Hugo Blanco meeting in Edinburgh

Latin America
The Eco Socialist Alternative
With
Hugo Blanco

Speakers and Workshops from
Scottish Socialist Party
Green Left (England & Wales)
Venezuelan Solidarity Campaign
Cuban Solidarity Campaign
Scottish Socialist Youth
Saturday 16th October 2010
10:30 – 13:00
The Dining Room
Teviot House
Bristo Square


A Word About Hugo Blanco
Hugo Blanco is a historic leader of the Peruvian peasant movement who has been politically active since the 1950s. In the 1960s he played a central part in the ‘Land or Death’ peasant uprising in the southern highlands of Peru. He was captured, and sentenced to 25 years. He wrote the book “Land or Death: the peasant struggle in Peru” during one of his many periods in prison. In 1976 he was released and deported to Sweden. On returning to Peru in 1978, he was elected to parliament. He was a member of the Peruvian Senate until 1992, when he was forced to seek political asylum in Mexico following Alberto Fujimori’s “self-coup”.

Hugo Blanco has been at the forefront of a huge struggle in the Peruvian Amazon where the government has sold off the rain forests to the oil corporations and the indigenous people are resisting the devastation this brings. He is working on the newspaper “Lucha Indigena” (Indigenous Struggle). The struggle in Latin America today is an international beacon of hope for all socialists including Eco socialists.

The people’s summit in Cochabamba, Bolivia in 2010 showed an alternative to the total failure of the world’s governments – especially those of the US and the European Union – to meet the challenge of climate change. In a world where profit is the motor force rather than human need, it has been an inspiration that social movements in Latin America have won important victories. Indigenous peoples have been key to the strength and success of those movements. Hugo argues that indigenous peoples across the planet are in the forefront of fighting climate change and conserving the local environment. This is true of those struggling to preserve the lungs of the world in the Amazon, to defend the rainforests in Borneo or against the uranium mine in the Grand Canyon.

Schedule for the Day
10:45 Introduction to the day’s events from Cat Grant
10:50 Opening address from Hugo Blanco
11:10 Workshops Round One
11:50 Workshops Round Two
12:30 Report back from workshops
12:50 Closing address and summary from Hugo Blanco

Workshops Round One: The Bolivarian Revolutionary Process - Ewan Robertson (SSP); Young People and the Climate Camp - Jack Ferguson (SSY); Saving Our Land in Scotland - Cat Grant (SSP); and Eco Socialism or Barbarism - Liam Young (SSP).

Workshops Round Two: Building Solidarity with Venezuela - Venezuelan Solidarity Campaign
Building Social Forums in Latin America and Britain - Keith Baker (Green Left England & Wales); Cuba: The Green Island – Brian Pollitt (Cuban Solidarity Campaign) and Uruguay: After the Dictatorship - Patrick O'Hare (SSY).

For more information: http://www.facebook.com/#!/event.php?eid=146635088705507 or email thefiinscotland@live.co.uk.

Rainforest priest from Portsmouth wins!

My friend Father Paul McAuley has won his latest legal battle with the Peruvian authorities and can stay in the country.

He works with the indigenous to protect their human rights and the indigenous have worked to protect his human rights.

The Peruvian government wanted to kick him out.

Viva Fr Paul! Viva Aidesep! Victories are been won to protect the Amazon, also looks like the left (and quite green) candidate for Mayor of Peru has won.

Hugo Blanco the Peruvian ecosocialist is back in the UK next week with meetings in Cardiff, Bristol, Brighton.

So if you are seriously green get focussed on this.

LEER MAS

Basque ecosocialists fight biofuel menace

Basque Activists from Ekologistak Martxan (www.ekologistakmartxan.org) have picketed for FOUR days the marquee which oil company Repsol YPF /Petronor erected in Bilbao's city centre to educate citizens on respect to the environment. The first picket was provoked by a spill from one of Repsol YPF's tracks of 13000 litres into Bilbao's river last Monday 27th September. The diesel went through the river passing next to their marquee. Bit that is not Repsol YPF's only spill:Repsol YPF' has expanded in Latinamerica using Spanish connections (supported by the Spanish government) and making the most of all the financial structure impositions by IMF, etc which meant privatization of public services and companies. In Latin America her record of environmental damage (deforestation, pollution of aquifers, rivers, plantations, air, health problems, etc) is massive (see some of them bellow). Repsol also is owner of a big refinery in Muskiz (Bilbao's coast) which was build in a massive marshland and that now wants to be expanded with a coque plant and therefore further fumes, CO2 and greenhouse gases. This is object of conflict with locals. Repsol was also responsible last year (2009) for two big spills in her offshore prospection platforms of Tarragona and plans now to drill for oil in the Mexican Gulf (Cuban waters) from platforms deeper (10.000 metres) than the Deepwater Horizon. This week Repsol YPF also contacted the Tentayapi community (Guarani people, Bolivia) to tell them they plan to start extracting gas. Tentayapi stopped Repsol YPF, seeing how the area was granted Untouchable Culture Patrimony status in 2005

