The conference linked below dealt with the Cuban economic/electrical/hurricane crisis and the need for our solidarity with Cuban solidarity organizations to continue and expand our work. I was convinced again that our work after the election should include international solidarity, irrespective of the election winner on Tuesday. The fight for social and economic justice is also a fight for international solidarity and against growing imperialism. In Cuba’s case, ending the economic blockade remains central.
In sum, I urge us after the
election to add anti-imperialism and militarism, and demands for peace to our
workload.
But, I warn you that the webinar, linked below, was 1 ½ hours long. You may choose to delete this message and/or to watch just a bit of it, including an update of what the Cubans are facing and/or examples of ongoing solidarity work.
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From: Merri Ansara <merri.ansara@gmail.com>
Sent: Saturday, November 2, 2024 11:08 AM
Subject: Follow up - October 29 meeting on humanitarian & material
assistance to Cuba
Dear Friends,
Thank you to the 58 of you who participated in the meeting
Thursday evening, the 29th to discuss humanitarian and material assistance, and
the 106 who registered. With this email, we send you the video of the
meeting, as well as a list of the organizations that presented their
work. We are aware that there are other organizations doing this work as
well, and we have added a couple; we ask you also to send us your information
and we will forward that along.
First of all, here is a link to the video of the meeting.
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1LFseIrznGrRYND91VsLqBJCoR185ztbP/view?usp=drive_link
We decided in the meeting that we would like to set up a web page listing where people can make material and humanitarian donations and make that available to organizations such as the National Network on Cuba and others, as well as set up social media links, the idea being to distribute it as far and wide as possible and help us reach people who care about Cuba, or have visited Cuba and want to be able to help out while we continue also to fight to have Cuba removed from the SSOT, the Trump/Biden sanctions lifted and the embargo of Cuba lifted. Three people stepped up to help design the web page.
We also decided that we would meet again on November 26th, 7pm. Please stay tuned for the meeting info and registration.
We also have created a WhatsApp chat for those who want to participate -- with it we can share information, updates, and links to organizations involved in humanitarian and material assistance to Cuba. You can join here: https://chat.whatsapp.com/Fg3LZScRI7B9O7XV1oE0LR
We welcome your feedback and comments on the meeting as well as letting us know of anything we have missed in this follow up report.
Several organizations presented their work
The People's Forum
Focuses on advocacy and humanitarian aid for Cuba. link here
Canadian Network on Cuba
Campaigns include the CUBACAN CARES campaign focused on providing
medical sutures and supplies. link here
PazAmor
Coordinates shipments of medicine and medical supplies to
hospitals in Cuba.
Not Just Tourists
Provides free suitcases filled with medical supplies carried by
travelers to Cuba.
Hothouse
Organizing concerts and events to raise funds for Cuba, with a
focus on cultural exchange. link here
May Day Brigade
Facilitates the delivery of supplies and funds to Cuba, aiming to
double their contributions each year, as part of their annual brigade to Cuba. link here
Global Health Partners
Focuses on global health initiatives, including support for
medical aid to Cuba. link here
Levántate por Cuba
Supports various humanitarian efforts and advocacy for Cuba. Email levantateporcuba@gmail.com for
ways to get involved.
Art Roots Mambí
Initiatives: Cultural exchange projects between artists in Cuba
and the U.S., focusing on empowerment and mutual support. Donates art supplies
and musical instruments. link here
IFCO/Pastors for Peace
Longstanding Peace Caravans and other donation drives. link here
Friends of the Episcopal Church in Cuba
Has long supported projects in Cuba. link here
Additional organizations providing donations to Cuba
Cuba Partners Network
Working with Cuba partner Presbyterian churches for the past 30
years, among other activities, sends containers of food assistance. link here
Friends of Caritas Cuba
Works directly with the Catholic Church and its Caritas
organization in Cuba.
As a number of people on the call expressed, we want always to link our work in humanitarian and material assistance with advocacy to remove Cuba from the list of so-called state sponsors of terrorism (SSOT) and lift the 243 Trump/Biden sanctions, both of which are in the hands of the U.S. president and move towards lifting the embargo of Cuba, which is in the hands of the U.S. congress. You can take action right now. Urge your members of Congress to insist on this with the current president, who will be in office until the end of year, here. You can call the White House on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 11 am to 3 pm est at this number 202-456-1111, or make a written comment, here. If it's useful, here's a sample letter, a bit outdated, that you can shorten and use to write your own.
If you would like to join the Cuba Advocacy monthly meeting,
please write to Liam Crissam. The Cuba Working Group sponsored by the Latin America Working
Group, was formed in 2021 by some 25 organizations to share
analyses, ideas and projects advocating for lifting the sanctions, removing
Cuba from SSOT and other measures that move the US again towards meaningful
re-engagement and normalization. The next monthly meeting will be November 14
at 4 pm est.
With that, hoping to see you at 7 pm est on November 26 at a continuation of the humanitarian and material assistance meeting, or November 14 at 4 pm est for the advocacy meeting – or both.
Merriam Ansara and Tony Van Der Meer
Massachusetts Peace Action
PS
The National Network on Cuba has its annual meeting on November 15-17 - more
info and register here
