Stand by Cuba!

Alabama 3 take the stage

 By New Worker correspondent

This year’s RMT Cuba Garden Party in Clapham, south London last week saw hundreds of members and friends of the transport union RMT gather to show their support for socialist Cuba as it faces a new wave of attacks from the Trump government. The guest of honour was Cuban international medical volunteer Dr Emanuel Fonseca, who said that Cuba “Deeply believes that a better world is possible, and this is only possible by socialism”.

Teresita Vicente, Cuba’s ambassador to Britain, said that: “In three years, Trump has undone all the progress in our relations with the USA,” and that the need for international solidarity was greater than ever. Shadow Chancellor John McDonnell was cheered loudly when he said that a Labour government “will be your staunch allies – we will support trade to stop any attack that Trump and the USA try to make against Cuba”. RMT general secretary Mick Cash and Communication Workers Union (CWU) leader Dave Ward also stressed their unions’ strong commitment to Cuba.

Superb live music was provided by the Cuban salsa band {Raíces Cubanas} and south London-based Alabama 3, whose track Woke Up This Morning was used for TV’s The Sopranos credits.

Boycott Puma!

By New Worker correspondent

Members and supporters of the Palestine Solidarity Campaign (PSC) were out in force last Saturday, protesting outside sportswear company Puma’s flagship store in London’s West End. The demonstration in Carnaby Street, near Oxford Circus, greatly slashed the numbers entering the store. A much smaller but extremely rowdy pro-Israeli counter-protest certainly also helped to deter shoppers with its loud music, endless slogans, fanatical dancing and waving of flags in the faces of passers-by.

The PSC is targeting Puma as the main corporate backer of Israel’s football association, which includes teams from illegal Israeli settlements on occupied Palestinian land. More than 200 Palestinian sports clubs have called on Puma to end the sponsorship deal and stop supporting Israel’s illegal land grabs.

This is part of an ongoing response to the call from the Palestinian civil society in 2005 for a campaign of Boycott, Divestment & Sanctions (BDS) against Israel until it respects human rights and international law.

Puma is the main sponsor of the Israel Football Association (IFA), which includes football clubs based in illegal Israeli settlements on stolen Palestinian land. All Israeli settlements are considered war crimes under international law.

As one of the world’s top sports-kit makers, Puma’s sponsorship brings international legitimacy to the IFA and helps maintain its direct involvement with violations of human rights and international law off the field.

Take action and support the call from more than 200 Palestinian teams for Puma to end its support for Israel’s military occupation by terminating its sponsorship deal with the IFA.

Fun in the Park

By Daphne Liddle

GLOBAL Fusion Arts last Saturday celebrated World Refugee Week with a programme of song, dance and cultural demonstrations in General Gordon Square, Woolwich to demonstrate a small sample of the rich cultural contributions that refugees and other immigrants have brought to this south-east London town over many centuries.

Woolwich is now home to a rich and diverse mixture of communities from all over the world – but it has always been a very diverse place. In the Middle Ages it was a thriving market selling wool from local North Downs sheep to merchants from Lombardy, who were barred by City of London merchants from entering the Port of London further up the river. Now it has an Irish community from the 19th century and a Jewish community from the early part of the 20th century, plus communities from many other places all over the world. If you live in Woolwich you don't need to pay to travel the world, just sit on a public bench for a bit and the world comes to you.

The Russian Souvenir Ensemble singers in traditional dress treated us to all the old favourites such as {Kalinka} and the real version of {Those were the days}. Other performers included the Pangea steel drum and jazz band from the Caribbean, Nepalese musician Amit Magar with his band {Daju Bahi} playing a fusion of rock and traditional Nepalese music, the West African Francis Fuster and his  band, and South African Singer Minouche Kapel. There were also demonstrations of Ugandan Bantu arts, Chinese Tai Chi and how to play African drums.