What is Cuba Really Like? Tues., Jan. 24 — 7:30 pm

Multimedia Reportback from Cuba — Prior to the Pope’s Visit

Milwaukee teacher Omar Barberena will present a multimedia report on his recent Witness for Peace trip to Cuba on Tuesday, January 24, at 7:30pm, at Central United Methodist Church (639 N. 25th St., Milwaukee). A native of Nicaragua, he has traveled widely in Latin America and Europe, and plans to lead a trip to Cuba later this year.

Mr. Barberena met with economists, authors, grassroots citizens, the President of the Cuban Supreme Court, and the founder of the faith-based Martin Luther King Center in Havana. He will share his pictures of Cuba today, what he learned about its recent economic reforms, and his impressions on how the US embargo affects Cuban lives.

The US is the only country that restricts its citizens from traveling to Cuba, but exceptions are made for religious and some other groups, and charters for US cruise ships to Cuba are being projected to coincide with Pope Benedict XVI’s visit to Cuba in March, 2012.

This talk is free and open to the public. It is sponsored by the Wisconsin Coalition to Normalize Relations With Cuba (414-273-1040, www.wicuba.org), Peace Action-WI, and the Latin America Solidarity Committee.

See our Upcoming Events page for more info and event flyer!

Pope Approves Cuba Visit Agenda

Pope Approves Cuba Visit Agenda

Fox News:  January 2, 2012

Pope  Benedict XVI approved the itinerary for the trip he will make on March 26-28  to Cuba, where he will  be received by President Raul  Castro, the Catholic Bishops Conference of Cuba, or COCC, said Sunday.

The pontiff will travel from Mexico to the eastern city of Santiago de Cuba,  944 kilometers (585 miles) from Havana, on March 26, arriving in the early  afternoon and “will be officially received by President Raul Castro Ruz, by the  Catholic Bishops Conference of Cuba and by the archbishop of this city,”  Dionisio Garcia, the COCC said in a statement.

Pope Benedict XVI approved the itinerary for the trip he will make on March 26-28 to Cuba, where he will be received by President Raul Castro.

The program established for his stay on the communist-ruled island was  presented to the pope by the officials in charge of his travels after the  preparatory meetings they held with Cuban government and COCC authorities during  the visit they made to Havana in mid-December.

The 84-year-old Benedict XVI will travel to Mexico and then to Cuba on his  second visit to Latin  America – he was in Brazil  in 2007 – and his first to Spanish-speaking countries in the region.

The pope’s trip will coincide with the celebration on the island of the 400th  anniversary of the discovery of the image of the Virgen de la Caridad del Cobre,  Cuba’s patron saint.

The pontiff will be transported in an open vehicle from the airport to the  archbishopric in Santiago de Cuba and on the afternoon of his arrival he will  celebrate an open-air Mass on the Plaza de la Revolucion Antonio Maceo for the  Annunciation of the Virgin Mary, the COCC said.

Later, he will travel to the nearby provincial town of El Cobre, where he  will be housed in the priests’ residence and the next day he will make a private  visit to the sanctuary of the Virgen de la Caridad del Cobre there to “pray for  several minutes” before the saint’s venerated image.

In August 2010, the image of the Virgin of Charity, accompanied by church  authorities, began an unprecedented tour of the island, traveling some 30,000  kilometers (18,600 miles) to churches, schools, hospitals, prisons and public  squares all over the country, a pilgrimage that concluded last Dec. 30 with a  farewell Mass in Havana.

The pope’s visit to Cuba will conclude in Havana, where upon his arrival in  the capital at midday on March 27, he will be welcomed at Jose Marti airport by  Cardinal Jaime Ortega, auxiliary bishops, religious and civil officials.

On that day, Benedict XVI will officially meet with Castro and also with  Cuban Catholic authorities at the Apostolic Nunciature, where he will be  staying.

Rounding out his agenda, the pope is scheduled on March 28 to celebrate a  Mass on Havana’s emblematic Plaza de la Revolution Jose Marti.

The pontiff’s visit will be the second by a pope to Cuba, after John Paul  II’s “historic” 1998 trip to the island.

Find this story on the web here.

Rev. Luis Barrios to visit Milwaukee Feb. 22, 2012!

Rev. Luis Barrios will speak at UW-Milwaukee on Wed., Feb. 22, at 7:00 pm.

