THE BATTLE AGAINST EBOLA
GENDER BASED VIOLENCE IN INDIA
THE LEGANDARY FELA KUTI
We look at Ireland’s longstanding relationship with Liberia as the battle rages against Ebola.
The 2012 Delhi rape gang case brought India’s track record on gender to global headlines.
Fi nd i ng Fela is a recent documentary looking at how music can be turned into a weapon for social change.
> HEALTH PAGE
> GENDER PAGE
> MUSIC PAGE
FOCUS
ACTION FOR GLOBAL JUSTICE. November 2014 | Published By Comhlámh | ISSUE 95
www.comhlamh.org
Irish Activists carried out BDS actions in shops like Marks and Spencers in Dublin in July | Photo Credits: Ronan Burthenshaw
JAMES REDMOND Comhlámh Staff
Solidarity At The Shops.
Why It’s Time To Build The Boycott, Divestment & Sanctions Movement. SHANE O’CONNOR Development Educationalist
W
hile the socalled ‘Operation Protective Edge’ was Israel’s 3rd deadly offensive on Gaza since 2008, on this occasion, the deliberate targeting of civilians, and particularly children, all brought to the world’s attention through the immediacy of social media, prompted an unprecedented level of revulsion and outrage amongst citizen populations. In the words of Archbishop Desmond Tutu; ‘this was arguably the largest active outcry by citizens around a single cause ever in the history of the world.” The ongoing Occupation of Palestine involves the construction of extensive settlements colonies on Palestinian land, travel
restrictions, arrests, strangulation of the Palestinian economy and regular military attacks on the civilian population. All of these acts combine to render the creation of an independent Palestinian state practically impossible, are carried out by Israel without any consequence from the international community despite their illegality. More significantly, they are effectively endorsed by the United States as its enormous financial contribution to the state of Israel makes all of this possible. Since 2005, Palestinian civil society has called for an international campaign of boycott, divestment and sanctions (BDS) against Israel until it complies with international law. The BDS movement has grown from strength to strength in recent years.
hundreds of thousands of people In Ireland, over 215 artists in the EU and across the world including Sinéad Cusack, Christy to choose not to buy Moore, Damien Dempsey, these products Liam Ó Maonlaí, and to boycott Sharon Shannon “ e effective Israel as part of and Robert economic power of their everyday Ballagh have BDS lies in its ability consumer pledged to to activate hundreds habits. a campaign of thousands of Tragically, of BDS. people in the EU and too often it Internationally, across the world to takes a massacre Danske Bank, choose not to buy like the recent Dutch pensions these products” one in Gaza rather giant PGGM and than the day-to-day the state pension funds of reality of the Occupation to bolster Luxembourg and Norway have all the uptake and impact of BDS. In made significant divestments from South Africa, global BDS was a key Israeli companies. factor in bringing about an end to In shops and supermarkets, apartheid. Israeli fruit and vegetables, It will play a similar role in pharmaceutical products, ending the illegal Occupation of cosmetics, plastic products, Palestine and in so doing help jewellery, etc are readily available bring an end to one of the most through the EU. brutal and persistent political The effective economic power injustices of our time. of BDS lies in its ability to activate
Negotiations on TTIP have provoked strong opposition across Europe, the US and Canada. Campaigners fear these treaties will give unbridled power to multinational corporations, risking privatisation of public services and a watering down of environmental standards and workers’ rights. To express this opposition campaigners applied for a European Citizens’ Initiative to force a re-think on the deals but it was rejected by the European Commission back in September. The European Citizens’ Initiative (ECI) was set up to give European citizens formal petitioning rights over an often unaccountable decisionmaking process. Citizens who manage to collect one million signatures from 7 or more EU states can force the Commission to hold a public hearing in the European parliament. “The rejection of the ECI only confirms the Commission’s strategy to exclude citizens and parliaments from the TTIP and CETA negotiations. Instead of paying attention to citizens, it is just lobbyists that are being listened to.” “Now the battle really begins,” said Michael Efler, contact person of the European Citizen Iniative, which currently represents almost 230 organizations from 21 EU countries.
