National Consultation issues Perth Declaration

The 15th National Consultation of Australia/New Zealand Cuba friendship societies ended its deliberations in Perth recently. With the participation of guest speakers, his Excellency Abelardo Curbelo, the first Cuban Ambassador resident in Australia; Ms Nelida Hernandez, consul-general Ifrahim Miranda, consul; Maria Esther Garcia, Cuban Charge d'Cultural Affairs and
Rigoberto Zarza, Asia-Pacific representative of the Cuban Institute of Friendship with the Peoples, ICAP.

The consultation was officially opened by Greens Senator the Hon. Rachel Siewert. Delegates from Canberra, Sydney, Melbourne, Adelaide, Albury Wodonga, Newcastle, Brisbane, Perth and NZ discussed the best ways to strengthen the friendship between the peoples of Australia and Cuba.

Concerns were raised on the lack of changes by the Obama Administration in relation to the US policies on Cuba.

It was recognized that even if Obama has the heart and the will it would be difficult to undo the mess that 10 hostile administrations have enacted in law.

Obama's changes to the US blockade on Cuba basically remained in place while the only change was to reduced the right of the Cubans living in the US to visit their relatives once a year in contrast with the previous once every three year condition imposed by the Bush Administration.

In relation to the Cuban Five the right of the wives to visit their husbands continue to be denied. In a recent letter to Obama by more that 170 personalities and Amnesty International they request the freedom of the Five and the right to visit. The punishment to the Five is also a punishment to their families and the dignity of the entire people of Cuba.

The consultation passed unanimously the Perth Declaration which includes the demand to end of the US blockade on Cuba as directed by the UN general Assembly and the Freedom of the Cuban Five.

Cuban Revelry Day in Perth

The ACFS Perth faithful to its commitment to the Cuban people and the revolution celebrated last Saturday 26th July the national "Cuban revelry day" with Cuban music and traditional food and drinks.

 
More than 200 people attended the celebration "Santiago de Cuba Carnival" held in Kulcha in Fremantle which was a sold out function and many people unfortunately were turned away at the door as the venue reached full capacity.
 
The highlight of the evening apart from the speeches was the draw of the ACFS raffle which gave the following results:
 
The winners were:
 
First Prize -      Trip to Cuba, Tony Lakis (WA)
Second Prize - $1000 cash, Oliver Villar  (NSW)
Third Prize -     Set of Cuban DVD's, Paul Ferreira (WA)
 
Thanks to Loretta Martella,  Kulcha's General Manager for leaving another engagement to be there on the evening to do the draw.
 
People interested to visit Cuba as a brigadista in the upcoming 26th Southern Cross Brigade should contact: acfsperth@gmail.com or visit www.cubabrigade.org.au for more detailed information.
 
All the proceeds raised on the night will go to fund a community agricultural project in Cuba.
 
NB: Photo shows Elizabeth Hulm, ACFS branch secretary looking after the stall. Photo taken by acfs.

ACFS Presents: Rumba & Cafe and Liliana Sputore

This event is being held on Saturday 26th July from 7.30 pm. At Kulcha, South Terrace Fremantle (above DOME cafe). Tickets $22/$25. Book at www.Kulcha.com.au, 0419812872 or acfsperth@gmail.com.

Hope to see you there!

Pastors for Peace Caravan stopped at U.S.-Mexico border

Pastors for Peace Caravans have been taking supplies and solidarity to Cuba since 1992. This year's Caravan is dedicated to the freedom of the Cuban Five. We urge supporters to read the alert below and take action immediately!

We have just received word that the Pastors for Peace Caravan, which challenges the U.S. blockade of Cuba on an annual basis, has been stopped at the U.S.-Mexico border. As always, the Pastors for Peace buses are carrying medicines and other materials to show their solidarity with the people of Cuba.

