Categories
Caribbean

Cuba and the Sound of Silence

rob-che

My 2nd trip to Cuba was a little different from my 1st. Oh, I still went unofficially, choosing to go via another country (it’s cheaper) and not have my passport stamped, but this time there was a U.S. Embassy in Havana. If I were to get sick, stranded or in legal trouble I theoretically at least had a backstop.

This wasn’t the case when I first visited Cuba against a background of having a few years prior, known a Dominican-American filmmaker who had visited Havana for the first and final time to attend the Cuban Film Festival (in 2002 or 2003 I think it was), and never made it back.

My friend, the aspiring filmmaker who had a short film accepted to the festival, was ecstatic about going. He went officially but since he was of Afro-Latino descent and dark skinned, could easily blend in with most everyday Cubans.

This, combined with the fact that he was a U.S. citizen and therefore had to bring enough cash to last him the entire trip (U.S. issued ATMs and Credit Cards didn’t work at the time in Cuba, nor do they at the time of this writing) became a contributing factor as to why he didn’t make it back.

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Something happened to my friend after what I think was his first night in Cuba.  He was found in a Havana street the next morning badly beaten and unconscious, apparently robbed of his stash of cash, missing a passport and wallet or any way to ID himself.

Since he had no ID and was dark skinned, he was assumed to be Cuban by the Cuban medical personnel who attended to him and taken to the hospital for “regular”, everyday Cubans. This was not one of the hospitals featured in Michael Moore’s documentary “Sicko” where government officials and other connected well off folks in Cuba are allowed to go.

He was taken to an overtaxed hospital without sheets on the bed or lights in the hallway or basic medical necessities.

After regaining consciousness and seemingly on the road to recovery, my pal (as I heard it from other friends who were there with him and were trying desperately to get him back to the U.S.), had a complication, slipped into a coma and died from a fairly routine injury that could have been fairly routinely addressed back in the states.

I was told that after much wrangling, Billy Bush (my filmmaker friend worked at Access Hollywood) reportedly pulled some strings from cousin, then U.S. President George W. Bush, to get my friend’s body back to the U.S. for his funeral.

He left behind a wife and young kids.

This incident barely even made more than a mention in the local Spanish or English language press at the time and I always felt this was an injustice. He deserved better.

Now every time I go to Cuba, I think of my friend and how he died far too young in a country that specializes in covering up such ugliness and I wonder why the U.S. press (and government) paid so little attention to this travesty.

I think of the young Cuban punk rock fans I met on my first trip, who were promptly carted off to jail for having the audacity to speak to an American with a camera out in the open. How long were they in jail? Were they beaten? Worse?

I think of the media’s mostly glib obsession with travel to Cuba with hardly a mention of the severe poverty and lack of basic human rights for the Cuban people. Or maybe people are just tired of hearing it.

I think how most of the outside press has to register with the Cuban government so they can get the “Fidel Castro” tour where everything is a paradise and everyone is happy.

That’s why, for my 2nd act to Cuba, I went undercover as a tourist to try to film, by hook or crook or iphone, what the real Cuba was like for people.

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The fear that inhabits Cuba is palpable if you open your eyes and ears. Neighbors are turned against neighbors for an extra bag of rice as a reward. People are watching each other warily, unsure who is a government informant and who can be trusted, pitting family member against family member in some cases.

They have been manipulated by a paranoid (and perhaps with somewhat just cause, given the U.S. often ham-fisted attempts at intervention over the years) and now reeling government consisting of a tiny group of “leaders” that include one who is rumored to be near death and mentally unstable (Fidel Castro) and his possibly less brutal but equally unstable, power hungry brother (Raul Castro).

I’ve never met the Castros nor, chances are will I ever as I don’t intend to return to Cuba until freedom is finally found for the people of Cuba.

But as travel from the U.S. to Cuba opens up (and I believe this to be the right thing as 50 years of failed policy is enough) and people go and enjoy the unique and yes, beautiful culture and gush over how Cuba is “stuck in time”, please remember my filmmaker friend and the Cuban people, like my brave punk rock pals, who are systematically silenced by a minority of their fellow citizen “leaders” who evidently are so afraid of their lack of ability to legitimately lead, end up doing what despots, dictators and inept rulers have done for centuries… attempt to silence all diversity of thought and expression in order to hold to power.

