According to the World Federation of the Deaf, there are currently 72 million deaf people on the planet. More than 80% live in developing countries and as a group they use more than 300 different sign languages.

In a statement regarding the International Day of Sign Languages, the UN notes that the date is a unique opportunity to support and protect the linguistic identity and cultural diversity of all deaf people and other users of sign language.

In 2020, the World Federation of the Deaf will announce the World Leaders Challenge, which aims to promote the use of sign language by local, national and world leaders in collaboration with national associations of deaf people in each country, as well as with other organizations run by deaf people.

The statement highlights that sign languages ​​are natural languages ​​for all intents and purposes, structurally different from spoken languages.

There is also an international sign language that is used by deaf people at international meetings and, informally, when traveling and socializing. This international language is considered a Pidgin language , that is, a mixed language created from a given language plus other elements from one or more other languages.

International Sign Language is less complex than Natural Sign Languages ​​and has a limited lexicon.

Pidgin: Mixed language, created on the basis of a certain language and with the contribution of numerous elements from another or others, which are used especially in commercial enclaves by speakers of different languages ​​to interact with each other. (Dictionary of the Spanish Language, RAE)

The Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, adopted in December 2006 and which entered into force in May 2008, recognizes and promotes the use of sign languages. It establishes that they have the same status as spoken languages ​​and obliges States parties to facilitate the learning of sign language and promote the linguistic identity of the deaf community.

The convention, opened for signature in March 2007, recorded the highest number of signatories to a UN convention on its first day in the body’s history.

It is the first comprehensive treaty related to human rights in the 21st century, and was achieved after decades of work to change attitudes and approaches towards people with disabilities: from “objects” of charity, medical treatment and social protection to “subjects” with rights – capable of claiming those rights and deciding in their lives based on their free and informed consent – and acting as active members of society.

The General Assembly proclaimed, in resolution A / 72/439, September 23 as the International Day of Sign Languages ​​(proclaimed by the GA in December 2017 and celebrated for the first time in 2018) in order to raise awareness about the importance of these for the full realization of the human rights of deaf people.

This United Nations body establishes that early access to sign language and services in this language, including quality education in that language, is vital for the growth and development of deaf people and is decisive for the achievement of sustainable development goals.

It also highlights the importance of preserving sign languages ​​as part of linguistic and cultural diversity. It also emphasizes that when working with deaf communities, the principle of “nothing about us without us” should be considered and applied .

The proposal for the celebration of this international day was made by the World Federation of the Deaf, which brings together 135 national deaf associations, representing approximately 70 million deaf people around the world.

September 23 was chosen as the commemorative date because it was the date on which the World Federation of the Deaf was established in 1951. This day marks the birth of an organization whose main objectives are the preservation of sign languages ​​and deaf culture as prerequisites for the realization of human rights of deaf people.

(With information from UN)

The history of music in Cuba has been profoundly marked by mestizaje since the nationality’s very conception, in close communion with the war against Spanish colonialism. The birth of nationalist, pro-independence sentiment was anti-colonialist, and anti-racist by implication and in principle. Is it possible to label as racist a Revolution that had as its political foundation the abolition of slavery? Recognizing the symbiosis of Cuban culture with emancipatory ideals, even before 1868, is perhaps the most important cultural development that shaped the thinking of great Cubans, with the obvious reference being José Martí, who continues to serve as an obligatory beacon in this sense.

Now, if we begin to mention the names of those who laid the foundations of our music, we will note that there is no place for racism, and much less for splitting apart the solid marriage of diverse musical expressions, from a current point of view, as is attempted practically every day.

Two names from before the 20th century stand out in terms of academic musical performance and composition: White and Brindis de Salas, but when we consider the more popular plane, others must be added, including Pepe Sánchez, Miguel Faílde and the avalanche represented by Sindo, Matamoros, Siro and all those who illuminated the nascent 20th century.

Not to be overlooked are Anacaona, María Teresa Vera, Guillermina Aramburu, Celia Cruz, Enriqueta Almanza, Isolina Carrillo, Ángel Díaz, the “feeling” movement, Aida Diestro and his Quartet, Beny Moré, Compay Segundo, Lorenzo, Reynaldo and Caridad Hierrezuelo, Joseíto Fernández and many more, providing clear evidence of the marked amalgam that is Cuban music.

With the victory of 1959, we must add to this vast chromatic scope, the opening of doors to what was missing in almost all cases: access to studies and social recognition. With the young Revolution, came the organization and development of other realities that led to the full enjoyment of sectors that had faced discrimination, not only based on skin color, but on the depths of pockets, as well. How can the process begun in 1959 be considered racist, when it made possible that children of longshoremen, managers, and doctors were all seated in the same classroom?

