The People-to-People Travel Crisis
by Emily Chow
on October 26, 2012
People-to-people travel has been one of the few successful elements of U. S current policy towards Cuba. However, this category of travel has been under constant attack since its implementation by the Obama Administration in January 2012.
According to the Treasury Department, approximately 160 organizations were granted people-to-people licenses in the past year. Now about 140, a sizeable number, of those people-to-people travel licenses are languishing in the bureaucratic depths of the Office of Foreign Assets Control, pending renewal. Twenty applications of the total 160 have been newly granted or renewed within the past month, but some very respectable organizations have been denied their renewal. In 2010-2011 we worked tirelessly to reinstate this category of travel, and we will not stand by quietly and watch it shrivel and disappear.
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C.A.F.E Sends Letter to State Department on Denial of Visas to Cuban Academics
by Emily Chow
on May 22, 2012
May 21st 2012
Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton
U.S. Department of State
Mr. Peter Brennan
Office of Cuban Affairs, DOS
Dear Secretary Clinton and Mr. Brennan:
In view of the recent denial of visas to eleven Cuban scholars who were scheduled to participate in academic exchanges next week in the United States, the members of CAFE (Cuban Americans for Engagement) feel it’s imperative to state the following:
- We continue regretting the lack of a coherent policy regarding academic exchange as part of the policy of people-to-people contacts between Cuba and the United States. While we acknowledge the right of our government to set visa requirements and eligibility, the apparently arbitrary manner in which the visas to Cubans are granted or denied–even in the case of people who have traveled to the United States before–only creates frustration and confusion within the academic community and could even lead to a chilling effect on those exchanges, especially given the time and logistical efforts involved in the organization of these exchanges. A more clear and coherent policy is sorely needed.
- Especially concerning is the suspicion that these visas are being denied as a concession to hard-line members of the Cuban-American community, including representatives in Congress, who have been aggressively vocal in the past few days attacking the approval of visas for Mariela Castro and Eusebio Leal. As Cubans and Americans, we categorically oppose the use of restrictions against academic exchanges as a political tool, both in Cuba and in the United States. The objective of a responsible policy should be to take down the structures of hostility that exist on both sides, which are counterproductive if the goal is to take pragmatic and fruitful steps towards a better relationship.
- This development also comes on the heels of a recent announcement from the Treasury Department of the tightening of restrictions on trips to Cuba by non-Cuban Americans. While we welcome all clarification of the process and rules, we are concerned about the adoption by some administration officials of the hard-line rhetoric that labels as “abuses” many of the activities on those trips, with no evidence. Our policy should reflect a wide concept of people-to-people contacts that does not exclude cultural, academic, educational, social and religious activities under any circumstances and does not consider the participants “abusers.”
We live in times of change, both in Cuba and in its relationship with the United States, which we all hope will bring a better future for the Cuban nation, on both sides of the Straits of Florida. It is time to move forward instead of backwards.
Sincerely,
Board Committee of CAFE (Cuban Americans for Engagement)
Alejandro Barreras
Eduardo Araújo
Ondine Quinn
Ernesto Cabo
Romy Aranguiz
Andrés Ruiz
Benjamin Willis
María Isabel Alfonso
Arturo López-Levy
http://www.cafeporcuba.com
Contact:
This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
Phone: María Isabel Alfonso, 786-529-5123
Cuban Americans For Engagement
http://www.cafeporcuba.com
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Tell the State Department that you Support Educational Exchanges with Cuba!
by Emily Chow
on May 23, 2012
You may have heard about the State Department's denial of visas to 11 respected Cuban scholars who were planning on attending the Latin American Studies Association meeting in San Francisco this week—while at the same time approving visas for two prominent Cubans invited to the same conference. The approvals of visas to Mariela Castro (a sexologist and President Raul Castro's daughter), Dr. Eusebio Leal (the historian of the City of Havana), and two weeks earlier to Josefina Vidal (head of the North American Section of MINREX, Cuba's foreign ministry). BTW, we applaud these visas, as there should be free and easy exchange between Cuban officials and U.S. officials, too. (Aren't they "people," too?)
The Cubans who were denied visas are a "Who's Who" of Cuban academe who favor increased exchange between the United States and Cuba, and even the normalization of relations. They are effective in their messaging. Perhaps that is why they were denied?
The State Department doesn't make it too easy to contact them directly. However, that doesn't mean that they shouldn't be. Follow these couple steps below to let the State Department know that you support educational exchanges with Cuba. We want to see a free flow of ideas on both sides of the Florida straits!
