 |
11-20-05,10:19am
Havana, November18 (RH).- Cuban President Fidel Castro said: "I am by far a better revolutionary today than I was 60 years ago."
The Cuban leader spoke Thursday evening during an activity at the University of Havana's main lecture hall, marking the 60th anniversary of his entry to the University's School of Law.
"Today, I am far more willing than ever before to offer my life in defense of just causes," stressed the Cuban leader and warned that at the current rate, humanity is an endangered species
President Fidel Castro denounced that today's world is a world characterized by human selfishness and the exploitation of man by his fellow man, "a world where the gap between the wealthy few and the vast majority of poor people is ever wider, where billions of dollars are spent or rather wasted every year in the manufacture and acquisition of sophisticated weapons -- weapons that are used to kill millions of people in pre-emptive wars launched unilaterally by the United States, wherever Washington deems it necessary as a way of imposing its dominance."
"That money," noted the Cuban leader "could well be used to save the lives of children and people in general, who are dying by the thousands from preventable, curable diseases in the world today due to lack of resources."
.
The leader of the Cuban revolution denounced Washington's policy toward the rest of the world, describing as unacceptable and shameful the fact that the United States has hundreds of military bases around the world, which are known to be actually torture centers. He then pointed to the US Naval Base in Guantánamo, on a portion of Cuban soil, which Washington has occupied illegally for over a century now against the expressed will of the Cuban people. "Hundreds of people from all over the world are being held illegally in Guantánamo, submitted to all kinds of torture techniques and deprived of their most basic human rights," he said.
The Cuban leader also denounced the United States' use of white phosphorus in Iraq, killing entire populations, including innocent children, women and men. "The United States is threatening to invade Iran if Teheran insists on using nuclear fuel to produce electricity."
In another part of his speech, President Fidel Castro compared the educational situation in today's Cuba with what existed prior to 1959. When in 1945, then young Fidel Castro began his university studies as a law student; there was only the already 200-year old University of Havana. It was only accessible to a wealthy few who could afford to study there.
"That situation," said the Cuban president, "contrasts sharply with what exists here today, were we have over 90 universities and university branches in every Cuban municipality island wide, even in Cuban prisons, since education at all levels, including higher education, is free and accessible to all. There are currently more than 600 thousand university students in Cuba." The Cuban leader then stressed that a large portion of the island's budget is earmarked to the educational sector. Last year, alone, the educational budget surpassed 230 million Cuban pesos.
Fidel Castro entered the Havana University's School of Law on September 4th, 1945 at the age of 19. During his years as a university student he engaged in dozens of events, which he has described as his first steps as a revolutionary. During that period, Fidel was an active participant in meetings and demonstrations, first protesting the policies of the then pro-US government of President Grau San Martín and later also against US imperialism. He was also active in the solidarity movement with other just Latin American causes. He presided over the Cuban committees pro-democracy in the Dominican Republic and pro-independence of Puerto Rico. Fidel Castro graduated from the University Law School on October 13, 1950.
On hand during Thursday's evening activity were members of the National Council of the Cuban Federation of University Students (FEU), a representation of all university students island wide, former FEU leaders and other invited guests.
|
|
