The Cuban Revolution is known for its dynamism, continuously advancing the revolutionary process and putting ideas to benefit Cuban society into action. This drive to progress swells up from the neighbourhood organizations like the CDRs, youth and students, artists and workers, up through all levels of the Cuban leadership and truly represents Cuba as a whole. Recently the topic of much discussion and debate in Cuba is the new Families Code, which addresses many important issues around marriage, parental responsibilities, adoption, the rights of children, discrimination and violence in the family, the rights of extended family, and same sex marriage. Vancouver Communities in Solidarity with Cuba (VCSC) has always brought Cuban politics and culture to Vancouver audiences. From spring into summer this year, there have been many great opportunities to reflect on Cuba in Vancouver and beyond!
Understanding Cuba’s New Families Code
On May 20, 2022, Vancouver Communities in Solidarity with Cuba (VCSC) organized a webinar about Cuba’s new Families Code, with the perspectives of Cuban speakers. The event was hosted by Tamara Hansen, coordinator of Vancouver Communities in Solidarity with Cuba and former Executive Member of the Canadian Network on Cuba. The event featured two representatives from the Cuban Embassy in Ottawa, Guivel Orozco Ortega, Counsellor and Deputy Head of Mission of the Cuban Embassy, and Aileén Carmenaty Sánchez, the Press and Cultural Attaché of the Cuban Embassy. The speech given by Aileén Carmenaty can be read in this issue on page 6.
Participants also heard from Azza Rojbi, Coordinator of Friends of Cuba Against the U.S. Blockade – Vancouver. Azza had recently travelled to Cuba with the Che Guevara Volunteer Work Brigade, where the Families Code was a frequent topic of discussion and had taken short videos and interviews with Cuban doctors, LGBTQ+ community leaders and workers to share their perspectives about the Families Code at this event. The Families Code is multifaceted and complex, and this event helped participants better understand this progressive new legislation.
CUBA TODAY Tour brings Cuban speakers across Canada to BC!
From June 25-26, the Canadian Network on Cuba (CNC) held its 10th Biennial Convention in Toronto,Ontario, with member groups from across Canada, including Vancouver Communities in Solidarity with Cuba and Friends of Cuba Against the U.S. Blockade. The convention also was the kickoff for a cross-Canada tour with Sandra Yisel Ramírez, Director of the North American division of the Cuban Institute of Friendship with the Peoples (ICAP) and Aileén Carmenaty Sánchez, organized by the CNC. The BC leg of the tour on July 2nd and 3rd had two successful events under the banner of "CUBA TODAY: Cuban’s Speak in Vancouver & Nanaimo", which welcomed Cuban supporters to one of the few first in-person events since the pandemic.
The July 2 Vancouver event and July 3 Nanaimo event had participants eager to meet with representatives from Cuba and to learn more about travel to Cuba, what the Families Code is, and how Cuba has successfully fought Covid-19 despite the cruel U.S. blockade. The Vancouver event was endorsed by Vancouver Communities in Solidarity with Cuba(VCSC), Friends of Cuba Against the U.S. Blockade- Vancouver,Vancouver Communist Party of Canada(Marxist-Leninist), CanadianCuban Friendship Association- Vancouver and Canadian-Cuban Friendship Association – Calgary, and the Nanaimo event was endorsed by Friend of Cuba in Nanaimo.
Cuba Says: LGBTQ+ Rights are Human Rights!
In Vancouver, Pride season is gearing up to celebrate LGBTQ+ Pride, back for street events for the first time since the pandemic. For over ten years, VCSC has joined the Vancouver Pride Parade with Cuban and Pride flags and banners reading “Cuba Says: LGBTQ+ Rights are Human Rights!”. VCSC is looking forward to spreading the ideas of Cuba at the upcoming Vancouver Pride Parade on July 30 and other Pride events! VCSC has already started bringing Cuba to Pride events in Vancouver this year - On June 25, VCSC had an information table at the East Side Pride festival. Activists spent the day distributing VCSC newsletters with an article about the Families Code, collecting signatures against the U.S. blockade, and talking to festival-goers about what Cuba is doing to advance LGBTQ+ rights!
To find out where Vancouver Communities in Solidarity with Cuba is next and to join in Cuba solidarity events, visit https://www.vancubasolidarity.com or follow on Facebook @vancubasolidarity, on Twitter and Instagram @VanCuba_VCSC.
Follow Janine on Twitter: @janinesolanki
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