Picture: July 26th by Raúl Martínez

13-17 July, 2009, London Metropolitan University 31 Jewry St. London, EC3N 2EY

FEE: £180 for full five day course or £40 per each individual day

This five-day summer school will cover a different topic each day to give participants a rounded and in-depth introduction to the island.
Films and videos will be used to provoke discussion and to aid learning. The course will be of particular interest to those who either intend to visit the island or have done so and wish to understand more about what makes Cuba such a fascinating place.
All the necessary course materials and readings will be provided. Anyone considering entering or re-entering higher education would benefit greatly from this experience. Assistance to find economical accommodation will be given to those who do not live in London. Those who wish to only attend on one particular day or study only one topic may register for a fee of £40 per day/topic chosen
Further details on the website.

Forthcoming public seminars

Click on the titles for more information:

19 Mar. 2009: Seeds of Insurrection: Slave resistance on Cuban Plantations, 1790-1850

26 March 2009: Cuba Wars. Fidel Castro, the United States, and the Next Revolution

23 April 2009: Sustainable Agriculture and Food Security in an Era of Oil Scarcity: Lessons from Cuba
28 May 2009: Medical Aid and Cuba’s Foreign Policy Interests
19 June 2009: Canada and the Cuban Revolution
25 June 2009: The Leasing of Guantánamo Bay

Entrance to seminars is generally free, but please check the relevant webpage and register your intention to attend those being held at London Met by email: admin@cubastudies.org

Since its inception in 2007 the IISC has held more than 12 public seminars. Each on has been recorded and now DVDs are available to the public to buy. Please see the Past events home page for details on how to obtain them.

The IISC is preparing a special one-day conference Reminiscences of a revolution: British witnesses to the last 50 years, in which British people from all walks of life who have had a personal involvement with the Cuban revolution will relate their experiences. The event is planned for Saturday 7 November. Participants invited include: academics Jean Stubbs and Brian Pollitt; journalists Hugh O’Shaughnessy and Richard Gott, three former UK Ambassadors to the island and individuals such as Mike Faulkner and Nicola Seyd, who were the first members of a UK work brigade to the island in the early 1960s. The idea of the conference is to record the testimonies for publication and future study. If you have had a personal experience of Cuba or documentation that you think might be relevant to this project, please write to stephen.wilkinson@cubastudies.org

The Cuba specialist travel firm Old Havana Ltd which trades as San Cristobal UK has signed an agreement with London Metropolitan University to supply discounted travel services to Cuba for the IISC and its clients and associates. The firm is now an approved supplier for travel to Cuba for staff at LondonMet, staff and students can obtain discounted prices on flights and hotel bookings in Cuba through them. Others travelling to Cuba who wish to take advantage of the service can obtain details of how they may also receive discounts by contacting Stephen Wilkinson at the IISC in the first instance.

African Cultures, Religions, and Ethnicities in Cuba

£1,475     7 days: Sunday 28 June- July 5, 2009 with Virgin Atlantic

A unique opportunity to visit Cuba and explore its rich African cultural heritage in the company of a Cuban expert on the history of slavery

This tour has been designed and will be led by Dr Manuel Barcia who is a lecturer in Latin American Studies in the Department of Spanish, Portuguese and Latin American Studies at the University of Leeds.
The arrangements for travel will be made by Old Havana Ltd. Optional extensions will be available for those who wish to stay on.
The tour will go ahead if sufficient interest is shown. If you are interested in participating in this tour, please contact Stephen Wilkinson immediately.

Picture: Lagrimas negras by Cuban Artist Ibrahim Miranda

Peer Reviewers required
Any suitably qualified academic readers interested in acting as peer reviewers for the International Journal of Cuban Studies, are requested to send their cv and declaration of interest to the Assistant Editor on patricia.daniel@cubastudies.org

Readers' blog launched
The Readers' Blog on the Journal site has been launched and is located here
Readers may also send comments to the Assistant Editor Patricia Daniel


Hard copies of journal now available
2 printed versions of the journal are now available to be purchased online:
Colour
Black and White

The IISC can provide bespoke information and reports on all aspects of Cuba and can advise on film or business projects in the island. Contact Stephen Wilkinson or Emily Morris for further information.

The IISC medical electives programme is now established. The first medical students will be travelling out to Cienfuegos in February with large numbers following through to the summer. For more details and how to apply please see the Medical electives section on the website.

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