CLICK ON THE PHOTOS FOR LARGER VERSIONS!	What We Have Seen & Learned in Cuba Report back from the 18th Pastors for Peace Caravan to Cuba More than 85 people came to Trout Lake Park to hear presentations from Caravan participants about this years’ Pastors for Peace Caravan to Cuba. Vancouver Communities in Solidarity with Cuba organized the event. The event was MC’ed by Alison Bodine from Vancouver Communities in Solidarity with Cuba (VCSC) who introduced the night and gave a brief history of the Pastors for Peace Caravan to Cuba. This was followed by beautiful Latin American music played by Joaquin Ernesto. Then Alison introduced Vancouver Caravan participants, Oscar and Magnolia Villalobos who discussed their experience on the Caravan throughout the US and Mexico and how it is important for more people to become involved in this amazing program to lift the blockade on Cuba. David Whittlesey from the Free the Cuban 5 Committee-Vancouver outlined his experience throughout the US explaining his highlights of the trip. Max Tennant from Victoria Goods for Cuba spoke next. He described his anticipation to go to Cuba while traveling throughout the US. Then he discussed his first impressions of Cuba and how he was impressed by the achievements accomplished by the Cuban Revolution. He commented that Cuba is waging the Battle of Ideas, where Cuba is fighting for social justice whereas countries like the US are instead plundering the world and stealing resources through their many wars and occupations. Finally, Nita Palmer from VCSC spoke about her second time to Cuba and her first time on the Caravan. She briefly explained how the US travel blockade on Cuba was attempting to prevent US citizens from seeing Cuba’s example of hope that a better world is possible. The economic blockade on Cuba was attempting to destroy this example, but as people can see in the development of the Governments in Venezuela and Bolivia the people of Latin America are slowly beginning to take control of their own countries. Nita facilitated the multimedia presentation on the Caravan. She described the trip throughout the US and the many different discussions that Caravan participants heard from people with varies views on why the blockade should be lifted. She discussed Cuba’s internationalism through photos of the Latin American School of Medicine Graduation Ceremonies and the visit to the Latin American School of Medicine. She described the reverse challenge of crossing back into the US without any problems from US customs. This year was quite different from past years when US customs interrogated Caravan participants. Then, MC Alison Bodine, thanked the audience for coming to the event and explained how people can get involved in future Caravans to call for an end to the US blockade on Cuba.