Introduction

The three interlocking crises looming over the planet – the ecological, the economic and the political — like Edgar Allen Poe’s pendulum inexorably come closer every day.

If the focus of the entire world immediately turned to building renewable energy grids and renewable fuels, we would still not be able to stave off all the climate change that is happening. We might be able to stave off the worst.

If we put everyone involved in the financial collapse in jail and expropriated their ill-gotten gains, there would still be millions of people unemployed and millions whose homes have been foreclosed. There are billions of marginalized, unemployed desperate people around the world who risk slaughter if they bring attention to their plight.

If our elected representatives complied with the wishes of the voters rather than the corporations, the ethos of disgust, discouragement and despair would still infect the body politic.

Regardless, we try. In what follows, I explain clearly and concisely what has happened in the U.S. and the global economy over the last 65 years and why we are facing austerity. We are facing austerity because the top 1% — the international financial capitalist elite around the world – run most of the governments, the international organizations, the international financial organizations and they want the rest of the world to continue paying tribute – giving their surplus – to them. This is the natural evolution of capitalism. Like in the game Monopoly, one player ends up owning everything. But, there is an alternative. The alternative is to make all banking and credit facilities public and force the current cast of banksters to take their losses. But first we need to understand how we got here. I explain for the non-economist how we have gotten to our present collapsing standard of living and the further enrichment of the top 1%.

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This is our simple word which seeks to touch the hearts of humble and simple people like ourselves, but people who are also, like ourselves, dignified and rebel. This is our simple word for recounting what our path has been and where we are now, in order to explain how we see the world and our country, in order to say what we are thinking of doing and how we are thinking of doing it, and in order to invite other persons to walk with us in something very great which is called Mexico and something greater which is called the world. This is our simple word in order to inform all honest and noble hearts what it is we want in Mexico and the world. This is our simple word, because it is our idea to call on those who are like us and to join together with them, everywhere they are living and struggling.

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As veteran world travelers, they had visited many countries before, but many found this trip the most informative they had ever taken. Here were some of their evaluations of the experience. One participant commented “Visiting Cuba was the most intellectually challenging and stimulating trip I have ever taken.“ That was because of the excellent itinerary arranged by the Institute of Philosophy, Cuba’s premier social research center. The Institute set up talks by various specialists as well as encounters with ordinary Cubans in their communities.

One member of the group was impressed that economic difficulties of the people “were overshadowed by their friendliness, willingness to help and share the little they have, their pride in their country and their obvious peaceful existence. I was able to meet and spend time with people who had very little economically, but were talented, had big hearts, were willing to share their gifts with me, and were genuinely happy to do so.

Another commented “I found the trip to be a good mix of a variety of views regarding Cuba. I felt we had an opportunity to speak with representatives from several different government agencies, who seemed open and honest about the strengths and challenges that they are currently facing. Our guides, and the other Cubans that we encountered, also gave us insights into current and past issues they face, long term and daily. I left feeling hopeful about the future of Cuba, with a better understanding of their history and the role the U.S. has played both past and present.”

One thing that puzzled many in our group was why the U.S. has maintained such hostility toward Cuba and its Revolution, especially in light of all it has accomplished for its people. We left with positive feelings. “I sincerely hope that America opens the door to freedom to travel to Cuba like any other destination so that the average American can see this beautiful country, experience its people and culture, and so erase some of the misconceptions and fears created by the propaganda at home.”

The trip “was an amazing experience and exceeded my expectations.” You can experience it yourself by joining the Center’s next educational trip to Cuba. For the 2012 schedule contact cuba@globaljusticecenter.org .

4:00 pm * arrival at Jose Marti International Airport; check-in at Hotel Vedado.

* welcome from Dean of Faculty of Philosophy and History, Dean of Faculty of Economics, Director of Institute of Philosophy, and President of Cuban Society for Philosophical Research.

Wednesday, day 2

9:00-11:00 am * orientation (Varona)

11:00 am * conference registration (Varona)

2:00 pm * bus tour of Havana city (Plaza de la Revolucion, Rosenberg memorial, John Lennon statue, anti-imperialist plaza, Habana Vieja)

8:00 pm * talk by Philip Agee “Cuba and Terrorism” (Casa Fernando Ortiz)

Thursday, day 3

9:00am-4:00pm* Seminar on the History of Cuban Thought (Instituto de Filosofia)

8:00 pm * talk by Humberto Miranda (Casa Fernando Ortiz)

Friday, day 4

11:00-12:00 am * Cuban medical scholarships (Varona)

–Carol Cross (powerpoint presentation)

1:00-4:00 pm * Workshop –SCIF (Varona)

8:00 pm * cultural event

Saturday, day 5

9:30 am- 3:00 pm * African Derived Traditions in Cuba: visit to Guanabacoa and Regla

