Return to Humanity: END THE US BLOCKADE ON CUBA

By Momii Palapaz, PNN reporter

Her long, slender fingers picked up the seed. This was the first thing I noticed; her soft, unblemished hands, nimble fingers and lacquered nails. She maneuvered them to place a speck of seed in a tiny square space of a box.  Efficient and quick, this young woman was a working owner at the 25 acre Oranoponico Vivero Hamar Punto de Venta. One hundred and sixty-six farmers work here and are paid to grow 250 species of plant life, fruits and 10-12 varieties of vegetables. This is in Alamar, Cuba. One of over 260 organic farms.

“The US university trained me by way of chemicals”, said Norma Romero Castillo, an engineer and farm leader/teacher. “So I went back to school and relearned” the industry of agriculture. The Ministry of Agriculture created farm labs throughout the country by making it a mandatory project and finding empty spaces.  

The farm produces fertilizer from animal feces, tobacco plants (for decorative plants only), worms from Vietnam and fungi mushrooms. The irrigation system uses wells to create bio diverse sustenance. 95% of the plant life grown is used for medicine, spiritual ceremonies and food.  

Initially, the 25 acres of land was set to construct a baseball field and hospital but with the economic collapse of the Soviet Union in the 1990s, the priority switched to organic farm investment; 90% and 10% to tourism.

From centuries of oppression by a variety of European colonizers to 1959, It was an agrarian movement that then became a Cuban revolution.  A whole country of farmers, the indigenous Taino descendants, united with cities of students, academia, and the working class of Cuba, executing a war of liberation.

Another Name for Genocide

That visit to the organic farm was April/May 2016, ten years ago.  Cuba and US Relations were temporarily softened with the Obama administration in the White House. He lifted some rules and was publicly tolerant of US tourism feeding the Cuban economy. There were still restrictions but nothing like what we are witnessing today.  

I took advantage of this window of time and traveled in a Pastors For Peace tour group.  Since my teens, I have been fascinated with the Cuban socialist system and people.  My curiosity opened the door to witness and learn from the communities on the western side of the island. The Cuban people are friendly, laid back, innovative, creative, hard working and welcoming. But they also will tell you straight forward about the US damage to their country.  

The U.S. has been relentlessly sabotaging every part of Cuban life and government since 1959.  Despite over 60 years of US government meddling in economic, political and humanitarian life, Cuba has withstood additional crises from climate disasters and international contentions. The US embargo is another form of genocide.

With the blockade, import exports of all medical supplies including medications, medical equipment, farming equipment, oil, electricity, computers, and more are banned or in the 

process of intensification.  The US government is even banning Cuban doctors from traveling to other countries in need of support. What we have taken for granted here on turtle island is held tightly and rationed in Cuba.  

The Cuban people have dealt with many challenges to their independence and staying a sovereign nation.  Individuals and organizations have donated financially, on the ground support and collections of said items since the revolution.  Don’t believe what you hear and read in the mainstream press about Cuba. Make connect with solidarity organizations, answer your curiosity by learning more.  Cuba is a peace loving country.  Our support from across waters is vital to keep their country from the cruel claws of US imperialism.

All power and Solidarity with the Cuban people.