Deepwater oil exploration in Cuban waters is scheduled to begin later this year. This has raised concerns about the need for oil spill contingency co-operation between Cuba and the U.S.. It was recently recommended that The Bahamas should also be part of any such agreement, because a spill in Cuban waters could affect Bahamian territory: [...]
Tag Archives: cuba
New coordinator for Bicknell’s Thrush conservation in the Caribbean
There is a new coordinator for Bicknell’s Thrush conservation work in the Caribbean: [The Vermont Center for Ecostudies] VCE is pleased to announce the hiring of a Caribbean Coordinator for the International Bicknell’s Thrush Conservation Group (IBTCG). Juan Carlos Martinez-Sanchez will begin work in October, and he will be an excellent fit for this crucial, [...]
Guantanamo: “a biologist’s dream”
An article from the New York Times about the rich biodiversity of the Guantanamo Bay Naval Station: When most people think of the American base at Guantanamo Bay, they think of the nine controversial detention camps that house prisoners of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. But for the service members, contractors and families who [...]
Cuba hosts international renewable energy meeting
Currently in progress in Cuba, the 7th International Congress on Renewable Energy, Energy Saving and Education: Scientists, professionals and businessmen from 15 nations will participate in this event, scheduled from June 1 to 3, sponsored by the Center of Studies on Renewable Energy Technologies of the Higher Polytechnic Institute Jose Antonio Echevarria (ISPJAE), in the [...]
Updates on oil prospects in The Bahamas
News from the Bahamas related to plans for oil exploration there: preliminary agreement has been reached on the location of the maritime boundary with Cuba: Government officials from The Bahamas and Cuba have agreed in principal regarding the maritime boundary between the two countries, according to Deputy Prime Minister and Minster of Foreign Affairs Brent [...]
Cuba’s sugar industry makes a comeback
Last year, predictions about the 2011 sugar harvest in Cuba were pretty dire. Writing for Inter Press Service, Patricia Grogg reports on what Cuba has done, and plans to do, to revive its flagging sugar industry: After a disastrous harvest in 2010, Cuba met its target for the current harvest several weeks ahead of schedule, [...]
Cuba exports cancer medicine derived from scorpion venom
Just over a year ago I posted about research being done in Cuba to formulate an anti-cancer drug from scorpion venom. ACN reports that the production and export of the venom-derived cancer treatment has begun: Cuba has begun to export Vidatox, a medical product for cancer therapy derived from a toxin found in scorpions, as [...]
Cuba to begin oil exploration in the Gulf of Mexico
Cuba plans to commence oil exploration in the Gulf of Mexico; in an article from Inter Press Service, Patricia Grogg discusses potential environmental and political consequences: Cuba is sticking to its plans to begin oil exploration this year in its territorial waters in the Gulf of Mexico, and has assured neighbouring countries that “every reasonable” [...]
Cuba seeks to increase coffee production
The government of Cuba is looking to reverse a trend of declining coffee production by increasing the acreage devoted to the crop: In an effort to stop the low production trend of the past few years, the Cuban Ministry of Agriculture has agreed to expand coffee plantations by nearly 17,791 acres. Jose Antonio Labrada, production [...]
Oil spill threat from sunken cargo ship off Belize’s coast
A Cuban freighter carrying thousands of gallons of bunker fuel capsized off the coast of Belize last week and there is concern in both Cuba and Belize about the associated environmental risk. From the Belize Reporter: The Belize Coast Guard has been called out in response to a distress call from the Cuban cargo vessel [...]
