In case you weren’t able to catch WfPSW on tour in October, please catch this entire presentation captured on film from Portland, OR. Here, speakers Maria Gabriela Del Pilar Blanco and Paola Martucci Gomez speak to the current political, social and economic challenges facing the Bolivarian Revolution including a recent opposition led attempt to coup democratically elected President Nicolás Maduro!
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Videos, Pictures and Links to: WfP Southwest 2016 Speaker’s Tour w/ Venezuelan Organizers
In October, Witness for Peace Southwest toured with organizers Maria Gabriela Del Pilar Blanco and Paola Martucci Gomez of the Revolutionary Sex and Gender Diversity Alliance (ASGDRe) from Venezuela. These two young queer women shed light on the current political, economic and social conditions facing Venezuela’s Bolivarian Revolution. We toured five states across the West including: California, Arizona, New Mexico, Oregon and Washington. We stopped in eleven cities and towns and hosted events with dozens more organizations, autonomous spaces and universities. Check out some pictures from our speaker’s tour! You can also review here 20+ videos of greetings from across the Southwest with organizers and organizations we visited in addition to SW’s reflections during the tour. Shortly, we’ll be posting a list of resources, other materials and actions that you can take to stand in solidarity with the people of Venezuelan and larger Latin American liberation movements. FMI: jcharles.wfpsw@gmail.com
Gaby and Paola spoke with dozens of students with the Central American Studies department at California State University Northridge (CSUN).
Ethnic Studies Department at San Francisco State University turned out more than 50 students to listen to the current events from Venezuela and the achievements and challenges for queer and feminist organizers.
Literature directly from Venezuela was for sale throughout the entire speaker’s tour!
CIELO studies hosted an intimate organizers’ exchange in South Los Angeles.
El Comalito Collective collaborated with a variety of events in Vallejo and Napa Valley including a Sip + Paint fundraiser in addition to a food sovereignty and food justice event and LGBTQ movements in the Americas.
Our first event was held at La Casa Roja in Mid-City Los Angeles with freedom fighters from across Central America.
Paola and Gaby visited a variety of spaces that challenge police brutality and state sanctioned violence in the US against majority Black and Brown bodies. Here, they took a picture in homage to Oscar Grant who was brutality assassinated at this very Fruitvale statement in Oakland.
We debriefed with organizers from PUENTE, an immigrants rights organization in Phoenix, Arizona ahead of the SOAW convergence on the border in Nogales, Arizona/Mexico.
In Oakland we met with a political education group focusing on liberation movements across the Americas. We also attended the Black Panther Party’s 50th Anniversary celebrations.
Students at Scripps College and the wider Claremont Consortium participated in two days worth of events in classroom spaces. Student organizations also hosted a student of color and student organizers’ lunch discussion.
FALL SPEAKER’S TOUR PUBLIC EVENTS
Join Witness for Peace Southwest and Venezuelan organizer María Gabriela Del Pilar Blanco for a series of discussions about the current climate in Venezuela. We will be visiting a variety of spaces in California, Arizona, New Mexico, Oregon and Washington states. Please see our listing below for confirmed public event dates. Please contact Regional Organizer Jeanette Charles if you are interested in attending and would like more information: jcharles.wfpsw@gmail.com or 805.669.VIVA
Sunday October 2, 2016
“Venezuela y la revolución bolivariana – una conversación con activistas venezolanas”, La Casa Roja, 1251 St. Andrews Place, Los Angeles, California 90019
12-2pm
“Women, Gender & Sexuality in Venezuela’s Bolivarian Revolution”, CIELO galleries/studios, 3201 Maple Ave, Los Angeles, California 90011
6pm – 830pm
Monday October 3, 2016
“People’s Power and Popular Movements in Venezuela”, Scripps College, 1030 N Columbia Ave, Claremont, CA 91711
9:35-10:50am @Scr Hum 105 & 2:45-5:30pm @ Scr Balch 218
Wednesday October 5, 2016
“Sexuality, Gender Diversity and Feminism in the Americas”, California State University Northridge, 18111 Nordhoff St, Northridge, CA 91330
2-3:15pm @ Room JR 319
Thursday October 13, 2016
Indigenous Rights Center, ABQ, NM more details TBA
Tuesday October 18, 2016
“Venezuela: Queer Liberation and the Bolivarian Revolution”, The Eric Quezada Political Education Center, 518 Valencia St, San Francisco, CA 94110
7-9pm
Thursday October 20, 2016
Napa Valley, CA public event, more details TBA
Saturday October 22, 2016
“Una al margen: documentary about being trans in Venezuela” Comalito Collective, 302 Georgia Street, Vallejo, CA 94590
discussion at 6:30pm (documentary screenings throughout the day starting at 1pm)
Sunday and Monday October 23 & 24, 2016
Portland, OR & Seattle, WA Public Events, more details TBA
Tuesday October 25, 2016
“Building People’s Power in Venezuela: LGBTQ and Women’s Perspectives on the Bolivarian Process” California State University, Los Angeles 5151 State University Drive Los Angeles, CA 90032
3-:430 pm @ KH B 3008
Latin American Liberation Series: Colombian Peace Process
Women’s Perspectives on Peace: If Not Now, Then When?