On the four days the marquee was close down (without any violence, just by being there). Activists wore white over-alls and masks with a Repsol skull and 'Repsol kills' (both in Spanish and Basque) and displaid a 'Repsol murderer' banner (in Basque). Photos of damage caused by Repsol YPF in Yasuni Nature Reservoir (Ecuador) were also displaid. Activists also gave away hundreds of leaflets showing why they oppose this big transnational and shouted against green wash and hypocrisy, spills and pollution, expansionism in Latin America,climate change, etc. Peoples' reaction was very good, demonstrating that despite their big efforts and funding, people portray them as enemies of the environment



SOME ENVIRONMENTAL CRIMES REPSOL YPF IS RESPONSIBLE FOR
(text from leaflets given to bypassers at pickets)

27/10/2010; 13,000 liters of gasoline spilled by Repsol YPF truck to the Ibaizabal estuary (Nervión) (Bilbo).
August / September 2010: spills occur in Añelo (Neuquén, Argentina)
4/8/1910: discharged at the Cotorrio river (Basque Country) by Petronor (Repsol YPF )
12 DIC 2009: spill from broken pipeline in San Luis Repsol YPF (Agentina)
October 2009: fuel spill by Repsol-YPF in Quilmes (Argentina)
June 2009: slaughter of dozens of Indians who are opposed to oil activities in the Peruvian Amazon, including Repsol YPF. Survival asked Repsol YPF to withdraw from Peru. In April 2010, Repsol YPF sought to build 454 km of seismic lines and 152 heliports in the Peruvian Amazon.
May 15-June 2009: oil spill by (Repsol YPF) in Tarragona's (Catalunya) offshore platforms. Repsol YPF was tried.
March 4, 2009: 5th pipeline spill at Camisea (Peru)
March 20, 2009: 70 conservation organizations demanded Repsol YPF's expulsion from Ecuador
February 25, 2009: 14,000 barrels of oil spilled from OCP oilpipe (participation of Repsol YPF) aat the Cayambe-Coca ecological reserve (Ecuador)
August 2008: Argentina Supreme Court opens a multimillion lawsuit against Repsol YPF for environmental damage caused by more than 4,000 spills in Neuquén, Río Negro and Mendoza
5 June 2008: tar spill in the river Barbadun (Basque Country) by Petronor (Repsol YPF )
February 6, 2008: spill of 190 tons of toxic liquid waste into the river Francolí (Tarragona)
February 1, 2008: Repsol YPF spilled 2500 barrels of oil in the Yasuni Biosphere Reserve (Amazonia, Ecuador)
December 2007: spill in Chubut (Argentina) by Repsol YPF
July 2, 2007: The Supreme Court investigates Argentine Repsol and other oil companies for environmental damage
October 18, 2005: 350,000 liters of oil spilled in Neuquén (Argentina)
June 30, 2005: Two killed by explosion of gas at Repsol YPF's wells in Surubi (Bolivia)
August 14, 2003: 9 employees of the Repsol refinery in Puertollano were killed by gas explotion
March 29, 2001: explosion of 40,000 liters tank at Paynemil Reserve (Argentina) producing spill and fire
2000: spill at Iguazú (Argentina)
1988: spill at Quilmes (Argentina) from broken pipeline. Since then there is a bag of about 3000 cubic meters of fuel underground, at less than one meter deep.



--
Zor Ekologiko Batzordea
Ekologistak Martxan
Pilota Kalea 5
48005 Bilbo
(Euskal Herria/País Vasco/Basque Country)

Tel: (00 34) 94 4790119

www.ekologistakmartxan.org
http://ezhemenezinon.blogspot.com
http://zor-ekologikoa.blogspot.com

www.bbvagh.org
ibertrola.blogspot.com

www.enlazandoalternativas.org
www.quiendebeaquien.org

Haga que pasa: Make it happen!!

Haga que pasa: Make it happen!

