“We cannot remain silent. Solidarity and love among the peoples of the world are more necessary than ever. Palestinians deserve to live in peace, just as Cubans also deserve to live in peace,” said Tomi Kuhanen after receiving the Medal of Friendship, awarded by the Cuban government at the Vicente García memorial in this eastern Cuban city.
Tomi has been a bridge between the cultures of Finland and Las Tunas; in his work over a decade, he has combined political activism and humanitarian aid with cultural promotion, always from a perspective of internationalist solidarity.
His life and history with Las Tunas are a clear example of how individuals committed to justice, no matter where they are in the world, can bring about tangible changes in the relations between our peoples.
“The recognition of my friendship with Cuba fills me with gratitude and humility. I value this gesture, which represents the collective effort of the Finland-Cuba Friendship Association and solidarity in the face of the difficulties imposed by the hostile policies of the United States government,” he said with obvious emotion.
"I fell in love with Cuba the first time I visited this wonderful land with a European volunteer work brigade. Since then, my commitment and affection for this country and its people have become a fundamental part of my life," he added, with his medal on his chest.
Kuhanen visited our country for the first time with the European José Martí brigade and then with the Finnish Democratic Youth League. A year later, he was elected a member of the Finland-Cuba Friendship Association, from where he reactivated local solidarity groups. In addition, he founded the Finnish Committee for the Liberation of the Five Heroes in 2003, from which he coordinated actions with artists, intellectuals, and politicians in favor of the release of the Cuban anti-terrorist fighters. To that end, he organized visits by relatives of the Five and later by Fernando González to Finland; his work was key to the media coverage of that visit.
During his presidency of the Finland-Cuba Friendship Association, between 2006 and 2011, he promoted cultural and thematic exchanges on the environment, women's rights, and sexual minorities, while promoting the Cuban Culture Day in Helsinki since 2008 and expanding activities to other Finnish cities. Since 2010, she has led the Victoria de Girón volunteer work brigade, focused on improving the Mártires de Las Tunas pediatric hospital and other health institutions in our province.
In addition, she obtained funding from the Finnish government (2013-2016) to support the remodeling of health centers and communities in Las Tunas. She also led the publication of the magazine Cuba Sí and co-founded the website Kuuba.org, from which she continues to disseminate information about Cuba in Finnish.
“My commitment and love for this country and its people have become a fundamental part of my life,” she said. Her efforts on social media, as well as her solidarity campaigns to send aid to Cuba during the COVID-19 pandemic, corroborate her words.
Kuhanen is very clear about who Cuba's real enemies are. “Today, he denounced, the policies promoted by the Donald Trump administration and its lackeys have devastating consequences, not only for Cuba but for the whole world. The policy of confrontation and sanctions is felt strongly in the daily lives of the Cuban people, through the tightening of the blockade and hundreds of measures that affect Cuban families, the economy, and social welfare."
“But it is precisely in difficult times that solidarity multiplies,” he said.
And that is precisely what makes his work and that of his compatriots so great. They could be doing absolutely anything in their country, but they have decided to stake their fortune on this unredeemed archipelago blessed by the most Caribbean of seas.