[NYTr] Letter Supporting Cultural Relations w/Cuba Continues to Gain Signers Date: Thu, 13 Dec 2007 19:19:35 -0600 (CST) Via NY Transfer News Collective * All the News that Doesn't Fit [See the letter itself and links to it following the first article. CAAEF reports 1500+ signatures; USCCE reports 1,000+, ACN says 500+. To view the full list of signatures (however many there are) or for further information on US-Cuba Cultural Exchange (USCCE), the national network of artists and presenters that initiated the letter, visit http://www.cubaresearch.info/cubaletter. -NYTr] Agencia Cubana de Noticias (ACN) http://ainch.ain.cu/mailman/listinfo/ingles US Personalities Blast Washington's Policy Against Cuba Havana, Dec 13 (acn) More than 500 artists, writers and scholars from the United States have signed on to a letter to President Bush requesting the lifting of the criminal US blockade against the island for over 45 years impeding cultural exchange between the two nations. "We write to express our dismay at your administration's continuing hostility towards Cuba. We write to express our opposition to policies that keep us divided from our Cuban counterparts," states the text. "In our opinion, the time has come to take steps toward cultural exchanges, cooperation and constructive relations with Cuba," states the letter published on the Website of The Cuba Research and Analysis Group (CRAG) at: http://www.cubaresearch.info/cubaletter The organization began the campaign after receiving a letter on October 26 from prima ballerina assoluta Alicia Alonso requesting that voices be raised against the blockade. "Let us work together so that Cuban artists and writers can take their talent to the United States, and that you are not prevented to come to our Island to share your knowledge and values; so that a song, a book, a scientific study or choreographic works are not considered, in an irrational way, as a crime." Among those signing on the letter to Bush are actors Sean Penn, Peter Coyote, Harry Belafonte and Danny Glover. Among the authors are Alice Walker, William Kennedy, Gore Vidal and Cristina Garcia. Numerous musicians have also joined including Carlos Santana, Tom Waits, Ry Cooder, Tre Cool, Mickey Hart and Tom Morello, Holly Near, Bonnie Raitt, and Andy MontaC1ez, reports Granma newspaper. Latin American intellectuals heeding the call from Alicia Alonso include Cuban-Americans Nelson Perez Valdes, Enrique Sacerio Gari and Lisandro Perez. *** Cuban American Alliance - Dec 12, 2007 http://www.cubamer.org CALL TO SIGN LETTER to President Bush The following letter has received tremendous endorsements from US artists and scholars who support cultural relations with Cuba -- well over 1,500 signatures. Join the signers. Click on the link Letter to President Bush, also available on our website http://www.cubamer.org Let us work together for a great holiday present: CULTURAL RELATIONS WITH CUBA. Muy agradecido, Delvis Fernandez Levy for the Cuban American Alliance Ed. Fund PS Thanks if you have signed -- pass the word!! *** Letter from US Artists and Scholars in support of Cultural Relations with Cuba November 27, 2007 President George W. Bush The White House Washington, DC Dear President Bush: We wish to bring to your attention the accompanying letter, dated October 26, 2007, received from Alicia Alonso, Prima Ballerina and Director of the Cuban National Ballet, and also Goodwill Ambassador for the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). Ms. Alonso has toured extensively in the United States and her work has long been admired by the American performing arts community, cultural critics and the public. We are writing you as representatives of the cultural sphere in the United States. We write you as American citizens. We write to express our dismay at your administration's continuing hostility towards Cuba. We write to express our opposition to policies that keep us divided from our Cuban counterparts, preventing cultural interchange between our two countries. We believe the time has come to move towards cooperation and constructive relations with Cuba. The present policies deny such possibilities of friendship and cultural sharing. We further note that cultural interchanges and relationships are also modes of communication and expression. In denying us the possibility of engaging in such exchanges and relationships, we are being denied our fundamental rights as guaranteed by the 1st, 5th and 14th Amendments of the U.S. Constitution. This reality seems to run counter to other positions expressed by your Administration. In September 2006, for example, Laura Bush inaugurated your Administration's "Global Cultural Initiative," stating that "One of the best ways we can deepen our friendships with the people of all countries is for us to better understand each other's culture by enjoying each other's literature, music, films and visual arts." As citizens, artists, scholars, educators and cultural workers from all artistic practices, academic disciplines, advocacy and service organizations in the arts, we hope you will read and consider the words of Alicia Alonso as we call upon your Administration to: 1. open a respectful dialogue with the government and people of Cuba in accord with established protocols supported by the community of nations; 2. end the travel ban that prevents U.S. citizens from visiting Cuba and allow for Cuban artists and scholars to visit the United States, thus eliminating the censorship of art and ideas, and 3. initiate, by working with appropriate members of Congress, a process that can result in the development of normal bilateral relations between our countries. The effort surrounding the letter has resulted in over 1,000 signatures to date. To view the full list of signatures or for further information on US-Cuba Cultural Exchange (USCCE), the national network of artists and presenters that initiated the letter, visit http://www.cubaresearch.info/cubaletter. This work does not end here. We will be in touch with you regarding the progress of our efforts in the near future. * The Cuban American Alliance Education Fund, Inc. (CAAEF) is a non profit organization for the development of mutually beneficial engagements between Cubans and Americans that promote understanding and human compassion. Visit our website http://www.cubamer.org for news, opinions, and Cuba related events. * ================================================================= NY Transfer News Collective * A Service of Blythe Systems Since 1985 - Information for the Rest of Us Our main website: http://www.blythe.org List Archives: http://blythe-systems.com/pipermail/nytr/ Subscribe: http://blythe-systems.com/mailman/listinfo/nytr =================================================================