April 2006: Visit Revolutionary Cuba: Education, Volunteering & Fun! Feat. Fernando Duque Gomez Director of the Canada Desk for the Cuban Institute for Friendship with the Peoples (ICAP) Capilano College Event & Vancouver City-wide Event click picture to view larger image           On Tuesday April 18th the Canadian Cuban Friendship Association and Vancouver Communities in Solidarity with Cuba (VCSC) were thrilled to have a special guest from the Cuban Institute of Friendship with the Peoples (ICAP) come to visit Vancouver. Fernando Duque Gomez, director of the Canada Desk of ICAP, came to Vancouver as a part of his cross Canada tour to connect with Cuba Solidarity organizers and activists across the country and encourage everyone to get involved in the Ernesto Che Guevara Volunteer Work Brigade leaving from Toronto this August heading to Cuba. Fernando spoke first to a group of over 20 students at Capilano College. Jane Ivanova, an organizer with the Social Justice Committee of the Capilano Students Union MC’d the event, and a short slide show was shown of the 2005 Che Brigade. Fernando then spoke, giving an outline of what one could expect traveling to Cuba with the Brigades, outlined many of the myths that are portrayed by the media around Cuba, particularly on Cuba’s record of defending human rights. That evening, Fernando joined activists and interested community members for a forum called “Visit Revolutionary Cuba- Education, Volunteering and Fun!” at the Dogwood Centre. MC Lindsay Clark, an executive on the Capilano Students’ Union and an organizer with VCSC opened the evening. Next, a presentation by Vancouver Communities in Solidarity with Cuba- Coordinator Tamara Hansen on her trip with the Che Brigade last year introduced participants to why everyone should visit Cuba. Nino Pagliccia, an executive board member of the Canadian Network on Cuba and Coordinator of the Che Guevara Volunteer Work Brigade then spoke about the Brigade that is being planned for this summer- leaving July 30th. Fernando Duque Gomez was the last speaker to take the mike. Fernando’s talk focused on building international solidarity with Cuba. He encouraged activists in Vancouver to travel to Cuba to both show Cuban people solidarity and support, but also to return home and help dispel the myths and slander that is spread by mainstream media against Cuba. There was a alot of time for questions and discussion which saw a great number of the audience participate, asking questions about different aspects of Cuban society: the democratic process in Cuba, the many programs and organizations that are operating in Cuba presently and much, much more. The night ended with a buzz about the room and much of the audience longing to visit Revolutionary Cuba.