Emergency Response for the Cuba Caravan!
Here's What You Can DO!
Most Recent Update: Tuesday, March 19, 1996
U.S and International Actions Called for March 22nd! Contact
the solidarity organization nearest you for local details!
See Also Action Updates updated
descritptions of ways you can get involved and help!
Act Now To Free The Medical Computers And End The Embargo
An International Emergency Call For Support
From
Pastors for Peace, INFOMED-USA and Global Exchange
(Cuba solidarity organizations in the United States)
March 5, 1996
Dear Friend: We urgently request your timely participation
in this crucial effort!
On January 31 and again on February 17, United States Customs
seized medical computers from INFOMED-IFCO/Pastors for Peace.
The 400 medical computers were destined for the Cuban medical
information system INFOMED through a coalition of Cuban churches.
This United Nations-sponsored program will eventually connect
every hospital and health clinic on the island to an on-line medical
information system. U.S. Customs agents claim that the shipment
of medical aid is a violation of the U.S. embargo against Cuba.
Among the seized computers were thirty-five donated by Canadian
organizations.
In response, five Pastors for Peace volunteers declared a "Fast
for Life" until the medical computers are released. Today
the fast entered its fourteenth day. The fasters are on a liquid
only diet, and are determined to continue the fast as long as
necessary.
We call on the international community to take a stand against
the inhumane and barbaric seizure of medical aid that would improve
the health care of 11 million Cubans:
- We request your participation in the international call for
demonstrations in front of U.S. embassies and consulates.
- We ask that you encourage members of your government and
well-known personalities to fax letters of protest to President
Clinton at 202-456-2461
- In addition, Global exchange and INFOMED-USA have
issued a specific international call to Cuba solidarity groups
and individuals committed to justice in Canada, Europe, South
America, Africa and Asia to pledge donations of computers
to Cuba to replace those seized by U.S. customs. One Cuba
organization in Norway has pledged to send 250 state-or-the-art
computers for this purpose. We applaud this effort. We believe
it is crucial that within the next week, Cuba organizations and
outraged individuals world-wide openly pledge to collect and
ship as many computers as possible for Cuba's health system--at
least 10 to 50 per group! We hope that every organization in
each country will be able to pledge to donate at least one!
We in the U.S. will continue the struggle for the return of
the seized medical computers and their delivery to Cuba.
Please express your computer pledges (IBM type computers 286
or better with modem) of solidarity with Cuba to:
Pedro Urra
INFOMED
Calle 27 # 110, e M/N
Vedado, La Habana, Cuba CP10400
FAX : 33-3063
e-mail: urra@infomed.hin.gn.apc.org
Phone: 32-1991 jmellor@igc.apc.org
Additionally, FAX Global Exchange at 415-255-7498 with your
response to this request immediately or send e-mail to: juan@cubasolidarity.net
and dana@cubasolidarity.net.
Let us know how many computers can you pledge. We will assist
in any possible way with information on how to deliver your donation.
The lives of the Cuban people and the lives of U.S. friends
of Cuba are depending on your support!
Sincerely,
Pamela Montanaro, Global Exchange
Dr. Juan Reardon, INFOMED-USA
Tom Hansen, Pastors for Peace
For more information on INFOMED, Pastors for Peace, Global Exchange and other
relevant programs contact: Cuba Solidarity Response Home Page on the World Wide
Web: www.cubasolidarity.net
...or.. Please let us know if you would prefer us to send background
materials to you by EMAIL, fax or regular mail as an alternative
to the Web
- Contact your Congressional representatives. Ask them to vote
against the Helms/Burton bill, and call on the White House and
Treasury Department to release the computers and end the embargo.
Contact President Clinton and the Sec. of the Treasury. Ask your
city council, state representatives, pastor, union rep and other
prominent people to do the same. Tell President Clinton you will
support his veto of the Helms/Burton bill. and you want him to
release the medical computers for the Infomed system in Cuba,
and to end the embargo once and for all.
- You can See and print out a list
of their offices, names, addresses and phone numbers here.
- If you can volunteer and/or can provide other resources,
phone the US-Cuba Friendship Society of San Diego at 619/505-9203
When leaving a message, sure to tell us how to reach you! (If
you have trouble reaching someone at the above number, check
out the Emergency Response Network organizations
by region page for other phone numbers
- Refer people, press contacts, government officials and/or
organizations that might be able to help. If you'd be willing
to speak with them yourself first in addition to referring them,
that would be most helpful. email
the referrals to Pastors for Peace's main office in Minneapolis:
p4p@igc.apc.org, or call
them (612) 870-7121 Please include your name and phone number
in the message you send to Pastors for Peace, and please describe
what (if any) relationship you have with the person(s) you are
referring. (See also the list of Emergency
Response Network organizations by region for local phone numbers).
- Can we send a speaker to your organization? Do you belong
to a church, union, community organization, club, campus association,
etc.? If so, contact the of Emergency
Response Network organization nearest you! If there aren't
any organizations included in the web page list that are near
you, contact Pastors for Peace, and they might be able to refer
you to someone in your area who is available to make presentations.
- Contribute Funds, collect contributions and organize fund-raisers!
Make checks payable to IFCO/Pastors For Peace.
- Distribute the contents of this Web Site! Print it out, photocopy it, hand
it out, mail it out, email notices to all your contacts telling them where
to find it!
- Ask your city council to write a letter or a resolution deploring
this seizure of humanitarian aid, and demanding that the computers
be release and permitted to be delivered to the Cuban medical
facilities to which they were donated by people throughout the
US. Ask them to send the resolution to the Dept. of the Treasury,
your senators and congressional representatives, to President
Clinton, and to the other government agencies that we've listed
on the government agencies and numbers
page.
- Donate computers and medical supplies! In the San Francisco
Bay Area call (510) 273-9199, or see. Emergency
Response Network organizations by region for local phone
numbers.
- Are You In San Diego?!! Here are things we especially need
YOU to do!
- Loan Office Space for volunteers' use.
- Lend the use of your cell phone or fax
- Volunteer your time
- Provide housing for volunteers
- Loan the use of a car to volunteers from out of town or volunteer
as a driver to and from events.
- Can you provide use of your phone(s)? especially: Can you
provide use of an office with a number of phones?
- Provide use of a photocopier.
