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Cuban heat at rampART

sb | 11.08.2004 11:23 | Venezuela | Analysis | Culture | Free Spaces | London | World

Yesterday (10th August), events for the second day of the Venezuela Week of Solidarity in London took place at the rampART creative centre and social space near Whitechapel...

The second day was billed as a day linking the culture and struggles of both Venezuela and Cuba with Rock Around the Blockade hosting an afternoon of films, debates & discussions. It began with an unscheduled premiere of a new film made by the Global Womens Strike about the attempts by Venezuelas elite to oust the peoples elected government by shutting down the oil industry. Oil represents 80% of Venezuelas economy and the shut down would have crippled the country had it not been for the workers who fought to get the industry back on its feet. (There will be another chance to watch this film at the European Creative Forum event that is taking place at the 491 Gallery in Leytonstone this Saturday.)

The second film of the afternoon was Commandante. This Oliver Stone ‘fly-on-the-wall’ style documentary follows Cuba’s aging president Castro through four days. Complete with grassroots style wobbly cam to give it a cutting edge feel, the film provides an interesting look at Castro as a person but many may have been disappointed about Stones greater interest in the human interest angle (such as probing into Castro’s love life) rather than the politics of the revolution.

Continuing with the Cuban theme, the final films were about Cuba’s hip-hop scene and the politics inspiring it. As part of the film, Cuban rappers were taken to New York in order to help spread their music. This provided some interesting reflections as the rappers talk about the crazy waste of the society they see and put down the plastic branded MTV style rappers of the US scene.

Slightly behind schedule, the projector was shut down and the chairs laid out in a circle for a round table discussion on how Cuba & Venezuela have liberated themselves from US imperialism. The session revealed the expected divergent views between the Marxist and anarchist elements present as the debate turned to the strengths and weaknesses of these so-called ‘democratic revolutions’ and their systems of government. However the real conflict was infighting taking place elsewhere in the building (oh the joys of the radical Left).

With the serious stuff over, it was time to eat some traditional South American food as the evening’s entertainment began. The room heated up as more people arrived for the live jamming of The Rub, Paradox and drummers from Rhythms of Resistance. With the temperature and humidity at Venezuelan levels, the beer quickly ran out (but not the rum) as the noisy evening progressed and spilled out onto the streets. Lets hope it didn’t piss off the ramparts neighbours too much as there are four more days of events hosted at the Rampart Street venue.

Check out the rest of the program on
 http://www.thenewagenda.org/venezuela/weekofsolidarity/index.html

Info about the Hands of Venezuela campaign from
 http://www.handsoffvenezuela.org/

Info about the rampART creative centre on
 http://www.rampart.co.nr

sb

Comments

Hide the following 6 comments

What other media...

11.08.2004 15:06

What other media are you publicising this information on as it is difficult for people in Cuba to keep up to date due to domestic repression?

 http://web.amnesty.org/library/Index/ENGAMR250032004?open&of=ENG-CUB

Paul Edwards


unoriginal attack

11.08.2004 20:41

can no-one who wants to attack Cuba on this site ever think of any more original way to do so than by sticking on a link to Amnesty International. On second thoughts, that is fine. Keep saying nothing. Proves you have nothing to say.

Cuba vive. Venceremos

communist


they're at war - they gotta ration

12.08.2004 02:12

please don't link to meaningless reports by people who don't give a shit about the cuban people - you want to know why cuba is rationing the explosion in internet use? it's cos THEY'RE AT WAR and got crappy makeshift lo-tek lo-bandwidth communications, so the priority is keeping the country running, screw the tourists wanting to send badly-compressed e-postcards - actually there's a full on fat info pipe between cuba and florida, only guess what, the us won't allow it to be turned on at their end, so who's limiting who's access to info, again? don't let amnesty do your thinking for u...

pescao
- Homepage: http://www.handsoffvenezuela.org


naive supporters of tyrranny

12.08.2004 12:46

Bunch of cretins fawning over big leaders...

The priority's to keep Castro in power, at any cost. You are the kind of person who will justify any atrocity in your naive hope that the repression is worth it for a better world. With only a slightly more twisted mind you'd be supporting North Korea. But is the price of a total state worth it for a slightly better health and education system? If Cuba's such a socialist paradise why are people not allowed to go on strike or leave the country? Castro needs the embargo to stay in power - he feeds off the misery of the Cuban people.

All governments exist only to protect rich and powerful groups, whether capitalist or government bureaucracies. All governments must be destroyed. Death to Castro!

Matt A
mail e-mail: manch@imaginator.com
- Homepage: http://www.afed.org.uk


links/continued rant

12.08.2004 12:57

Links:

 http://flag.blackened.net/agony/libcuba.html

 http://www.ainfos.ca/en/ainfos14673.html

Venezuela -  http://www.nodo50.org/ellibertario/
(there's no fucking "revolution" in Venezuela - just factions of the ruling class fighting it out and using the poor as their pawns). Sorry to be so pessimistic but it's the truth. Some people will latch on to anything that glitters without any critical thought. What was going on in Argentina but is now unfortunately petering out was much more interesting and had far more potential - because it was people actually doing things themselves, not relying on fucking bearded heroes.


Matt - Anarchist Federation - www.afed.org.uk

Matt A
mail e-mail: manch@imaginator.com
- Homepage: http://flag.blackened.net/agony/libcuba.html


idiots

13.08.2004 17:37

Overthrown any governments this week Matt? Staved off any attempts by the CIA and world's greatest powers to stop you redistributing wealth to the poorest people in your country? Thought not.

Ever wondered why Castro is still alive after so many years of his 'dicatorial rule' and how he manages to wonder around a country where the whole population is armed without getting topped? No, he doesn't travel in an armoured car - he is popular. Yes, so you may say was the neo-fascist Winston Churchill, that proves nothing, the poor are deluded as they have not yet been able to access the AF website and understand the true gospel. Wehen they do they will rise up against their leaders, demand 'people's power' (which they already have) and be promptly invaded by the US. Hurray for anarchism.

communish


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