Yoani Sanchez at Stanford University

Yoani Sanchez at Stanford University
Posted on November 1, 2013
By Sarina A. Beges

On October 28, Cuban blogger and dissident Yoani Sánchez addressed a
crowd of over 100 during a special event hosted by the Program on
Liberation Technology at Stanford's Center on Democracy, Development,
and the Rule of Law. Sánchez described to the audience – through the use
of a translator – how technology allows her to narrate the harsh
realities of the closed island nation of Cuba to the world.

From the computer she constructed with spare parts in 1994 named "my
little Frankenstein" to her Twitter account with over half a million
followers today, Sánchez illustrated how technology is an ally for
information and freedom in Cuba.

Sánchez described the launch of her blog – Generation Y – as a turning
point for her life. Generation Y became an outlet for her to unleash her
own personal "demons" through the written word while providing a more
realistic portrait of Cuba to the international community.

"The greatest gratification has been to see how that small crack that
started in 2007 has turned into a window through which many more Cuban
activists and ordinary Cuban citizens can now express opinions," said
Sánchez when describing the impact of Generation Y.

Since that time, Sánchez has gained international acclaim for Generation
Y – which is translated into 17 languages – and has received many
accolades, including a 2012 nomination for the Nobel Peace Prize and
recognition by U.S. President Barack Obama.

Sánchez, who received permission to leave Cuba for this trip, was in the
San Francisco Bay Area meeting with technology giants – Google, Facebook
and Twitter – to discuss the challenges of using technology in a country
that restricts Internet usage and social media access for the majority
of the population.

In a climate of control, the demand for information is high and Sánchez
described the incredible clandestine network of information exchange in
Cuba where terabytes of data are shared through flash drives. The black
market for information has helped bloggers and civil society activists
reach an international audience with their messages.

"The day in Cuba when there is political change , I expect there to be
monuments raised not to men who fought with weapons and machetes, but in
the shape of a USB drive … or in the shape of a little blue Twitter bird
in Havana," said Sánchez, emphasizing the important role that technology
tools have played in the struggle for freedom.

Audience members engaged Sánchez in a series of questions about the
political situation in Cuba, curious about her position on the U.S.
economic embargo, Raul Castro's new policies and the Cuban exile
community. Her responses provided a new narrative and perspective on
long-standing issues that have defined U.S. – Cuban relations.

Sánchez closed her talk on a somber note, discussing how the life of the
nation is linked to the fate of a single man.

"My mother was born under the Castro's, I was born under the Castro's,
my son who is 18 years old was born under the Castro's – that is three
generations," said Sánchez. "If the system is prolonged several more
years my grandchildren may be born under this regime."

While it is unclear what the future holds for Cuba, Sánchez's talk
reminded the audience that technology is helping to slowly chip away at
the information blockade in Cuba, giving people the tools to be more free.

This talk was co-sponsored by the Association for Liberation Technology,
the Center for Latin American Studies and the Stanford Human Rights Center.

To view the picture slideshow from the talk, please click here.

Source: "Yoani Sanchez at Stanford University | Translating Cuba" -
http://translatingcuba.com/yoani-sanchez-at-stanford-university/