Ethical Development Action

Ethical Development Action in collaboration with the Latin America Solidarity Centre invites you to the launch of a series of events to celebrate Latin America Week on Thursday 15th of April from 6pm to 7pm in the Vision Centre, North Main Street.

 

Turning the Tide. Resisting the Water Trade

 

This exhibition aims to focus attention on the issue of the private exploitation of water, and the impact of this on human development.

Although water is absolutely fundamental for life to exist, over 1 billion people in the world lack safe access to clean water and 25 million people in the world die every year as a result of contaminated waters.  In Latin America, despite having 55% of the worlds total renewable water resources, 100 million people live without access to safe water.

Recent waves of privatisation of water in countries such as Chile, Argentina, Uruguay, Bolivia and Colombia, have often made matters worse; with massive increases in water rates, illnesses and death from contaminated water.  This situation has sparked massive demonstrations such as the, now well known, "Water Wars" in Bolivia.  The strong opposition has forced some administrations to rescind the contracts to transnational corporations, that were reaping huge benefits from water privatisation, while delivering very poor service or no service at all to the vast majority in need.

Turning the Tide. Resisting the Water Trade contains photos taken by Members, Volunteers and Friends of the Latin America Solidarity Centre.  It focuses on the use and abuse of water and other natural resources and the struggles over control of those resources through the example of Latin America.

 

Sunday 18th April 4pm - Victoria Hotel, Patrick Street

4pm  Exhibition of Arpilleras (Traditional Chilean embroidered quilts) and documentary about Chile under Pinochet.

Screening of Latin American Film

"The Cardboard Train"

 From the dusty streets of the Argentinian industrial suburbs, comes a moving tale of survival and hope under challening circumstances.  Seen through the eyes of a vivacious 7 year-old, Yessica, this is the story of her cardboard-picking family who make the daily journey on the train to earn a living by scavenging paper.  An honest narrative focusing on their plight and their unfaltering will to survive.

 7pm - Screening of highly aclaimed documentary with discussion afterwards led by development education officer Martin Naarendorp

 "The Future of Food"

 This groundbreaking documentary released in 2004, distills the complex technology and key regulatory, legal, ethical, environmental and consumer issues surrounding the troubling changes happening in the food system today—genetically engineered foods, patenting, and the corporatization of food—into terms the average person can easily understand. It empowers consumers to understand the consequences of their food choices on our future.

 

Monday 19th April 7pm - Victoria Hotel, Patrick Street

Talk by Fergal Anderson

"Growing resistance - the fight to fix the food system"

Fergal Anderson, European Coordinator of the international peasant movement Via Campesina, Brussels. Fergal is an activist from a rural community in Co. Galway. He visited Chiapas as the Zapatistas were starting their “other campaign” in 2006. This experience motivated him to study a Masters in Public Advocacy and Activism in Galway. He first came into contact with La Via Campesina at the anti-G8 mobilisations in Rostock in Germany in 2007 and became a volunteer interpreter at their meetings and mobilisations in Europe during 2008.

Becca Mohally-Renk development practitioner currently working in Nicaragua will give a short presentation on her work

Organic Coffee and Nicaraguan crafts available

 

Wednesday 21st April 7pm - Victoria Hotel, Patrick Street

Latin American documentaries

"Colours at the end of the world"

In 2006 Benetton celebrated 40 years at the forefront of high street fashion and in recent years one of the most unusual and visually provocative advertising campaigns.  Today the situation has changed.  He is caught up in a dispute with international repercussions.  In 2004, C.T.S.A., part of the Benetton holding company, forcibly evicted a couple from their rural home, having finally to resort to police intervention.  The Mapuche Indians have gathered the support of international activists and a Nobel Peace prize-winner in their fight against the giant landowners.  Benetton is the largest foreign landowner in Patagonia, Argentina with close to a million hectares of prime farming land, which helps to support the textile industry's demand for wool.  The group provide employment, support, food, building materials, winter fuels, medical services and education for the community.  The Mapuches however are adamant, ancient lands cannot be bought and sold, they are a birth right of the age-old community.  These questions have been brought forward to the law courts and the situation continues.  How justified are the Mapuches in their claims and how much more land should be sold off to foreign investors.  Can Benetton placate the Indian community and maintain his highly regarded worldwide reputation?

 

Capoeira Performance by Mundo Capoeira Cork

 

"Favela Rising"

Winner of 36 International Film Festival Awards

Favela Rising documents a man and a movement, a city divided and a favela (Brazilian squatter settlement) united. Haunted by the murders of his family and many of his friends, Anderson Sá is a former drug-trafficker who turns social revolutionary in Rio de Janeiro’s most feared slum. Through hip-hop music, the rhythms of the street, and Afro-Brazilian dance he rallies his community to counteract the violent oppression enforced by teenage drug armies and sustained by corrupt police.  At the dawn of liberation, just as collective mobility is overcoming all odds and Anderson’s grassroots Afro Reggae movement is at the height of its success, a tragic accident threatens to silence the movement forever.

 

Any questions regarding Latin America Week please contact  This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it  or 085 7116534

 

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