> DIRECT PROVISION PAGE
2
FOCUS ACTION FOR GLOBAL JUSTICE
FOCUS
ACTION FOR GLOBAL JUSTICE
EST. 1978
NEWS
KRAC committee members, Cork, left to right: Lucky Khambule, Hassan Ally, David and Theresa Obi | Photo credit: Paula Geraghty
Focus Magazine is Ireland’s leading magazine on global development issues. Since 1978, Focus has been making links between the situation in Ireland and in the South, with a view to challenging assumptions, and promoting understanding, interest in and action on development issues among a broad public. In particular, it aims to provide alternative views to those expressed in mainstream media. Editorial Group: Inese Japina, Rory Fogarty, Lindsay Murphy, Sive Bresnihan and Mark Furlong.
To receive copies to distribute please contact info@comhlamh.org Comhlamh is a signatory to the Dochas Code On Images and Messages. Feedback welcome to info@comhlamh.org
OPINIONS
A
sylum seekers who had locked out management of the Kinsale Road Accommodation Centre marched in Cork City to highlight their fight for human dignity. Journalist Paula Geraghty was there and gathered video vox pops with many of the protestors. Here are some of their thoughts.
“People have to know that we exist. We are not being put in the limbo. We are coming out of the ghetto. We need more people to come and support, to come visit us�
- Christian
“The past 10 days have been hectic for everybody but the victory is sweet because we achieved part of what we are fighting for. Now we are here today to say round one is finished and we are going for round two.’ - Lucky “Before this protest life here it was difficult, really difficult because it was too much controlled and there was no freedom basically. In this 8 / 9 days of strike at least we have experienced a bit of freedom which I’d never experienced since coming to this country as an asylum seeker.� - Ali “It’s a real business. They don’t want to talk about it but it’s a business of human meat. That’s the reason why we’re demonstrating. It’s not money that matters - it’s dignity and freedom, and respect of human rights. That’s it.� - Bob “It is time to wake up. It is right to say no to direct provision. It is right to say no to deportation. It is right to say these children should not be damaged from their youth. It is time to give these children back their lives. Amandla.� - Theresa
FOR MORE FOLLOW @PAULAGERAGHTY
END DIRECT PROVISION
The System Is Not Working Asylum seekers are making their voices heard through nationwide protests. SIVE BRESNIHAN ComhlĂĄmh.
I
n August of this year, 4 asylum seekers in a remote men’s only hostel outside of Foynes, Co. Limerick went on hunger strike. After years of direct provision and no word on their asylum claims (one of them had been in the system for 14 years), they said that they could simply ‘take no more’. The Foynes protest, which also involved locking staff and management out of the building, was quickly diffused by the authorities but asylum seekerled protests in other centres followed and, in a matter of weeks, altered the course of the direct provision debate. On September 3rd residents in Lisseywollen, Athlone announced that they were refusing food and, on Saturday, locked staff out of the centre and marched to town armed with messages for the Reception and Integration Agency (RIA) and service provider ARAMARK. Residents of Montague, Port Laoise did the very same thing the following Monday. When a delegation from RIA arrived to hear their grievances the first thing they asked was: ‘If we hadn’t organised our action when would you have come to address our concerns?’ On September 15th the lengthiest of the protests began in the Kinsale Road Accommodation Centre in Cork. The protest (which took the form of an extended lock out) lasted for 10 days during
established a working group on direct which time residents made a point of provision. The group’s Terms of Reference inviting people in. Journalists circulated provide for the most marginal of reform through the space, friends came with however and there is no seat at the table for food and music, and members of the asylum seekers. public stopped by. This allowed for new Protesters appear kinds of interactions, something undeterred and poised which the residents felt deeply. ‘What we were doing was real “ e message from for more action. ‘Let us all sing one song in integration’ said one of the the protesters has one voice and make residents. ‘Nothing will feel been unequivocal as much noise as the same