Canadian Network on Cuba's March Newsletter!
LETTER TO EDITOR IN CHIEF OF CBC RE: “As holidaying Canadians return to Cuba, Cubans themselves are fleeing in record numbers” by Evan Dyer
Tuesday, March 7th, 2023
What a superficial, dishonest, and biased article published by the CBC, penned by Evan Dyer. After reading, it looks like information gathered from Facebook, where, as you know, anything goes. The CBC’s mandate is to inform and enlighten, and this article does a grave disservice to that endeavor, and to the Cuban people.
Mr. Dyer, either out of sheer ignorance of the geopolitical context in which Cuba lives, or on purpose, fails to mention, even once, the system of punitive sanctions and ridiculous prohibitions which compose the Blockade (euphemistically called the “embargo”) that the US imposes on Cuba for 63 years now. It is the longest siege in history. It is an economic war on Cuban families, a campaign of persecution and intimidation aimed, besides Cuba, at third parties, who in exercise of their sovereignty, choose or intend to establish any kind of ties with the island. It is the main obstacle for the development of the country.
Just imagine the damage that this undeclared war on Cuba has had throughout the decades. Now add the economic crisis that the whole world faces because of the pandemic, which has hit Cuba severely, a blockaded underdeveloped country. And just when one thinks that it could not get worse, then President Trump, advised by the most rancid ultra-right elements of his party, maliciously imposes 243 additional sanctions on Cuba (Biden has only just allowed Western Union to reinitiate remittances to Cuba, although only from the US, and some travel to the island with restrictions).
Only very recently, the US restored visa services in their embassy in Havana, so those Cubans who in the middle of the current economic situation wanted to emigrate previously had to go to a third country, resulting in added costs and insecurity. The average Cuban faces incredible hardships while the government does its best to prioritize the essentials. The situation is bad. However, no hospital or school has been closed, and no one has been abandoned to their fate. There are no children sleeping in the streets in Cuba.
If he were really concerned about Cuba, Mr. Dyer should be asking Canadians to continue visiting Cuba to help its people and economy. Canadians who travel to Cuba regularly know better, and that’s why they keep going to enjoy the warmth and the culture of Cuba. And, most importantly, Mr. Dyer should recognize the real problem that Cuba faces – the inhumane Blockade.
Samantha Hislop
Julio Fonseca
Co-Chairs, Canadian Network on Cuba
Congratulations to Team Asere!
On Sunday, February 19th, Cuba fell to the USA 14 - 2 at the semifinals of the World Baseball Classic. Although they were prevented from moving on to the final round, their fourth place finish marks a historic victory for Cuban baseball!
Watch Isaac Saney’s Presentation on his Latest Book Cuba, Africa, and Apartheid’s End: Africa’s Children Return!
Isaac Saney is a Cuba and Black studies specialist and historian at Dalhousie University in Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada. He is the former co-chair of the Canadian Network on Cuba.
Cuba, Africa, and Apartheid’s End: Africa's Children Return! examines the history and impressive dimensions of the Cuban Revolution’s solidarity with Africa. Cuba’s role in the southern African national liberation and anti-colonial struggle was the largest and most consequential manifestation of the island’s commitment to Africa. A key moment was the 1987–1988 battle of Cuito Cuanavale, which involved Cuba and Angola on one side, and South Africa and its allies on the other. Cuito Cuanavale contributed the end of apartheid and has assumed legendary status within the Cuban Revolution and the southern African liberation movement.
Recorded on February 27, 2023.
International Cuba-US Normalizaton Conference
On March 11th and 12th, hundreds of solidarity activists from the U.S., Canada and Puerto Rico met in New York City where they called to normalize relations with Cuba and end the U.S. embargo against the island. To learn more about the conference and to watch recordings of the presentations, visit here.
CNC Members’ Updates
If you’d like your Cuba Solidarity event featured in an upcoming edition of this newsletter, please email the details and event poster to webmaster@canadiannetworkoncuba.ca
CCFA-Toronto will be holding their monthly rally in conjunction with the Bridges of Love Campaign on Sunday, March 26th from 1pm - 2pm outside the U.S. Consulate.
CCFA-Vancouver is holding its Annual General Membership meeting April 23 @ 12:30 Chilean Co-op.
Vancouver Communities in Solidarity with Cuba will be holding their monthly Car Caravan to Life the U.S. Blockade on Cuba on March 26th at noon. For the location, call (604) 780 4029.
Manitoba-Cuba Solidarity Committee will be showing the 1968 Cuban film Memories of Underdevelopment at Cinematheque in Winnipeg on May 14th at 3pm as part of the MayWorks Festival of Labour and the Arts.
Brian Gordon Sinclair has completed the translation of The Hemingway Monologues. The English version should be published this summer.
Recommended Reads
How ‘Anomalous Health Incidents in Cuba Sidelined’ Science
The U.S. Blockade and Its Effects on Cuban Medicine
