Postcard from Havana
| Cuba Friendship Society General meeting this Tuesday 12 Feb 2019 Get ready for the National Consultation 29-31 March Tornado in Havana Massive reconstruction work underway #FuerzaCuba A massive tornado ripped through five municipalities of Havana on 27 January. Four people were killed and 195 injured in the worst storm to hit the Cuban capital for many years. Damage to homes and infrastructure was considerable, with total and partial collapse of buildings, and winds tearing up and overturning trees, vehicles and electricity cables. Work is underway to repair property including damaged schools, hospitals, utilities and public buildings, and re-establish services. We extend our sincere condolences to the families of those who lost lives and to all those who were injured or suffered loss of homes. We send our heart-felt solidarity to the Cuban people and pay tribute to the mass effort of ordinary Cubans, to the Cuban Government and local authorities in the clean-up and rebuilding You can securely contribute to the reconstruction through the website of the UK Cuba Solidarity Campaign. Meeting Notice Members of the Australia-Cuba Friendship Society are invited to attend our next monthly meeting. Tuesday 12th FebruaryLevel 2 TLC Building 16 Peel St, South Brisbane6.30 p.m. Come and help build solidarity with Cuba now celebrating 60 years of the Revolution. Items to be discussed include:Planning for the National ConsultationTornado in Havana Fund-raising for our project ‘Dream Circle”Brigade report-backSolidarity with Venezuela 2019 National Consultation Brisbane 29 – 31 March The Brisbane Branch of the Australia-Cuba Friendship Society will host the 2019 National Consultation, with delegates from all branches attending, to discuss strengthening our solidarity with Cuba. All members are welcome to attend the two day event, which will start on Friday 29th March with an informal gathering.The weekend will feature reports from the newly appointed Cuban Ambassador, the Honorable Ariel Lorenzo Rodríguez, and a special report from the Yes I Can Literacy program being run by Literacy for Life in association with Cuban advisors in Australian Aboriginal communities in NSW. There will be a dinner and concert on Saturday 30 March open to the general public, featuring performances of Latin American and original music, by some great local musicians. Details and a registration form will be circulated shortly. For more information contact Lachlan Hurse Cuba Votes on a New Constitution #YoVotoSi #IStandwithCuba Cubans will be voting on a new national referendum on February 24. Following extensive consultation with meetings across Cuba in the latter part of 2018 (attended by more than 8 million people), a draft was approved on 22 December 2018 by the National Assembly of People’s Power (the Cuban parliament). The new referendum consolidates the achievement of the Revolution, reaffirming the socialist character of the Cuban political and economic system. It confirms the central role of the Communist Party of Cuba, and introduces reforms including limiting the term of office for the presidency, and the creation of a new role of Prime Minister. Furthermore, the new constitution opens the door to same-sex marriage, and explicitly prohibits discrimination on the basis of age, disability, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, ethnic origin and national origin. The new constitution reinforces women’s rights, guaranteeing the free exercise of sexual and reproductive rights, and protects women from gender-based violence.The Cuban Institute of Friendship with the Peoples (ICAP) has called on the global solidarity movement to join forces to show their support and say #CubavotaSi, # SIporlaConstitución, #SIporCuba, (#CubavotesYES, #NewCubaConstitutionWins, #IStandwithCuba). Authorised by Lachlan Hurse, President, Australia-Cuba Friendship Society (Brisbane) Our mailing address is: Australia-Cuba Friendship Society (Brisbane)PO Box 5683West End, Qld 4101 Australia Add us to your address book |