Tuesday, July 15, 2008
Monday, July 14, 2008
MEDIA ADVISORY
July 14, 2008 — for immediate release
CONTACTS:
In McAllen, TX: Ellen Bernstein: 646/319-5902, 646/319-5904
In New York: Lucia Bruno: 212/926-5757, 347/423-4330
PASTORS FOR PEACE CARAVAN COMPLETES ITS 19TH CHALLENGE
OF THE US BLOCKADE AGAINST CUBA:
"DETAINED" COMPUTERS RELEASED BY US AUTHORITIES AND SENT ON TO CUBA
Members of the 19th US/Cuba Friendshipment Caravan returned to the US today after challenging the US blockade on travel to Cuba and delivering nearly 100 tons of humanitarian aid to that island nation. When they crossed through Mexico and reached the US border at Hidalgo, TX today, the members of the caravan were processed through US Immigration and Customs.
Responding to constant pressure from communities all across the US, US officials then returned to the caravan the 32 computers that had been seized on July 3.
"It’s difficult for even the US government to enforce the blockade against us, since they know that we are acting on the basis of our moral principles -- principles which are supported by the great majority of the US people," said Rev. Thomas Smith, president of the board of directors of IFCO/Pastors for Peace.
Determined caravanistas then hand-carried the 32 computers across the International Bridge from Hidalgo, Texas into Reynosa, Mexico.
The computers will be sent from Reynosa on to Cuba, which means that every item of the nearly 100 tons of humanitarian aid collected by the caravan from all across the US will in fact be donated to Cuba.
"We appreciate that the computers were released today. But our work could not be complete until we knew for sure that the computers would be on their way to their intended home," said Rev. Lucius Walker, Jr., executive director of IFCO/Pastors for Peace. "In fact, even now, our work is not complete — not until this mean-spirited, foolish, petty, counterproductive, immoral blockade against our Cuban sisters and brothers is ended."
The caravan program in Cuba included visits to different provinces, homes for the elderly, and health care sites. Caravanistas also visited the Latin American School of Medicine, where young people from 30 nations of the Americas and Africa are studying medicine on full scholarship in order to serve as physicians in their home countries. More than 100 of the students in this program are from medically under-served communities in the US.
Caravanistas are already planning for next year’s 20th Friendshipment Caravan to Cuba, which is expected to have broad participation, including a large youth contingent to participate in next year’s US/Cuba ‘Hip Hop Exchange."
Pastors for Peace is a project of the Interreligious Foundation for Community Organization (IFCO), which has been working for 40 years in support of social justice. More information about the caravan and photo images are available at www.pastorsforpeace.org.
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Caravan is at the Texas -Mexico Border
The Caravan has reached the Texas -Mexico border. Stay tuned for more details.
Sunday, July 13, 2008
PASTORS FOR PEACE RETURNS FROM CUBA MONDAY JULY 14
Spanish Press Release follows
MEDIA ADVISORY
July 13, 2008 -- for immediate release
CONTACT: In Texas: Ellen Bernstein 646/319-5902, 646/319-5904
In New York: Lucia Bruno 212/926-5757, 347/423-4330
PASTORS FOR PEACE CARAVAN RETURNING FROM CUBA MONDAY JULY 14 TO REQUEST RELEASE OF SEIZED COMPUTERS DESTINED FOR CUBA
The Pastors for Peace US/Cuba Friendshipment Caravan will return to the US on Monday July 14 after delivering nearly 100 tons of humanitarian aid to Cuba, and will request the return of the 32 donated computers for Cuba that were seized from their caravan by US officials on July 3.
The members of the caravan had an eight-day educational program in Cuba that included visits to different provinces, to homes for the elderly, and health care facilities. They also visited the Latin American School of Medicine, where students from 30 nations are studying free of charge to be doctors, in order to serve their communities in their home countries. More than 100 of those students are from the US.
The caravan is returning to the US on the same day as the Venceremos Brigade and several other organizations engaging in challenging US restrictions on travel to Cuba.
"We will continue to challenge this dumb, foolish, petty, counterproductive, mean-spirited, and immoral blockade until it is ended," said Rev. Lucius Walker, Jr., executive director of IFCO/Pastors for Peace.
Pastors for Peace is a project of the Interreligious Foundation for Community Organization (IFCO), which has a 40-year history of work in favor of social justice. More information about the caravan and photos can be found at www.pastorsforpeace.org.
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COMUNICADO A LA PRENSA
13 JULIO 2008 -- INMEDIATA
CONTACTOS: EN LA FRONTERA: ELLEN BERNSTEIN 646/319-5902, 646/319-5904
EN NUEVA YORK: LUCIA BRUNO 212/926-5757, 347/423-4330
CARAVANA DE LOS PASTORES POR LA PAZ REGRESANDO DE CUBA LUNES 14 JULIO:
PEDIRAN LA DEVOLUCION DE LAS COMPUTADORAS DETENIDAS
La Caravana de Amistad EEUU/Cuba de los Pastores por la Paz regresara a los EEUU el lunes 14 julio despues de entregar casi 100 toneladas de ayuda humanitaria a Cuba, y va a pedir la devolucion de los 32 computadoras detenidas de la caravana por los funcionarios de los EEUU el 3 de julio.
