You are so right - the amazing thing is how much ordinary people can accomplish.Most recent example - the Cuban peasant woman, Irania, who cleaned up a dump heap and turned it into The Garden of Eden - captured on camera by CNN. Was awarded the Save the Planet $l0,000 prize. BUT our government prohibited CNN from giving the money to her - gave it to Unicef instead.
Kristi Weeks, a friend who has been to Cuba on several occasions, with delegations which included her husband and children as well) visited Guantanamo, saw the Garden, returned to St. Augustine and as owner of a highscale beauty salon pledged to raise $10,000 for Irania. Their fashion show, with her staff as producers and modelers of crazy, gorgeous, outrageous creations using only recycled material (bottle tops, plastic bags, newspaper, used computer posters, etc.) raised not $l0, not $15 but $20,000 last Sunday evening. 
Admission was only $25 or $35 for a reserved seat. All the rest came from donations, program ads,and auctioning off several of the dresses -- the one, fitting like a body shield, made entirely of shiny bottle tops, went for $260. Another, entirely of sheer recycled Publix plastic bags, went for $200 -- amid cheers, applause, , incredibly happy vibes.This effort, originally, to make Baracoa a sister city, was foiled mostly by ex Cubans from Miami who came in bus loads to our City commission meetings to defeat the initiative. So my son and daughter in law, Jo and Sali, with just a few others, opted to withdraw the resolution and go for it on a people to people basis. Six years ago. Since then, there have been some three delegations to Cuba each year, 20 40-ft. containers sent down, packed with humanitarian aid, art shows, books published, concerts, and more.
Ordinary people, accomplishing extraordinary things, for ordinary people. Amazing.
1 comment:
Hi Peg,
For us it was very nice seeing you yesterday, so beautiful, in great spirits and still concerned about our world. Regarding the others, uninsured, underinsured and the crisis in general in healthcare, needs all of us to keep it on the front burner.
Sadly, many think about it only when it hit them or someone close to them.
Presently there are approximately 11,000 medical students from 38 countries at that school. I think there are around 125 US students. Another similar, but smaller one in Santiago de Cuba, have approximately 2000 students from 11 African countries and 10-12 Caribbean islands. The bulk, close to 1000 are from Haiti.
Many have tried to spread the word, encourage more students to enlist, but there is the longstanding image of Cuba that comes up against the idea, which will be worsened now, knowing that they may not be able to practice in the US. Remember, that most of our young people, only knows and think there is nothing beyond the US.
Last night event was just incredible!! Kristy, Sali and so many others who made this possible deserve our respect and gratitude. The purpose for which it came about, is also deserving of our support.
I spoke to Irania about the need of her work outside of Cuba and she is very willing to do whatever, wherever is needed. We may be into better times.
Finally, as it was with Irania's project that it was not quite understood in the beginning, the Medical School in Santiago de Cuba, have received a good deal of donations, that you helped check into the container, which have been to enormous help to them.
This is another great project for us to support. I will continue to push for us to get more involved with their work. We already sent them over 5000 Medical Journal, creating one of the most updated Medical Library in Cuba.
Stay well, take good care of yourself and you know, how much we need you to keep the group in line.
Love,
Alberto
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