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 The London meeting of the Fight Racism! Fight Imperialism! Speaking Tour event organised by the Revolutionary Communist Group took place on Saturday 18 October 2009 at Bolivar Hall, London. The day school consisted of two discussions: one on Socialist Cuba and ALBA; the other on the capitalist crisis and imperialism.
The speaker on Cuba provided an in-depth analysis of how Cuba survived periods of economic crisis, without betraying its socialist principles and welfare-based development model. Measures taken during Cuba's Special Period and in the current crisis demonstrate how in practice the socialist alternative to the destruction and brutality unleashed during crises under capitalism. The discussion also assessed the building of the Bolivarian Alliance for the Americas (ALBA) as a barrier to imperialist domination and capital penetration from the US and Europe and highlighted the importance of the Bank of ALBA, and the new virtual currency, the SUCRE, which will be launched early next year for ALBA trade.
In the second session David Yaffe explained the economic crisis and gave a detailed factual analysis of the parasitic nature of capitalism. He addressed the subjects of debt and British foreign investment and exposed the nonsensical denial of imperialism which emanates from large sections of the British Trotskyist left. He made it clear that the current crisis and the attacks on public services, such as health and education, can only be challenged by a new militant movement which is not tied to the ‘left’ of the Labour Party and which puts the interests of the whole working class above defending the narrow privilege of the labour aristocracy, which has been bribed with crumbs of the wealth plundered from the oppressed of the world.
A Bolivian member of the audience spoke from the floor about his experience with the Socialist Worker Party (SWP) and their bankrupt position on left wing movements in Bolivia. It was reported that he and other Bolivians wanted to hold meetings and discussions surrounding the ongoing Bolivian water wars but were denied by national executive member Alex Callinicos, who claimed Bolivia "was not important". It was stated that after this experience they left the SWP to form the Bolivian Solidarity Campaign. The majority of the left in Britain ignores the vibrant revolutionary developments in Latin America and fails to highlight the reality of years of imperialist plunder and oppression the people have been forced to face. Other contributions to the discussion focussed on how to provide alternative revolutionary education for young people in imperialist Britain.
The meeting ended with a call to support actions in support of asylum seekers and the struggle of the Palestinian people, and to participate in further in-depth educational discussion around revolutionary theory and practice.
Fight Racism! Fight Imperialism!
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On Saturday 12 September 2009, to mark the 11th anniversary of the incarceration of the Cuban 5, over 60 people protested in a busy shopping street in the Angel, near central London , to demand the release of the Cuban 5, as part of an international day of action.
The event was called by Rock around the Blockade (RATB), a campaign in solidarity with socialist Cuba and against the US blockade, to demand the immediate release of the five Cuban heroes. Under the title Break the Chains: Free the Cuban 5, Free all Political Prisoners of Imperialism, the rally highlighted the use as a torture camp of Guantanamo Bay , in illegally occupied Cuba , to hold prisoners of the imperialist ‘war on terror’. Speakers also exposed the situation of refugees and asylum seekers in Britain , thousands of whom are daily detained and deported under Britain ’s racist immigrations laws. Detainees include nearly 500 children currently incarcerated.
People spoke passionately on the megaphone about the unfair trial of the 5 as well as the CIA’s involvement in training and supporting known terrorists Luis Posada Carriles and Orlando Bosch. Protesters also spoke out against other recent crimes of imperialism and its allies, such as the military coup in Honduras and the continued occupation of Palestine and Afghanistan . The event was supported by comrades from the Movement of Ecuadorians in the UK (MERU) and other left wing groups, as well as passers by who joined in to hand out leaflets with information about the Cuban 5.
Also today, RATB comrades from Manchester and Liverpool, cities in the north of England , took to the streets to publicise the case of the Cuban 5. Members of RATB in Edinburgh , Scotland , marched to the US Consulate with Free the 5 banners, leaflets and petitions.
