The Grass is Greener – 2017-10-07 Popular victory against mining in El Salvador
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Milwaukee, October 8: Fundraiser for Cuba after Irma
631 N 19th, Milwaukee, The Coffee House, 7-9 P.M.
Fundraiser for Cuba after Hurricane Irma.
Speakers and Entertainment TBA
Much of Cuba has been devastated by Hurricane Irma, the first Category 5 hurricane to make landfall in Cuba’s history. Thousands of homes, agriculture, electrical plants, the infrastructure, have been seriously damaged. The Cuban people, government, and mass organizations are working hard in the recovery efforts. Even more damaging than natural disaster is the U.S. economic blockade, which has cost the country hundreds of billions of dollars and hampers its development. Cuba is renowned for extending international solidarity to people around the world with medical workers and teachers; even as Hurricane Irma hit Cuba, Cuba was sending 750 medical personnel to other islands in the Caribbean which had been devastated by the hurricane.
Event Update:…..
Entertainers will include guitarist & vocalist Darele Bisquera, and Troubadour Tony Baez performing songs of love and struggle from the Hispanic world, plus New Orleans jazz and a special music performance from Havana!”
It is our turn to come to Cuba’s aid!
Sponsored by Wisconsin Coalition to Normalize Relations with Cuba
Che’s colossal example lives on and multiplies day after day
“… at the moment it may be necessary, I am willing to give my life for the liberation of any Latin American country, without asking anything of anyone.”
— Che Guevara
Milwaukee, October 15: Public Vigil Against White Supremacy
Hosted by Black Lives Matter to Wisconsin UUs
1342 N Astor, Milwaukee, 12 NOON
In recent weeks the president acted to end DACA; Milwaukee Police gravely injured a young African-American and killed a legally blind African American would-be peacekeeper; hateful words and actions continued against our Muslim and Jewish neighbors; and our fellow citizens in Puerto Rico have been effectively abandoned following the devastation of Hurricane Maria.
Please stand with us against white supremacy in all its hateful forms.
Our vigil will a singing one, led by First Church Artist in Residence Jack Forbes Wilson, and pulpit guest and UU Leader Christopher D. Sims. Our bodies, our voices and our signs will speak our outrage and our sadness. And our resolve.
This Vigil is being co-sponsored by First Unitarian’s Black Lives Matter Team and Immigration Issues Action Group, as part of Milwaukee’s Stand Against Hate Weekend. All are welcome.
Ms. Ruthie Foster – “War Pigs”
‘Be Like Che’: Cuba Observes 50th Anniversary of Revolutionary’s Death
Ceremonies commemorating Che’s death have been taking place all over the world.
Hundreds of thousands of Cuban and international guests poured into in Santa Clara, Cuba to pay homage to the revolutionary leader Ernesto “Che” Guevara, one of the leaders of the Cuban Revolution.
Along with President Raul Castro Ruz, over 600,000 people saw the sun come up before the official ceremonies began at Che’s monument and mausoleum in the town which proudly hosts his memorial.
Outside his burial place, treasured relics, photos and letters to the Argentine hero covered the ground in a display the special place Che’s holds in the hearts of the Cuban people.
The president, along with Vice President Miguel Diaz-Canel paid their respects to the revolutionary in his place of rest.
A recording of the late revolutionary leader Fidel Castro’s tribute to Che from Oct. 18, 1967, was played.
“If we want a model of man, a model of a man who does not belong to this time, a model of man who belongs to the future. I say in my heart that this model without a single fault in his conduct, without a single fault in his attitude, Che is the model. If we want to say how we wish our children to be, we must say it with all the vehemence of revolutionaries: We want them to be like Che!”
Some of Che’s family members and his fellow combatants who died by his side in Bolivia joined supporters from social, political, and youth organizations.
Che’s bronze monument, which stands almost 20 meters high, overshadowing his mausoleum, looked over the crowd as the honor guard moved to place a large floral wreath, in the shape of a red star as the national anthem played.
Diaz-Canel called the audience’s attention to the accomplishments made around the city and in Cuba since Che’s death.
“The accomplishments of this town demonstrate how much has been done to continue his legacy, to match his example, to try to be like him,” said the vice president, emphasizing that Che’s memory must be more than just a slogan, but a way of life.
