Presentation and discussion.

Ewa Jasiewicz - feminist, anti capitalist, peace activist - has
just spent
6 months in Palestine and 8 months in Iraq to learn from, and be
in
solidarity with, the occupied and resisting communities.

Speaking fluent Arabic, she has fascinating insights and stories
of the
evolving situation for the different sections of the
communities. She
lived with families, and worked with trade unions, refugee and
women's
groups.

As the communities in both Palestine and Iraq rise up against
their
imperialist occupiers, a resurgence of interest in Islam can
have a
negative effect on the role of women.

Women's oppression has been used as an excuse by the anti
choice,
homophobic American and UK right wing to wage war against
regimes that it
originally put into place.

The situation for women under the Baathist dictatorship was
relatively
good during the 80's, but declined dramatically following the
1991 Gulf
War and the brutally suppressed, subsequent uprising.

And yet, as throughout history, there are courageous, strong
women who are
organising themselves to fight back and support each other. Ewa
will be
talking about some ways we can support these women, particularly
in Iraq.

For further details, please either email  fleabite@riseup.net or
telephone
07952 969102.

My email access will be limited from now until the event itself
as we are
on the road (please see  http://www.tramping.org.uk/ewa ) and
therefore
please phone or text for any urgent queries.