again’. Organised and that is that no we can to disrupt as KRAC (Kinsale Road amount of reform any effort that is Accommodation Centre), can fix the system � designed to keep or to residents suspended their lock reform this inhumane out on Wednesday September system,’ says KRAC. ‘Let us 24th after securing concessions believe in our own abilities and from management. That Friday they capabilities in fighting together and bury gathered up banners and supporters and our differences to fight for a common goal. marched triumphantly through Cork city, We owe it to our children to get into this inviting everybody back to the Center battle and say enough is enough’. afterwards for a party. The message from the protesters has been unequivocal and that is that no amount of reform can fi x the system of direct provision. Kinsale Road and Montague along with Birchwood and Atlantic House (who began their protests in October) have been calling for an end to the system, namely: the closure of all direct provision centers, stopping all deportations (a daily torment for many people in the system and a source of unending physical and emotional trauma for individuals and their families), residency for those currently in the system and for asylum seekers in the future to have the right to work and to study. On its side, the government has
FURTHER INFO
hty
g
s.
www.comhlamh.org
3
WORLD HEALTH
Teams distribute Ebola advise posters to communities. | Photo credit: UNICEF Liberia
Fighting Ebola in Liberia
As the Ebola threat mounts we looks at Ireland’s longstanding relationship with Liberia. JACINTY FAY Liberia Solidarity Group
treatable diseases like malaria and diarrhoea and women are dying in childbirth. Women and girls, as primary caregivers, are suffering the worst impacts of the epidemic. reland has a longstanding There have been many failures in relationship of friendship and tackling Ebola. Not least the fact that the solidarity with Liberia which international community has not invested in includes exchanges between misresearch for a cure for this horrendous virus. sionaries, development and comWhy invest in a cure for an African disease munity workers. Irish peace-keeping when there is no market for pharmaceutical troops are also remembered for their companies? Not least the World Health diligence in enforcing the cease fire Organisation (WHO) for downplaying the and for their resolution in protecting outbreak and only declaring an international vulnerable communities. public health emergency in August when The Irish government and Irish there had been almost a thousand deaths. development organisations have made Not least governments and international significant contributions to Liberia’s postagencies around the world that have not war reconstruction and to vital civil society mobilised support and resources to tackle initiatives. Solidarity and support from the epidemic before it became a full blown Ireland is needed by Liberia now more than humanitarian crisis. Not least the media’s any time since the end of the war. Pledges irresponsible reporting of the epidemic must urgently turn into action. which has fuelled panic about the spread of Liberia emerged from its 14-year civil Ebola to Europe and North America and war in 2003 and last year marked ten years perpetuated negative stereotypes about West of peace. However Liberians are haunted Africans rather than calling for international by the sights they now see on their streets; assistance to tackle the crisis in West Africa. dead bodies awaiting ambulances and army Superstition, myths and ignorance are patrols in combat ready gear. blamed for the spread of the virus and not The Ebola epidemic has escalated into the dysfunctional health system, the limited an international humanitarian crisis. In technical and financial capacity within the region the total number of deaths has government combined with the pitiful reached 4,922 and the number of cases response from the international community. 