Cubadebate (English) » economic embargo

Brutal blockade against Cuba must end, Venezuela tells UN

Cubadebate — Tue, 20 Oct 2015 18:10:14 +0000

The brutal U.S. blockade against Cuba must come to an end, Venezuela’s Ambassador to the UN, Rafael Ramírez, stated this Monday, adding that the international community will undoubtedly support this cause yet again this year.

Speaking to Prensa Latina regarding the upcoming vote in the UN General Assembly on Cuba’s resolution seeking an end to the blockade, scheduled for October 27, the diplomat noted both his country’s and the world’s condemnation of the economic, commercial and financial sanctions imposed for over half a century on the island.

“I think as always, Cuba will see the utmost solidarity of the world at the United Nations,” he said.

According to Ramírez, the Cuban struggle against the blockade has become a universal cause in the struggle against injustice.

“The brutalmeasurebarelyhassupporters even inthe most backwardsectors,including within theU.S. itself,” he stressed, with eightdays to go before the Assembly votes on the draft resolution, the24thsince 1992, which calls for the lifting of theblockade.

Last year the resolution received 188 votes in favor of the possible 193 – just as in the two previous votes – with only the United States and Israel voting against.

This year, expectations seem focused on the possible position that Washington may assume, following U.S. President Barack Obama’s call on Congress to end the blockade, which became law with the approval of the Helms-Burton Act in 1996.

(Granma)

Alice Walker says about Cuba

Cubadebate — Tue, 20 Oct 2015 16:28:53 +0000

After reading the book: “The Economic War Against Cuba” by Salim Lamrani, the writer Alice Walker says:
“No revolution has meant more to me than Cuba’s; I am among millions around the world who, either raised in poverty or understanding of it’s causes, have pledged allegiance to a way of living that does not sadistically and greedily crush the poor. Over four visits and as many decades I have witnessed the destructive harm the US embargo has done to some of the finest people on earth. It has been heart shattering. And yet, the heart rebuilds itself by the activity of continued admiration,respect and love.

I have not read Lamrani’s book but over many years I have read his Cuba dispatches. I have marveled at his dedication to exposing the endless lies about Cuba and its revolution, and have been thankful to see someone of such courage and skills ever standing for what is true.
I consider Cuba’s a teaching revolution. Just as, in the Sixties, Cuban youth took to the hills and valleys of their country to teach every single person who desired it, how to read, we who are facing a world crisis unparalleled in the history of humans – as far as most of us know – must seek to learn all we can about how to survive as human under the brutal dictatorship of banks, military and economic violence, and greed. This book is probably a very wise start.”

Days of action to end the blockade begin in Washington

Cubadebate — Wed, 16 Sep 2015 14:03:34 +0000

Beginning today, September 16, are three days of action in the U.S. capital demanding an end to the blockade of Cuba. The events are co-sponsored by IFCO/Pastors for Peace, the Institute for Policy Studies, International Committee for Peace, Justice and Dignity for the Peoples, National Network on Cuba and the Venceremos Brigade, with the support of parallel events in several other cities across the United States, as well as in Belgium, Brazil, Canada, Russia, Sweden and Switzerland.

Organizers announced that appointments with 44 House of Representatives and Senate members have been confirmed.

In addition to participants from the United States, Canada and Puerto Rico, speaking at the event will be writers Stephen Kimber, John Kirk and Arnold August; Puerto Rican patriot Rafael Cancel Miranda and Jan Susler, lawyer for Oscar López Rivera, who has been imprisoned 34 years for his efforts to win Puerto Rican independence, as well as recent graduates from the Latin American School of Medicine in Havana (ELAM).

More than 60 organizations around the world have joined the call for activities this weekend demanding an end to the blockade which has been imposed on the country for more than 50 years, in an unsuccessful effort to force the Cuban people to surrender, causing incalculable damage.

(Diario Granma)

Hillary Clinton Calls for End of US Blockade Against Cuba in Miami

Cubadebate — Fri, 31 Jul 2015 18:37:01 +0000

Democratic presidential hopeful Hillary Clinton demanded Congress in Miamni, Florida, to lift the economic, commercial, financial blockade imposed on Cuba since 1962.

In a speech in the Florida International University, the former State Secretary urged legislators to take this decisive opportunity, in the wake of resumption of diplomatic relations between the two nations and the reopening of embassies in the respective capitals on July 20.

The US policy towards Cuba is at a crossroads and the elections next year for the White House will determine if we take a new course on this issue or go back to old practices of the past, she said.

We must decide between commitment and sanctions, between adopting a new thinking and go back to the deadpoint where we were during Cold War, she added.

She said that even many Republicans in Congress start to acknowledge the urgency to go ahead to dismantle sanctions and this is the moment when leaders must join this task or get out of the way of those who carry on with it.

She said that the blockade must end once and for all, to replace it by “more intelligent measures to reinforce US interests, and urged the Democratic leadership in Congress to join this policy.

A survey conducted by McClatchy-Marist Institute for Public Opinion released today found that 44 percent of possible electors prefer Clinton for president in 2016, 29 percent prefer Republican Jebb Bush and 20 percent prefer the controversial hopeful Donald Trump.