
My sister sent me a link to a short YouTube video clip that talks about a blogger in Havana. The video clip also discusses the lack of internet access to Cubans.
Yoani Sanchez is the blogger. The Wall Street Journal reporter interviewing her tells us that for her to blog she "bluffs her way into internet cafes in tourist hotels that normally bar Cubans from entering...Cubans aren't allowed to have internet at home...public internet access available to Cubans is too slow to manage a blog...in October, her [Yoani's] blog had 1/2 a million hits. Her readers are mostly outside of Cuba..."


Even though I like that last statement I've been googling Yoani's name and folks are wondering whether she's for real. I know, I know, the never ending conspiracy theories!!! LOL. But really, ok, what she says is nice. But is it believable? Folks online are wondering if she's a plant of the communist government because, honestly, what are the odds that someone in Havana can keep up a blog critical of the Castros government? And others said if her being sent to jail would then validate her authenticity and others replied well that could also be set up to appear as if she's authentic and being persecuted for speaking the truth as so many other Cubans have done and ended up rotting in Cuban jails.
Bottom line is that Yoani is getting away with what historically has landed others in jail...or worse. According to the reporter Cubans aren't allowed to have internet access at their homes...they're normally barred from going to the internet cafes set up for tourists, yet Yoani manages to get in. If she's for real then may countless others such as her flourish and continue to broadcast what's going on in the island right now. If she's a planted PR piece, albet one that seems to criticize the current government, then may her cover be blown ASAP.
Here's her blog: Generation Y