FRFI 159 February / March 2001
Cuba has fought against imperialism and for social justice for over 40 years, despite the economic and political isolation that has been imposed on it by the US. The strength of Cuban society lies in its grassroots democracy and social welfare provision that puts people before profit. In a region of the world where millions of children sleep on the street and face daily violence, Cuba offers an alternative. No one sleeps on the streets in Cuba. Communities are strong and united. Resources, although scarce, are distributed for the benefit of everyone. Education is free and universal, as are health care and access to art and culture.
Even in Britain, where inequality is greater now than it has been for decades, Cuba is an example and an inspiration. The British media portrays Cuba as Fidel Castro’s dictatorship. Most of the British left also condemns Cuba and, along with the ruling class reactionaries, they spread lies about the revolution and the benefits that it brings to the people. Most visitors to Cuba stay in tourist resorts and never come face to face with the Cuban revolution.
Rock Around the Blockade (RATB) has two projects underway to spread the message of the Cuban revolution, that there can be a world where everyone has access to the essentials in life. The first is production of a pamphlet about the Cuban revolution, the nature of Cuba’s socialism and life in Cuba under the special period. The second project is a speaking tour, with two Cuban communists speaking at meetings about these topics.
Following the success of a small speaking tour last November, RATB is organising an extended tour to take place in March 2002. A group of RATB comrades has recently returned from Havana where proposals for the tour were well received by Cuban representatives from the Union of Young Communists, the Cuban Communist Party and the daily youth paper, Juventud Rebelde. The Cuban representatives will talk at public meetings, in schools, universities, youth clubs, work places and community centres. They will cover the historical gains of the revolution, comparing life in Cuba under the Batista dictatorship just 40 years ago with life under socialism today. They will also place Cuba in its international context, making a comparison between the social provision, free education and healthcare in Cuba, with the extreme poverty, alienation and repression in the rest of Latin America. They will describe how, for instance, it is possible for Cuba to have more doctors working in the African continent, than the whole of the World Health Organisation. Cuba’s importance to the developing world is material, as well as ideological. The tour will give people in Britain the chance to understand how the Cuban revolution has managed to survive despite the collapse of the Soviet Union. The past 11 years has seen the Cuban revolution develop imaginative solutions to overcome the serious hardship of the special period. They have combated the problems that have emerged with the reintroduction of tourism and the dollarisation of the economy. The emphasis of the speaking tour will be on open discussions and an exchange of views.
The pamphlet is being compiled by RATB comrades who have been to Cuba on brigades or as part of other delegations. There will also be contributions from young Cubans. It will provide the ideal tool for those who actively campaign in solidarity with Cuba, and will be an invaluable educational resource for anyone with an interest in Cuba, socialism and the anti-capitalist movement. The articles will deal with many frequently asked questions. For example: is Cuba a democracy? What about human rights? What is it like to be gay in Cuba? How can Cuba afford to have a free universal education and health-care system? What is the position of women in Cuba? What has been the impact of the US blockade?
The pamphlet will be published on 1 May, coinciding with celebrations in Cuba and anti-capitalist protests worldwide. You can help us fund the printing by sending us £5 or more if you can afford it. In return, you will get an advance copy of the pamphlet posted out to you. £25 gets you 10 copies of the pamphlet in advance to sell to your friends.
Meanwhile…
Over the Christmas period in London, RATB held a fundraising party at the Worlds End pub on the Kings Road. Over £300 was raised for our solidarity work and a great time was had by all. The next club night will return to the Boston Arms in Tufnell Park on Friday 30 March.
In the north west of England, comrades have held weekly stalls at the university in Preston linking our campaign in solidarity with Cuba with our support for the uprising by the Palestinian people. These take place every Wednesday outside the foyer of the Foster’s building in UCL Preston starting at 1pm. Contact [email protected].
A supporter in the north west has also been producing beautiful Che Guevara pendants (£3 inc p&p) and wooden Che plaques (£7 inc p&p). Along with Che T-shirts and badges these can be purchased from anywhere in the country by sending a cheque payable to Rock around the Blockade to RATB, BCM Box 5909, London WC1N 3XX.
Comrades in the Midlands, London, Bristol and Cardiff are also intending to step up their campaign work to prepare for the speaking tour in March 2002. Contact. Midlands supporters on either 0780 3939 713 or 0781 8807 846, and Bristol and Cardiff supporters via 020 7837 1688.
