Jay Hartling
Symposium on Alternative Forms of Trade and Cooperation
Photos: www.picasaweb.google.com/jay.hartling/TransformationLatinAmericaOnTheMove#
Halifax, Nova Scotia recently played host to a unique symposium that offered participants the opportunity to hear directly from visiting front-line representatives and grassroots leaders, academics and diplomats from Cuba, Venezuela, Bolivia and El Salvador about the achievements and challenges of new models of integration and cooperation in the region. A symposium of this magnitude on alternatives to the capitalist, neo-liberal model is unique in Canada, and most notably in the Maritimes. Saint Mary’s University, one of the co-sponsors of the event, is to be commended for its critical approach to development studies; and for providing the opportunity for the public to explore alternative models of participation, trade, economies, healthcare, education and the media. SMU helped to bridge an often overlooked gap of the connection between academic research/debate/exchange and the broader community where universities reside. Other co-sponsors included the Canadian Union of Postal Workers, the Public Service Alliance of Canada, Nova Scotia Cuba Association, LATIN@S Canada, and Just Us Coffee Roasters Cooperative.
The concept of the symposium was to bring together some of the leaders of progressive social, political and economic change in Latin America to talk about the positive achievements that are driving a new model of integration in the region. Cuba, Venezuela and Bolivia are all key participants in the Bolivarian Alliance for the Americas (ALBA), also known as the people’s trade agreement. ALBA is based on a series of non-reciprocal agreements that are rooted in the principles of solidarity, complementarity, and recognition of the various kinds of asymmetries in the region.
Perhaps the most important aspect of the symposium was the opportunity to debunk, de-mystify, deconstruct and debate commonly-held assumptions about the new participatory and integrated models developing in Latin America with the leadership of some of the countries present at the symposium. Most North Americans form their worldview of Latin America through the lens of the mainstream, corporate, English-language media (a handful of companies) or the CBC. The mainstream, corporate North American [and European] media have shown a distorted and biased view against the governments of Cuba, Venezuela and Bolivia (and others), with little attempt to examine factual data that shows important levels of progress in the region. Actual data obtained from research shows a different picture than what is being reported.
The connection to Nova Scotia should be obvious – Nova Scotia’s history is tied to north-south trade with the Caribbean and beyond. Nova Scotia, and broader Canadian society, has a long-standing history of solidarity with Cuba, in particular, but also with other countries in Latin America and the Caribbean. Not to mention the hordes of Canadians that flood southern beaches in the frigid winter. But most importantly, Canada is part of the Americas, and could be an instrumental player in helping to promote a multi-polar world more in keeping with Canadian values, than the current divisive and imperialist policy of the Conservative minority government.
Cuba’s Internationalism
The opening night was a celebration of the 50th anniversary of the Cuban revolution and Cuba’s internationalism. The symposium opened with a dedication to the people of Honduras. This was a recurring theme throughout the symposium, as speaker after speaker exposed the hypocrisy and condemned the illegal actions of the current de facto government. After a keynote address by Isaac Saney tracing Cuba’s history of internationalism, a panel of representatives from Cuba, Bolivia, Venezuela, the Caribbean region and El Salvador responded with a brief analysis of Cuba’s impact in their own countries and in the region. Panelists Edgar Torrez (Bolivian Ambassador to Canada), Juan Carlos Coronado (Charges D'affaires, Venezuelan Embassy in Canada), Marta Lilian Coto (FMLN Deputy for El Salvador to the Central American Parliament) and Norman Girvan (University of the West Indies) all acknowledged the Cuban people’s contributions to healthcare and education, but also the inspiration and spirit of resistance that Cuba represents throughout the region.
Norman Girvan gave an emotional response “la deuda es impagable” (the debt [to Cuba] is unrepayable) as he outlined the numerous selfless acts committed by Cubans in the defence of human rights and the promotion of self-determination. Teresita Vicente (Cuban Ambassador to Canada) ended the session by thanking Canada in particular, but all Latin American brothers and sisters for their unwavering support for Cuba’s right to self-determination over the years, and for believing in the Cuban people.
ALBA: The Power of an Idea
Saturday’s sessions began with a powerful presentation on ALBA by Norman Girvan. Girvan pointed to a number of forces that have combined to bring about positive change for the majority of people in the region who have been marginalized for centuries. These forces include the increasing strength and power of social movements and participatory democracy; the failure of neo-liberalism; the rise of regional integration and the institutionalization of integration; the importance of sovereignty; and, the regional leadership of Brazil and Venezuela.
“The ALBA mission is to construct an alternative (to neoliberal) model of integration among peoples and countries that is people-oriented; and based on solidarity, complementarity, and differential treatment of countries in recognition of various kinds of asymmetries (size, level of development, financial resources, energy resources, and human capital capabilities)” (Norman Girvan: http://www.normangirvan.info/girvan-alba-power-idea-smu0310909/ ).
Girvan connected the growing strength of the ALBA relationship and the backlash from the right-wing who are losing their grip on power. The most apparent manifestation of this is the coup d’etat in Honduras. Girvan stressed that the current peaceful resistence movement in Honduras -- a coalition of popular organizations grouping campesinos, poor communities, Garifunas (Afro-Hondurans), indigenous groups and women‘s organizations – is responsible for preventing the illegitimacy of the de facto government from taking hold. Girvan concluded with questions about the role of integrated social movements in the region in decision-making regarding ALBA funds, and the need for greater transparency and accountability.
