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| Volume 11, Issue 1 | Interchange | April 2001 |
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NGO self profile Oxfam Cuba ProgramIn response to a devastating economic crisis in Cuba, Oxfam America began in 1995 pilot initiatives for Cuban farmers to produce more food for domestic consumption. Since then Oxfam's program has become more comprehensive -- supporting organic production strategies, strengthening credit and service cooperatives and helping farmers take advantage of market opportunities. Oxfam America works closely with the National Association of Small Producers with agricultural projects in the provinces of Havana, Cienfuegos, Ciego de Avila, Sancti Spiritu, and Guantanamo. We also support community-based rehabilitation efforts in Havana through the Martin Luther King Center and the Cuban Council of Churches. The urban agriculture movement has been particularly successful with urban growers producing more than half of all the fresh produce consumed in Cuba. Over the past five years, Oxfam America has witnessed a remarkable turnaround--though far from complete--of Cuban agriculture primarily led by small farmers, agricultural cooperatives and urban growers. By promoting Cuban farmers' exchanges with Central American and U.S. small farmers, Oxfam has seen that some of the lessons learned in Cuba, for example in "green" pest control practices, can be successfully applied elsewhere. Oxfam America also advocates for policy change. U.S. sanctions have succeeded only in hurting the people of Cuba. Oxfam America has urged U.S. authorities to lift the embargo on food and medicine sales to Cuba, to eliminate the restrictions on humanitarian aid to Cuba and to allow U.S. citizens to visit Cuba. Cuba Program Officer: Minor Sinclair |
Belafonte Gives Concert for Center for Cuban StudiesHarry Belafonte, along with a seven piece band and four guests, donated an evening's performance at Lincoln Center's Avery Fisher Hall in New York City on March 26, to benefit the Center for Cuban Studies. The evening was hosted by actor Danny Glover, and included both old favorites (Day-O and Matilda) and surprises, such as Odetta and Richard Bono, contemporary Cameroonian singer and guitarist. The house was packed and almost as enthusiastic for Belafonte's words concerning the faulty logic of the Cuban embargo as for his music. The Center for Cuban Studies is located in New York City and houses a gallery of contemporary Cuban art. It sponsors trips to Cuba and publishes the quarterly Cuba Update. The Center sends many trips each year to Cuba. The remaining scheduled trips for 2001 are listed below. The cost of each trip is approximately $2000 from New York. Specialty Trips May 18 - May 26: Universal Health Care System
Cuba Update Trips May 4 - 12
The Center for Cuban Studies is at 124 West 23 rd St., New York, NY 10011, phone (212) 242-0559, www.cubanartspace.net, www.cubaupdate.org. |
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