THE POWER OF ONE!
WHO IS YOANI SANCHEZ?
Daring
to defy Castro's rules Cuban dissident, Yoani Sanchez, sneaks into hotels in Cuba to find access
to a computer and starts her blog. She's determined to let the world know of
the bondage and
injustices in Cuba. She wants to unveil to the world the real conditions in Cuba.
Yoani
Sanchez
1.
Abduction, beatings and threats have not stopped Yoani from writing her blog
and then her book.
2. She was
able to leave Cuba in 2002, to live in Switzerland. But, she decided to make a difference and she returned
to the island to start her campaign for freedom.
3. Time magazine listed her as one of the
world's 100 most influential people in 2008.
4. In
November, 2009, President Obama wrote that her blog provides the world a
unique
window
into the realities of daily life in Cuba. He applauded her efforts to empower
fellow
Cubans to
express themselves through the use of technology.
5. In 2008,
Sanchez received awards from Time magazine,
Foreign Policy magazine and
El Pais, the 2008, Ortega y Gasset Prize for
Digital Journalism. In the summer of 2009, Yoani
was honored
as one of the winners of the Columbia University School of Journalism's
"Marie
Moors
Cabot Prize." The prize is the oldest in international journalism. She was
denied
permission
by the Cuban authorities to attend the New York City awards banquet.
6. In 2010,
Yoani Sanchez was named a "World Press Freedom Hero" by the
International
Press
Institute and received a Prince Claus Award from the Netherland's Prince Claus
Fund.
Finally, recently, Yoani Sanchez was allowed to travel. In her visit to the U.S.,
she won
the hearts of
many Cubans by her declarations that she found "Cuba outside of
Cuba." She
goes
on to explain that the exiled, spread around the world, are keeping Cuba alive by
their memories, traditions and spirit.
It is
with much appreciation and warm affection that I'm thrilled to honor her in
this blog.
One
woman with a heart full of courage speaking for freedom!
Yoani Sanchez, my Cuban sister, how can I thank
you?
Te quiero,
Amarilys
P.S. Some would like to know how Yoani
Sanchez is still alive?
I believe there're many people praying for
her. Also, years back I was part of an
organization that wrote letters to Russian prisoners. They had been sent
to
prison because of practicing their faith. We met and wrote
letters to
them because we were informed that if the Communist governement knew other
countries knew them, and communicated with them, they would treat them better.
I believe the world has its eye on Yoani Sanchez and her family. This, in truth,
is
great protection for her.