(We've included an image below to help guide you step by step in contacting State correctly)
SUBJECT: Support Educational Exchange with Cuba
QUESTION/COMMENT:
Dear Secretary of State Hillary Clinton:
I want to express my distress about the recent denial of visas to eleven Cuban scholars scheduled to participate in academic exchange at the Latin American Studies Association (LASA) meeting in San Francisco. If U.S. policy is to promote educational exchanges, what better way is there than to allow U.S. academics and Cuban academics to meet face-to-face and to share ideas and research.
It appears that the visas were denied in an arbitrary and contradictory manner—to respected scholars who have previously and recently been given visas to enter the United States to teach in some of our most prodigious institutions of higher learning. These denials contribute nothing, save confusion and perhaps even discouragement of the desired academic exchanges.
I support engaging the Cuban people through academic, people-to-people, and religious exchanges as, and only as, a needed first step in returning the fundamental right of all Americans to travel to Cuba.
Sincerely,
Thanks for your continued advocacy on behalf of the End the Travel Ban campaign !
Cuba Fund Campaign 2012
by Emily Chow
on May 18, 2012
 Support LAWGEF's Cuba Advocacy Efforts
Welcome to the Cuba Fund Campaign 2012 Headquarters!
This is not your typical Latin America Working Group Education Fund (LAWGEF) fundraising campaign. This is a seven month long campaign-- May 2012-December 2012. We know, we're trying to pace ourselves. There will be many opportunities to join our stellar honorary co-chairs and campaign committee and contribute to LAWGEF over the course of these seven months. So if you can give today, a big thanks. If you can give tomorrow, muchisimas gracias!! If you can give in our final push in December too, even better!!
The work that LAWGEF has done thus far in regards to changing our Cuba policy has proven to be even more important within our current political climate. Check out some of our achievements here. Since President Obama made changes to the travel regulations in January 2011, we've seen a huge wave of U.S. citizens traveling to Cuba. As a result we've also been witness to the amazing stories and experiences that many have had on their travels. However, there are attempts coming from many angles in Congress that aim to roll back the progress we've made. We cannot let that happen. In addition, many of our traditional funders have limited or stopped funding Cuba advocacy because they think the job has been completed, yet this is not the case.
For the first time in decades, the political environment in both Washington and Havana is such that a sea-change in U.S.-Cuba relations is not only possible, but inevitable. Your contribution to the Cuba program of the Latin America Working Group Education Fund will assist us in taking advantage of these exciting developments and to ensure we don't return to the counter-productive policies of previous years.
Helpful Links:
Build the momentum and contribute today!
Who else has pledged support to LAWGEF's Cuba Fund Campaign 2012?
"I strongly endorse LAWG and its effort to normalize relations between the U.S. and Cuba. America is one of only two nations that has not recognized that the misguided policy has failed to produce any positive solutions. I encourage everyone to support LAWG in changing this failed concept."
Harry Belafonte is known worldwide for his achievements as a singer, actor, and producer, and for his commitment to human rights. Beginning with the American civil rights movement in the 1950’s, he has established a distinguished record of human rights advocacy, including serving as a UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador. He was dubbed the "King of Calypso" for popularizing the Caribbean musical style with an international audience. An advocate for humanitarian causes throughout his career, Mr. Belafonte is a vocal critic of public policies that oppress and marginalize disenfranchised groups.
(Excerpted from http://www.unicef.org/people/people_harry_belafonte.html)
"With a history of success in working to change policy, LAWG is poised to play an important role in initiating a new era in U.S.-Cuba relations.”
James Early serves as a member of the Board of the Institute for Policy Studies in Washington, DC, a community of public scholars and organizers linking
peace, justice, and the environment in the United States and globally. As a long-time advocate for cultural diversity and equity in the nation’s public cultural and educational institutions, he also serves as director of Cultural Heritage Policy at the Center for Folklife and Cultural Heritage at the Smithsonian Institution. He specializes in cultural democracy policy and state-craft and works with Cuban cultural institutions, artists and intellectuals on grassroots cultural heritage. (Excerpted from http://www.columbia.edu/cu/china/JamesE.html )
“LAWG has been on the front lines of efforts to normalize U.S. relations with Cuba and to extend to all U.S. citizens our right to travel to our island neighbor.”
Actor, producer and humanitarian, Danny Glover has been a commanding presence on screen, stage and television for more than 25 years. As an actor, his film credits range from the blockbuster The Color Purple to smaller independent features, some of which Mr. Glover also produced. Mr. Glover has also gained respect for his wide-reaching community activism and philanthropic efforts, with a particular emphasis on advocacy for economic justice, and access to health care and education programs in the United States and Africa. He currently serves as UNICEF Ambassador, focusing on issues of poverty, disease, and economic development in Africa, Latin America, and the Caribbean.
(Excerpted from http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0000418/bio)
“LAWG is a leader in the movement to end the travel ban and embargo on Cuba. I happily endorse their work and urge you to support LAWG generously. We need a just policy toward Cuba now!”
