U.S. colonial government okays dumping waste

Puerto Rico’s environmental and health movement mobilized to stop legislation proposed by the U.S. colonial government that would eliminate restrictions on poisonous coal ash and profit the U.S. corporation AES. This clearly shows how the Puerto Rican government responds directly to U.S. interests and not to its people. It is no coincidence that this happens as the U.S.’s Environmental Protection Agency lowers the standards to benefit toxic corporations.

Alerted by militant activists in the municipality of Peñuelas, www.primerahola.com reported, “Ricardo Roselló [the current governor of Puerto Rico], through the Department of Natural and Environmental Resources, is preparing to allow the indiscriminate use of these wastes through the statute ‘Standards for the Beneficial Use of Coal Combustion Residues,’ which will be discussed this Thursday, Nov. 29 in public hearings,“ in Río Piedras.

On Dec. 12, demonstrators picketed the hearing in the capital of San Juan. Jimmy Borrero denounced the proposal from the audience. Borrero testified by video about the Peñuelas struggle at the International Tribunal on U.S. Colonial Crimes in Puerto Rico held in New York City on Oct. 27, 2018.

On Dec. 20, Centro Periodismo Investigativo reports: “While in the Dominican Republic there is a debate over the number of people who must be compensated after breathing and swallowing — for years — AES coal ashes at Arroyo Barril, in Puerto Rico the government is presenting a regulation that perpetuates the toxic waste on the island.”

As was shown at the International Tribunal in New York, turning Caribbean islands into toxic dumps for U.S. corporations has met strong resistance. The Peñuelas activists stopped the dumping there and are determined to stop this new move to make it legal. Cancer, birth defects, and toxicity that poisons the soil, water and plants with heavy metals are well proven and not denied.

These facts are well known in Puerto Rico, but AES environmental racism is ignored by the U.S. media.

The AES website boasts: “The AES Corporation (NYSE: AES) is a Fortune 500 global power company. We provide affordable, sustainable energy to 15 countries through our diverse portfolio of distribution businesses as well as thermal and renewable generation facilities. Our workforce is committed to operational excellence and meeting the world’s changing power needs. Our 2017 revenues were $11 billion and we own and manage $33 billion in total assets.” Its headquarters is in Arlington, Va. The company’s official slogan is “The Power of Being Global.”

The deadly falsehood of so-called clean coal is, for workers, gruesomely demonstrated in the Arroyo Barril report by Centro Periodismo Investigativo cited above. Puerto Rico and the Dominican Republic have ample sunshine and wind to generate power. Coal plants only benefit the corporate bottom line.

The historic agreement reached between the Cuban Baseball Federation, Major League Baseball and the Major League Baseball Players Association is a testament to Cuba’s sovereignty and the unity of the Cuban people.

Revolutionary Cuba has been a sovereign and independent state since January 1, 1959, when a successful revolution occurred that led to the overthrow of the dictator Fulgencio Batista. The July 26 Movement, led by Fidel Castro, was the revolutionary vanguard organization that led the revolution.

Immediately after the revolution, the Cuban government enacted progressive reforms that benefited the Cuban people, such as land reform, and universal health care and education, just to name a few. In addition, Cuba exerted its sovereignty and no longer allowed Cuba to be the playground of the rich and wealthy, particularly those from the U.S.

The U.S. government retaliated by placing a blockade against the island. However, the U.S. and Cuba continued to share one national pastime: baseball. The blockade could not stop that.

This shared passion can be traced all the way back to 1868 in Lansingburgh, N.Y. Enrique “Steve” Bellán, the “father” of Cuban baseball, laced up his cleats for the first time in the U.S., playing six seasons in the National Association of Base Ball Players. At the end of 1874, Bellán participated in the first formal, organized baseball game in Havana, Cuba, where he was born.

Agreement ends trafficking

On Dec. 19, 2018, in Havana, the Cuban Baseball Federation (CBF) and Major League Baseball (MLB) along with the Major League Baseball Players Association (MLBPA) reached an agreement that will allow Cuban players to sign MLB contracts without defecting, which previously was the only way for a Cuban to play in the Major Leagues. This agreement effectively ends the practice of encouraging Cuban baseball players to defect  and eliminates the dangerous trafficking that had gone on for decades.

