Just when we thought things were getting better in Cuba, hatred like this reminds us more change is needed.

The first ever Cuban Gay Pride march was set to take place Wednesday down the streets of the communist country.

The parade was to start at 10:00am in Havana with attendees marching under the slogan "You are not alone."

However, as organizers arrived at the starting point, several of them were met by Cuban police officers who proceeded to beat and arrest several of them.

Not cool!

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Cuban authorities arrested seven opposition activists on Friday.

They were detained by police during a demonstration outside an interior ministry office.

Tisk. Tisk.

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The European Union has lifted sanctions against Cuba.

The E.U. took action against the island back in 2003, in protest of the Cuban government's imprisonment of more than 70 dissidents.

EU External Relations Commissioner, Benita Ferrero-Waldner, stated that the member states wanted to promote change in Cuba after Raul Casto took over.

She adds, "There will be very clear language also on what the Cubans still have to do… releasing prisoners, really working on human rights questions. There will be a sort of review to see whether indeed something will have happened."

Ferrero-Waldner adds that the EU would continue to monitor human rights conditions.

However, several top Cuban dissidents have criticized the decision.

During a recent BBC interview, one of the founding members of the dissident group Ladies in White, Miriam Leiva, expressed her thoughts about the move being unwarranted as Raul had not made any significant moves towards creating a more democratic society.

And unlike the US embargo that's been in place for over 45 years, the EU sanctions are largely symbolic as they don't really restrict on any investments or trades.

What do U think?

Should the EU have removed its sanctions?

Should the US remove it's embargo????

[Image via WENN.]

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This is truly amazing!

Some more changes are taking place in Cuba - for the better.

The newest development is pushing the country towards more of a capitalist state!

Cuba is set to abolish their equal pay system and will allow for workers to earn performance bonuses.

The average worker in Cuba earns about or less than $20 a month, with everyone making around the same salary - a system that was put in place back in 1959 during the communist revolution.

Can U live on just $20 a month????

According to Cuban officials, the new wage system should improve production and services, since the current one has removed all incentives to excel due to everyone earning the same regardless of performance.

Workers will receive a minimum 5% bonus for meeting targets and will have no ceiling on salaries.

As for managers, they could earn a 30% bonus if their team increases production as well.

A rep for the government said "It's harmful to give a worker less than he deserves, it's also harmful to give him what he doesn't deserve."

Wow.

And it just took 50 years to realize that?????

[Image via WENN.]

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