Cuba Bans Harvesting of All Sea Turtles, Protecting Critically Endangered Hawksbill Turtle (July 2008)  Despite the market that exists for turtle eggs, meat and shells, Cuba has banned all harvesting of sea turtles for an indefinite period.

Off the Grid in Cuba: Renewable Energy on a Budget (June 2008)  With soaring gas prices threatening economic and national security, many are seeking solutions in renewable energy. Cuba, a country with a long history of alternative energy use, shows that it has a few lessons to teach developing countries looking for small scale solutions to their energy woes.

The Cauto River Basin: How Cuba Built a Community Around Reforestation Efforts (May 2008) Cuba's progress reforesting the Cauto River Basin shows how a country with limited resources can build an effective environmental conservation program by involving local populations. The remediation of degradation in the area caused by unsustainable land use improved public health, food security and the quality of life in surrounding rural communities.

FAQs on Cuba's Dual Currency System (April 2008) Top questions about Cuba's dual currency system answered.

Cuban Immigration: Recent status (April 2008) Migration from Cuba to the United States –– long a concern for both countries – has reached its highest level in 30 years. Due to several new developments in migration methods, including increased legal entry, highly organized and well-funded smuggling operations, and routes through Mexico, more Cubans are entering the United States both legally and illegally. The migration accords written in 1994 and 1995 are still upheld, but the breakdown in immigration talks in 2004 has eliminated all further cooperation on the issue.

Mass Migration from Cuba: How likely? (March 2008) The greatest threat that Cuba poses to the United States is through a wave of mass migration. Although security experts estimate a low probability of such an occurrence, certain developments might amplify that risk. This paper explores some reasons why another mass migration out of Cuba is unlikely, and why that potential continues to be mentioned in political discourse.

Increases in Cuban Military Spending Reflect Economic Recovery (March 2008) Although Cuba has quadrupled its military spending within the past decade, the percentage of GDP spent on defense has remained relatively stable. This increase in spending reflects a growing economy's renewed ability to repair a sector that had lost most of its funding and resources during the "special period."

Sexual Diversity in Cuba: New Legislation Reflects a Shift in Popular Opinion (February 2008) Proposed legislation to give greater rights to transgender Cubans and same-sex couples reflect growing social acceptance within the Cuban population, as well as governmental efforts to improve Cuba's record of human rights legislation.

How Environmental Conservation Helped Save Cuba (January 2008) Extreme poverty is often accompanied by environmental degradation, social unrest, and poor public health. Cuba, however, presents an unusual case of a country that in its worst economic times pushed for greater conservation, and thereby enhanced its long-term environmental and economic security.

Fidel Castro: Giving up the reins? A closer look may show otherwise (January, 2008) Newspapers from the United States to Australia have announced that Fidel Castro may step aside as president to allow younger politicians to take his place based on a letter that Fidel wrote to the popular Cuban news television program, Mesa Redonda, to be read on the air on December 17th.

The Cuban Health System (December 2007) Cuba’s medical system is funded almost entirely through public municipal funds and it is made available to everyone in the population. The main emphases of the system are illness prevention and health promotion, with most doctor visits occurring on the family or community level. With the very few resources Cuba has to allocate to public health, their health indicators are comparable to countries that spend many times more per capita on medical services. The health system is able to function effectively and efficiently thanks to public health education and mobilization, active family-level healthcare, a thriving biomedical industry, and a high number of health professionals.

Global Public Health Security: An Overview (December 2007) The health of people worldwide becomes a direct security concern of governments everywhere, not only a moral human interest, due to the rapid spread of infectious diseases across political boundaries, the deleterious effects poor health may have on global economies, and the instability that may be incited or exacerbated by poor health conditions, thereby endangering national security.

How Cuba is tapping into the growing halal market, and improving public health in the process (Nov. 2007)
During the Hajj and Umrah seasons, times when Muslim pilgrims from around the world pour into the holy city of Mecca in Saudi Arabia, pilgrims bring home more than just souvenirs: they often bring home a host of infectious diseases, as well. After several outbreaks of meningitis and other infectious diseases during the pilgrimage seasons due to overcrowded conditions and close contact with visitors from all over the world, Saudi Arabia has instituted vaccination requirements for all visitors applying for a pilgrimage visa. Although safe and effective vaccines are available, many people are wary of taking them because of what they may contain.

