CUBAbility: Friends of Cuba
454 college st w M6G 1A1 Toronto, ON, Canada

CUBA Crisis, an Update and Invitation from CUBAbility: How we can make a difference ...how our friends are weathering the tightening blockade, the COVID Crisis and an internal economic restructuring. It’s a tough, old story...with a very modern application.... In 1991, when Monica, Chris Levan’s daughter-in-law, was only 10, her family was caught in a massive economic downturn in Cuba. As the Soviet bloc fell apart, the subsidies for sugar disappeared and almost overnight Cuba went into a crisis that was soon given the euphemistic name the special period. Behind the rather bland title was a grim reality. Food literally disappeared along with purchasing power. Previously well-to-do families found themselves destituteliving on meagre government rations. And even those with money couldn’t find much to eat. Monica recalls often how they raised a pig in her living room, so they could at least have something to eat. Alas, that story is repeating itself again in 2021. The perfect storm, of COVID restrictions, a tightening of the US embargo (made worse by Pompeo’s parting insult of adding Cuba to the US State-sponsored-terrorism list) and the Cuba government’s monetary policy of eliminating the tourist currency, has led to special period like shortages. Times are very tough. Public ration supplies are shrinking. State stores are empty. Street vendors are disappearing. To put a face to this dilemma...picture Wanda (some of you know her from past work CUBAbility has undertaken) putting only a minuscule dab of tooth paste on her two boys’ tooth brushes as they prepare for sleep. She has to stretch it out as far as possible. Who knows when she will have more? We are inviting you to join CUBAbility for an Update and Invitation. The Update will be offered by long-time friends, Stan Dotson and Kim Christman, who recently returned from their work in Cuba. You’ll be able to get an up close and personal view of the current crisis. The Invitation will be to join us in relieving some of the burden on friends who work at the KAIROS Centre--keeping love and justice alive on the streets of Matanzas. Date: Wednesday March 10th 7:00 pm EST; 4:00 pm PST Where: A ZOOM gathering online To Join, email [email protected] Cuba Talk (NB: Only those pre-registered will receive an invitation to participate.) For those wishing to support this CUBAbility initiative, please contact Bronwyn Best at: [email protected] to donate by eTransfer or cheque.

It’s complicated that’s what Christopher Levan says about Cuba. We’re waiting to see if Christine gets her money back. Other senders are still going through. CUBAbility is using the Royal Bank of Canada (RBC). Slower, cheaper, more reliable.

The original fort - re-enacted!

The union, which counts on more than 55,000 members, says Cuban doctors and nurses deserve the prestigious award because of their country's long history providing free medical care to underserved people in Latin America, Africa and Asia.