For the first time in six decades the damage caused by the blockade against Cuba exceeded $5 billion in a year. But while some campaign for hatred, the international community reaffirms its support for the island and rejects the sanctions.
One such campaign is Puentes de Amor (Bridges of Love). The Cuban American activist Carlos Lazo recently mentioned to Prensa Latina (Latin Press) that this campaign draws attention to the expatriates and friends of the country who are asking the world to end the coercive measures against the largest country in the Antilles.
In fact, the previous edition of Puentes de Amor (Bridges of Love) took place in seven US cities where the participants campaigned for the cessation of economic, commercial and financial sanctions against the island.
This call from the international community is so widespread that during the last vote at the UN, at the end of 2019, the initiative to end the blockade had 187 votes in favour, three against and two abstentions.
The press in Cuba, however, highlighted that there are websites unaware of these figures that incite hate, social disorder and increased sanctions as part of a soft-hit script against the Caribbean nation.
According to the Cuban Chancellor Bruno Rodríguez, global support for the island’s people and government proves the discredit and isolation policy from Washington.
In this regard, the last report on the damage caused by the blockade against Cuba includes examples of other initiatives that promoted, globally and within the United States, new links between the two nations.
According to the document, from April 2019 to March 2020, international organisations and institutions such as the Latin American and Caribbean Parliament, the African Union, the Caribbean Community, the Bolivarian Alliance for the Peoples of Our America – Peoples’ Trade Treaty and the São Paulo Forum demanded the end of the coercive measures.
Meanwhile, the Non-Aligned Movement repeatedly condemned the blockade, the Helms-Burton Law and other aggressions applied by the US government.
In addition, politicians and representatives from the agricultural, cultural, academic and business sectors in the United States demanded and developed actions on behalf of the island.
The report refers to other examples of solidarity from organisations such as Cuba Educational Travel, Engage Cuba, the Office of Government Relations of the Episcopal Church, the National Council of Christ’s Churches in the United States and the Association of Travel Agencies, to name a few.
Similarly, the text mentions congressmen, senators and associations of Cuban emigrants who disagreed with the siege.
Cuba will present this document to the United Nations to call once again for the end of the 60-year-old siege, that escalated during the current epidemic situation. (PL)
(Translated by Cristina Popa – Email: gcpopa83@gmail.com) – Photos: Pixabay
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