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Toronto
Forum on Cuba
torontoforumoncuba@rogers.com
Toronto
Forum of Cuba
FEBRUARY
16TH
In the Name of Allah, the Compassionate, the Merciful
On the occasion of the
29th Anniversary of Iran’s Islamic Revolution
ISLAMIC SOCIETY OF YORK REGION
Presents a Conference on
“PEACE AND JUSTICE IN THE WORLD”
Topics
60th Anniversary of Al-Nakba in Palestine
More US threats against Iran
Iran’s President Ahmedinejad: the embodiment of a Sincere Muslim
End of the short-lived American Century
Spilling more innocent blood in Iraq and Afghanistan
Challenges facing Muslims in North America
Speakers
Imam Muhammad al-Asi, Washington DC
Laureano Cardoso, Consul General of Cuba*
Khaled Muammar, President Canadian Arab Federation
Rev. Karen Brothers, United Church Minister
James Clark, Toronto Coalition to Stop the War
Plus Family Member of Toronto-18
Program
Reception & Registration: 5:30 pm
Maghrib Salat: 6:00 pm
Dinner: 6:20 pm
Program Starts: 7:00 pm
Dessert & Tea/Coffee: 9:30 pm
Ticket: $30/Person
1380 Stouffville Road
Richmond Hill, ON. L4E 3S3
Tel: 905 887 8913 / 905 887 1119 / 647 476 3776
*Informational table about Cuba will be available by Toronto
Forum on Cuba
FEBRUARY 17TH
THE CANADIAN UNITARIANS FOR SOCIAL JUSTICE (TORONTO FIRST CHAPTER)
Presents
“MISSION AGAINST TERROR”
An Irish-Cuban documentary, co-produced by Bernie Dwyer and Roberto
Ruiz
Followed by a discussion with
Sabrina Johnson, Toronto Forum on Cuba
On the 49-year history of terrorism against Cuba and on the story of
the five men known as “the Cuban Five” whose mission was to
help put an end to that terror.
This 48-minute, 2004 documentary follows the case of the Cuban Five.
They are five Cuban men who risked their lives to stop terrorism but,
as a result, were arrested by the F.B.I. on September 12th, 1998, which
unleashed one of the biggest violations of justice in the United States.
“Mission Against Terror” shows historical footage of terrorism
against Cuba, starting with the chilling cockpit recording of the last
words from the pilot of the Cubana passenger plane that was bombed in
1976 killing all 73 people on board and it provides a moving depiction
of the case of the Cuban Five. The film goes on to give an account of
their draconian sentences and imprisonment, the denial of their rights
in U.S. prisons and the continuing suffering of their families who are
denied access to visit them. It features interviews with Cuban National
Assembly President Ricardo Alarcón, former CIA agent Philip Agee,
Attorney Leonard Weinglass, Andrés Gómez, a Cuban activist
in Miami and family members of the Five.
“Mission Against Terror” is an inspiring tribute to the Cuban
Five’s determination to fight for Cuba’s sovereignty and demonstrates
why, from the legal point of view, Cuba has every right to infiltrate
the Miami-based terrorist groups in order to defend itself.
12:30 PM
The First Unitarian Congregation of Toronto
175 St. Clair Ave. W. (at Avenue Rd.)
Shaw Hall (located in the semi-basement)
MARCH 8TH
TORONTO FORUM ON CUBA
Invites you to celebrate
INTERNATIONAL WOMEN’S DAY
OUR STRENGTH IS IN UNITY
Tamara Columbié – Cuban Federation of Women- Int’l
Relations Dept.
Rafeef Ziadah – Coalition Against Israeli Apartheid
Other Speakers (to be confirmed) are indigenous, social and labour activists
NO ADMISSION FEE*
Opening Ceremony by Indigenous Women of Our Continent
Faith Nolan
‘SPIN’
Paulina ‘La Revolucionaria’ O’Keefe
Ruben ‘Bennie’ Esguerra
‘Nizam’
Rose from ‘LAL’
and…
6:00-6:30PM – Dinner & refreshments
7:00PM – Cultural Program
Steelworkers’ Hall
25 Cecil St.
(One block South-East of College and Spadina)
*Funds raised will go towards:
-Cuban Five Family Visitation Rights Campaign
-Symbolic donation toward the damages caused by storm Noel
-Helping youth planning to participate in the Festival of Culture in
Holguín
MAY
2ND– 8TH
Join TORONTO FORUM ON CUBA’s delegation to attend and participate
in
THE FESTIVAL OF CULTURE IN HOLGUÍN
Approximately 200 years ago, the Franciscan friar Antonio de Alegría
placed, in the top of the elevation that marks the geographical north
of Holguín, an enormous wooden cross, according to the Spanish
custom of placing a cross in the higher places closer to the town, as
a sort of protection to avoid epidemics or natural catastrophes.
