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Collection drive to benefit Cubans

Drive to coincide with music, dancing in Tappan

by Rory Keohane

People from across the country seeking social justice in foreign policy will be gathering in Oberlin on Saturday to protest the United States blockade of humanitarian aid to Cuba. They will also be collecting school supplies for the children of Cuba. The College will be hosting a day of music, dance and celebration for The Seventh Pastors for Peace Caravan on Tappan Square.

The mission of the Pastors for Peace Caravan is to send a message to the government that it is time to stop using food and medical supplies as a weapon against the civilians of Cuba.

Emeritus Professor of Speech Dean W. Wolfe, who helped to bring the Caravan to Oberlin, said "The goal of this event is to heighten awareness about how this embargo works and the suffering it causes the common people of Cuba. It is also an opportunity to provide some aid to the people of Cuba, especially the children."

According to a report published by the American Association for World Health, the US embargo against Cuba is one of the only embargoes in recent years to explicitly include the restriction of food and medicines. The embargo has been in place since the early 1960s, but has been tightened since 1992.

The report which has been comipled over the last five years states that the embargo has "dramatically harmed the health and nutrition of large numbers of ordinary Cuban citizens."

Wolfe feels the US policy towards Cuba is inconsistent with the rest of our foreign policy.

"It is our embargo," Wolfe said. "No other nation observes it."

Saturday, three caravans will meet in Oberlin to collect supplies that have been gathered in recent weeks by members of the College and the First Church of Oberlin. After the events, it will travel to Buffalo. The procession will continue to Montreal.

Simultaneously, there is another caravan working its way to San Diego where it will cross the border into Mexico. Later this month, the two divisions of the Caravan will ship an expected 500 tons of material aid to Cuba.

Reverend Manfred Lassen has also been involved in planning the Tappen Square events which are sponsored by the Office of Chaplains. Lassen considers this a meaningful opportunity for the Oberlin Community.

"It gives people a way to express solidarity for the people of Cuba," he said. "It also provides the opportunity to educate members of the College and community about the embargo."

OSCA has been working with the Office of Chaplains and Wolfe to collect supplies for school children in Cuba, who have inadequate supplies of paper, pencils and other basic educational necessities.

"You name a consumer item and it is in short supply or non-existent [in Cuba]," Wolfe said.

Saturday's events will include speakers from the College and the Pastors for Peace Caravan. There will also be performance by the Oberlin Can Consortium and Dance Diaspora.

"It gives us a chance to celerate the Cuban and Caribbean cultures," Lassen said.

The Coalition Against Apartheid and White Supremacy is one of the student groups on campus that has contributed to the Caravan. Co-chair Michael Berg was proud of his organization's effort to help.

"The situation in Cuba is bad right now because of the embargo," he said. "This is a way of both helping Cubans in need, and showing disagreement with the US policy."

The enthusiasm and concern of students is what encouraged Wolfe to suggest Oberlin as a stop on the Caravan's tour.

"Oberlin stands for peace and justice, and there is really an injustice with our policy with Cuba," Wolfe said.

Organizers hope students will come and listen to the presentaions, engage in the dialogue and contribute in whatever way they can. The success of the day depends greatly upon the response of the Oberlin community.

Lassen is optimistic and already looking at ways to help in the future.

"We hope the program is such a success that they make us a regular stop on their trip," he said.


Oberlin

Copyright © 1997, The Oberlin Review.
Volume 125, Number 24, May 9, 1997

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