– Jualynne Dodson

Sunday, day 6

All day * visit to Matanzas

Monday, day 7

9:00 am * Opening Plenary (Aula Magna)

* 3 hours of conference sessions (Verona)

3:30 pm * site visit: Latin American School of Medical Science

8:00 pm * speaker: Rafael Hernandez, Editor of Temas (Ortiz)

Tuesday, day 8

A.M. * 3 hours of conference sessions

P.M. * 3 hours of conference sessions

3:30 pm * site visit: community of La Guinera

8:00 pm * speaker: Jesus Garcia Brigor, Delegado (Ortiz)

Wednesday, day 9

A.M. * 3 hours of conference sessions

P.M. * 3 hours of conference sessions

3:30 pm * site visit: UNEAC

8:00 pm * discussion with Cuban economists (Ortiz)

Thursday, day 10

A.M. * 3 hours of conference sessions

P.M. * 3 hours of conference sessions

3:30 pm * site visit: Social Work School in Cojimar

8:00 pm * talk by Raul Suarez (Ortiz)

Friday, day 11

A.M. * 3 hours of conference sessions

P.M. * Closing Plenary and Party

Saturday, day 12

A.M. * visit to sugar mill

P.M. *

Sunday, day 13

A.M. * departure of group to Santiago de Cuba

P.M. * discussion with Raul Rodriguez

Monday, day 14

A. M. * Dialogue on Civil Society (Instituto de Filosofia)

P.M. * individual appointments

Tuesday, day 15

A. M. * departure of those who remain in Havana

Thursday, day 16

P.M. * group returns from Santiago

Friday, day 17

A. M. * departure from Cub

ACADEMIC PROGRAM
SPONSORS
UNIVERSITY OF HAVANA RADICAL PHILOSOPHY ASSOCIATION
SCHOOL OF HISTORY AND PHILOSOPHY
Cuban Society of Philosophical Research Union of Radical Political Economists
Institute of Philosophy, Committee on Blacks in Philosophy,
Ministry of Science, Technology American Philosophical Association & the Environment
School of Economics, Society for the Philosophical Study
University of Havana of Marxism

[Note: The work of the conference is organized into Commissions, each of which meets on successive days. You are encouraged to stay with one Commission as much as possible so the discussion can be cumulative.]

COMMISSION 1: POLITICS

TUESDAY JUNE 25
ROOM: SALON 250 ANIVERSARIO. ”ENRIQUE JOSE VARONA” BUILDING
HOURS: 9 AM TO 3 PM
CHAIRPERSONS: Thalia Fung and Cliff DuRand
RELATEUR: Marta Perez

PAPERS :
* Cuba & the US Embargo. Jon Sapirstein
* The US Blockade: Damages to the Cuban Economy and People. Alejandro Aguilar
* A Holistic Evaluative Social Justice Response to Nine Eleven. M.Radh Achutan.
* The Socio cultural Framework of Economic Cooperation and its Possibilities. Manuel Quintana Perez
* Marginality and Exclusion . An Assessment from a Present time Perspective In Cuba. Aurora Vazquez

WEDNESDAY JUNE 26
ROOM: SALON 250 ANIVERSARIO “ENRIQUE JOSE VARONA” BUILDING
HOURS: 9:00 AM TO 3:00 PM
CHAIRPERSONS: Glen S. Martin and Jorge Gonzalez
RELATEUR; Alicia Morffi

PANEL: Political Sciences and Political Philosophy

PAPERS :
* Looking to the Future Struggle Against the American Empire. Bob Randolph
* The State and the Myth of American Exceptionalism. Walter C. Opello, Jr.
* Political Science and the UNO: A Perspective for the 21st century. Thalia Fung
* Equality and the Digital Divide. Gerald Doppelt
* Technological Changes and Integration: A Perspective from the South. Jorge
Carlos Bernal.
* Robert Nozick’s neoliberalism. Armando Chavez
* Political Culture and the Argumentation Theory. Antonio Vazquez Armas
* The Transition from an Emancipating Political Culture to a New Civility in the
Cuban Experience. Carlos Cabrera Rodriguez
* A Challenge to Political Science in this Century: A Conformation to its Methodology. Luisa Redondo

THURSDAY JUNE 27
ROOM: SALON 250 ANIVERSARIO. ”ENRIQUE JOSE VARONA” BUILDING
HOURS: 9 AM TO 3:00 PM
CHAIRPERSONS: Isaac Saney and Luis Aguilera
RELATEUR. Joaquina Cruz

PANEL: Tendencies and Present day Political Junctures.

