BY LAURA GARZA
"The auditorium was filled," said Ibis Alvisa González of the Union of Young Communists describing a meeting that took place at the University of Havana recently to discuss U.S. policy toward Cuba. Students came to hear an explanation of the Helms-Burton bill pending in Congress that aims to tighten the U.S. embargo against Cuba. Similar meetings are taking place in factories, in neighborhoods, and at schools throughout the island.

While Cuban youth can't travel to the United States to make their views heard, they have invited youth from around the world, and anyone who opposes the U.S. government's hostile policy, to visit Cuba for the August 1-7 "Cuba Lives" International Youth Festival.

"It will be important that there be good representation from the United States for the festival," said Alvisa in the phone interview, "at this time when there is discussion about trying to take further measures against Cuba."

In Houston, a group of eight students and Cuba solidarity activists has already begun making plans to join the U.S. delegation to the festival. Calling themselves "Cuba! Seeing for Ourselves," they have put together a letter inviting others to participate and requesting financial support for the cost of the trip, estimated at $1,000 per person.

Materials on the festival from Cuba have been translated into English and distributed. The group plans to raise funds for the trip by doing car washes, and selling raffle tickets with donated prizes. Professors from the University of Houston and from Texas Southern University are supporting this effort. Participants are planning to write about the festival for local newspapers.

The July 26 Coalition in Boston is sending out a 700- piece mailing including a flyer promoting participation in the festival. So far, about a dozen people are planning to attend. This includes a group of seven students from Cambridge Rindge and Latin High School who are working with teachers and parents to plan fund-raising for the trip. They heard about the festival from Cuban youth leader Kenia Serrano when she spoke at the school April 10 to an assembly of 150 students.

Following the assembly, an after school reception drew 50 students who stayed for two hours to continue the discussion. The students presented Serrano with sweatshirts and a banner they made and signed with messages of solidarity. Serrano presented them with a Cuban flag and invited them all to attend the youth festival. Four students signed up on the spot.

The July 26 coalition is also beginning a tabling campaign with literature displays at different spots in the city to campaign against the U.S. embargo of Cuba and publicize a number of events, including the festival. A party is planned in June to help raise funds for the high school students.

The visit to Cuba will give youth from around the world a chance to see first hand the measures Cuban workers, farmers, and youth are taking to confront the deep economic crisis they face.

The organizations issuing the call for the festival include the Union of Young Communists, the Federation of University Students, the Federation of High School Students, and José Martí Organization of Pioneers. The sponsoring groups are planning for visits to a number of the country's provinces so that participants in the festival get a better idea of the conditions confronting all Cubans and the discussions underway about how best to defend the socialist revolution in Cuba.

Margrethe Siem in Houston and Karen Ray in Boston contributed to this article.  
 
 
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