The creation of art schools is the best example of anti-racism our music has experienced. If there were racism in the Revolution, the Cuban Modern Music Orchestra, in 1967, would not have included Paquito D´Rivera, Oscar Valdés, or Chucho Valdés, and possibly, Irakere would never have emerged. Or perhaps Pedrito Calvo, Mayito el Flaco, Pedrito Fajardo or Mayito Rivera would have been excluded from the Van Van, based on the color of their skin. It is clearly ridiculous to imagine racism as a policy or directive in our music. A quick review of the broad scope of Cuba’s current musical panorama provides enough evidence to understand that asserting this is simply running blindly behind those who have made a deal with the devil.

(Source: Granma)

A plaque recognizing Army General Raul Castro Ruz for his contributions to the Urban, Suburban and Family Farming Program, since its creation, was accepted by Cuban Prime Minister Manuel Marrero Cruz, during a national meeting here of participants in the movement, to assess progress being made.

Announcing the award, program national director Dr. Elizabeth Peña Turruellas stated that 32 years after Raul proposed generalizing the tradition of growing vegetables in family gardens, in soil enriched organically, we can say that the first part of this task has been completed.

Dr. Peña, also a member of the Council of State, added that the program has become a strong popular movement, ready to do much more to increase municipal food supplies and develop local self-sufficiency, in an effort that has always benefitted from Raúl’s accurate strategic direction.

With the participation of Lazaro Expósito Canto and Beatriz Johnson Urrutia, the province’s top Party and government authorities, respectively, as well as Minister of Agriculture Gustavo Rodriguez Rollero and leading producers from across the country, Dr. Peña presented a report on last year’s accomplishments and new goals.
She stated that the 21 sub-programs (five for targeted crops, five for animal husbandry and 11 for support), involve some 800,000 people around the country, 31% are women, while in the basic program focused on vegetables and fresh seasonings, 1,277,517 tons of food were grown in organic, intensive cultivation gardens, greenhouses, and plots with technical support.

Animal husbandry in backyards and small plots produced 100,600 tons of meat from small livestock (pigs, sheep, goats, poultry, and rabbits), as well as more than 300 million eggs and 750,000 liters of goat’s milk, in addition to fish produced in ponds, reservoirs and other reservoirs.

Given its consistent efforts over the last year, Segundo Frente was declared the country’s most outstanding municipality, in recognition of results that have earned the movement here recognition as a National Reference for 16 consecutive years, while Santiago de Cuba was honored as the number one province, followed by Havana, Sancti Spíritus and Pinar del Río.
Leading producers from around the country exchanged experiences with their hosts in Santiago. Photo: Miguel Rubiera Justiz/ACN

Dr. Peña reported that the suburban program now includes 147,563 farms, and that last year 34,000 individuals were trained in different programs, with a similar number expected to participate in classes this year.

Likewise, some 1,732 hectares of idle land is projected to be recovered for cultivation this year, she stated.

(Granma)

As an agency, the official said, we prioritize accompanying the Cuban Civil Defense system in the training program, which the country has been developing for some time now, to mitigate the impact of an earthquake of moderate or greater magnitude.

Major General Ramón Pardo Guerra, head of the Civil Defense National General Staff, stated that – despite the resurgence of the United States government’s economic, commercial, financial blockade of Cuba, with the recent adoption of new punitive extraterritorial measures – the country will continue to strengthen its capacity to face disasters.He highlighted the joint work carried out over the years with United Nations agencies, foundations, and programs in disaster risk management, and the expansion of working relationships with the International Search and Rescue Advisory Group (Insarag).During the opening ceremony, Sebastián Rhodes Stampa, head of the Emergency Response Section of the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), thanked the Cuban government for hosting the regional exercise and said that the event would provide valuable experience and knowledge in dealing with disasters.Following two days of theoretical training, September 18-20, the practical phase of Simex 2019 took place, at the Russian-Cuban Regional Fire and Rescue Training Center.

(Granma)

Yaime Perez, selected as the best female athlete, told Granma that the recognition motivates her to fight for better results and to further enhance the nation’s sports tradition. She confirmed her commitment to prepare for upcoming challenges such as the 2019Pan American Games in Lima and the Tokyo 2020 Olympics.

In addition to the Cuban President, Antonio Becali, head of INDER, the Cuban Institute for Sports, Physical Education, and Recreation, and Roberto León Richard, president of the Cuban Olympic Committee, athletes, sports legends, coaches, and officials attended the event.

The activity was especially dedicated to the Comandante en Jefe Fidel Castro, our greatest champion, who with his ideas and efforts ensured that sports in Cuba is a true right for all.

