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CNC's June Newsletter

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27 Jun 2023 — 7 min read

WEBINAR: Love is Law: Cuba’s New Families Code

We are extremely excited about Wednesday, June 28th’s webinar! Love is Law: Cuba’s New Families Code will feature none other than Mariela Castro Espín, the director of Cuban National Center for Sex Education (CENESEX), as well as the National Commission for Comprehensive Attention to Transsexual People, and long time activist for LGBT rights.

The webinar will cover the history of LGBT struggles in Cuba as context for the Families Code, and the development of the code itself, it's significance for the ongoing revolution and the progressive example it sets for democratic processes.

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The webinar will also feature Paul Pugh, a labour organizer who has participated in multiple labour delegations to Cuba from Canada through the years. Paul was part of a delegation in January 2023 that went to Holguin to discuss the Families Code with Cuban lawyers and educators.

The webinar will begin at 8pm EST/5pm PST.

Take Cuba Off the State Sponsors of Terrorism List!

On June 25th, Cuba solidarity movements all across the United States and Canada rallied to demand that President Biden reverse Donald Trump’s action of placing Cuba on the “State Sponsors of Terrorism” list. Barack Obama removed Cuba from the list in 2015, having been placed on the list by Ronald Reagan in 1982, only for Trump to reinstate Cuba before leaving office.

The irony of Cuba’s inclusion on the list is not lost on activists and supporters of Cuba’s right to self-determination. Cuba has never invaded another country, overthrown a sovereign country’s government, nor has it attacked the people of another country with economic warfare of the kind that the U.S. routinely uses. The United States, on the other hand, attempted to kill Fidel Castro over 600 times, harbours Cuban counterrevolutionary terrorists, and funds terrorist activites all over the world.

DOES THIS LIST AFFECT CUBA?

Inclusion on the State Sponsors of Terrorism list seriously stifles Cuba’s post-pandemic economic recovery by limiting banks from handling any type of financial transactions - even for humanitarian aid - a warning sign to any potential investors; it places controls over some exports, and creates financial restrictions including loans from the World Bank; the U.S. penalizes countries and people, including Canada, that attempt to trade with countries on the list, effectively barring them from engaging in global exchange.

Of course, June is Pride Month, and CNC member groups have participated in Pride events all across Canada.

The CCFA Toronto and Asociación de Cubanos en Toronto JGG marched, along with over 100 groups, in the Pride Parade in Toronto on June 25th.

They carried signs to end the US Blockade of Cuba and to take Cuba off the SSOT list.

Vancouver Communities in Solidarity with Cuba (VCSC) and Friends of Cuba Against the U.S. Blockade – Vancouver (FCAB-Vancouver) teamed up for a Cuba solidarity table at East Side Pride in Vancouver on June 24. The table was busy throughout the day – with many people wanting to know more about the queer community in Cuba. It was great talking to them about Cuba’s new Families Code and the gains of LGBTQI+ people in Cuba!

Everyone who stopped by the table was also invited to sign a “Cuba is NOT a ‘sponsor of terrorism!’” postcard to U.S. President Biden. Signing postcards then led to important discussions about the criminal U.S. policies against Cuba and the blockade, and most people that stopped by were glad to demonstrate their solidarity and sign a postcard. Reminder that you can join the campaign and get your own postcards to sign and to distribute by emailing FCAB-Vancouver at NoBloqueoVancouver@gmail.com.

Each year, VCSC and FCAB-Vancouver join in Vancouver Pride festival and march, the Trans Liberation March and Dyke March events to say: Cuba says 2SLGBTQIA+ Rights are Human Rights!

Chess for Che & Cuba

Chess was an activity that Comandante Che Guevara valued and enjoyed. In honour of Che’s birthday, the Che Guevara Studies Center in Cuba holds chess tournaments in Cuba every year. This year they also called upon Cuban supporters and solidarity groups globally to join in playing chess to commemorate Che! A dozen solidarity groups worldwide held Chess tournaments for Che and Cuba, including one in Vancouver.

On Saturday, June 10, Vancouver Communities in Solidarity with Cuba (VCSC) organized an afternoon of friendly chess matches, art, prizes, and fun. This event celebrated Che Guevara’s 95th birthday, while demanding the U.S. government end the over 60 year brutal, criminal, and unjust blockade of Cuba, and remove Cuba from the list of so-called “State Sponsors of Terrorism.” The event was endorsed by the Friends of Cuba Against Blockade-Vancouver (FCAB-Vancouver).

For more than three hours, 30 enthusiastic people participated, ranging from 6-80 years old, everyone battled on the Chessboards to celebrate Che’s birthday and support Cuba. The program included a talk by Tamara Hansen, Coordinator of VCSC, who explained the history of U.S. hostility toward Cuba. How since the Cuban revolution of 1959, the U.S. government has tried to use its inhuman blockade to slow down the Cuban people’s commitment to advancing their revolution and spreading humanity through international solidarity. Despite this Cuba continues to struggle and win! She asked participants to join activities in solidarity with Cuba in Vancouver.

Other CNC Member Group News

The CCFA Vancouver AGM was attended by about 35 people at the Chilean Housing Coop. Those in attendance heard reports by Natalie Illanes Noguiera from Codev Canada regarding recent initiatives by that organization in terms of support to Latin American but also Cuba. Tyson Strandlund, CNC executive member and the Che Guevara Volunteer Work Brigade Coordinator reported on that upcoming, and now completed brigade. A report on that brigade will be presented at our upcoming July 30 Moncada Day commemoration. Michael O’Neill ( VP) provided on overview of events and developments in Cuba since our last AGM.

Attendees were also treated to the wonderful music of the group Aymurai with two new band members, Victor Pardo and Roberto Diaz. Those in attendance were also treated with delicious homemade desserts and coffee.

The newly appointed ICAP director of the North America desk recently completed a tour of Canada. For Leima Martinez Freire, this was her first visit to Canada. She met with solidarity activists in Toronto, Montreal, Vancouver and Victoria.

While in Vancouver, she combined her visit with academic friends from Havana attending the Latin American Studies about 50 Centre.

The CCFA Vancouver hosted a meet and greet event at the Centre for Socialist Education attended by about 30 members and friends of our association. Ms. Martinez provided an update of the situation in Cuba followed by an active question and answer period.

On May 25th, more than 120 people attended an event promoting an end to the U.S. blockade of Cuba and demanding the U.S. government remove Cuba from the list of so-called “State Sponsors of Terrorism.”

The event titled, Cuba Today: Revolution in Motion, was co-organized by Vancouver Communities in Solidarity with Cuba (VCSC) and Friends of Cuba Against the U.S. Blockade - Vancouver (FCAB-Vancouver) and endorsed by Canadian Network on Cuba (CNC), Socialist Action BC Branch, Communist League, Communist Party Canada-Marxist Leninist Greater Vancouver, Calixto Garcia Brigade, all members of CNC, and the Fire This Time Movement for Social Justice.

This special event featured two Cuban scholars, Raúl Rodríguez Rodríguez, Director of the Center for Hemispheric Studies and the United States, Rafael Emilio Cervantes Martínez, Director of History and Marxism-Leninism for Cuba's Ministry of Higher Education, and Leima Martinez Freire, the Director of the North America Desk of the Cuban Institute of Friendship with the Peoples (ICAP). The speakers presented a range of topics under the theme “Cuba Today: A Revolution in Motion.” There were 12 Cuban leaders at the event, all delegates to the Latin American Studies Association (LASA) conference. Tamara Hansen, Coordinator of VCSC, was the moderator of the event.

Watch the Event!