The Militant(logo) 
    Vol.59/No.29           August 14, 1995 
 
 
Build On Cuba Lives Success  

More than 1,200 people from around the globe have gathered so far in Havana for the Cuba Lives youth festival. By traveling to Cuba and participating in the festival, they have dealt a blow to efforts by capitalists everywhere to isolate and slander Cuba. They have gone to Cuba because they want to find out for themselves the truth about a revolution that has stood up - despite immense pressures from imperialism - for the rights of workers and farmers everywhere in the world for 35 years.

During the festival, these youth will ask questions and exchange experiences with Cuban workers, farmers, and students, not only in Havana but throughout the island. They will see what Washington's travel ban tries to prevent them from seeing: that after more than 35 years, the majority of Cuban working people continue to stand up in defense of the hard-won dignity, sovereignty, and social gains made possible by their socialist revolution.

Youth from more economically developed capitalist countries will be impressed with this staying power of the revolution in the face of the extremely harsh economic difficulties Cubans have confronted in the past five years.

Youth from Mexico, Brazil, and other semicolonial countries ravaged by mass unemployment, disease, and increased police violence will see in the Cuban revolution an example of how workers and farmers can free themselves from the depression conditions imperialism has created for the overwhelming majority of people in the world.

Delegates returning from the youth festival will be eager to relate what they saw. Supporters of the revolution in every country have a golden opportunity to struggle alongside these young people to win even greater numbers to the defense of the Cuban revolution.

Now is an ideal time to start organizing events to greet returning delegates at airports, insuring there will be a presence in defense of their right to travel and as a way to get media coverage of their trips. To help them organize report-back meetings, which can be hosted by a broad range of sponsors: campus groups, unions, political organizations, and church groups. To make sure the articles they write appear in as many newspapers and magazines as possible. To get them the maximum number of radio and television interviews.

These activities will help build the regional actions against the U.S. government's anti-Cuba policies called for this October by the National Network on Cuba.

 
 
 
Front page (for this issue) | Home | Text-version home