county. But, within the Cubans who came AFTER 1985, there was a split of 41.8% in favor of US military action and 43.7% opposed. And, those who came after 1985 made up most of the respondents polled (32.4%).
Monday, February 5, 2007
The Cuban Abortion Scheme Debunked (epilogue)
The latest news shows that Brazil, who's infant mortality rate seemed stagnant, has finally seen a reduction. The latest numbers from the Ministy of Health reveal a reduction from 49.7 to 28.91 deaths per 1000 live births, from 1990 to 2002. The health minister, Humberto Costa, is giving the credit to Brazil's Family Health program which he plans to extend to poorer municipalities and ask for more funding. The study also attributes the decrease in infant mortality to increased funding of education programs and access to potable water and sanitation.
On the other hand, the latest report on US health from the United Health Foundation, the American Public Health Association and Partnership for Prevention shows that since 2000 "the rate of improvement in the nation’s health status has essentially stagnated."[graph above] They attribute this stagnation to continued smoking, high infant mortality, an increase in obesity, and increase in uninsured Americans.
Infant mortality in the US is 6.6 per 1000 births. The report's media release points out that "Our rate of 6.6 deaths per 1,000 live births is double that of Japan, Sweden, Finland, Monaco and San Marino. Countries such as the Czech Republic, France, Germany and Spain also have better rates of infant survival."
We can also add Cuba.
[source: America's Health Rankings Online Report]
False Reality at Babalu
Val Prieto said:
More babies born = higher rate of possible infant mortality.
Less babies born = lower rate of possible infant mortality
Thus more babies being aborted = less babies born = lower infant mortality rate.
Given the information that I have presented, this simple logic is insufficient to describe reality. On the other hand, Prieto's remarks reveal the basic argument needed to quickly condemn the Cuban government, regardless of any relevant facts or efforts to find them, and thus support the Cuban Abortion Scheme.
BabaluBlog and its many authors continue their false arguments daily, yet their positions do not withstand scrutiny, of which they quickly take care of with ad hominems. It seems to me that Prieto and friends do not care for facts at all, but instead prefer a false picture of Cuba, an island that must be saved from the evil dragon. Its a fairy tale.
My argument does not suggest that all evidence that appears on BabaluBlog is false, but rather their author's interpretations of Cuba-related facts are disingenuous. As can be seen above.
Prieto calls Cuba's health care "smoke and mirrors." I say the same of Prieto's website.
More babies born = higher rate of possible infant mortality.
Less babies born = lower rate of possible infant mortality
Thus more babies being aborted = less babies born = lower infant mortality rate.
Given the information that I have presented, this simple logic is insufficient to describe reality. On the other hand, Prieto's remarks reveal the basic argument needed to quickly condemn the Cuban government, regardless of any relevant facts or efforts to find them, and thus support the Cuban Abortion Scheme.
BabaluBlog and its many authors continue their false arguments daily, yet their positions do not withstand scrutiny, of which they quickly take care of with ad hominems. It seems to me that Prieto and friends do not care for facts at all, but instead prefer a false picture of Cuba, an island that must be saved from the evil dragon. Its a fairy tale.
My argument does not suggest that all evidence that appears on BabaluBlog is false, but rather their author's interpretations of Cuba-related facts are disingenuous. As can be seen above.
Prieto calls Cuba's health care "smoke and mirrors." I say the same of Prieto's website.
Sunday, February 4, 2007
The Cuban Abortion Scheme Debunked (Part 7)
Women in the US, like women in Latin America and the Caribbean, give similar reasons for having an abortion: economic reasons that would disrupt the care of dependents, to care for a child, or be a single mother. Most likely, these reasons also contribute to Cuba's abortion rate, not a government scheme.
In her Havana study, Stephanie Bernal pointed out that "[a]s a result of the economic crisis that occurred in the early 1990s, the number of abortions increased." She quotes a Cuban doctor, Dr. Urrusuno-Carbajal, saying that, at the time, Cuban women "just did not want to give birth." Yet, overall abortion rates have dropped since the early 90's. Bernal writes that "[t]o discourage abortion as a means of contraception, doctors educate their populations about family planning and contraceptive methods... these educational campaigns seemed to be successful. The abortion rate decreased from 70.0 per 100 deliveries in 1992, to 59.4 in 1996."
Interestingly, an abortion study from Cuba last year provided additonal support to Bernal's observations and pointed out a peculiar phenomenon on the island. Miriam Gran, a biostatistics expert, last year conducted a study of more that 4000 Cuban women titled: "Voluntary termination of pregnancy and contraception: two methods of fertility control."
She found that the Cuban abortion rate has been declining since 1986, when 93,649 abortions were reported, in contrast to 67,277 in 2004. Gran says that "[o]ver decades, the rate has indeed declined, which reflects well on family planning, health education and sex education. It has to be taken into account that whenever the birth rate falls, as has been happening in Cuba, abortions nearly always decline as well." Gran's study found 43% of respondents had used abortion in the past, 52.2% of those who had abortions gave reasons due to abandonment of other birth control methods, 30.1% due to "lack of knowledge," and 7.3% out of preference. The remaining women cited health-related issues and unwanted pregnancies.
