Havana: On the streets, Cubans no longer seem to care who is responsible for their hardship; they just want to see change. Photograph: Hannah McCarthyFor Cubans, graffiti stating '2 + 2 = 5' and ‘Necesitas ser feliz' (You need to be happy) are a form of artistic protest and silent resistance against the state narrative. Photograph: Hannah McCarthy“Back in the 90s and 2000s, education was wonderful,” says Lauren Marti, a 35-year-old single mother. Photograph: Hannah McCarthy“But after living through that moment, what’s left? On the streets, Cubans no longer seem to care who is responsible for their hardship; they just want to see change.

Source: The Irish Times February 22, 2026 15:36 UTC