Saturday, September 30 2006: Click Here for Photos of the Cultural Night & Fundraiser
Solidarity Conference with
Cuba, Venezuela and Bolivia:
"Celebrating the Gains, Confronting the Challenges"
FEATURED SPEAKERS:
Laureano Cardoso
Consul General in Toronto
Samira Amndan
Official Representation from
Venezuelan Consulate
in Toronto
Gloria La Riva
Coordinator of the National
Committee to Free the
Five in the U.S.
Claudio Vidal
Professor of Sociology
Kwantlen University
College
Conference Report-Back
“Cuba, Venezuela, Bolivia: Celebrating the Gains, Confronting the Challenges.”
The Unitarian Church in Vancouver was abuzz for this free day-long conference. More interestingly, it was the first time the revolutionary movements in Cuba, Bolivia and Venezuela have been brought together for an event and discussion anywhere in Canada. Featuring honorable guests speakers, films and serious debate this conference was not to be missed.
The day was broken down into four interesting sections:
1) Venezuela: Samira Amndan, a representative from the Venezuelan Consulate in Toronto was the guest speaker. An interesting fact we learned is that under the leadership of president Hugo Chavez, Venezuela is implementing a program to pay single stay-at-home mothers for the work they do in their homes.
2) The Case of the Cuban 5: Long time activist and coordinator of the National Committee to Free the Five in the US, Gloria La Riva spoke. What is the case of the Cuban 5? Gloria explained how these five Cuban men were sent by the Cuban government to investigate right-wing anti-Cuban terrorist groups in the US. They collected evidence and stopped terrorist attacks from the US towards Cuba. However when the evidence was presented to the FBI they arrested these five heroes who were fighting against Terrorism. 
3) Bolivia: Claudio Vidal, a professor at Kwantlen University College, spoke about Bolivia where the government is currently nationalizing many of its industries to take from the rich and give to the poor.
4) Cuba: Cuban Consul General in Toronto, Laureano Cardoso, presented the final and highly anticipated segment on Cuba. “Did you know that Cuba has the largest number of doctors per capita of any country in the world?” Asked Cardoso. We also learned that in Cuba post-secondary education is free- don’t you wish it was true for Canada?
The day was closed by featured speaker Wilson Munoz the chair of the social Justice Committee of the Unitarian Church of Vancouver, “Cuba, Venezuela and Bolivia are three countries struggling to change the situation for poor and oppressed people not only in their countries, but around the world. They are an example of a leadership that is fighting for real human rights and dignity for all people. While the United States is bombing other countries Cuba and Venezuela are sending doctors free of charge. Unlike George Bush’s axis of evil these countries are our axis of hope.”
The day would not have been complete without the Latin flavored cultural night after the conference featuring performances by: Solidarity Notes Labour Choir, Peruvian guitarist Hugo Sanchez, and Latin American hip hop sensation El Esquadron.
The September 30 Conference was organized
by the May 20 Coalition and endorsed by:
-
Latin American Studies Dept. - UBC
Latin-American Studies Program - Langara
Political Science Dept. - Langara
Languages Dept. - Capilano
History Dept. - Capilano
Global Stewardship Program - Capilano
America Latina Al Dia, Anti-Capitalist Community Forum, Anti-Social Skateshop, Bus Riders Union, Canada-Bolivia Solidarity Committee, Capilano Students’ Union, Coalition of Concerned Citizens – JN Burnett Secondary, Code Pink Women for Peace, Collective Perspectives, Colombia Solidarity Committee, Committee in Defense of Iraqi Workers, Community Solidarity Coalition – Victoria, Comox Valley Peace Group, DADABASE, Douglas College Anti-War Club, Ecumenical Task Force for the Americas, El Bus de las Siete, Fightback, Fire This Time Newspaper, Free the Cuban 5 Committee - Vancouver, Free the Cuban 5 Cttee Courtenay, Group of Relatives and Friends of Political Prisoners in Mexico, Hands off Venezuela, Hospital Employees Union BC, Iranian Cttee Against War, Kanadian Posi-Kids, Kitsilano Peace Group, Kla How Yah FM, Knoll Magazine – UBC, Kootenay School of Writing, La Surda Latin American Collective, , La Vanguardia Newspaper, Langara Students United Against War and Occupation (LSUAWO), Langara Students’ Union, Latinos in Action, Lisa Barrett, Bowen Island Councilor, Manik 1derful – Hip Hop Artist and Indigenous Activist, MAWO-SFU Club, Michael Lebowitz – Professor Emeritus of Economics SFU, Michael Neuonen – Writer, Milenio Newspaper, Mobilization Against War and Occupation (MAWO), Obese Chief – Hip Hop Artist, Okalani – Artist, Os12 – Hip Hop Artist, Actor and Indigenous Activist, Other Campaign Vancouver & Organizations in Solidarity with Atenco, Our Community Bikes, Pastors for Peace, Poets Against War, Republic Newspaper, Shahrvand BC Newspaper, Social Justice Committee of the Unitarian Church, Sounds & Furies Productions - Vancouver, Student Voice – Highland Secondary, Students For Peace – Nanaimo Secondary, Tim Louis - former Vancouver City Councilor, UBC AMS Coalition Against War on the People of Iraq & Internationally, UBC Social Justice Centre, Vancouver Communities in Solidarity with Cuba (VCSC), Vancouver Internationalist Bolivarian Circle “Bob Everton”, Victoria Goods for Cuba, Victoria Solidarity with Venezuela, Vancouver Bolivarian Society, Wolakota Youth Council, Work Less Party, Working TV, World Community Development Education Society, Youth Third World Alliance (Y3WA)
SEPT 30 Conference: FUNDRAISER & CULTURAL NIGHT
Following the Sept 30 Solidarity Conference, the May 20th Coalition held a fundraiser and cultural night. The evening included a wonderful variety of musical presentations as well as the final hours of the day-long silent auction to raise money for the Free the Five Freedom Fund. See below for photos!
Peruvian guitarist Hugo Sanchez
Travellers from the Che Guevara Work Brigade
sing a song of solidarity with the Cuban 5
Over 60 items straight from Cuba were up for silent aution
- with all the proceeds going to
the Free the Cuban 5 Freedom Fund
Many people bid on auction items
Nita Palmer (Free the Cuban 5 Ctte),
Wilson Munoz (Unitarian Church Social Justice Ctte) and
Sophie Ziner (Vancouver Communities in Solidarity with Cuba)
announce the winners in the silent auction
El Esquadron - Hip Hop MC
Solidarity Notes Choir
Soldiarity Notes Choir
Many people gave generously to supporting
solidarity work in Vancouver and for the Cuban 5
Freedom Fund