Cuba
Dalhousie University scholar John Kirk, and University of Havana Phd candidate and representative of Latin@s Canada, Nchamah Miller, continued the discussion on Cuba. Kirk demonstrated that far from being the isolated country portrayed in the media, Cuba is a country that is profoundly respected across the world. He focused on the extent of Cuba's medical internationalism and the significant impact it has had and is having on the region. He emphasized that this was a model for the international relations for other countries. Miller outlined the transcendental importance of the Cuban Revolution for Latin America. She pointed out that the Cuban Revolution represented not only a break with the island's and the region's history of imperial domination, but reinvigoration of Latin American traditions and thinking. As new emancipatory movements sweep and re-shape Latin America, Cuba has been a potent source of symbolic and concrete inspiration, as witnessed the previous evening of the symposium.
Venezuela
Julio Chavez, the former mayor of the first socialist city in Venezuela, and current member of the Lara state legislature for the United Socialist Party of Venezuela (PSUV), described a constitutional five-phased process for implementing popular power in the municipality of Pedro Leon Torres in the state of Lara (capital city is Carora). These five stages are 1) re-writing the municipal constitution via citizens assemblies; 2) a 100% participatory budget process that turned decision-making over to the citizens through a series of open assemblies; 3) the creation of more than 500 communal councils in the municipality where groups of between 200-400 families organize to prioritize community problems, and then carry out the works to address those problems; 4) the creation of the socialist commune (the political and operational grouping together of communal councils and communal banks); and 5) the constituent economy.
Chavez then spent some time comparing social and economic statistics between 1998 (first significant change in government) and 2008. Venezuela dedicates 15% of GDP to improving and increasing the delivery of social programs such as education, healthcare, housing, food security; and, has increased the minimum wage, decreased inflation, decreased unemployment, and eradicated illiteracy since President Hugo Chavez was first elected in 1998.
Bolivia
Alex Borda and Edgar Torrez described the recent history of devastation caused by structural adjustment policies and experimentation by international lending agencies and the country’s small economic elite. Again, we see a different conjuncture of forces culminating in sweeping social change led by a coalition of numerous organizations, political parties, indigenous peoples, etc. Torrez in particular focused on important advances for the central role of indigenous peoples in Bolivia, and the redistribution of wealth and opportunity, the democratic process, the approval of a new constitution, and important achievements in education and social welfare.
El Salvador
Marta Lilian Coto, a historic figure in the FMLN and leader of the Women’s Commission, as well as FMLN deputy to Central American Parliament (PARLACEN), traced the path of the grassroots left in El Salvador, which today includes a coalition of interests like the FMLN, workers organizations, churches, community media, small businesses, academics, students, etc. Coto stressed the importance of the recent electoral victories of the FMLN, and outlined some of their objectives in the coming four years. Although not an ALBA member country, FMLN-run municipalities have agreements with ALBA Petroleos to supply low-cost oil to local gas stations. In exchange, a percentage of earnings must be spent on social programs in the municipality. This has allowed a number of important improvements in sanitation, water, transportation and infrastructure in urban and remote areas.
Implications for Canada
So where does Canada fit in? Canada’s foreign policy has historically tended to be multi-polar in nature, so there is a natural fit with ALBA’s principles. Surely no-one continues to believe that the current neo-liberal model is sustainable, and that free markets and so-called free trade are the only answers to resolving issues of assymetry, inequality, environmental devastation and disempowerment. The Latin American countries Canada is currently focusing its energies on through free trade agreements (Peru and Colombia) both have smaller economies than Venezuela and Brazil. Coincidentally, they continue to suffer from a 1980’s structural adjustment hangover, and that, coupled with their continued right-wing orientation, currently makes them, along with Canada, an anacronysm.
As a self-determining sovereign nation, Canada expects others to respect its sovereignty and must do the same in return for other nations whose citizens have a different vision of what kind of economic system, or political system they want. ALBA, while experimental and developmental in nature, offers an alternative model of trade and exchange, based on principles that fit with our own -- those of equality, fairness, democracy, cooperation and solidarity. It is also highly tolerant of the differences in economic approaches of the member countries to allow for differences not only in types of development, but in pace and context.
Our national government is mired in the past, with foreign policies driven by profit above all, rather than policies of human solidarity as exemplified by ALBA and the new Latin America of the 21st century. We, as a country, are being left behind.
Reorganizing the Pluri-National State in Bolivia
Reorganizing the Pluri-National State in Bolivia
Alex Borda-Rodriguez, Dalhousie
Part 5
The importance of events like this is to educate people of the truth of the situation in Latin America.
The case: what is the difference in the government now, from the past governments of Bolivia.
The past Bolivian economy has been the production of tea and mining activities. in 1952 there was a revolution that changed the structure of the country. The mining corporation of Bolivia was the most important part of the economy, run by the elite of the country. In the 1980s a structural change happened that caused public land and rights to be sold to international companies. This NeoLiberal government did this without taking into account the links of it's government and corporations, so most of these changes were implemented by a small elite fraction of the Bolivian government. This dismantled the country, and it became an experimental ground for foreign powers, and the world bank.
