PUBLIC MEETING: Colombia's struggle for democracy

dublin | rights, freedoms and repression | event notice Monday May 25, 2009 11:01 by Debt and Development Coalition Ireland

Colombian activist Carmen Luisa Castro and Irish journalist Michael McCaughan report on the latest developments in Colombia.

Thursday June 11th - 7.30pm - Central Hotel, Exchequer Street

- Carmen Luisa Castro (Christian Aid Colombia)

- Michael McCaughan (journalist)

Colombia is a country that’s often discussed but rarely understood. Media coverage is often dominated by gloomy stereotypes about drugs, crime and terrorism. There is little discussion of the root causes which lie behind Colombia’s long and bloody civil war. And there is almost no attention paid to the brave work of Colombian social movements which campaign for political and economic justice in spite of the constant threat of violence.

If you want to find out what’s really happening in Colombia today, come and hear Carmen Luisa Castro of Christian Aid Colombia speak alongside Irish journalist Michael McCaughan who has recently returned from a research trip to Colombia. Our two speakers will describe the latest developments in Colombian society as civil society activists confront an increasingly repressive and intolerant government.

Grassroots social movements in Colombia have shown tremendous courage in organising opposition to an unjust economic order in the face of state and paramilitary terror. Ireland can provide those movements with valuable support - at both government and civil society level - in their campaigns for peace and democracy. If you want to know more about what we can do to support the people of Colombia , we hope you’ll come to this meeting.

SPEAKERS:

Carmen Luisa Castro is the co-ordinator of Christian Aid Colombia’s programme of work with civil society groups. She has a long record of activism in Colombian social movements campaigning for economic justice.

Michael McCaughan is an Irish journalist who specialises in Latin American affairs. He is the author of The Battle of Venezuela and The Price of Our Souls: Gas, Shell and Ireland. Michael is currently working for the Galway One World Centre.

For more information, contact Daniel at 01-6174835 or Daniel@debtireland.org

Bloom: Movement for Global Justice is an alliance of four campaigning organisations, the Debt and Development Coalition Ireland, the Africa Centre, Comhlámh and the Latin America Solidarity Centre