For more than 50 years, activist Dolores Huerta has worked tirelessly to advance the cause of marginalized communities. She is internationally recognized as a feminist, farm worker advocate, gay rights activist and labor leader. Along with Cesar Chavez, she co-founded the National Farmworkers Association, which later became the United Farm Workers (UFW). As a champion whose work transcends issue-specific movements, Dolores launched a “Weaving Movements” campaign at her 80th birthday celebration on August 13, 2010, calling on leaders of the progressive agenda to unite under one banner and work cooperatively towards the common goal of social justice. In May 2012, Ms. Huerta was awarded the Medal of Freedom, the nation's highest civilian honor, by President Obama. (Excerpted from http://www.doloreshuerta.org/)
 "In over my 15 years of advocacy work on behalf of a more realistic U.S. policy towards Cuba and on behalf of the freedom to travel to Cuba for all Americans, I have not had a more reliable, constant and caring partner than the folks at the Latin America Working Group. As a Cuban American residing in south Florida, my work has concentrated on speaking out on behalf of hundreds if not thousands who are deeply affected by harsh policies that continue to separate families and deny U.S. citizens’ basic rights. The LAWG has been a crucial partner in this outreach."
A native of Havana, Cuba, Silvia Wilhelm came to the United States as an unaccompanied child in January 1961 through the Operacion Pedro Pan. After returning to Cuba for the first time in thirty-three years later, Ms. Wilhelm became an active advocate for changing U.S. policy towards Cuba. Ms. Wilhelm is the founder and executive director of Puentes Cubanos, an NGO licensed to conduct educational, professional and cultural exchanges between the people of Cuba and the United States. She also serves as president of the Cuban American Commission for Family Rights.
(Excerpted from http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=Silvia_Wilhelm)
Achievements of the Cuba Program of LAWG/LAWGEF:
- Successfully helped pressure the White House to take executive action to expand travel to Cuba in 2011;
- Helped win passage of legislation allowing U.S. farmers to sell food and agriculture products to Cuba for cash;
- Co-sponsored people-to-people trips to Cuba to educate U.S. citizens and build momentum to end the travel ban;
- Mobilized supporters through social media such as Facebook [30,000+ "likes" on LAWG's "End the Travel Ban on Cuba" page], Change.org [an additional 30,000 new advocates], and Twitter;
- Compiled and published online resources on "How-to Travel to Cuba" to facilitate U.S. citizen travel to Cuba;
- Contributed to President's decision to end restrictions on family travel by bringing Cuban-American delegations to Washington, touring photo exhibit and publication;
- Mounted a campaign in late 2011 to convince the White House to successfully defeat efforts in the U.S. Congress to roll back Cuban-American family travel to the more punitive Bush-era regulations;
- Strengthened alliances with Cuban-American, cultural, religious, academic, business, and agricultural communities to press for changes in U.S. policy.
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FORNORM Letter to State on Denial of Visas to Cuban Academics
by Emily Chow
on May 23, 2012
May 22, 2012
Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton
United States Department of State
Mr. Peter Brennan
Office of Cuban Affairs
Department of State
Dear Secretary Clinton and Mr. Brennan:
Your recent denial of visas to eleven of the Cuban scholars scheduled to participate in the academic exchanges during the Latin American Studies Association Conference (LASA) in San Francisco, underscores the irrationality of United States policy towards academics from Cuba.
The lack of criteria for the denial of these visas, even in cases of academics who have been granted visas and have traveled to the United States in the past only points to the fact that these denials are arbitrary and politically motivated. Clearly a more rational approach is called for in our relations with Cuba in general and, more specifically in our dealings with academic exchanges which should never be used as political tools.
The Foundation for Normalization of US/Cuba Relations strenuously objects to both the recent denial of these visas to Cuban academics as well as recent moves by the Treasury Department to tighten restrictions on People-to-People engagements. The recent People to People trips have resulted in positive steps on both sides of the Florida Straits. The Obama administration has committed to a program of increased contact and engagement with the Cuban people and these actions are counterproductive to this policy. Time has proven that isolation and confrontation do not produce any positive results. Let's continue to engage the Cuban people so that we may move forward in our relations in a positive and constructive manner..
Sincerely,
Executive Committee of FORNORM (Foundation for Normalization of US/Cuba Relations)
Elena R Freyre
Xiomara Levy
Amaury Cruz Max Lesnik
Julio Ruiz Ramon Coll
Isidro Borja Richard Sablon
Antonio Zamora Rosa Reyes
Luis Vazquez
For PDF version click here
Majority of Americans -Especially Cuban Americans-Favor Engagement with Cuba
by Emily Chow
on May 03, 2012
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Action Center 
