Author Topic: Re: Fidel's Birthday Celebration Starts today (Read 2692 times)

Gambitt · « **on:** November 28, 2006, 08:02:00 PM »

Activities in Fidel Castro s Honor Begin

Havana, Nov 28 (Prensa Latina) The festivities convoked by the Ecuadorian Guayasamin Foundation on the occasion of Cuban President Fidel Castro s 80th birthday begin Tuesday in this capital, with the participation of personalities and friends from about 80 countries.

Cuban artists will open the program of activities tonight with a cultural gala at Havana s Karl Marx Theater.

Parallel to that event and also to honor Fidel Castro, a new higher education school will be inaugurated in Havana s historic center, specifically in the same place where the country s first university was built.

The International Colloquium "Memory and Future: Cuba and Fidel," also part of the Guayasamin Foundation s program, will be part of Wednesday s activities.

Also tomorrow, an exhibition of 100 original works by Ecuadorian painter Guayasamin will be opened at Havana s Fine Arts Museum. The display includes portraits of the Cuban president made at different periods.

lunagirl · « **Reply #1 on:** November 29, 2006, 06:42:00 AM »

Just copied this from the CBC website:

Castro too sick to attend birthday bash
Last Updated: Tuesday, November 28, 2006 | 10:58 PM ET
CBC News
Ailing Cuban leader Fidel Castro was too ill to attend the kickoff of his five-day, 80th birthday bash on Tuesday.

In a written message read to hundreds of people who had gathered at Havana's Karl Marx Theater for the celebration, Castro said doctors had advised him against attending the party.

"I direct myself to you, intellectuals and prestigious personalities of the world, with a dilemma," said the note read at the gathering and broadcast live on state television.

"I could not meet with you in a small local, only in the Karl Marx Theater where all the visitors would fit and I was not yet in conditions, according to the doctors, to face such a colossal encounter."

The crowd responded by giving Castro a standing ovation.

Castro's actual birthday is Aug. 13. But after falling ill, Castro asked that birthday festivities be postponed until Dec. 2 to coincide with the 50th anniversary of the founding of Cuba's Revolutionary Armed Forces.

Castro has been seen by the public only in photos and videos since his July 31 announcement that he was temporarily ceding power to his brother, 75-year-old Defence Minister Raul Castro, while he recovered from surgery for intestinal bleeding. Details of his ailment and his medical treatment are state secrets.

U.S. government officials said earlier this month there is still some mystery about Castro's diagnosis, his treatment and how he is responding. But the officials believe he has terminal cancer of the stomach, colon or pancreas.

With files from the Associated Press

kharmar77 · « **Reply #2 on:** November 29, 2006, 09:38:00 AM »

Wish we had an extra week to be down there for the celebrations. It would be something to see.
Karen

flopnfly · « **Reply #3 on:** November 30, 2006, 10:49:00 AM »

It is history in the making.

If only we could be there with a camera to record it all.

Gambitt · « **Reply #4 on:** December 01, 2006, 10:52:00 PM »

Tomorrow is the big day.

I just wish I could be there!

Bulldog · « **Reply #5 on:** December 01, 2006, 11:35:00 PM »

Maybe it's in the budget for you to go Gambitt and be a hands on reporter :D