Tag Archives: Cuban Culture

Cuban Revolution, Latin America

SAVE THE DATE – CUBA UNDER SEIGE

Keith_Cuba_01

Join us for an evening with Keith Bolender
who will speaking about his new book
“Cuba Under Seige: American Policy, The Revolutions, and its People.”

For more than 50 years America’s unrelenting hostility against the Cuban Revolution has resulted in the
development of a siege mentality among island leadership and its citizens. This has affected politics,
economics, culture, and nearly all aspects of everyday life. In a vibrant new look at Cuban-American relations,
Keith Bolender analyzes, through the voices of the powerful and the common, both the positive and negative of revolutionary society constantly under pressure from the world’s greatest powers. Using both historic
and current examination, including comparisons with America under siege since 9/11, the work covers the roots of besiegement, the impact it has had on the Cuban people, and how and when the besiegement will end.

Keith Bolender is a freelance journalist living in Toronto and has written extensively on Cuban matters for a
variety of North American publications, including the Toronto Star, Florida Sun Sentinel, the Council for
Hemispheric Affairs, the Guardian, North American Council on Latin America, Monthly Review, Progresso
Weekly and others. He has been involved with Cuban projects for more than 20 years. He is a member of the Institute for Public Accuracy (IPA) on their roster of experts for Cuban Affairs. Lecturer on the Cuban Revolution at the University of Toronto School of Continuing Education.

Casa de las Américas
182 East 111th Street – between 3rd Ave and Lexington Ave. Closer to 3rd
Ave. 6 Lex train to 110th Street Station

Cuban Arts, Cuban Culture

A much more universal José Martí

3RD INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE FOR WORLD EQUILIBRIUM

Pedro de la Hoz / Photos: Juvenal Balán & Jorge Luis González (GRANMA INTERNACIONAL)

 Jose Marti Cuban Revolution

Jose Marti Cuban Revolution

A much more universal José Martí emerged from the 3rd International Conference for World Equilibrium, the closing session of which took place January 30 in Havana’s International Convention Center.

One of the most eloquent results of the conference, which brought together more than 800 delegates, is the José Martí World Solidarity Project Declaration and the commitment made by the Youth Forum, included on the event’s agenda.

The Declaration, signed by eminent intellectuals and read by Ignacio Ramonet, warns of the dangers of nuclear war, climate change and the social crisis produced by increasing inequalities within the dominant economic model. It identifies the growing strength of those proposing alternatives and fighting for peace and justice. To this end, Martí’s thinking has become a necessary reference and opens the way to a better world.

For their part, young people affirmed their commitment to promoting Martí’s ideas, fighting to end the U.S. blockade of Cuba and for the liberation of the Cuba Five serving unjust sentences in the heart of the empire.

In the closing session, attended by Council of State Vice President Esteban Lazo and Ricardo Alarcón de Quesada, President of the National Assembly of People’s Power, various speakers confirmed the value of the conference and the continuing relevance of Martí’s ideas. At the same time, they addressed significant current issues such as the new movement in Latin America and the Caribbean, solidarity with the Bolivarian process in Venezuela and its leader Hugo Chávez, the adoption of successful strategies against global hegemony, and the need to promote environmental solutions and protect nature.

INTEGRATION TO CHANGE THE HISTORY OF LATIN AMERICA

Former Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva advocated systematizing a doctrine of Latin American and Caribbean integration which would serve as an intellectual platform for the arduous tasks being undertaken in the region to fulfill Martí’s ideas.

His appeal was directed at participants in the 3rd International Conference for World Equilibrium, which closed with a dedication to the Cuban national hero on the 160th anniversary of his birth.

Full integration would contribute to changing the history of Latin America, Lula stated. “We must forge concrete unity among intellectuals, students, labor unions and social movements. We are constructing something that would have seemed impossible a number of years ago.”

Lula mounted the podium wearing a red guayabera shirt in honor of President Hugo Chávez, who is battling in Havana to recover his health, and expressed his happiness at having met a few hours earlier “with that great compañero Fidel,” and then with President Raúl Castro.

After asking for a minute’s silence in a tribute to the young victims of the tragedy in the university city of Santa Maria, the former President recalled the first time he spoke at the International Convention Center, in 1985, during an international meeting, led by Fidel, on external debt.

