The portal Desde Cuba, where this blog and others are housed, has come out with its statistics. Even though I don’t put too much stock in the numbers, the fact is that the data are too good to hide. I still believe that most of the people I meet in the street who tell me they read this site didn’t get here through an internet connection, but rather though copies on CDs, flash memories, and emails sent by family and friends abroad.
Those who have blocked the site from inside Cuba can take much of the responsibility for the increase in the number of hits. With their clumsy actions, they don’t seem to notice that nothing is as attractive as that which is forbidden.
Enjoy the numbers, but don’t get caught up in the statistics… the best thing that has happened to us is not reflected in this curve that goes up and up.
great , blame eveything on cuba ,glorify usa, which has imposed embargo on cuba creating trouble for people
you are getting hits because internationally you are known as trouble creator for your own country,
To Anonimo,Hey can you at least take a time to read what you write or to meditate into yourself.
Yoani is opening doors with great talent,open heart and a lot of compassion and doing so she’s growing tall for all.
So what? My myspace gets more visits every second…. pfftt pathetic numbers if you ask me, the DICTATOR OF DA UNIVERSE!!!! ERSE ERSE ERSE (echo for extra effect)
Right on, Anónimo.
Hey Anonimo, that makes no sense whatsoever. I don’t see her “glorifying” the U.S. anywhere in her post. She’s OBVIOUSLY going to blame/criticize Cuba since THAT’S WHERE SHE LIVES and SHE HAS KNOWLEDGE OF. What else is she going to criticize. It’s not like the girl’s well traveled. Thanks to Cuba who doesn’t let her leave the country SHE CAN’T HAVE MUCH OF AN OPINION ON ANYWHERE ELSE!
I know she’s been to Switzerland and lived there a while, but I don’t know of her having been to a whole lot of other places, let alone the U.S. so it’s pretty clear to me she’s not “glorifying” the place–she has no knowledge of it.
DesdeCuba’s numbers are nothing short of remarkable. According to the alexa.com internet trafffic service, DesdeCuba.com has been moving steadily up its rankings. The only Cuban state controlled media website that even comes close is granma.cu. And granma.cu has been losing visitors, while desdecuba.com has been gaining them. And if you only count those visiting from outside of Cuba, desdecuba.com is already well ahead of granma.cu in terms of popularity.
Congratulations to Yoani and her colleagues. You’re amazing, and obviously striking a chord with people around the world.
If she would have stayed in Switzerland then she wouldn’t have has these ‘problems’ that she cries about. She had her freedom and returned? That doesn’t make sense. She stood a better chance of fighting from the outside than on the inside.
ASk her if she has ever been arrested for her blogging or speaking out? NO. But why not? I thought the evil dictator locks up everyone that oppses them. Saddam would’ve given her the attention she begs for.
Yaoni is hurting her family not Raul. They didn’t force her to return, she CHOSE to.
@Anonimo: This post hasn’t glorified the US… I don’t recall Yoani ever glorifying the US. Generation Y is getting hits not because she is known as a troublemaker, but because she is standing up for what she believes in and doing it in a country where standing up for your beliefs is frowned upon. Most of us in North America and Europe live in countries where major changes have happened because of people standing up for what they believe in, from Rosa Parks to the Boston Tea Party, to the French revolution, to women’s rights and the whole peace and love movement of the 60s. Standing up and demanding change is something we can all relate to and is something we all respect and something we can all relate to. That is why she gets hits.
@Noah: I wonder why you’ve bothered typing comments on both of Yoani’s last entries if you never have anything constructive to say.
@CKing Out: just read what I wrote for Anonimo and the same goes for you.
@TheSocialist: If you know she’s been to Switzerland then you also know why she returned. Most of us here who read this blog happen to think that what she does is pretty great. If you don’t that’s excellent. Also if you think residing in Cuba where you can’t speak your mind is so great then I will personally buy you a one way plane ticket to Havana where you can’t forfeit your passport, your belongings and your opinions.
@everyone else: Please remember to vote every 24 hours at the Weblog awards! The link is on the main page on the top right hand.
Well said Sickboy – especially your comment to the Socialist.
I’m amazed how little compassion some people (those who make mocking comments in this forum) have for other fellowmen/women. They seem to know very little about living in a country where freedom of speach doesn’t exist among many other rights that we in “free countries” take for granted. Or is it just pure jealousy of Yoani’s ability to express herself and how many cubans feel…?
And yes, I have voted. Please also join the desdecuba facebook site!
Thank you for your support Katariina! I would join the facebook site, but I don’t do social-networking at all… The closest I get is posting on this blog and my own blog.
And you are completely right… It must be because these people have never lived or been to these countries and have no sense of vision beyond their own little worlds . That or the jealousy thing. Either way everyone is entitled to their opinions I just wish they’d change their tune or back up their arguments with something concrete, so we could at least have pretend to have a real debate about stuff.
After a STRONG LEAD in early voting… Generacion Y is now about a hundred votes behind the leader in the weblog awards!
TIME TO GET OUT THOSE EMAIL LISTS AND CALL ON YOUR FRIENDS… TO VOTE… AND TO CALL ON THEIR FRIENDS… ETC….
Yoani is getting all this traffic and attention because she perfectly confirms and reflects the hysterical beliefs of the Western media and elites regarding Cuba. She also plays into the capitalist press’ desire for wild claims, which unfortunately for her and the media, have too often proven untrue. If she was just another responsible Cuban blogger who is to able to criticize aspects of the system honestly and ethically, she would have no following in the West.