RATB was founded in 1995 by members and supporters of the Revolutionary Communist Group. Since then we have sent ten brigades to Cuba , providing solidarity material to Cuban youth. Over the years we have consistently protested to demand freedom for the Cuban 5, as well as organising street events, meetings, day schools, film showings, educationals and live music events to provide a voice in support of socialist Cuba from within imperialist Britain.
Photos taken by Virgilio Poncer
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On Sunday July 26, celebrating the 56th year since the attack on Moncada Barracks that sparked Cuba ’s revolutionary movement and the 50th anniversary of the Cuban Revolution, Rebel Music (Rock Around the Blockade) in collaboration with the Ecuadorian Movement in the UK (MERU) and the Tawantinsuyu Movement hosted a party in the best Latin American tradition. 'Cuba Fiesta' was attended by over 60 guests with music from DJ Dave, the Cultural Movement Amigo Artista and from Bolivia the artist Paxtzy Coca and adorned with an art display, called ‘public opinion’, by Bolivian artist Marcelo Duchen Rodriguez.
Altogether, it was a fantastic celebration where people danced to Cuban rhythms, like Guantanamera, danced the conga and sang the most emotive song that reminds us of the power of the revolution: Che Guevara - Hasta Siempre Comandante. We look forward to many celebrations together in the future.
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On Saturday 6 June 2009, members of Rock Around the Blockade gathered outside the US embassy in London to protest at the unjust imprisonment of the Cuban 5, and to show solidarity with the prisoners and with the
Cuban state.
The Cuban 5 were imprisoned by the American government over a decade
ago on false charges of espionage, when in fact they were attempting
to infiltrate right-wing anti-Cuba terrorist groups based in Miami.
Today’s demonstration was part of an international day of action to
support the five men and to demand that they be freed immediately.
The protesters then marched to the Oxford Street branch of Lloyds TSB
to protest against the bank’s ongoing enforcement of the US’s trade
blockade of Cuba. Last year Lloyds prohibited customers from using
their accounts to trade with Cuba, therefore adding to the US’s
devastating economic stranglehold on the island.
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Report on 3 June Bolivar Hall meeting, revolution and reaction in Bolivia
Revolution and reaction in Bolivia was the title of the meeting on 3 June organised by Rock around the Blockade, the Tawantinsuyu Movement and Bolivia Solidarity Campaign.
The meeting hall filled up quickly and the room was buzzing with excitement...on the platform was Marcelo from the Tawantinsuyu Movement, in the audience was Diana also from the Tawantinsuyu Movement...24 hours before they were both being held in Yarl's Wood detention centre, illegally abducted from Communications House and threatened with imminent deportation. An immediate campaign was launched by their friends and supporters, including members of all three organisations hosting this meeting. Action included excellent and urgent legal work, a barrage of faxes and phone calls to the Home Office, including the UK Border Agency and to the airline, preparations for demonstrations (and we were inspired by the recent successful actions coordinated by Colombia Solidarity Campaign to prevent the deportation of a young man)....at the eleventh hour the Home Office cancelled their removal and bail was granted. What a victory and what a lesson. As Nicki of Fight Racism! Fight Imperialism! said at the meeting, no one must be snatched in silence. It is clear that collective organisation is vital to raise the issue of Britain's racist immigration laws, the conditions in the detention centres and the deportations that go on daily, returning many people to situations where their lives are in danger.
The speakers spoke enthusiastically about their areas of knowledge:
Sam from Rock around the Blockade about the significance of the Cuban revolution to building socialism and the importance of Cuba's relationship with Bolivia, highlighting three areas in particular, ALBA (the Bolivarian Alternative for Latin America) and the cooperation between countries of the Americas undermining the dominance of US imperialism, the medical aid given to Bolivia by Cuba and the significance that is having in terms of health improvement and lives saved and the issue of literacy that Cuba is helping Bolivia with, so central to empowering people to take control of their futures, as Jose Marti said, to be educated is to be free.
Marcelo of the Tawantinsuyu Movement spoke of Bolivia as part of the Andean region, of socialism in the Andes and the issue of the indigenous people of the area. He made the audience aware of the central significant question of the land, always the issue in any revolutionary movement, and how the land belongs to all people and there is a balance of nature that must be respected in order for humanity to survive. He described Morales as the head of the indigenous movement of the world and the signficance of the new constitution in this context.