PAPERS :
* Governability and Governance: Five Theses in the Light of 21st century
Capitalism. Luis O. Aguilera Garcia
* Democratic World Government and Socialist Values. Glen F. Martin
* Democracy and Socialism: Confrontation of Ideas without Apriori Truths. Jesus
Garcia Brigos
* Some Considerations on the Concept “Democracy”. Carmen Gomez
* Theory and Practice of Empowerment. Doug Morris
* The Transit of Isolation in Modern America. Muna Hijazi
* The Western Democratic Transition and its Effects on Cuba. Alicia Barrios.
* Martin Luther King, Jr. In Cuba. Jualynne Dodson

FRIDAY JUNE 28
ROOM: SALON 250 ANIVERSARIO. ”ENRIQUE JOSE VARONA” BUILDING
HOURS: 9 AM TO 3:00 PM
CHAIRPERSONS: Jualynne Dodson and Antonio Armas
RELATEUR: Maura Salabarria

PAPERS
* Reform of the US Prison System: An Issue of the Black Race. Corey Harris
* Race, Inequality and the Cuban Revolution: Some Reflections. Isaac Saney
* Cuba: the Right to Education. Looking into Two Periods. Ana Julia Garcia Dally
* Government Response to Social Unrest: Comparisons Between the US Civil Rights Movement and the Cuban Revolution. Andrea Stewart
* An Only Party: Is There Another Alternative?. Elsie Plain

*******************

COMMISSION 2: EDUCATION AND CULTURE

TUESDAY JUNE 25
ROOM: 2 “E. J. Varona” Building
HOURS. 1:00 to 3:00 p.m.
CHAIRPERSONS: Suzanne Basualdo and Olga Lidia Miranda
RELATEUR Nereyda Moya

PAPERS:
* La Virgen de Regla  Reversing the Slave Master’s Ideology. Stephen Holler
* Virgen de Regla and/or Yemaya. Rosa Maria de Lahaye Guerra
* Transformations in Cuban Protestantism. Re Cardenas Medina
* On the Culture and Religion of the Incas. Engenio and Suzanne Basualdo
* Religion and Ethics in Cuba on the Eve of May 20, 1902. Jose Arostegui Sanchez

WEDNESDAY JUNE 26
ROOM: 2 “E J. Varona” Building
HOURS: 9:00 am. to 3:00 p.m.
CHAIRPERSONS: Stephen Holler and Leonor Amaro
RELATEUR: Caridad Fernandez

PAPERS:
* Re constructing “Latinoamericanidad” in Toronto. Magaly San Martin
* Cyberidentities: Effects of Technological Globalization. Nereyda Moya and Juana
Maria Brito
* From Salsipuedes to Tabare: The Construction of the Uruguayan Subject. Vanina
Sztainbok
* The Theoretical System of Cultural Identity. Miguel Rojas Gomez
* Critical Notes on the Negative Effects of Mass Culture. Luis Guerra y Nancy Lopez
* Constructing a New Image of African American Womanhood. Tiamba Wilkerson
* African American Religion in America. Jessie Strong
* A Virtual Educational Model for Graduate Courses. Ileana Alfonso
* Freire in the Classroom: Thinking Critically after September 11″. Peggy Rivage-Seul

THURSDAY JUNE 27
ROOM: 2 “E. J. Varona” Building
HOURS: 9:00 am. to 3:00 p.m.
CHAIRPERSONS: Laurence Hanley and Maria de los A. Arias Guevara.

RELATEUR: Olga Lidia Miranda

PAPERS :
* Postcolonial Philosophy of Culture: Elizabeth Kassab
* Crime and Education in Puerto Rico. A Case Study of Thirteen Fourteen Year olds. Laubel Pimentel and Julio Borras
* Reconstructing a History of Spanish Immigrants in West Virginia. Tom Hidalgo
* Settlements of Immigrants from the Canary Islands in Cuba: Research Proposals. Leonor Amaro
* Spanish Migration: Jews in Cuba During Colonial Times. Caridad Fernandez
* Transculturation, Culture, and Cubanness: Three Key Concepts of the Fernando Ortiz Thought. Judith Salermo Izquierdo
* The Least Restrictive Environment; A Means to Accessing the General Curriculum for Students with Disabilities. Suzanne Basualdo
* The Internet Education Revolution. Eugenio Basualdo
* University Thought and Policies in Latin American. Jesus M. Garcia del Portal

FRIDAY JUNE 28

ROOM: 2 “E. J. Varona” BuildingHOURS: 9:00 am. to 12:00 am.
CHAIRPERSONS: Elizabeth Kassab and Laubel Pimentel
RELATEUR: Judith Salermo

PAPERS:
* Virtual University: Resisting the Techno liberalization of Higher Education. Laurence Hanley
* Educational Opportunities in Cuba: Lessons and Dilemmas. Paul Green
* Culture, Education and Identity in a Globalized World: Possible Alternatives. Maria de los Angeles Arias Guevara
* A Unique Approach to Undergraduate Teacher Certification at HWS. Toby Coleman
* Criticism of Contemporary Teaching in Cuba. Olga Lidia Miranda