FREE and open to the public!

Info on Mr. Barrios:

Dr. Barrios recently spent a year researching the development of political community around the immigration/emigration issues and injustices at the Dominican–Haitian border. He contributed to help confront problems of crime, law enforcement and security, public policy and human rights violations, and to better appreciate the significance of the cross-border dimension for promoting peace and reconciliation. (Also, see below for a description of his prior work on the effects of US deportations of Dominican immigrants, Banished to the Homeland: Dominican Deportees and Their Stories of Exile.)

Banished to the Homeland: Dominican Deportees and Their Stories of Exile

The 1996 U.S. Immigration Reform and Responsibility Act has led to the forcible deportation of more than thirty thousand Dominicans from the United States, with little protest or even notice from the public. Since these deportees return to the country of their origin, many Americans assume repatriation will be easy and the emotional and financial hardships will be few, but in fact the opposite is true. Deportees suffer greatly when they are torn from their American families and social networks, and they are further demeaned as they resettle former homelands, blamed for crime waves, cultural and economic decline, and other troubles largely beyond their control.

Following thousands of Dominican deportees over a seven-year period, David C. Brotherton and Luis Barrios capture the experience of emigration, imprisonment, banishment, and repatriation on this vulnerable population. Through a unique combination of sociological and criminological reasoning, they isolate the forces that motivate immigrants to leave their homeland and then commit crimes that violate the very terms of their stay. Housed in urban landscapes rife with gangs, drugs, and tenuous working conditions, these individuals, the authors find, repeatedly play out a tragic scenario, influenced by long-standing historical injustices, punitive politics, and increasingly conservative attitudes undermining basic human rights and freedoms. Brotherton and Barrios conclude that a simultaneous process of cultural inclusion and socioeconomic exclusion best explains the trajectory of emigration, settlement, and rejection, and they mark in the behavior of deportees the contradictory effects of dependency and colonialism: the seductive draw of capitalism typified by the American dream versus the material needs of immigrant life; the interests of an elite security state versus the desires of immigrant workers and families to succeed; and the ambitions of the Latino community versus the political realities of those designing crime and immigration laws, which always disadvantage these poor and vulnerable populations. Filled with riveting life stories and uncommon ethnographic research, Banished to the Homeland relates the modern deportee’s journey to broader theoretical studies of transnationalism, assimilation, and social control, exposing the dangerous new reality created by today’s draconian immigration policies.

We hope you can join  us!

Love is Our License

By Babette Grunow
Pointing to the words on his shirt, “Love is our license” Rev. Luis Barrios of Pastors for Peace explains that they refuse to ask for a government license from the State Department to travel to Cuba. He said that the Pastors for Peace caravan practices civil disobedience “as a means of directly challenging and bringing public attention to the travel ban and blockade” against Cuba. We ”struggle to practice justice” Rev. Barrios told a group of over 60 community activists and parishioners gathered at Central United Methodist Church on Friday evening to celebrate the send-off of the 22nd annual Pastors for Peace Caravan to Cuba.

For two weeks in early July, the Pastors will travel through 130 cities in Canada and the US along thirteen routes meeting with community groups, church congregations and gathering construction supplies, medical equipment, educational, cultural equipment as donations to church groups in Cuba. “We are responding to a call for help from our brothers and sisters in a neighboring country. We don’t need a license” Rev. Barrios explained what he planned to tell the US officials at the border crossing in McAllen Texas.

He said that Cuba is a poor country but one with “dignity and integrity.” Barrios explained that since Cuba gained its “fake independence” from Spain in 1898 the US controlled all political and economic aspects of the island. It wasn’t until the Revolution that the Cubans retook control from the US. However “challenging US policy has its consequences.” Barrios detailed the US reaction in planning the Bay of Pigs, the CIA plots to kill Castro and the 78 special agents that are assigned to this day to the project to destabilize Cuba. He compared this to the three agents that were assigned to the attempts to find Bin Laden, questioning the priorities.  He intoned, “US foreign policy is the problem.”

