Cuba May Day All About Energy & Efficiency

[Mika]

Source: cBS "news"

With music and revolutionary slogans broadcast over loud speakers hundreds of thousands of Havana residents flooded Revolution Square in the country’s annual May Day parade.

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The majority of the participants, more than 300,000 according to the local media, were from the four municipalities closest to the parade route so that they could get there on foot. The rest of the participants were picked up by buses from the State owned companies for which they work. Farmers and agricultural workers as well as a contingent of 40,000 students closed the parade.

In past years such demonstrations by the revolutionary faithful could go on for hours, not winding down until 1 or 2 p.m. but since Raul Castro stepped in for his ailing older brother Fidel, these events have been limited to a maximum of two hours. The difference represents an enormous savings in time and money. Previously the government paid for hundreds of buses to truck in people from all over the capital and surrounding areas at an enormous cost in fuel and the change seems to reflect President Castro’s efforts to increase efficiency and prevent the unnecessary waste of much needed cash and resources. Observers say its also intended to send the message that support for the Revolution does not need to be demonstrated in the streets but rather on the job with increased productivity.

That was the blunt message delivered by labor leader and Communist Party official Salvador Valdes Mesa, the only speaker (as traditional) at this workers day celebration. In view of the world economic crisis, rising prices and damage from three consecutive hurricanes in the 2008 season, workers, he said, need to increase “production and productivity so as to reduce costs and spending and boost exports and imports.”

Read more: http://www.cbsnews.com/blogs/2009/05/01/world/worldwatch/entry4983883.shtml

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The article also notes that...

Now that the parade and political sloganeering has wound down, most people are heading home for a nap and to enjoy a long weekend. However, for those working in essential services such as health care, food services and tourism, it's back to work as usual.

Happy May Day!

[David__77]

1. That's good,

Really, there is a big cost to these events. It might be better to have many rallies and parades centered in workplaces and neighborhoods throughout the country. In this age, I'm not sure one single event is better or more useful politically. A factory district, for instance, could organize an event of 10,000 in coordination with neighborhood groups, rather than busing people 10 miles away.

On the other hand, depoliticization would be a terrible mistake and only lead to pessimism and defeatism.

[blindpig]

2. k&r, n/t