Hundreds toast Cuban Revolution

BY KIM BULLIMORE

SYDNEY — Hundreds of supporters of Cuba have gathered here twice in the past two weeks to celebrate the 48th anniversary of the July 26, 1953, storming of the Moncada barracks, the spark which set off the Cuban Revolution six years later.

On July 21, 200 people joined the Cuban Consul-General to Australia, Sicilia Fernandez Dominguez, in toasting the Cuban people's ongoing struggle and courage. Organised by the Australia-Cuba Friendship Society, the event raised money to aid medical facilities in Cuba.

Then on July 28, 70 people attended a dinner organised by the Sydney inner-west branch of the Democratic Socialist Party.

Cuban solidarity activist and Democratic Socialist Party member Noreen Navin told the crowd that despite the economic hardship caused by the US government's illegal economic blockade, not one Cuban school or hospital has closed, education from kindergarten to the completion of university remained free and housing and food was subsidised.

Anti-capitalist activist Will Williams spoke of his trip to Cuba, pointing out the visual difference between Cuba — where homelesness and starvation are unknown — and Quebec, in Canada, where he was shocked by the large number of homeless people sleeping in the snow.

Peter Weitzel from the Australia-Cuba Friendship Society proposed a toast to the revolution. Almost $1000 was raised on the night for the Green Left Weekly fighting fund.

From GLW issue 459