Corbina blog

Another high-profile ouster in Cuba. And since he became president, Raul Castro has already changed more than 60% of the Council of Ministers Fidel era, most responsible for the economic area. This time, the "liberated" from his post is Yadira García, head of the Ministry of Basic Industry (MINBAS), which controls strategic sectors like energy, oil and nickel, the primary source of exports of the island. This super-ministry is a key component in the relationship with Venezuela, Cuba's main ally, which currently invests hundreds of millions of dollars in the modernization of the refinery in Cienfuegos and supplies 115,000 barrels of oil with preferential financing.
Garcia, 54, replaced in 2005 the hitherto exalted Marcos Portal, who was fired by Fidel Castro with strong criticism when it was 20 years in office. Now, its removal is done "in response to deficiencies in the management" of MINBAS, according to an official. It says only that the minister mentioned disabilities are "reflected" in "particularly in the weak control over resources for investors and productive process of Basic Industry." Nothing more. So these things are in Cuba (and now missing the rumors). To replace him temporarily, was appointed first deputy minister, Tomas Benitez.
With the relief of Garcia, Raul Castro almost complete renewal of the portfolios of economic area after Fidel Castro ceded power in July 2006 due to a serious illness. Among the new leadership ministries are: Economics, Agriculture, Transportation, Sugar, Domestic Trade, Finance and Prices, Food Industry, Labour and Social Security and light industry, although MINBAS is undoubtedly the most weight.
Yadira had left the team of former Vice President Carlos Lage, whose dismissal in 2009, along with Foreign Minister Felipe Perez Roque accused of disloyalty and political ambitions shook the power structures. In these four years there were relays in other key ministries, including education and health, where the change occurred two months ago. In this case, the owner was a 'historic', José Ramón Balaguer, and during his tenure was the biggest scandal of the Cuban public health: the death by hunger and cold than thirty patients in the psychiatric hospital in Havana, January.
If it is true that 60% of the cabinet has changed, so is that they remain key figures such as Commander Ramiro Valdes (Computer) and General Abelardo Colome (Interior) and Julio Casas (Defense). Raul Castro has focused on the economic superstructure, and has also made numerous movements and reorganizations in the corporate network, but without advertising. Most recently is the change in the leadership of the country's largest state-owned corporation, CIMEX, which controls retail networks, banks, real estate and even gas stations, with a turnover of more than 1,000 million dollars annually. The company's president, Eduardo Bencomo, who had years in office, has been replaced by a colonel linked to the business address of the Armed Forces.
Well just stop the president of the Chamber of Commerce, Pedro Alvarez. This, at a time when the country is facing the challenge to dismiss a half million workers in 2011 and encourage self-employment and small private businesses as part of the "socialist model settings" to avoid economic collapse.

The Venezuelan government today rejected the politicization and blackmail used by the United States in countering drug trafficking, highlighted in its latest report on combating the scourge in the world.
  "We do not accept any blackmail or pressure from the imperial government," warned Simon Bolivar International Airport Interior Minister, Tarek El Aissami, for deportation to the United States two lords wanted by the justice in that country.
For the headline, the arrest of Colombian Jaime Alberto Marin and Dominican Omar Guzman and other results show Venezuela's commitment to counternarcotics, posture ignored by Washington in its report, which accused Caracas of failing in that fight.
Every calumny and manipulation we respond with results, he said.
According to El Aissami, the United States once again shows his cynicism on the subject.
This year we have already delivered six drug dealers, and 17 in the last five years. So their lies do not stand a minute, he said.
Regarding deportation, the officer explained the history of Marin and Guzman, U.S. prosecuted for cocaine trafficking and other crimes.

A law criminalizing gang membership and funding and other groups went into effect today in El Salvador after those bands require the carrier to stop their work for 72 hours to demand that they not be punished this legal instrument.
The Prohibition Act of maras, gangs, groups, associations and organizations of a criminal nature, known as "anti-gang", was passed by Parliament on 1 September and culminating nine days later by President Mauricio Funes, who ruled out negotiating with the gang.
"Eight days after its publication (in the Official Journal) is effective," he told Efe the Deputy Minister of Justice and Security, Henry Fields.
Following this law, which seeks to contain the violence that is bleeding this country, where there are between 10 and 13 murders per day, the Mara Salvatrucha (MS) and Mara 18 (M18) sought to paralyze transportation, to prevent its passage presidential.
The rule outlaws and outlaws "calls gangs or" maras "and provides for the" extinction of ownership, control, or possession "of goods, cash, rights, profits and advantages that were acquired as part of this criminal activity .
It also empowers the prosecutor or the court to order the freezing of bank accounts and seize assets related to these crimes.
Fields explained that the authorities will "with new tools" to "proceed against the assets of those gang members or gang-related" and disable them to integrate companies or be shareholders.
"They can not exercise political rights those who are convicted of this crime (...) can not receive any benefit from the state law can not be authenticated, are not supported, can not maintain permissions for (...), example, to operate a bus, nor can they be owners "of these by others, he said.
For his part, Archbishop of San Salvador, José Luis Escobar Alas, said at a news conference that the law "is a valid tool" and "an element for the solution of violence" but "not enough" , said the prelate, who stressed the need to "advance in the prevention of crime" and "research."
The Executive introduced the law after suspected gang members set fire on 20 June, a bus with passengers on board, a fact which caused 17 deaths. That same day he was shot at another vehicle in transport, which claimed three lives.
In March 1996 passed a law against delinquency and organized crime, but declared unconstitutional in February 1997, sources told Efe the Supreme Court.
Another "anti-gang law" took effect, temporarily, in October 2003 and established as a crime, gang membership, while minors tried as adults if they have committed murder, but was declared unconstitutional in 2004 .
Fields explained that those laws were declared unconstitutional earlier because criminalizing "modes of being" and establish penalties, for example, the use of tattoos or communications through codes.
He said that now is an "administrative law", which specifies and complements the prohibited conduct and that, by itself, does not establish penalties.
In this case, it shall enter into force still increased penalties, given that the government has not sanctioned the reform of Article 345 of the Penal Code.
Different sectors have warned that this law "may bring more violence" and demanded action to prevent young people are linked to these groups.
"What may happen is that (...) the gang become more violent," said the coordinator of Public Safety and Criminal Justice Research Foundation for the Application of Law, Nelson Rojas.
"Hopefully not reach the levels of Honduras and Mexico," he said.
While in Guatemala have declared on alert for a possible exodus of Salvadoran gang members from the input force of "anti-gang law."

