Shark and coral researchers from the U.S. are releasing results of a recent Cuba expedition — an international team effort that will be featured Tuesday, July 7 during Discovery Channel’s Shark Week. This is a good example of the numerous cooperative projects between Cubans and Americans over the past decade. There has been cooperation not only in natural science/ecology, but in farming, tourism, arts, medicine/health care, information technology, alternative energy, education, etc. etc. In the province of Guantanamo, military services of Cuba and the U.S. routinely plan and execute joint training exercises involving disaster relief, search & rescue, and repatriation of Cubans found floating in the rough seas of the Florida Straits. The Cuban Army General and American Commander at Guantanamo Bay Naval Station reportedly meet in person each week to discuss issues in common.

When I read articles like the one I linked to below, it reminds me that the people of Cuba and the U.S. are geographical, cultural, and historical allies. (Unfortunately, some government officials of both countries continue to sound like buffoons.)

This is one reason why I am thrilled to see the people of both nations surging forward in the process of normalizing relations. Every month, both governments seem to becoming increasingly irrelevant, even as more and more Americans visit the island. Many are tipping generously, making friends, returning on multiple visits, and micro-investing in Cuba’s future. Meanwhile, in south Florida, Cuban-Americans have been investing (and will continue to invest) big-time by sending and taking cash to their relatives in Cuba. This is in addition to the estimated 2-3 billion U.S. dollars that are transferred yearly as remittances, which help pay for essentials such as food and medicine.

To read more about this upcoming special, click:

https://mote.org/news/article/cuba-research-to-make-splash-on-discovery-channels-shark-week