The agreement between all the parties — MLB, MLBPA, FCB — essentially guarantees the orderly and  nondiscriminatory presence of Cuban baseball players in U.S. baseball. Cuban players will be able to sign regular contracts with Major League teams without having to give up their Cuban residence or their connection with the teams they play with in Cuba.  

“Today is a happy day for Cuban baseball, for the world, the people of Cuba and the United States,” said Higinio Vélez Carrión, president of the CBF, at a news conference.

“The agreement will help curb illegal activities such as human trafficking, which for several years has put the lives and physical well-being of many young Cuban baseball talents and their families at risk. It is also part of the effort to continue strengthening the practice, enjoyment and development of the national sport. The agreement will have a positive impact for many athletes in the country, for national teams and the CBF,” he continued.

The MLBPA players’ union executive director, Tony Clark, said: “Establishing a safe, legal process for entry to our system is the most important step we can take to ending the exploitation and endangerment of Cuban players who pursue careers in Major League Baseball. The safety and well-being of these young men remains our primary concern.”

The agreement mirrors the rules for Cuban players under contract in Japan and South Korea, and  is binding through Oct. 31, 2021, expiring around the same time as the MLB-MLBPA union contract.

Washington, D.C.

Fifty years ago, hundreds of young militants overcame U.S. government obstacles and repression to forge the very first international solidarity brigade with the Cuban revolution, named the Venceremos Brigade. Over the years, literally thousands of people from the U.S. have traveled to Cuba with the VB, ignoring and confronting the U.S. ban on travel to Cuba.

Applications at VB4Cuba.org are now available for the 50th Anniversary Venceremos Brigade, which will take place July-August 2019. Applications are due March 1 but the application fee is waived for applications filed before Feb. 1.

Although direct flights from U.S. airports give the general public an illusion of normalized relations between the U.S. and Cuba, the U.S. economic, financial and commercial blockade is very much in place. Even basic medical supplies and parts ― allowed under U.S. law ― are unavailable for purchase abroad because corporations and banks refuse any transaction with Cuba, fearful of U.S. fines.

The steadfastness of the solidarity movement — alongside the millions of Cubans committed to self determination for their island nation ― has brought these victories: a Cuban Embassy in Washington, D.C.; a U.S. farm bill that includes funding, albeit limited, to promote trade with Cuba; and Cuban baseball players who no longer are forced to choose between their homeland and a major league baseball contract.

The Cuban Revolution cannot be erased and their accomplishments must not be hidden from workers and oppressed people in the U.S.

VB50 promises to be a special experience where you can witness what Cuba has built over the difficult decades, together with brigadistas, as they remember those early cane cutting days.

In spring 2019, the Pastors for Peace project of the Interreligious Foundation for Community Organization (IFCO) plans to hold educational meetings across the country to discuss current events with Cuba, ending the blockade, travel restrictions and getting the U.S. out of Guantánamo. If your organization wants to host a speaker with information about the Cuba Caravan, please write to friendshipmentcaravan@ifconews.org

This is also a historic project. When the Soviet Union and the Eastern Bloc fell in 1989, the danger of U.S. aggression against Cuba spiked. In response, the late Rev. Lucius Walker proposed solidarity caravans to the Cuban island. Every year and sometimes more than once per year, sometimes via Mexico and other times through Canada, IFCO built an annual international solidarity action.

14th International May Day Brigade

The Cuban Institute of Friendship with the Peoples has invited supporters from around the world to join them for May Day, the International Workers Day, from April 21 to May 5. The program, which includes travel and events outside of Havana, accomodations with three meals daily for 15 days, is $650 per person. You are responsible for your travel to Havana and the cost of a Cuban visa.

All the information about this exciting opportunity can be found at the May Day Brigade tab on the National Network on Cuba website, NNOC.info. Space is limited. The deadline for applications is March 15. For more information write to ICanGoToCuba@nnoc.info

Let’s go to Cuba and see it for ourselves. Millions of people from around the world do it, why can’t we!