Leader of Cuban Women's Federation Tours BC, Explaining
"What is Cuba Beyond Fidel"?
By Noah Fine
Since February 19, 2008, when Fidel
Castro announced that he would not
accept the nomination to continue
as President of Cuba, there has been
renewed interest in Cuban politics
by both friends and foes of Cuba.
From March 17-22, 2008, Vancouver
Communities in Solidarity with Cuba
(VCSC) hosted an exciting BC-wide
speaking tour entitled “Cuba Beyond
Fidel”.
The tour featured two experienced
speakers on Cuban politics. First
was Tamara Columbié, the head
of the Department of International
Cooperation of the Cuban Federation
of Women (FMC), which represents
4.1 million Cuban women. Tamara
spoke during the tour about the gains of
the Cuban revolution and emphasized
that the Cuban people, with Fidel’s
leadership, have made huge gains
in the last 49 years. Speaking
alongside Tamara was John Waller,
the International Coordinator of the
Pastors for Peace Friendshipment
Caravan to Cuba. John spoke on the
US blockade against Cuba and the
US government’s response to Fidel’s
decision in the framework of the
upcoming US elections.
The tour visited four campuses,
where over 150 students and faculty
participated in events at the University
of British Columbia, University of
Victoria, Langara College and Capilano
College. The tour also traveled to
Vancouver Island, with events in the
Comox Valley and Victoria. The events
were co-organized with Victoria Goods
for Cuba, Comox Valley Friends of
Cuba and the Comox Valley Peace
Group.
As a close to the tour, a celebratory
event was held in Vancouver. Over
70 people attended the evening which
began with a reading of poetry written
by the Cuban 5 political prisoners in
US jails. Kelly White and Vivian, two
Indigenous activists and elders spoke
passionately about the oppression that
Indigenous people face and the hope
that the Cuban revolution provides.
They welcomed Tamara Columbié
as their Cuban sister. Live music and
beautiful spoken word closed the
evening.
The
“ Cuba
Beyond Fidel” tour
was a great success with
students, teachers and
community members
who showed interest in
learning more about how
the Cuban people are
advancing the ideas of
their revolution alongside
Fidel, both being “foot soldiers in the
battle of ideas”.
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