15 years ago, the Association Hermanos Saíz, of young artists
and cultural developers, turned the religious intention into a popular
festivity, and invites to this festival of music, theater, visual arts,
poetry and filmmaking, the scenic world in general, and every person
honestly interested in the debate of tradition and modernity taking
place in the planet in which we inhabit, to Holguín, in the north
of the Cuban east.
We need to join the arts for the rescue of almost forgotten traditions
and legends, and we will do it in our city, the third in the Mother
Island of the Antilles: the third most populated city, the third best
tourist destination, in industrial development and in intellectual movement,
to turn it into one of the capitals of the Cuban culture.
The main events integrating this Festival: MEMORIA NUESTRA
The Young Investigators Encounter, dedicated to the universe of regional
cultures and to the common artistic intervention experiences, requests
that the related documents should be emailed before March 30, 2008 to
the headquarters of the Romerías de Mayo Organizing Committee,
as well as the summaries of the research works. A jury of admission
will select the works in contest. The event grants the Best Investigation
Award, which consists of accredited diploma and award, offered by a
jury integrated by prestigious personalities. The investigators should
be under 35 years of age, whether they are members of the Organization
or not.
BABEL
Event in which all Plastic Arts are gathered during the festivities
of the Romerías de Mayo, characterized, since 1995, for activating
innumerable gallery spaces that display both collective and individual
expositions and anthologies of all kinds among the most representative
of the Visual Arts of each particular region of our country and of other
foreign countries, emphasizing on the work of the teachers and young
people.
LITERATURE
This event gathers writers and publishers of the main editorials of
Cuba and other parts of the world, who will intervene in public spaces
and communities, interacting with other artistic demonstrations. This
also includes editorials or publications of alternative character. This
event gathers the most important writers of the country.
STREET DANCE AND THEATER
Theater and Dance companies perform in public spaces. Also, important
directors and creators in these demonstrations will offer workshops
and interactive conferences on topics of great importance for the Contemporary
Scenic Arts.
RAÍCES
Event that emphasizes the effort of rescuing traditions. It is an approach
to the oldest cultures as well as to the resistance cultures whose ways
are still latent in modern life, as they fight for its survival from
globalization. Propitiated both by the Provincial Center of Culture
Houses and the AHS, this event has an international character. The demonstrations
of regional applied arts and crafts will be interactive, allowing spectator’s
participation, as will be the exhibition and elaboration of typical
foods and beverages, the presentation of musical bands and folkloric
dances, as well as other art demonstrations that by their authenticity
contribute to the preservation of the memory of each town.
INTERNATIONAL AUDIOVISUAL SHOW -LA CAMARA AZUL.
This event includes the participation of radio, TV, and video creators
of diverse countries. The Video section will gather audiovisual art
producers, to take part in workshops and shows in the Regional television
channel. The local radio station will implement a linkage with other
radio stations and producers throughout the Island.
FIESTA DE LOS ABRAZOS
The Hermanos Saíz Association (AHS, in Spanish) in coordination
with the Continental Latin-American Students Organization (OCLAE, in
Spanish) and the Department of Higher Education (MES, in Spanish), invites
the Universities of Cuba and the world where the work of the students
is meritorious, to exchange in this singular hug, their customs and
experiences, not only through words, but through exhibitions of their
typical customs, dances, music, ways of life, philatelic and numismatics
expositions, visual arts, presentation of videos, documentaries and
other materials, with the goal of supporting antimperialist solidarity
and brotherly dialogue for peace and cultural exchange.
LARGE CONCERTS
Open spaces in parks for rap, rock, Trova, and other music genres. Rock
bands from all over the country and the rest of the world are summoned,
to offer large concerts. Homage is paid to the initiators and famous
personalities of this kind of music. Theoretical encounters, interactive
conferences and practical workshops on the roots of the Cuban music
will be carried out. The best of the (left-wing) Hip Hop culture from
Cuba and of other countries are summoned too, to offer large concerts
of this already established emerging phenomenon in its two specific
ways of expression: as artistic demonstration and as popular culture.
