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-BY
MARELYS VALENCIA-
WORKSHOP
ON "THE FIVE"
A
solidarity workshop paying tribute to the five
political prisoners of the U.S. government is to
take place from January 23 until 28 as part of the
3rd World Social Forum in Porto Alegre. The meeting
will also focus on the Cuban people’s long
struggle against terrorism.
The
invitation from Brazil reads as follows: "We
invite all progressive organizations, movements and
individuals -especially those who are involved in
Cuban solidarity work and the campaign to liberate
the five Cuban patriots- to join us in Porto Alegre
and take part in the solidarity meeting, so that we
can develop international strategies to support the
Cuban people in their fight against terrorism and
U.S. government aggression. We call for the
immediate release of Gerardo Hernández Nordelo,
Ramón Labañino Salazar, Antonio Guerrero
Rodríguez, Fernando González Llort y René
González Sehweret – political prisoners of U.S
imperialism. Relatives of the Five will be joining
us from Cuba to attend the workshop.
"In
the last two years, thousands of people from all
over the world have come together in Porto Alegre to
discuss a variety of issues and formulate common
strategies and plans of action in the struggle
against neoliberal imperialism and the fomenting of
civil and human rights abuses and war. Our aim is to
find and develop alternatives so that we may build
new societies and a different kind of globalization;
one based on the principles of solidarity, peace and
promotion of life. More than 100,000 delegates and
observers are to attend the 2003 World Social Forum.
"The
workshop on the Five will focus on the background to
their heroic deeds and will include the long history
of U.S.-sponsored terrorism against Cuba; an
examination of the civil and human rights violations
against the Five during their incarceration; the
current appeal process within the U.S. legal system
and above all, discussion on the political context
of the case and an assessment of solidarity work
carried out on their behalf. The aim is to
strengthen this work through the creation of an
information network and to link up the campaigns to
offer effective solidarity work for these Cuban
patriots in the United States, Latin America and all
around the world.
The
workshop has been organized by four Brazilian
organizations: the Comitê pela Libertação e
Solidariedade aos 5 Patriotas Cubanos nos Carceres
dos Estados Unidos (Sao Paulo), a solidarity group
specifically dedicated to the Five; the Sao Paulo
branch of ATTAC, the international
anti-globalization movement and member of the WSF’s
organizing committee; the Associaçao Nossa America
and the Rede Social de Justicia e Direitos Humanos,
a network of organizations promoting social justice
and civil and human rights. The success of the
workshop will depend on the participation of those
who are able to attend.
For
further information, suggestions or details for
delegates and observers, write to comite@5patriotas.org
or reycue@uol.com.br
To find out more about the 3rd World Social Forum,
go to www.forumsocialmundial.org.br
APOLOGY
TO THE CUBAN PEOPLE
Professor
Melva J. Márquez of Los Andes University in
Mérida, Venezuela writes to us to express her
"repudiation of the volume of false information
and support for violence that the private media
channels are showing against the good people of
Cuba, with the sole intention of poisoning the minds
of the Venezuelan people and allowing the opposition
to carry on committing crimes.
I feel
profound shame. If you could see the images that are
being shown; Globovisión are not the only ones
fanning the flames of hatred."
Paulo
Stucchi from Sao Paulo, Brazil wants information on
Cuban soccer teams. Sports news and listings for all
Cuban sports can be found at www.inder.cu
Dennis
from Canada asked for websites on Cuban tourism. You
can access www.islagrande.cu,
www.cuba.cu, www.cubatravel.cu,
www.viajes-cuba.com
or through our own GRANMA INTERNATIONAL website
which provides links to other tourism-related pages.
Patrick
Sevastanovic from the Czech Republic is happy to be
able to read the French version of our paper.
From
Mexico, David Leyva says hello to us and asks if he
can place an announcement on our website. You need
to tell us the subject matter David.
17-year-old
Soledad Farrel from Argentina is in love with our
country. "I admire the Cuban people and I will
admire you for the rest of my life; your strength to
keep going forward is the greatest gift that God has
given you and is exactly what we are missing in our
country." Soledad would like to write to Cuban
penpals by e-mail. Her address is silsolfarrell@rediago.com.ar
Nicolae
Pavelescu from the Romanian Workers Party would like
to send his congratulations and best wishes to the
Cuban people.
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