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Columbia Hosts Pastors for Peace "Caravanistas" from NYC

From July 3 through August 3, 2009, Pastors for Peace is mobilizing its 20th Friendshipment Caravan to Cuba. The Caravan to Cuba, which is now an annual event, is a response to the U.S. government's nearly 50-year embargo of Cuba, which blocks trade of food and agricultural products, medical supplies and equipment, and other commodities between the two nations.

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Dear friends,

 I wanted to thank you for your work and support to make the 20th Pastors for Peace Caravan to Cuba a success. 

We had about 60 folks attend our delicious rice and beans dinner prepared by our own members! We raised close to $1,000 (including the $200 pledged from our Treasury). Nancy, thanks for the rice; Marina for the salad, Michael for the drinks, Francine for the desserts, Ray for getting the utensils and for agreeing to MC the program, Millie for the CD's of Cuban music. Thanks also to Bette Hoover for opening her home for a bunch of the Caravanistas. We sent them off late this morning, after feeding them some healthy and not so healthy food. It was great to be a part of this travel challenge.

 Let Cuba Live!!

 Leslie

Thanks for joining us to welcome the “caravanistas” on their way to Cuba.They will challenge the U.S. blockade by bringing humanitarian aid, solidarity, and friendship to our friends in Cuba .

The event was Co-sponsored by:Howard County Friends of Latin America (HoCoFoLA), the Baltimore-Matanzas Sister City Association and the Maryland-Cuba Sister City and The Maryland-Cuba Friendship Coalition.

Pastors for Peace Returns Victorious from Cuba Travel Challenge

Press Advisory July 28, 2007

Attended Graduation of US Medical Students and

Delivered 90 Tons of Aid 

"Our faith calls us to resist any law preventing us from our biblical mandate to love our neighbor." 

More than 100 exhilarated members of Pastors for Peace returned to the US after spending eight days in Cuba, where they delivered 90 tons of humanitarian aid and attended the graduation of eight US students who completed medical school on full scholarship at the Latin American School of Medicine in Havana.

According to Rev. Lucius Walker, executive director of IFCO/Pastors for Peace, the group re-entered the US via Hidalgo,Texas on Saturday morning July 28, not knowing if they would face an increased level of harassment at the border. In previous years, federal agents have tried to intimidate the Caravan with threats of prosecution and seizure of humanitarian aid.

Pastors for Peace.

We just finished sending the two "caravanistas" of Pastors for Peace: Daniel and John. This was the 18th time we have hosted them here in Maryland. It feels so good to be part of this effort that is directed to changing US policy towards Cuba. Our basic call, in this case, is for the right to self determination of the people of Cuba! As we can see in Iraq, democracy cannot be imposed by war and occupation or even by overthrowing governments that the US government does not like!

The event last night went very well. We had lots of food and lots of fun! We collected over $300 that will be sent to Pastors for Peace. Ruth knows that they would like to receive that money ASAP since they put so much of the organizing funds up front.

Here are some pictures of the event which shows our "beehive" at work!!








Thank you all. It takes all of us working together to make this happen. The Columbia United Christian Church was there, once again, to provide us that wonderful space! Check the web site in a couple of days for a short film clip taken at our event.

Also, please read the Action Alert from Pastors for Peace on the aid that is being detained at the Canadian Border by "Homeland Security Officials," while they investigate it's security threat to the US. Isn't it amazing that breast pumps can be considered very dangerous devices?

As one of our guests from the Latin America Working Group told us last night, our calls and actions count. Please take a few minutes to call (202) 224-3121 to voice your opinion. The offices of the Senate and House will be open next Monday and Tuesday after 2:00 PM. For more congressional information on Cuba check www.lawg.org

IFCO/Pastors for Peace Action Alert

Call your Senators and Representatives  and
Email Your Senators http://www.senate.gov/  and Representatives http://www.house.gov/writerep/ Now and Monday!
 
Homeland SecurityOfficials "Detain" Medical Supplies Destined for Cuba at Maine/Québec Border Despite Earlier Successful Crossings Today With Five Tons of Medical Aid Collected by Canadians for Cuba.

The aid collected in Québec by the Caravane d'amitié Québec-Cuba and destined for maternity clinics and nursing homes in Cuba, included a breast pump for nursing mothers, stethoscopes, used eyeglasses, a Physicians Desk Reference (PDR) and surgical gowns.

Pastors for Peace spent six hours in a standoff with Homeland Security attempting to negotiate passage of the medical aid before the shipment was detained for thirty days to investigate it's security threat to the U.S.