[NYTr] Another Victory for Pastors for Peace and Cuba

[All the News That Doesn't Fit]

sent by Ed Pearl

IFCO/Pastors for Peace
http://www.ifconews.org
http://www.pastorsforpeace.org

Press Advisory July 28, 2007

Contact: 
Ellen Bernstein (646) 319-5902 
Lucia Bruno (347) 423-4330


Pastors for Peace Returns Victorious from Cuba Travel Challenge

Attended Graduation of US Medical Students and Delivered 90 Tons of Aid

"Our faith calls us to resist any law preventing us from our biblical
mandate to love our neighbor." 

More than 100 exhilarated members of Pastors for Peace returned to the
US after spending eight days in Cuba, where they delivered 90 tons of
humanitarian aid and attended the graduation of eight US students who
completed medical school on full scholarship at the Latin American
School of Medicine in Havana.

According to Rev. Lucius Walker, executive director of IFCO/Pastors for
Peace, the group re-entered the US via Hidalgo, Texas on Saturday
morning July 28, not knowing if they would face an increased level of
harassment at the border. In previous years, federal agents have tried
to intimidate the Caravan with threats of prosecution and seizure of
humanitarian aid.

"Border agents spent a considerable amount of time searching luggage
and questioning Caravan members." said Walker. "We were able to regain
possession of the aid that was detained on our way into Mexico.
However, we have not forgotten the situation in Maine where border
officials seem to have an axe to grind over the issue of Cuba. Why else
would they detain stethoscopes, a hospital breast milk pump and other
medical aid bound for Cuba?"

The highlight of the Caravan's eight day stay in Cuba, was the
graduation of the first class of US medical students at the Latin
American School of Medicine in Havana. IFCO is the administrator of the
scholarship program for US students. For more information about the
program call the contacts listed above and see our website:
http://www.ifconews.org .

"The medical school graduation was a tremendously powerful experience.
These young doctors are remarkable" said Rev. Thomas Smith of
Pittsburgh.

"They are committed to returning to medically underserved communities
in the US where they are needed most. They will care for those who
desperately need them with solid medical training and a deep sense of
compassion," said Rev. Smith, who serves as board president of
IFCO/Pastors for Peace.

More than 40 percent of the 18th Friendshipment Caravan was comprised
of young people. During their stay in Cuba, they had many opportunities
to meet with Cuban youth. The entire Caravan visited schools, senior
centers and hospitals where they learned about the Cuban health care
system.

Rev. Diane Baker of Houston noted "Our caravans are like water dropping
onto a rock. The rock may seem impenetrable, but we just keep on
keeping on -- because the water always wins."

Last year, more than 100 participants of the Pastors for Peace caravan
received letters from the Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC),
threatening them with fines for traveling to Cuba. "We don't know what
will await us this time," said IFCO board member Rev. Luis Barrios,
"but we refuse to be intimidated from fulfilling our mission of
humanitarian aid and fellowship."

Pastors for Peace is a project of the Interreligious Foundation for
Community Organization (IFCO), a national ecumenical agency which has
been working for social justice since 1967.

Photos and more information are available at
http://www.pastorsforpeace.org . For the most up-to-date news about the
Caravan go to our blog at: http://www.18thcubacaravan.blogspot.com