10,141. The World Health Organisation Pledges have been committed but their (WHO) estimates that there could be 5,000delivery remains slow. And as past crisis tell 10,000 new cases every week in Liberia, us pledges and action are two very different Sierra Leone and Guinea by December. things when it comes to emergency aid. For Liberia has been particularly hard hit instance, after the earthquake in Haiti, only with the highest death toll of 2,705 as of 35% of pledged funds have actually been October 25th. People are being turned away disbursed. $294 million has been earmarked from at capacity treatment centres and in emergency aid for Liberia. However, return home to quarantine themselves. As according to current estimations, $473 a result stories of whole families dying are million is required. not uncommon. The country’s health system Immediate action on these commitments is no longer functioning effectively with and improved coordination between the the majority of hospitals closed or barely actors involved in the Ebola response is functioning. urgently required. More medical Beyond the health situation, staff and resources are needed the outbreak has prompted immediately. Flights must multiple crises. Liberia, “Superstition, already extremely food myths and ignorance be allowed into and out of Ebola affected countries to insecure, is cut off from are blamed for ensure that people are able the outside world on the spread of the to travel and supplies are which it relies for 60% virus and not the of its food. Hunger and dysfunctional health delivered. Security measures must respect human rights malnutrition are rising. system” and humanitarian concerns. Fear and panic has sparked This is crucial to avoid a repeat of a myriad of security issues. It the unfortunate death of a teenager who is incalculable the amount of deaths which have and will occur as an entire nation sustained gunshots wounds in recent riots in Monrovia’s West Point community. has little or no access to healthcare or food. People are dying from easily preventable and
I
I
reland has a commitment to Liberia and Sierra Leone through their partnership with both countries under Ireland’s overseas development programme. The Irish Government must continue to support response efforts to Ebola through funding medical charities and sending medical personnel. It is also vital that Irish Aid directly supports Liberian civil society organisations’ community support programmes. Liberia has a vibrant civil society and local organisations and groups are leading community education activities. These groups have built trust with local communities over many years of community development activities and are best placed to carry out community education and awareness activities. The Liberian CSO Taskforce on Ebola has been established so groups can work together and coordinate their Ebola response. They are now on the forefront of the vital work of equipping communities to protect themselves and supporting national efforts to slow down and reverse the spread of the virus. Many groups are conducting these activities on a voluntary basis and urgently need funding to scale up their efforts. Friends of the Earth - Liberia (Sustainable Development Institute), Foundation for
Community Initiatives, Save My Future Foundation and Social Entrepreneurs for Sustainable Development are jointly launching a Community Awareness and Support Team (CAST). The CAST initiative is an emergency response effort that aims to deliver Ebola awareness materials, hygiene and sanitation supplies to 2,500 households (or 25,000 people) by October 31st. Other organisations such as the Development Education Network Liberia (DEN-L) and the Association of Self-Help Development Initiatives (ASHDI) both based in Bong County have established Ebola Awareness Teams. These teams are supporting communities, training teams of community educators and using mediums such as radio and theatre to deliver ebola awareness messages.
RESOURCES
4
FOCUS ACTION FOR GLOBAL JUSTICE
GENDER
Protestors taking part in Valentine’s Day 2013 actions in Delhi. Photo Credit: Anoo Bhuyan
Nirbhaya’s Sacrifice. The 2012 Delhi gang rape case brought India’s track record on gender to global headlines. Amrita Sastry is an Assistant Professor, at Delhi University and gave us this in depth interview on gender based violence in India.
MARK FURLONG Comhlámh Member
According to Reuters Foundation, India is the fourth worst country in the world for women. How can a rapidly developing, middle income country with a stable government be a worse place for women than Somalia?
The Nirbhaya case in our country is just another case which got a lot of media attention because of the strategic location i.e., Delhi. No doubt the issue of sexual violence is a social problem and increasing day by day as the TOI report says,” one Rape occurs in every 30 minutes in India”. Are all women i n society equally vulnerable to gender based violence and who are the perpetrators of this violence?