@avt2s: As of right now I’m just going to start ignoring you people on here…
@everyone else… I just posted in the comments section of the spanish version of the site about the Weblog awards to get them to vote as well. There was no mention of it that I found. Maybe some of you could do it as well? It might be helpful.
Speaking of facts and figures — and looking back at the “Missions” post — Reuters reported today that Cuba took in $9.2 billion last year from the expert of services, most of which goes to Venezuela, where 40,000 Cubans work, 30,000 in health services. By comparison, tourism brought in $2.5 billion.
TheSocialist, dude! What’re you talking about? Thank God for people like Yoanni that are actually finally speaking up in Cuba. That’s been the trouble and why this guy’s been in power so long–everyone that wants change on the island HAS LEFT rather than stay there to MAKE CHANGE. She isn’t exactly singlehandedly making change, but let’s give credit where credit’s due–at least SHE’S SPEAKING OUT, something people have been too scared to do for a VERY LONG TIME. You’ll recall that Fidel began by simple speaking out. He didn’t take over the island in a day. It’ll take more than a day to bring down the Castro DYNASTY. Viva Cuba Libre! Get the Castro’s out and let the people VOTE for what kind of government they want!
LMAO!
@ Sickboy – She returned “for family reasons and against the advice of friends and acquaintances”. She has a kid correct? I have one also and I live for her. I lived in the barrio and worked hard to get us out so she can have a better life. But Yaoni…she gave up that life and now she creis for her child’s education and health. What was she thinking? I help my family from overseas and I have an uncle who works for el presidente, so I don’t need your money. I reach habana when ever I want, son.
@ whatareyousaying – exactly what are you saying? That Yoani is looking to topple the government? Interesting. You cannot say that she is being held back from freddom of speech bc she is doing it on this blog and has not been arrested for her actions. So please explain how this is so? She is not immortal and can be crush at anytime.
Its time for you people to stop defending a coward. Let Yoani debate this with us. Stop creating blogs and running back in to the hole to have you Minions defend her! Rassssssssssssssss
LMAO!
@ Sickboy – She returned “for family reasons and against the advice of friends and acquaintances”. She has a kid correct? I have one also and I live for her. I lived in the barrio and worked hard to get us out so she can have a better life. But Yoani…she gave up that life and now she cries for her child’s education and health. What was she thinking? I help my family from overseas and I have an uncle who works for el presidente, so I don’t need your money. I reach habana when ever I want, son.
@ whatareyousaying – exactly what are you saying? That Yoani is looking to topple the government? Interesting. You cannot say that she is being held back from freddom of speech bc she is doing it on this blog and has not been arrested for her actions. So please explain how this is so? She is not immortal and can be crush at anytime.
Its time for you people to stop defending a coward. Let Yoani debate this with us. Stop creating blogs and running back in to the hole to have you Minions defend her! Rassssssssssssssss
Glad for your numbers Yoani. Just found you. Here because in our country people are discriminated against because of who they love. katariina there are two facebook groups ….do you mean CENSURE or the other one? I have voted everyday on WEBLOG.
…also for Pam’s House Blend which is a daily for me. Good luck all.
Everyone, we all make life deicisions for primarily personal reasons. These do not need to be discussed or criticized here I don’t think.
I love Yoani’s poetry. I posted her 2009 DAWN to YouTube…did you see it there?
Well, as the blog grows in popularity, the attacks are more frequent and more stinging. Why anyone would come on here and attack a woman writing on a blog that is doing nothing more than commenting on her observances is really beyond the pale. If you don’t like what she says, then ignore her blog and move on. Those that attack her aren’t really attacking her at all. They are simply defending the oppressive regime installed in Cuba. The first tactic of the far left is to demonize their opponents. The last tactic of the far left is to discuss and civilly debate the issues. Reasonable folks here know what the score is. Thank God I am from a city like New Orleans where political correctness hasn’t taken hold and we still speak and act freely.
@ L Orion: I meant the Desde Cuba group; just make a search and you will find it.
@ To everyone: I just want to tell you all that Yoani is on the front page of Sweden’s major newspaper DN, on their web page: http://www.dn.se The headline is: “The blogger who annoys Cuba”. The article is also published in the paper edition this morning as part of a series of articles on Cuba. Unfortunately it’s in Swedish but anyhow – it just shows how important she is and that her message is spreading!
http://www.dn.se/DNet/jsp/polopoly.jsp?d=3561&a=872160
@ The Socialist: Regarding your calling Yoani a coward for writing a blog instead of debating with “us”, last month when Yoani was summoned to the police station to be read the riot act, this is what she was told by an Interior Ministry official: “We want to warn you that you have transgressed all the limits of tolerance with your rapprochement and contacts with counter-revolutionary elements. This totally disqualifies you for dialog with Cuban authorities.” (see Yoani’s December 3, 2008 post).
Yoani seems more than willing to debate with Cuban authorities, as evidenced by her question to Mariela Castro on political orientations later in December. It’s the Cuban authorities who have no interest in debating Yoani, preferring instead to try to intimidate her into silence.
Yeah, like they were ever interested in debating anything with her or anyone else. The only reason they have taken notice of her is because they have had to. I worry she and her blog will simply one day disappear from the virtual world. After 50 years (I am not 50), I still can’t believe this is happening. Que tristeza.
The existence of Yoani’s blog shows that Cuban government is gradually allowing more of what is in Western “democracies” considered freedom.