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Start Date : 26 Jun 05 |
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End Date : 26 Jun 05 |
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Location: Las Guasimas,Cuba |
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Through the Localizing Agenda 21 Programme, UN-HABITAT has been actively present in Cuba for a number of years. The launch of the Global campaigns in Cuba is a direct follow-up of the Localising Agenda 21 programme and its efforts to introduce participatory planning processes in Cuban cities. “Improving the Management of our Cities and the Environment of our Homes” is the official title of the National Campaign launched in Cuba on 26-27 June 2005. The launch was a culmination of a preparatory process that lasted nearly a year.
The “Popular Launch” of the Cuban Campaign took place on the 26th June 2005, in Las Guasimas, an historically important, pro-active settlement, one hour away from Havana. More than 500 persons participated in the event, including representatives from the Philippines, Brazil and Senegal, who spoke of the importance of the Global Campaigns in their countries. The President of “Las Guasimas” addressed the participants on behalf of the community. The President of the People’s National Assembly, as well as the Presidents of the National Institute of Housing and the Physical Planning Institute, also spoke on the occasion. On behalf of the UN-HABITAT Executive Director, Jorge Gavidia, Chief of the Regional Office for Latin America and the Caribbean, also addressed the audience. The meeting ended with dinner, offered by community of “Las Guasimas”.
The Official Campaign Launch was held on 27 June in the Hotel Habana Libre, with the participation of nearly 500 delegates from National and International Agencies, municipal representatives and communal organizations. The event culminated in the formal commitment and signature of the Campaign Declaration and Plan of Action by all key national partners and the mayors of the four cities where the Campaign is being implemented locally - Bayamo, Cienfuegos, Holguín and Santa Clara. This document provides a detailed programme of activities for the next few years and thus forms the basis for the most important phase of the Campaign process - its practical implementation!
In the aftermath of hurricane DENNIS (08 July 2005), the implementation of the Cuban Campaign has become even more urgent. Besides the housing deficit due to normal housing deterioration and the normal increase for the demand of new housing, 175,000 houses have been directly affected by the hurricane, with 40,000 of these having been totally destroyed!
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