By Silvia Barthelemy - siliva.bs@granma.cip.cu March 3, 2006: Cuban women are planning to celebrate International Women’s Day on March 8 with a wide variety of activities in neighborhoods, work places and plazas. “This year there are many reasons to celebrate,” said Yolanda Ferrer, general secretary of the Cuban Women’s Federation (FMC). “Salary andlpension increases, new employment opportunities and the acquisition of modern home appliances are some of the achievements that improved our families’ lives,” said Ferrer. The women’s leader said the FMC will join the world campaign “Women Say No to War” called by the Code Pink Women for Peace. The movement has among its objectives the condemnation of the war against Iraq, the cruel attacks and the use of torture anywhere in the world. The initiative asks women around the globe to sign a call for peace which will be presented to political leaders in Washington and US embassies on International Women’s Day next Wednesday. One of the first to sign was Cindy Sheehan, mother of a US solider who died in Iraq, and who became a symbol of the struggle against the war. Ferrer explained that in Cuba signatures will be gathered among outstanding women in all sectors including industrial and agricultural workers, intellectuals, religious people and sports heroes who will represent the Federation’s four million members. The lists of signatures will be sent by e-mail to Code Pink. The national celebration of International Women’s Day will take place March 8 at the Jose Marti Anti-imperialist Plaza in Havana. Besides condemning war, it will also be a forum against the genocidal US blockade of Cuba, against terrorism in all its manifestations and a denouncement of the unjust imprisonment of the Cuban Five in the United States.