Webinar with Sandra Luna of the Ruta Pacifica
The Ruta Pacifica is a feminist pacifist organization. They have two principle objectives: 1) to make visible the effects of the Colombian civil war on women’s bodies; and 2) to support a negotiated solution to Colombia’s civil war. Learn more about their organization’s perspective on the Colombian peace process.
Tuesday April 19 @ 5:30 PST/8:30 EST
Hosted by: Witness for Peace Colombia International Team & Witness for Peace Southwest
For more information about the Latin American Liberation Webinar Series register here
Webinar: Justice & Solidarity for Berta Cáceres & COPINH
Join us in this webinar on Wednesday – Please note to participate you just need to either call in using the number below or sign in online with the link provided below
Webinar: Justice & Solidarity for Berta Cáceres and COPINH
Wednesday, March 16, 2016
6:30pm – 8pm (CST)
Hosted by: Witness for Peace, Honduras Solidarity Network (HSN) & SOA Watch
TO JOIN ONLINE: https://www.anymeeting.com/695-383-182
TO JOIN CALL ONLY:
Dial: 213-416-1560
PIN: 122 085 956#
You are invited to a special webinar to mobilize a US campaign for justice and solidarity for Berta Cáceres, our beloved and missed sister, and the organization she co-founded. COPINH is one of the strongest indigenous organizations in Honduras and it is now more than ever, facing incredible repression.
On the agenda:
Summary of context and what has transpired since Berta’s assassination
Key demands from Berta’s Family & COPINH
Campaign actions & follow up
For more information and the latest WfP action alert, please visit:
Demand Justice for Berta Caceres, Assassinated Lenca Leader — Honduras
Last week, Berta Cáceres Flores, Lenca leader who fought with such dedication for the preservation of her peoples’ natural and ancestral resources, was tragically murdered by at least two individuals who broke down the door of the house where Berta was staying in the Residencial La Líbano in La Esperanza, Intibuca.
Since 2006, Berta and COPINH have been entrenched in a struggle with DESA, a private Honduran company, building the Agua Zarca dam in Rio Blanco, Honduras. The project has been plagued by human rights abuses from its inception, when it bypassed a consultative process with the affected communities before breaking ground. The last protest that took place on February 20, 2016 was accompanied by Witness for Peace, where we witnessed excessive and unnecessary militarization, along with a lack of respect for the Right to Assembly and Freedom of Speech. At the protest, members of COPINH were blocked from protesting by a tractor, and protesters were threatened with arrest.
We are profoundly concerned that the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) has partnered with DESA’s Social Investment Programming through the MERCADO project, linking US taxpayer dollars to the repression and violence against COPINH.
We strongly condemn the role in Rio Blanco of Los TIGRES, a Honduran specialized police unit, which is funded and vetted by the United States, in defending the private interests of DESA.
We demand that the U.S. Embassy not only offer “all the resources of the United States Government to assist in bringing these criminals to justice” as they have stated that they have done, but rather support an independent international investigation and DEMAND that both the intellectual and material authors of the murder be prosecuted. We also call for all legal and political measures possible to guarantee the immediate and ongoing protection of the witness Gustavo Castro Soto, as well as all members of COPINH.
We further demand that the United States government recall its ambassador to Honduras for consultations until such time as concrete action to end impunity in the murder of Berta Cáceres Flores has taken place, and institutional measures to protect human rights have materialized.