In 2003 the Gas war, and black October 2004, the people defended the national land of Bolivia from the current president who tried to levy unfair income taxes on the people, while selling natural gas to Chile at an exceptionally reduced price.
This unrest made it possible for Evo Morales to be elected.
There is still disparages between areas, there are places in Bolivia like New York, high technology and large buildings ten minutes away from places with ancient technologies dieing in the streets.
Alex Borda-Rodriguez, Dalhousie
Part 5
The importance of events like this is to educate people of the truth of the situation in Latin America.
The case: what is the difference in the government now, from the past governments of Bolivia.
The past Bolivian economy has been the production of tea and mining activities. in 1952 there was a revolution that changed the structure of the country. The mining corporation of Bolivia was the most important part of the economy, run by the elite of the country. In the 1980s a structural change happened that caused public land and rights to be sold to international companies. This NeoLiberal government did this without taking into account the links of it's government and corporations, so most of these changes were implemented by a small elite fraction of the Bolivian government. This dismantled the country, and it became an experimental ground for foreign powers, and the world bank.
In 2003 the Gas war, and black October 2004, the people defended the national land of Bolivia from the current president who tried to levy unfair income taxes on the people, while selling natural gas to Chile at an exceptionally reduced price.
This unrest made it possible for Evo Morales to be elected.
There is still disparages between areas, there are places in Bolivia like New York, high technology and large buildings ten minutes away from places with ancient technologies dieing in the streets.
Reorganizing the Pluri-National State in Bolivia
Reorganizing the Pluri-National State in Bolivia
Bolivian Ambassador Edgar Torres (Translated)
Part 4
Evo Morales has reduced the terms for a government from five years to four years to help foster a better democratic process. There is now a biometric system for voting so that there can be no confusion over the legitimacy of elections.
George W. Bush declared Bolivia part of the Axis of Evil, despite Bolivian democracy supporting everyone, including historically marginalized societies, including the indigenous peoples of Bolivia.
Bolivia is creating three universities with a specific focus in educating the indigenous population. There is also a push to have free health for all in Bolivia.
Bolivian Ambassador Edgar Torres (Translated)
Part 4
Evo Morales has reduced the terms for a government from five years to four years to help foster a better democratic process. There is now a biometric system for voting so that there can be no confusion over the legitimacy of elections.
George W. Bush declared Bolivia part of the Axis of Evil, despite Bolivian democracy supporting everyone, including historically marginalized societies, including the indigenous peoples of Bolivia.
Bolivia is creating three universities with a specific focus in educating the indigenous population. There is also a push to have free health for all in Bolivia.
Reorganizing the Pluri-National State in Bolivia
Reorganizing the Pluri-National State in Bolivia
Bolivian Ambassador Edgar Torres (Translated)
Part 3
The indingineous people of Bolivia played a vital role in the wars of independence, yet they were never really seen as a part of Bolivia. As they were given suffrage, coupled with social reform, they became a part of Bolivian life. Now, with Evo Morales, the first indingineous president of Bolivia, there
With the nationalization of Boliia's tin mines, there was created a working middle class that included the indingineous people. The indingeinous people demanded more and more rights, including the establishment of a contituenal assembly.
What is the significance of a pluri-national state? It means that the state must acknowledge the original peoples who form the makeup of the country. 4.5 million Bolivians are part of the country's 36 indingineous peoples.
Bolivia's economy, as well, is multi-faceted. There is a corporate economy, a market economy and a communal economy. The state has also recognizes the atonomy of several of Bolivia's provinces.
Bolivian Ambassador Edgar Torres (Translated)
Part 3
The indingineous people of Bolivia played a vital role in the wars of independence, yet they were never really seen as a part of Bolivia. As they were given suffrage, coupled with social reform, they became a part of Bolivian life. Now, with Evo Morales, the first indingineous president of Bolivia, there
With the nationalization of Boliia's tin mines, there was created a working middle class that included the indingineous people. The indingeinous people demanded more and more rights, including the establishment of a contituenal assembly.
What is the significance of a pluri-national state? It means that the state must acknowledge the original peoples who form the makeup of the country. 4.5 million Bolivians are part of the country's 36 indingineous peoples.
Bolivia's economy, as well, is multi-faceted. There is a corporate economy, a market economy and a communal economy. The state has also recognizes the atonomy of several of Bolivia's provinces.
Re-Imagining Society by Constructing Popular Power
Re-Imagining Society by Constructing Popular Power
Julio Chavez (Translated)
Part 2
Communities are being organized based on how best to supply resources, to maximize production, and social health. The media bias says that Venezuela is marching towards a dictatorship, while the opposite is true, it is heading to a true democracy where every citizen gets his/her fair say. This has been done to correct the problems where individuals seek political office for personal power, and to give the power instead to the people. Any politician can be impeached by the community if they act in a manner contradictory of the will of the people they represent.
All of this has been done with the support of Cuba. Cuban men and women, left their country to help work within Venezuela during the differing social projects, such as project sucre, robinson, and miracle, to help support the medical and educational growth of Venzuela. (applause)
During the time of the Capitalist crisis in Venezuela less than 1% of the GDP was spent on Health care, that has been increased over 7 fold by the new government. The unemployment rate has gone from 15% to 6.5% in the same time. In addition the rate of inflation has gone down from 103.2% in 1996 to 22.5% in 2007.