Amancay of the Bolivia Solidarity Campaign gave an excellent history, in a very short space of time, of Bolivia and its riches that have always been plundered for the benefits of others and not the Bolivians. She spoke of the revolutionary resistance of the peoples of Bolivia, in the water wars and the gas wars and the violent deaths of hundreds of thousands of people in the struggle. She spoke of the situation since the election of Evo Morales in 2005 and the overwhelming support for the new constituent assembly and above all came the message that the enemy of the people are the multinationals. As Amancay pointed out - London, where this meeting was being held, is the heart of imperialist Britain and the home to many of the vicious multinationals. We must act together to get information out about their role and put that in context of imperialist Britain, out on the streets we have the power to change the course of history.
From the floor speakers included activists from the Latin American community and in particular the Mitie strikers, on the street every Friday protesting outside Willis and HBOS, demanding the reinstatement of low paid workers sacked for demanding their rights. The issue of HBOS links with Lloyds TSB, where there will be demonstration this Saturday afternoon, 6 June, as part of the international days of action for the Cuban 5 (see http://ratb.org.uk/Free_the_Five.HTML) exposing British banks for supporting the US blockade of Cuba.
Viva Cuba!
Viva Bolivia!
Viva ALBA!
Unity is strength!
Together we will win!
Hasta la victoria siempre!
Click here to read alternative report
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RATB brigadistas Report back Meeting, London, Weds 20 May
On Wednesday 20th May, 60 people crowded into a room at LSE to hear six Londoners talk about their participation in the recent Rock around the Blockade solidarity brigade to Cuba. It was named La Brigada del Cinquenta Anniversario, in recognition of the fact that it was lucky enough to be visit Cuba during the 50th anniversary of the revolution. For all but one of the brigadistas, it had been their first trip to Cuba and at Wednesday’s meeting they formed a young, dynamic panel of speakers who each had something different to report on. Areas discussed included democracy in Cuba, education, agriculture, and a report of the international conference for the Cuban 5, which welcomed delegates from around the globe, and at which RATB gave a short speech. There were also video clips - an interesting testimony to the experiences described -including a moving clip of the Mayday parade in Havana, an important and massive day of celebration in Cuba.
As always at RATB meetings there were more questions than time – although many people came for more informal discussion at a social afterwards, and said how informative and interesting the meeting had been.
It was obvious that the brigadistas had gained a huge amount of practical and political knowledge from this brigade. The six speakers, most of whom are fairly new to politics, have returned to Britain enriched, inspired and altogether better-placed to continue with their anti-imperialist struggles here in Britain.
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50 YEARS OF REVOLUTION IN CUBA
On the 17 January 2009, almost 250 people gathered at Bolivar Hall, the Venezuelan embassy, to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the Cuban Revolution. The meeting, organised by Rock around the Blockade, can only be described as a resounding success.
The panel of speakers was vibrant and the audience more so, both providing discussion points that could have continued for hours. We were honoured to have representatives from the Cuban, Venezuelan and Bolivian embassies. Rafael Sardinas from the Cuban Embassy spoke of the triumph of the revolution and its gains in the face of US terrorism. Williams Suarez from the Venezuelan Embassy and Ruben Vidaurre from the Bolivian Embassy both spoke of developments of Latin America and the inspiration that Cuba provides. It was very significant to be in Bolivar Hall, with Venezuelan and Bolivian comrades, both of whose countries have taken the principled lead and cut all ties with the Zionist State of Israel. In fact, the topic of Palestine was brought up by almost all speakers, Neeva Shanti speaking on behalf of the Revolutionary Communist Group. Diego Almeida, from the Movement of Ecuadorians in the UK, and Jeremy Dear, general secretary of the National Union of Journalists and speaking on behalf of Justice for Colombia. It was clear that many people arrived after having gone to the rally for Palestine in Trafalgar Square that afternoon, and when the floor was opened to the audience for discussion, the brutal, racist, occupation of Palestine was raised with speakers expressing their condemnation of Britain and US’ political and military support of the Israeli State.
