Etcetera
Last month, Ann Arborites Phyllis Ponvert and Kurt Berggren were part of a 250-person Pastors for Peace caravan to Cuba. Caravan members, who came from 40 states, Canada, and Europa, delivered 140 tons of humanitarian aid to the Martin Luther King Center and Church in Havana. Drivers traveled 13 different routes, beginning either in the northern United States or Canada, and converged in Laredo, Texas. They crossed the border into Mexico on March 9.
Despite the U.S. economic blockade of Cuba, almost all the goods - including eight school buses and an ambulance loaded with prescription medicines - were allowed past U.S. Customs officials. The shipment included several hundred bicycles, close to $1 million worth of medicine and medical equipment, and boxes of school supplies. Among the items that were held up by Mexican border officials (at the request of U.S. officials), are a satellite Communications dish and computer equipment.
The caravan proceeded to Tampico, Mexico. Their goods were loaded on a ship, which arrived in Cuba five days later. Caravan members spent a week on the island, where they were able to see first hand the severe effects of the economic blockade - i.e. that malnutrition is evident and food is scarce.
Two caravan members will report on their experiences this month. Phyllis Ponvert will give a slide presentation on Tues. April 12 at 7:30 pm at the First Baptist Church, 512 E. Huron. Lansing caravan member Wally Reese will give a talk Sat. April 23 at 10 am at the Newman Center of St Mary's Student Parish, at Thompson and William St. For more information call 663-1870.
Observing South Africa's Election
Paquetta Palmer, Coordinator of the Detroit chapter of the National Lawyer's Guild and longtime Ann Arbor community activist, is planning to participate in an International Association of Democratic Lawyers delegation to observe the historic elections in S. Africa. Palmer, who was also an observer to the 1989 elections in Namibia, is seeking donations to help with the cost of the trip to S. Africa. Tax deductible donations can be made to the N LG Foundation and mailed to Paquetta Palmer, 436 Third #4, Ann Arbor, Ml 48103.
AIDS on the Rise in Honduras
Honduras, with only 17% of the population of Central America, is home to 57% of its AIDS patients. lts second largest city, San Pedro Sula, reports the fastest growing spread of AIDS of any Latin American city. Twenty percent of all sex workers there are HIV+, as are four percent of all pregnant women.
Ann Arborites John Straw and Catharine Quinn are in San Pedro Sula, participating in educational efforts to prevent the spread of AIDS. Their program is seriously lacking in necessary materials - i.e. easy-to-understand information about HIV and AIDS and "how to use a condom" comic books or pictures, in addition to condom s. They would appreciate donations of medicines, funding, supplies, or educational materials (including videotapes) in Spanish. Contact them at P.O. Box 2, Casa Cural, San Pedro Sula, Honduras CA or by fax at 01 1-504-52-7000.
Dinner to Benefit Refugee Family
The Ann Arbor Society of Friends is hosting a benefit dinner for the Celaya family, Salvadoran political refugees who arrived in Ann Arbor nine years ago. The Celayas face continuing legal hassles, particularly in maintaining work permits. Proceeds from the fundraiser will be used to help the family defray legal costs.
The Salvadoran dinner will be held Saturday, April 9 at 6 pm, at the First Baptist Church, 51 2 E. Huron. The cost of the dinner will be $10 per person. Additional donations are welcome! Cali 930-1 678 or 930-9767 by April 7 to make reservations. Donations may be sent to the Ann Arbor Friends Meeting (earmarked "Sanctuary Legal Defense"), 1416 Hill St., Ann Arbor, Ml 23481 04.
Puerto Rican Activists to Speak
The Puerto Rican Solidarity Organization announces the visit of two Puerto Rican activists, Rafael Cancel-Miranda and Isabel RosadoMorales. Cancel-Miranda served 25 years in U.S. prisons for his participation in a 1954 attack on Congress, and was granted amnesty in 1979 by President Carter. He will give two talks on Thurs., April 7 - the first will be a brown bag lunch at noon in the Mich. Union Wolverine Room, entitled "United States Maximum Security Prisons: The Hidden Agenda." The second, scheduled for 7 pm ind entitled "Forty Years After the Attack in the U.S. Congress: Terrorism or Freedom Fighting?" will take place in Aud. C, Angell Hall.
Rosado-Morales, who spent 12 years in prison for her political activities, will speak on Friday, April 8. Her brown bag lunch talk, "Women 's Role in the Struggle for Puerto Rico's Independence," will be held at 11:30 am in the Women's Studies Lounge, Room 232-D West Engineering. For more information contact Jorge Jiménez at 971 -1539.
Attention Teen Artists!
Ozone House, in conjunction with Ann Arbor Artnet, is holding its second annual art contest for teenagers. Only two-dimensional, black and white works will be accepted. Deliver them to Ozone House at 608 N. Main by April 30. Ozone House judges will select 12 entries to appear in the 1995 Ozone House Calendar, and Artnet will award three free art classes to the top three artists that enter. All proceeds from the calendar sale will help runaway and homeless teenagers. For more information, cali Ozone House at 662-2222.
Recycle that Phonebook!
Throughout April, Recycle Ann Arbor will collect phone books on residential routes. Just place loose phone books in your " Newspaper" recycling tote or curbcart. Phone books may also be brought to the Drop-Off Station, 2050 S. Industrial- but only until April 30!
And speaking of the Drop-Off Station, the facility will have expanded hours April 1 through October 2. These hours are: Wed.-Fri., noon to 7 pm; Sat., 9 am-5 pm; and Sun., noon-5 pm. For more information, cali Recycle AnnArbor's new 24-hour information line at 971 -7400.
While you're recycling - think compost! Starting Mon., April 4, the City of Ann Arbor's "Compostable" trucks will resume collecting yard materials from the curb on the weekly refuse and recycling days.
The Compostable program collects leaves, grass, brush, yard clippings and small branches. Yard materials may be placed into 30-35 gallon cans marked with "Compostable" labels (free labels are available from the City Hall information desk) or can be placed in 30-gallon paper (not plastic) bags. Brush and small branches, under six inches in diameter, need to be cut into three-four foot lengths and tied into bundles up to 18 inches in diameter. For more info. call the A2 Dept. of Solid Waste at 994-2807.