(Granma)

This year’s competition included a total of 440 submissions from over 80 institutions nationwide, including research centers, polyclinics, hospitals, and universities. There were a total of 124 winners, 75 of which received the traditional prize, while 35 were awarded for PhD papers and 14 to Masters or specialty dissertations.

Some of the winning institutions included: The Hereditary Ataxias Rehabilitation Research Center in the province of Holguín; the universities of medical sciences in Havana, Cienfuegos, Villa Clara and Guantánamo; Pedro Kourí Tropical Medicine Institute; Molecular Immunology Center; Camagüey Provincial Healthcare Office; Neurological Rehabilitation Center; and Center for the Development of Medicines.

Meanwhile, 38 finalists were chosen from among the categories of PhD thesis, Masters and specialty dissertation, applied and basic research, medical education, and scientific books and articles, with the Grand Prize going to Dr. Valentín Salvador Rodríguez Moya, for his paper: Exogenous surfactant and pulmonary recruitment in treating acute respiratory distress syndrome.

His work focuses on the outcomes of an investigation stemming from clinical trials with the use of exogenous surfactant, the results of which are accessible online via the Clinical Respiratory Journal; indexed in important databases, and regarded by the international medical community as one of the best publications in its field.

Dr. Rodríguez Moya’s original, multi-centered, national investigation shows the effectiveness of Surfacen, a natural Cuban surfactant produced by the National Center for Animal Health (Censa) which, when combined with alveolar recruitment improves survival rates of children suffering from respiratory distress.

The study was undertaken in conjunction with the National Center for Clinical Trials and Censa and was overseen by a pediatric critical care specialist from Camagüey and head of the multidisciplinary team of authors who contributed to the paper.

Regarding his work, Dr. Rodríguez Moya explained to Granma International, “This scientific investigation helps us to establish methodologies to reduce infant mortality in children under five years of age in the country. We are currently conducting clinical trials to get the treatment on the country’s basic list of medicines. We started the investigation in 2009 and by 2013-2014 were ready to register it on the national health register, before beginning the fourth phase of clinical trials in 2016.”
Rodríguez Moya works in the municipality of Nuevitas, Camagüey province, and described the award as an honor and privilege, after having been selected from among other highly important works.

“It represents the prestige of participating in a national event which recognizes the most important research being done in the country,” he noted.

Meanwhile, three eminent doctors were presented with the Scientific Merit Award for their life’s work: a fitting tribute to those who have made a significant contribution to Cuba’s public healthcare system and shown their commitment to the work of the Revolution in this field.

The award is recognition of their efforts and sacrifice teaching new generations of professionals, their research, and daily work to improve the health of all Cubans.
On this occasion the three winners included Dr. Evelio Liberato Cabezas Cruz, Gynecology and Obstetrics specialist, tenured professor, consultant lecturer and merited researcher at the University of Medical Sciences of Havana, who has received numerous awards and distinctions, and written or co-authored over 21 books.
Evelio served as a temporary advisor to the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) and Cancer specialist on the Council for Mutual Economic Assistance (CMEA). He is also a Gynecology and Obstetrics professor, and was a founder and head of the Cuban Society and National Group for this specialty, for over 50 years.

Regarding his work, the obstetrician stated, “I’m still active; I teach classes and work at the Hernández Pérez OB/GYN Hospital, known to most Cubans as Marianao’s Maternidad Obrera. I am a member of the Cuban Society for Family Development and support cervical-uterine cancer prevention and treatment efforts.

“Cuba’s main strength in this area lies in its cervical screening of all women 25 years of age and older. This exam helps us to detect potentially pre-cancerous and cancerous processes in the cervix, so our main efforts are focused on convincing all women to take a Pap smear test,” stated the doctor who dedicated his award to all the people that have contributed to his career.

The second winner was Dr. Néstor Manuel Pérez Lache, Neurology and Clinical Neurophysiology specialist; tenured professor at the Revolutionary Armed Forces (FAR) University of Medical Sciences; consultant lecturer, full and merit researcher, and member of the Cuban Academy of Sciences. He has won the Annual Health Award three times; published over 50 articles in important Cuban and international medical journals; and is the author of three books.
Pérez Lache is a recognized national and international expert on neuroplasticity, higher nervous system and brain activity; and has used neurodynamic stoichiometrics to achieve important scientific results linked to neurodynamic functionality in the cerebral cortex in individuals of certain occupations or professions, such as musicians, chess players, dancers, and the visually impaired.
In this regard he noted: “All my work and the recognitions I have received have been thanks to the Revolution. There are no medical professionals in my family and it was Cuba’s socio-political system that gave me the opportunity to become a doctor. Fidel Castro Ruz has always been an example for me, and I try hard to do better and improve myself every day, guided by the great revolutionary leader.”

