- The Guardian
- Issue #2128
On Cuba
Dear Guardian Editor,
Thank you for your coverage of Cuba.
I went on the Southern Cross Brigade at the end of last year. Thanks to all, including Bob Treasure who made it possible. It was brilliant. I have the latest flyer in front of me. The website is cubabrigade.org and the email is southerncrossbrigade@gmail.com.
Cuba continues to suffer from the illegal US blockade. Under wretched Trump (I call him Caligula) it could get worse. That means we need to show more solidarity. Bravo to Vijay Prashad who was recently here talking about the excellent book he wrote with Noam Chomsky, On Cuba, to do just that.
Thanks to Ivan and Adriana who made our trip such a pleasure and adventure. Such good memories … singing ‘My Island Home’ at nearly every school and cooperative we visited.
On this flyer it says it costs $2500. This is extraordinary for about 6 weeks. Please go, and read the terrific book called On Cuba.
I have so many impressions and memories and stories from the trip. Readers are welcome to contact me about my experience.
In what other country does the leader march in a demonstration for Palestine?
Viva Cuba!
With best wishes…
Stephen Langford
(Any readers wanting to contact Stephen can write to editor@cpa.org.au and we will pass on contact details)
Foreign policy in the Trump era
Dear Comrade Editor,
I read the article “Trump, Israel, and dark days for Palestine” (#2126, 25 November) with a mixture of anger and sadness that this campaign of genocide and expansionism has been able to continue for nearly 15 months. In particular, I felt little surprise in seeing, based off the rhetoric of Marco Rubio and co, that the Trump administration will double down on the US’s support of this.
Recent reports that Israel has continued strikes in Lebanon despite a ceasefire agreement being drawn between themselves and Hezbollah only serve to further demonstrate Israel’s blatant disregard for international law, and as a precedent for the depravity and destruction that a far-right US government will enable (and no doubt drag Australia into).
For me this truly brings home the point that, especially in this period of transition between the Biden and second Trump administration, any Australian government with a shred of moral integrity would take this opportunity to reconsider the influence they allow the US to have on its defence and foreign policy. This should first and foremost manifest in tearing up the AUKUS agreement and redirecting the billions of dollars from this to fund schools, health services, and so on.
In solidarity,
R O Ceallaigh
