I'm going to Cuba for two weeks, the following thread will explain why and document the entire ordeal 🇨🇺❤️
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16:00
We began the plenary session of the German brigade. Our topics included the discussion of a dossier by the Tricontinental Institute about the Bandung Spirit, especially in relation to what we've learned about internationalism at the ELAM today and BRICS. We wanted to be done 18:00, but ended up finishing half an hour later.Internationalism to me means understanding decolonial movements globally to be an opposition to imperialism from within the “belly of the beast”, which may lead to conditions that no longer hinder decolonial movements, makes them possible, or optimally supports them. In order to gain that knowledge, I am willing to throw away everything I know or believe in, if it means ridding myself of a deeply rooted thought structure dictated by western chauvinism. To support such movements, without turning to the fallacies of white saviorism or lecturing, should be everyone's goal.
18:24
We had pretty good lunch. Even with unlimited bread this time (not much rationing anymore)! I made an Olive Garden joke, but nobody got it, except the Americans.21:51
I just finished a Salsa course, we danced for ~1.5 hours. I got pretty okay at it at the end, proud of myself.Currently sitting at the bar at the center of the camp, not to drink something, but because the WiFi router is located here. Best connection everywhere, and I really gotta upload some images and videos! The electricity and WiFi went out inbetween, but about half an hour ago, mid salsa course, it came back.
22:59
As I'm finishing writing and fleshing out my documentation for today and yesterday, the music playing for the salsa dancing circle next to me accidentally turned to Gangnam Style, and... they... just continued. Dancing Salsa. To Gangnam Style. Truly big things are happening at the CIJAM.00:05
I'm fully done with writing everything and catching up on some messages. Thank you for reading
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00:17
While posting the results of this day on Mastodon, the power and hence internet went off. As the (no longer just Salsa) dancing crowd was angered by their music suddenly stopping, in complete darkness except for the loud chirping, they began shouting “Cuba Si! Bloqueo no!”.CIJAM, Cuba (GMT-4)
Monday, 28th of April 2025
----END OF DAY 4 OF THE CUBA BRIGADE----Just had a talk with ex CIA agent Raúl Antonio Capote — what a fascinating figure.
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Just had a talk with ex CIA agent Raúl Antonio Capote — what a fascinating figure.
Another mural at the CIJAM made during our stay here, commemorating friendship between the nation of Angola and Cuba! Carlota was a memorable leader of the slave uprising in Angola, supported by the Cuban army leaving 2.385 of its soldiers dead.
In Africa we are used to being victims of countries that want to take from us our territory or overthrow our sovereignty. In African history there is not another instance where another people has stood up for one of ours. We also acknowledge that the action was carried out by the masses in Cuba and that those who fought and died in Angola are only a small portion of those who volunteered to go. To the Cuban people internationalism is not only a word but something which they have put into practice for the benefit of large sectors of mankind.
— Nelson Mandela, 1991
Cuba then recovered all of the remains of its soldiers in “Operación Tributo”. Leaders of Angola and the African continent agreed: this move was unprecedented. Never had another country intervened in Angola, left, and only asked of the remnants of its soldiers, instead of its rich resources, like oil, gold, or gemstones.
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Another mural at the CIJAM made during our stay here, commemorating friendship between the nation of Angola and Cuba! Carlota was a memorable leader of the slave uprising in Angola, supported by the Cuban army leaving 2.385 of its soldiers dead.
In Africa we are used to being victims of countries that want to take from us our territory or overthrow our sovereignty. In African history there is not another instance where another people has stood up for one of ours. We also acknowledge that the action was carried out by the masses in Cuba and that those who fought and died in Angola are only a small portion of those who volunteered to go. To the Cuban people internationalism is not only a word but something which they have put into practice for the benefit of large sectors of mankind.
— Nelson Mandela, 1991
Cuba then recovered all of the remains of its soldiers in “Operación Tributo”. Leaders of Angola and the African continent agreed: this move was unprecedented. Never had another country intervened in Angola, left, and only asked of the remnants of its soldiers, instead of its rich resources, like oil, gold, or gemstones.
This is what the nation wide internet cards look like! Next to mobile data, there's a nation wide WiFi, which like 25 Cuban pesos each (~0.083€) and can be accessed in most public areas like parks, hotels, or libraries.
