Cuban beat goes on, despite Canadian weather

The Canadian-Cuban Friendship Association’s Toronto chapter kicked off its tenth anniversary celebration on Saturday at Nathan Philips Square. Salsa in the City Square has become an annual tradition, featuring performances from Cuban and Latin Jazz groups, as well as speeches by both politicians and representatives of the Cuban government.

Although some unwelcome rain may have dampened people’s shoes, it did not dampen their spirits.

Visitors danced to music provided by Pablo Terry and his band Sol de Cuba, and some were even treated to salsa lessons. Hungry friends of Cuba treated themselves to samosas and Cuban beer.

Notably present were many left-wing and socialist groups, including Socialist Action and the Toronto Forum on Cuba, with booths providing music, books and other information on Cuban politics and culture, notably on topics relating to Cuba’s relations with the United States. Banners and posters calling for and end to the American embargo on Cuba were ubiquitous.

Guest speakers scheduled to take part in the event included Liberal M.P. Jean Augustine, city councilor Joe Mihevc, and Counsel General of Cuba in Toronto Laureano Cardoso.

Javier Gonzalez, a Cuban student at U of T did not attend, but said he believed Canada should continue its “cultural and economic interaction” with Cuba and not imitate the United States’ policy. He also said that “Canada should be a more vocal critic of Cuba’s human rights violations.

“[We should look at Cuba] as a beautiful country with vast human potential that is being squandered by poor government.”

According to the Arts and Science Student Union, U of T currently has no exchange program with any Cuban schools or with the Cuban government.

  • Colin Robert Ellis

U of T hosts conference on Darfur quagmire

The Sudanese Canadian Human Rights Organization hosted a discussion called The Human Rights Situation in Darfur at Woodsworth College on August 20th. Speakers Ali Dinar, President-Elect of the University of Pennsylvania and Sudanese Studies Association and Dr. Mohammed Ibrahaim of the American Friends Service Committee spoke about the ongoing humanitarian situation in Darfur. Discussion topics included the ongoing political negotiations between the rebels and the Sudanese government as well as the Sudanese Immigrants in Diaspora.

  • Caroyln Harris