These findings are quite unique in a country where abortion is permitted (with legal notification) at request to women. Dr. Leticia Artiles, coordinator of the Cuban Gender and Collective Health Network, believes that "[i]n Cuba, terminating a pregnancy is not charged with negative symbolism, it isn't seen as a crime... [or loaded with] social taboos against single women seeking contraceptive methods."
These findings do not support a scheme by the Cuban government, but rather a complex social preference, over time, for the procedure of abortion, a legitimate reproductive right, as a response to an environment where women's health is crucial in the developing world.
[Part 1] [Part 2] [Part 3] [Part 4] [Part 5] [Part 6] [Epilogue]
In her Havana study, Stephanie Bernal pointed out that "[a]s a result of the economic crisis that occurred in the early 1990s, the number of abortions increased." She quotes a Cuban doctor, Dr. Urrusuno-Carbajal, saying that, at the time, Cuban women "just did not want to give birth." Yet, overall abortion rates have dropped since the early 90's. Bernal writes that "[t]o discourage abortion as a means of contraception, doctors educate their populations about family planning and contraceptive methods... these educational campaigns seemed to be successful. The abortion rate decreased from 70.0 per 100 deliveries in 1992, to 59.4 in 1996."
Interestingly, an abortion study from Cuba last year provided additonal support to Bernal's observations and pointed out a peculiar phenomenon on the island. Miriam Gran, a biostatistics expert, last year conducted a study of more that 4000 Cuban women titled: "Voluntary termination of pregnancy and contraception: two methods of fertility control."
She found that the Cuban abortion rate has been declining since 1986, when 93,649 abortions were reported, in contrast to 67,277 in 2004. Gran says that "[o]ver decades, the rate has indeed declined, which reflects well on family planning, health education and sex education. It has to be taken into account that whenever the birth rate falls, as has been happening in Cuba, abortions nearly always decline as well." Gran's study found 43% of respondents had used abortion in the past, 52.2% of those who had abortions gave reasons due to abandonment of other birth control methods, 30.1% due to "lack of knowledge," and 7.3% out of preference. The remaining women cited health-related issues and unwanted pregnancies.
These findings are quite unique in a country where abortion is permitted (with legal notification) at request to women. Dr. Leticia Artiles, coordinator of the Cuban Gender and Collective Health Network, believes that "[i]n Cuba, terminating a pregnancy is not charged with negative symbolism, it isn't seen as a crime... [or loaded with] social taboos against single women seeking contraceptive methods."
These findings do not support a scheme by the Cuban government, but rather a complex social preference, over time, for the procedure of abortion, a legitimate reproductive right, as a response to an environment where women's health is crucial in the developing world.
[Part 1] [Part 2] [Part 3] [Part 4] [Part 5] [Part 6] [Epilogue]
The Cuban Abortion Scheme Debunked (Part 6)
A report* produced in 2001 as a collaboration between the World Bank, the Inter-American Development Bank, and the Pan American Health Association addressed the dire need for effective women's health care in Latin America and the Caribbean. One of their conclusions was:
"To improve the health status of women, given tight budget constraints, countries... should focus resources on improving basic reproductive health conditions. The interventions required are relatively low-cost, in general, and yet have major pay-offs in health conditions and human welfare. Providing appropriate family planning methods to women who want to control their fertility, providing early and reliable prenatal and essential obstetric care, fostering good nutrition, and developing specially targeted services for women at high risk for sexually transmitted diseases should all be very high on the public priority list."
According to the sources cited, Cuba has met some of these needs through their Mother and Child Plan, but with a slight edge over the rest of its neighbors in Latin America and the Caribbean: legalized abortion since 1965.
The 2001 World Bank report states that "[i]n most Latin American countries, between one-quarter and one-third of women 18 years old or younger are pregnant or have already had a child... Up to half of the pregnancies in young women are unplanned"(emphasis added). Currently, abortion is illegal or highly restricted in Latin America and the Caribbean, thus many women seek clandestine abortion. A 1996 study found that "[e]stimated rates of [clandestine] abortion are highest in Peru and Chile (each year, almost one woman in every 20, aged 15-49 has an induced abortion), intermediate in Brazil, Colombia and the Dominican Republic (about one woman in 30), and lowest in Mexico (approximately one in 40)." The World Bank believes "an estimated one-fifth of maternal deaths are attributed to [clandestine] abortion-related conditions, and an estimated 40 percent... experience serious complications."
In 1990, a study in Bolivia, Colombia, Peru and Venezuela, "found that the vast majority of hospitalized [clandestine] abortion patients [due to complications]...half (51%) had two or more children." Several other studies have shown that "the majority of... patients appear to be married women who already have all the children they feel able to care for. The difficult social and economic conditions facing many millions of families in Latin America's poor rural areas and vast city slums spur the desire of couples to have fewer children."
