Fernando Duque Gomez
Director of the Canada Desk for the Cuban Institute of Friendship with the Peoples (ICAP)
Visit Revolutionary Cuba: Solidarity, Education, Volunteering and Fun!
Organized by:
Vancouver Communities in Solidarity with Cuba (VCSC)
Canadian Cuban Friendship Assoc
Free the Cuban 5 Ctte-Vancouver
Social Justice Committee of the Unitarian Church of Vancouver
CANADIAN NETWORK ON CUBA (CNC)
Photos from the Vancouver City-wide Event
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On Tuesday April 3rd the Canadian Cuban Friendship Association, the Free the Cuban 5 Committee Vancouver Social Justice Committee of the Unitarian Church 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, organized by the Canadian Network on Cuba, 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 July heading to Cuba.
Fernando spoke first to a group of over 25 students at the University of British Columbia (UBC). Wendy Holmes, instructor of Agricultural Science at UBC and project leader of the Canada-Cuba Farmer to Farmer Project, welcomed Fernando and highlighted the course available at UBC that allow students to get credit at the university while studying sustainable agriculture in Cuba. Nita Palmer, an organizer with the Free the Cuban 5 Committee Vancouver, organizer with the Social Justice Center at UBC and former brigadista MC’d the event. Fernando spoke, giving an outline of what to expect traveling to Cuba with the Brigade, clarified many of the myths that are portrayed by the media around Cuba.
Following Fernando’s dynamic talk, two special guests at the event were recognized: Nino Pagliccia, the Coordinator of the Che Brigade and Esperanza Gonzalez Froese, Manager of Ache Cuba Holidays and co-organizer of the Che Brigade.
The event wrapped up with many students asking questions about the brigade, the gains of the Cuban revolution and how to get involved in Cuba solidarity work in Vancouver.
That evening, Fernando joined activists and interested community members for a forum called “Visit Revolutionary Cuba- Education, Volunteering and Fun!” at the Unitarian Church of Vancouver. With over 75 people in attendance the event started off with good food and conversations while people visited the vibrant table displays with information on this summer’s Volunteer Work Brigade and how to get involved with Cuba Solidarity in Vancouver.
The evening was introduced by the two Masters of Ceremony Colleen Glynn, president of the Richmond NDP and an organizer with VCSC, and Wilson Munoz, Chair of the Social Justice Committee of the Unitarian Church. They welcomed up Mike Larson, an organizer with the Free the Cuban 5 committee - Vancouver, who set the revolutionary tone by reading poetry written by the 5 Cuban heroes. This was followed by the Vancouver premier screening of the Brigade Video taken during last year’s Che Guevara Volunteer Work Brigade, which featured many of the brigadistas from Vancouver.
The first speaker of the evening was Nino Pagliccia, an executive board member of the Canadian Network on Cuba, Canadian Cuban Friendship Association - Vancouver, and Coordinator of the Che Guevara Volunteer Work Brigade. He spoke about the Brigade this summer- leaving July 27th and challenged everyone in the room to come and experience Cuba as a brigadista. Next, Tamara Hansen, an executive member of the Canadian Network on Cuba, Coordinator of Vancouver Communities in Solidarity with Cuba and two time brigadista, shared a story from Cuba about the victories of the guerilla fighters in Santa Clara, reflecting the imagination and spirit of Cuba that she experienced on the brigade.
Fernando Duque Gomez was the last speaker to take the mic. Fernando’s talk focused on building international solidarity with Cuba. He encouraged people of all ages and backgrounds to travel to Cuba - not only to show solidarity and support for Cuba, but also to return home and help dispel the myths and slander that are spread by mainstream media against Cuba. During discussion the audience shared anecdotes of their experiences in Cuba and asked questions about different aspects of Cuban society: the democratic process in Cuba, the many programs and organizations that are operating in Cuba presently and the case of the Cuban 5.
Following discussion there was a special performance by several former brigadistas singing a song about the Cuban revolution and the Cuban 5, which they performed for their compañeros in Cuba this past summer. By the end of the song the entire audience was singing along, “For they are truly Cuban heroes…we defend the Cuban 5!”
The night ended with more music, a raffle and the distinct excitement of conversations between people inspired by Cuba and longing to see the Cuban revolutionary spirit for themselves.
Photos from the UBC Event
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