Pastors for Peace Emergency Reconstruction Caravan to Cuba! Canadian Network on Cuba CALL OUT: Get Involved in Emergency Reconstruction Caravan to Cuba! Dear Canadian Network on Cuba, Table de Concertation de Solidarité Québec-Cuba, and friends, We [the Canadian Network on Cuba] have received an important and urgent request from the Pastors for Peace Caravan to Cuba. They are planning an ambitious, yet crucial, Emergency Reconstruction Brigade and Mini-Caravan to Cuba for the second week of October 2008. Yes, you read it right, it is leaving in less than two weeks. This special mini-Caravan comes in the wake of the devastation caused by Hurricanes Gustav and Ike. Buses will travel through some parts of the United States and up to the Eastern part of Canada and Quebec, collecting aid and skilled trades people to participate in this important initiative. The Reconstruction Brigade and Mini-Caravan will then leave from Eastern Canada to Cuba. The Reconstruction Brigade will spend 2 exciting and hard-working weeks in Cuba. This is a great opportunity for workers from the US, Canada, and Quebec to be able to work hand-in-hand with Cubans. How can you help? 1. Finding Skilled Trades Workers to participate: Help to organize the Pastors for Peace Reconstruction Brigade of 30-50 skilled carpenters, electricians, plumbers, etc. They and a small number of support people will travel to Cuba for approximately two weeks to assist in the reconstruction of social projects- i.e. schools, hospitals, medical facilities, home for the elderly, etc 2. Help organize the mini-caravan: Help to gather the aid that Cuba says it needs. This Mini-Caravan will arrive in Cuba with tools and humanitarian aid collected from our friends. As usual this aid will be delivered to the Ecumenical Distribution Committee which will distribute the aid wherever it is needed most. 3. Send a generous donation (This will go the the US): IFCO (Interreligious Foundation for Community Organization) has established a Hurricane Relief Fund to respond as best we can to the needs of our brothers and sisters in Cuba. For more information about any of these 3 points please contact the Pastors for Peace office: IFCO/Pastors for Peace Ph: 212-926-5757 Fax: 212-926-5842 ifco@igc.org http://www.pastorsforpeace.org The Canadian Network on Cuba has already made some great achievements in raising funds for Hurricane relief and reconstruction, as Sharon has already reported on [Sharon Skupp, CNC Treasurer].                     (above: Pinar Del Rio, Aug 31) [See update at bottom] This emergency Caravan is a great addition to the work that is already underway, not only because it is part of building Cuba solidarity, but because the caravan will be making its way through Eastern Canada. The Canadian Network on Cuba is calling all member groups to get involved at whatever level possible in this important initiative. Cuba has shown the world Internationalism during countless crises, now it is our turn to show the same humanity to Cuba. Each of us can contribute in some way to the effort. Join the call to help Cuba rebuild with no strings attached! In Solidarity, Isaac Saney, Co-Chair CNC Tamara Hansen, Co-Chair CNC Update 27 Sep/08 : Donations in Canada to the Mackenzie-Papineau Memorial Fund (Canadian charitable org) is now at $51,200.00 ( 100% of this money will be used for Cuba Hurricane Relief/Re-construction). Money is now being used to help ship containers to Cuba. The Mac-Paps is working with the DuBois Foundation and the Orion Foundation who have the shipping permits. The Cuban government had sent out a request list and permits for shipping the containers. - plus $10,000 from Steelworkers Union(through Oxfam Canada) and the CAW is donating $25,000 (through Oxfam Canada).