I feel what makes India the 4th worst I feel that women across all sections of country in the world has nothing to do with society are vulnerable, although the degree may the economy or income, but to the Mindset that vary. Also, low caste women may be less likely is inherently “Patriarchal” in nature. Patriarchy to speak out against sexual violence and access and the norms associated with that add to the the justice system because of the caste based vulnerability of women in India. From the stigma they already face. Also, the perpetrators beginning they are socialized that they are are not necessarily always men. When it comes inferior and subordinated to men which in long to violence against women, I feel “woman is also the biggest enemy of woman”. In run leads to “ideological subordination.” This further leads to other types the case of “classic patriarchy”, it of subordination like Economic is actually a power dynamics between the mother-in-law and Political”. Women never and the daughter-in-law. take part in decision making “I feel that women w it hin t he fa mi ly a nd across all sections This hierarchy between the are confined only to the of society are two again creates a situation “Domestic / Private sphere”. vulnerable, although which paves the way for And this process of thinking the degree making the women (inferior is developed over a period may vary.” in status) more vulnerable. It of time through the process of is equally the responsibility of Gender socialization. Similarly, the mother to train her son rather Men too internalize their role and try to than only training her daughter to be well dominate, making women’s place worse in our mannered. society. Can you explain a bit more The Nirbhaya \ Delhi Rape about the relationship between Case brought the issue of sexual the mother and her daughter-inviolence to centre stage in India. law. Why is it problematic? Did it highlight an increasing problem or just focus the nation’s When a women gives birth to a son, she attention? gains enhanced social status and identity within the eyes of society and her family. Also, the son is responsible for looking after
the mother in her old age. Women in Indian society are dependent on men to protect them from birth until death. With the responsibility moving in turn from father to brother to husband and then to son. When the daughterin-law comes into the family she becomes a threat to the mother’s control over her son, who is the mother’s main protector in old age and a source of her social status. This is the source of the conflict between mother and daughter-in-law. Going back to the first question, if we accept that cases of equal brutality to the Nirbhaya case happen frequently in India. Why did this case led to popular protest, massive news coverage and legislative change, why did it move the country so much? In present time, media is playing a pivotal role in everyone’s life. Media is aiding us to be more sensitive and encouraging us to think rationally on many issues. Earlier even though these kinds of brutal acts were happening, it
was not getting reported and as a sociologist, I feel the reason behind this was the entire notion of “Stigma” attached with the notion of rape. Girls were trained to be submissive, docile and subordinated to boys. Their life cycles were surrounded by men as protectors. But things are changing now, with modern education, logical and critical thinking, girls are questioning the age old notion of patriarchy. They are coming out of their shell and fighting for their rights. Probably all these things together has led all of us to do a lot of introspection and make us realize that change won’t come from outside but deep within. Do you see the state, media’s and society’s reaction to the Nirbhaya as encouraging? Definitely it is a strong message to all countrymen that we are heading towards change. And the best part of this is that everybody is realizing that “-I am the change”. The seed of attitudinal change was planted with Nirbhaya’s sacrifice.
yan
www.comhlamh.org
GENDER
We are looking for advertisers.
5
Focus has a print run of 6,000. Copies are sent to Comhlรกmh members past and present, as well as to affiliate organisations,and distributed through our various activist networks. With a three month shelf-life, advertising in Focus is excellent value for money.
Email us at info@comhlamh.org for full rates
Why not add us on Facebook or Twitter and join our group on LinkedIn?
6
FOCUS ACTION FOR GLOBAL JUSTICE A water source under threat of contaminsation from mining. | Photo Credit Lynda Sullivan.
