Interreligious Group to Deliver Aid from Cuba to Communities

Interreligious Group to Deliver Aid from Cuba to Communities throughout the US

Contact 212/926-5757
IFCO/Pastors for Peace
http://www.ifconews.org

July 28 2003

Interreligious Group to Deliver Aid from Cuba to
Communities throughout the US

The 14th US-Cuba Friendshipment caravan, organized by
IFCO/Pastors for Peace, after successfully delivering
80 tons of humanitarian aid to Cuban schools, churches,
hospitals, and senior centers and other facilities,
will attempt on July 29 to cross the US-Mexico border
carrying aid and products manufactured in Cuba. The
products are destined to be delivered to communities in
the US. The caravan will attempt to deliver the Cuban-
made aid as a challenge to the US blockade which
prohibits normal trade between US and Cuba.

The aid consists of a solar-panel for a Middle School
in Buffalo NY to provide solar power electricity, other
goods include coffee, honey and bee pollen products to
be donated to homeless shelters in Wisconsin and other
community organizations across the US. These donations
are a gift from the people of Cuba to the people of the
United States, as a symbol of good will and friendship.

The 14th US-Cuba Friendshipment caravan will also
challenge the travel blockade that the US imposes on
its citizens that wish to travel to Cuba. More than
100 caravan participants traveled to Cuba without
seeking a US Treasury Dept license. They are joined in
this challenge by the over 80 members of this year’s
Venceremos Brigade delegation, which will return to the
US on August 4, walking over the Peace Bridge to
Buffalo, NY.

As part of the embargo enforcement, the US not only
limits travel by US citizens but also licenses specific
shipments of minuscule quantities of humanitarian aid
while depriving the people of Cuba needed medicines,
food, educational materials and technology through
normal commercial trade. "The US government uses
licenses to paint a pretty face on its genocidal
policy. As people of faith and conscience, it is our
duty to resist and expose this cruel contradiction,"
declared Rev. Lucius Walker, Jr., Executive Director
and founder of IFCO, a 36-year old ecumenical agency.

"IFCO/Pastors for Peace rejects this licensing system
as both immoral and illegal. It is immoral because it
endangers the lives of Cubans and inflicts suffering on
innocent children, as well as adults. It is illegal
under international law because it uses a sanction to
be imposed only in time of war against a declared enemy
in order to force another nation to change its
government. Licensing is also unconstitutional because
it requires people of faith to submit their acts of
conscience and friendship to government licensing, in
violation of our right to freedom of religious
expression, political though, association and travel,"
continued Walker.

Since 1992, IFCO/Pastors for Peace has delivered more
than 2,250 tons of urgently needed assistance to the
Cuban people without seeking a US Treasury license.

"Let us not love in word: but in deed and in truth." 1
John 3:18

IFCO/Pastors for Peace 402 W 145th Street, New York, NY
10031 212-926-5757; fax: 212-926-5842; web:
http://www.ifconews.org