Who benefeits the most from these changes? Tthe people: who now have medical care, access to nutritional food, and Venezuela is now a country certified free of illiteracy by the UN.
400 years of domination has been more than enough to allow the people of Latin America to value their freedom, and their right to be a democratic group of nations free of the follies and inequalities that Capitalism brings.
Everything that we have done has been successfull in bringing democracy, the participation of the people, the economic success, has come about as a result of stopping the old processes. This is the reason why the military bases are being created in Columbia, as bases to try to assassinate Hugo Chavez. [Editor: The US doesn't want a successful example of a non-capitalist government so close to home] As the US has failed the people in Iraq, and in Afganistan, they will fail the people of Venezuela with their military in Columbia. The US is only thinking of petroleum energy and not the people they hurt to get it.
That is the main reason why we request the solidarity of Canada, and the people of the country become educated of this information. When people know the truth of the situation they will not be swayed by the lies of capitalism, but will see the truth of the life in socialism.
We have no interest in living on our knees, we prefer to die standing up. There is no going back on our social awakening.
(standing ovation)
Julio Chavez (Translated)
Part 2
Communities are being organized based on how best to supply resources, to maximize production, and social health. The media bias says that Venezuela is marching towards a dictatorship, while the opposite is true, it is heading to a true democracy where every citizen gets his/her fair say. This has been done to correct the problems where individuals seek political office for personal power, and to give the power instead to the people. Any politician can be impeached by the community if they act in a manner contradictory of the will of the people they represent.
All of this has been done with the support of Cuba. Cuban men and women, left their country to help work within Venezuela during the differing social projects, such as project sucre, robinson, and miracle, to help support the medical and educational growth of Venzuela. (applause)
During the time of the Capitalist crisis in Venezuela less than 1% of the GDP was spent on Health care, that has been increased over 7 fold by the new government. The unemployment rate has gone from 15% to 6.5% in the same time. In addition the rate of inflation has gone down from 103.2% in 1996 to 22.5% in 2007.
Who benefeits the most from these changes? Tthe people: who now have medical care, access to nutritional food, and Venezuela is now a country certified free of illiteracy by the UN.
400 years of domination has been more than enough to allow the people of Latin America to value their freedom, and their right to be a democratic group of nations free of the follies and inequalities that Capitalism brings.
Everything that we have done has been successfull in bringing democracy, the participation of the people, the economic success, has come about as a result of stopping the old processes. This is the reason why the military bases are being created in Columbia, as bases to try to assassinate Hugo Chavez. [Editor: The US doesn't want a successful example of a non-capitalist government so close to home] As the US has failed the people in Iraq, and in Afganistan, they will fail the people of Venezuela with their military in Columbia. The US is only thinking of petroleum energy and not the people they hurt to get it.
That is the main reason why we request the solidarity of Canada, and the people of the country become educated of this information. When people know the truth of the situation they will not be swayed by the lies of capitalism, but will see the truth of the life in socialism.
We have no interest in living on our knees, we prefer to die standing up. There is no going back on our social awakening.
(standing ovation)
Reimagining Society
Re-Imagining Society by Constructing Popular Power
Julio Chavez; member of Lara State Assembly, Venezuela, and former Mayor of Carora. (Translated)
Part 1
Capitalism has created a global catastrophe, punctuated by the richer countries like the US.
This has caused a lack of democratic representation, exhausting the effectiveness of traditional political methods. This representative crisis has caused us to revisit the method of participation in democracy.
"We don't order, nor do we obey we construct rather people's power, we construct liberally democratic ideas."
This returns the power to the people.
The political plan goes from the Municipal, to Participatory Budget, to Communal Advice, to Socialist Commune, to Economic Component (Direct Translation from: Constituyente Minicipal, Presepuesto Participativo, Consejos Comunales, Comuna Socialista, Constituyente Economica)
It was focused on creating the democracy that was wanted, and not to patch the democracy that existed at the time.
Formerly the Mayor of a Municipal area decided on the budgets, but the people never were consulted, so a methodology was created called the "Participatory Budget" (Presepuesto Participativo), where everyone in the community went to a planning council to decide the use of this money. In other words the Mayor of the town did not determine how to invest the money in the plan, but rather it was decided by the popular base. This allows the town to decide their own fate, and not allowed to be decided by a single person.
Do you know, in your city, who decides what needs to be fixed? How many people are on that committee? Is it enough, is it transparent? This is what was sought to be fixed. To take these decisions to the people they affected most, the population.
The businesses which carried out the projects of the community were dismantled and were incorporated into the municipalities, making the responsibility for fixing the city in the hands of the citizenry, and not an outside operation.
Julio Chavez; member of Lara State Assembly, Venezuela, and former Mayor of Carora. (Translated)
Part 1
Capitalism has created a global catastrophe, punctuated by the richer countries like the US.
This has caused a lack of democratic representation, exhausting the effectiveness of traditional political methods. This representative crisis has caused us to revisit the method of participation in democracy.
"We don't order, nor do we obey we construct rather people's power, we construct liberally democratic ideas."
This returns the power to the people.
The political plan goes from the Municipal, to Participatory Budget, to Communal Advice, to Socialist Commune, to Economic Component (Direct Translation from: Constituyente Minicipal, Presepuesto Participativo, Consejos Comunales, Comuna Socialista, Constituyente Economica)
It was focused on creating the democracy that was wanted, and not to patch the democracy that existed at the time.
