f ; 1. Monument to Jose Marti, Cuban revolutionary, overlooks Revolutionary Square in Havana. Havana:is staffed by 100 full time doctors. Shown are the rehabililita- tion centres where patients who are able to take part in work therapy are housed. 3. New cities are springing up over Cuba all built by volunteer’ labor. Workers from factories, lawyers, professors, teachers, and medical practitioners all form the work brigades. An oasis of hope in Latin America By MARTIN ZEILIG During the recent 11th World Festival of Youth and Students in Havana, Cuba, I had the oppor- tunity to view some of the succes- ses of the Revolution. There were two trips, one to Eastern Havanaandits provinces, the other went west. Together these tours provided an excellent insight into some of the Cuban achievements during the past 20 All tours during the festival were free of charge and on beauti- ful air-conditioned buses. Inter- preters were provided and we were fed multi-course meals at a particular point during the tour. Going east about 15 minutes from the centre of Havana is the new city of Alamar. Begun in 1971 by volunteer workers formed into units called ‘‘micro-brigades”’, this colorful and modern city has room to expand to an eventual size of 150,000. Currently the over 30,000 residents have com- mercial centers, health centers, a hospital, all types of sports and recreation areas and of course daycare facilities. Different con- Struction techniques have been and are being used with pre- fabrication seemingly the most dominant (and practical) form of building The micro-brigades are volun- teer workers who belong to diffe- rent factories. While they are away on construction their work at the factory is done by others. Included on the different micro- brigade teams are professional people such as lawyers, profes- sors, teachers, and even some medical practitioners. ° Much of the land for coastruc- tion of Alamar had to be purch- ased from private owners. Strange as it may seem, the socialist government of Cuba re- spected (and respects) the right of people who acquired land before the revolution. The state does not sell land, but a private individual may sell his piece of property to another. Continuing our trip east we next visited Jose Marti Pioneer Camp. (Jose Marti, among his many accomplishments, was one of the most extraordinary thin- kers in America and initiated the modern style in Spanish litera- ture. He wrote the-song Guan- tanamera.) This camp, situated near the area which inspired Er- nest Hemingway to pen ‘‘The Old Man and The Sea’’, used to be the exclusive resort for Cuban, upper-middle-class. It now caters to children between the ages of 6 to 12. The luxurious homes formerly owned by rich and powerful in- dustrialists and landowners now are residences for suntanned, energetic youngsters. Within the camp is a center for asthmatic pioneers and a special interna- tional camp. The facilities can accommo- date 21,000 young people at a time. Their- activities are ex- tremely well planned and every- thing from a cultural center to boat dock is included. It was at the camp where we were served a delightful lunch and serenaded by a 5-man combo who played ev- erything from ‘‘Guantanamero”’ PACIFIC TRIBUNE—SEPTEMBER 15, 1978—Page 6 to the old Herb Alpert hit ““What Now My Love’’. The Genetic Cattle Enterprise of Havana was our final stop on the tour of Eastern Havana pro- vinces. It covers 17 districts and includes over 50,000 acres. The 4,600 workers include 900 women who are into all phases of the en- terprise. Started 9 years ago, the area was formerly underde- veloped with no roads, very poor farmers, and an extremely high infant mortality rate. By the scientific application of selective breeding, the Cuban government is attempting to de- velop breeds of cattle suitable to tropical climates. Canadian Hols- tein cows are among the types of foreign cattle bought by the Cu- bans. Ramon Castro (Fidel’s older brother), who greeted us at the scenic entrance to the Genetic Enterprise, is one of the ‘people most instrumental in Cuban ag- - ricultural life. As he told us in a ‘*mini-speech’’, the American blockade, among other things, prevented milk products and other food from being exported into Cuba. Now the people of Cuba, thanks to hard work and international assistance are self- sufficient in many basic food necessities. Our complementary tour to the other side of Havana and the Western provinces proved to be just as interesting. Revolution: Square is Havana’s counterpart to Moscow's famed Red Square. It is a means of communication between people and the Cuban ‘leaders. The original design for Revolution Square was done in 2. The Psychiatric Hospital of the 15th century by a French Ar- chitect. However, it was not until the 1950’s that the square was ac- tually built and expanded to its current massive size. A pensive, granite statue of Jose Marti looks down at all who venture into Re- volution Square. The closing ceremonies for the 11th Festival: were held in the square with more than one million people in atten- dance. Sports City goes under the motto ‘‘Sport is a People’s Right.’” Commenced in 1958 and finished by the revolutionary government, this giant complex with its diverse facilities has be- come the training ground for most of Cuba’s finest athletes. Many international sporting events are held within its arena, e.g. 1971 — World gymnastic championships; 1974 — World boxing champion- ship; 1973 — World weight lifting championship. Sports City’s pedagogical " school has to date graduated 3,060 professors of physical education. The Psychiatric Hospital of Havana was the one revolutio- nary achievement which more than any other, poignantly impre- ssed me. Prior to the revolution patients were herded into unheal- thy wards, naked and hungry, without hygiene and proper food. Mortality rates reached incredible levels. In one particular-day, 86 deaths were registered! Today all patients receive the most modern assistance. The main ,form of rehabilitation is work therapy or occupational therapy. Psychiatrists evaluate the type of work patients can do and then the occupational therapy is provided in a progressive form. There are five levels of this sort of therapy leading to a possible placing of patients in Rehabilita- tion Centers which. have capacities for 60-100 patients. These are located away from the hospital and within the communi- ty. At the hospital patients grow rose bushes and 80,000 chickens are raised to maturity every two months. Carpentry shops, machine shops, sewing and rug making areas are available. A track and field and baseball stadium are available for the pa- tients. We saw many practising their favorite sport. The 100 fulltime dociors at the hospital in- clude 45 psychiatrists (our guide, Dr. Armenteros,. was a_ heart specialist). We were entertained in the hospital’s theatre by singers and musicians selected from among the most talented patients. At the conclusion of this most enlighten- ing tour we were feasted at a. magnificent buffet and each per- son was presented with a gift made by one of the patients. Everywhere we went, whether to,Revolution Square, Alamar or out walking through Old Havana, swarms of young pioneers and others thrust out autograph books and beseiged us for our signa- tures. Cubans showed the utmost kindness and consideration to- ward us. In one particular in- stance after. an afternoon walking about Havana, a policeman drove two of us halfway across the city so that we could catch the ap- propriate bus back to our hostel. Naturally there are shortages: and certain items as yet unattain- able, but not once were we ap- — proached by a panhandler or black-marketeer. The people we | saw were well fed (especially the children) and clothed. Entertainment is inexpensive and excellent. The one nightclub which we attended, Rio-Cristal, was formerly the mansion of a rich landowner. Now due to Cuban ingenuity it has been re- vamped into an exquisite ‘‘night- _ under the stars.”’