Diego Almeida gave a moving and informative history of the Ecuadorian peoples and described the problems they had been having with the corrupt leadership the country had had up until the recent election of Rafael Correa. Jeremy Dear spoke of the serious situation in Colombia, where 1,000s of people are ‘disappeared’, simply for being in trade unions or for taking a stand against the brutality of the government. He talked about the fact that the media is always criticising Cuba with this idea that Cubans have no right or capacity in which to express themselves, but asked us, how many Cubans have been ‘disappeared’ in revolutionary Cuba? The answer is none – compared to 3,000 in Colombia over the last few years, while the media demonises Cuba and holds Colombia up as a beacon of democracy in the region.
Helen Yaffe, author of the soon-to-be released Che Guevara: The Economics of Revolution, gave an energetic speech dispelling many of the myths about Cuba which are regularly propagated by the media and put the recent changes in context of the political and economic situation in Cuba. Hannah Caller spoke about the incredible achievements of Cuba in the field of health and education, and that their quest for universal healthcare includes the internationalist role of Cuban medical teams abroad. Despite the hardship and isolation of the Special Period, not one hospital or school was closed.
One thing was clear to every person by the end of the day, the struggle of the Cuban people is to be celebrated and held up as an aspiration for humanity. Appeals were made throughout the day that it is the responsibility of each and every one of us to become active. The choice for humanity is socialism or barbarism.
The day was rounded off with a beautiful performance by Cuban classical guitarist Ahmed Dickinson.
Viva Cuba socialista!
Long live Palestine!
 
 
 
 
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Dayschool: Che Guevara, Cuba and Socialism in Latin America
 
Dayschool: Che Guevara, Cuba and Socialism in Latin America
On Saturday 1st November, RATB supported a dayschool organised by the LSE Fight Racism! Fight Imperialism! Student Society on the subject of 'Che Guevara, Cuba and Socialism in Latin America'. Attendees heard in-depth analyses of the revolutionary processes in Cuba, Venezuela, Bolivia and Ecuador.
The speakers were:
- Dr Helen Yaffe, ( UCL/Rock around the Blockade) - Che Guevara's legacy in Cuba
- Prof Al Campbell (Utah University, USA) - The challenge of transition in Venezuela
- Robert Clough (FRFI) - The Battle for Bolivia
- Fidel Narváez (Movement of Ecuadorians in the UK)- The new constitution in Ecuador
The dayschool took place on the eve of the 50th anniversary of the Cuban Revolution, and in the context of a revolutionary socialist movement that is gathering pace in Latin America. The dayschool was also supported by the Movement of Ecuadorians in the UK (info@movimientoecuador.co.uk).
Dr Helen Yaffe spoke in detail about Che’s work in the Cuban Ministry of Industry during the 1960s. His Budgetary Finance System was an alternative to the system of planning in the Soviet Union, and his conception of socialist transformation influences Cuban society to this day.
Prof Al Campbell spoke about the challenges facing President Hugo Chavez and the socialist movement in Venezuela, as they struggle to overturn capitalism in spite of imperialist aggression and interference from the United States.
Robert Clough described the unique features of the anti-imperialist movement in Bolivia and its development into a powerful force for socialism, defeating violent opposition from the ruling class, again sponsored by imperialism.
Finally Fidel Narváez from the Movement of Ecuadorians in the UK spoke about Ecuador’s new anti-imperialist constitution, which has provided the starting point to free Ecuador from the exploitation of oil multinationals and its crippling overseas debt.
The Bolivarian Alternative for the Americas (ALBA) is forging a united front of radical South American governments which represent the interests of the oppressed. It is a battle with global consequences - directly challenging the regional and global hegemony of US imperialism and its allies – and offering an alternative model for social development in the context of capitalist crisis.
RATB is proud to stand in support of the anti-imperialist and socialist movements in Latin America, and will continue publicising their achievements.  
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