Formerly the Mayor of a Municipal area decided on the budgets, but the people never were consulted, so a methodology was created called the "Participatory Budget" (Presepuesto Participativo), where everyone in the community went to a planning council to decide the use of this money. In other words the Mayor of the town did not determine how to invest the money in the plan, but rather it was decided by the popular base. This allows the town to decide their own fate, and not allowed to be decided by a single person.
Do you know, in your city, who decides what needs to be fixed? How many people are on that committee? Is it enough, is it transparent? This is what was sought to be fixed. To take these decisions to the people they affected most, the population.
The businesses which carried out the projects of the community were dismantled and were incorporated into the municipalities, making the responsibility for fixing the city in the hands of the citizenry, and not an outside operation.
Interesting Fact
Mario Terán, the person who assassinated Che Guevara, had cataract surgery to correct his vision for free from a Cuban Doctor that was a part of project Miracle.
We resume today for live blogging from Latin America on the Move!
Day 2
The agenda continues with:
12:45 - 2:00 PM: RE-IMAGINING SOCIETY BY CONSTRUCTING POPULAR POWER - Julio Chavez
Moderator: Jim Brittain
2:00 - 3:15 PM: REORGANIZING THE PLURI-NATIONAL STATE IN BOLIVIA - Alex Borda-Rodriguez and Edgar Torres
Moderator: Alain Boutet
3:15 – 3:30 PM: HEALTH BREAK
3:30 - 4:45 PM: EL SALVADOR - UN NUEVO AMANECER - Marta Lilian Coto
Moderator: Tim Bood
4:45 – 5:00 PM: Closing Remarks
Day 2
The agenda continues with:
12:45 - 2:00 PM: RE-IMAGINING SOCIETY BY CONSTRUCTING POPULAR POWER - Julio Chavez
Moderator: Jim Brittain
2:00 - 3:15 PM: REORGANIZING THE PLURI-NATIONAL STATE IN BOLIVIA - Alex Borda-Rodriguez and Edgar Torres
Moderator: Alain Boutet
3:15 – 3:30 PM: HEALTH BREAK
3:30 - 4:45 PM: EL SALVADOR - UN NUEVO AMANECER - Marta Lilian Coto
Moderator: Tim Bood
4:45 – 5:00 PM: Closing Remarks
Question Period
Part 9
In the last eight months 5,000 hectares of land for growing drugs has been destroyed in Bolivia. When the US DEA left Bolivia they refused to offer any support, and instead removed all drug policing resources from Boliva. Yet, Bolivia is still able to reduce, and destroy drug crops.
-Edgar Torres
Will Expectations for Canada change in Cuba?
Why is Venezuela and Brazil buying Weapons?
(Standing Ovation)
Thank you very much for reading tonight, I hope this was helpful for you who were not able to be here tonight.
We shall resume tomorrow during selected periods of the symposium.
In the last eight months 5,000 hectares of land for growing drugs has been destroyed in Bolivia. When the US DEA left Bolivia they refused to offer any support, and instead removed all drug policing resources from Boliva. Yet, Bolivia is still able to reduce, and destroy drug crops.
-Edgar Torres
Will Expectations for Canada change in Cuba?
- In Short: no
- With the US talking of lifting sanctions, nothing still has changed.
- President Obama has not allowed US citizens to travel to Cuba.
- This prevents families in the US to visit their families in Cuba.
- These are the same sentiments that were in effect during the cold war
- We want to normalize relations with Cuba and the US.
- Cuba will present to the UN a resolution to condemn the Cuban Blockade, and a majority celebrates that.
Why is Venezuela and Brazil buying Weapons?
- Venezuela believes that war in Latin America is immanent.
- The councils of defence ministries in South America have drawn up plans for defending the region from a similar attack to what has happened in Iraq.
- there are 5 american bases in Columbia.
- With the pretext of fighting drug trafficing, America could invade Central America for it's natural resources (gas, oil, water)
(Standing Ovation)
Thank you very much for reading tonight, I hope this was helpful for you who were not able to be here tonight.
We shall resume tomorrow during selected periods of the symposium.
Cuban Ambassador to Canada; Teresita Vicente
Panel Speaks
part 8
Teresita Vicente:
Cuban Ambassador to Canada
part 8
Teresita Vicente:
Cuban Ambassador to Canada
- The Cuban Ambassador to Honduras was taken prisoner and beaten during the Military Coup in Honduras.
- The blockade has cost 93 billion in lost revenue to Cuba.
- Cuba is dedicated to Internationalism, and foreign aide, and it is part of the culture.
- Despite Cuba's foreign aide work, the US has tried to assassinate Fidel Castro more than 100 times.
- Cuba has a program with the Black Caucus of the American government to take and teach Black American students Medicine, to study to become doctors.
Norman Girvan
Panel Speaks
part 7
Norman Girvan:
University of the West Indies
"I was a young man of 18 at the start of the Cuban revolution, and for my generation in the Caribbean it was a source of inspiration for us to see a country chart its own path and territory by relying on the will and strength of its people, refusing to bow to threats from the greatest militaristic country in the world."
2008
part 7
Norman Girvan:
University of the West Indies
"I was a young man of 18 at the start of the Cuban revolution, and for my generation in the Caribbean it was a source of inspiration for us to see a country chart its own path and territory by relying on the will and strength of its people, refusing to bow to threats from the greatest militaristic country in the world."
