The Nuclear Central that was not Perhaps the most legendary memory Cubans have on uses of nuclear energy was one that did not materialize. In 1976, Cuba and the Soviet Union signed an agreement to build two VVER-400 V316 nuclear reactors, which could have changed a considerable percentage of the energy source consumed in the country, mostly oil. The construction of the Juraguá nuclear power aroused some controversy off the island, particularly in the United States. The potential in Cuba for safe keeping two nuclear reactors without repeating the Chernobyl disaster was the subject of discussion as the idea matured that much of the Cuban energy consumption could come out from Cienfuegos. Construction of Nuclear Power Plant of Juraguá / Photo: Juventud Rebelde Journal 11/08/1992 However, the project did not stop because of skepticism. It was due to a decisive reason: the collapse of the European socialist bloc that broke the economic livelihood of the Central. They were half-built facilities, and a newly founded City with people who were going to work on them. Without the USSR, Cuba had no support to fund a project of this magnitude. In 1992 construction was halted and almost a decade later, Fidel Castro...

(You can read the first part of this interview to the jurist and researcher Julio César Guanche) By: Mónica Baró With the theme of ongoing transformations, I get concerned about the prevailing conception of participation, because they often stressed the need for people to engage, but also find that there is no real answer of participation. So to what extent can participation function as something that is ordered? What you say has to do with the design of distribution of real power that exists in Cuba, which is very little redistributive, which concentrates much in one place and creates a depletion of effective power in the other pole. You cannot concentrate power in the party, in a vertical management structure, decision maker and controls time and space that makes the decisions, ensuring its continuity, but the other side is a very weak public in the sense of weakened, which may speak and that is consulted, but has little chance of deciding or co-deciding What we may be seeing with people who supposedly do not want to participate, is that they are living much wear processes in which they can be consulted, but very have little power of decision on the...

“Hotel Pernik, Holguin. How can we help you?” “I need to book three rooms.” “Look, sir, we’ve been instructed not to make any more bookings at the front desk. You have to do it through an agency.” “Havanatur, good morning.” “I need to book three rooms at the Hotel Pernik in Holguin.” “Unfortunately, the system’s down and we can’t do any bookings at the moment.” “Hotel Pernik, Holguin, so-and-so speaking, how may I help you?” “Yes, I called the hotel and they told me I had to make my bookings through an agency. We went to Havanatur and they told us your system is down and that they can’t make any reservations at this time. Could you tell me how I can book my rooms, then?” “Havanatur can’t make any bookings at this hotel, see. You have to call Isla Azul in Holguin and make your booking through them.” “Good morning, Isla Azul, so-and-so speaking, how may I help you?” “I need to book three rooms at the Pernik in Holguin.” “How many people will be staying at the hotel?” “Three people.” “Then why do you want to book three rooms?” “Because they want to stay in separate rooms.” “It’s...