Culture sector in Cuba has lost more than 14 million dollars as a result of the economic, commercial and financial embargo imposed by the United States for almost half a century ago to the caribbean country.
Regarding Cinema
The cuban cinematography was unable to acquire US materials, spare parts and equipment, such as virgin films and chemicals for the Cinematographic Laboratory of the Cuban Institute of Art and Cinematographic Industry (ICAIC). Nor could access the accessories for equipment, the use of licenses, patents and trademarks, such as THX, Dolby, MAC, Avid, Toons and Scenarist, for audiovisual post-production processes. The ICAIC was also affected in its program of commercial advertising due to the impossibility of participating with US companies engaged in sectors such as airlines, tourism, art, culture and sports.
According to a report on resolution 65/6 of the United Nations General Assembly (UN), entitled "Necessity of ending the economic, commercial and financial embargo imposed by the United States of America against Cuba", the Department of Treasury informed that the Center for Cuban Studies in New York would not renew its license. This decision did not enable cultural exchange projects with cuban institutions, states the document.
ARTEX Company S.A. has been affected in discography marketing, phonographic rights and publishing services because of the inability to sell records associated with the presentations made in the United States. The National Council of Cultural Heritage has no access to programs linked to new technologies such as Google Earth and Software MapInfo and ArcView, used in the treatment of maps and digital information.
The economic damage caused to the people of Cuba until December, 2010 reaches over 104 billion dollars. More than 70 percent of the cuban population was born under the embargo. I believe that the existing backlog in all areas of cubans’ life is merely the result of an arbitrary embargo that completely violates human rights and the right to economic and political self-determination of the cuban people.