Want to lead a WfPSW Delegation?
Do you want to lead a delegation with WfPSW? We are currently looking for delegation coordinators for some of our delegations next year and in 2017.
If you have experience with popular education pedagogy, solidarity with Latin America and organizing group travel please consider working with us!
Contact Jeanette Charles at jcharles.wfpsw@gmail.com or at 805-669-VIVA for more information.
WfPSW Announces 2016 Delegations
Consider joining Witness for Peace Southwest on one of our international and national delegations in 2016!
Delegation fees cover all set-up preparation, 2 meals per day, housing accommodations, interpreters, transportation within the country and a trained delegation coordinator. The feel also covers extensive reading and activist tools before and after the delegation. Limited space is available—Apply early!
For more information and an application please contact: Witness for Peace Southwest Regional Organizer Jeanette Charles at 805-669-VIVA or jcharles.wfpsw@gmail.com or Malia Everette at 415-735-5407 or malia@altruvistas.com. For additional information about scholarship opportunities and fundraising assistance contact Jeanette Charle or Tanya Hartley at southwestwfp@gmail.com.
WfPSW has experience organizing delegations to countries throughout the region including Honduras, Colombia and Mexico. If you would like to organize a delegation for your organization, school or community group through Witness for Peace Southwest, please contact Jeanette Charles, Tanya Hartley or Malia Everette (information provided above).
MEXICO-U.S. BORDER March 19-26, 2016: Impacts of US War on Drugs on the Mexico/US Border
Learn more about the Impacts of the US War on Drugs in Southern California and along the Mexico-U.S. border. We will meet with organizations challenging the prison industrial complex, fighting against massive deportations and creating alternatives to free trade. Contact Jeanette Charles for more information regarding this delegation’s overall cost.
Deadline: Application with a non-refundable deposit of $150 is due by January 18, 2016
Join the Cuban people on International Worker’s Day in Havana, Cuba! Join us for what promises to be a remarkable time to celebrate Cuba’s revolutionary spirit, past and present!
Cost: $2350 without international airfare and $2950 with airfare included from Miami.
Deadline: Application with a non-refundable deposit of $200 is due by February 28, 2016.
VENEZUELA May 21-30, 2016: Afro-Venezuelan History and Culture
May is Afro-Venezuelan history month and is full of events marking the significant political, cultural and social contributions of the African Diaspora and the specific struggles of Afro-descendants in Venezuela. Learn how Afro-Venezuelans have secured significant rights with the Bolivarian Revolution and continue to build an anti-racist Venezuelan society today.
Cost: $1950 excluding international airfare.
Deadline: Application with a non-refundable deposit of $150 is due by March 14, 2016.
VENEZUELA July 21-31, 2016: The Bolivarian Revolution: From Simon to Hugo
From Simon Bolivar to Hugo Chavez, the Bolivarian Revolution has evolved into building an inclusive society where all Venezuelans participate. Delegates will learn first-hand the ways and means of Venezuelan democracy, providing a unique opportunity to witness how public policies and grassroots organizing come together.
Cost: $1950 excluding international airfare.
Deadline: Application with a non-refundable deposit of $150 is due by May 16, 2016.
PUERTO RICO Nov. 4-12, 2016: Boricua: The Hidden Colony $1850
Their status as a U.S. commonwealth leaves them without a vote and voice in their nation’s political future. Stand in solidarity with the people of Puerto Rico as they continue their fight for their independence against US occupation and militarization.
Cost: $1850 excluding airfare.
Deadline: Application with a non-refundable deposit of $150 is due by August 15, 2016.
CUBA Dec. 27, 2016-Jan 4, 2017: New Years in Havana: Cuban Socialism and Cultural Resilience
Learn about the Cuban people’s revolutionary history and cultural resilience while also celebrating the New Year! Expect to learn about the importance of arts and culture in Cuban society and its revolutionary development.
Cost: $2850 without international airfare and $3450 with airfare included from Miami.
Deadline: Application with a non-refundable deposit of $200 is due by September 26, 2016.
Urgent Action: Pres. Obama signs sanctions on Venezuela
The Venezuela Sanctions bill authored and pushed by Cuban American congresspersons Bob Menendez (Senate D-NJ) and Ileana Ros-Lehtinen (House R-FL) passed congress last week and was just signed by President Obama yesterday Thursday Dec 18, 2014. A day after President Obama announced steps towards normalizing relations with Cuba.