Fidel Castro opposes ethanol production from food sources, but is careful not to alienate Brazil (Oct. 2007)
Despite Cuba's own steps to revive its crippled sugar industry by switching to ethanol production, Fidel Castro has been quite vocal in his criticism of "the sinister idea of converting food into fuel". The ailing president's censure was aimed mainly at United States production of biofuels extracted from corn and soybean, but a shadow of disapproval has stretched over to Cuba's friend and ally, Brazil.

Top Ten Reasons Why U.S. Policy toward Cuba is "the dumbest policy on the face of the earth" (Sept. 2007)

U.S., Cuba Cooperate to Monitor Hurricanes (Sept. 2006)
The U.S. National Hurricane Center praises Cuba for permitting Air Force C-130 "hurricane hunters" to enter Cuban airspace to track and predict hurricanes as they approach the United States.

Cuba, Oil, and National Security: A Special Report (Aug. 2006)
Three years ago, Cuba announced the discovery of oil reserves off its northwest coast. Since then it has crafted an increasingly sophisticated energy development plan for exploiting these resources and struck deals with a growing list of international partners. As global demand for energy has expanded and prices skyrocketed, Cuba's oil discoveries have garnered increased interest from American policy analysts, oil companies, and a widening number of U.S. government officials. All this has also raised questions about how it might alter the 44-year U.S. trade embargo against the Castro regime.

Fidel's Kin Brings Hope for Change (Aug. 2006)
As an ailing Fidel Castro lies out of sight, questions abound about his designated successor, his brother Raul. Some say that if and when Raul takes over in earnest, we can expect more of the same. In fact, a Raul-led Cuba would look different in very important ways - and could represent an opportunity to transform our dysfunctional relationship with our island neighbor.

Fidel Cedes Power to Raul... at least for the moment (Aug. 2006)
On July 31, 2006, Fidel Castro handed over the reins of government to his brother, Raul, as he underwent surgery for gastrointestinal bleeding, according to a statement read on Cuban state television by his secretary, Carlos Valenciaga. Castro is the world's longest-serving head of state, and this represents the first time in 47 years he has ceded power. The move was announced as temporary, allowing Castro, who turns 80 on Aug. 13, several weeks to recover from surgery for a condition the statement described as "brought on by extreme stress" from recent public appearances in Argentina and eastern Cuba.

Southcom General Calls for Review of Cuba Policy (Jun. 2006)
The four-star general who heads the U.S. Southern Command has called for a major review of U.S. policy toward Cuba. Gen. Bantz J. Craddock's comments came on May 25, 2006, even as a new State Department policy toward Cuba was due to be published.

Cuba & Energy: A news chronology 2005-2006
Stories from around the world about the Cuban "energy revolution," oil and gas exploration, foreign investment, and U.S. reaction.

Energy Exploration in Cuba
Presentations from the Cuban government (March 2006)

Assessing the U.S. Bioweapons Allegations Against Cuba (Jan. 2005)
On October 3-7, 2004, the Center for Defense Information (CDI) co-sponsored a mission to Cuba, the third in a series of visits to biotechnology facilities on the island. CDI launched this initiative in late 2002 in response to allegations by Under Secretary of State John Bolton that Cuba posed a military and terrorist threat to the United States because it had "at least a limited offensive biological warfare research and development effort" and had "provided dual-use biotechnology to other rogue states."

Cuban Biotech: Open Doors Build Confidence (Nov. 2004)
"The United States believes that Cuba has at least a limited offensive biological warfare research and development effort." With those words in May 2002, Undersecretary of State John Bolton triggered an uproar.Did Cuba indeed possess Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMD)? If so, would it become the next target of U.S. pre-emptive military action? If not, what do the allegations say about U.S. credibility in the war on terror, already damaged by its inability to find WMD in Iraq?

Cuban Biotechnology: A First-Hand Report (May 2003) - (PDF) In response to Bush administration accusations of a Cuban "biological warfare research and development effort," a group of leading experts visited nine Cuban biotechnology facilities in October 2002. Here is what they found.