Investing in clean energy and sustainable transportation or find other ways of farming less harmful to the environment help reduce poverty in the world, according to a report released today by the United Nations Environment Programme.
 The UN agency released the document to coincide with the start of the meeting to review the implementation of the Millennium Development Goals, involving 192 countries and including 140 heads of State or Government.
The report emphasizes that reducing carbon dioxide emissions will not only help achieve a more sustainable environment, but also to achieve other MDGs such as reducing poverty and infant mortality.
"It is increasingly clear that accelerate the transition towards a green economy with low carbon emissions, efficient use of natural resources and generate employment may be the key not only to meet the challenges of sustainability of the twentieth century but also to contribute significantly to achieving other MDGs, "said UNEP executive director Achim Steiner.
The MDGs set in 2000 to reach fifteen years later are to eradicate extreme poverty and hunger, achieving universal primary education, promoting gender equality, reducing child mortality, improve maternal health, combat HIV virus and AIDS, ensuring environmental sustainability and developing a global partnership for development.
UNEP describes the solutions that various communities around the world have undertaken to create new sustainable projects simultaneously with productive environment for the development of the economy.
One such example is Costa Rica, a country where this kind of sustainable policies have increased by 25% its protected areas of national parks, which has attracted a million visitors a year and generated five million dollars a year only the cost of entry to national parks.
The document, entitled "Report to the green economy policy and the Millennium Development Goals", shows that forests and green areas to rebuild not only makes a better environment but also provides the communities of the nutrients needed for agriculture key in the world's poorest communities.
Another country that offers the example of such sustainable policies is China, whose energy policy have become the second country with more wind power in the world and the biggest exporter of PV.
Only in 2009, China created 300,000 jobs related to wind energy, and the number of employees in clean energy has grown in recent years to reach a million and a half of workers in this energy sector.
Other significant cases mentioned are those of Brazil, where the number of green area per person has soared from one square meter to 50 square meters, and Nepal, where between 2000 and 2005, forest areas have risen by 1.3% This has increased the quality of the soil and improved water supplies.
"The implicit goal of the XXI century is to achieve a sustainable lifestyle and safe for the population in the next four decades will increase by one third," Steiner said, adding that "the challenge was that in September 2000 led to world leaders adopted the eight Millennium Development Goals. "

Colombian Defense Minister Rodrigo Rivera, has confirmed that one of the 27 rebels killed during the army operation in the department of Putumayo (South), on the border with Ecuador, Sixto Antonio Cabana was Guillén, alias 'Sunday Biojó' political leader the front 48 of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC), who was wanted by Interpol.
   The number of rebels killed in the so-called 'Operation Fortitude II' of Police, Army and Air Force on Monday rose to 27 after they located the bodies of five rebels in the area where the attack occurred, told the news director of the National Police, Gen. Oscar Naranjo.
   The bodies are being sent to the facilities of Legal Medicine, where in the next few hours will start the identification process by a team of dactilocotistas, forensic doctors and dentists.
   'Domingo Biojó' was one of 50 FARC leaders sought by U.S. justice for its activities related to drug trafficking was a "man of confidence" of the deceased heads of FARC Manuel Marulanda and Raul Reyes, and commander of the South Block of this armed group, Joaquin Gomez, Rivera told the local radio station RCN.
   The rebel leader shot was considered a key person in the military reorganization, political and ideological of the FARC in southern Colombia and, in turn, controlled the cocaine trade in the area of the country. According to local press, 'Domingo Biojó' had the task to rebuild the foundations of the FARC that have deteriorated as a result of the collapse almost two years of the company DMG pyramid, where the armed group had invested money.
   The clashes took place in the municipality of San Miguel in Putumayo, the town where the Sept. 10 rebels killed eight police. "A landing of our men Jungle of the National Police and in support of the Air Force conducted bombing in the camp which gave him a severe blow to the front 48, eight days after produce themselves attacking police national, "said Rivera.
   Rivera stressed the strength of this blow to the FARC and compared this with its predecessor, 'Fortaleza I', which took place last January when he was killed Edgar Tovar, who was commander of the FARC's 48th Front and right hand of Raul Reyes.
   The front 48 of the FARC is part of the Block called south and has a strong influence in Putumayo. According to official information, in the last 10 years the rebels in this block have been responsible for the safety of Raul Reyes, who died on March 1, 2008 during a bombing raid by the Colombian army camp in Ecuadorian territory.