Cuba Solidarity Campaign-Cymru Cuba Ceredigion

09/09/2026

HAVANA 1979: Cuba hosts the Non-Aligned Movement.

From the 3rd to the 9th of September 1979, the eyes of the world turned towards the Cuban capital of Havana.

Cuba was hosting the Sixth Summit of the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM) — which brought together the nations and liberation movements of Africa, Asia and Latin America that had emerged from the struggles against colonialism, racism and imperial domination.

94 countries. Around 1.5 billion people.

It was one of the largest gatherings of world leaders ever held — and it took place not in a Western capital -- but in Revolutionary Cuba.

Among the many guests was O.R. Tambo, President of the South African liberation movement, the ANC and Yasser Arafat of the PLO.
Both leaders acknowleged Cuba's unwavering support for their people's struggles.

Fidel assumed the Chair of the Non-Aligned Movement for the following three years, placing a small Caribbean island at the political centre of a movement representing the overwhelming majority of the peoples of the developing world.

The Summit condemned imperialism, colonialism, racism, zionism and apartheid, defended the right of peoples to self-determination and called for a New International Economic Order based on equality and cooperation.

Fidel understood the historic significance of the gathering.

At the close of the Summit, Fidel, who was decisive in maintaining the unity of the Movement,
declared it :

“more unified, more powerful and more independent than ever.”

That was the significance of Havana.

A revolutionary government born from a struggle against imperial domination had become the voice of a much wider struggle — for sovereignty, economic justice, national liberation and a different international order.

Havana 1979 was Cuba saying: we are not alone.

And it was the peoples of the Global South declaring:

We are the majority, the time for imperialist domination is over.

08/09/2026

Today, 8th September is marked across the world as International Literacy Day.

We celebrate literacy as a fundamental right — and remember the extraordinary example of revolutionary Cuba.

In 1961 just two years after the triumph of the Revolution , Cuba launched a nationwide campaign to eradicate illiteracy. Thousands of teachers and young volunteers travelled into the countryside, taking books, lessons and the opportunity to learn to people who had previously been denied that basic right.

In less than a year, more than 700,000 Cubans learned to read and write and Cuba was able to declare the country free of illiteracy.

The campaign was about more than teaching letters and numbers. It was a massive popular mobilisation — young people, teachers, workers, peasants and communities united in the belief that education should belong to everyone, not just the privileged.

As Fidel declared to the Brigadistas, as the volunteers were known,

“The battle to be won against ignorance will give our country more glory than the military battles already fought or still to be fought.”

"If you know, teach, If you don't know, learn."

That spirit remains as relevant now as it was in 1961, and since then Cuba has supported Literacy campaigns in more than thirty other countries.

And today Cuba has a literacy rate of 99.8%, more in than the US and one of the highest in the world.

On International Literacy Day, we stand in solidarity with all those around the world still fighting for the right to education, knowledge and the opportunity to shape their own future.

And despite the devasting impact of the cruel US
blockade, Cuba continues to provide a education system accessible to all.

Underlining the centrality of education, Cuban President, Miguel Diaz-Canel recently stated :

"As long as there are classrooms with students and schools with teachers in Cuba, there is a nation, a homeland, there is a Revolution, and there is Socialism "

Cuba has shown us that another world is possible, where illiteracy is vanquished and education is a right.

We must stand with Cuba and demand an end to the unjust US blockade !

08/09/2026

06/09/2026

Army General Raul Castro was among those attending a ceremony in Havana yesterday marking the 65th anniversary of the Personal Security Directorate of Cuba's Ministry of the Interior.

The Directorate has its early origins in the Cuban Revolutionary movement and was responsible for protecting Fidel Castro and other leaders from numerous assassination attempts by the CIA.

On 3rd of January members of the Directorate were among the 32 Cuban internationalists killed by US forces in Venezuela while resisting the criminal abduction of President Nicolas Maduro and his wife, Celia Flores.

Army General Raul Castro and President Miguel Diaz-Canel Bermudez presided over a political and cultural ceremony in Havana on Saturday to mark the 65th anniversary of the Personal Security Directorate.

