Rev. Lucius Walker talks about his visit with Fidel Castro

Read more!

BC Throne speech signals uncertainty for health care

(photo: despite a 48 year economic embargo, Cuba continues to put health care on the top of their priority list.)

August 25, 2009

The Hospital Employees' Union says today's Throne Speech offers little comfort to B.C. families and communities who need to know that quality and accessible health care will be available even in tough economic times.

The government’s promise to protect health care has already been badly compromised by its direction to health authorities to make more than $300 million in spending cuts to critical services including seniors’ care, community health programs, surgeries and diagnostic procedures.



"British Columbians are looking to government to ensure that health care and other vital public services are protected, especially when their own economic security is at risk,” says HEU secretary-business manager Judy Darcy.

“But government’s actions so far this summer and the message in today’s throne speech provide little reassurance to families and communities.”

Darcy says a planned review of health authority spending and operations will fail if its chief objective is to pave the way for further cuts.

“Our health care system is already stretched to capacity. Further cuts to front-line services and staff would be a costly mistake,” says Darcy.

“A rushed review to meet budget pressures is doomed to fail patients and cost taxpayers more in the long run. Careful planning and consultation with front-line staff is key to finding better ways to deliver services to the public.”

In response to the government’s re-announcement of a public sector wage freeze, HEU says that the province’s fiscal situation must be balanced against the reality of ongoing retention and recruitment issues.

For many health professionals represented by HEU, like Licensed Practical Nurses, wages are no longer competitive with those in neighbouring provinces and do not reflect increased training requirements and expanded responsibilities.

“Government has acknowledged that we need to rejuvenate the ranks in health care and other parts of the public sector in the face of an aging workforce,” says Darcy.

“Our union is committed to working with government at the bargaining table and in other venues to make sure that British Columbians continue to have access to skilled and experienced health care workers in the future.”

Read more!

Caravanista Jerry's Awesome Photos!

Click here to see Jerry's really beautiful photos from this year's Cuba journey. Read more!

Dear 09 Cuba Caravanistas:)

It was a pleasure to travel, work and learn with you in Texas, Mexico and Cuba. I hope you have all returned safely home or are enjoying your return travels if not yet home. I have uploaded the bulk of the 3,400+ pics I took during our two weeks together into 12 MobileMe galleries (see links below). I have only deleted a few images that were private or potentially embarrassing. Otherwise you get to see my unedited pics (good, bad and ugly).

I am happy to share these with you as I know that many of you did not have cameras or that your cameras had problems. Sorry if I got in the way of your shots and hopefully the images I captured can replace ones you lost for one reason or another. Feel free to use these for Facebook, presentations, etc. All that I ask is that you give me credit as the photographer (Blake H. Schmidt) WHEREVER you use my photos and please DO NOT sell my photos. If someone is interested in them please let me know.

Each original (RAW) image I took was 8-10 MB. The ones you can copy are about 1/10th the size but still good quality JPEGs. If for some reason you need larger/higher quality copies of selected images please contact me.

Have a great rest of the summer and best to you and yours.

Blake

P.S. You can find me on Facebook as Blake Howell Schmidt. My other contact info is below:)

CC 09-1
CC 09-2
CC 09-3
CC 09-4
CC 09-5
CC 09-6
CC 09-7
CC 09-8
CC 09-9
CC 09-10
CC 09-11
CC 09-12



Read more!

HARLEM-BASED PASTOR MEETS WITH CUBAN LEADERS RAUL AND FIDEL CASTRO

MEDIA ADVISORY

August 12, 2009 — for immediate release
Contact: Lucia Bruno (212) 926-5757, (347) 426-4330
Ellen Bernstein (646) 319-5902

ON EVE OF 83RD BIRTHDAY, FIRST PUBLIC PHOTOS OF FIDEL SINCE FEBRUARY 2009

Rev. Lucius Walker, Jr., founder and executive director of IFCO/Pastors for Peace, had the unusual opportunity to have extended meetings with Cuban President Raul Castro Ruz and with ex-President Fidel Castro Ruz. The meetings took place when Rev. Walker was in Cuba recently with the 20th Pastors for Peace Caravan.

Rev. Walker indicated that he came away from these meetings with a renewed sense of the potential that exists for improving US/Cuba relations. "Both leaders made it clear that Cuba is ready for talks covering any and all points of interest to both parties” said Rev. Walker.





The 20th US/Cuba Friendshipment Caravan organized by IFCO/Pastors for Peace returned from Cuba last week. Its 130 participants successfully delivered 132 tons of humanitarian aid to the people of Cuba.

Since 1992, Pastors for Peace caravans have delivered more than 3132 tons of humanitarian aid to Cuba. The aid includes hurricane reconstruction supplies, medical and educational equipment, computers, and school buses. Members of the 20th caravan visited Havana and several rural provinces, where they saw and participated in ongoing efforts to recover from the three hurricanes that hit Cuba in the summer of 2008.

Rev. Walker is available for interviews and appearances on talk shows.

Pastors for Peace is a project of the Interreligious Foundation for Community Organization (IFCO), which has been working for racial, social, and economic justice since 1967. Photos, video clips, and more information are available at www.pastorsforpeace.org

ALL PHOTOS COURTESY OF IFCO/PASTORS FOR PEACE Read more!