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This is what the nation wide internet cards look like! Next to mobile data, there's a nation wide WiFi, which like 25 Cuban pesos each (~0.083€) and can be accessed in most public areas like parks, hotels, or libraries.
Currently in a health clinic in Caimito, Cuba and the question of trans healthcare came up! It's shocking that it's easier to get a gender reassignment surgery in Cuba than in Germany or the US, but not surprising.
The knowledge and technology isn't here yet, which is why the amount of people who had such a surgery is very small, yet if you're interested it's as free as all other medicine.
They even took the words “man and woman” out of their constitution in 2019 and replaced them with “human”!
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Currently in a health clinic in Caimito, Cuba and the question of trans healthcare came up! It's shocking that it's easier to get a gender reassignment surgery in Cuba than in Germany or the US, but not surprising.
The knowledge and technology isn't here yet, which is why the amount of people who had such a surgery is very small, yet if you're interested it's as free as all other medicine.
They even took the words “man and woman” out of their constitution in 2019 and replaced them with “human”!
That's how I manage my Mastodon servers from the Cuban outback!
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That's how I manage my Mastodon servers from the Cuban outback!
Just this moment we've given multiple luggages of medicine to the health clinic in Caimito, bypassing the international blockade that has tried to crush this country and its spirit! ¡Viva Cuba!
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Just this moment we've given multiple luggages of medicine to the health clinic in Caimito, bypassing the international blockade that has tried to crush this country and its spirit! ¡Viva Cuba!
There's a fire close to the CIJAM, but I've been told it's under control (fire trucks are supposedly already there)! When I first saw it, I thought it was the sun going down.
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There's a fire close to the CIJAM, but I've been told it's under control (fire trucks are supposedly already there)! When I first saw it, I thought it was the sun going down.
I just ate a (cooked and seasoned) ant. All is well!
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I just ate a (cooked and seasoned) ant. All is well!
Currently in the Memorial de la Denuncia (Memorial of the Complaint) — there's many signs, art and info pieces explaining the state terror by the United States and its effect on Cuba.
Did you know that the United States spread disinformation about fake plans of the Cuban government, claiming they're trying to take away parental rights and send children to indoctrination camps? These claims were completely made up, yet US secret services created the channels and the “care programs” for when these children (aged 8 – 18) arrived in Miami, sent by parents fearing what may happen to their kids and told to do so by local agents.
All of this was in collaboration with the catholic church, which is why the relation between the Cuba government and the church has only become better much later.
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Currently in the Memorial de la Denuncia (Memorial of the Complaint) — there's many signs, art and info pieces explaining the state terror by the United States and its effect on Cuba.
Did you know that the United States spread disinformation about fake plans of the Cuban government, claiming they're trying to take away parental rights and send children to indoctrination camps? These claims were completely made up, yet US secret services created the channels and the “care programs” for when these children (aged 8 – 18) arrived in Miami, sent by parents fearing what may happen to their kids and told to do so by local agents.
All of this was in collaboration with the catholic church, which is why the relation between the Cuba government and the church has only become better much later.
So many bullets, so much war, all to punish the slaves for revolting.
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So many bullets, so much war, all to punish the slaves for revolting.
At a restaurant in Havana!
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At a restaurant in Havana!
On the topic of LGBTQ+ rights: I've seen signs like these all across Cuba by the national center of sex education (CENESEX), saying people should be against homophobia and transphobia!
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On the topic of LGBTQ+ rights: I've seen signs like these all across Cuba by the national center of sex education (CENESEX), saying people should be against homophobia and transphobia!
1 AM! Time to get up for MAY DAY!
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1 AM! Time to get up for MAY DAY!
Getting ready
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Getting ready
️In front of our weird bus with murder eyes, getting ready to drive to Havana
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In front of our weird bus with murder eyes, getting ready to drive to Havana
why does it do that
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why does it do that
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This post did not contain any content.
We are close to the Plaza de la Revolución, which is where the parade / protest for May Day will begin today!
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We are close to the Plaza de la Revolución, which is where the parade / protest for May Day will begin today!
We've arrived at La Plaza de la Revolución!
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We've arrived at La Plaza de la Revolución!
We've all received these invitation cards as brigadists, which is why we need to arrive so early!