********************

COMMISSION 3: ECONOMY

TUESDAY JUNE 25th
ROOM: #3 “E.J. Varona” Building
HOURS: 1:00 to 3:00 p.m.
CHAIRPERSONS: Olga Perez. and Paddy Quick
RELATEUR. Jesus Cruz

PAPERS:
* Pushing Neo-Liberal Nonsense off the Table so we Can Create an Honest, Viable, and Sustainable World Development Policy. J.W. Smith
* The Effects of Neoliberalism on the U.S. Working Class. Al Campbell
* Political Economy and the Small Developing States within Globalization. Ernesto Molina
* Los Trueques as Alternatives to Neoliberalism in.Argentina. Ankur Shah
* Dilemmas of the Latin American Enterprises before and after? September 11th. Magalys Leon

WEDNESDAY JUNE 26
ROOM: #3 “E.J. Varona” Building
HOURS: 9:00 am to 12:00 am, 1:00 pm to 3:00 pm
CHAIRPERSONS: Al Campbell and Margarita Garcia
RELATEUR: Zoe Medina

PAPERS:
* How Hitler Saved Capitalism and Won the War: What Mrs. Cheney Might Be Shocked to Discover about Textbooks and Gobalization. Michael Rivage-Seul
* Financial Globalization and Problems of Development. Olga Perez Soto
* Household and Community Production: An Expanding Sector of Socialist Economy? Paddy Quick
* The Transition: Theory and Practice of the Deconstruction of Socialism. Gelvis de Armas
* Economic Justice in the Americas. Nathaniel Scott Owens
* Militarization of the Economy: The Great Formula. Zoe Medina and Lazaro Diaz ‘
* Stratification and the Dual Economy: Have the Seeds Been Shown for Political Unrest? Danielle Taylor
* The Impact of the Economic Reforms in the Formation of the Cuban Economist.
Margarita Garcia
* Coopertives and Local Development. Jesus Cruz

********************

COMMISSION 4: PHILOSOPHY

WEDNESDAY, JUNE 26
ROOM: #4, “E. J. Varona” Building
HOURS. 9:00 am to 12:00 am., 1:00 p.m to 3:00 p.m
CHAIRPERSONS: Rashmi Mayur and Carlos Delgado
RELATEUR: Morning Session  Marta Perez

Afternoon Session Vivian Giro Orazes
Morning: (9:00 a.m to 12:00 am.)
Panel: Humanism and Literature
* Intellectual Frustration in Borges. Jesus Feire

* Humanism in Gertrudis Gomez de Avellaneda. Juan Lazaro Martinez Montalvo.

* Philosophy and Literature. Community, interaction and conditioning. Rigoberto Pupo Pupo.

PAPERS :
* What Virtue Theory Has to Say about Oppression?. Ondina Pena Pereira and Hilan Bensusan.
* Is a Society Based on Competition ever principled? Mauro Patrao.
* Reflections about the Understanding of Theory in Cuban Sociology in the Last Two Decades. Teresa Munoz and Angela Pena.

Afternoon: (1:00 p.m to 3:00 p.m)
Panel: Science and Ecology.
* Science, Technology and Ecology. Rashmi Mayur.
* Sustainable Development: A Closer Look in the Cuban Context. Ana Maria Luna.
* Sustainable Development: A Sociological Approach of the Cuban Environmental Policies.
* Focus on the Educational Side. Anibis Broche Gonzalez.

********************

COMMISSION 5: GENDER

TUESDAY JUNE, 25th
ROOM: #1,”E. J. Varona” Building
HOURS. 1:00 to 3:00 p.m.
CHAIRPERSONS: Ann Ferguson and Marta Nunez
RELATEUR: Dolores Vila

PAPERS:
* Practical and Strategic Gender Interests: Discour?se, Identity and Practice. Ann Ferguson
* Cuban Researches on Gender and its Methodological Approaches (1974 2001). Marta Nunez
* The Historic Stages of Cuban Feminism: Reflections, Discussions and Experiences. Julio Cesar Gonzalez

WEDNESDAY JUNE 26th
ROOM: #1,”E. J. Varona” Building
HOURS. 9:00 to12:00 a.m.
CHAIRPERSONS : Tania Flamigni and Mayda Alvarez
RELATEUR: Zoila Fajardo

PAPERS :
* Can Women’s Creativity Challenge Globalization? A Case Study. Tania Flamigni
* Women’s Access to Directive Positions: Analysis of Gender Equality in Cuba. Mayda Alvarez

* Gender Training Experiences’ outcome. Mayda Alvarez, Ana Violeta Castaneda and Inalvis Rodriguez.