He also recalled Che’s words when he stated that imperialism cannot be trusted in the slightest, going on to note that changes in the country are undertaken in consultation with the people, adding that Cuba will not allow itself to be intimidated by new schemes designed to vilify the country, nor will it make concessions regarding how it chooses to construct socialism.
The ceremony also featured 50 elementary school children who were presented with blue handkerchiefs, identifying them as members of the Jose Marti Pioneers organization.
Ceremonies commemorating the revolutionary’s death began this week in Bolivia with speeches, poems, and music, highlighting his internationalist accomplishments with a host of activities.
In 1966, Che launched a guerrilla movement in the South American country aimed at overthrowing the right-wing military regime of Rene Barrientos.
After months of fighting against the U.S.-trained and supported Bolivian Army, Che was captured on Oct. 8 and executed at the age of 39 on Oct. 9, after refusing to divulge information while being interrogated.
A day later, Che’s body was displayed to international media with Bolivian Army troops. It is widely believed that Barrientos’ regime was instructed by the CIA to hunt down and kill the leader of the Cuban Revolution.
He was then secretly buried in the small town of Vallegrande before being transferred to his present resting place in Santa Clara, Cuba.
Cubans pay homage to Che. | Photo: Cubadebate
United States Imperialism Continues War in Afghanistan and the Destabilization of Africa
From Central Asia to Chad, Togo and Libya, Western states seek to maintain dominance of the oppressed nations
Libya can never know peace until the people unite behind a national program of reconstruction. Pentagon and NATO troops as well as Western advisers should be forced to leave the country since they are the source of the ongoing crises. It will only be under such a movement towards unification and renewal that genuine peace, security and development will be realized in the country and region.
The above text was presented at a public meeting entitled “Stop Imperialist War at Home and Abroad!” organized by Workers World Party Detroit branch on Saturday September 30, 2017.
Union Members Mobilize to Help Puerto Rico
Union Members Mobilize to Help Puerto Rico
People in Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands have been hit hard by hurricanes in the past few weeks. In Puerto Rico, tens of thousands of people are without power and are in desperate need of clean drinking water, food and medical supplies.
Union members are stepping up to help. A group of 300 AFL-CIO members are being deployed to Puerto Rico this Wednesday to bring their skills and expertise to lend a hand and do relief work on the island.
A plane has been chartered to bring more than 300 unionists — nurses, health care professionals, transportation workers, construction workers, electricians, heavy equipment operators and more – to volunteer 2 weeks of their time to help with recovery efforts. Volunteers will be living dormitory style at the San Juan Coliseum and sleeping on cots. This is the heart and soul of the labor movement, standing together as one in good times and bad to lift one another up.
“Our fellow Americans in Puerto Rico need help and this is a race against time,” said Captain Todd Insler, Chairman, ALPA United Airlines. “The ALPA pilots of United Airlines are honored to fly these skilled workers and medical professionals to San Juan today, and will continue to support the humanitarian efforts going forward. We applaud these brave volunteers who are dedicating their time, selflessly leaving their homes and families, and answering the call to help. The strength of the unions represented on this flight comes from workers joining together to help one another. Likewise, the strength of this joint relief effort comes from all of us—labor, management and government—standing together to help our fellow citizens in their time of need.”
When families are in crisis, the labor movement stands as one in solidarity. Your tax-deductible donation to the Union Community Fund 501(c)(3) will go to hurricane relief and recovery efforts in these U.S. territories, or where it’s needed most.
Please send a check made payable to:
THE UNION COMMUNITY FUND
ATTN: ACCOUNTING DEPARTMENT
815 16TH ST., NW
WASHINGTON, DC 20006
The Union Community Fund is an exempt organization described in Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code and donations it receives are tax-deductible.
Our union brothers and sisters and fellow Americans remain in crisis in Puerto Rico and the Caribbean. So many working families have lost their homes, their workplaces and are struggling to survive. In the labor movement, solidarity is our strength.
Right now is time to let our brother and sisters in Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands feel the solidarity of our union family. Please donate what you can to the Union Community relief efforts today.
“The working families of Puerto Rico are our brothers and sisters. And this incredible partnership will bring skilled workers to the front lines to deliver supplies, care for victims and rebuild Puerto Rico,” said AFL-CIO President Richard Trumka. “Our movement is at its best when we work together during times of great need. But we are even better when we find common ground and partner with business and industry on solutions to lift up our communities. This endeavor is entirely about working people helping working people in every way possible. In times of great tragedy, our country comes together, and we are committed to doing our part to assist the people of Puerto Rico.”