MAIN ACTIVITIES
*From the center of the city to the Forest of the Heroes. Horse-cab
parade. Hanging of a wreath to the monuments to the fathers of the Latin-American
independence. PreRomerías Concert with prestigious national singers
and bands.
*Inaugural parade from the Vocational Pre-university Institute of Exact
Sciences "José Martí" to the Hill of the Cross.
Inaugural parade across the city. Opening speech. Ascension of the Axe
of Holguín to the Hill of the Cross. Concert of a popular Cuban
band.
*Inaugural Conference, by intellectuals of recognized international
prestige.
*Young Arts Plaza. Concert to Tradition
*All Day City of Holguín. Presentation of projects related to
the rescuing of the cultural traditions that distinguish us as unique
and unrepeatable identities.
*Presentation of projects reflecting the transition, the passing of
cultural inheritance from parents to children
*Concert to Transition
*Presentation of expressions associated to the most alternative and
modern art and thought currents.
*From the Provincial Museum "La Periquera" to the modern zone
of the city Parade toward the modern zone of the city. Sowing of the
Tree of Friendship and hoisting of the Axe of Holguín.
*Closure of the Romerías de Mayo festival and invitation to its
next edition. Concerts till dawn.
This should give you an idea of the activities you will be taking part
of, although this chart represents only the general theme and the main
activities of each day; the festival is active all day long in many
parts of the city simultaneously, for while in La Periquera the presentations
of the theoretical event Memoria Nuestra are taking place, at the central
Calixto García Square, in front of La Periquera, there are presentations
of theater for children, performances of visual artists, and the music
of the most prominent music bands invited to the festival can be heard;
all along the corridors around Central park each wall becomes an exposition
hall showing the art of national and international painter and sculptors;
the streets are the stages for dance presentations, contemporary dance,
classic dance, modern dance of our best dance company Codanza and their
guests
There will be plenty of activities for the artists who decide to come;
in case they arrive before May 2, they will be invited to take part
of the Worker’s Day national parade, on May 1. The whole working
population of Holguin gathers at the Revolution Square in a display
of enthusiasm and will to continue overcoming the obstacles we face.
Also, other activities as coordinated visits to art Schools of the province
are an option, as well as tours to get the artists familiarized with
the province, its most important and historical places, and its people.
The organizing committee will provide upon request the services of translators/interpreters,
who will perform as tour guides for the guests showing them around the
city. Also, according to the events in which each artist will participate,
like Babel or Memoria Nuestra, the organizers of the event within the
Romerías Festival will assign you someone to take care of whatever
technical needs (previously informed) they might use in their presentations.
The interpreter and the assistant, as well as the transportation to
the different stages where the festival takes place are included in
the admission price per participant, 40 CUC (Cuban Convertible Pesos,
the currency here equivalent to the US dollar) for adults and 20 CUC
for children or non-working students
TORONTO FORUM ON CUBA DECLARATION – 01/25/08
On behalf of the Cuban international community, Toronto Forum on Cuba
would like to express solidarity with the Palestinian resistance. Both
peoples have been subject to cruel and crippling blockades. For a Free
Palestine, and for the Self-Determination of all Oppressed Nations!
On September13th 2006 in Havana, Cuba's Minister of Foreign Affairs
Felipe Perez Roque stated the following:
'The present situation in occupied territories is characterized by the
repeated serious violations of International Law and, in particular,
the International Humanitarian Law. Group punishments, the illegal construction
of a dividing wall, the closing of borders and the severe limitations
placed on the flow of people and goods, the destruction of homes and
of religious, educational, cultural and historical sites are constant
features of Israeli occupation. This has resulted in a noticeable deterioration
of the Palestinian people’s living conditions, thus maintaining
a serious humanitarian crisis throughout all of occupied Palestinian
territory, including East Jerusalem.'