The third and final winner of the Scientific Merit Award was dentist Félix Alberto Companioni Landin PhD, specialist in Human Anatomy, tenured and merit professor at Havana’s University of Medical Sciences; consultant lecturer, full and merit researcher, and two times winner of the Annual Health Prize.

Among his many awards, distinctions and honors, Companioni Landin has received the Alma Mater Prize; Manuel Fajardo Rivero, Carlos J. Finlay, and Pepito Tey medals; Cuban Education distinction; Order of Excellence from Villa Clara; professor Honoris Causa at the University of Aquino, Bolivia; and Guest of Honor at La Plata’s Dental School in Argentina.

“To receive this award, in the month of October makes me think of the death of Camilo Cienfuegos, one of the greatest losses to the Revolution, and a man who had so much more to offer to our social development. It also makes me think of our legendary heroic guerilla Ernesto Che Guevara, who was murdered 50 years ago in Bolivia. Both leaders were, for the Revolution, an impetus for the country’s economic and social growth. I also remember our great historic leader, Fidel Castro Ruz, who led the Revolution for over 60 years.

Today, we follow his work, thought, and legacy to help us continue to move forward,” he stated.

(Granma)

Honored were 71 composers, performers, pedagogues, researchers, and promoters from several generations and provinces, representing music’s many fields.

A resolution by the Ministry of Culture granting the awards, read by Marta Bonet, vice president of the Cuban Institute of Music, outlined the careers of those honored, who received their medals from Díaz-Canel; Minister of Culture Abel Prieto; and Miguel Barnet, president of the Union of Cuban Writers and Artists (UNEAC).

In name of the prizewinners, saxophonist, composer, and band leader César Alejandro López, spoke, recalling how the Revolution made the artists’ careers possible, and how, in his case, he was able to attend an art school established in Camagüey as part of a cultural educational program promoted by Comandante en Jefe Fidel Castro.

“That is why,” he said, “at this time, from the bottom of my heart, I say: Thank you, Fidel, because as the song by Raúl Torres goes, we are grateful.”

Musicologist Jesús Gómez Cairo, director of the National Museum of Music, emphasized the honorees’ commitment to Cuban culture and the values that define our identity.

Sharing the moment were several winners of the National Prize for Music, in addition to Party leaders from other provinces.

(Granma)

The declaration by Fidel came during the funeral acts for those who had been killed during the aerial bombardment against the air bases of Ciudad Libertad, San Antonio de los Baños and Santiago de Cuba, which served as a prelude to the invasion of Playa Girón.

According to Yuniasky Crespo, a member of the Executive Bureau of the provincial Party committee in Havana, the victory of Playa Girón demonstrated to the world what the Cuban people were capable of.

Speaking during the event held on April 16, Crespo stressed that the anniversary marked a day of honor and glory, of respect, sacrifice and commitment. The event was attended by the highest representatives of the Party and the government in the capital: Mercedes López Acea, member of the Party Political Bureau and a vice president of the Council of State; and Reinaldo García Zapata, respectively.

The 60th Anniversary of the Revolutionary Armed Forces medal was also presented to representatives of the combatants of Playa Girón, in recognition of their revolutionary efforts.

Upon receiving this distinction, we pay tribute to all those heroes who have given their lives for our independence, and in fulfillment of internationalist missions, expressed Reserves Colonel Alfonso Núñez Legué, on behalf of those presented with the medal.

We receive this medal, he added, with the pride of having served Cuba, and with the determination to defend her dignity and sovereignty.

(Granma)

Speaking to Prensa Latina during the country’s International Health Fair, this year dedicated to Fidel Castro, Leanes praised Cuba’s contribution to the well-being of other nations.

The event, which took place on Saturday, August 20 in the town of Lauca Ñ, Cha­pare province, in the department of Cochabamba, is part of a broad program of activities celebrating the leader of the Cuban Revolution’s 90th birthday and 191 years since Bolivia gained its independence.

Leanes, also the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) representative in Bolivia, described the Fair organized by the two countries as a success.

He also praised the island’s primary health care model and in particular its family doctor program, which has been implemented in Bolivia.
The WHO representative noted that the program should be a source of pride for all Cubans, emphasizing the daily efforts of doctors from the island in the Andean nation.

Leanes also highlighted that Bolivians studying at the Latin American School of Medicine, are taught the same ethical and humanist principles as their Cuban colleagues.

According to a report by the Cuban medical brigade in Bolivia, 5,189 patients were treated on August 20, of which 908 were ophthalmology cases, 274 pediatric, 205 orthopedic, 192 cardiology, 524 dental and 253 internal medicine.

(Prensa Latina)

(Granma)