Larissa
26th March 2003, 22:37
The best weapon against global dictatorship
BY MARELYS VALENCIA—Granma International staff writer—
THE weapon represented by public opinion, which is capable of both mobilizing and winning, was one of the central themes of Fidel Castro’s speech at the closing session of the 6th Plenary of the Union of Journalists of Cuba (UPEC), a meeting that has taken place annually since 1999.
"Mobilizing public opinion is the fundamental weapon, he commented, and this is going to have much influence on the U.S. people as it gains in awareness," he noted. He recalled his recent visit to Hiroshima, when he meditated that the bombs exploded there, just like those now falling on Iraq, were not necessary either.
Referring to the field of ideas, he highlighted their importance in "neutralizing and counteracting the dangers of which we were talking." In that context, in which the press has an essential role, he emphasized advances made since the 7th UPEC Congress in 1999 in the dominion and use of cutting-edge media technology, which has increased its reach within and outside the country.
He recalled how that Congress drew up a retraining strategy for journalists, and the means and well-equipped colleges were made available to professionals. He observed that there is a higher level of creation and use of technology at the disposition of the press, television and radio, so that they can insert themselves in the global battle of ideas and to carry the message of the Revolution to the entire world.
The Cuban president also commented on how the issue of the cultural invasion, which is penetrating nations’ identity, was the theme that brought together the plenary sessions of the UPEC and the Union of Writers and Artists of Cuba in the task of "preserving our culture; and that starting from that moment an awareness was created of the priority of saving our nations from that invasion. In this context, we have been on the defensive, although at this juncture Cuba is virtually on the offensive."
Fidel spoke of the great battle of ideas currently being waged at global level, and qualified as unprecedented the worldwide anti-war mobilizations that are exceeding all expectations. He added that we are "living in a new historical stage, in which we are not only witnessing a distinct type of war, but demonstrations that have not been convened by political parties or the United Nations, or the class organizations, but by a mass of thinking people moved by their own consciences."
As is usually the case in meetings with journalists, Fidel talked with optimism on the Revolution’s new programs. He recalled, for example, the installation of more than 1,800 video halls rural areas, especially those lacking electricity, and that of the young computer clubs, which currently attend to some 101,000 people.
Part of the Revolution’s current undertakings are directed at adolescent attention and education, on which Fidel noted that the upcoming school year is to see double class sessions in secondary education in the capital.
AN INDISPENSABLE TOOL
Internet has shown itself to be a powerful mobilizing tool in recent years, reflected journalist Rosa Miriam Elizalde who, starting from that idea, spoke of the need for creativity over resources.
Full article:
http://www.granma.cu/ingles/mar03/mar25/12arma-i.html
http://www.cubaperiodistas.cu/ingles/profile.htm
BY MARELYS VALENCIA—Granma International staff writer—
THE weapon represented by public opinion, which is capable of both mobilizing and winning, was one of the central themes of Fidel Castro’s speech at the closing session of the 6th Plenary of the Union of Journalists of Cuba (UPEC), a meeting that has taken place annually since 1999.
"Mobilizing public opinion is the fundamental weapon, he commented, and this is going to have much influence on the U.S. people as it gains in awareness," he noted. He recalled his recent visit to Hiroshima, when he meditated that the bombs exploded there, just like those now falling on Iraq, were not necessary either.
Referring to the field of ideas, he highlighted their importance in "neutralizing and counteracting the dangers of which we were talking." In that context, in which the press has an essential role, he emphasized advances made since the 7th UPEC Congress in 1999 in the dominion and use of cutting-edge media technology, which has increased its reach within and outside the country.
He recalled how that Congress drew up a retraining strategy for journalists, and the means and well-equipped colleges were made available to professionals. He observed that there is a higher level of creation and use of technology at the disposition of the press, television and radio, so that they can insert themselves in the global battle of ideas and to carry the message of the Revolution to the entire world.
The Cuban president also commented on how the issue of the cultural invasion, which is penetrating nations’ identity, was the theme that brought together the plenary sessions of the UPEC and the Union of Writers and Artists of Cuba in the task of "preserving our culture; and that starting from that moment an awareness was created of the priority of saving our nations from that invasion. In this context, we have been on the defensive, although at this juncture Cuba is virtually on the offensive."
Fidel spoke of the great battle of ideas currently being waged at global level, and qualified as unprecedented the worldwide anti-war mobilizations that are exceeding all expectations. He added that we are "living in a new historical stage, in which we are not only witnessing a distinct type of war, but demonstrations that have not been convened by political parties or the United Nations, or the class organizations, but by a mass of thinking people moved by their own consciences."
As is usually the case in meetings with journalists, Fidel talked with optimism on the Revolution’s new programs. He recalled, for example, the installation of more than 1,800 video halls rural areas, especially those lacking electricity, and that of the young computer clubs, which currently attend to some 101,000 people.
Part of the Revolution’s current undertakings are directed at adolescent attention and education, on which Fidel noted that the upcoming school year is to see double class sessions in secondary education in the capital.
AN INDISPENSABLE TOOL
Internet has shown itself to be a powerful mobilizing tool in recent years, reflected journalist Rosa Miriam Elizalde who, starting from that idea, spoke of the need for creativity over resources.
Full article:
http://www.granma.cu/ingles/mar03/mar25/12arma-i.html
http://www.cubaperiodistas.cu/ingles/profile.htm