'MI FINK' AND THE STRUGGLE FOR FOOD SOVEREIGNTY AND FREEDOM IN VILLA RICA, COLOMBIA

Come and see Jota this week:
· Wednesday 6 October at Institute for the Study of the Americas, 5 - 7.30p.m. University of London, Venue : Room G32 (South Block,Senate House, Ground Floor) Tube:Russell Square, Kings Cross, Euston, Googe Street.

· Saturday 9 October 12.30pm (midday) at the Democracy Rally in Trafalgar Square, London

As land has been lost to large, commercial, sugar plantations in the Cauca Region of Colombia, small scale traditional farms or fincas have disappeared and with them knowledge of locally adapted food production systems. In Villa Rica, however, Jota Ramos and his friends have decided to fight back. By learning about traditional production techniques from the town's elders they are rescuing and revitalising the knowledge they need in order to re-establish a vibrant rural community that has control over the food that they eat. 'Mi Fink' is a short documentary that Jota and his colleagues have made to record their efforts to take control of their lives and their futures. It is also the name of their project, which is part of a much larger programme, ¡Haga que pase!, which seeks to motivate and support young people in their efforts to change their lives for the better. In this evening's seminar, Jota will present the documentary 'Mi Fink' and explain a little more about the struggle for food sovereignty and freedom in Villa Rica.
As a result, the life of Jota, one of the community leaders, is being threatened. Persons as yet unidentified have accused him of subversion, a very dangerous accusation in Colombia, and warned him against working for his community.
‘As a way of protecting ourselves and to highlight these problems, we have made the documentary Mi Fink, and the music CD. We have also organized a tour of Latin America and Europe, to let the world know what is going on, so that we will not be alone on the path that we have chosen, towards freedom for our community.’
Jota Ramos, 2010

Come to the Rally for Change in Stratford, 7th October

Dear Friend,

I am writing to you about an important public meeting in Stratford, on
Thursday 7th October, 7 - 9 pm, to launch the People's Charter in this part
of London. Please help support the meeting by forwarding on this email to
others.


The Coalition Government want to force through the biggest cuts any of us
will ever have seen in our life time. They don't have the mandate to do
this. As residents, parents, young people, pensioners, in unions, community
groups, or environmental campaigns, we need to come together and make the
majority voice heard.

Throughout Britain anti cuts organisatins and alliances are springing up.
In Bethnal Green Tony Benn and others addressed a packed meeting only last
week.

There is another way to prosperity and a secure and decent life for all.
The People's Charter sets out what the alternative could look like. It
already has the backing of the unions, community groups and thousands of
individuals up and down the country. The Coalition of Resistance, led by
Tony Benn, is also bringing people together against the cuts. The People's
Charter and the Coalition of Resistance work together.

The next People's Charter rally for change will take place in Stratford
Circus, Theatre Square, 5 minutes walk from Stratford Station.

Speakers include Bob Crow RMT, Jean Lambert (Green Party), Alex Kenny (NUT),
Junaid Ahmed (London Muslim Centre) and Imran Khan.

All those who want to oppose the cuts are welcome to attend.

The meeting is supported by the RMT, National Union of Teachers, the
Coalition of Resistance, East London Teachers Association, Tower Hamlets
Green Party, Tower Hamlets Respect Party, and Newham Trades Council.

I look forward to seeing you there.

Best regards

Imran Khan

Civil Rights Lawyer

Huge Green surge robs Dilma Rousseff of victory in Brazilian Presidential election

Environmental Activist Marina Silva Part 1/2

With 60% of votes counted the Green Party candidate, born in the Amazon, illiterate until 14, a real fighter and former environment minister and friend of Chico Mendes, Marina Silva has surged to 20% of the vote.

If Dilma loses, its a victory for the right and a defeat for the people.

Yet Dilma's part the PT has become bogged down in corruption and Dilma is a keen advocate of exploitation of the Amazon.

Indigenous people, women and landless peasants want a change.

Marina's campaign is sending shock waves through Brazil.

Clearly the PT cannot win without appealing to PV voters.

Green politics is increasingly Latin American, strongest of course in the Peruvian Amazon, where the indigenous leader Pizango is preparing his bid to be president of Peru, but Brazil is not far behind.

Panic grips Europe as bin Laden issues climate change fatwa threat

'Would that encourage you to cut your carbon or is that just insane?'

'It's just insane'

To be fair, to bin Laden, his take on climate change is a little more nuanced than that of 10:10, you can see what he has to say here.