The International Movement for a Just World (JUST), a prestigious organization based in Malaysia, recently highlighted in its newsletter a call made by a U.S. senator to end the economic, commercial, and financial blockade imposed by the United States on Cuba for over 60 years.
The article, written by Reverends Deborah McEachran and Dr. Eliezer Valentín-Castañón, the former being a pastor at the Hunting Ridge Presbyterian Church in Baltimore and the latter serving as the Superintendent of the Frederick District in the Baltimore-Washington Conference of the United Methodist Church.
The text discusses the severe humanitarian crisis that Cuba is currently facing, characterized by food shortages, high cost of living, and power cuts.
It emphasizes that the Cuban government has sought food assistance from the United Nations for the first time in history.
The document also mentions that during the Obama presidency, there were initiatives to ease restrictions and improve relations between the United States and Cuba, bringing hope to the Cuban people.
However, with the arrival of the Trump administration, much of that progress was reversed, and sanctions were imposed, exacerbating the situation in Cuba.
Despite expectations for change under the Biden presidency, the majority of Trump's policies have been maintained.
The document highlights the importance of Senator Ben Cardin, who has the opportunity to lead a change in policy towards Cuba. It mentions that several organizations and community leaders have sent a letter urging Senator Cardin to take action and end the blockade.
It emphasizes that the blockade is widely rejected by both Democrats and Republicans, and that the international community has repeatedly condemned this measure.
The letter urges Senator Cardin to act swiftly and emphasizes that his legacy could be defined by his stance on this issue and his ability to promote change.
The International Movement for a Just World (JUST) is an international NGO based in Malaysia. It was founded by social activist and academic Chandra Muzaffar, who currently serves as its president. JUST defines itself as a society that aims to raise global awareness about the injustices within the existing system, with the goal of evolving towards an alternative international order that enhances human dignity and social justice.