Lachlan Hurse
Update
01 Nov 2025
From Australia to Cuba With Love: Week 7.
We’ve completed the second last of the 2025 campaign! 51 participants and the target is in sight! Disregarding a glitch on the website, we have collectively completed more than 13,500 km, so, if we keep up our efforts we will reach the goal of 14,886 km this week!! What a marvellous achievement it will be!!
Personally I’ve passed the 2500 km mark with more than 300 km completed in the past week, including a group walk in West End, a ride in the aftermath of last Sunday’s storm, visiting Shorncliffe, Hawthorne and Bulimba, crossing the Gateway Bridge and a lap of Mt Coot-tha once the road had reopened, amongst my adventures.
During the week we witnessed the debate in the United Nations General Assembly of the Motion calling for an end to the ‘economic, commercial and financial embargo’ (the blockade) of Cuba. Speakers after speaker condemned the U.S. policy over almost 6 hours of debate. In response to blatant lies by the U.S. representative, (asserting that there is no embargo) the Cuban Minister for Foreign Affairs Bruno Rodríguez Parilla called a point of order; the vote was an overwhelming 165 in favour, 7 against and 12 abstentions. Australia voted to end the embargo.
Thanks again to everyone who has donated to the campaign which is raising money for critical medical supplies to help alleviate the hardship caused by the blockade. It will make a difference!
#fromaus2cubawithlove
#droptheblockade
#LetCubaLive
Update
24 Oct 2025
We've completed six weeks of the 'From Australia to Cuba with Love' campaign, and given the obstacles we have had to overcome, it has been pleasing to see the level of participation and the generosity of our donors.
Each year the Cuban government documents the impact of the blockade in a report prepared for the United Nations. It shows how pernicious and vindictive the U.S. is in pursuing its desire for hegemony over Latin America, and punishing the Cuban people for choosing to put their sovereignty
The report says that from March 1, 2024, to February 28, 2025, the material damages and losses caused by the blockade to Cuba were estimated at USD 7,556,100,000, which represents a 49 per cent increase as compared to the previous 12 month period.
Within the current period between March, 2024 and February, 2025, this blockade caused losses estimated at USD 288,833,610 to the Cuban health sector.
Numerous examples have been documented by the Cuban government on the impact of the blockade, including medications for lung, breast, prostate cancers and Hodgkin's lymphoma, pacemakers, dialysis machines, and other critical equipment for surgery and post-operative care; the list is extensive.
The report shows that blockade is costing lives of children. The difficulties in acquiring the medicines used to treat childhood hematological cancers have forced Cuban doctors to modify first-line treatment schemes that had previously allowed them to achieve survival rates of over 75 per cent. Examples of these medicines are Lomustine and Methotrexate, used in the treatment of osteosarcoma. Consequently, Cuba must use second-line and third-line drugs, which are less effective. As a result, survival rates have been reduced to 60 per cent.
The great international solidarity show by Cuba in the provision of medical brigades around the world is well known. However, harassment by US officials in various countries against Cuban medical brigades, aid workers, as well as ministers and health authorities of those nations, has increased significantly. The persecution of international medical cooperation agreements, among others, is part of a coercive strategy aimed at preventing the inflow of indispensable income to meet the growing needs of the Cuban population, which resulted in an estimated loss of USD 3,249,838.
Our contribution to the Cuban health, while modest combined with donations from around the world make a real difference. Thanks for your support!
DONATIONS13
Joanna Kesteven
Tue, 11 Nov 2025
$ 100
Such good work for a good cause - thank you.
Such good work for a good cause - thank you.
$ 100
Anonymous
Fri, 7 Nov 2025
$ 50
$ 50
