boycot this as their carbon footprint must be huge and their setroying the planet

is due to the fact this event fetishises the authoritarian government of Fidel Castro. I for one will NOT be going.

Other than having " the highest life expectancy in latin america "...." there is a helluva lot of room for improvement "
Is that it?
The only positive change since the massive repression pre-revolution is that people live longer.
You must try harder.
No one claims Cuba to be a "socialist paradise " , so why do you use that stupid phrase?
There is always " room for improvement ".
Another one.
Name me anything that cannot be improved.
Your "arguments" are vague, always negative and too simplistic.
What do you mean?

Being able to criticise the leader of your country without running the risk of being thrown into prison, for starters.

Another would be allowing Cubans to leave without requiring permission from the State.

Also, becoming more tolerant of LGBT people in the country, rather than brutally surpressing them is another good one.

Unfortunately , Cuba being a third world little island ,means that the Cuban people are not in the position to take cheap 'Easyjet' flights to Haiti.

Due to certain outside influences , Cuba is not allowed , or should I say is hindered in its natural economic development by the most " civilised western democracies" , as well you know.

Why do you never speak of this or attack countries who openly allow terrorists free passage to train and attack Cuba from their shores.

Why is Cuba not allowed to either evolve or fail naturally and by its own hand ?

My opinion is that the the leaders of the so called " western democracies " , and their neanderthol ideas would be extinct within a very short time , if Cuba were allowed the freedom that you "seem" to be championing.

By the way , I know of no one who has (independently) criticised Castro and been imprisoned.

Another myth promoted readily.

And I'm sorry I dont know LGBT.

Do you believe Cuba as a sovereign state should be allowed to evolve or fail without interference ?

you can't hide behind the fact that global capitalism is unjust and environmentally destructive (which it is) when faced with genuine criticisms of an authoritarian regime. Just because you are anti-capitalist does not mean you have to fully support every alternative system going, not matter how repressive they may be. Don't get me wrong: some fairly inspiring stuff has come out of Cuba ("the power of community" gives one example), but i'm just growing tired of seeing such polarised debate.