DOCUMENTARY REVIEW
MEGA MINING IN PERU
Blood Fruit
Remembering The Dunnes Stores Strike In Film. RORY FOGARTHY Comhlámh Member
B
lood Fruit superbly revisits the Dunnes strike of 1984-1987 and how 11 Dublin shop-workers became international figureheads for the anti-apartheid movement, forcing a change in Irish law to ban apartheid produced goods. Consisting of an impressive selection of archive footage from Ireland and South Africa, as well as narrative interviews with all the strikers, their unions representatives, bishop Desmond Tutu, a gormless Ruairí Quinn and an utterly obstinate Ben Dunne, Blood Fruit is able to recount the events of those 33 months in great detail. In 1984 a number of Dunnes Stores staff followed a trade union directive not to handle South African goods led to their suspension from employment. Initially knowing very little about apartheid or human rights activism, the strikers were soon joined by Nimrod Sejake. A former South African labour activist and member of the ANC, who had for a time shared a prison cell with Nelson Mandela, Nimrod became the group’s direct link to oppressed South Africa and acted as the catalyst causing
the strike to last for nearly three years. They faced opposition from many arenas. The eleven, ten of whom were women, were condemned by senior members of the church, shunned by their former colleagues and harassed by members of An Garda Siochana and the Special Branch. One of the women (Vonnie Monroe) lost her house whilst living on £21 strike pay. They did receive some moral and financial support from the public, including Comhlamh’s former co-ordinator and antiapartheid campaigner Marius Schoon However it was not until the group received praise from Bishop Desmond Tutu that their campaign gained broad support and publicity. They were able to raise public funds to travel to South Africa at Tutu’s behest, and soon afterwards they were invited to address UN Special Committee against Apartheid. It was this increased pressure and the group’s perseverance that eventually forced the hand of a reluctant Irish government to change the law on imported goods. At a special screening of the documentary at the IFI this September, the 11 strikers took to the stage to a standing ovation. Liz Deasy, speaking on behalf of the strikers, summed up the message behind the film; “If you think you can make a difference, you can”.
“By learning their language you can earn their trust and respect”
LYNDA SULLIVAN Peru
wholeheartedly accepted by the locals. I was invited that very same weekend to join them as they marked a year of organized resistance of the three wouldam a volunteer for the be-affected provinces, and a year since the Plataforma Interinstitucional police opened fire on the crowd of protesters Celendina (PIC), which is a severely injuring 19 – paralyzing one, takgrassroots coalition in the province ing another´s sight and a chunk of another´s of Celendin, in the northern highleg. lands of Peru who are struggling I arrived in November 2012, two years with the threat of mega mining later and I´m still here. The local resistdestruction. Here she tells us about ance movement had successfully mastered here work. the use of social media to spread the word, I arrived in Celendin by a long road as the mass media is far from impartial. which started with three women from However the vast majority of this was Guatemala who came to Ireland to tell how through Spanish and so failed to reach the their community had been ripped apart – likes of the United States public where the environmentally and socially, by a mega main company has its base. mining project called the Marlin mine. So part of my role has been to bear witAfter this experience the urge to travel ness to the state repression, the criminalizato Guatemala to see the situation for myself tion of the protest, the mining company´s grew. Due to financial reasons and various attempts to corrupt or harass the local setbacks I wasn´t able to make the trip population into submission, and to get the across the Atlantic until three years later. word out. While travelling through countries such What is equally important is to connect as Argentina, Chile and Bolivia I heard of with activist groups and organisations other struggles against mega mining and who are fighting their own I visited various camps. When I environmental struggle – arrived in Peru I became aware such as the anti-fracking of the struggle of the people of campaigners in Ireland. Cajamarca against the big“When I arrived in Through these congest gold mine in the world. Peru I became aware nections we can learn Cajamarca has seen of the struggle of the from each other, we can twenty years of exploitapeople of Cajamarca express our mutual solition by Yanacocha (made against the biggest darity and show that the up of US-based Newmont, gold mine in the struggle against aggressive Peruvian Buenaventura and the world.” capitalism is worldwide. World Bank), which has proSimilarly, I believe one of duced a whole host of environmental the effects of accompanying the people of damage, distortion of the social fabric and Celendin is that they feel strengthened in severe health problems, and now they want their struggle – they see that they are not to move into the neighbouring province of alone, that the eyes of the world are upon Celendin with the Conga project. the perpetrators of the human rights abuses, So I decided to go to Celendin where just and their hearts with those who fight for four months previously four protesters were environmental and social justice. shot and killed by the state security forces. After an initial reservation by the community due to my unannounced and unsanctioned visit I was deemed trustworthy and
I
www.comhlamh.org
7
ENVIROMENT
an.
