Cuban Foreign Minister Bruno Rodriguez Parrilla speaks at United Nations General Assembly in New York on November 1, 2018. (Photo: Atilgan Ozdil/Anadolu Agency/Getty Images)
UN Votes 187-3 to Condemn US Embargo Against Cuba, With Israel and Brazil Joining Trump Administration as Lone Outliers
"The blockade has caused incalculable humanitarian damages. It is a flagrant, massive, and systematic violation of human rights," said Bruno Rodríguez Parrilla, Cuba's foreign minister.
The United Nations General Assembly on Thursday voted for the 28th consecutive year to adopt a resolution condemning the six-decade U.S. economic embargo that has strangled Cuba's economy and caused widespread human suffering.
The final vote was 187-3, with Israel and Brazil joining the U.S. as the only nations opposed to the resolution. Colombia and Ukraine abstained and Moldova did not vote.
Bruno Rodriguez, Cuba's foreign minister, told the General Assembly following the vote that the Trump administration has "aggressively intensified" the devastating embargo, which he said "qualifies as an act of genocide." The Obama administration took steps to alleviate the embargo and normalize U.S.-Cuba relations, but the Trump White House has reversed course and imposed punishing new sanctions.
"The blockade has caused incalculable humanitarian damages. It is a flagrant, massive, and systematic violation of human rights," said Rodriguez. "There is not one single Cuban family that has not suffered the consequences of this."
Keisha McGuire, Grenada's ambassador to the U.N., echoed Rodriguez's condemnation of the blockade and noted that Cuba was one of the first nations to assist The Bahamas after Hurricane Dorian struck in September.
"We view the embargo not just as a punitive act against Cuba, but as an impediment to our shared regional development," McGuire told the General Assembly. "Opposition to this policy is now almost universal in nature."
We are at a crossroads
This country and this world are at a monumental crossroads. In a few short weeks, US voters will have an opportunity to beat back the forces of fascism and confront the billionaires who are rigging the economy, our media system, and our democracy, making it increasingly impossible for ordinary people to get by. We’re not just talking about the election. We’re talking about what must be done once these fascist elements are vanquished from power. We need a bolder set of solutions than what either major party has so far been willing to offer and a working-class movement ready to fight like hell for it. Trump didn't emerge from nowhere. The conditions that fueled MAGA authoritarianism were created by decades of radical neoliberal economic policies and a corrupt political system dominated by corporate interests. They slashed taxes on the super-rich, promising that the benefits would trickle down. They said giveaways to the corporate titans would make life more affordable for the rest of us. It was all bullshit. And when a bitter, betrayed populace searches for someone to blame, right-wing demagogues have little trouble finding scapegoats. People know when they're being lied to, but you won't hear any of this from the corporate media. Only independent journalism—powered and funded by people who believe in building a better world—can deliver truly trustworthy daily news. Our Fall Campaign is underway, and we need your help. To power our newsroom through the rest of the year, we need to raise $125,000 by midnight on October 31. So if you share our vision, please contribute whatever you can to sustain our work. |
The United Nations General Assembly on Thursday voted for the 28th consecutive year to adopt a resolution condemning the six-decade U.S. economic embargo that has strangled Cuba's economy and caused widespread human suffering.
The final vote was 187-3, with Israel and Brazil joining the U.S. as the only nations opposed to the resolution. Colombia and Ukraine abstained and Moldova did not vote.
Bruno Rodriguez, Cuba's foreign minister, told the General Assembly following the vote that the Trump administration has "aggressively intensified" the devastating embargo, which he said "qualifies as an act of genocide." The Obama administration took steps to alleviate the embargo and normalize U.S.-Cuba relations, but the Trump White House has reversed course and imposed punishing new sanctions.
"The blockade has caused incalculable humanitarian damages. It is a flagrant, massive, and systematic violation of human rights," said Rodriguez. "There is not one single Cuban family that has not suffered the consequences of this."
Keisha McGuire, Grenada's ambassador to the U.N., echoed Rodriguez's condemnation of the blockade and noted that Cuba was one of the first nations to assist The Bahamas after Hurricane Dorian struck in September.
"We view the embargo not just as a punitive act against Cuba, but as an impediment to our shared regional development," McGuire told the General Assembly. "Opposition to this policy is now almost universal in nature."
The United Nations General Assembly on Thursday voted for the 28th consecutive year to adopt a resolution condemning the six-decade U.S. economic embargo that has strangled Cuba's economy and caused widespread human suffering.
The final vote was 187-3, with Israel and Brazil joining the U.S. as the only nations opposed to the resolution. Colombia and Ukraine abstained and Moldova did not vote.
Bruno Rodriguez, Cuba's foreign minister, told the General Assembly following the vote that the Trump administration has "aggressively intensified" the devastating embargo, which he said "qualifies as an act of genocide." The Obama administration took steps to alleviate the embargo and normalize U.S.-Cuba relations, but the Trump White House has reversed course and imposed punishing new sanctions.
"The blockade has caused incalculable humanitarian damages. It is a flagrant, massive, and systematic violation of human rights," said Rodriguez. "There is not one single Cuban family that has not suffered the consequences of this."
Keisha McGuire, Grenada's ambassador to the U.N., echoed Rodriguez's condemnation of the blockade and noted that Cuba was one of the first nations to assist The Bahamas after Hurricane Dorian struck in September.
"We view the embargo not just as a punitive act against Cuba, but as an impediment to our shared regional development," McGuire told the General Assembly. "Opposition to this policy is now almost universal in nature."