FW: Invite to Cuba: Sustainable Agriculture and Fair TradeDelegation, Oct 2003

Title: Invite to Cuba: Sustainable Agriculture and Fair Trade Delegation, Oct 2003
 
-----Original Message-----
From: Rachel Bruhnke [mailto:rachel@globalexchange.org]
Sent: Wednesday, August 06, 2003 3:12 PM
To: luciel@vom.com
Subject: Invite to Cuba: Sustainable Agriculture and Fair TradeDelegation, Oct 2003

PLEASE FORWARD THIS TO ANYONE WHO MIGHT BE INTERESTED…

Spring/Summer 2003

Dear Colleague,

We are inviting you to participate in a special U.S. delegation being organized to examine:

SUSTAINABLE AGRICULTURE AND FAIR TRADE:

Finding sustainable models in agriculture and trade for People and the Planet

HAVANA, CUBA

Oct. 18 – 27, 2003

WHY JOIN THIS DELEGATION

€  Cuba has been selected for special recognition by the United Nations Environmental Program (UNEP) because of the extraordinary progress it has made during the last decade in creating model programs in sustainable development.  

€  In 1999 the Cuban Association of Organic Agriculture received the alternative Nobel Prize known as the “Right Livelihood” Award for its comprehensive conversion from chemical to organic agriculture.

€  The delegation is a unique opportunity to gain an understanding of Cuba’s environmental policies and programs; the significance of the Cuban model to other countries of the developing world; and how professionals from the developed world can work together with their Cuban counterparts to promote sustainability world wide.

… Additionally, the delegation will examine the issue of fair trade and international markets for organic products. Cuban organic sugar, chocolate and coffee (also shade grown) will be topics of discussion and site visits.

ACTIVITIES DURING THE PROGRAM

… University of Havana School of Agriculture
… Cuba's Association of Organic Agriculture
… Viņales Valley reforestation projects and shade grown, organic coffee production
… Urban organic gardens and model "one hectare" garden
… Visits to discuss Cuba’s system of Integrated Pest Management (IPM)
… Institute for the Investigation of Tropical Agriculture (INIFAT), the second oldest
agricultural institute in Latin America
… Permaculture design through the Foundation for Nature and Humanity
… Large organic agriculture cooperative
€   Vermiculture site in Pinar del Rio, organic medicinal herb institute and other sites of interest
… Las Terrazas intentional community and Sierra Rosario Bioreserve
… PROVINCE VISIT: Either Cienfuegos (rural permaculture) or Baracoa, Guantanamo
      (organic chocolate)


HOW TO GET THERE

Participants will leave from Miami, Florida on October 18 for the flight to Havana. Travel arrangements will be made by Global Exchange Reality Tours, a licensed Cuba travel service provider with fourteen years experience organizing educational Cuba tours.  As professionals and/or participants on an educational trip, you will be fully licensed to participate in this delegation.

The cost of the delegation will be $2,100.  This includes round-trip airfare from Miami to Havana; two meals per day; accommodation at a three star hotel; full program with translators and tour guides; all in-country programmed transportation; attention to participants’ individual professional requests; background reading materials; and a one-year membership to Global Exchange.

You can print out an application form from:
http://www.globalexchange.org/tours/forms.html

WHO WE ARE

Global Exchange is a non-profit research, education, and action center dedicated to promoting people-to-people ties around the world. Since our founding in 1988, we have been striving to increase global awareness among the US public while building international partnerships around the world.

Global Exchange has been involved in sustainable development projects in Cuba for many years. We have been continually impressed, as have participants on the many previous delegations, with Cuba’s unique and ever broadening approach to meeting its food, medicine, and energy needs in an integrated and sustainable way.

More about Global Exchange: http://www.globalexchange.org

Eco Cuba Exchange is a program within the Cuba Department of Global Exchange. We work to develop cooperative relationships, shared learning and friendly ties among scientists, professionals, students and organizations in the US and in Cuba who have a common interest in environmental protection and in sustainable human and resource development. This is seen as but one of many strategies to not only normalize relations between our two countries, but also to promote cooperation in solving problems common to all of humanity and to the planet.

We invite you to become involved in current and future interchange with our Cuban ecological counterparts through our Eco Cuba Exchange program. We promote exchanges with the large community of specialists in Cuba who are developing policies, strategies and projects in sustainable development.  The possibility exists for long term U.S.- Cuba exchanges of great depth and breadth in these fields, and for the promotion of peaceful, productive and important exchange between our peoples. We welcome you to join us in this effort.

Articles on Sustainable Development in Cuba:
http://www.globalexchange.org/campaigns/cuba/sustainable/index.html

Sincerely,


Rachel Bruhnke, Coordinator
Eco Cuba Exchange Program
Global Exchange rachel@globalexchange.org

U.S. Mailing Address:
Eco Cuba-Rachel
c/o Global Exchange
2017 Mission Street, Suite #303
San Francisco, CA 94110
Phone 415-255-7296, ext 354

To learn more about the delegation and this exciting project, please reply to Rachel above, typing an "X"  beside one or both of the categories on the form below, along with your name and contact information.
___________________________________________________________________________________

___  Yes I am interested in participating in the sustainable agriculture delegation.  Please send me the application form.

___  Yes I am interested in learning about future opportunities to engage in interchange with Cuban environmental specialists in the areas of health, agriculture, energy as well as general environmental projects.  Please add me to your mailing list.

Full Name:    
Profession/ Organization:    
Street Address:    
City. State, and Zip Code:    
Telephone Number(s):    
Email Address:

Is it Legal to Travel to Cuba?

Global Exchange is a licensed Cuba Travel Service Provider.  In addition, specific educational travel licenses are obtained from the U.S. Treasury Department for each Reality Tour.  For more information:

http://ww.globalexchange.org/tours/cubaTravelQuestion.html

Cost: $2,100 from Miami

Price includes:

… Roundtrip Airfare from Miami to Cuba
… License to travel and visa
… Double room accommodations in a three star hotel
… Transportation within Cuba
… Breakfast and Dinner
… Translation of all programs
… Expert U.S. and Cuban trip leader guides
… Preparatory reading materials
… Individual meetings to match your particular interests
… One-year membership to Global Exchange

How to Register:

We must receive your application and a non-refundable deposit of $200 two months before departure. A late fee of $50 will be applied to late applications. Payments by Mastercard or Visa are welcome.

This trip will be as diverse as possible in terms of race, age and life experiences. We strongly urge people of color to apply. In some cases, a limited number of partial scholarships are available for low-income applicants.

Contact Rachel with any questions about this trip. Or call us toll-free at 1-800-497-1994.

You can print out an application form directly from this page:
http://www.globalexchange.org/tours/forms.html




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