Tania Díaz, Grupo de Trabajo Decoro
HAVANA, January 20 - The Show of Children's Drawings sponsored by the independent Teachers' Association and ecological organization Naturpaz came to an almost happy ending. At least it closed on January 11 without the presence of State Security agents, who in previous days had confiscated all
the toys meant for the contest winners: bicycles, roller skates, scooters, bats and balls.
There was a total of 58 prizes awarded to children whose work showed great quality and imagination. Among them, 11 obtained first places. The theme for the contest was "The Environment and Its Pollution." Raudel Dupeirón showed a typical Cuban landscape, in which one can see the
sea covered with bottles and other refuse. Andrés Estrada Domínguez, 11, drew a beautiful deer running away through contaminated fields.
The works will remain in exhibition in a bedroom at the home of Roberto de Miranda, president of the Teachers' Association, in which will be housed as well the first independent library "Felix Varela", founded in 1984 by Dulce María de Quesada.
Among the many dissidents present in this final event were members of the Teachers' Association of Cuba, of Naturpaz, of the Christian Movement Love and Peace, of the the Confederation of Democratic Workers of Cuba and of the Cuban Party of Orthodox Renovation.
Sarah Franco said a few words of appreciation to all the participants and to the exiled brothers who contributed the toys. Ms. Franco told of the sad circumstances under which she met the soul of this whole story, Roberto de Miranda. She also let everyone know that the drawings will from now on
be on permanent exhibition and that the dozens of volumes of the library, all in Miranda's home, are at the disposal of neighbors, friends, dissidents and independent journalists.
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