Cutting Cane in Cuba/Venceremos Brigade
Workers World Service
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REPORT FROM HAVANA: CUTTING CANE IN CUBA
By Desiree Rivera and Sharon Eolis
Havana
The writers were members of the 24th Venceremos Brigade.
The 24th Venceremos Brigade, including a delegation of Workers
World Party members, arrived in Cuba April 23. We were warmly
welcomed by representatives of the Cuban Institute for Friendship
with the Peoples--ICAP--and Cuban Brigadistas.
This solidarity and friendship project, which ICAP sponsors every
year in Cuba, has brought more than 6,000 people from the U.S. to
Cuba over the years. The Venceremos Brigade gives people the
opportunity to work, exchange ideas and show solidarity for the
Cuban Revolution.
At the same time, returning Brigadistas are able to expose the lies
perpetuated in the U.S. media, by presenting forums, showing
videotapes and picture displays and mounting demonstrations to
support Cuba.
Since 1969, Brigadistas have cut cane and worked in construction
and agriculture. This year we had a unique opportunity. We lived
and worked with Cuban workers and Brigadistas at Camp Marquetti for
one week.
It was the first time an international delegation was integrated
with workers at Camp Marquetti. It was also the first time the
Brigade had been incorporated into work and life on a Cuban state
farm.
At Camp Marquetti, the effects of the U.S. blockade--severely
tightened since Congress passed the Torricelli bill last year--and
of the collapse of the socialist camp can be seen easily. The
workers have had to give up tractors and other modern production
equipment. Instead, oxen are now used to plow fields.
We participated in agricultural work including hoeing between
banana trees, harvesting carrots, and cutting and planting King
Grass, a special feed substitute for the oxen.
In the fields, we met factory workers as well as teachers, young
students, engineers and others. All had volunteered to work there
to overcome the food crisis caused by the blockade.
The workers gathered at 6:35 every morning to sing the Cuban
national anthem and hear daily instructions. The camp director
recognized contributions the day before by reading the names of
outstanding and vanguard workers.
STRONG FOR THE REVOLUTION
The Brigade participated in several other activities.
We visited the Niseto Perez cooperative farm, which had the
country's highest production rate in 1992. On the wall hung a
plaque honoring founding members--one-third of whom were women--and
another plaque honoring members who sacrificed their lives
defending the Angolan revolution.
We also went to a day-care center completed in 1977 at Los
Naranjos, a village that was built by the international brigades.
There we were entertained by jubilant, contented toddlers.
At the Women's Federation, a leading member told us of the
difficulties for women in this special period.
We were also taken on other trips. We met with members of the
Committees in Defense of the Revolution, and with representatives
of the African National Congress.
During free time in Havana, we engaged in open dialog with
residents. The overwhelming majority support the Revolution.
A very small number of youths were against the Revolution and the
government, and wanted to leave. This minority has a different set
of values--focused on material wealth--that do not correspond with
socialism or the Revolution.
These problems are compounded by the criminal U.S. blockade.
Overall, though, it's clear that the Cuban people are standing
firm, continuing to build socialism. For those in the U.S. who
stand in solidarity with Cuba, the job is to break the
blockade--and build a strong contingent for next year, the 25th
anniversary of the Venceremos Brigade.
-30-
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Rene Valdes
|> REPORT FROM HAVANA: CUTTING CANE IN CUBA
|> By Desiree Rivera and Sharon Eolis
|> Havana
|> At the same time, returning Brigadistas are able to expose the lies
|> perpetuated in the U.S. media, by presenting forums, showing
|> videotapes and picture displays and mounting demonstrations to
|> support Cuba.
|> At Camp Marquetti, the effects of the U.S. blockade--severely
|> tightened since Congress passed the Torricelli bill last year--and
|> of the collapse of the socialist camp can be seen easily. The
|> workers have had to give up tractors and other modern production
|> equipment. Instead, oxen are now used to plow fields.
What is happening today in Cuba is a tragedy. And it is a tragedy that
the lies presented by the Cuban hosts to their positively predisposed
guests are repeated in this forum without questioning. These lies are
worse than any distortions that may be occasionally found in the world
media (including Canadian, European, and South American services, not
just the USA). The only way to support Cuba is promoting a process
of national reconciliation among Cubans in the Island and abroad with
the goal of establishing a democratic government open to all.
