Cuba - advertising

So I was in Cuba on the 50th anniversary of the Revolution

It was really refreshing to be in a place where there is absolutely no product advertising at all. -Great not to be bombarded with messages which are essentially selfish and materialistic (ie buy this product, and you're be happier, better looking, wealthier etc etc).

Only those that fight and resist will conquer.

And to start with it was great to see what was there instead - many billboards encouraging people to save energy, etc - or promoting solidarity. Many also against the western ideals of materialism and their policies against Cuba.

Cuba against the blockade (the US trade embargo) and anexation.

Against threats and aggression, more revolution.
Cretins corner - in the museum of the revolution.


We will conquer

Many of the messages which would be called 'counter-cultural' elsewhere - but then you realise that in Cuba - they're not 'counter' anything - that's to say that there aren't any alternative messages. All are in favour of the government - and there were plenty that were hand written and home made - not just ones that were government sponsored.

With Fidel and Raul, firm in decisions

There are so many things that Cuba has done well (medical services, education, gender equality, natural disaster emergency planning and relief programmes) - with unbelievably small resources but it still remains that there is no opposition.

The Granma - the boat on which Fidel and 81 companions arrived in Cuba on 2 dec 1956, from Mexico. It was actually a bit of a shambles (Che later said the landing was a 'shipwreck'!), and they were then routed by Bautista's soldiers, and only 12 escaped. But over the next 2 years, the support amongst the Cuban people grew so much that Bautista fled the country on New Years Eve 1958. Shortly afterwards Fidel Castro became President. The boat is now kept behind protective glass - and is under 24 hour guard!