These desires, with the help of other available contraception, have expressed themselves in the overall decrease of fertility rates in Latin America and the Caribbean over the years, yet it is mainly in the urban sectors, leaving the rural poor with higher fertility rates and higher maternal mortality rates.
According to the Alan Guttmacher Institute, "[t]he developing areas of the world, where 79% of the world's people live, account for 64% of legal and 95% of illegal abortions..."
*The World Bank, Inter-American Development Bank, and Pan American Health Association. (2001). The Health of Women in Latin America and the Caribbean. Washington DC: The World Bank.
[Part 7]
"To improve the health status of women, given tight budget constraints, countries... should focus resources on improving basic reproductive health conditions. The interventions required are relatively low-cost, in general, and yet have major pay-offs in health conditions and human welfare. Providing appropriate family planning methods to women who want to control their fertility, providing early and reliable prenatal and essential obstetric care, fostering good nutrition, and developing specially targeted services for women at high risk for sexually transmitted diseases should all be very high on the public priority list."
According to the sources cited, Cuba has met some of these needs through their Mother and Child Plan, but with a slight edge over the rest of its neighbors in Latin America and the Caribbean: legalized abortion since 1965.
The 2001 World Bank report states that "[i]n most Latin American countries, between one-quarter and one-third of women 18 years old or younger are pregnant or have already had a child... Up to half of the pregnancies in young women are unplanned"(emphasis added). Currently, abortion is illegal or highly restricted in Latin America and the Caribbean, thus many women seek clandestine abortion. A 1996 study found that "[e]stimated rates of [clandestine] abortion are highest in Peru and Chile (each year, almost one woman in every 20, aged 15-49 has an induced abortion), intermediate in Brazil, Colombia and the Dominican Republic (about one woman in 30), and lowest in Mexico (approximately one in 40)." The World Bank believes "an estimated one-fifth of maternal deaths are attributed to [clandestine] abortion-related conditions, and an estimated 40 percent... experience serious complications."
In 1990, a study in Bolivia, Colombia, Peru and Venezuela, "found that the vast majority of hospitalized [clandestine] abortion patients [due to complications]...half (51%) had two or more children." Several other studies have shown that "the majority of... patients appear to be married women who already have all the children they feel able to care for. The difficult social and economic conditions facing many millions of families in Latin America's poor rural areas and vast city slums spur the desire of couples to have fewer children."
These desires, with the help of other available contraception, have expressed themselves in the overall decrease of fertility rates in Latin America and the Caribbean over the years, yet it is mainly in the urban sectors, leaving the rural poor with higher fertility rates and higher maternal mortality rates.
According to the Alan Guttmacher Institute, "[t]he developing areas of the world, where 79% of the world's people live, account for 64% of legal and 95% of illegal abortions..."
*The World Bank, Inter-American Development Bank, and Pan American Health Association. (2001). The Health of Women in Latin America and the Caribbean. Washington DC: The World Bank.
[Part 7]
Saturday, February 3, 2007
The Cuban Abortion Scheme Debunked (Part 5)
It is well known that Cuba offers such universal services, but in 1995 and subsequent years, Cuba made increased efforts to address the health of newborns and mothers. Cuba's "Programa de Atención Materno Infantil" (The Mother and Child Plan) is considered by the online publication MEDICC Review (Medical Education Cooperation with Cuba) as perhaps "one of the most important [national programs] within the Cuban health system". An observational study in Havana (Cerro district) conducted in 2000 by Stephanie Bernal from California State University at San Bernardino, highlighted the many dimensions of the Mother and Child Plan. She writes that "[t]his program places a special emphasis on the needs of pregnant women, newborns, and children. Bernal argues that "[b]etter data collection methods and research" and increased services have led the way in improved health statistics for newborns and mothers. "The average number of prenatal visits per woman increased from 17.2 in 1992, to 23.6 in 1996", says Bernal citing numbers from PAHO, and that "[p]renatal screenings are free of charge and include glycemia, urine, vaginal, and ultrasound tests."
In 2005, Jelka Zupan from the World Health Organization (WHO) wrote that "[t]he barriers to appropriate maternity care are not insurmountable. The cost, for example, is moderate, and some poor countries have proved that it is affordable." Cuba's Mother and Child Plan is one example of how Cuban health care has met the appropriate needs of maternity care. In a case of unintended irony, the WHO World Health Report of that year stated that improvements to children's health in the developing world "requires a cultural revolution among health workers to start working with households and communities as partners, and to look at children as children, and not merely as a collection of diseases."
[Part 6]
In 2005, Jelka Zupan from the World Health Organization (WHO) wrote that "[t]he barriers to appropriate maternity care are not insurmountable. The cost, for example, is moderate, and some poor countries have proved that it is affordable." Cuba's Mother and Child Plan is one example of how Cuban health care has met the appropriate needs of maternity care. In a case of unintended irony, the WHO World Health Report of that year stated that improvements to children's health in the developing world "requires a cultural revolution among health workers to start working with households and communities as partners, and to look at children as children, and not merely as a collection of diseases."
[Part 6]
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