The agency has a distinguished track record in safeguarding the lives of the country’s leaders. Among them was the historic leader of the Cuban Revolution, Fidel Castro, who was the target of hundreds of assassination plots and attempts by the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA). The commemoration was attended by other leaders of the Cuban Party, State, and Government, along with founders of the security agency. On a previous anniversary, Raul Castro stated: “Those of us who have been and are protected by you, we also consider you part of our families.”

05/09/2026

5 DE SEPTIEMBRE — CIENFUEGOS UPRISING

On this day in 1957, the people of Cienfuegos on the southern coast of Cuba rose against the Batista dictatorship.

Rebel sailors joined with the men and women of the 26th of July Movement, seizing Cayo Loco naval base and placing arms in the hands of the people and for 24 hours, the city stood as a territory of freedom.

The tyranny answered with bombs, bullets and repression and many fell, among them the young Olimpia Medina, whose sacrifice became a symbol of the courage of a people determined to be free.

The heroic uprising was a spark of the struggle that would culminate in the triumph of the Revolution on 1 January 1959.

Six years after the Uprising in 1963, the 5th September was declared as Day of the Revolutionary Navy, forever linking the courage of the sailors of Cayo Loco with the defence of the socialist Homeland.

The courage and sacrifice of the heroes and martyrs who fought and fell in Cienfuegos remain an inspiration to friends of the Cuban Revolution.

And today we stand in solidarity with the Cuban people as they continue that spirit of courage in their resistance of the cruel and unjust US blockade of their country.

We remember heroes and martyrs of Cienfuegos, city of courage and resistance!

¡Viva Cuba!

¡Viva la Revolución!

End the US Blockade !

05/09/2026

Remembering JOSEITO FERNÁNDEZ, known as the King of the Melody, who was born on 5th September 1908 in the Cuban capital of Havana.

His love of music began early in life and by the age of 12 he was singing serenades with friends and joined several orchestras in Havana, while working as a shoemaker to earn a living.

In 1928 he wrote 'Guajira Guantanamera', which was to become most universally known Cuban song and a symbol of the country.

In the 1930's the song became famous when it was adopted by Alejandro Riveiro's Orchestra as a Farewell theme, sung by Joseito.

A few years later, on the popular Radio programme, 'El suceso del Día' (The Event of the Day), he narrated stories of daily events to the rhythmic beats of the tune. For 14 years, every afternoon at one o'clock, Cubans would listen to the thin, upright, man who became a much loved symbol of Cuban patriotism and identity.

It was in 1963 that Joseito Fernandez and Guantanamera reached an interational audience, when US folk singer Pete Seeger sang the song with lyrics from Jose Marti’s Versos Sencillos (Simple Verses), at New York's Carnegie Hall.

This marriage of Joseito Fernandez's music and the verses of the Cuban Poet and revolutionary hero that made the song that is so loved and well known today.

Although he wrote and performed other songs, including Homenaje a la Virgen de Guadalupe, along with Celina and Reutilio, Tu tierra y libertad, Amor de madre and El canto de mi sinsonte, it is for his gift of Guantanamera that he will always be remembered.

He died on 11th October 1979 in his beloved city of Havana, capital of Cuba.

04/09/2026

On the 4th September 1973, fifty-three years ago today, the streets of Santiago filled with the people of Chile.

It was the third anniversary of the electoral victory of Salvador Allende and the Unidad Popular — a victory that had brought a socialist-led government determined to transform Chile in the interests of working people.

On that September day, the people gathered not simply to celebrate a government, but to celebrate an idea: that ordinary working people could become the authors of their own history.

But the Unidad Popular's programme for the vast wealth of Chile to serve the interests of the people and not the oligarchs and their US masters provoked a cruel response from imperialism.

Just seven days later, a violent fascist coup would see Allende and thousands of patriots murdered and imprisoned and Chile entered years of dictatorship, repression and suffering.

