President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva (PT) sent a message to Cuba to pay homage to revolutionary leader Fidel Castro, who would have turned 100 this Thursday (13). In the text, Lula highlighted that his own path in politics was guided by the wisdom and encouragement of the Cuban commander.
The Brazilian president’s letter was read by intellectual and theologian Frei Betto during the 1st International Colloquium “Fidel: legacy and future”, held in Havana, the Cuban capital. The event, which began on Monday (10), brings together more than 1,500 delegates from around the world to celebrate the centenary of Fidel’s birth and discuss how his thinking remains current in the face of current challenges.
In an excerpt of the message, Lula openly acknowledged the Cuban leader’s influence on his career. “If today I am heading the Presidency of Brazil for the third time, it is thanks to the encouragement and wisdom of Fidel Castro”, wrote the Brazilian president.
Lula also took the opportunity to send a word of strength to the people of the island. He wished that “fraternity and justice persist in Cuba, even in the face of serious adversity.”
Frei Betto, upon reading the message, recalled the historical dialogues he had with Fidel, such as the famous 23-hour interview that gave rise to the book “Fidel and Religion” in 1985. The religious highlighted that the commander was not a man of “intellectual library sympathies”, but someone cordial who acted from the heart.
The celebration of the centenary takes place in a context of extreme difficulty for Cuba, which is suffering from a serious energy crisis. The United States government has tightened sanctions, threatening to punish any country or company that supplies oil to the island, which has led to constant electricity cuts throughout the territory.
On a daily basis, Cubans face successive blackouts that disrupt domestic life, transportation and work. Reports show families cooking with charcoal due to lack of gas and children sleeping on balconies to escape the heat during nights without power.
The Cuban economy feels the weight of this pressure, with projections of a 6.5% drop in Gross Domestic Product (GDP) for this year. Over the last five years, the accumulated economic contraction has already reached around 15%, which makes the country’s financial situation one of the most critical in the region.
In response, the current Cuban president, Miguel Díaz-Canel, has defended the concept of “creative resistance”. For the government, this means not only enduring difficulties, but finding innovative ways to produce and reorganize the country without abandoning the socialist project.
To help face the scarcity of basic resources, Brazilian popular movements maintain support campaigns. Recently, the Landless Rural Workers Movement (MST) delivered 7.6 tons of essential medicines to a hospital in Havana, reinforcing the bonds of solidarity between the two peoples.
Fidel Castro’s 100th birthday is remembered as a moment of resistance. As Lula pointed out in his message, the example of the Cuban commander continues to be a source of hope for social justice to prevail over difficulties.
Source: www.brasildefato.com.br