Tell President Obama today that we want no more embargoes in Latin America!
No to Venezuela Sanctions!
Call the White House comment line: (202) 456-1111
Call The State Department Venezuela Desk: 202-647-4216
Tell the President you oppose sanctions on Venezuela. You support normalized relations with Venezuela and Cuba.
Click here to send a letter to the President, State Department and your Congressional Representatives.
Los Angeles Protest Against Sanctions
Monday Dec 22 at Noon.
LA Times Building 202 W. 1st Street, Los Angeles, CA.
Meet at Los Angeles Times Building at 202 W. 1st Street, Los Angeles to protest the LA Times unfair reporting on Venezuela then we will march 1-2 blocks to Senator Barbara Boxer’s district office at 312 N Spring St Los Angeles to ask that she speak out against US Sanctions on Venezuela. Click here to RSVP via Facebook or email southwestwfp@gmail.com or call 805-669-VIVA.
Click here for a list of Talking Points on Venezuela and US Sanctions
Witness for Peace Southwest sponsored 3 fact finding delegations to Venezuela in 2014 and works towards a more just and humane US policy towards Latin America.
Eyewitness Reports this week in San Francisco and Los Angeles. Venezuela, Honduras and Cuba
español abajo
Download event flyers: sf event flyer nov 20, 2014, LA event flyer nov 22, 2014
Eyewitness Reports this week in San Francisco and Los Angeles.
Venezuela, Honduras and Cuba
Thursday Nov 20, 2014 730-930pm
518 Valencia St San Francisco, CA
Saturday Nov 22, 2014 330-430pm
220 Glendale Blvd Los Angeles, CA
In the past year Witness for Peace Southwest has sent 37 delegates on fact finding solidarity delegations to Venezuela and Honduras. Join us to hear this eyewitness testimony as we build solidarity with resistance movements in Honduras challenging US funded repression and as we stand for sovereignty of the Venezuelan people as they face US sanctions. In addition you will learn about travel opportunities to Cuba, Venezuela, and other Latin American countries similarly affected by US policies, in 2015, as we continue the struggle for an end to the US blockade on Cuba and Freedom for the Cuban Five and the sovereignty of all peoples
Venezuela: Three delegations traveled to Venezuela in May, June and July this 2014 in the aftermath of violent opposition led street protests and one year after the passing of Venezuela’s beloved President Hugo Chavez. Delegates learned about the Afro-Venezuelan movement and identity, met with Venezuelan doctors practicing universal healthcare, mingled with Venezuelan students attending free universities, and conversed with campesinos and urban farmers maintaining their country’s food security.
Honduras: WFPSW sent election monitors to Honduras in November of 2013 for Honduras’ historic elections and another delegation in August of 2014 to accompany communities facing violence at the height of the child migration crisis. Delegates heard first hand testimony of the roots of the migration crisis. Delegates will report on the fraud that took place during the elections and the violent repression of Honduras’ new resistance party in the elections aftermath. We will hear delegate reports from the Afro-Honduran, Indigenous and campesino communities fighting for land rights against international mega-projects, oligarchs and drug traffickers.
San Francisco Panelists:
Venezuela Delegates
-Jeanette Charles- May delegation leader and Telesur English writer
-Claudia Chaufan- June delegation co-leader and Associate Professor UCSF
-Tanya Cole- May delegation and Witness for Peace Southwest organizer
-Tim Tendick -July delegation and Travel blogger
Honduras Delegates
-Tanya Cole-Election observer, August delegation and Honduras Solidarity Network member
Cuba
-Malia Everette- Cuba travel coordinator for Altruvistas and WFPSW
Los Angeles Panelists:
-Jeanette Charles- Venezuela delegation leader and Writer for Telesur English
-Rachel Bruhnke- Delegate to Cuba Solar Conference Havana, Cuba
-Tanya Cole- Honduras Delegation Leader
Enjoy music, refreshments and good company!
sponsored by Witness for Peace Southwest.
SF event Endorsed by Altruvistas, Taskforce on the Americas, Bay Area Latin America Solidarity Coalition (BALASC), Honduras Solidarity Network, Alliance for Global Justice.