Despite the blockade and other US attempts to undermine the economic and political system, Cuba has developed a world renowned medical system. Cuba seeks to share its medical system with the world by sending medical brigades to assist in crises such as Haiti’s earthquake last year. They also train medical students from many countries, including 125 students from the US in exchange for a pledge from the young doctors that they will use there medical skills in underserved communities. One of those students, Joya Mosley from Milwaukee explained that the 6 year program “goes pretty fast.” She said that she looked forward to coming home and getting a chance to use her training to serve her community here in Milwaukee but that “Cuba is like a second home.”

Many on the caravan share that sense of friendship with the Cuban people. Scot MacGregor, the driver of the school bus that is carrying the caravanistas and the aid, said that he was a veteran of past caravans that have been stopped at the US-Mexican border. Despite the hassles he says he is looking forward to doing it all again, “it’s a powerful experience.”

Pastors for Peace/IFCO’s co-Director Ellen Bernstein speaking on US/Cuba Relations and Our Right to Travel

Tuesday, May 10, 7pm in UW-Milw. Union, Ballroom West, 2200 E. Kenwood Blvd.

Ellen has visited Cuba many times, led numerous Congressional delegations to Cuba, worked closely with PFP’s founder, the late Rev. Lou Walker, and was instrumental in establishing slots for over 100 US students to receive free medical education in Cuba, including Milwaukee’s Joya Mosely. PFP will again be organizing mass civil disobedience to challenge the travel ban and US economic blockade of Cuba, by a Caravan which will visit Milwaukee on Friday July 8th (& Madison the day before.). Bring your questions about Cuba, and US policies, and discuss what we can do to bring about changes here and in US polilcy. See www.pastorsforpeace.org

We recently screened Emmy award winner Saul Landau’s new feature film “Will the Real Terrorists Please Stand Up?” Please see below the moving review of this film by Lawrence Wilkerson, Colin Powell’s former chief of staff, below, or at http://www.thehavananote.com/2011/04/will_real_terrorist_please_stand_indeed. The film’s screening in San Francisco last weekend filled the theatre with activists, movie stars and California’s political leaders, see http://thecuban5.org/wordpress/2011/04/19/huge-turnout-in-sf-learns-about-the-reasons-for-the-cuban-5-2/ By special arrangment with the producer, we have a DVD available for screening locally (it is c.70 min.).  

An April 2011 Update: “Cuba Open to All Serious Travelers,” by John McAuliff

Click on:

https://app.e2ma.net/app/view:CampaignPublic/id:1408694.7044989564/rid:93920dbb681c998b5d7d9adc1bb4d83b

This important Right to Travel special newsletter edition, issued April 2011, includes links to many sources and a good explanation of the current situation, leally and politically. This includes the full text of the April 19th regulations, with an analysis and critique.

“Our primary objective is to help as many Americans as possible to experience Cuba for themselves, to learn about the country and to get to know its people.” 

This very helpful survey includes links to current travel providers in the US, Cuba, and Canada, plus many other sources (including how to see online the new PBS/Henry Lous Gates program as part of ”Black in Latin America,” called Cuba: “The Next Revolution”, http://video.pbs.org/video/1898347038) and a report on the US failing to give permission for Irish American musicians to attend Cuba’s 2nd CelticFest, http://www.thehavananote.com/2011/04/whats_ofac_no_irish_americans_need_apply

Portrait of Cuba photo exhibit, now through Sunday May 15

at BYO Studio Lounge
2246 S. Kinnickinnic Avenue
Milwaukee WI  53207
414-489-7474

Now through Sunday May 15, 2011:

Hours: open Thurs. - Sunday:

Thursdays & Sundays from 1pm to 2am;

Fridays  and Saturdays, from 5pm  to 2am

Hear interview with the photographer on her recent visit & see examples of the exhibit on WUWM’s website, as featured on Lake Effect, 4/19/2011:

“As possible political reforms are on the way in Cuba, a Milwaukee photographer talks about the images of Cuba that comprise her current exhibit. Photographer Jennifer Janviere’s work is compiled in an exhibit called Portrait of Cuba. It’s on display through mid-May at the BYO Studio in Bay View.”

http://www.wuwm.com/programs/lake_effect/le_sgmt.php?segmentid=7310

Ruth Behar’s very warm and informative talk, “Through Jewish Cuban Eyes,” at the UWM library on April 12th, is to be posted on their website, but hasn’t gone up yet. We’ll try to announce that, but you can check on it and read about her & this fine event at  http://www4.uwm.edu/libraries/News/ruthbehar.cfm.

