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Tip: Your message to SUST-MAR must be html-free. So, BEFORE you hit SEND, please go to your "Format" pull-down menu and select "Plain text." Thanks! ____________________________________________________________________________ ALL INVITED TO THE PREMIERE OF THE FILM YES! I AM MY SISTER’S & BROTHER’S KEEPER: CUBA AND SOUTHERN AFRICAN LIBERATION 7pm, Thursday, November 18th Ondaatje Hall FASS Building Dalhousie University Yes! I AM MY SISTER’S AND BROTHER’S KEEPER documents Cuba’s decisive role in achieving the independence of Namibia and ending racist rule in South Africa. Includes footage of Nelson Mandela’s visit to Cuba and his moving speech in praise of the island’s invaluable contribution to the liberation struggles of Africa; the critical 1988 Battle of Cuito Cuanavale and Fidel Castro’s commentary. A Nova Scotia-Cuba Association presentation of an Isaac Saney/Mark Rushton production (Halifax 2004). A non-profit, educational project. Premiere co-sponsored by: James Robinson Johnson Chair of Black Canadian Studies and CKDU 97.5 FM Radio. _______________________________________________________ Keith Ellis, a Cuba specialist at the University of Toronto, underscores: “Humanity owes Cuba an enormous debt. In the history of humankind there has been no country as generous as Cuba.” Dominic Tweedle, a resident of Johannesburg, exhorts us not to “forget that Cubans shed blood in Angola for the sake of the liberation of all Southern Africa.” Thenjiwe Mtintso, South Africa’s ambassador to Cuba affirms: “No country has given as much to the world as Cuba. No country has received so little materially from the world as Cuba.” In describing the significance of Cuba’s assistance to African liberation struggles, Amilcar Cabral the celebrated leader of the liberation struggle in Guinea Bissau and Cape Verde, poignantly stated: “I don’t believe in life after death, but if there is, we can be sure that the souls of our forefathers who were taken away to America to be slaves are rejoicing today to see their children reunited and working together to help us be independent and free.” ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ Cuba's crucial role in ending racist rule in South Africa is little known in the West. November 5th, 2005 will be the 30th anniversary of Cuba’s deployment of troops, at the request of the Angolan government, to repulse the South African invasion. The year 2005 will also mark the 17th anniversary of the decisive defeat of the South African armed forces by combined Cuban, Angolan and Namibian troops. This defeat of the apartheid military ended Pretoria's dream of establishing hegemony in the Southern Africa region as a means by which to extend the life of the apartheid regime. Thus, the victory at Cuito Cuanavale hastened the dismantling of apartheid. Cuba's contribution was vital as it provided the essential reinforcements, material and planning. None other than Nelson Mandela declared that "the Cuban internationalists have made a contribution to African independence, freedom and justice unparalleled for its principled and selfless character." Indeed, Cuba is often described as the only foreign country to have come to Africa and gone away with nothing but the coffins of its sons and daughters who died in the struggles to liberate Africa. Cuba’s internationalism is unique in the annals of history. Cuba’s example is a profound challenge to those who believe and argue that only real politick, national self-interest and the pursuit of power and wealth are guides, determinants and sources of foreign policy. Cuba demonstrates that the vision of international relations based on sisterhood & brotherhood is not a fanciful dream. Cuba shows that another and better world is possible. ____________________________________________________________________________ Did a friend forward this to you? Join sust-mar yourself! Just send 'subscribe sust-mar' to mailto:majordomo@chebucto.ca
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