Los miembros de la caravana tuvieron un programa educacional de 8 dias en Cuba lo cual incluyo visitas a diferentes provincias, hogares para los ancianos, y policlinicos. Tambien visitaron la Escuela LatinoAmericana de Medicina, donde estudiantes de 30 paises estan estudiando medicina gratuito para poder servir como medicos en sus propias comunidades pobres. Mas que 100 de los estudiantes de la ELAM vienen de los Estados Unidos.
La Caravana regresa a los EEUU en el mismo dia que la Brigada Venceremos y unas otras organizaciones desafiando las restricciones EEUU contra viajar a Cuba.
"Seguiremos desafiando este bloqueo tonto, ignorante, mal y inmoral, hasta que termine," dijo el Rvdo Lucius Walker, director executiva de IFCO/Pastores por la Paz.
Pastores por la Paz es un proyecto de la Fundacion interreligiosa para Organizacion Comunitaria (IFCO) que ha luchado para la justicia social por 40 anos. Hay mas informacion y fotos en www.pastorsforpeace.org.
Thursday, July 10, 2008
Rev. Lucius Walker Recieves Key to City of Matanzas
From Radio Havana Cuba
Reverend Lucius Walker Receives Key to the City of Matanzas
Matanzas, July 9 (RHC-Granma)-The Executive Director of the Inter-Religious Organization for Community Organization, IFCO, Reverend Lucius Walter received on Tuesday the key to the city of Matanzas for his bravery, solidarity and dignity in favor of breaking Washington's economic blockade against Cuba.
In statements to the press referring to the fight for the release of the five Cuban political prisoners incarcerated in the US, Walker pointed out that the members of the religious/solidarity organization Pastors for Peace are very active in the most important committees within the US in support of the Cuban Five.
"We participate in all the activities, propaganda, demonstrations and rallies, calling on the conscious of people in the US and we also include information on the five in the work we do as Pastors for Peace through the distribution of materials and explanation on the situation of the five anti terrorist fighters", said Lucius Walker.
He stressed that they have encouraged many Pastors and Churches to be active in defense of the rights of the Cuban Five, urged them to visit them in prison and carry out community work and in the mass media to tell the truth on what "we consider is an atrocity of the US government".
The key to the city of Matanzas was given to Lucius Walker by the Vice President of the Municipal Assembly in Matanzas, Omar Estevez expressing that the city recognizes in him a friend that consolidates concepts like peace, solidarity and love.
Also present in the activity were the first secretary of the Communist Party in Matanzas, Pedro Betancourt, the Secretary of the Cuban Council of Churches, Pablo Oden Marichal and the Rector of the city's Theology and Evangelical Seminary, Reinerio Arce among other religious and government officials.
Reverend Lucius Walker Receives Key to the City of Matanzas
Matanzas, July 9 (RHC-Granma)-The Executive Director of the Inter-Religious Organization for Community Organization, IFCO, Reverend Lucius Walter received on Tuesday the key to the city of Matanzas for his bravery, solidarity and dignity in favor of breaking Washington's economic blockade against Cuba.
In statements to the press referring to the fight for the release of the five Cuban political prisoners incarcerated in the US, Walker pointed out that the members of the religious/solidarity organization Pastors for Peace are very active in the most important committees within the US in support of the Cuban Five.
"We participate in all the activities, propaganda, demonstrations and rallies, calling on the conscious of people in the US and we also include information on the five in the work we do as Pastors for Peace through the distribution of materials and explanation on the situation of the five anti terrorist fighters", said Lucius Walker.
He stressed that they have encouraged many Pastors and Churches to be active in defense of the rights of the Cuban Five, urged them to visit them in prison and carry out community work and in the mass media to tell the truth on what "we consider is an atrocity of the US government".
The key to the city of Matanzas was given to Lucius Walker by the Vice President of the Municipal Assembly in Matanzas, Omar Estevez expressing that the city recognizes in him a friend that consolidates concepts like peace, solidarity and love.
Also present in the activity were the first secretary of the Communist Party in Matanzas, Pedro Betancourt, the Secretary of the Cuban Council of Churches, Pablo Oden Marichal and the Rector of the city's Theology and Evangelical Seminary, Reinerio Arce among other religious and government officials.
Pastors for Peace Visits Central Cuba
Pastors for Peace Visit Central Cuba
SANCTI SPIRITUS, Cuba, July 9 (acn) Members of the US Pastors for Peace Caravan visited historical places in central Sancti-Spíritus province, including sites where guerrilla commander Ernesto Che Guevara led some of his battles.
