La Vía Campesina Launches Global Solidarity Campaign for Cuba Amid Blockade Criticism

The international organization La Vía Campesina launched a global solidarity campaign with Cuban farmers on May 17th under the slogan “Against the blockade! Peasant solidarity, agroecology and food sovereignty!”, with the aim of raising funds and denouncing the impact of the economic blockade imposed by the United States against Cuba for more than six decades.

Coinciding with Cuban Peasantry Day and the anniversary of the first Agrarian Reform, the organization La Via Campesina—which brings together peasant movements from more than 80 countries— pointed out that Washington’s sanctions are “the direct cause” of the current food and energy crisis on the Island.

The statement denounces that the intensification of coercive measures is severely affecting electricity generation, transportation, healthcare, and food distribution, with the aim of “destroying the Cuban revolutionary project” through hunger, shortages of medicine, and the deterioration of daily life.

La Vía Campesina also expressed its support for the National Association of Small Farmers (ANAP) of Cuba, a member of this international network, in its efforts to strengthen food sovereignty and resist the blockade.

The text also highlights Cuba’s solidarity with the world, recalling its internationalist medical brigades, literacy campaigns, vaccines, and agroecological experiences shared with numerous peoples around the globe. “Now it is up to us to return that solidarity with strength and determination,” the statement affirms.

La Via Campesina’s campaign aims to raise 250,000 euros to purchase essential supplies for Cuban farmers and workers, including an international crowdfunding campaign with the goal of obtaining at least 100,000 euros.

Likewise, a call is made to organize press conferences, marches, seminars and public actions to denounce the impact of the US blockade and spread messages of support to the Cuban people.

Cuba: The power of solidarity will defeat the blockade! Act NOW! Via Campesina

On May 17th, La Vía Campesina launched the global campaign of solidarity with the Cuban peasantry, with the slogan “Against the blockade! Peasant solidarity, agroecology and food sovereignty!”

Cuba has been subjected to a severe blockade imposed by the United States for more than 60 years.

We, La Via Campesina —a global movement that covers more than 80 countries— and that brings together peasants, fishermen, agricultural workers and small food producers who feed the world, consider that this unilateral sanction is the direct cause of the Cuban food and energy crisis.

It has affected electricity generation, transportation, healthcare, and food distribution. Now, Washington is tightening the screws once again, aiming to destroy Cuba’s revolutionary project by subjugating its people through hunger, medicine shortages, and the disruption of daily life.

Cuba has given the world far more than it has received: doctors in the most remote corners of the planet, life-saving vaccines, literacy brigades that taught millions to read, inspiration and support for cooperative organizing, the widespread adoption of agroecology, and, through it all, a growing solidarity and humanist internationalism to build a more just and sustainable world. Now, as the United States attempts to collectively punish an entire nation for refusing to submit, it is up to us to return that solidarity with strength and determination.

La Via Campesina strongly supports the National Association of Small Farmers (ANAP) — a member organization of LVC in Cuba — in all its efforts to fight against this blockade and build food sovereignty.

And today, May 17th, Cuban Farmer’s Day and the anniversary of the first Agrarian Reform in Cuba, we launch the global campaign: “Against the blockade! Peasant Solidarity, Agroecology and Food Sovereignty!”

The campaign seeks to organize a global fundraising initiative to cover basic needs that stimulate agri-food production and mobilize people—including LVC member organizations and their allies—to continue denouncing the impact of the blockade and its intensification, as well as to raise the spirits of the Cuban people with messages of solidarity.

As José Martí so aptly said: Love is repaid with love.

La Via Campesina’s global revenue

Over the next few months, La Via Campesina, thanks to the power of transnational solidarity and relying on the strength of its 180 member organizations and its countless allies, aims to raise 250,000 euros to provide humanitarian aid to the people of Cuba.

Through a combination of local fundraising events—organized and managed by our member and allied organizations—and other means, we will make a concerted effort to raise these funds in order to acquire essential supplies for the farmers and workers of Cuba.

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(Featured image by JF Martin via Unsplash)

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First published in cubaninformacion. A third-party contributor translated and adapted the article from the original. In case of discrepancy, the original will prevail.

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