The many tourists from all continents that visited Havana over the weekend could witness --and enjoy--, from a popular conga against homophobia up to the weather-alert Meteor 2016 strategic exercise, aimed at reducing the risks posed by natural disasters, including droughts, epidemics and hurricanes.                     

All these in a capital city that is preparing to hold the first Biannual Congress of Design 2016, a major event for which over eight hundred foreign delegates have already signed up, and also a city that is hosting the twentieth edition of the International Cuba Disco Fair 2016.

And in that busy dynamic of events that has been keynoting the feverish activity of Cuba for many years, a significant event is taking place: the Ninth Cuban Meeting against Homophobia and Transphobia, organized by the National Center for Sexual Education, led by doctor in Sociological Sciences  Mariela Castro Espin.

At a press conference in Havana, Dr. Mariela Castro recalled the significant advances in the general awareness in the country about the need to respect the right of any citizen to conduct their private sexual lives in line with their  conscience,  gender identity and personal choice.

A conga line against homophobia and transphobia weaved among visitors in an attractive hotel area of Havana, very close to the enchanting deep blue Caribbean sea, and hundreds of foreign tourists happily joined the party, dancing and enjoying themselves for hours.

The Cuban week against homophobia and transphobia will end next Saturday and is dedicated to Argentine activists Diana Sayacan and Lohana Berkings, who are persecuted in their own country because of the ongoing discrimination in Argentina for sexual –and many other -- reasons.

At the same time, all residents of Havana are delighted because on June seventh next, Cuba’s capital city will be officially proclaimed as a “Wonder City of the World”, a distinction conferred on beautiful Havana on December 7, 2014 by the Foundation New Seven Wonders, created in Switzerland in 1999.   Only seven cities in the world boast of that distinction!

The Chairman of the Foundation, Mr. Bernard Weber, said that Havana was elected “because it represents the global diversity of urban society”’.

All of us in Radio Havana Cuba are delighted at this distinction and will be duly reporting to you the events scheduled in our beautiful city, which from next June 7th will officially become the seventh “Wonder City of the World”. 

Wish you were here!!!