The group, made up by 40 friends of Cuba, placed flowers at the cemetery of the Martyrs of the Rebel Army’s Ciro Redondo Column 8 and by the bust of Che Guevara, located in the area where the Rebel Army used to operate during the revolutionary struggle.
The activists also met with members of the Association of veterans of the Cuban Revolution, who shared their experiences from the days of the uprising against the Fulgencio Batista’s bloody dictatorship.
In order to learn more about social and economic development in Cuban rural areas, the visitors exchanged with members of a farmer cooperative and enjoyed Cuban traditional music.
Tomorrow, they will visit the old colonial section of Trinidad, the third villa founded by the Spaniards in Cuba, declared World Heritage Site by UNESCO
The 19th Pastors for Peace Friendshipment Caravan to Cuba arrived in Havana July 5, headed by the Reverend Lucius Walker, who has traditionally led the humanitarian action. The group is made up of over one hundred activists from the United States, Canada, Mexico, and some European countries who, in open defiance of Washington´s over-45-year economic, financial and commercial blockade of Cuba continue to bring humanitarian aid for the Cuban people.
Pastors for Peace, a group with the US Inter-religious Foundation for Community Organization (IFCO), has been working for social justice for over 40 years and has taken humanitarian aid to Cuba since 1992.
SANCTI SPIRITUS, Cuba, July 9 (acn) Members of the US Pastors for Peace Caravan visited historical places in central Sancti-Spíritus province, including sites where guerrilla commander Ernesto Che Guevara led some of his battles.
The group, made up by 40 friends of Cuba, placed flowers at the cemetery of the Martyrs of the Rebel Army’s Ciro Redondo Column 8 and by the bust of Che Guevara, located in the area where the Rebel Army used to operate during the revolutionary struggle.
The activists also met with members of the Association of veterans of the Cuban Revolution, who shared their experiences from the days of the uprising against the Fulgencio Batista’s bloody dictatorship.
In order to learn more about social and economic development in Cuban rural areas, the visitors exchanged with members of a farmer cooperative and enjoyed Cuban traditional music.
Tomorrow, they will visit the old colonial section of Trinidad, the third villa founded by the Spaniards in Cuba, declared World Heritage Site by UNESCO
The 19th Pastors for Peace Friendshipment Caravan to Cuba arrived in Havana July 5, headed by the Reverend Lucius Walker, who has traditionally led the humanitarian action. The group is made up of over one hundred activists from the United States, Canada, Mexico, and some European countries who, in open defiance of Washington´s over-45-year economic, financial and commercial blockade of Cuba continue to bring humanitarian aid for the Cuban people.
Pastors for Peace, a group with the US Inter-religious Foundation for Community Organization (IFCO), has been working for social justice for over 40 years and has taken humanitarian aid to Cuba since 1992.
Wednesday, July 9, 2008
Jesse Helms and the Pastors for Peace???!!!
We just came across a blog whose entry about Pastors for Peace caused us to do a double take! Thanks for your insight and support eprof22!
Jesse Helms and the Pastors for Peace!
By eProf2(eProf2)
I've been following the Pastors for Peace caravan heading to Cuba for the past two weeks. This dedicated group of volunteers is trying their best to bring humanitarian supplies to the Cuban people bypassing both the US and Cuban ...eProf2 - http://eprof22.blogspot.com/
Jesse Helms and the Pastors for Peace!
By eProf2(eProf2)
I've been following the Pastors for Peace caravan heading to Cuba for the past two weeks. This dedicated group of volunteers is trying their best to bring humanitarian supplies to the Cuban people bypassing both the US and Cuban ...eProf2 - http://eprof22.blogspot.com/
Monday, July 7, 2008
News From the Caravan in Cuba
Pastors for Peace Ratify Solidarity with Cuban Five HAVANA, Cuba, July 7 (acn) Rev. Lucius Walker, leader of the Pastors for Peace US religious group in solidarity with Cuba, reiterated on Sunday their support of the cause of five Cuban anti-terrorist fighters unjustly imprisoned in the United States. |
“We are fully committed to the cause of Antonio Guerrero, Fernando Gonzalez, Gerardo Hernandez, Ramon Labañino and Rene Gonzalez,” Rev.Walter told ACN. |
Friday, July 4, 2008
Latest Caravan Update
After crossing the border into Mexico, the caravan is on the road again -- headed for the port city of Tampico where they will help load their precious cargo onto a freighter bound for Cuba.
They travel with most of our humanitarian aid - and are committed to regaining possession of the computers that were seized at the US-Mexico border as soon as possible.
This will be a long and arduous day of travel and work, yet participants report that everyone is excited about the next leg of the trip.
On July 5th the Caravan will travel to Cuba for an educational program there.
Stay tuned for updates!
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