The Global Women’s Strike invites you to meet two organisers from Venezuela on tour in Europe during October, and film-showings of JOURNEY WITH A REVOLUTION, a lively journey with the midwives, housewives, gay and disability activists, nurses, doctors, teachers running the health clinics, soup kitchens, land committees, education programmes and Women’s Development Bank, which are transforming Venezuela.
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As Venezuela’s revolutionary movement seeks the re-election of President Hugo Chávez and a seat on the UN Security Council on behalf of non-aligned countries, US dollars flow in to try to get rid of Chavez. Two grassroots activists will tell us what is going on and why their president has become such a popular world leader.
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Juanita Romero speaks for the Land Committee in Guaicaipuro, Miranda State, co-ordinating grassroots self-activity on housing, an urgent problem as the 70s oil boom pushed 80% of Venezuelans into the cities. She co-ordinates the Neighbourhood Mothers Mission through which women with least receive financial recognition for their caring work. She works with the Women’s Development Bank, to which Chavez recently awarded $50 million to help older women, women with disabilities, sex workers, teenage mothers and women in prison to form co-operatives and build a ´caring economy´.

Gastón Murat has a long experience in the Socialist League and in the movement which led to the revolution. He is a founding member in Miranda State of the Fuerza Bolivariana de Trabajadores and of UNT (Unión Nacional de Trabajadores), formed to defeat the corrupt trade union leadership who were involved in the 2002 coup.

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Two events at Bolívar Hall, Embassy of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela
54 Grafton Way, London W1. Warren St Tube. Entrance by donation.
Spanish/English with interpreters. We regret the hall is not wheelchair accessible.

Film premiere: Journey with the revolution
Saturday 7 October, 2-6pm
A lively journey with the midwives, housewives, gay and disability activists, nurses, doctors, teachers running the health clinics, soup kitchens, land committees, education programmes and Women’s Development Bank, which are transforming Venezuela. A Global Women’s Strike production. Followed by Women & the Bolivarian revolution Discussion led by Juanita Romero and Gastón Murat. All Venezuela solidarity groups are invited to comment.
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A comparison by Selma James:
Nyerere & Chávez –New passions & new forces
Thursday 12 October, 6-8 pm Day of Indigenous Resistance
Like President Chávez, Julius Nyerere, the first president of an independent Tanzania, rejected capitalism and worked to develop a society based on co-operation and on bringing together the peoples of his continent, Africa. Selma James is the founder and co-ordinator of the Global Women’s Strike, and colleague and widow of CLR James, author of The Black Jacobins, a history of the Haitian revolution which Chávez often speaks about.
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Other events with Juanita Romero and Gastón Murat
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VENICE, ITALY: Sunday 8 October, 2pm at the Sixth Annual Bookfair for Peace
A film-showing of Talking of Power
Sex, race and class in revolutionary Venezuela. From the hills of Caracas to the banks of the Orinoco, the grassroots tell us how they are changing our world. Followed by discussion led by Juaniuta Romero and Gastón Murat.

GALWAY, IRELAND: Tuesday 10 October, 5.30pm
Film and discussion with Juanita Romero and Gaston Murat co-hosted by Rod Stoneman, producer of The Revolution Will Not Be Televised and the Women's Studies Centre, both National University of Ireland, Galway. Huston Film School, NUI, Galway (opp. Cathedral behind the Human Rights Centre). Fully wheelchair accessible.
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Wednesday 11 October, 12-1pm
Winning Accountability From Professionals – The Land Committees in Venezuela
A class in the Department of Archaeology hosted by Maggie Ronayne. AC215, Arts/Science Building, National University of Ireland, Galway. Fully wheelchair accessible.

DUBLIN, IRELAND: Wednesday 11 October, 7.30pm
Hosted by the Students’ Union, University College Dublin
Theatre R, John Henry Newman Building (Arts Block), UC Dublin. Steps to hall, please call beforehand if you need help with access: 087 7838688 or  ireland@allwomencount.net

EDINBURGH, SCOTLAND: Friday 13 October, venue and time to be confirmed see www.globalwomenstrike.net

GLASGOW, SCOTLAND: Saturday 14 October, 3-6pm
Hosted by Positive Action in Housing, venue to be confirmed see www.globalwomenstrike.net

BARCELONA, CATALUNYA: Monday 16 October, 7.30pm
Women and the Bolivarian Revolution
the book launch of: Creating a Caring Economy – Nora Castañeda and the Women’s Development Bank of Venezuela and debate with two activists of the Bolivarian process, Juanita Romero y Gastón Murat. Accompanied by Nina López, international coordinator of the Global Women’s Strike and editor of the book. Organised by: Cátedra UNESCO – Intercultural Studies and the Global Women’s Strike.

LONDON CITY HALL: Wednesday 18 October, 6pm A film-showing of Journey with the Revolution Followed by a reception hosted by David Morris, the Mayor’s Senior Policy Adviser (Disability Issues) Contact  david.morris@london.gov.uk Queen’s Walk (near Tower Bridge) London Bridge Tube Fully wheelchair accessible

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The Global Women’s Strike has worked with the Venezuelan revolution since 2002, organising for Venezuelans to tour the US and Europe, producing documentaries, books and pamphlets, drafting parliamentary motions and speeches, reporting back from solidarity events in Venezuela and as international observers in the 2004 presidential referendum.

Publications (English & Spanish) include: Trade unions, the US State Department and Venezuela (2003); Creating a Caring Economy: Nora Castañeda and the Women’s Development Bank of Venezuela (2006). Documentaries: Venezuela: A 21st century revolution (2003); Enter the oil workers (2004); Talking of power (2005).

Please get in touch if you can help organise the tour and/or make a donation to help cover costs which include international flights. Make cheques payable to Global Women’s Strike and send to
Crossroads Women’s Centre, 230A Kentish Town Road, London NW5 2AB

Tel: 020 7482 2496 (voice/minicom) Fax: 020 7209 4761
 womenstrike8m@server101.com www.globalwomenstrike.net