User:Colin Monato/sandbox

Bernie Dwyer: Legacy
From Dwyer’s first visit to Cuba in 1988 to her death in 2013 Dwyer produced a number of documentaries regarding the Cuban struggle against the United States embargo. This twenty five year period includes works that would define her legacy. Works include ‘Mission Against Terror’, 'The Day Diplomacy Died', and ‘Che the Irish legacy’. Bridging the culture gap between Ireland and Cuba, ‘Che, the Irish legacy’ chronicles Ernesto Che Guevara and his Irish ancestry. This cultural documentary brings to light the shared "spirit" of rebellion of Ireland and Cuba. While touring her documentary ‘Mission Against Terror’ Dwyer lobbied for the release of the ‘Cuban Five’ a group of Cuban Americans convicted of acting as intelligence officers on behalf of Cuba. While ‘Mission Against Terror’ focuses on the ‘Cuban Five’ the film continues to serve as a critique of America's overall treatment of incarcerated citizens and its judicial system. Dwyer’s efforts during the Cuban solidarity campaign continues to be cited today in Cuba’s ongoing protest against the United States embargo. Internationally, Dwyer campaigned for Ireland to form political ties with Cuba during her tenure in Cuba from her first visit to the country in 1988 to 2009. While ‘Che the Irish legacy’ may have united Cuba and Ireland culturally Ireland did not support Cuba in a political context. At the United Nations (UN) general assembly Ireland had chosen to abstain in voting on the United States embargo against Cuba which it has maintained with the political support of Israel since 1962. However in an unprecedented political move Ireland voted against the embargo in 1995 in spite of an anticipated abstinence. Due to Dwyer’s documentary campaigns and political activism Ireland has politically and culturally supported Cuba in its struggle against the US, voting to end the embargo at the UN general assembly since 1995.