* Some Outcomes of the Relation Women Agricultural Organizing Forms in Cuba Miriam Garcia and Niurka Perez.
* The Ecofeminism and its Social Significance. Celida Valdes

Hour: 1 PM TO 3 PM

Chairpersons Yadira Regueira and Digna Castaneda

Relateur: Zoila Fajardo

* Impact of Abuse and Violence on Women’s Health. Yadira Regueira
* Studies on Violence Against Women in Cuba. A Critical Reflection. Clotilde Proveyer
* Call for the 16th World Sexology Congress. Havana March 2003. Maria Teresa Diaz

THURSDAY, JUNE 27th
ROOM: #1, “E. J. Varona” Building
HOURS: 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 a.m
CHAIRPERSONS: Idali Torres and Leticia Artiles
RELATEUR: Dolores Vila

PAPERS:
* Promotion of Sexual and Reproductive Health. Idalis Torres
* Reproductive Health, Equality and Human Development. Reina Fleitas
* Studies on Masculinity and Fatherhood in the Last Decade in Cuba. Patricia Ares.
* The Catholic Church and Sacred Morality in the Sex Lives of Mexican Immigrant Women. Gloria Gonzalez Lopez.
* Contribution of the Gender Roles to the Determination of the Climaterio Syndrom. Leticia Artiles.

HOURS: 1:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m
CHAIRPERSONS: Katie Michelle Goodman and Clotilde Proveyer
RELATEUR: Zoila Fajardo

PAPERS:
* Child Sexual Abuse. Katie Michelle Goodman
* Domestic Involvement and Family School Relations Among Low Income Mexican Mothers in New American Communities. Jessica Hernandez
* About Everyday Life and Women Reproduction in Junior High Schools In Granma. Sonia Videaux.
* The Conflicts of Island Prostitution. Osmani Horta

FRIDAY, JUNE 28th
ROOM: #1, “E. J. Varona” Building
HOURS: 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 a.m

CHAIRPERSONS: Gloria Gonzalez Lopez and Maria del Carmen Barcia

RELATEUR: Osmani Horta

PAPERS:
* The Image of Women in the Mass Media. Gisela Arandia
* An analysis of the Global Economy, Race and Gender in Sex Tourism. Demetria Logan
* The Slave Family in Cuba. Maria del Carmen Barcia
* The Role of the Slave Women in the Cuban Economy in the 19th Century. Digna Castaneda
* Maria Luisa Dolz and the Education of Cuban Women in the Second Half of the 19th Century. Nancy Lopez

CENTER FOR GLOBAL JUSTICE

Educational trip to Cuba

2012 tentative itinerary

Day 1 Sunday
Pick up at Havana airport and transfer to Hotel Vedado. Check in and welcoming cocktail.
Free time for bus tour of city and to explore Old Havana.

Day 2 Monday
9:30) Meeting with our hosts from the Institute of Philosophy (IF) in hotel lobby. Welcome by IF leadership and presentation of program of activities.
Walking tour of area around IF. (optional)

(1:00) pick up at hotel.
(1:30) Conference about Higher Education in Cuba at office of International Relations of Ministry of Higher Education (MES) calle 23 esquina a F

(3:30) Dialog with leaders and researchers of Center for Local Development (CEDEL).
(Lombillo N. 904 entre Panorama y Bella Vista. Nuevo Vedado. Transfer & return to hotel.

Transfer & return to hotel.

Day 3 Tuesday
7:30 breakfast
(8:00) pick up at hotel
(8:30) Visit to University of Havana. Conversations with students. (Transfer & return)

(1:00) pick up at hotel.
(1:30) Visit and guided tour of the Museum of the Revolutión. Transfer & return to hotel.

(4:30 ) pick up at the hotel.
(5:00) walking tour of the 4 plazas of Old Havana

(6:00) Visit with two Cuban specialists to the fort San Carlos de la Cabaña at the mouth of Havana harbor. Dinner with one drink included. Enjoy the cannon ceremony at 9:00pm.

Transfer & return to hotel.

Day 4 Wednesday
(8:00) pick up at hotel
(8:30) Visit to the Belen neighborhood, Old Havana

(1:30) pick up at hotel.
(2:00) Conference on the Cuban system of democracy. Centro de Estudios Martianos (Calzada entre 2 y 4)).
Transfer & return to hotel.

Day 5 Thursday
(8.00) pick up at hotel.
(8:30) Conference on the Cuban educational system. Office of International Relations. Calle 3ra y 6 Miramar . Visit to an elementary school.

(1:30) pick up at hotel
(2:00) Conference on US-Cuban relations with specialists from Center for the Study of the US and Hemisphere (CEHSEU). Centro de Estudios Martianos Calzada 3ntre 2 y 4 Vedado.

Day 6 Friday
7:30 breakfast
(8:00) pick up at the hotel.
(8:30) Interchange at Cuban Institute for Friendship with Peoples (ICAP) on solidarity movements with Cuba. (ICAP Calle 17 N. 301 entre H e I Vedado).

