Letter

Campaigning against US blockade of Cuba

Dear healthmatters — Your readers may be interested to hear of the US-Cuba Friendship Caravan, organised by the Minneapolis-based group Pastors for Peace, which will be setting out this month to collect 200 tons of medical equipment and medicines on 14 routes throughout the US.

On 12 November the caravan lead off a national march to the White House demanding an end to the US blockade against Cuba. The march was seen in the US as a major challenge to President Clinton’s use of hunger and healthcare as legitimate political weapons.

An end to the 33-year-old US blockade is crucial. In 1993 the US tightened its economic grip on Cuba, despite an 84-4 vote against it in the United Nations. Now, any ship docking in Cuba is refused entry to the US for 6 months. The US has also stopped other countries exporting medical goods to Cuba if they contain even a tiny component made by a US company. It aims to bring down the Cuban government by starving the people and crippling their health system.

Myself and Sarah Podro will be the only two participants from the UK in the convoy, and we will publicise the US situation as widely as possible when we return to the UK.

To participate in the caravan, we each need to raise £1,500. If you would like to make a contribution it would be greatly appreciated, and we will provide you with a written report on what happens.

Please consider sending a donation to help out.