Three ways to help Cuba
September 12, 2008
Give through PDA
Presbyterian Disaster Assistance is receiving donations (account DR000166) for Caribbean hurricane relief in the wake of Hurricanes Gustav and Ike. Decisions about the distribution of relief will be made in the coming days, in collaboration with church partners and with ACT (Action by Churches Together).
For more information, and to send credit card donations online, go to PDA’s disaster response page. You may also donate to DR000166 by telephone: (800) 872-3283.
Checks (be sure to write “DR000166” on memo line) may be sent to:
Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.)
Individual Remittance Processing
P.O. Box 643700
Pittsburgh, PA 15264-3700
Advocate
Advocate for an end to restrictions that prevent Americans from directly coming to the aid of our Cuban sisters and brothers. Visit the Latin America Working Group for more information. Here is a draft of message to congressional representatives and the president:
Dear ------------,
We have been sadly disappointed in the response of the United States to the devastation in Cuba wrought by hurricanes Gustav and Ike. Almost 350,000 homes have been severely damaged and at least 30,000 are completely destroyed. Through water and wind damage, hundreds of thousands of Cubans have lost household belongings and clothing, and crops have been wiped out on a large scale.
The first response of the administration was an insulting offer to send a damage assessment team! In the first place, Cuba has no need of such expertise – it has world-class capabilities in that regard. In the second place, the insult was compounded by the fact that the U.S. embargo would make it impossible to respond to the damage assessed! And both President Bush and Secretary Rice made it clear that they would not consider suspending the embargo!
The United States is usually generous in responding to humanitarian disasters caused by natural phenomena around the world. It is an inexplicable affront to basic humanity to refuse assistance to a next-door neighbor in such a time. This stain on our national honor must be removed!
We implore you to use every means at your command to seek a suspension of the embargo on economic trade and the restrictions on travel to Cuba by U.S. citizens. Humanitarian aid groups and religious communions in the United States, many of whom have warm fraternal ties with their Cuban co-religionists, should be able to send both financial and material aid to Cuba without restriction at this time. Cuba should be able to buy food and materials needed for reconstruction from their closest neighbor without restriction and under normal private credit arrangements. Cuban-born U.S. citizens should be able to go to Cuba to provide assistance and comfort to their families there, and other Americans should be able to visit friends and co-religionists to aid in rebuilding efforts.
It would be wonderful if our government would step up to help, but at the least it should get out of the way and let the American people respond. Please help to make that happen, whether by an Act of Congress of a stroke of the Executive’s pen.
Pray for the church and the people of Cuba
“We have lived through intense days of anguish and fear as a result of the passing through of two terrible hurricanes. Thanks to God the loss of human lives has been minimal but the daily life of all our people has been harshly affected. We are facing a painful human tragedy and so as to be able to move forward the hands and hearts of all are needed. Many of our fellow citizens have lost their homes and are struggling with the scarcity of foodstuffs and other calamities. Massive and urgent help is needed but the church is not materially prepared to be able to assist in providing for all the needs our people are suffering at this time. Whatever help, whatever gesture, small as they may be, are valuable. Our buildings have served as temporary shelters for those who need support and solidarity. We are a church of the people and for the people. Now, more than ever, God is challenging us to prove ourselves as Christians and to truly be messengers of ‘good news’ for those who suffer and those who are overworked and are tired.”
The Rev. Francisco Marrero. General Secretary, Presbyterian-Reformed Church in Cuba.
“Many thanks for this solidarity message. We have had in our Seminary refugees from Ike hurricane until yesterday. The situation is very difficult. There are thousands of families without homes. Only today we recover electricity and water again. We lost many trees in the Seminary but the buildings didn’t suffer damages. The situation of food will be difficult in the next months because we lost fields of rice, bananas, citrus and many others. It is really a humanitarian disaster. We are asking the churches in the United States to write letters to de State Department of the United States to give permission to the Cuban government to buy food and construction materials through private credits. We don’t need any evaluation committee from their side to analyze the damages. We have many competent people here to do so. We are praying for this possibility. With love, Ofelia.”
The Rev. Dr. Ofelia Ortega, vice-moderator Presbyterian-Reformed Church in Cuba
Vice-president, World Alliance of Reformed Churches
Co-president, World Council of Churches
"We are once again in electronic communication, after having lived the effects of Hurricane Ike on Cuba. In the afternoon and the night of Monday we had winds of more than 180 Km/h, although the hurricane itself was about 100 km south of the city of Santa Clara. We were scared. On Monday night the winds were so forceful they blew open the doors of the sanctuary. Thanks to God all we are well here in our church in Santa Clara. All the members of our church are well, although some suffered damages to their homes. The sanctuary of our church suffered water damage because a lot of water entered through the windows and through a section of the ceiling that was in poor repair.
Thank you very much for everything. Pray for the people of Cuba and all the people affected by this hurricane. Greetings and blessings."
-The Rev. Omar Maren Turcaz, pastor Santa Clara Presbyterian-Reformed Church
The Rev. Tricia Lloyd-Sidle
PC(USA) Mission Coworker
197 N. Bellaire Ave.
Louisville, KY 40206
(502) 681-4059
Web site
Skype: tricialloydsidle |
