CUBA For me, the obsession has cooled but I still support the Cuban revolution.

Like some of my activist friends, Cuba occupied at least 94% of my brain cells at any one time during the 1990's.

On vacation in Merida, Mexico in 1992, I saw an advertisement for a cheap ($200) 3-day package tour to Cuba and thought ...."What the heck, why not?" Three days in Havana changed my life.....I fell in love with those crazy Cubans and their quirky revolution.

Back in Seattle, some people were busy organizing a "Friendshipment Caravan" to Cuba. This was a group of activists trying to break the US Government blockade by means of carrying illegal aid to Cuba while challenging the US Treasury Department to stop or arrest them for doing so. It seemed a win/win situatin for the protestors: if the government arrested them, it would be great publicity and make the government look silly for arresting Americans for the "crime" of carrying bibles and medical supplies to the soicalist island. If the government let them pass, it would show that the blockade was only hype, and Cuba would get the aid. The Friendshipment Caravan got stopped at the border, a school bus and it's occupants were held captive for 22 days, and it was a great publicity success for the anti-blockade movement.

I made my second trip to Cuba with the Third Friendshipment Caravan in February 1993. Vehicles traveled along 13 U.S. routes starting in Canada and northern US cities with events in 10 cities. A Canadian contingent of about 20 entered the U.S. from Vancouver, Montreal, Winnipeg and Windsor to show their solidarity. Thirteen official representatives of European solidarity groups joined the caravan. About 250 drivers delivered 150 tons of aid, including a satellite dish that was initially denied entry into Mexico by U.S. Customs officials. The dish will be used to establish live communications between the US and Cuba.

After the other carvanistas left, I stayed on in Cuba for three months. I lived with my American friend Chris Martin for awhile, then with a Cuban family. I volunteered with ACLIFIM, the national diabled people's organization, and also at Hermanos Ameijeiras, a huge hospital right on the Malecon in Havana. I had a great time.

Back in Seattle, I stayed busy through the 1990's with theSeattle-Cuba Friendship Committee doing solidarity work. They're a dedicated group and still at it.

There are many other great Internet resources on Cuba:
Cubaweb Cuba's National Web Site
Links to other Cuban web sites
Cuban Solidarity around the world
Granma International weekly online newspaper (pretty heavy on the jargon)
Infomed: sending computers to the Cuban Ministry of Health

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