Transfer & return to hotel.

(2:00) pick up at the hotel
(2:30) Visit to the Colegio de San Gerónimo de la Habana. Special conference on the Center of Studies and the Master Plan of the Office of the City Historian.

Transfer & return to hotel.

Day 7 Saturday
(8:00) pick up at the hotel
(8:30) Visit with neighborhood of Callejón de Hamel. Explanation of this cultural project.

Transfer & return to hotel.

Day 8 Sunday
(10:00am) pick up at the hotel. Transfer to the Ecological Preserve “La COCA”. Guanabo
Conversation on Environment and Society at the beginning of the 21st Century. A view from current Cuban society.

Transfer & return to hotel.

Day 9 Monday
7:30 breakfast
(8:00) pick up at the hotel.
(8::30) Visit to the transformación Project of Barrio Pocito Palmar

Transfer & return to hotel.

(1:30) pick up at the hotel
(2:00) Meeting with specialists of the Center for the Study of the Cuban Economy.

Transfer & return to hotel.

Day 10 Tuesday
8:00 breakfast
(8:30) pick up at the hotel
(9:00) Visit to the Alamar Organic Garden (Organopónico de Alamar)

Transfer & return to hotel.

(1:45) pick up at the hotel
(2:00) Conference on the Cuban Health System. Centro de Estudios Martianos (Calzada entre 2 y 4 Vedado)

Transfer & return to hotel.

(4:00) pick up at the hotel
(4:30) Farewell party with leadership of IF.

Transfer & return to hotel.

Wednesday
Pick up at the hotel 4 hours before your return flight. Transfer to Havana airport for return to country of origin.

Havana, Cuba June 18-22, 2012

Part I: SOCIALIST RENEWAL

A. Cuba’s Economic Reforms
* Need for Reform: Problems in Cuban Society
* Building a New Consensus
* The Reform Program
* Obstacles to Reform
* Outcomes?
* A New Model for Socialism?: Theory of Socialism

B. Latin America Moves Left
* 21^st Century Socialism
* Protagonism and Participation
* Endogenous Development
* Solidarity Economy
* ALBA

Part II: CAPITALIST CRISIS

* Overaccumulation Crisis and Stagnation
* Corporate Globalization
* Financialization
* Exhaustion of Neoliberalism
* Austerity Fix
* Class Power and Growing Inequality
* Political Crisis
* Popular Fight Back
* Strategic Alternati

Call for Presenters and Commentators Part I will give the Cubans an opportunity to inform their NA comrades about cutting edge developments in their country. Part II will give NAs an opportunity to share their insights on developments in the capitalist world. Bi-national dialog is encouraged. Submit a brief abstract of your proposed presentation by April 2, 2012 to cuba@globaljusticecenter.org

Pre-Seminar Activities Various group activities prior to the Seminar will include visits to cooperatives, urban gardens, community development projects, social research centers, and educational and medical institutions. These will involve people-to-people contact.

Cost Estimated cost for the entire program, June 11 through 23, 2012 is $1500 plus airfare. This includes 12 nights in a shared room in Hotel Vedado with breakfast, translation, transportation and group activities.

License The U.S. government severely restricts travel to Cuba except by license from the US Treasury Department. Professionals doing research in Cuba can go legally under a General License for Research. Others can travel under our license for people-to-people educational exchange.

Organization Center for Global Justice, a project of Radical Philosophy Association, and Facultad de Filosofia e Historia, Universidad de la Habana

Click for an application form

For further information contact cuba@globaljusticecenter.org

Endorsers Cliff DuRand, David Schweickart, Harry Targ, Leo Panitch, Victor Wallis, Milton Fisk, Ed D’Angelo, Ofelia Schutte, Al Campbell, Jualynne Dodson, Carl Davidson, Betsy Bowman, Bob Stone.

It has been some months since our last Newsletter. There is a lot of exciting news to catch up on from the Center for Global Justice. But we’ll give you a brief summary of what’s been going on so you can get an overview.

ANOTHER WORLD IS NECESSARY: JUSTICE, SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT, SOVEREIGNTY

Plans are moving ahead for our July 19-26 Workshop. After the May 1 deadline for paper proposals, the Program Committee will get busy fashioning them into what promises to be a stimulating week of discussions and field trips. Watch for details in late May.

Meanwhile, the good news is that we have changed the conference to the Hotel Quinta Loreto. With far less expensive accommodations than Hotel Real de Minas, the Quinta is nevertheless very comfortable and charming, as those of you who have stayed there in past years will attest. A double room is 480 pesos (about $43 usd), a single 390 pesos (about $35 usd). We think many of you who might have been scared away by the rates at de Minas will welcome this change. Check our website for details. Workshop sessions will be held in the nearby Biblioteca Publica.

