Here in Britain its predicted that next year a fifth of the population will be living in absolute

poverty; real household incomes are due to fall 10% this year and food banks are handing out

one emergency parcel of provisions every 13 seconds. The cost of living is skyrocketing, the

planet is being destroyed to the point of no return, wars between the imperialist powers are

erupting once again and the NHS is on its knees. This is all happening in the 6 th richest

country in the world, which profits off the looting and plundering of the oppressed nations.

When we look to Cuba – which has no homelessness, a world renown healthcare system with

67.5 doctors per 1000 and is confronting the environment crisis face on with its 100 year life

plan – we see the power of socialism. But that’s not to say Cuba isn’t struggling, next week

the UN general assembly will vote on the US blockade of Cuba, which is an example of US

imperialism trying to isolate Cuba and strangle their economy and stopping essential food

and medicines reaching from the island. The US blockade of Cuba is the longest system of

coercive measures against a country ever.

And now, the devastating impacts of both Hurricane Ian and the Matanzas fires has made the

brutality of the illegal US blockade clearer than ever. The US blockade imposed on Cuba

restricts Cuba’s ability to maintain a robust energy infrastructure to withstand events like

Hurricane Ian; the blockade vindictively restricts Cuba’s ability to receive donations of

money and material aid. USAID offered to send a paltry $2m in Hurricane Ian recovery

efforts… that is the equivalent of the cost US sanctions have on the Cuban economy every

three hours!

And we know why the US attacks Cuba. It is the very same reason such a small, historically

underdeveloped Caribbean Island has been able to withstand US imperialist aggression for

over 60 years… socialism.

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Cuba demonstrates a powerful alternative to imperialist barbarism, enfranchising the working

class to create a society built on the interests of humanity and the planet, rather than on the

accumulation of capital. In September millions of Cubans voted in the Family Code

referendum which reforms and expands the definition of family to incorporate equal rights,

the adoption of children by gay couples and the promotion of comprehensive policies to

address the gender violence. After going through 25 drafts, nearly 80,000 town hall meetings

and 300,000 suggestions from the public, over two thirds of the population voted in favour.

While in Britain, the Conservative party membership – just over 20% of the population –

voted in our current Prime Minister. The crisis of democracy is overtly clear with another

unelected prime minister leading Britain.

We have to look to Cuba to see what real participatory democracy looks like, while suffering

the longest blockade in history. It has been able to survive and achieve incredible things only

because it is a socialist country.

As the vote on the blockade approaches we must offer Cuba political solidarity, looking to

them for inspiration in the fight against increasing poverty, racism, environmental destruction

in capitalist Britain. Cuba needs our solidarity, and we need Cuba to show that another world

is possible.

VIVA CUBA