“When our union sisters and brothers see a need in our national or international community, we don’t ask if we should act, we ask how,” said AFA-CWA International President Sara Nelson. “Today is the result of our collective strength, compassion and commitment to action. I am proud United responded to the call to carry a union of relief workers among America’s working families to care for our sisters and brothers in Puerto Rico. We are united in lifting up our fellow Americans. It is an honor to serve on the volunteer crew of Flight Attendants and Pilots transporting skilled relief workers and returning to New York with hundreds needing safe passage out of Puerto Rico.”
“This flight carries not only much-needed supplies and skilled union labor, but also the love and support of more than 33,000 IAM members at United who will continue helping the people of Puerto Rico recover,” said IAM General Vice President Sito Pantoja.
“When our communities call out for help, we can come together and solve the biggest challenges by summoning the best of ourselves. We’ve answered this call many times over the past couple months, and Puerto Rico is no exception,” said Oscar Munoz, CEO of United Airlines. “This flight embodies how working Americans, union leaders and business can unite with a shared sense of purpose to make a life-changing difference at this critical moment. We are deeply grateful to all of the first responders, highly skilled professionals and United employees who are going above and beyond to come to the aid of Puerto Rico.”
Unions throughout America have continued to offer supplies and other volunteer efforts in addition to today’s flight. Members on today’s flight are represented by 20 unions from 17 states.
AFA-CWA
AFT
ALPA
AFSCME
Boilermakers
Cement Masons
CWA
IBEW
IBT
Ironworkers
IUPAT
Machinists
NNU
OPEIU
Operating Engineers
Plumbers/Pipefitters
SEIU
UAW
USW
Utility Workers
Declaration of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Cuba In Response to Expulsion of their Diplomats
On September 29, 2017, the US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson announced the decision to significantly downscale the diplomatic staff of the US embassy in Havana and withdraw all their relatives, claiming that there had been “attacks” perpetrated against US Government officials in Cuba which have harmed their health.
Once again, on October 3, the US Government, in an unwarranted act, decided that 15 officials of the Cuban Embassy in Washington should depart from the United States, claiming that the US had reduced their diplomatic staffing levels in Havana and that the Cuban Government had failed to take all appropriate steps to prevent “attacks” against them.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs strongly protests and condemns this unfounded and unacceptable decision as well as the pretext used to justify it, for it has been asserted that the Cuban Government did not take the appropriate measures to prevent the occurrence of the alleged incidents.
In the meeting that, at the proposal of the Cuban side, was held with Secretary of State Rex Tillerson, the minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Cuba, Bruno Rodríguez Parrilla, warned him against the adoption of hasty decisions that were not supported by evidence; urged him not to politicize a matter of this nature and once again required the effective cooperation from the US authorities to clarify facts and conclude the investigation.
It is the second time, after May 23, 2017, that the State Department orders two Cuban diplomats in Washington to abandon the country; that the US Government reacts in a hasty, inappropriate and unthinking way, without having evidence of the occurrence of the adduced facts, for which Cuba has no responsibility whatsoever and before the conclusion of the investigation that is still in progress.
Just as was expressed by the Cuban Foreign Minister to Secretary of State Tillerson on September 26, 2017, Cuba, whose diplomatic staff members have been victims in the past of attempts perpetrated against their lives, who have been murdered, disappeared, kidnapped or attacked during the performance of their duty, has seriously and strictly observed its obligations under the Geneva Convention on Diplomatic Relations of 1961 referring to the protection and integrity of diplomatic agents accredited in the country, in which it has an impeccable record.
As was informed by the Ministry on August 9 last, since February 17, 2017, when the US embassy and State Department notified the alleged occurrence of incidents against some officials of that diplomatic mission and their relatives as from November 2016, arguing that these had caused them injuries and other disorders, the Cuban authorities have acted with utmost seriousness, professionalism and immediacy to clarify this situation and opened an exhaustive and priority investigation following instructions from the top level of the Government. The measures adopted to protect the US Declaration of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Cuba diplomatic staff, their relatives and residences were reinforced; new expeditious communication channels were established between the US embassy and the Diplomatic Security Department and a committee of experts was created to make a comprehensive analysis of facts, which was made up by law enforcement officials, physicians and scientists.
