By I. J. Toby Westerman. © 2000 WorldNetDaily.com. Thursday May 25 2000
Maurice Strong, special adviser to the U.N. secretary-general on reform, recently concluded a visit to Cuba, promising greater cooperation and economic assistance to the communist-ruled island, according to Radio Habana Cuba, the official broadcasting service of the Cuban government.
Speaking with Castro and a number of top Cuban officials on a wide variety of topics, including cooperation between Cuban universities and the U.N. University of Peace, Strong also spoke about the upcoming U.N. Millennium Summit in New York, the purpose of which is to discuss the role of the
United Nations in the 21st century.
Both Strong and Castro have voiced similar views on socialism and the future of humanity. Strong, despite having made a fortune in oil and utilities, is a self-described socialist and has earlier stated that for humanity to survive, it may be necessary "for industrial civilization to
collapse."
Castro recently made a similar declaration while addressing a conference of underdeveloped nations in Havana in mid-April. Castro stated that the world's leading industrial nations control a "cruel, unjust, inhuman, and racist" economic system that is "incapable of preserving the
human race."
Strong has close connections with numerous influential leaders in business and government around the world -- including the United States -- and is considered a possibility to fill the post of secretary general of the U.N. when the position again becomes open.
In addition to his leftist political views, Strong is reputed to be an avid devotee of Gaia, the earth goddess, and is closely involved with the Temple of Understanding in New York.
Strong's close working relationship with Castro stands in stark contrast to the recent condemnation of Cuba by another United Nations agency -- the U.N. Human Rights Commission, which has found Cuba guilty of continuing serious human rights abuses.
Along with Strong, there are those who disagree with characterizations of Cuba as abusive.
"Americans have been very propagandized against communism," said Lisa Valanti, president of the U.S.-Cuban Sister Cities Association, "against certain words that we use toward Cuba (such as) 'communist dictator,' 'anti-democratic' -- all these things which are in fact not real in
Cuban life."
U.S. citizens "know nothing about the reality of Cuban life," Valanti said.
During an interview with Radio Habana, Valanti stated that the organization exists to "bring the people of one community into contact with people of another community," desiring to make "visible in the U.S. the realities of Cuban life."
One hundred delegates from the year-old U.S.-Cuban Sister Cities Association began their conference in Havana just as Strong concluded his business and left the island.
The U.S.-Cuban Sister Cities Association was founded in Pittsburgh in 1999 with three members: Mobile, Ala., Madison, Wis., and Pittsburgh, Pa. All three participating cities had made previous exchange arrangements with Cuba.
Another 30 to 40 cities have expressed interest in the program. Students, religious leaders and business personnel are involved in the exchange programs.
Participants in the organization's exchange programs are "seeds" whose ultimate goal is to put their view of Cuba "into political action," and to "impact legislatively," according to Valanti.
Critics of the Castro regime, however, are not welcome to participate in the organization's activities, Valanti added.
I. J. Toby Westerman is a contributing editor to WorldNetDaily.com and WorldNet magazine.
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