The US "blockade" is but a very small factor in the current economic
collapse of the Cuban economy. The collapse of the "socialist camp",
on which Castro had made Cuba more dependent than it ever was on the
USAi, is the number one cause. This is obviously the result of an
economic policy based on handouts from the Soviets wasted by an
inefficient and unproductive industrial base. The situation in Cuba
today is the logical consequence of the misguided economic policies
of a centralized, inefficient, and beaurocratic government controlled
by one individual.
I think the "blockade" is stupid and immoral. It muddles the waters,
giving Castro an opportunity to continue to blame the USA for his
failures. If the "blockade" were lifted tomorrow, we would see what
is really wrong in Cuba.
|> In the fields, we met factory workers as well as teachers, young
|> students, engineers and others. All had volunteered to work there
|> to overcome the food crisis caused by the blockade.
I thought it was the "blockade" AND the collapse of the "socialist
camp", wasn't it?
|> During free time in Havana, we engaged in open dialog with
|> residents. The overwhelming majority support the Revolution.
|>
|> A very small number of youths were against the Revolution and the
|> government, and wanted to leave. This minority has a different set
|> of values--focused on material wealth--that do not correspond with
|> socialism or the Revolution.
I had to listen to this nonsense for over 20 years in Cuba. No more.
People in Havana do not engage in "open dialog" with visitors. They
don't even trust each other. I met many foreigners when I was living
in Havana, and with very few exceptions (when I had achieved a high
degree of confidence) I stated that I firmly supported the Revolution.
Particularly, residents of Havana talking to someone who is a member
of the Venceremos Brigade will be extremely careful about what they
say. Mingling with foreigners is already dangerous per se and
expressing any criticism of the government can get you in jail.
That anybody at all would say anything "against the Revolution", as
this article states is indicative of the degree of discontent in the
Cuban people. A few years ago, nobody would dare.
|> These problems are compounded by the criminal U.S. blockade.
AND the collapse of the "socialist camp", right?
|> Overall, though, it's clear that the Cuban people are standing
|> firm, continuing to build socialism. For those in the U.S. who
|> stand in solidarity with Cuba, the job is to break the
|> blockade--and build a strong contingent for next year, the 25th
|> anniversary of the Venceremos Brigade.
How can anybody who visits Cuba for a few weeks be arrogant enough
to believe that they know what the actual feelings and desires of
the Cuban people are? Yes, the job is to break the "blockade", and
also to change the government in Cuba, to establish a democratic
government where people can express their opinions freely and lead
productive lives.
I have very close relatives in Cuba and they are very worried about
the epidemic of optical neuritis, which this article totally ignores.
They are not getting enough nutrition through what they can manage to
get to eat. They spend all the money they make buying food in the black
market because the government food distribution channels are totally
ineffective. I am sending as much money to Cuba as I can for food
and medicines. But I can barely make a dent, due in part to limitations
imposed mostly by the Cuban government, but also by the American
government.
--
Rene J. Valdes r...@a2.cim.cdc.com
ez00...@hamlet.ucdavis.edu
harvest for Secretary of State Warren Cristopher just announced today that
there will be NO change in U.S. policy towards Cuba since F. Castro was a
lunatic and a "relic" of the cold war. They better cut a lot of cane next
year 'cause the Russians also diminished their trade in recent days when
the signed new contracts with Havanna. I wonder why the venceremos brigade
simply doesn't ask Castro to abdicate so that the suffering stops?
Edelmiro
Louis Cornelio
years, mostly through the Federacion Filalatelica Cubana. (However, it seems
that even letters sent to the FFC aren't safe: I had a partner return a cover
to me which had been opened by the "club authorities". Other collectors have
now sent me private P.O. boxes to continue our exchanges.)
At any rate, this kind of exchange provides collectors in Cuba the chance to
get "hard currency" stamps they couldn't otherwise get ( me the chance to get
"prohibited stamps"). The value of the exchange, of course, is in the
friendships developed.
Most of my correspondents seem very reluctant to discuss anything but stamps,
and I never write anything explicit that could cause anyone trouble, just in
case. Occasionally, I get a bit more info. For a a bit of insight into current
conditions, these excepts from a letter dated April 24:
"I bought the Scott US National Album up to 1979, but it is missing
1967..... I am still interested in postmarks from US cities on postal
cards....I'm writing this with pencils as there are no more ball points....
Tell me, what does milk taste like? What is meat? The flavor of cheese? My
weight is down to 120 --- I used to weigh 145 --- I am drying up. A few more
months of this & I'll look like a Somali. ..... "
I have no idea if my correspondent is embellishing for dramatic effect,
still; I wonder if I would be thinking about my stamp collecting hobby if I
were living under those kind of conditions?
regards,
Louis
lco...@eis.calstate.edu