Rev. Thomas Smith, President of the Board of Directors for the Interreligious Foundation for Community Organization/Pastors for Peace, told ANSWER, "We've had 31 computers seized by the Customs and Border Patrol at the U.S.-Mexico border. These computers were destined for classrooms, clinic and hospitals in Cuba. These are 31 classrooms, clinics and hospitals that now will not have the opportunity to have computers." Smith vowed to "maintain a demonstration until we get the computers back" and called upon all opponents of the U.S. blockade to take a moment to protest this outrageous and cruel confiscation of humanitarian materials by contacting the following:

The Border Patrol, which under the Department of Homeland Security, which can be reached at 877-227-5511

The Office of Foreign Assets Control, which regulates the U.S. blockade of Cuba, which can be reached at 1-800-540-6322 or ofac_feedback@do.treas.gov

Your House representative, who can be reached at the Congressional switchboard at 202-225-3121.

In your phone calls and emails demand the immediate release of all items belonging to the Pastors for Peace Caravan, which have been seized at the U.S.-Mexico border. Let them know that you stand with the Caravan members who are currently protesting at the border, that you oppose the blockade of Cuba. Take action right now!

Democratic Election System in Cuba

General Elections 2007-2008

On 20 January 2008, the Cuban people will cast their vote to elect the members (Deputies) of the National Assembly of People’s Power (Parliament) and the delegates to the 14 Provincial Assemblies of the People’s Power. The National Assembly of People’s Power is the supreme body of the State’s power and the Provincial and Municipal Assemblies are the local higher bodies of the State’s power. More than 41 000 candidate nomination assemblies will be held during the current election process, in more than 15 000 constituencies of the country’s 169 municipalities. The present election process started with last 21 October’s election of the delegates to the 169 People’s Power Municipal Assemblies. 8 176 085 electors voted at those elections, for a 96% of register voters. In Cuba, Deputies to the National Assembly and Delegates to the Provincial Assemblies are elected by the population’s direct and secret vote for a five (5) years term and elections take place on the same day in all the national territory. The newly elected Deputies elect the Council of State, as well as the President, First Vice-President and Vice-Presidents of this body, which is the State’s top representative between Parliament sessions. Elections in Cuba are characterized by all the people’s participation, thus its democratic character is guaranteed. The vote is free, equal and secret, and each voter has the right to cast only one vote. For each Cuban, the exercise of the right to vote is an opportunity to uphold the Homeland’s sovereignty and independence and to contribute to the people’s unity to consolidate the Revolution against the imperialist blockade and threats. As an ethic standard, the Cuban election process is rid of expensive and boisterous campaigns. There is no corporatization or a race to raise funds or privilege public relations firms. None of the candidates nominated in Cuba run campaigns in their favor or need financial support to be made known. There are no rallies on squares or streets in favor of any candidate, nor manifestations, nor cars equipped with loudspeakers or posters with their picture, nor electoral promises, nor television or newspaper propaganda for any candidate. Cuban men and women elect their candidates on the basis of their personal values, merits, prestige and their capacity to serve the people, at resident’s assemblies in neighborhoods, districts or urban or rural areas. The only propaganda is in the hands of the election authorities, and consists in displaying the biography and picture of each candidate at public places in the voters’ areas of residence, so that they can have information on the candidates’ personal facts, prestige and capacity to serve the people and freely cast their vote for the best. The Communist Party of Cuba is not an organization with election purposes. It does not propose, nominate, promote or support any candidate. Nor it elects or revokes any of the thousands of men and women who hold representative posts of the Cuban State. The registry of voters is automatic, free and public. All the people have access to it through its publication in easy-to-access places. Voting is not compulsory in Cuba. Nobody has to fear not attending the ballots on election days or if they choose to slip a blank or void ballot into the box. Polling stations are not guarded by the armed forces, but by school-age children. Elections take place in a peaceful and quiet atmosphere. The vote and counting are public. Vote counting in Cuban elections can be watched at each polling station by any citizen that so wishes, even by the national or foreign press. In order to be elected Delegate to a Municipal or Provincial Assembly of the People’s Power, or Deputy to the National Assembly, the candidate must get more than half of the validly cast votes. Those elected are the representatives of their electors, that is, of the people in general, of which they are also part. The democratic exercise of the people does not end in the election process. It is the people who control their representatives’ work, for the latter have a systematic accountability for their work. The people participate with their representatives in the People’s Power bodies’ decision-making process and in the activities carried out by NGOs that make up the civil society. In this regard, all those elected can be revoked by their electors at any time of the term. Cuba does not purport to lecture or suggest models, yet it proudly upholds its system of genuinely participative democracy.