LA Event Endorsed by the Honduras Solidarity Network and the Alliance for Global Justice.
More info contact: 805-669-VIVA or southwestwfp@gmail.com. Www.wfpsw.org
Informes de Venezuela, Honduras y Cuba.
Jueves, 20 de noviembre de 2014
7:30pm-9:30pm
518 Valencia St San Francisco, CA
sábado, 22 de noviembre de 2014 3:30pm-5:30pm
Multicultural Artists United (MCAU)
220 Glendale Blvd
Los Angeles, CA 90026
Bajen volantes:
español SF evento nov 20, 2014
español LA evento nov 22, 2014
El año pasado Acción Permanente por la Paz Sudoeste ha enviado a 37 delegados en las delegaciones de solidaridad a Venezuela y Honduras. Únase a nosotros para escuchar este testimonio de los delegados como crear solidaridad con los movimientos de resistencia en Honduras y como defendemos la soberanía del pueblo Venezolano. Además usted aprenderá acerca de oportunidades de viajar a Cuba, Venezuela y otros países latinoamericanos, igualmente afectados por las políticas de Estados Unidos.
Venezuela: Tres delegaciones viajaron a Venezuela en mayo, junio y julio este 2014 durante las protestas violentas de la oposicíon y un año después de la muerte de amado presidente Hugo Chávez. Delegados aprendieron acerca del movimiento Afro-venezolano, reunieron con los médicos venezolanos practicando atención médica universal, se mezclaron con los estudiantes venezolanos que asisten a las universidades gratis y conversaron con campesinos y agricultores urbanos que están mantenimiento la seguridad alimentaria de su país.
Honduras: WFPSW envió observadores electorales a Honduras en noviembre de 2013 para que las históricas elecciones de Honduras y una otra delegación en agosto de 2014 para acompañar a las comunidades enfrentando a la violencia del estado y de grandes terratenientes. Delegados escucharon testimonios de las raíces de la crisis de la migración. Los delegados presentará un informe sobre el fraude que llevó a cabo durante las elecciones y la violenta represión de nuevo partido de resistencia Honduras tras las elecciones. Escucharemos delegados con informes de los Afro-Hondureños, las comunidades indígenas y campesinas que luchan por el derecho a la tierra contra la mega-proyectos internacionales, los oligarcas y los traficantes de drogas.
Cuba- informe sobre la protección del medio ambiente y energía en Cuba. También aprendan sobre las oportunidades de viajar a Cuba en 2015.
San Francisco Panelistas:
Delegados de Venezuela
-Jeanette Charles- Líder de la delegación en mayo y escritora de Telesur Inglés
-Claudia Chaufan-co líder de la delegación de junio y profesor asociado de UCSF
-Tanya Cole-delegación en mayo y organizadora de WFPSW
-Tim Tendick-delegación de julio y blogger de viajes
Delegados de Honduras
-Tanya Cole-Observadora electoral en 2013,co-líder de la delegación en agosto y miembro de la Red de solidaridad con Honduras (HSN)
Cuba
-Malia Everette – Directora de Altruvistas y WFPSW y coordinadora de viajes a Cuba y Venezuela
Los Angeles Panelistas confirmadas:
-Jeanette Charles- Líder de delegaciones a Venezuela Y escritora para Telesur Inglés
-Rachel Bruhnke- Delegada a Conferencia de Cuba Solar en Habana
-Tanya Cole- Honduras Delegation Leader
Disfrute de música, refrescos y buena compañía!
SF Facebook evento
LA Facebook evento
Más info contacto: 805-669-VIVA o southwestwfp@gmail.com. http://Www.wfpsw.org, http://www.Facebook.com/ wfpsw
San Francisco Patrocinado por Witness for Peace Southwest/Acción Permanente por la Paz Sudoeste (WFPSW). Apoyado por Altruvistas, Grupo de trabajo sobre las Américas (MITF), BALASC, Red de Solidaridad con Honduras (HSN, Alianza para la Justicia Global (AFGJ).
Los Angeles Patrocinado por Witness for Peace Southwest/Acción Permanente por la Paz Sudoeste (WFPSW). Apoyado por Red de Solidaridad con Honduras (HSN, Alianza para la Justicia Global (AFGJ).
Witness For Peace Southwest Region 