2008
Marta Coto
Panel Speaks
part 6
Marta Lilian Coto: (translated)
FMLN Deputy for El Salvador in the Central American Parliament
-Marta Coto
(Standing Ovation)
part 6
Marta Lilian Coto: (translated)
FMLN Deputy for El Salvador in the Central American Parliament
- June 1st, the new FLMN government re-established contact with the government of Cuba.
- This political co-operation has helped El Salvador
- Since the peace accords in 1992, the FMLN became the primary opposition in the government of El Salvador, to a capitalist government that used a neoliberal model which increased poverty in El Salvador.
- This right-wing government refused equality for citizens
- Cuba continued to offer support to El Salvador, even while it had a right-wing government, which refused the support.
- Local El Salvadorian FMLN governments took the aid from Cuba, especially medical aide in combating pneumonia, and Mission Miracle.
- The FMLN has also started the Yes I can reading program.
- The goals of the FMLN is to help and support the poorest in El Salvador, so that they can grow and prosper.
- They are also fighting organized crime which thrived under the right wing governments of the past.
-Marta Coto
(Standing Ovation)
Juan Carlos Coronado
Panel Speaks
part 5
Juan Carlos Coronado: (translated)
Charges d'Affaires
part 5
Juan Carlos Coronado: (translated)
Charges d'Affaires
- When Hugo Chavez came to power, he looked to Cuba for inspiration on how to increase literacy and health care.
- Venezuela has the benefit of large deposits of Petroleum.
- Venezuela offered to trade its oil for aide from Cuban Internationalism in increasing Literacy, and Quality of life.
- With Mission Robinson, Sucre, literacy and education has made High School level education acessable across the country.
- Mission Miracle was created in conjunction with Cuba, and was so successful it was exported to other countries.
- These agreements have had huge benefits to Venezuelans, Cubans and Latin Americans alike.
Edgar Torres
Panel Speaks
part 4
Edgar Torres, Bolivian Ambassador: (Translated)
part 4
Edgar Torres, Bolivian Ambassador: (Translated)
- Because of Che Guevara, Boliva eventually elected Evo Morales
- the 1980s they started to retake politics from the fascist military government.
- Social movements grew, thanks to the inspiration of Cuba
- Capitalism made the country of Bolivia exceptionally poor, and they suffered a "dark night" which was the 25 years of the capitalist government.
- Since 2006 Cuba, Venezuela, and Bolivia created plan Miracle, which ensured that Cuban and Venezuelan Doctors would go to places where there has never been medicine in Bolivia before.
- Cuban Internationalism has ensured that literacy is taught throughout Bolivia.
- Bolivia has 4.5 million indigenous people living in poverty; the extraordinary work by Cuban Internationalism has ensured that they get the medical attention and education they need.
- Bolivia is in a moment to advance, and not to backtrack.
Isaac Saney
Live from Isaac Saney's speach
part 3
José Julián Martí's aim was:
To prevent, by the independence of cuba the US from spreading over the west Indies and falling, with the added weight, upon the lands of our America. All I have done is to now and shall do hereafter is to that end... I have lived inside the monster and know his insides.
1895
Roots of Cuban Internationalism
part 3
José Julián Martí's aim was:
To prevent, by the independence of cuba the US from spreading over the west Indies and falling, with the added weight, upon the lands of our America. All I have done is to now and shall do hereafter is to that end... I have lived inside the monster and know his insides.
1895
Roots of Cuban Internationalism
- Cuban thought marterial and summation of the experience of struggle for independence
- José Martí
- proletarian internationalism
- imperative internationalism
- internationalism as integral to socialist development
- solidarity vs charity; giver-receiver relationship vs. unified social collective other social entity.
Isaac Saney
Live from Isaac Saney's speach
part 2
Nelson Mandela praised Cuba for its role in helping to end state-sponsored terrorism by the racist government of South Africa and eventually apartheid itself.
"Solidarity in the heart of a people is impossible without solidarity among all peoples"
-Fidel Castro
What is the History of Cuban International aide?
Preamble of the Cuban constitution:
On proletarian internationalism, on the fraternal friendship, aide, cooperation and solidarity of the peoples of the world; especially those of Latin America and the Caribbean.
part 2
Nelson Mandela praised Cuba for its role in helping to end state-sponsored terrorism by the racist government of South Africa and eventually apartheid itself.
"Solidarity in the heart of a people is impossible without solidarity among all peoples"
-Fidel Castro
What is the History of Cuban International aide?
Preamble of the Cuban constitution:
On proletarian internationalism, on the fraternal friendship, aide, cooperation and solidarity of the peoples of the world; especially those of Latin America and the Caribbean.
Isaac Saney
Live from Isaac Saney's speach
part 1
The Cuban Development Model: Adresses that we need a fundamental change in our current economic system.
Current symptoms of the economic crisis:
Currently over 1 billion people go to bed hungry each night; every 30seconds one person dies of malaria; Life expectancy in Brittan is 68, while in Africa it is 42.
Despite being blockaded, invaded and marginalized in the past several decades, Cuba has still been able to increase their standard of living, and the standard of living of impoverished countries.
The UN ranks the Cuban Government as number one (in the world) for using its resources toward social goals of increasing life expectancy and quality of life.