Under the Blood Red Earth of Rubiales A look at the demise of civil society, the enviorment and human rights in an oil rich region of Colombia. JOHN O’SHEA Colombia.
B
eneath the picturesque landscape of the Rubiales fields, located southwards, down a dirt road from the town of Puerto Gaitan – Colombia, lies an abundance of oil under the crimson soil of a region torn apart by corruption, violence, and environmental degradation. On the 23rd July last , the Colombian Trade Union Sindical Obrera del la Industrial del Petroleo (USO), returned to the Rubiales fields after a lengthy hiatus, sadly during which time the demise of civil society was witnessed in the area.
The Union had been forced out in the wake of anti union violence, including most recently the death of former union member Milton Rivas. Other community leaders were also targeted during a period which saw large scale conflict between government forces, right wing paramilitaries, FARC and narco traffickers. The United Nations Development Program (UNDP) stated, in its report on violence against trade unionists and union workers from 1984 to 2011, that more than 2,800 trade unionists were murdered in this time period in Colombia, 216 went missing, 83 were tortured, and 163 kidnapped. It also estimated that 94.4% of these murders have gone unpunished; as of August 2011 only 223 judgments had been recorded in cases involving murdered trade unionists. Due to past human right’s violations, judicial attacks, and illegal roadblocks, political guarantees were sought prior to the return of the USO to the region. The convoy which left Bogota in the early hours of the morning in armored plated SUV’s, were driven by armed bodyguards from the National Protection Unit (UNP.) Among the convoy were USO representatives, community leaders, professional sociologists, lawyers, and international observers from Ireland and the United States. The decision to return to Puerta Gaitan is supported by the Lawyer Collective Jose Alvear Restrepo, Solidarity Centre of Coljusticia, the Committee for Political prisoners, the USO, American and Canadian Unions, plus other International organizations such as Paso International , Justice for Colombia UK, and the Irish Congress of Trade Unions (ICTU). During a most regrettable period of Colombian history, many of the civilian population in this region were dispersed and terrorized by right wing paramilitaries, who acted with impunity. The USO denounced developments whereby the Colombian military in concert with Pacific Rubiales private security forces, previously acted to curtail labour related activities and in doing so infringe one of the fundamental human rights – the right to
freedom of association. A healthy civil society requires the protection of opinions and freedom to express them. Without the ability to assemble it would be difficult to form effective associations and participate fully in the democratic process. This process requires protection against arbitrary interference by the State. Thus, freedom of expression, assembly and freedom of association are vital to pursue common objectives collectively. These rights are interdependent, interrelated and indivisible, and form the cornerstone of any legitimate democracy. An ideal perhaps, whose values have long since been absent from the fields of Rubiales. Colombia is obliged under international treaties, inter alia ; ILO Treaties, the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, and the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, to positively uphold it’s citizens rights to freedom of association. Here in Puerto Gaitan, against the backdrop of a wealthy region, where private oil giant Pacific Rubiales Energy has made financial gains, year in and year out. We find community leaders who strive to improve the lives of their fellow man, and preserve the concept of human dignity for all – these receive death threats, are forcefully displaced and many frequently murdered. To highlight the seriousness of events during this period, one man in attendance at an outreach event organised by USO, spoke of finding 400 decapitated bodies in a field near his farm some five years previously. Sadly, in the weeks following the return of USO to Puerta Gaitan, attacks have continued against USO representatives. Most recently an attack has been reported against Mr. John Alexander Rodriguez, Presidente de la Sus Directiva Centro on the night of the 11th August 2014. This attack highlights the existence of a continuous threat to human rights defenders in Colombia, whereby ultimately the Colombian Government, must be held responsible to uphold its obligation’s under international law.