Art Heitzer
artheitzer@gmail.com
633 W. Wisconsin Ave., Suite 1410
Milwaukee, WI 53203 USA
414-273-1040, ex. 12; fax 414-273-4859

Will the Real Terrorist Please Stand Up, Indeed!

by Col. Lawrence Wilkerson (Ret., Colin Powell’s former Chief of Staff) — Apr 11, 2011

A billboard in Cuba which reads, "What barbarians. They have liberated a terrorist”. The billboard pre-dates Posada's April 2011 acquittal, and is more likely in reference to a 2004 pardon he received for the attempted assassination of Fidel Castro. The pardon was granted by former Panamanian president, Mireya Moscoso under pressure from the United States.

Several nights ago (6 April), I watched “Will the Real Terrorist Please Stand Up” at the West End Cinema in Washington. Six months ago, Saul Landau, the filmmaker, had given me an earlier rough-cut version on DVD that I had watched, but I was not prepared for the final version with all of the added footage gained by Saul’s recent sojourn in Cuba itself and the slap-in-the-face showing on the large screen.

But the added footage from the island and the bigger screen were not all that made the final version more electrifying. It was, all in all, the pro-Cuba aspect of the film that stunned me.

And it was clear that this pro-Cuba aspect was not conjured by the filmmaker but by history. Perhaps, I told myself, I knew much of this history, intellectually, academically. But I had never seen it so graphically put before me, in such a tight, cinematic package that seemed to leap off the screen almost in synch with the beating of my pulse.

Wis. Candidates’ Positions on our Right to Travel & US/Cuba Relations – Survey Results Released Oct. 28, 2010

In the midst of two wars and much publicized concern over the federal government’s intrusion into the liberties of US people, issues of foreign policy seem to have been largely overlooked in the current election campaign.

Today the Wisconsin Coalition to Normalize Relations with Cuba releases the results of a survey and review of the positions of the Wisconsin candidates for federal office on issues including the federal government’s continued restriction on the rights of U.S. people to travel to Cuba.

In sum, the Democratic and Constitution Party Candidates for US Senate (Russ Feingold and Rob Taylor, respectively) both support the right of people from the U.S. to travel to Cuba, as do all three candidates in the first Congressional District (John Heckinlively -D, Joseph Kexel – Libertarian, and the incumbent Republican Congressman Paul Ryan. In Milwaukee’s 4th District, both Rep. Gwen Moore (D) and challenger Dan Sebring (R) support the right to travel as well as opening up trade with Cuba. Incumbent Congressman James Sensenbrenner (R) in the 5th District takes the opposite view on both issues, although he did not return the questionaire. Cuba is the only country which the U.S. government restricts U.S. citizens and residents from visiting, as it has for most of the past 50 years.

Republican Senate candidate Ron Johnson did not return the questionnaire, nor is there other evidence that he has expressed any view on any of the issues surveyed. Other results, including the candidates’ views on continued US funding aimed at overthrowing Cuba’s social system and government, and on release of the Cuban Five (held in US prisons for over 12 years for attempting to monitor terrorist activities in Florida), are contained below.

The results are based on a survey supplied to all candidates of record with fax or email contact information, on October 15, 2010 on 4 issues related to US policy toward Cuba, supplemented by their reported record on these issues.

For futher information contact: Art Heitzer, artheitzer@gmail.com, 414-273-1040, ex. 12; fax 414-273-4859

EVENT: Who are political prisoners? Tues., Sept. 14, 2010, 7pm

The Wisconsin Coalition to Normalize Relations with Cuba presents “The Day Diplomacy Died” a Cuban/Irish documentary on the U.S. government’s involvement with dissidents in Cuba, including “political prisoners” being released by the Cuban government based on discussions with the Catholic Church. The screening will be accompanied by an open discussion on “political prisoners” in different contexts.

This program is in conjunction with events around the U.S. and the world marking the 12 years that the “Cuban Five” have been confined in the U.S. They were arrested on Sept. 12, 1998 for attempting to stop terrorism being planned in Florida, against Cuba and people in the US favoring normalized relations, and all remain in prison today. See www.freethefive.org and www.thecuban5.org.

Tues., Sept. 14, 2010, 7pm
Free & open to the public, at Central United Methodist Church, 639 N. 25th St., Milw.