Cuba not only sends Doctors to other countries, but it also helps to create medical schools in third world nations. Even when Cuba is considered a poor country on it's own.
From 1998-2008 117,709,248 patients were treated by Cuban Doctors outside of Cuba, performing 2,831,870 operations. Including after Hurricane Mitch.
Measuring Cuban medical internationalism: Infant mortality rates fell in an area of Honduras from 25% to 19% after Cuban medical aide.
part 1
The Cuban Development Model: Adresses that we need a fundamental change in our current economic system.
Current symptoms of the economic crisis:
Currently over 1 billion people go to bed hungry each night; every 30seconds one person dies of malaria; Life expectancy in Brittan is 68, while in Africa it is 42.
Despite being blockaded, invaded and marginalized in the past several decades, Cuba has still been able to increase their standard of living, and the standard of living of impoverished countries.
The UN ranks the Cuban Government as number one (in the world) for using its resources toward social goals of increasing life expectancy and quality of life.
Cuba not only sends Doctors to other countries, but it also helps to create medical schools in third world nations. Even when Cuba is considered a poor country on it's own.
From 1998-2008 117,709,248 patients were treated by Cuban Doctors outside of Cuba, performing 2,831,870 operations. Including after Hurricane Mitch.
Measuring Cuban medical internationalism: Infant mortality rates fell in an area of Honduras from 25% to 19% after Cuban medical aide.
Live From St. Mary's
Stay tuned tonight for live blogging from Latin America on the Move!
Tonight's Agenda:
7:30pm-9:00pm - Celeberating the 50th Anniversary of the Cuban Revolution and Cuba's Internationalism
Keynote Speaker for tonight is Isaac Saney.
Featured Panelists:
Edgar Torres (Bolivian Ambassador to Canada)
Juan Carlos Coronado (Charges d'Affaires - Venezuelan Embassy in Canada)
Marta Lilian Coto (FLMN Deputy for El Salvador to the Central American Parliament)
Norman Girvan (University of the West Indies)
Teresita Vicente (Cuban Ambassador to Canada)
With Special thanks to: St Mary's University, Canadian Union of Postal Workers, Public Service Alliance of Canada, Nova Scotia Cuba Association, Just Us! coffee roasters, Canadian Network on Cuba.
Tonight's Agenda:
7:30pm-9:00pm - Celeberating the 50th Anniversary of the Cuban Revolution and Cuba's Internationalism
Keynote Speaker for tonight is Isaac Saney.
Featured Panelists:
Edgar Torres (Bolivian Ambassador to Canada)
Juan Carlos Coronado (Charges d'Affaires - Venezuelan Embassy in Canada)
Marta Lilian Coto (FLMN Deputy for El Salvador to the Central American Parliament)
Norman Girvan (University of the West Indies)
Teresita Vicente (Cuban Ambassador to Canada)
With Special thanks to: St Mary's University, Canadian Union of Postal Workers, Public Service Alliance of Canada, Nova Scotia Cuba Association, Just Us! coffee roasters, Canadian Network on Cuba.
CURRENT PROGRAM
FRIDAY, OCTOBER 2, 2009 - NOTE: Friday night is free
Sobey Building, Scotia Bank Auditorium, Saint Mary's University (SMU), 903 Robie St., Halifax
Registration for Saturday: 6:00-7:00 PM
CELEBRATING THE 50TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE CUBAN REVOLUTION AND CUBA’S INTERNATIONALISM
7:00-9:00 PM
Welcome: Jay Hartling
Keynote: Isaac Saney (Dalhousie University)
Panelists: Edgar Torres (Bolivian Ambassador to Canada), Juan Carlos Coronado (Charges D'affaires, Venezuelan Embassy in Canada), Marta Lilian Coto (FMLN Deputy for El Salvador to the Central American Parliament), Norman Girvan (University of the West Indies), Teresita Vicente (Cuban Ambassador to Canada)
9:00 PM: RECEPTION - Sobey Building, Foyer
SATURDAY, OCTOBER 3
9:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Sobey Building
ALTERNATIVE FORMS OF INTEGRATION AND COOPERATION IN LATIN AMERICA AND THE CARIBBEAN
8:00 - 9:00 AM: Registration
9:00 – 9:15 AM: Opening Remarks – Colin Dodds (President, Saint Mary’s University)
9:15 - 10:15 AM: THE BOLIVARIAN ALLIANCE FOR THE AMERICAS - ALBA: THE PEOPLE'S TRADE AGREEMENT - Norman Girvan (University of the West Indies, Jamaica)
Moderator: Isaac Saney
10:15 – 10:30 AM: HEALTH BREAK
10:30 - 11:45 AM: THE MYTH OF CUBA’S “ISOLATION” - John Kirk (Dalhousie University) and Nchamah Miller (Universidad de Habana, Latin@s Canada)
Moderator: Bob Huish
11:45 – 12:45: LUNCH (from Cafe Aroma Latino) – vegetarian options will be provided
12:45 - 2:00 PM: RE-IMAGINING SOCIETY BY CONSTRUCTING POPULAR POWER - Julio Chavez (member of Lara state assembly, Venezuela and Head of Presidential Commission on Participatory Democracy and Popular Power)
Moderator: Jim Brittain
2:00 - 3:15 PM: REORGANIZING THE PLURI-NATIONAL STATE IN BOLIVIA - Alex Borda-Rodriguez and Edgar Torres
Moderator: Alain Boutet
3:15 – 3:30 PM: HEALTH BREAK
3:30 - 4:45 PM: EL SALVADOR - UN NUEVO AMANECER - Marta Lilian Coto (FMLN Deputy, PARLACEN, Head of FMLN's National Women's Commission, El Salvador)
Moderator: Tim Bood
4:45 – 5:00 PM: Closing Remarks
DON'T FORGET TO DANCE!!!!
