INTERNATIONAL MONTH OF ACTION In Solidarity with the Five Cuban Heroes Held in U.S. Jails Perspectives on Building a Cuba Solidarity Movement An evening with Cuban Consul General Laureano Cardoso October 4th The next day, VCSC and the FC5C-Van were back at the Chilean Housing Co-op again, this time for an event on “The Case of the Cuban 5 and Political Prisoners in Latin America”, co-organized with the Solidarity Coalition for a United Latin America. Once again, about 60 people participated in the forum. The evening was MC’d by Esteban Gonzalez Arteaga, a member of VCSC and SCULA. The forum was opened by Rosa Quero, who explained the goals and the work of SCULA. Rosa’s presentation was followed by an informative and powerful slideshow about the Five to outline their case and their struggle. The first speaker was special guest Laureano Cardoso, who spoke about the hypocrisy of the US government in imprisoning these five anti-terrorist fighters. “The U.S. administration has a double standard – they dropped atomic weapons on Japan, they do many things saying that "we need to fight against terrorism" but they are helping terrorists all around the world!... The U.S. has no morals, to fight against us, and especially to lock up these 5 men,” said Laureano. Thomas Davies, an organizer with the Free the Cuban 5 Committee-Vancouver gave a presentation on how far we have come in the last nine years of their case – including legal victories, major media coverage, and over 300 organizations around the world defending the Cuban 5. The presentations by Thomas and Laureano filled the room with more cheers of “Viva Cuba! Viva Fidel! Viva la Revolucion!”. This was followed by a lively discussion and ideas of what we can do in Vancouver to defend the Cuban 5. Film Showing: "The Trial" Western Canada Premiere! October 7th	As the first-ever Student Week in Solidarity with the Cuban 5 drew to a close, Vancouver Communities in Solidarity with Cuba (VCSC) and the Free the Cuban 5 Committee – Vancouver (FC5C-Van) were gearing up for a weekend full of actions in defense of the Cuban 5. VCSC and the FC5C-Van were pleased to welcome a special guest to join the weekend’s activities: Laureano Cardoso, the Cuban Consul General in Toronto. The weekend began with a dinner and presentation on “Building an Effective Cuba Solidarity Movement”. Over 60 people filled the room at the Chilean Housing Co-op to hear the speakers and participate in discussion. The evening was MC’d by Jose Angel from the Solidarity Coalition for a United Latin America (SCULA) and was opened by Noah Fine, coordinator of the Free the Cuban 5 Committee-Vancouver. Noah spoke about the success of the recent Student Week in Solidarity with the Cuban 5, and about some of the important gains that the campaign to free the Five has made around the world. Tamara Hansen, the coordinator of VCSC and a member of the executive committee of the Canadian Network on Cuba (CNC), presented next. Laureano Cardoso was welcomed up to the stage with excited cheers of “Viva Cuba!”. Laureano spoke about the important gains that the Cuban revolution has made for humanity – and the importance of people around the world defending these gains. The Case of the Cuban 5 Held in US Jails and Political Prisoners in Latin America- Forum October 5th Sunday night was the final event in the International Month of Action in solidarity with the Cuban 5, although by no means the end of the international campaign for their freedom. To wrap up the month of actions, VCSC and the FC5C-Van hosted the Western Canada premiere of the newly-released film “The Trial”. The film explores in-depth the blatant hypocrisy and undue process of the trial. It also explains the U.S. government’s complete support of anti-Cuban terrorists like Luis Posada Carriles and Orlando Bosch, who were responsible for the 1976 bombing of Air Cubana Flight 455. Over 50 people attended the event at the SFU Harbour Centre to watch the film and participate in an energetic discussion around the case of the Five. The successful weekend of actions finished off a successful month of actions – and marked the beginning of many more actions in defence of the Cuban 5! The next event in support of the Five Heroes is the Free the Cuban 5 Committee’s 21st picket action at the U.S. Consulate in downtown Vancouver on Thursday, October 18th from 12pm-1pm.