A Record of Cuba Support Group Ireland’s activities in 2021
We started the year in a severe pandemic lockdown with a complete ban on all demonstrations and meetings outside the home. Even exercise outside the home was restricted to maximum essential travel limits. We had to innovate and adapt our activities, often at short notice, to this reality and grab opportunities to express solidarity with the long-suffering people of Cuba as, and when, the sanitary situation allowed. None of our activities contravened the Covid19 guidelines issued by the Irish government, yet Cuba Support Group Ireland managed to have a full calendar of events all around the country. The following will give a flavour of the main public activities we put on. Other events were planned and had to be curtailed or cancelled. We have also spent considerable time planning new campaigns in conjunction with sister Cuba solidarity organisations around the world which we hope to announce in 2022.
January 2021
#WalkingforCuba Derry takes place under severe Covid19 lockdown
At the instigation of CSGI members, Derry City and Strabane District Council unanimously pass a motion inviting the Henry Reeve Brigade to their community to fight the Covid19 pandemic.
February
DoubleDown News interview with Finbar Markey 1hr interview available online
The Irish Parliamentary Friendship Group under, the leadership of Thomas Pringle TD, call for the EU to defend the statements of the EU Ambassador to Cuba, Alberto Navarroon which had come under fire from ultra-right-wing elements in the EU parliament:
Reinvigorated Dublin Branch of Cuba Support Group Ireland reestablished under new leadership.
Donation of €5,000 from CSGI delivered to MediCuba Europa to purchase blockaded essential components for the Cuban Covid19 immunisation programme.
March
Strict pandemic lockdown with 5km travel restricts all street protests.
Protest planned for the US Embassy against the US Blockade of Cuba is switched to online:
April
Local protests held within the 5km pandemic restrictions all around the country. Video of protests against the US Blockade of Cuba released.
Socially distanced protest organised by CSGI Dublin Branch outside the US Embassy commemorates the 60th anniversary of the Bay of Pigs victory of the US-backed invasion of Cuba:
CSGI Derry Branch protest and Cavalcade against the US Blockade of Cuba.
May
Video Rebelde podcast launched with the first interview with Dr.Helen Yaffe on the Bio-Tech Industry in Cuba
Subsequent interviews discuss the Cuban Energy Revolution, the GeoPolitical situation of Cuba, Cuban Medical Internationalism, the Media War on Cuba, Media Bias, the award-winning Irish documentary film “Castro’s Spies”.
#WalkingForCuba events all over the country continue:
CSGI support the #CubanosEnIrlanda protest against the blockade outside the US Embassy in Dublin.
June
Cork #WalkingForCuba event:
Online donations facility launched for the #WalkingForCuba events in support of the Cuban vaccination programme. Interactive map to log mileage and local walks also added.
Slieve League #WalkingForCuba event held in Donegal.
Rathkeale Greenway #WalkingForCuba event held in Co Limerick:
July
60km over-night sponsored walk from Kildare to the Irish Parliament to demand action against the illegal US Blockade of Cuba attracts local media coverage, and raises over €2,000 for the Cuban vaccination program.
The event was also widely covered in the Cuban media read here in the Granna
Anti-Cuban demonstration outside the Cuban Embassy in Dublin was successfully contained and rendered irrelevant.
Revolutionaries reclaiming the streets – emergency demonstration outside the US Embassy in Dublin in response to US orchestrated counter-revolutionary demonstrations in Cuba:
August
On holidays.
September
Transfer of €5,000 to the Medi-Cuba Europa sister organisation for the purchase of essential medical supplies necessary for the Cuban vaccination program against the Covid19 pandemic.This brought the total for the year to €12,000, a record for Ireland. Donate online from anywhere in the world: Link here
#EndTheBlockade
October
“Che Abú” 26 km walk around Dublin City to celebrate the life of Che Guevara and raise funds for the Cuban vaccination programme:
November
Galway waterways #WalkingForCuba event:
Stall in Dublin’s main street to hand out leaflets about the US Blockade of Cuba and raise awareness of Cuba’s achievements:
December
Demonstration against the US Blockade of Cuba outside the General Post Office on Dublin’s main street:
Happy New Year 2022 – Year 64 of the Cuban Revolution – from all in Cuba Support Group Ireland
Like Cuba, we end the 2021 stronger than we began it with membership up, fundraising up, activities up and an unassailable record in Ireland of meaningful solidarity with the Cuban Revolution.
Patria O Muerte, Venceremos!
Donate: https://bit.ly/CSGI-Donate
