CUBA

Facts in Brief

      Cuban Economy
    The Cuban economy is controlled and planned out by the government.  They own all of the banks, industries and businesses.  They even own more than seventy percent of the farmland.  Government officials decide what is to be produced, the price’s of the goods, wages of workers, and so on.  The Cuban economy had been totally agricultural up until the early 1960’s when the government began a program to industrialize the country.  The program did not turn out to well though because of lack of funds and raw materials.  Seeing their plan not working out, the government changed its emphasis back to agriculture.  It is hard for a country to rely on agriculture because of such events as droughts, hurricanes, and other natural disasters that are very unpredictable.
     Cuba does not contain much natural resources, but if has very fertile soil and large mineral deposits.  Farmers use the fertile soil to grow citrus fruits, rice, sugar cane, and vegetables.  Some of those mineral deposits include nickel, cobalt, iron, manganese, and copper.  There is also a very small amount of oil in Cuba
     The Cuban government basically controls the whole agricultural portion of the economy.  They run state farms on which they employ state workers.  Before Castro took over, many of these farms were estates owned by American companies.  Of the small percent of farms the government does not own, those farmers must sell their crops to the government and their farms may be no larger than 166 acres.  Cuba’s main crops are sugar cane, tobacco, bananas, cassava citrus fruits, coffee, pineapples, potatoes, rice, sweet potatoes, and tomatoes.  There is also cattle raising which has led to an increase in milk production.
     Before Castro came to power, American companies owned most Cuban industries, and almost all factory machinery and raw materials came from the US.  In 1960 the Cuban government seized all American owned industries.  The US was not happy and cut off all diplomatic and trade relations with the Cuban government.  Cuba was then forced to rely on the Soviet Union for financial aid.  After the Soviet Union fell apart in 1991, there was no longer trade.
     Cuba’s chief exports are sugar, refined nickel ore, cigars, citrus fruits, fish, and rum.  Their main imports are machinery, petroleum, and grains.  Cuba spends more on imports than exports, and from the early 1960’s to 1991, they depended on the Soviet Union for loans or gifts of billions of dollars to make up for the difference.  But since 1991, when the Soviet Union fell, they have been suffering.
Allan Perraud

Cuban Culture

      The people of Cuba are a mix of people from every corner of the world. People of Russian, Chinese, and  European descent makes up today’s Cuban people. Other significant roots in Cuba are Spanish and African.  During the first centuries most groups came from Castle mainly from southern Spain. Later masses of migration  arrived from the Canary Islands, Galicia, and Catalonia More recently Eastern Europeans and Chinese immigrants  have further enriched the land in what is a unique racial mix that makes up Cuba.

      Another part of Cuban culture is tourism. After the sun architecture is the most important attraction for tourism.  Cuban architecture stands out in a very special way forming the country identity. The architecture is made up of  big wide windows and balconies that make the house have a more open look.
 Several architectonic styles  influenced the urban spaces in Cuba. All cities in Cuba offer buildings of high value due to the combination of  styles.

     Two Cuban cities, Old Havana and Trinidad were clamed Patrimony of humanity for the way they preserve their  high architectonic values. Visiting Old Havana today is on the high list or both architects and tourist.

      Another large part of Cuban culture is photography. In a Cuban newspaper on April 5, 1840 a newspaper gave  the first information about the first photo taken in Cuba. Photography gained great importantance in the 1930s.  Joaquin Blez is the greatest photographer of the time Because of Cubans. Because of the countries  appreciation for photography he gained great fame and retired very weathly

      All in all Cuba is a great country with a very original culture. Unfortunately it is ruled by communism and does not get to show its beauty to the world.
Dan Lally


Education and Religion
    Education is extremely important in Cuba.  Cuban law enforces six years
 of school at the minimum.  The government controls all the schools, but all
 education is free.  Approximately 35,000 students attend one of Cuba's three
 national universities, which are located in Havana, Santa Clara, and Santiago
 de Cuba.  The government has made many adult education programs.  In the
 1960's it recruited students to teach uneducated Cubans how to read and
 write.  Due to these adult education programs must adults have completed
 elementary school.  More then 95% of Cuban adults can read and write.

     Religion plays a major role in the daily life in Cuba.  Most Cubans
 belong to the Roman Catholic Church.  Yet the Roman Catholic Church has
 always been weak in Cuba, only a few people attend services.  Since the
 government controls all churches as well as school many priests have been
 forced to leave the country.  Jehovah's Witness and the Seventh-Day
 Adventists have been banned from Cuba.  People who are very religious cannot
 get good high paying jobs or join the Communist Party.  There are some Cubans
 who believe in Santeria, which is a religion that combines African tribal and
 Roman Catholic ceremonies.  Believers in Santeria believe that Catholic
 saints represent African Gods.  The Santeria followers regard themselves as
 Catholics.  Some of the smaller religions in Cuba are the Episcopalians and
 Methodists.
 Brian Moraff



Bibliography

Academic American Encyclopedia, Cit-Cz.
 

Copyright 1996 by Groiler Incorperated
Pg. 408-411

The World Book Encyclopedia Ci-Cz.
Copyright 1995 World Book Inc.
Pg1168-1179
 

 http://www.cubanculture.com
 
 


 

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