In the face of the belated, fragmented and insufficient information supplied by the US, the Cuban authorities requested further information and clarifications from the US embassy in order to carry out a serious and profound investigation.
The US embassy only delivered some data of interest on the alleged incidents after February 21, when President Raúl Castro Ruz personally reiterated to the Chargé d’Affairs of the US diplomatic mission how important it was for the competent authorities from both countries to cooperate and exchange more information. Nevertheless, the data supplied later on continued to be lacking in the descriptions or details that would facilitate the characterization of facts or the identification of potential perpetrators, in case there were any.
In the weeks that followed, in view of new reports on the alleged incidents and the scarce information that had been delivered, the Cuban authorities reiterated the need to establish an effective cooperation and asked the US authorities for more information and insisted that the occurrence of any new Declaration of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Cuba incident should be notified in real time, which would provide for a timely action.
Besides all of the above and in the interest of contributing to the investigation and legal process established by virtue of the Cuban Criminal Procedural Law, the US received from Cuba some requests for information as part of the inquiry procedure.
The information delivered by the US authorities led the committee of Cuban experts conclude that this was insufficient and that the main obstacle to clarify the incidents had been the impossibility to have direct access to the injured people and the physicians who examined them; the belated delivery of evidence and their deficient value; the absence of reliable first-hand and verifiable information and the inability to exchange with US experts who are knowledgeable about this kind of events and the technology that could have been used, despite having repeatedly stating this as a requirement to be able to move forward in the investigation.
Only after repeated requests were conveyed to the US Government, some representatives of specialized agencies of that country finally traveled to Havana on June last, met with their Cuban counterparts and expressed their intention to cooperate in a more substantive way in the investigation of the alleged incidents. They again visited Cuba in August and September, and for the first time in more than 50 years they were allowed to work on the ground, for which they were Declaration of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Cuba granted all facilities, including the possibility of importing equipment, as a gesture of good will that evidenced the great interest of the Cuban government in concluding the investigation.
The Cuban authorities highly assessed the three visits made by the US specialized agencies, which have recognized the high professional level of the investigation started by Cuba and its high technical and scientific component, and which, as a preliminary result, concluded that, so far, according to the information available and the data supplied by the United States, there were no evidence of the occurrence of the alleged incidents or the causes and the origin of the health disorders reported by the US diplomats and their relatives. Neither has it been possible to identify potential perpetrators or persons with motivations, intentions or means to perpetrate this type of actions; nor was it possible to establish the presence of suspicious persons or means at the locations where such facts have been reported or in their vicinity. The Cuban authorities are not familiar with the equipment or the technology that could be used for that purpose; nor do they have information indicating their presence in the country.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs categorically rejects any responsibility of the Cuban Government in the alleged incidents and reiterates once again that Cuba has never perpetrated, nor will it ever perpetrate attacks of any sort against diplomatic officials or their relatives, without any exception. Neither has it Declaration of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Cuba ever allowed nor will it ever allow its territory to be used by third parties with that purpose.
The Ministry emphasizes that the US Government announced decision to reduce Cuba’s diplomatic staff in Washington without the conclusive results from the investigation and without evidence of the incidents that would be affecting their officials in Cuba has an eminently political character.
The Ministry urges the competent authorities of the US Government not to continue politicizing this matter, which can provoke an undesirable escalation and would rarefy and reverse even more bilateral relations, which were already affected by the announcement of a new policy made in June last by President Donald Trump.
The Ministry reiterates Cuba’s disposition to continue fostering a serious and objective cooperation between the authorities of both countries with the purpose of clarifying these facts and conclude the investigation, for which it will be essential to count on the most effective cooperation of the US competent agencies.
Havana, October 3, 2017.
(Cubaminrex)
International Committee for Peace, Justice and Dignity
510-219-0092 | info@TheInternationalCommittee.org | Website
LAWG Condemns the Expulsion of 15 Cuban Diplomats, Calls for Continued Engagement
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| Latin America Working Group 2029 P Street NW, Suite 301, Washington, DC 20036 | Phone: (202) 546-7010 | Email: lawg@lawg.org |
