From Bilbao, Basque Country, New Campaign for Cuba

The coordinator of Cubainformación, José Manzaneda, reported to Prensa Latina that the 27 carnival groups comprising the Bilboko Konpartsak federation have decided to join “Argia eta Indarra Kubarentzat” (Light and Power for Cuba). This solidarity campaign explicitly condemns the economic and oil blockade, which organizers describe as a genocidal strategy of asphyxiation by the U.S. government against the Cuban people.

During the Aste Nagusia (Great Week) 2026 festivities, to be held from August 22 to 30, the 27 txosnas (street stalls) will display Cuban flags and informational posters related to the cause, while making visible the bank account numbers for donations. The motto for these actions, led by Bilbao’s popular neighborhood-based groups, is “Blokeo Genozida Gelditu” (Stop the Genocidal Blockade).

The festive model, originating in 1978, is described as “unique in the world” for its participatory, solidarity-driven, and politically engaged character. It will serve as the umbrella for the second phase of the Light and Power for Cuba campaign. In its first stage, conducted between March and May, nearly 245,000 euros were raised.

Those funds were allocated to two major solar energy installations for the William Soler Pediatric Hospital in Havana—one for its polyclinic and another for its inpatient ward. The first phase of the installation, co-financed with other European solidarity organizations, is already on-site and is expected to be completed by September.

In the second stage, backed by Bilboko Konpartsak, the goal is to acquire solar panels for the cardiology center of the same pediatric hospital. The campaign is promoted by Euskadi-Cuba, the grassroots initiative Euskal Herria-Kuba Ekimena, the internationalist platform Hegoak (which brings together some twenty Basque unions, political parties, and NGOs), and the Cuban emigrant associations Sierra Maestra-Euskadi and Desembarco del Granma.

The effort also enjoys the support of 130 intellectuals and artists representative of Basque culture, including Bernardo Atxaga, Fermin Muguruza, Aitziber Garmendia, Itziar Ituño, Joseba Sarrionaindia, Anje Duhalde, Eñaut Elorrieta, Jon Maia, Ines Osinaga, Anari Alberdi, Xabier Solano, and Katixa Agirre.