But the dream represented on 4 September 1973 did not die in La Moneda, so today we remember Salvador Allende, the Unidad Popular, and the millions of Chileans who dared to believe that another world was possible.

¡Viva Allende!
¡Viva la Unidad Popular!
¡Viva el pueblo de Chile!
¡Hasta siempre, compañero Presidente!

03/09/2026

Ceredigion, is far from Cuba, however many people in this west Wales county feel a deep
affection for the island and its heroic people.

The bonds of friendship with Cuba have been greatly strengthened in recent years by several visits to the region by representatives of the Cuban Embassy in the UK.

In November 2024 we were honoured to welcome H.E. Ismara Vargas Walter, Cuban Ambassador to the UK and colleagues from the Embassy to Abersytwyth, for a special visit to the National Library of Wales and IBERS research centre of the University.

And in September 2025, we were thrilled to welcome the Ambassador back to Ceredigion,
to the town of Cardigan as guest of honour at a special screening of 'Cuban Women in Revolution' also attended by Elin Jones AS, Llywydd (Presiding Officer) of the Welsh Senedd.

This was followed by a visit to the El Sueno Festival in Machynlleth.

During these visits the Ambassador met many
people and impressed everyone as a warm-hearted and great representative of the Cuban people.

With the news that Ismara Vargas Walter will be
leaving Britain to work for her country elsewhere,
we share these photos of fond memories of her
time in Ceredigion.

And say :

¡Adiós, nuestros mejores deseos, y que lleves contigo el respeto y el cariño de tus amigos de Ceredigion!

“Farewell, our best wishes, and may you carry with you the respect and affection of your friends in Ceredigion.”

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The photos show the Cuban representatives and Steve Witherden MP beside the Cuban flag proudly flying in Aberystwyth.

At Theatr Mwldan, Cardigan.

And presenting the Collected Works of Jose Marti
to National Library of Wales Director Dr Rhodri Llwyd Morgan.

03/09/2026

Cuba Solidarity has just announced an incredible £555,000 has been raised by the Cuba Vive Appeal to provide vital resources to the besieged country.

Here, our friend Cuban Ambassador, Ismara Vargas Walter, spells out what this means to the people of Cuba.

Look out for details of local activities coming soon in Aberystwyth to raise funds for the Appeal.

There's a direct link to the Campaign in the shared post and in the comments. Please donate today !

02/09/2026

THE FIRST DECLARATION OF HAVANA —

On September 2, 1960, in response to US imperialism's attempts to isolate Cuba, hundreds of thousands gathered in Revolution Square, Havana, to hear Fidel Castro announce The Havana Declaration, a statement that echoed far beyond the island.

The First Declaration of Havana condemned colonialism, exploitation and foreign intervention across Latin America. It rejected the idea that the destinies of Latin American nations could be decided in Washington.

The Declaration spoke plainly of the rights of ordinary people:

“The right of the peasants to the land;
the right of the workers to the fruit of their work;
the right of children to education;
the right of the sick to medical and hospital attention.”

The Declaration denounced the latifundia, starvation wages, illiteracy, racial discrimination, exploitation and the surrender of national resources to foreign monopolies.

And above all, it proclaimed the right of nations to determine their own destiny.

But Havana did not speak only for Cuba.

It invoked the unfinished struggles of Bolívar, Martí and others and called upon the Latin American peoples to unite for independence and dignity.

The Declaration was therefore far more than a diplomatic document. It was a proclamation of independence from the Empire's domination, a declaration of solidarity with the oppressed, and a call for the peoples of Latin America to make their own history.

And at the heart of that revolutionary spirit stood the words that would become inseparable from Cuba:

¡Patria o Muerte!

And Cuba declared that it would stand with all peoples struggling for dignity, sovereignty and progress.

Today, after over sixty years of the unlawful US
blockade, as Cuba faces a cruel escalation of aggression from the Trump administration, its government and people remain determined to defend the gains of the Revolution and maintain their sovereignty.

We must step up our solidarity with the heroic people of Cuba and demand :

An End to the US Blocklade !

See more on the Declaration in the comments!