SATURDAY, OCTOBER 3 - ¡VIVA CUBA! DANCE
Banook Canoe Club
17 Banook Ave, Dartmouth (a 15 min. walk from the ferry)
!Baile! con musica en vivo: Jeff Goodspeed and Latin Groove
Tickets are $15 in advance / at the door
Tickets are available in advance at the symposium, Outside the Lines Bookstore (6265 Quinpool Rd., 422-3544), by calling Tim Bood (492-3751) or by e-mailing transformationla@gmail.com
http://www.nscuba.org
Sobey Building, Scotia Bank Auditorium, Saint Mary's University (SMU), 903 Robie St., Halifax
Registration for Saturday: 6:00-7:00 PM
CELEBRATING THE 50TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE CUBAN REVOLUTION AND CUBA’S INTERNATIONALISM
7:00-9:00 PM
Welcome: Jay Hartling
Keynote: Isaac Saney (Dalhousie University)
Panelists: Edgar Torres (Bolivian Ambassador to Canada), Juan Carlos Coronado (Charges D'affaires, Venezuelan Embassy in Canada), Marta Lilian Coto (FMLN Deputy for El Salvador to the Central American Parliament), Norman Girvan (University of the West Indies), Teresita Vicente (Cuban Ambassador to Canada)
9:00 PM: RECEPTION - Sobey Building, Foyer
SATURDAY, OCTOBER 3
9:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Sobey Building
ALTERNATIVE FORMS OF INTEGRATION AND COOPERATION IN LATIN AMERICA AND THE CARIBBEAN
8:00 - 9:00 AM: Registration
9:00 – 9:15 AM: Opening Remarks – Colin Dodds (President, Saint Mary’s University)
9:15 - 10:15 AM: THE BOLIVARIAN ALLIANCE FOR THE AMERICAS - ALBA: THE PEOPLE'S TRADE AGREEMENT - Norman Girvan (University of the West Indies, Jamaica)
Moderator: Isaac Saney
10:15 – 10:30 AM: HEALTH BREAK
10:30 - 11:45 AM: THE MYTH OF CUBA’S “ISOLATION” - John Kirk (Dalhousie University) and Nchamah Miller (Universidad de Habana, Latin@s Canada)
Moderator: Bob Huish
11:45 – 12:45: LUNCH (from Cafe Aroma Latino) – vegetarian options will be provided
12:45 - 2:00 PM: RE-IMAGINING SOCIETY BY CONSTRUCTING POPULAR POWER - Julio Chavez (member of Lara state assembly, Venezuela and Head of Presidential Commission on Participatory Democracy and Popular Power)
Moderator: Jim Brittain
2:00 - 3:15 PM: REORGANIZING THE PLURI-NATIONAL STATE IN BOLIVIA - Alex Borda-Rodriguez and Edgar Torres
Moderator: Alain Boutet
3:15 – 3:30 PM: HEALTH BREAK
3:30 - 4:45 PM: EL SALVADOR - UN NUEVO AMANECER - Marta Lilian Coto (FMLN Deputy, PARLACEN, Head of FMLN's National Women's Commission, El Salvador)
Moderator: Tim Bood
4:45 – 5:00 PM: Closing Remarks
DON'T FORGET TO DANCE!!!!
SATURDAY, OCTOBER 3 - ¡VIVA CUBA! DANCE
Banook Canoe Club
17 Banook Ave, Dartmouth (a 15 min. walk from the ferry)
!Baile! con musica en vivo: Jeff Goodspeed and Latin Groove
Tickets are $15 in advance / at the door
Tickets are available in advance at the symposium, Outside the Lines Bookstore (6265 Quinpool Rd., 422-3544), by calling Tim Bood (492-3751) or by e-mailing transformationla@gmail.com
http://www.nscuba.org
SUGGESTED ACCOMMODATION:
Halifax:
Fresh Start B&B
2720 Gottingen St.
1 (888) 453-6616
http://www.bbcanada.com/2262.html
Garden South Park Inn
1263 South Park St.
1-877-414-8577
http://www.gardeninn.ns.ca/
Garden View Bed and Breakfast
6052 Williams St.
1-888-737-0778
http://www.novascotiabedandbreakfast.ca/index.php
The Commons Inn
5780 West St.
1-877-797-7999
http://www.commonsinn.ca/
Halifax Heritage Hostel
1253 Barrington St.
1-902-422-3863
http://www.hihostels.com/dba/hostels-HI---Halifax-011008.en.htm
http://www.hotwire.com/
Dartmouth:
Blockhouse Hill B&B
62 Wentworth St.
1-866-873-1699
http://www.blockhousehillbedandbreakfast.com/
http://www.dartmouthlodging.worldweb.com/BedBreakfasts/
There are a number of hotels across the bridge in Dartmouth:
Holiday Inn
Super 8
Comfort Inn
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