MAY DAY SOLIDARITY WITH IMMIGRANTS

On May 1 San Miguel de Allende will see a massive demonstration in support of immigrant rights in the U.S. Being organized by the Center’s Mexican friends, foreigners living in SMA have been invited to join in an expression of solidarity. We are also circulating a petition to the U.S. Congress calling for a more humane immigration policy.

SUMMER INTERNS

The Center has received 10 applications from students wishing to participate in our Summer Internship program. Interns will spend June 19 to July 14 doing social investigations of the impact of NAFTA on women in the campo, causes and effects of migrations, problems of water, and prospects for cooperative development. If you have a student who might be interested in this unique opportunity, have them get in touch with Beatriz at info@globaljusticecenter.org pronto, as we are now making final selections.

SNOWBIRD SYMPOSIUM

January, February and March are high season in San Miguel de Allende as tourists from the northern states and Canada come here to escape the cold. We call them snowbirds. During this season the Center put on a series of public programs on a variety of social issues. We did at least one talk and one film each week, for a total of 33 events. Almost all of them had full or near full houses, with a total of 1800 participants! We had wonderfully intelligent, probing discussions –a testament to the progressive character of the people who visit SMA. We have been showered with praise for this series and many are taking the discussion back to their communities at home.

TRIPS TO THE CAMPO

New this year the Center has organized field trips to the countryside to dialogue with campesinos about the problems they face and how they cope with them. These site visits have been real eye openers for many who seldom have had contact with this part of Mexican reality. We are hoping that the communities will develop projects that the Center might be able to help with.

REVOLVING LOAN FUND

The Center has established a Revolving Loan Fund for worker owned and democratically controlled cooperatives. This fall it gave its first loan of 50,000 pesos (about $5,000 usd) to a group of 20 cooperatives in the state of Hidalgo . Invited by the co-ops’ “Integradora” to see their progress, a van full of Center folks drove to Hidalgo in March, toured the co-ops — peaches, tomatoes, and chilis, among other crops — and enjoyed a splendid barbecue afterwards. We hope to return this July with our Workshop participants.

FUNDRAISING

In February we held our First Annual Dinner/Dance Fundraiser. It brought together many from our local community of supporters for an enjoyable evening of socializing. Since then we have also received a number of $500 donations from supporters and the Michael P. Wein Charitable Foundation, based in SMA. We are very grateful to all donors and remind you that contributions are tax deductible in the U.S. and should be made to Research Associates Foundation, Inc. Also, please note we would welcome some guidance from an experienced fundraiser.

MEMBERSHIP

After some difficulties with our database, we launched a membership drive in March to convert the Center’s many friends into regular members. We are also asking long-time volunteers and all participants in our past conferences to join. The response so far is very heartening. Members get the Directory listing their specialties in order to pool resources, and they get a vote on policy and leadership. We are aiming to establish a critical number of reliable, committed members, each paying $120 usd yearly. This will allow us to keep the doors open while maintaining our independence of the foundations, whose agendas rarely coincide with ours. (We are happy for foundation support of projects, mind you.) If YOU have not joined yet, please go to our website www.globaljusticecenter.org, press “Membership” and follow the instructions. Welcome aboard! Your feelings of

political paralysis should subside in direct proportion to your involvement!

ATENCION COLUMNS

The Center has a regular column in Atencion, the local English language newspaper. Many of the columns are of general interest so we put them on our website. In particular, Bob Stone and Betsy Bowman have a series of excellent articles on the solidarity economy in Latin America. It is based on their trip this past winter to Argentina, Brazil and Venezuela. You can find it and much more at http://www.globaljusticecenter.org/news.htm . We also have some good articles on immigration issues at http://www.globaljusticecenter.org/studygroups/mexstudies.htm .

It’s been two months since the last Center Newsletter. That’s because we didn’t want to overload your inbox during the holidays. Actually the Center has been very active on a number of fronts, as you will see below. There is a lot of Center news to report to you.

CONFERENCE ON WOMEN AND GLOBALIZATION
The Call has gone out for our July 27-August 4, 2005 conference and the initial response has been very encouraging. Our focus on the impact of globalization in the Global South has struck a responsive cord. The Call is available in English at workshop2005.htm and in Spanish at encuentro2005.htm Pass it on to others who you think might be interested. Although the deadline for papers is still months away, we’d appreciate knowing early if you intend to come. That will help us in our planning.

