2007 Annual Report - Center for International Private Enterprise

iCubampact on Reform• In Cuba, CIPE distributed 3,000hard copies and 2,000 CD copies ofPerspectiva magazine.• Seventeen Perspectiva reading circlesmet on a weekly basis throughout thecountry, with the regular participation ofnearly 200 people.• The national reading circle essay contestattracted 100 entries from participantsacross Cuba. Essay participants expresseda clear commitment to democratic andeconomic reform:- “Without democracy there is nosustainable economic growth; ifthose who create wealth are not free,there cannot be sustainable economicgrowth for everybody.”- “…based on the experience of currentjudicial reforms in Latin America, wewill create an efficient and modernjudicial system that guarantees the[proper] functioning of the state thatis based on the rule of law.”• An innovative survey revealed thatthe reading circles significantly raisedawareness of reform issues amongparticipants. The survey further revealedthat:- 93 percent believe that it is importantto live in a country where there isfreedom of expression.- 88 percent responded that democracy,as opposed to autocratic leadership,is the better way to address nationalproblems.- 79 percent believe that it is importantto live in a place where there aredemocratic elections.Promoting ReformThe Cuban Government’s crackdown onopposition views has made it difficult for its citizensto access outside information. In 2007, CIPE helpedincrease Cubans’ access to independent, outsideinformation on democracy, market economics,and the transition experiences of other countriesby distributing copies of the CIPE-funded, awardwinningmagazine, Perspectiva. CIPE organizedPerspectiva reading circles across the island, andlaunched a groundbreaking essay contest on topicsrelated to the magazine, including the role ofpolitical parties, private property and economicgrowth, judicial reform, and obstacles to economicdevelopment in Cuba.Perspectiva magazine connects reformersin Cuba with a region-wide network acrossLatin America and the Caribbean.34