[antiwar-van] Report Back: 2nd Int'l Che Guevara Conference a big success!

[Tamara Hansen]

Report Back!
2ND INTERNATIONAL CHE GUEVARA CONFERENCE
June 26-28, 2009 | Vancouver, Canada
”50 Years of Dynamism of the Cuban Revolution”

* The first evening of the conference - Friday June 26, 2009 *

On the opening night of the 2nd International Che Guevara Conference, Friday June 26th, participants were welcomed by the evening’s MC’s Aaron Mercredi, a VCSC organizer and editorial board member of the Fire This Time Newspaper and Colleen Glynn, also a VCSC organizer and president of the New Democratic Party (NDP) Richmond. The conference began with a welcoming from Kelly White, a Coast Salish elder and activist, who spoke about the common struggle of Cuba and Indigenous nations, and welcomed the participants to the Coast Salish Territory with her drumming, prayers and call for “Viva Cuba!” The inspiration of the Cuban revolution was then expressed through the words of local poets Luis Velasquez and Shakeel Lochan. Tamara Hansen, coordinator of Vancouver Communities in Solidarity with Cuba (VCSC) and co-chair of the Canadian Network on Cuba (CNC) then gave the conference opening address, and the conference was officially in full swing. 

With a warm welcome, the keynote speaker of the evening, Isaac Saney, was invited up. Isaac Saney is a professor at Dalhousie University as well as author of the acclaimed book “Cuba: A Revolution in Motion” and the co-chair of the Canadian Network on Cuba (CNC). He gave a presentation on the theme “Cuba: A Revolution in Motion & What We Need to Learn from the Cuban Revolution.” Accompanied by informative slides, Isaac Saney took participants through the immense progress that Cuba has made in the course of its revolution, in aspects of health, education, and other living standards. He also explained how Cuba has not kept these achievements to itself but with an internationalist perspective has sent tens of thousands of doctors and teachers to contribute around the world. After an enthusiastic applause, there was a lively discussion before the first day of the conference wrapped up.

For the complete 2nd International Che Guevara Conference report and photos, please visit: http://www.vancubasolidarity.com/0906checonf.html   



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