[While international debate focuses on President Chávez, institutions of popular democracy are taking root in Venezuela’s barrios. Pablo Navarrete introduces the importance of community councils in Venezuela’s barrios, while Steve Ellner assesses their prospects for deepening the ‘Bolivarian revolution’.]

Venezuela: The Community Revolution,

Pablo Navarrete & Steve Ellner - Red Pepper (December 2009/January 2010 issue)

February 2009 marked ten years since Hugo Chávez took office in Venezuela, following a landslide election victory that swept the country’s traditional parties out of power. Since assuming the presidency, Chávez has presided over a controversial process of radical change, commonly referred to as the ‘Bolivarian revolution’ – after Simón Bolívar, who liberated Venezuela and much of South America from Spanish colonialism.

Organised by Justice for Colombia - www.justiceforcolombia.org

FREE LILIANY!!!
Come and join Justice for Colombia outside the Colombian Embassy at 4pm on Monday 8th March to mark International Women’s Day and protest the continued detention of political prisoner Liliany Obando.

Liliany is a human rights activist who has campaigned against the ongoing murder of Colombian trade unionists. She has been imprisoned since 8th August 2008 simply for denouncing these crimes. A group of trade unionists and MPs will be handing in a letter to the Embassy calling for Liliany’s freedom.

Liliany is one of hundreds of political prisoners jailed by the Colombian regime. Many women trade unionists and human rights activists are imprisoned (some along with their children) in overcrowded conditions, denied access to healthcare and other basic rights.

2 February 2010, 6.30pm, B212

Speakers: Mauricio Rodríguez Múnera (Colombian Ambassador in the U.K.), Grace Livingstone (Author and Journalist) Liam Craig-Best (Director, Justice For Colombia), Spencer Wood (Partner at O.H. Parsons, Trade Union solicitors)
Chair: Dr Tanya Harmer

[As the rightwing Sebastián Piñera assumes Chile's presidency, its progressive opposition must re-organise for the 21st century.]

What Next for Chile?

Monday 18th January 2010, by Richard Gott - The Guardian

The failure of the governing coalition in Chile to win Sunday's presidential election was as predictable as the forthcoming failure of the British Labour party to win re-election in the spring. It is rooted in similar causes: tedium, irritation and dissatisfaction on the part of the electorate, and division, incompetence and intellectual bankruptcy from the Concertación alliance (of socialists and Christian Democrats) that has ruled the country since the overthrow of General Pinochet.

[Chilean right steps out from shadow of Pinochet to win power democratically for the first time since 1958.]

Rightwinger Sebastián Piñera Wins Chile Presidency

Monday 18th January 2010, by The Guardian

The billionaire Sebastián Piñera won Chile's presidency yesterday to become the country's first democratically elected rightwing ruler in 52 years, vowing to make Chile "the best country in the world".

Piñera's triumph over the former president Eduardo Frei ended over two decades of rule by the centre-left coalition that followed Augusto Pinochet's brutal dictatorship, and marked a tilt to the right on a continent dominated by leftist governments.

Behind the trial of the Miami 5 - film screening - London

Stockwell Community Centre, 1 Studley Road, London, SW4 6RA (behind Stockwell tube station)
Sunday 17 January 2010
2pm

Behind the trial of the Miami 5 - the untold story

This 50 minute film tells of the background events and issues that lie behind the unjust imprisonment of the Five who infiltrated anti-Cuban terrorist groups in Miami to stop further terrorist attacks on Cuba.

Speaker: Steve Cottingham, British lawyer campaigning on behalf of the Miami 5

Organised by South London Cuba Solidarity Campaign

More info: http://www.cuba-solidarity.org.uk/events_list.asp

Seminar and Book Launch: Gareth Jones and Dennis Rodgers (eds.), Youth Violence in Latin America: Gangs and Juvenile Justice in Perspective

19 January 2010, 17:00 - 19:00
Institute for the Study of the Americas, London

More info here: http://americas.sas.ac.uk/events/events.php?id=6768

Movimientos and Global Local presents
Latin Quarter

Cargo
Thursday 28th January
7pm-1am
£6 adv / £8 door

A part of Global Local’s aim to get global music out to a wider audience the Latin Quarter showcase will give a taster of the fresh talent and new Latin acts set to storm the festival stages this year. Los Chinches have already made their mark in London within a year of forming blowing away audiences with their high tempo brand of Tropical Rock ‘n’Roll. Longjon La Flecha play psyched out uber-Latin Funk channelling the spirit of Alejandro Jodorowsky. Lokandes bring together musicians from all over the world to fuse Andean melodies and flutes with Reggae, Funk and Son. And Natema finish the night off with their energetic electronic beats mixed with Brazilian folkloric drums and accordion.

***Alborada has a £5 guest list to this event. To get on it, email: info[at]alborada.net with 'Movimientos-Jan10' in the subject line.***