“Cuba has a very special significance. The moral authority constructed by this people in defense of dignity and sovereignty is even respected by those who do not sympathize with the Cuban Revolution,” he affirmed.

Referring to the five Cuban anti-terrorists unjustly sentenced in the United States, Lula recounted that, as President of Brazil, he interceded on behalf of the heroes on a visit to Washington during the George W. Bush administration.

“Unfortunately, it would seem that the Americans turn a deaf ear when the issue is about the problems of our beloved Latin America. I hope that in his second term, Obama will release the Five, end the blockade of Cuba and look more equitably and justly upon our region. Obama should have the same daring as his people had when voting for him.”

Lula shared some of his experiences as President over eight years, heading an administration which was able to reduce poverty, implement policies of inclusion and social mobility, give people land, and open new universities, policies now being extended by the Dilma Rousseff government.

In the last part of his speech, Lula called for a new political and economic order, the premises of which include the democratization of the United Nations and international financial organizations, and reiterated his confidence that the construction of a better world will become a reality sooner rather than later.

Positive contributions were made during the closing session by former Guatemalan President Alvaro Colom; Mikhail Ostrovski, Vice President of the Russian Civic Chamber; Jean Pierre Bel, President of the French Senate; and Ecuadoran Defense Minister María Fernanda Espinosa. Other speakers were Simon Deuseuil Desras, President of the Haitian Senate; former Foreign Minister Jorge Taiana and Senator María de los Angeles Higonet, both from Argentina; and the Culture Ministers of Venezuela and the Dominican Republic, Pedro Calzadilla and José Antonio Rodríguez, respectively. Havana City Historian Eusebio Leal closed the conference with a moving speech in which he recalled how, through the Moncada assault, Fidel restored the figure of Martí in order to illuminate the paths of resistance and dignity of the Cuban people after the triumph of January 1, 1959.

A much more universal José Martí

Cuban Arts, Cuban Culture, The Cuban Five

Vicente Feliú en vivo

117 Comments

In English

Un llamado para continuar nuestro trabajo en los Estados Unidos en apoyo a los 5 Cubanos

Queridos amigos solidarios con la causa de los 5 Cubanos,

Les enviamos un YouTube que acabamos de editar del trovador cubano Vicente Feliú en vivo, en el Teatro Brava de San Francisco, esperamos lo disfruten. Vicente Feliú junto al guitarrista Alejandro Valdés realizaron una gira en Washington DC, Nueva York y San Francisco utilizando la música como herramienta para llamar la atención sobre el encarcelamiento de los 5 Cubanos.

httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fVkS28KibXY

Esta fue solo una de la gran cantidad de acciones que se llevaron a cabo en todo el mundo desde el 12 de septiembre al 8 de octubre. Durante esos días, el apoyo internacional por el reclamo de la libertad inmediata a Gerardo, Ramón, Antonio, Fernando y René se puso de manifiesto mostrando la indignación que sentimos todos al cumplirse 14 años del injusto arresto de los 5 Cubanos.

En EE.UU. donde los Cinco continúan siendo rehenes de más de medio siglo de una política fracasada, es urgente e imperativo continuar llegando a más y más sectores.

En un año electoral en EE.UU. lleno de obstáculos para nuestro trabajo de solidaridad con los 5 Cubanos, el Comité Internacional ha organizado constantes actividades donde se destacan las siguientes:

  • 5 Dias por los 5 en Washington DC, reunió a solidarios de diferentes países, incluyendo Canadá, Bélgica, Italia, Francia, Alemania y Honduras. Durante esos 5 días fueron colocados por toda la ciudad de Washington carteles “Obama Give me five”. Se exhibió en diferentes universidades el documental de Saúl Landau “Que Por Favor se Ponga de Pie el Verdadero Terrorista”. Logramos llegar al Capitolio, tocando las puertas y estableciendo contacto directo con las oficinas de 40 congresistas y senadores. Se organizaron eventos públicos que contaron con la participación de prestigiosas personalidades como Danny Glover, Dolores Huerta, Stephen Kimber, Cindy Sheehan, Wayne Smith, Saul Landau, Salim Lamrani y muchos otros. Las jornadas concluyeron con una importante manifestación frente a la Casa Blanca demandando a Obama la libertad de los Cinco.
  • Recientemente para conmemorar el 14 aniversario del injusto arresto de los Cinco organizamos un evento público en Washington DC que contó con la participación del líder independentista portorriqueño Rafael Cancel Miranda y Tom Hayden, editor de The Nation. Además organizamos una gira por los EE.UU. con Vicente Feliú, una de las voces más representativas de la Nueva Trova Cubana y Alejandro Valdés, reconocido guitarrista cubano.

