Wisconsin's Sister-City
Relationships with Cuba

School in Cuba

The Madison-Camagüey Sister City Association (MCSCA) was founded in 1994 and has sponsored several humanitarian trips to Cuba since that time.  Madison officially signed a sister city agreement with Camagüey in March 1999.  Citizens of Madison and Camagüey are extremely proud of the relationship that has developed as a result of this agreement and through the many delegations from Madison that have been able to visit.    

 

Cuban Feature Film on Nuevitas Is Available for Sale

See Center for Cuban Studies

"Una mujer, un hombre, una ciudad," directed by Manuel Octavio Gómez, 1978. Color. 96 min. In Spanish. The story of Marisa and Miguel and at the same time, the story of Nuevitas. Marisa is an accomplished woman but with family problems. Miguel, who has achieved personal stability, has to rebuild his life when he has to return to his hometown, Nuevitas. With Idalia Anreus, Mario Balmaseda, Raúl Pomares, Omar Valdés, Alden Knight, Raquel González, Ramón Veloz (hijo). $90 (institutions)/ $70 /$60 (for C.C.S members) 

___________________

Speech in Havana at US-Cuba Sister-City Meeting, February 19, 2002, by Jay Higginbotham, the "father" of the US Cuba sister cities movement.

 For nearly half a century, the Cuban and American people have been kept apart by a brutal and destructive embargo—a blockade for the benefit of a few but to the great detriment of the majority of all our citizens.

 In the midst of this long separation, an ancient ideal has reappeared on the Gulf horizon which, as we are now seeing clearly in Havana this week, is finally beginning to flourish.  The essence of this ideal is obvious: By concrete interactment in creative and constructive ways, mutual challenges facing both our people can more successfully be met. If enough Cuban and U.S. cities begin sharing their problems and solutions, we can transform our governments from combatants to cooperants, which will inevitably bring about positive relations—even true friendship—for no amount of politics and self-interest can withstand the power of people actively sharing with one another and together meeting the challenges common to all peoples.  There is no better way to improve our communities, our nations, than by testing and comparing ideas with cultures and systems different from our own, by sharing alternative approaches to fundamental problems.  Thus, Cubans and Americans exchanging problems and solutions is a unique opportunity to learn from each another, to together advance the world community and enoble the human spirit.

 This new relationship, which today we are beginning to achieve, could have far-reaching consequences, especially in the fields of education, the environment, crime prevention and medical science. A brilliant example of such cooperation already exists:  In the late 1800’s an ancient and deadly disease was still terrifying both Havana and Mobile: Yellow fever, which for centuries had devastated the populations of both cities, most dramatically in July of 1706 when the founder of Mobile and the governor of Havana both died of the same fever on the same day within hours of each another.  Yellow fever continued to plague both Mobile and Havana for two more centuries, decimating huge numbers of our populations.  In the late 1800’s, however, a native Mobilian, Dr. William Crawford Gorgas, began working closely with a Havana physician, Dr. Carlos Finlay, and together their efforts eradicated Yellow fever-- not only in Cuba and Mobile but throughout Latin America.

 Today, Yellow fever is no longer a threat, but other diseases—AIDS, cancer, and  yet unforeseen contaminations—present overwhelming challenges that could best be met by  joint Cuban-American ventures. What miracles could be wrought should the wealthiest country on earth begin supplying Cuban doctors—per capita, the most numerous and dedicated of any nation’s medical force—sufficient means to carry out extensive medical experiments?  The results would surely astonish the world.
 But the Cuban-American relationship, as crucial as it is to both our nations today, has even broader implications.  As the oldest relic of the Cold War it has stood starkly on the world stage as a seemingly irreconcilable rivalry.  The Cuban-American conflict is thus far more important than it might appear.  For it symbolizes the broader clash between societies of different cultures, of different creeds of government.  If such a conflict between close neighbors cannot be untangled, how can the world’s nations expect to settle more complex disputes between more distant and dangerous adversaries in the future?  Disputes which if not resolved could bring an end to civilization as we know it.  Let us therefore make the Cuban-American conflict and its resolution a model for all world leaders to use in the growing crises of the new millennium.  If by the spirit of friendship, if by using rational and creative methods of conflict resolution, if by extending our hands, our minds and hearts to our sisters and brothers across the straits, we can succeed in such a seemingly impossible challenge, we shall achieve not merely a hemispheric victory but a global triumph.  We shall make a mammoth step forward in the long battle of man against himself and the eternal struggle of man against the darkness.  We shall demonstrate that we are not alone in the universe—as long as we have each other.

 Hay un dicho en el Oriente: Que es mas fuerte que la piedra?  Que es mas podoroso que el fuego?  Y la respuesta es: la amistad de los pueblos.

 There’s a saying in the orient: What is stronger than stone? What is more powerful than fire? And the answer is: the friendship of peoples.