The one you do not expect

[matrixmann]

Cuba sends doctors and nurses to territories affected by Ebola in Africa since the beginning of October. The contingents are already larger than those ones of Western industrialized nations.
Where is Western journalism to spread this piece of information through every channel?

Comments

[matrixmann]

It seems pretty unprobable to me that it's only because of image improvement. Because for image you cannot buy anything.
Let's say, either they already have some kind of trade relationships to Africa (which we both don't know right now) or they want to create some by actions like this. Or they think Ebola is a serious threat and if nobody's seriously doing something against it, it may be at your doorsteps some time.

Second thing I want to say is: You don't know how it is these days with teaching foreign languages in Cuba. At least I might guess even in Cuba they have already realized how much important they are in foreign relationships.

[animaltime.livejournal.com]

It's *possible* that Cuba is expecting something in return from Guinea, Liberia or Sierra Leone; I don't think it's probable (they're even poorer than Cuba). I agree that Cuba (and the rest of the world) have an interest in ending Ebola in West Africa so that it doesn't eventually enter their own countries and wreak havoc. That's a very legitimate reason for sending doctors. That's exactly what powerful countries should be doing too, because as long as it exists in West Africa, the threat of West Africans traveling and entering other countries is real (aside from the humanitarian goal of ending suffering in West Africa).

No, I don't know generally how it is regarding languages, but I have a good friend who only left Cuba a couple years ago, and he says that the educational system is completely bankrupted by bribery and plagiarism at every level. Teachers accept money bribes in exchange for passing grades, and students collude to plagiarize on exams and other assignments. It doesn't seem like an environment in which ANY kind of foreign-language-learning program would work.

It's great that Cuba is sending doctors to West Africa, but I have a lot of questions about that (including, for example, whether the doctors themselves consented to it or whether the government decided unilaterally to send them over).

[matrixmann]

Let's just leave it at that: One will surely hear about what kind of purpose Cuba was aiming at with that action.

[animaltime.livejournal.com]

Sure, it'll be interesting to see what happens next.