Para continuar dando a conocer el caso de los Cinco, nuestro comité está trabajando en nuevas acciones. Hay dos ingredientes necesarios para el éxito de nuestros proyectos: los recursos humanos y los recursos monetarios. Contamos con un equipo de trabajo dinámico y comprometido, pero los recursos económicos que tenemos son insuficientes.

Sabemos que podemos apoyarnos en personas como ustedes que entienden la importancia de continuar el trabajo de solidaridad en apoyo a los Cinco dentro de los EE.UU. Vivimos tiempos difíciles para todos, pero una pequeña contribución de su parte puede hacer una gran diferencia en nuestro trabajo. Necesitamos su ayuda para continuar la campaña por la libertad de los Cinco.

PARA HACER UNA CONTRIBUCION MENSUAL O UNA DONACION CON SU TARJETA DE CREDITO HAGA CLIC AQUI

Para enviar un giro bancario desde otro país, escríbanos a info@thecuban5.org

y le daremos la información de cómo realizar la transacción.

 

Juntos podemos lograrlo!!!

Cuban Arts, Cuban Culture, Cuban Revolution, The Cuban Five

Vicente Feliú live

22 Comments

En Espanol

An Appeal to Help Us Continue Our Work in the United States

Dear friends and supporters of the Cuban 5,

Here is a moving YouTube that we just finished of Cuban performer Vicente Feliú live at Brava Theater in San Francisco. We hope you enjoy it. Vicente along with Latin Grammy winning guitarist Alejandro Valdés toured Washington, New York and San Francisco using their music to draw attention to the imprisonment of the Cuban 5.

httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fVkS28KibXY&feature=plcp

This was just one of a great number of activities that took place all over the world from September 12th to October 8th to commemorate the 14th anniversary of this enormous injustice. There were more events and actions this year than any other before and that shows we are making progress in reaching more layers of people. But we do not have the luxury to rest on what we have done and the gains we have made. We need to intensify the work especially in the U.S. where the Five have been kept hostage due to a 50 year old failed U.S. policy towards Cuba.

We were cautioned that we should not expect much to happen in this election year but that did not stop the International Committee for the Freedom of Cuban 5 from organizing a number of activities this year including:

  • 5 days for the Cuban 5 in Washington DC that brought together Cuban 5 supporters from all over the world including Canada, Belgium, Italy, France, Germany and Honduras. During these 5 days posters of “Obama Give me 5” were pasted all over DC, we featured the documentary “Will the Real Terrorist Please Stand Up” in different universities. Also we organized public events with known personalities including Danny Glover, Dolores Huerta, Stephen Kimber, Cindy Sheehan, Wayne Smith, Saul Landau, Salim Lamrani and many others. We also brought the issue of the Cuban 5 to 40 members of Congress, and we ended the 5 days with a rally in front of the White House.
  • More recently and in addition to the tour of Vicente Feliú, we organized a public meeting in Washington DC on September 14, with the participation of the fighter for Puerto Rico independence Rafael Cancel Miranda and Tom Hayden, editor of The Nation and others. We also followed up with our lobbying efforts on Capitol Hill by visiting 7 more members of Congress.

To continue raising awareness about the case of the Cuban 5, we are currently planning a number of new activities and there are two main ingredients that will make them successful; human commitment and monetary resources. Our committee has a growing number of dedicated activists and with the necessary donations we feel we will be able to achieve more in the upcoming period.

Many of you have given your financial support in the past and we are asking you to do it once again. And for those of you who haven’t donated to us in the past, but who follow the work of the International Committee, we urge you to do so.

CHIP IN A MONTHLY CONTRIBUTION OR MAKE ONE TIME DONATION

WRITE A TAX-DEDUCTIBLE CHECK TO: International Committee

And send it to:

International Committee for the Freedom of the Cuban 5

P.O. Box 22455

Oakland, CA 94609

TOGETHER WE CAN DO IT!