International appeal for Cuba
By Pip Hinman
On February 12, a rally demanding an end to the US blockade of Cuba will be held in New York City. Silvio Rodriquez, the world famous Cuban singer will attend, and preparations are now well under way for international messages of solidarity to be recorded in a special bulletin, the Oppose the Blockade Journal, which will be distributed in its thousands on the day.
The rally will also launch the Third US-Cuba Friendshipment Caravan, which will depart for Cuba on February 25.
The rally is being organised by the International Peace for Cuba Appeal, an initiative of many major political figures, artists, unionists, youth, organisations and individuals including Ramsey Clark, Harry Belafonte, Jackson Browne, Noam Chomsky, Eduardo Galeano, Reverend Lucius Walker, Kris Kristofferson, Kate Millett, Holly Near, Sydney Pollack, Pete Seeger, Ignacio Lula da Silva, Alice Walker and Charles Rangel.
Rangel has introduced a bill in the US Congress to repeal the 33-year old policy of starvation and deprivation imposed on Cuba. It would override the Torricelli Bill, which extended the US trade embargo, contrary to international law, by forbidding foreign subsidiaries of US corporations to trade with Cuba. It also bans ships trading with Cuba from entering US ports and cuts aid to countries trading with Cuba.
To send your support to this rally, contact Peace for Cuba Appeal, c/- International Action Centre, 39 West 4th Street, Suite 206, New York, NY 10011. Telephone: 1 212 633 6646. Fax: 1 212 633 2889.