Madrid/This week, campaigns in support of Cuba by leftist organizations that support the Cuban regime from Europe have intensified.
Non-governmental organizations, city councils and union groups in Spain, as well as political groups in Portugal, attribute the island’s energy crisis to the US embargo, ignoring that the economic and political crisis suffered by Cuba was already deep before the pressure measures adopted this year by Washington against the regime.
These aids They represent a specific relief, more symbolic than practical, for certain Cuban communities or institutions, mostly channeled by state entities, and their scope is limited given the severity of the crisis that the country is going through.
From the Basque Country, the pro-Castro association Euskadi-Cuba – founded in 1989 with the objective of “supporting the Cuban Revolution” and “defending its model” – has coordinated a network collection of materials and funds in collaboration with unions, political parties and social organizations in the region. According to data released by the associationthe campaign “Argia eta Indarra Kubarentzat. Against the Blockade, Energy for Cuba” has raised 245,000 euros since February for the purchase of solar systems for Cuban health centers.
The campaign “Argia eta Indarra Kubarentzat. Against the Blockade, Energy for Cuba” has raised 245,000 for the purchase of solar systems for Cuban health centers
In the same Basque region, other organizations with a leftist profile have collected food, hygienic-sanitary products, educational materials and sports equipment, which are being sent to the Island in maritime containers. Among the entities are the ELA unions and the Euskadi Workers’ Commissions, as well as left-wing parties and movements such as Podemos, EH Bildu, Sortu, Ezker Anitza-IU and others.
This week the first three containers have been loaded and others are expected to be loaded next week. The different Basque campaigns are being channeled by the Euskadi-Cuba association. The note does not explain how this aid will be channeled once it arrives on the Island, but it is understood that the Cuban State will be in charge of distributing it.
Also in Barcelona, this Saturday became known a campaign promoted by the Casal d’Amistat amb Cuba of Badalona, – an organization that supports the Cuban regime and denounces the US embargo since the late 90s –, together with the Fons Català de Cooperació al Desenvolupament – a network of local governments that seeks to channel public resources in order to support international solidarity projects –, to finance the installation of photovoltaic systems in health centers in the province of Santiago de Cuba, in the rural hospital of Songo-La Maya, in addition to nine medical offices and a mother-child home.
As reported The Vanguardsix Catalan town councils have joined the campaign: Manresa, Caldes de Montbui, Celrà, Mollet del Vallès, Sant Adrià de Besòs and Vilafranca del Penedès, and have already committed 20,000 euros to the project.
10,000 euros will be allocated to the “Energy for Life” campaign, aimed at the Island, promoted through the Andalusian Fund of Municipalities for International Solidarity
New aid has also been approved from Andalusia. The City Council of Córdoba announced this Friday a package of 62,000 euros destined for cooperation and humanitarian aid projects in Mozambique, Cuba and Lebanon. Of that amount, 10,000 euros will be allocated to the “Energy for Life” campaign, aimed at the Island, promoted through the Andalusian Fund of Municipalities for International Solidarity (Famsi), with the aim of installing solar energy systems in Cuban health centers and social services.
The municipal delegate for Cooperation and Solidarity, Narci Ruiz, pointed out that the initiative seeks to “guarantee the operation of essential infrastructure for the most vulnerable population in the face of the difficulties of the Cuban electrical system.”
On the other hand, the Cuba-Portugal Friendship Association, from the Portuguese city of Palmela, prepare the shipment of a container with school supplies, children’s clothing and toys, school furniture, articulated beds and geriatric equipment, non-perishable food, which are “the fruit of hundreds of donations from all over the country.”
The shipment was coordinated with the Cuban Institute of Friendship with the People (Icap) – an entity sanctioned by Washington for “supporting Cuban intelligence and counterintelligence activities” – and with the Ministry of Foreign Trade and Foreign Investment of Cuba, ensuring that the aid “responds to the needs identified by Cuban institutions.”
João Luís Gonçalves de Frias Terreiro, Vice President of the Portuguese association, recalled that the initiative is a political message that represents “a demonstration that Cuba is not alone and that it continues to count on the friendship and support of many men and women in Portugal.”
This would be the second container sent by the association, and they promise to continue. The activist pointed out that among the institutions that most supported the shipment were the Palmela City Council, the Portuguese Communist Party and the General Confederation of Portuguese Workers.