Silence… is there anything more tragic in this world?

Categories
Public Relations

Raw Travel Premieres Season 4 This Weekend in 93% of U.S.

 RAW TRAVEL’S SEASON 4 DEBUTS IN 93% OF U.S. THIS WEEKEND

– Four Straight Years of Rapid Growth for Authentic Adventure Travel Series – 

NEW YORK, NY:  September 28th, 2016 – AIM Tell-A-Vision® Group (AIM TV) announced today that its syndicated television series Raw Travel® will debut its 4th season this weekend in 159 cities, including 97 of the largest 100 U.S. markets. With an affiliate list that represents 105 Million and 93% of all U.S. TV homes, the season 4 (2016-17) debut represents the fourth straight year of record setting growth for the proudly independent adventure travel show.

Coming off its 3rd season where Raw Travel lengthened its lead as the #1 most watched authentic travel series in the U.S., season 4 will debut in an additional 15 new cities from Toledo to San Angelo.

Season 4 will also feature several upgraded time slots in major markets such as New York City (WNYW-Fox & WWOR-My), Philadelphia (WPHL-My) Cleveland (WOIO-CBS & WUAB-My), Seattle (KING-NBC & KONG-IND) Baltimore (WBFF-Fox & WUTB-My), and San Diego (XETV-CW). In Memphis the show is set to air on powerhouse WMC-NBC 5 Sundays @ 11 PM, which should help insure Raw Travel’s industry defying trajectory of audience growth.

Raw Travel surpassed 1 million weekly viewers on more than one occasion in Season 3, setting a high-water mark for the series that it expects to break in Season 4.

Globally, more international viewers are getting a taste of Raw Travel with outlets in Europe, Asia, Africa and many other key territories, which includes several major airlines that are licensing the series and helping spread the Raw Travel movement of socially conscious, authentic adventure travel.

One of the highlight episodes of Season 4 is “Cuba Undercover” which encompassed a covert journey to the island nation with a dismal record for journalistic freedoms. The producers posed as everyday tourists to give viewers a more authentic look at Cuba’s people, culture and burgeoning tourism now that the U.S. has eased decades old travel restrictions.

The producers also traveled to Haiti for an unflinching look at how non-governmental organizations (NGOs) may be contributing to Haiti’s dependence and reveal the darker side of the so-called “business of poverty”.  Simultaneously Raw Travel showcases how socially conscious tourism can help provide a much needed “hand up” rather than “hand out” for Haitians.

 “Raw Travel’s mantra of empathy and giving back is a reflection of a collective consciousness and mindset of a growing number of people. Raw Travel has a part to play in this large scale social movement and we’re humbled by the opportunity,” states Robert G. Rose, Executive Producer and Host.

Raw Travel is jointly distributed by AIM TV and Bright-Line Distribution. More information can be found at www.RawTravel.tv and viewers can visit www.RawTravel.tv/wheretowatch for a complete listing of cities, affiliates and time slots in the U.S. for Season 4.

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ABOUT RAW TRAVEL TV

Raw Travel is the most watched authentic travel show on U.S. commercial television and is an adventure travel & lifestyle series showcasing the wave of socially and environmentally aware, independent travel. The series weaves together themes of eco-tourism, volun-tourism (giving back) with underground music and authentic culture in a unique way. Each weekend the show is seen in well over 150 U.S. cities and in several international territories (Asia, Africa, Europe, etc.). It can be found on several major airlines and soon in Over the Top (digital) platforms as well.  It is jointly distributed by AIM Tell-A-Vision Group and Bright-Line Distribution.

ABOUT AIM TELL-A-VISION GROUP

AIM Tell-A-Vision (AIM TV) is an independent content and distribution company founded by media entrepreneur Robert G. Rose. Since 2000, AIM TV has been producing and distributing positive, compelling content that reflects a mission of presenting “Media That Matters”. Visit www.AIMTVGroup.com for more information.

 

ABOUT BRIGHT-LINE DISTRIBUTION

Bright-Line Distribution is a partnership of syndication veterans Jacqueline Hartley and Nancy Cook. Bright-Line’s mission is to deliver, through high energy and determined efforts, predictable and consistent TV distribution results.