More than a year later Israeli attacks are still consistent, and the
social crisis in Palestine remains the same; conditions in Gaza have
only gotten worse. On January 22nd of this year Grandma newspaper reported:
'Cuban Ambassador Isidoro Malmierca, president of the Non-Aligned Movement
Coordination Bureau, spoke yesterday at an emergency meeting requested
by the group, along with the League of Arab States and the Organization
of the Islamic Conference. The situation has provoked great concern
within the NAM given that the illegal Israeli actions have caused the
deaths of more than 150 Palestinian civilians, including women and children
during the last six weeks, the diplomat reiterated. He referred to the
intensification of the siege of the occupied Palestinian territories
with the hermetic sealing of all border crossings, to the point of preventing
food deliveries to the population from January 18. He added that Israel
is still reducing fuel supplies to Gaza, and totally cut off deliveries
to the main generating station on Sunday, January 20.'
Cuba responds to the grave injustices being committed against Palestine
with this message of Solidarity:
'Our people, subjected for more than 45 years to a genocidal blockade
by the government of the United States, are convinced that there is
no wall, fence or repressive system, no matter how violent or inhuman
it may be, that can destroy the hopes for independence and justice for
the Palestinian people.'
-Felipe Perez Roque.
Declaration
of the Ministry of Foreign Relations
The Ministry of Foreign Relations of the Republic of Cuba has followed
with extreme concern, the recent intensification of violent aggressions
against the people of Palestine, by the government of Israel, which
have caused tens of deaths and many critical injuries.
The Ministry of Foreign Relations considers the existence of the wall
in the Gaza Strip and the refusal to allow the provision of food and
electricity to an average of a million and a half Palestinian civilians,
to be criminal and unacceptable. These actions are in flagrant violations
of International Rights and of the 1949 Geneva Conventions.
The Ministry of Foreign Relations of the Republic of Cuba strongly condemns
the actions of the government of Israel, aimed at annihilating the people
of Palestine through thirst and hunger, including children, women, the
sick and the elderly, who are being subjected to the forced and illegal
occupation of their land and who are the targets, once again, of the
cruel collective punishment unleashed upon them by the occupying forces.
The Ministry of Foreign Relations of the Republic of Cuba demands that
the government of Israel end the cruel blockade of the Gaza Strip immediately.
It calls upon the international community to demand the respect of the
Palestinian people’s inalienable rights, including the establishment
of an independent and sovereign State with Eastern Jerusalem as its
capital and with the unconditional return of all the Arab territories
that have been occupied since June 1967, this being the only way to
reach a just and lasting peace for all the peoples of the region.
Havana, January 23rd, 2008.
TORONTO FORUM ON CUBA DECLARATION – 01/30/08
The Toronto Forum on Cuba would like to express solidarity with and
endorse the actions of the Justice for Mohamed Harkat Committee by condemning
the injustices committed against Mohamed Harkat.
Yesterday, January 29th, Ottawa Police and CBSA agents entered the home
of Mohamed and Sophie Harkat and pulled Mr.Harkat out of the shower
to arrest him for alleged breach of bail conditions. Mohamed Harkat
is a victim of “security" certificates who has innocently
spent years behind bars because of the racist and discriminatory policies
of the Canadian government. The "violation" of bail conditions
of Mr. Harkat is simply a vague fabrication at a very questionable time,
only days before Mr.Harkat and lawyers are due in court to review bail
conditions.
Five anti-terrorist Cubans are in their tenth year of imprisonment in
U.S. jails for the "crime" of monitoring terrorist groups
who openly operate out of South Florida and other cities in the United
States, while U.S. government officials have full knowledge of these
operations. They plan to overthrow the Cuban government and destroy
the peaceful order of Cuban society. In 1997 an Italian, Fabio di Celmo,
resident of Montreal was killed while vacationing in Cuba, just to mention
one such example of terrorism. We have to remember that tens of thousands
of tourists from Canada frequent these hotels every year!
Furthermore, efforts have been made repeatedly to extradite Posada Carriles
to Venezuela to stand trial for his crimes, but the United-States denies
this on the basis that he could be tortured in Caracas. The Harper government
also has a hand in this; last May at the Organization of American States
(OAS) Summit, Venezuela presented a draft resolution to extradite Posada
Carriles, which was of course rejected with Canada and Panama leading
a group of nations to quash the suggested resolution. This is the same
government which sends the sons and daughters of this land to far-away
places to fight "terrorism", and at the same time supports
a self-confessed terrorist who has blown-up the first civilian airplane
in this hemisphere! Luis Posada Carriles masterminded the bombing of
Cubana airliner flight 455 in 1976 killing all 73 people on board.
