-----Original Message-----
From: Rachel Bruhnke [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]
Sent: Wednesday, July 23, 2003 6:16 PM
To: 6/2003-ag.
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
EUR 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.
EUR 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.
EUR 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
* Viñales 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
EUR 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 [EMAIL PROTECTED]
U.S. Mailing Address:
Eco Cuba-Rachel
c/o Global Exchange
2017 Mission Street, Suite #303
San Francisco, CA 94708
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