SEEKING SUMMER INTERNS
In preparation for the Conference, the Center is seeking a few student interns and a supervising professor who would conduct some research on women in the San Miguel area. The idea is to compile some data, prepare some community profiles and take some oral testimonials as background information for Conference participants. We can offer free housing at the Center and economical living in San Miguel and the surrounding campo for the month of July (and possibly June). Bi-lingual applicants should contact cliff@GlobalJusticeCenter.org

CENTER VISITS COOPERATIVES
Center representatives conducted an inspection visit to two groups of cooperatives in the state of Hildago. Luis Martinez and Patricio Bravo, both of whom participated in last summer’s Workshop, hosted the visit. In Alfajayucan, where12 coops already exist or are being formed, we met with over 30 cooperativistas to discuss their work. In Ixmiquilpan there are 16 coops which are linking themselves into a union of coops (Integradora). They have just completed a course of training in how to run a coop from a university extension agent. Bob Stone was the speaker at their graduation and we awarded the diplomas. Bob engaged the 60 participants in a dialog about a revolving loan fund for cooperatives. For a more detailed report, contact bobstone@igc.org
SNOWBIRD SYMPOSIUM
As a service to visitors as well as foreign residents of San Miguel de Allende, the Center is sponsoring weekly public lectures and films during the high season of January through March. Kevin Danaher of Global Exchange opened the series, followed by Mexican anthropologist Luis Berruecos, law professor Mark Kruger, and Center founders Cliff DuRand and Betsy Bowman. Especially popular was an open forum on the eve of Bush’s inauguration where 65 people came together to think about how to respond to what’s coming over the next four years. The Center is also planning panels on War and Peace Today on February 15, the second anniversary of the worldwide anti-war demonstrations, and again in mid March on the anniversary of the U.S. invasion of Iraq.
REALITY TOURS
The Center has opened discussions with Global Exchange about designing and hosting Reality Tours here in central Mexico. We met with Kevin Danaher, co-founder of GX, and Melia Everette, director of GX’s Reality Tour program. Global Exchange offers such tours to many parts of the Third World, usually in partnership with locally based organizations such as the Center. Since it takes six months lead time to adequately promote such tours, the Center hopes to be able to offer its first Reality Tour for New Years 2006.
Meanwhile, we are discussing with a couple professors plans for focused study trips for their students. If you are interested in bringing a group of your students to Mexico for a Study Tour, contact Cliff@GlobalJusticeCenter.org and we’ll see what kind of a customized program we can design for you. Your students will find such an encounter with the realities of Mexico an eye opening experience.

LeMOYNE STUDENTS VISIT MEXICO CITY FOR THANKSGIVING
U.S. professor Mario Saenz, an Associate of the Center, brought a group of 8 bi-lingual students to Mexico City. Ross Gandy, also a Center Associate, gave them a guided tour of Teotihuacan. They also visited the Museum of Anthropology and the Diego Rivera murals. Accomodations for the group was at Casa de los Amigos. The trip was intended to expand the student’s social consciousness.

CENTER SUPPORTS CHARCO DEL INGENIO
Those of you who have been to San Miguel will remember the Botanical Gardens known as Charco del Ingenio. It is a treasure of cacti and succulents that includes many endangered species. Its natural beauty is now itself endangered by real estate development along its boundaries. In response, a local campaign has succeeded in getting the mayor and city council to create an ecological zone to protect the Charco that will limit construction to one story in height. The Center led in mobilizing the foreign community in support of the effort to protect this ecological zone.
TRANSGENETIC CORN
The Center joined with Greenpeace Mexico in calling for adoption of restrictions on the export of genetically modified corn to Mexico. The restrictions had been recommended by a scientific panel set up under NAFTA to evaluate such issues. The Bush administration sought to delay the release of their report until after the election, but Greenpeace made a copy public in October. Among the controversial recommendations was that corn imported into Mexico be milled so that modified genes could not contaminate locally grown corn. An estimated 6.3 million metric tons of U.S. corn were sold to Mexico last year. As much as half contained modified genes created by companies like Monsanto.
The Center sent letters to the U.S. Secretaries of Agriculture and Commerce asking their cooperation with Mexico in protecting their corn from genetic contamination.
MEMBERSHIP CAMPAIGN
We begin the new year with a campaign for pledges of monthly donations to the Center for Global Justice. Whether you can give $50 a month or only $10 a month, a pledge will enable us to develop a budget based on a steady stream of revenue. And it’s easy to do by having your bank automatically send a designated amount to our account at the Bank of America. You just have to give your bank our account number 003924482361 and the bank’s routing number 052001633. Or if you prefer, you can mail your checks directly to the Center for Global Justice, c/o Border Crossings, 413 Interamerica, No. 1 BC-2323, Laredo TX 78045. As a third option you can also use your credit card to pay on our website at donate.htm Remember, all contributions are tax deductible.

CENTER WEBSITE
Our webmaster Holly Yasui has been adding new papers to our website. And thanks to Steve Martinot you can make your comments on any paper and engage in dialog with the author and others through the website. If you have a paper you’d like to share, send it to Cliff@GlobalJusticeCenter.org We’ll put it up and see if anybody salutes it.