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Message from veteran Cuba defender Karen Wald on donations to Cuba The NNOC statement's focus on helping Cuba by working to end the blockade is one I share. But in addition, I would urge people who want to make donations, to send them only to organizations (religious, medical or otherwise) whose track record of giving aid as solidarity is well established. While many of those who are now taking up collections to aid Cubans affected by the storms are completely reputable, there are also some that seem to be jumping on the bandwagon to pursue their own agendas or fill their coffers. If you don't have first-hand knowledge of an organization's current relation to Cuba, check it out before sending them a check. |
Dear NNOC members and friends,
In the past weeks, Cuba has suffered tremendous damage due to Hurricanes Gustav and Ike. More than 300,000 houses and other structures have been destroyed or damaged and the United Nations estimates losses of between $3 and $4 billion.
Due to Cuba's superior natural disaster preparedness system, over 2.5 million people were evacuated and only 5 people have lost their lives.
The U.S. response to this devastation has been cruel and insulting. Just look at the U.S. response to Katrina and try to seriously consider agreeing to send a "Disaster Assistance Response Team" to Cuba as Lincoln Diaz-Balart demanded. Secretary of State Rice cynically stated that. "I don't think that the lifting of the embargo would be wise". The U.S. State Department's only offer of assistance was $100,000; less than $1 for each destroyed home. Naturally the Cuban Ministry of Foreign Affairs responded "if the government of the United States is really willing to cooperate with the Cuban people in face of the tragedy of the hurricane, it is requested to allow the sale to Cuba of those materials considered indispensable and to suspend the restrictions that prevent U.S. companies from offering private commercial credits to our country for the purchase of food in the United States."
Now is the time for all of us to urge members of Congress to lift the restrictions of travel, commerce, and trade between the United States and Cuba. We must all contact members of Congress, Senate, and the White House and demand that all restrictions on travel and remittances to Cuba immediately end. The phone number for Congress and Senate is 202-224-3121; the White House comment line is 202-456-1111. Call now!
Make a tax deductible donation to organizations with a history of providing aid to Cuba. IFCO/Pastors for Peace has established a Hurricane Relief Fund. For other organizations through which humanitarian assistance may be channeled go to is Democracy in Americas.
As an organization and as individuals who have long supported Cuban sovereignty we echo the statement of the Foreign Ministry: "Cuba will go forward. No hurricane, blockade or aggression will be able to prevent it." Now more than ever we must join our brothers and sisters from all over the world and demonstrate our solidarity with Cuba.
NNOC co-chairs,
Louis Head, Ignacio Meneses, Banbose Shango, Sobukwe Shukura, Nalda Vigezzi