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The Cuba Advocate

About Me

The Cuba Advocate newsletter was first published in March 1991 as a joint effort of the Colorado Hands Off Cuba Coalition and the U.S.-Cuba Friendship Society of San Diego. Even though the format is now electronic rather than print, the original aim -- to advance the cause of improved relations between the United States and Cuba -- remains the same.

The Cuba Advocate has a public interest agenda. We advocate ending the U.S. economic blockade and travel ban against Cuba, restoring full diplomatic relations, and closing the Guantanamo naval base, which is now being used by the United States to perfect torture techniques against so-called "enemy combatants" in the phony "war on terror." We also urge an end to the unwelcome, U.S.-sponsored radio and video broadcasts directed at Cuba.

The Cuba Advocate believes that the people of Cuba have a right to sovereignty and self-determination; we believe that the U.S. economic blockade and travel ban against Cuba violates the rights of both Cubans and U.S. citizens; we believe that it is cruel, inhuman, immoral, illegal, un-American, and genocidal to prevent food and medicine from reaching people living in a sovereign nation which offers no threat to the United States; we also believe that it is inappropriate behavior by the U.S. Government to interfere with other nations' trade and relations with Cuba.

The Cuba Advocate believes that the Cuban Revolution of 1959 represents the victory of the Cuban people over imperialist domination, the victory of human needs over private profit, the victory of the working class over the gambling and drug barons. Today, 49 years later, the Cuban Revolution exists to millions worldwide as a symbol of hope for the future of humankind.

It is in this same spirit that The Cuba Advocate celebrates the acheivements of the Cuban Revolution.

My Interests

I'd like to meet:

We do not do a lot of posting, but we just wanted to share a few speeches that we consider essential to understanding President Castro and Cuba. In a world in which imperialist technological development, greed, and the desire for power have so intoxicated the rich, industrialized nations, the humanist values of ethics, reason, compassion, cooperation, and human understanding have been abandoned. Who would have thought that two national leaders -- like George W. Bush and Saddam Hussein -- could not even sit down to talk and discuss their differences in a public forum before one unleashes a barrage of high-tech weaponry against the civilians of the other? Doesn't that constitute a crime against humanity? Does the United States have some divine right to judge others in this imperfect world?

President Castro has reportedly been recovering from intestinal surgery, yet some media outlets report his condition as "grave." We wish him well and offer these speeches as our tribute to him. (See blog & scroll down)

The Speeches

1. A Manifesto for the people of Cuba
2. Biofuels and the internationalization of genocide
3. May Day 2004
4. The course of human events must change or our species will not survive
5. May Day 2002
6. Free the Cuba Five
7. The world economic crisis and its impact on Cuba
8. The first victims of war are the innocents
9. Terrorism is dangerous and indefensible
10. On the 40th anniversary of the Cuban Revolution
11. History will absolve me
12. 1992 Rio Earth Summit
13. To the 34th UN General Assembly (1979)

Read the speeches. Weigh the positives with the negatives. We do not think that President Castro has always been right and fair and just, but we DO think that the world would be a better place for all of us if we listen to his advice. Castro himself would be the first to tell you that he has made mistakes in this imperfect world, but his observations and advice on geopolitical politics is sound and deserves a fair reading. In our opinion, he is one of the greatest statesmen on the planet. Thanks for stopping by!

Obama has missed an opportunity to do the right thing


Obama’s much anticipated changes to U.S.-Cuba policy have turned out to be much ado about nothing. While changes in family remittances, unlimited travel to and from the island to visit relatives, and increased telecommunications are positive steps, the economic blockade remains intact. The “wet foot/dry foot” policy of instant citizenship for those who make the treacherous 90-mile trip to U.S. soil remains in place, as does the cruel, inhuman policy of using food and medicine as political weapons. Thus far in his presidency, Obama has proven to be a status quo politician interested in propping up capitalist banking and corporate interests while working people take a back seat. On Cuba policy, he is playing south Florida politics very effectively and will likely win some supporters in the next election cycle, but his slogan of “Change We Can Believe In” has been forgotten. Supporters of normalizing relations between the U.S. and Cuba must continue to encourage Congress to do what Barack Obama has failed to do. Sadly, Obama has missed an opportunity to do something positive and right for human relations in the world. He said we would not stand idly by while injustice happens in the world, yet here we are, marking time.

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My Blog

Torture can never be justified

By Fidel CastroMay 27, 2009ON Sunday, while putting the finishing touches to the Reflection on Haiti, I was listening to the television report on the ceremony commemorating the Battle of Pichincha tha...
Posted by on Sat, 30 May 2009 07:21:00 GMT

Message from Fidel 2/18/08

Dear compatriots: Last Friday, February 15, I promised you that in my next reflection I would deal with an issue of interest to many compatriots. Thus, this now is rat...
Posted by on Tue, 19 Feb 2008 18:41:00 GMT

Manifesto for the people of Cuba

June 17, 2007 http://www.granma.cu/ingles/ By Fidel Castro RuzI hope that no one will say that I am gratuitously attacking Bush. Surely they will understand my reasons for strongly criticizing his pol...
Posted by on Wed, 20 Jun 2007 20:43:00 GMT

Biofuels and the internationalization of genocide

By Fidel  Castro RuzApril 3, 2007 (Translation by Granma International)The Camp David meeting has just ended. We all listened with interest to the press conference by the presidents of the United...
Posted by on Tue, 10 Apr 2007 19:37:00 GMT

May Day 2004

By Fidel Castro May 1, 2004 It seems that this crowd has broken all records (Applause and shouts) Dearest guests, dear comrades: This is the 45th time we have celebrated a glorious Labor Day since...
Posted by on Thu, 11 Jan 2007 09:59:00 GMT

The course of human events must change or our species will not survive

[Speech given by Dr. Fidel Castro Ruz, President of the Republic of Cuba, at the Karl Marx Theater on January 3, 2004, for the 45 Anniversary of the Triumph of the Cuban Revolution.] Dear fellow Cuba...
Posted by on Thu, 11 Jan 2007 09:55:00 GMT

May Day 2002

SPEECH GIVEN BY DR. FIDEL CASTRO RUZ, PRESIDENT OF THE REPUBLIC OF CUBA, AT THE INTERNATIONAL WORKERS' DAY CELEBRATION, HELD IN REVOLUTION SQUARE, MAY 1st 2002 Distinguished guests; Dear countrymen:...
Posted by on Thu, 11 Jan 2007 09:53:00 GMT

Free the Cuba Five

[Speech given by President Fidel Castro at the ceremony to decorate the mothers and wives of the five Heroes of the Republic of Cuba imprisoned in the United States, held at the Karl Marx Theater on M...
Posted by on Thu, 11 Jan 2007 09:51:00 GMT

The world economic crisis and its impact on Cuba

Havana, November 2, 2001 My fellow countrymen: At the opening of the Social Workers Training School in Santiago de Cuba on October 24, I said that in the coming days I would speak about the internat...
Posted by on Thu, 11 Jan 2007 09:49:00 GMT

The first victims of war are the innocents

[Speech by Commander in Chief Fidel Castro, President of the Republic of Cuba. Ciego de Avila, September 29, 2001] Fellow countrymen: A peaceful solution would still be possible. The present situati...
Posted by on Thu, 11 Jan 2007 09:47:00 GMT