Greta Thunberg speaks on why we should support the Global Convoy to Cuba
PeoplesWorld.org: Shield of the Americas summit builds MAGA world order The Shield of the Americas, a military coalition officially intended to combat drug trafficking and irregular immigration, as well as to contain “hostile foreign influences.” It aims to replace CELAC and Latin America as a Zone of Peace. The signal coming out of the summit was that in the “Trump Corollary” you’re either a vassal or a target. In the end, 17 countries signed onto Trump’s “Americas Counter Cartel Coalition”—the official organization behind the Shield of the Americas marketing. It is yet another military alliance that seeks to mobilize armed forces against alleged criminal organizations “to defeat these threats to our security and civilization.”
Cuba
USA Today: Cuba to open private sector to Cuban Americans as talks with US grow Cubans living overseas, including in places like Miami, will be allowed to invest in Cuba’s private sector and own businesses in their home country, the nation’s top economic official said in a March 16 interview with NBC News. Oscar Pérez-Oliva Fraga, Cuba’s economic czar and its deputy prime minister, said his country was “open to maintaining a fluid commercial relationship with U.S. companies” and “also with Cubans living in the United States and their descendants.” See also Wall Street Journal: Cuban Regime Wants Diaspora to Own Businesses on the Island
Resumen Latinoamericano (Rosa Miriam Elizalde): Remember Giron During the invasion at Playa Girón [Bay of Pigs, in 1961], the attackers’ air force had around 30 aircraft, including B-26 bombers and C-46 and C-54 transport planes used to drop paratroopers and provide logistical support. On the Cuban side, the revolutionary air force could barely muster eight operational aircraft: a few Sea Fury fighters, a couple of T-33 jets, and a handful of B-26s recovered after the fall of Batista’s dictatorship. The disparity was enormous, and yet in less than 72 hours, those eight aircraft proved decisive in breaking through enemy defenses and striking a blow to the invasion’s logistics.
It is worth remembering this story because its political significance remains relevant today. The mercenaries, backed by the CIA, would land with clear material superiority. Their plan was to destroy the Cuban air force on the ground, secure control of the airspace, and protect the beachhead until a provisional government could be established that would request direct intervention by the US.
The Cuban question has never been exclusively a military problem, but above all a political one. Even in 1961, when the United States had overwhelming material superiority, the operation failed because it did not manage to break the Cuban state’s capacity for resistance or provoke the internal fracture it had hoped for. Historical experience suggests that the decisive issue is not the material strength of the adversary, but a country’s ability to prevent that strength from translating into political dominance. Girón showed that even an operation prepared for months and backed by the greatest power on the planet could fail if it encountered organized resistance and political leadership capable of sustaining it.
TeleSur: Mexico President Sheinbaum reiterates support for Cuba The President noted that Mexico will continue to send humanitarian assistance to the island to help address the economic and energy challenges stemming from the intensification of the U.S. blockade. She also affirmed that this policy reflects the tradition of fraternity and cooperation that characterizes Mexican foreign policy. Sheinbaum underscored that this support for the Cuban people aligns with the principle of the self-determination of peoples, as well as with Mexico’s commitment to peace and international solidarity.
Sheinbaum said Mexico decided to maintain assistance despite the difficulties involved in transporting fuel. Cuban President Diaz-Canel has said Cuba has not received oil for three months. In 2025, 44% of Cuba’s imported oil came from Mexico. President Díaz-Canel emphasized that Mexico has been the country that has stood out the most in its solidarity with the island since the US intensified the blockade.
Contribute to the Global Convoy to Cuba
Medicc: Light for Life: Generating Solar Energy for Cuban Maternity Homes
Nicaragua Solidarity Coalition fundraising campaign for Global Convoy to Cuba
DSA International Committee: Stop the Siege on Cuba
Global Health Partners: Help Send Life Saving Medical Aid to Cuba Now!
Car Caravan for Cuba: Direct Action, Medical Aid, and Solidarity
Let Cuba Live: Urgent: Send Solar Generators and Panels to Cuban Hospitals
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Venezuela
Common Dreams (Leonardo Flores): ‘The First Victim Was the Truth’ – The Cognitive War on Venezuela Hours after the bombing and kidnapping of President Maduro, Trump went on television to say the military operation was easy, and that narrative was widely accepted. No, the January 3rd attack wasn’t “easy,” nor was it a victory. Though the U.S. demonstrated its military advantage, it has not won the cognitive battle. The superiority shown by the Venezuelan people surpasses anything [the U.S.] has done. Their military attack needed an internal war, a fratricidal war they did not achieve. There was no such war, no coup, no regime change. The January 3rd attack would have been the perfect opportunity for a new color revolution or rebellion. The grassroots, the government, the military, and the police remain united behind acting President Delcy Rodríguez. Now is a time to relentlessly denounce the kidnapping of a president and a legislator.
Ultimas Noticias: Delcy Rodríguez to Trump: sanctions against Venezuela must cease “I take this opportunity to send a message to US President Donald Trump. The sanctions against Venezuela must cease. The unilateral coercive measures imposed against the Venezuelan people affect the people of Latin America and also have an impact on the economies of Colombia and Venezuela. This is a way to promote regional integration,” she said.
Venezuela Report Back webinar with Diaspora Pa’lante and Black Alliance for Peace
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Upcoming Events
March 18 webinar: US Sanctions: A Brutal But Failed Weapon of War with Sara Flounders
March 21: Hands off Uhuru webinar: Hands off Iran, Cuba, Venezuela
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Delegations to Cuba, Nicaragua:
Cuba – Video: Yes You can Travel to Cuba
Travel to Cuba with Belly of the Beast, March 14-21 or April 4-11 bellyofthebeastcuba.com
Labor & Youth Activists Delegation, April 23- May 3
Building Relations with Cuban Labor May Day Delegation
NNOC 19th International May Day Brigade
May Day in Santiago de Cuba 2026 (download info doc)
Witness for Peace 2026 delegations to Cuba
Friendly Planet delegations to Cuba
Ernesto ‘Che’ Guevara Volunteer Work Brigade
Nicaragua
Casa Ben Linder Email casabenjaminlinder@gmail.com to apply:
21 May – 2 June 2026 Mayo Ya! Celebrating Afro-Caribbean Culture. Join us in Bluefields for the Mayo Ya celebrations featuring street dances, parades and traditional music to welcome the rainy season. Application deadline March 1st.
July 2026: Solidarity in Action: Nicaragua’s Popular Revolution
October 2026: Salud & Solidaridad: Hands-On Healthcare in Nicaragua
Now offering Spanish classes! Fun and practical language classes at Casa Ben Linder – our
model teaches 1/2 day class & 1/2 day practice in a community setting.
This is available at ChicagoALBASolidarity.org. If you have events to publicize, send them to stansfieldsmith100@gmail.com