If the government of Canada is serious about fighting "terrorism",
it must first and foremost demand that U.S.-sponsored terrorism against
other nations be stopped, and immediately demand the release of the
Cuban Five, and as well immediately demand the release and/or provide
a fair trial for the Muslim Five who have suffered in the Canadian government's
prison cells and in cruel solitary confinements.
Luis Posada Carriles and cohorts like Orlando Bosch have committed numerous
terrorist crimes, which have caused the death of 3,478 people in Cuba
and
permanent injuries to thousands more. These men are walking free in
the streets of Miami and the government of Canada tacitly supports these
crimes by defending them in international gatherings and not demanding
justice.
The truth must be said: while the government of Canada is condoning
the terrorists in this hemisphere and gives them the green light to
do more, it is locking up Five Muslim immigrant men who have never held
guns. To this day no evidence has been shown that they have in any shape
or form intended to do harm to anyone in Canada and/or elsewhere.
The Toronto Forum on Cuba will fight in order to expose the truth to
the honourable peoples living in Canada and will persist until justice
in the case of
Mohamed Harkat is served. We stand in solidarity with Mohamed Harkat
and all those victimized by institutionalized North-American racism
and injustice.
Sincerely,
Julien Lalonde for Toronto Forum on Cuba.
THE
LATIN AMERICAN SCHOOL OF MEDICINE (ELAM) REALIZES THE DREAM OF A STUDENT
FROM CANADA
On Monday, February 4th 2008, Nabeel Yar Khan, a young Muslim man left
Canada for Cuba to study medicine at the Latin American School of Medicine
(ELAM). There he will join thousands of other youths from 38 other countries
who have received scholarships from Cuba, so that they could realize
their dreams of becoming a doctor for humanity. The only promise that
Nabeel had to make was that upon becoming a doctor he will serve communities
who are in need and behaves as a doctor who cares about life and saving
it wherever and whenever it is called for.
Nabeel will soon become one of the thousands of "angels" on
the foothills of Himalayas or in sub-Sahara Africa and/or in the heart
of indigenous communities of Bolivia and for that matter anywhere where
humanity needs them. We must know that Cuba's internationalist medics
of over 33,000 doctors and health workers are serving in 70 countries
and responsible for the health of more than 60 million people worldwide.
Fidel Castro sees their contributions as a crucial message of human
solidarity and says that the international teams set examples for "this
humanity, which will someday be truly humane." Last year, Nabeel
now a Canadian whose parents originated from India, participated in
an exchange program, which gave him the opportunity to travel to Cuba.
While he was there he did volunteer work in a community clinic, an experience
that opened his eyes to the exceptional realities of the Cuban healthcare
system. He later wrote: "What I learned was that Cuba utilizes
a system of preventive medicine which Canada does not utilize. I believe
Cuba could be a model for the Canadian health care system...I believe
that this system is not only a model for Canada but the world entirely."
After his experience, Nabeel was determined to become an internationalist
doctor, and began taking the necessary steps to go study at ELAM.
This
scholarship program is in place to help the students from the indigenous
communities; however the first to arrive in Cuba for that matter is
Nabeel who wrote in a letter sent to Fidel Castro: "Ernesto Che
Guevara’s characteristics have placed an imprint on me...I want
to portray Ernesto by also fighting, not with arms, but with medicine,
to help people around the world who are in desperate need." After
his six year commitment in Cuba, this young man's "primary goal
is to become a doctor, not to migrate back to Canada and practice, because
it is a country that has substantial aid, but to take the education,
skills, and capabilities to help the less developed and war-torn countries
in this world." And it is important to site the young Che Guevara
in August of 1960 while giving a speech to Cuban medical students and
health workers; in referring to the road taken by revolutionary doctors,
Che said: "nobody can point out that stretch; that stretch is the
personal road of each individual; it is what he will do everyday, what
he will gain from his individual experience, and what he will give of
himself in practicing his profession, dedicated to the people's well-being."
Let us hope that in the very near future we witness more of "like
angels" graduating in Cuba particularly from the indigenous communities
and others in need. A new generation of doctors is being trained in
Cuba who, upon beginning their studies, may not know anything about
their future profession and practice, but whose powerful and unconditional
love is undeniable in their desire to save human lives.
Let's fill their ranks!
Julien Lalonde for Toronto Forum on Cuba.
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