“When I arrived in Peru I became aware of the struggle of the people of Cajamarca against the biggest gold mine in the world.”
MUSIC
8 A screenshot from the recent documentary Finding Fela by Alex Gibney.
LOCAL & GLOBAL
RACISM IN WATERFORD
The European Network Against Racism in Ireland has condemned recent violence and racist indimationan against Roma people in Waterford. ENAR welcomed the assurances and actions of the Gardai in Waterford in making the safety of Roma famlies a priority. Concerns remain about the use of social media to organise violence and hate speech. More at: enarireland.org
Music Is A Weapon.
A New Documentary Celebrates The Life of The Legandary Fela Kuti.
NIAMH KELLY Comhlámh Member
F
inding Fela is recent documentary that has brought the legacy of Fela Anikulapo Kuti a Nigerian musical activist back into the limelight. Taking the name ‘Anikulapo’ which means ‘a man with death in his pouch’ Fela believed he could not be harmed and so had the courage to speak out about political corruption in 1970’s Africa. Music enthusiasts may be familiar with the name Fela Kuti as the pioneer of the Afrobeat musical genre, yet his story is less commonly known. His story is presented to us under the direction of Alex Gibney which combines video archives of the late musician, along with interviews from family and friends to tell this story. Fela believed that to be given the gift of music meant it was the musician’s duty to use it for the good of the people. Inspired by the Black Panthers and Malcolm X while in America, he found his calling for Africa and started to write protest songs. The circumstances in Nigeria saddened him as he believed that people were turning their backs on their roots. He returned to Africa with the will to encourage a sense of African cultural identity and tradition. Africans needed to know how to fight for their rights and Fela Kuti’s calling was to tell them how. Through the formation of a political party in 1983 Movement of the People and using
Pidgin English his music and beliefs were to be acknowledged and perhaps only now is he receiving such acclaim. communicable to the working classes. Transfi xed on shaping Suf fering beatings a nd Nigeria and shaping it for the “ ese songs are an imprisonment often without offence, he proclaimed that common working man his a empt to educate beatings only made him songs told people the truth, us about the plight so that they could take hold of the people and to stronger and even after the of their country once again build the people up death of his mother at the and remove the corruptors. to stand for their hands of the police, he never Fela sang “we’ve got to fight rights. ” faltered in his fight for his for freedom”, words that still people. hold true, musicians continue Music is an education and to sing songs of protest, poverty and too often political unrest can silence the pillaging. music, which silences the people that need us These songs are an attempt to educate us to hear them. about the plight of the people and to stand The global community has a right to hear up for their rights. Th is education can only the people and importantly a responsibility to reach us when we truly choose to listen. The listen. Let the words of Fela ring out around timelessness of music gives it an immortality the world and let us all continue “to fight for that news stories cannot achieve. freedom”. The messages that Fela brought to the people will forever be held within the beats and continue to speak to musicians and lovers of music, just as messages from Bob Marley can still be heard the world over. In contrast to Bob Marley, Fela’s music never reached such acclaim, with songs lasting over 20 minutes and seemingly being without much structure there was not much appeal for them in the mainstream. The banning of his music on airways in Nigeria also made people reluctant to sing out and recognize his musical ingenuity. Followers of Fela state that his music was ahead of his time and that in some way the world was not ready for him, but now forty years on he continues
FIND OUT MORE
CONFERENCE ON VOLUNTEERING UCDVO is delighted to launch its inaugural conference on the topic of international volunteering in higher education which will take place on Saturday 29th of November T h e c o n f e r e n c e aims to examine the links between international volunteering, development education, experiential learning and global citizenship. Read more at facebook.com/ucdvo
NATIONAL DEMONSTRATION
A National Demonstration will take place in Dublin on Universal Children’s Day. Gathering at the Dáil for 1pm on Thursday 20th November, asylum seekers, refugees and supporters will call for an end to the system of Direct Provision. Read more at irishrefugeecouncil.ie