Galway Film Fleadh shows Global Women's Strike Film on Venezuelan Revolution

galway | anti-capitalism | event notice Wednesday June 29, 2005 13:45 by Global Women's Strike, Ireland Ireland at allwomencount dot net 087 7838688

TALKING OF POWER
A film about sex, race and class in revolutionary Venezuela, will be shown at the Galway Film Fleadh, Wednesday 6th July 10.30am, Town Hall Theatre (main).

Produced by the Global Women’s Strike, the film was described as “a solid and exciting documentary that offers a glimpse of new ways of re-making the world and women’s role at the heart of it” by Rod Stoneman, director of the prestigious Huston School of Film and Digital Media. It is 62 minutes long.

After show discussion with Nina Lopez, director of Talking of Power and an international co-ordinator of the Global Women’s Strike

To arrange interviews: Maggie Ronayne, co-ordinator of the Strike in Ireland Tel: +353 (0)87 7838688 Email: [email protected]
www.globalwomenstrike.net

THE FILM

From the hills of Caracas to the banks of the Orinoco, the grassroots tell us how they are changing our world. This film will interest anyone keen to learn about grassroots involvement and leadership, Latin America, revolutions, workers organising themselves, women, anti-racism, micro-credit, food security, the oil industry, President Hugo Chávez, anti-imperialism…and making documentaries.

Talking of Power returns by popular demand; it was first premiered in Ireland in March at the Huston School of Film and Digital Media, National University of Ireland, Galway, as part of a European speaking tour by Venezuela’s Women’s Development Bank.

WHY VENEZUELA?

The Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela is the world’s 5th largest oil exporter, yet the majority of people, mainly people of colour, live in poverty. They elected President Hugo Chávez Frías to get the oil revenue back to tackle poverty. The Chávez-led movement wrote and passed a revolutionary constitution which includes Article 88, uniquely recognising that housewives create added value and must be compensated with social security. In 2002, this movement, spearheaded by women, defeated a US-backed coup and then an oil coup. In 2004, a referendum ratified President Chávez in power by 60%-40%, won 21 out of 23 state governments and he was hailed at the World Social Forum as ‘the president of the poor’. ‘Missions’ to promote literacy, education, healthcare, housing, land rights, food security . . . in which women are the overwhelming majority, have leapt forward. Defying US attempts to intervene and discredit this ‘participatory democracy’ based on grassroots self-activity, the Bolivarian revolution is charting a new direction for Latin America and the world.

As hundreds of thousands gather in Gleneagles to protest the twin terrors of poverty and war, it is a beacon of hope for all of us struggling for the world to INVEST IN CARING NOT KILLING.

VENEZUELA IN IRELAND

Inspired by Article 88 of the Venezuelan constitution, the Strike in Ireland has made submissions to the All Party Parliamentary Committee reviewing the Irish Constitution, demanding changes to Article 41.2 so that it recognises the contribution of caring work to society, beginning with women the chief carers everywhere, and the majority against war. The Committee has asked the Strike to provide further information on Venezuela’s recognition of caring work.

ENDS

Tickets are 5 euros or 4.50 concessions.

Further information:

The Global Women’s Strike demands a change in economic priorities and the return of military budgets to the community, beginning with women the carers. Women in over 60 countries, and men who support our goal that society Invest in Caring Not Killing, take Strike action on/around 8 March, International Women’s Day, and throughout the year.

Also available: GWS Videos/DVDs “Venezuela - A 21st Century Revolution”, “The Bolivarian Revolution: Enter the Oil Workers!” which aim to make visible the different sectors active in this revolution, and how grassroots leadership, starting with women and people of colour, works in practice. Payday a network of men in the Strike have produced “Refusing to Kill” a film about refuseniks from round the world.