The Canadian Network on Cuba's April Newsletter

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ICYMI: Watch “We Must Defend Our Country: The Bay of Pigs Invasion and the Fallibility of U.S. Imperialism”

One Friday, April 21, the Canadian Network on Cuba hosted a webinar to mark the anniversary of the defeat of the U.S.-backed forces at Playa Girón in 1961. This webinar featured guests Cuban Ambassador, Chargé d´Affairs in Antigua and Barbuda, His Excellency Sergio de Jesús Jorge Pastrana and journalist and author Arnold August.

You can watch the full webinar on our Facebook page or watch clips from the webinar on our Youtube channel. While you’re there, hit the subscribe button to keep updated on all of our content!

The CNC Will Be at the CLC Conference in Montreal

The CNC will have a booth at the Canadian Labour Congress’ 30th Constitutional Convention, held at the Palais des Congrès in Montréal from May 8 to May 12, 2023.

The 30th Constitutional Convention of the Canadian Labour Congress will be held at the Palais des Congrès in Montréal from May 8 to May 12, 2023.

Every three years, the Canadian Labour Congress hosts a Convention attended by local union delegates. Delegates present proposed resolutions to be debated and adopted as policies.

The Congress then creates an Action Plan based on the resolutions, committee reports, and policies. The plan is a progressive agenda for our labour movement, serving as a guide for the Congress and its affiliated unions for the next three years.

The CNC will be there to urge the delegates to consider Cuba, the illegal blockade and the importance of international working people’s solidarity in deciding their Action Plan.

Campaign: Cuba is NOT a State Sponsor of Terrorism

Friends of Cuba Against the U.S. Blockade – Vancouver and the NY-NJ Cuba Si Coalition launched a new postcard campaign aimed at U.S. President Biden which declares, “Cuba is NOT a ‘sponsor of terrorism’! Remove Cuba from your list!”.

As part of this campaign, people can send postcards as often as they want to the White House. It is a physical reminder to their mail room about this ongoing campaign and this injustice by the U.S. government against Cuba. But also, as folks are mailing their postcard they can take selfies and share them on social media – making this also a public education campaign. Furthermore, these postcards could be used to hand out at events and protests as a way to engage with people and encourage them to take action in support of Cuba – something they can do monthly or weekly!

Thousands of postcards are ready to be shipped to friends of Cuba across the United States and Canada. We would be glad to mail any amount of postcards you wish to join this campaign and help distribute them in your area.

We hope that you will join us in this exciting new campaign in solidarity with Cuba. If you would like more information or to order postcards please email: nobloqueovancouver@gmail.com

Rest In Peace Harry Belafonte

On Tuesday, April 25th, the singer, actor, civil rights activist and friend of Cuba, Harry Belafonte, died at the age of 96. Belafonte was a long-time supporter of the Cuban revolution and friend of its leader, Fidel Castro. This friendship was described in his autobiography My Songs: A Memoir:

“Castro loved having two of America's top black stars on his turf, not because he was starstruck, but because we were black—Castro took pride in presenting Cuba to the world as a truly prejudice-free nation; it was part of his socialist outlook—and also because he knew we admired what he was trying to do. Sidney's doubts about Castro at the time were certainly greater than mine. But we both wanted to believe in the dream, and in the dreamer. Castro was a modern- day Bolivar; there was no other Spanish leader quite like him.”

You can read the whole passage here.

Events

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

Sunday, April 30:

TORONTO

CCFA-Toronto will be among various other groups organizing a monthly picket against the blockade at the U.S. Consulate between Queen and Dundas from 1pm-2pm.

For more information, call CCFA Toronto (647) 501-1219

VANCOUVER

Friends of Cuba Against the Blockade - Vancouver are holding their monthly car caravan against the blockade at 12pm. To find out the location, call 604 780-4029.

For more information, email NoBloqueoVancouver@gmail.com

Sunday, May 14:

WINNIPEG

Manitoba-Cuba Solidarity Committee is screening the iconic Cuban film Memories of Underdevelopment at the Cinématheque at 3pm as part of the MayWorks Festival of Labour & the Arts. A discussion will be held afterwards.

For more information email manitobacubasolidarity@gmail.com

Saturday, May 27:

WINNIPEG

In Winnipeg, there is a fundraiser being held to raise money for the Cuban pavilion at this summer’s Folklorama festival. The event will take place from 8pm - 1am at the Heather Curling Club. For tickets text 204 292 6477.

From Around the Web

Elected Miguel Díaz-Canel President of the Republic of Cuba

The deputies to the Cuban Parliament today re-elected Miguel Díaz-Canel to hold the post of President of the Republic for the next five years, and Salvador Valdés to occupy the vice presidency

Read the full article.

What Elián González Wants for Cuba

What ever happened to Elián González? Belly of the Beast’s Liz Oliva Fernández recently sat down with Elián, now 29 and a father of a 2-year-old daughter, to talk about migration, family, and Cuba’s future. Elián lives a modest life in his hometown of Cárdenas, just a few blocks from his father. As a recently elected lawmaker in Cuba he hopes to improve relations with the United States and the Cuban-American community.

Watch the full interview.

The Monroe Doctrine: Two hundred years too long

In December 2023, the infamous Monroe Doctrine will be 200 years old. For some people, the name refers simply to a long and complex foreign policy document with constitutional status, but it is far more than that.

Read the full article.

Young people from the US travel to Cuba and break the siege

The IPA invited young activists across a diversity of struggles in the US to participate in an exchange in Cuba, an experience deprived of them and their generation by the blockade.

Read the full article.

Diplomat explains bogus "sponsor of terrorism" slander against Cuba

Based on outrageously false pretexts, the U.S. government officially labels Cuba a "state sponsor of terrorism". Johana Tablada, deputy director for U.S. affairs at Cuba's Foreign Ministry, speaks with Gloria La Riva about the impact the bogus designation has had on the island. "It kills people," Tablada explains, going into depth about how the label deepens the economic war on Cuba that causes so much suffering.

Watch the full video.

Enjoy Your May Day!