These remarks were originally presented at a congressional briefing on March 20th, 2013 titled “The New Miami-Cuba Reality: Is It a Game Changer?” This briefing by Cuban Americans from south Florida discussed the new Miami-Havana reality -- and why the U.S. and Cuban governments must seize the moment to start talking about solving their myriad bilateral disagreements.
In 2002, I participated in an exchange program organized by Silvia Wilhelm of Puentes Cubanos, which consisted of a small group of Cuban-Americans (all from Miami) and an equal number of Cuban counterparts in a weeklong intensive encounter at the University of Havana. There, we debated, discussed, expressed and exchanged ideas about what being Cuban meant to each one of us present. The focus on cultural identity and all the complex emotional issues it brought to the fore had far reaching consequences for everyone involved. In my case, this experience marked a before and after and one that has driven the thrust of much of my subsequent personal and professional endeavors.
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2012 gave us the great news that the Colombian government and the FARC guerrillas had begun to negotiate an end to the longest-running conflict in the Americas. 2013 gives YOU the chance to make an impact on U.S. policy regarding the peace process by taking an urgent action today!
Your mission? Get your representative in the House to sign this congressional Dear Colleague letter in support of the peace process in Colombia!
Click here to find out how!
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Current List of Co-Signers on this Letter
- Representative Jim McGovern (D-MA) - Original co-signer
- Representative Jan Schakowsky (D-IL) - Original co-signer
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by Ruth Isabel Robles
on March 14, 2013
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by LAWG Guest Blogger, Amy Truax, Witness for Peace
on March 13, 2013
In 2006, the World Wildlife Fund declared that Cuba is the only country in the world that qualifies as developing sustainably. I imagine that this may come as a shock to some people, who, when they think of Cuba, imagine old cars from the 1950s on the roads, crowded city blocks in Havana, or retrograde political leaders and systems that surely couldn't be so modern as to incorporate eco-friendly policies around climate change. However, once you know a little bit more about the history of Cuba, it makes perfect sense that this small country would be the only one around the globe whose ecological footprint isn't far outreaching its development index.
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by Ruth Isabel Robles
on March 13, 2013
Let’s turn back the clock. The year is 2006. The month is May. Mexico State Security Forces evict a group of flower sellers from a local market in Texcoco, Mexico, whom authorities claim set up stalls without permission outside of the market. This eviction produced an outpouring of community support for the vendors in Texcoco and in San Salvador Atenco. The protest, which lasted two days, resulted in arrests of more than 200 people, 47 of which were women. These women were forced to endure unimaginable forms of violence at the hands of the police. Thus far, state authorities have pursued criminal action in only two of the 11 cases, citing “abuse of authority or “lewd acts” and not, torture.
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by Ruth Isabel Robles
on March 13, 2013
  
The Latin America Working Group Education Fund, the Washington Office on Latin America and the Robert F. Kennedy Center for Justice and Human Rights invite you to a discussion on
Human Rights Challenges in Mexico
Featuring
Stephanie Brewer
Miguel Agustín Pro Juárez Human Rights Center (Centro Prodh)
Cristina Hardaga Fernández
Tlachinollan Human Rights Center, Guerrero
Daniel Joloy
Mexican Commission for the Defense and Promotion of Human Rights (CMDPDH)
Ana Luna Serrano
Citizens in Support of Human Rights, Nuevo León
Other speakers to be confirmed.
Friday, March 15, 2013
9:00 a.m.-10:30am
Washington Office on Latin America
1666 Connecticut Ave NW, Suite 400
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by Emily Chow
on March 11, 2013
Francisco Gonzalez Aruca – Rest in Peace. The Latin America Working Group’s Cuba team extends sincere sympathy to family, friends, and colleagues of Francisco Aruca on his passing on March 6, 2013. Mr. Aruca died unexpectedly of a heart attack in his sleep in Denver, Colorado, where he lived. He was 72 years old. You may read the post sent out today by Progreso Weekly announcing Mr. Aruca’s passing, here...
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by Emily Chow
on March 08, 2013
In light of the passing of Venezuela's President, Hugo Chávez, we think the following statements are well worth reading
Representative Jose Serrano: '"His focus on the issues faced by the poor and disenfranchised in his country made him a truly revolutionary leader in the history of Latin America. He understood that after 400 years on the outside of the established power structure looking in, it was time that the poor had a chance at seeing their problems and issues addressed. His core belief was in the dignity and common humanity of all people in Venezuela and in the world."...
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by Winifred Tate, Guest
on March 06, 2013
We heard from our longtime LAWG partner Nancy Sánchez, who has worked many years in Putumayo, Colombia, about this sorry case of fumigation of pineapple crops of the Association of Women Pineapple growers, Oroyaco Hamlet, Municipality of Villagarzon, Putumayo.
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