Positive images of the Global South showing communities and activists from Africa and Asia fighting for Global Justice and challenging the negative portrayal in the West of the Global South as powerless victims.
There will be an exhibition of photography from the World Social Forums that took place in Kenya 2007 and India 2004, documentary films about global issues showing grassroots activism from the Global South mostly made by Black and Asian film makers. There will also be speakers/talks and a music.
Its free entry but any solidarity contributions from the events and all sales of photographs will go to an organisation called Habiba International a Kenyan women's human rights organisation fighting against FGM and rape in remote pastoral areas of Kenya, that desperately need a vehicle to rescue abused women and children.
Due to the amount of great films to show we have added an extra night Sunday 1st April to the festival.



ILLUSIONS OF DISEMPOWERMENT

27th March- 1st April 2007

A 6 day festival of documentary films, photo exhibition and talks on activism from the Global South. With Acoustic Music on 27th, 28th and 31st March.

At the Foundry, 86 Great Eastern Street, London, EC2 (Old Street tube)

From 6pm till late every evening, films start at 6pm

Free entry

Positive images of the Global South showing communities and activists from Africa and Asia fighting for Global Justice and challenging the negative portrayal in the West of the Global South as powerless victims.

There will be an exhibition of photography from the World Social Forums that took place in Kenya 2007 and India 2004, documentary films about global issues showing grassroots activism from the Global South mostly made by Black and Asian film makers. There will also be speakers/talks every evening and a music event.

Its free entry but any solidarity contributions from the events and all sales of photographs will go to an organisation called Habiba International a Kenyan women's human rights organisation fighting against FGM and rape in remote patoral areas of Kenya, that desperately need a vehicle to rescue abused women and children.

Program of Events:

Please note: Some of the films listed are to be confirmed and may subject to change as they are still coming in form all over the world. Also more films, speakers and music to be included so please keep checking the site for new additions to the event.

27th March: Globalisation, Neo-colonialism, Global Justice and Reparations to the Global South

Films:

Letter to Geldof (27mins)(WorldWrite)Bob Geldof visited Ghana for the TV series Geldof in Africa and wrote about it in the accompanying book, describing his crowning as the chief of development in a town called Ajumako-Bisease. This documentary follows in Geldof’s footsteps one year on and finds a town still waiting to hear from him.

Fourth World War (76mins) (Big Noise films 2003) From the front-lines of conflicts in Mexico, Argentina, South Africa, Palestine, Korea, 'the North' from Seattle to Genova, and the 'War on Terror' in New York, Afghanistan, and Iraq. It is the story of men and women around the world who resist being annihilated in this war. Featuring music from Manu Chao, Asian Dub Foundation, Múm, Moosaka, Cypher AD

Freedom (5mins) Short film on Haitian artisits (currently exhibiting their art upstairs at the Foundry)

Speakers: Kofi Mawuli Klu (Global Justice Forum), Firoze Manji (Fahamu)

Music: Haitian artists from the film Freedom will be performing Voodoo drumming to end the evening.

28th March A Taste of the World Social Forums in Kenya and India The World Social Forum is an international platform, “an open meeting place where groups and movements of civil society opposed to neo-liberalism and a world dominated by capital or by any form of imperialism, but engaged in building a planetary society centered on the human person, come together to pursue their thinking, to debate ideas democratically, formulate proposals, share their experiences freely and network for effective action.” (from the Porto Alegre Charter)

Reports on and analysis of the WSF in Kenya and surrounding events that took place in January 2007 from activists that attended. Views on the future of the WSF and ways forward for global activism. Photographs of the WSF Kenya and India on display.

Films:

WSF March Kenya 2007, (12mins) and Everyday Occurances in Kenya (10mins) (James Whitehead 2007) Footage of the World Social Forum in Nairobi Kenya in January 2007 and events surrounding it.

The World Social Forum - Feminist Perspectives,(50mins) (The Rosa Luxembourg Foundation, 2004) a view of the World Social Forum in Mumbai India in 2004 focusing on female activism and gender issues the film captures many issues and social movements represented at the forum.

Rumble in Mumbai (58mins) (Jawad Metni,2004) Over 100,000 people attended World Social Forum held in India in 2004, all looking to build solidarity - and a better world. Featuring interviews with Shirin Ebadi, Jose Bove, and Walden Bello, as well as the eloquent speeches of Arundhati Roy, Mustafe Barghouti, Jeremy Corbyn, and Irene Khan.

Speakers: James O'Nions (Radical Activist Network), Ewa Jasiewicz (UK activist on the People's Parliament in Kenya), Melanie Alfonso (solidarity Not Charity)

Music: Acoustic music from Hayereyah: Original Roots reggae from Brixton/London, Harmonica and percussion. See them on: www.youtube.com/watch

29th March: Women and Human Rights, Building Global Solidarity Fighting Female Genital Mutilation (FGM), rape and physical abuse of women and children.

Films:

Beautiful as Butterflies (59mins)(Julia Landou, S Africa, 2005). About the healing process of four formerly abused women from poor communities through Kundalini yoga and creative arts. Its inspiring to see what they do. It breaks down stereotypes and promotes discussion around the topic of healing and abuse.

Passengers: A video journey in Gujerat (52mins)(Nooh Nizami and Akanksha Joshi, India, 2003). The genocide in the western Indian State of Gujarat is documented through the lives of a Hindu and a Muslim family. Filmed over a year and a half it follows the echoes of violence, intense pain and betrayal. The politics of division is experienced through the two families that form the micro unit of the Indian society. As sharp borders are drawn, each of the 'Passengers' are a testimony of the times that are in the process of forming the future of India and, perhaps, that of the world.

Speakers: Zoe on the film Passengers, Pauline Ontieno-Skaper (Rainbo), Melanie Alfonso (Solidarity Not Charity) on Habiba International

30th March: Communities take on Multinational Corporations From Kerala to Papua New Guinea to South Africa local people are uprising against corporate power and winning.

Films:

The Bitter Drink Kaippu Neeru (26mins)(P. Baburaj and C Saratchandran, India, 2003) A film on the adivasi struggle against Coca-cola in Plachimada, Kerala.

The Coconut Revolution (Bougainville Story)(50mins)(Dom Rotheroe, 2001)The modern-day story of a native peoples' remarkable victory over Western Colonial power. A Pacific island rose up in arms against giant mining corporation Rio Tinto Zinc (RTZ) - and won despite a military occupation and blockade.

The Orange Farm Water Crisis (16mins)(C. Hotz, A. Imondi, Marians, 2004) This short film exposes water privatisation in Orange Farm, one of the poorest townships in South Africa. Privatisation appeared in Orange Farm in the form of pre-paid water meters, months before the World Summit for Sustainable Development in Johannesburg 2002. Only predominately black areas are being targeted for pre-paid meters which mean automatic water cut-offs if you can’t pay. The meters were introduced by the Johannesburg Water Company, whose services are managed by multinational Suez Lyonnaise, a company known for bad business practice throughout the world. The community quickly organised to protect their right to water, creating the Orange Farm Water Crisis Committee.

Speakers: John Hilary on the Anti Coca-Cola Campaign(War on Want), Guillermo Rogel on the Anti-Privatisation Forum (War on Want)

31st March: Environmental Activism in the Global South

Films:

Words on Water (Sanjay Kak, India, 2003) A film that explores the struggle of the people of the Narmada Valley against the big dams that threaten to submerge their lands and displace them from their homes, traditions and cultures. Kak’s new film joins the growing filmic documentation of the struggle of the people of the Narmada Valley against the big dams that threaten to submerge their lands, displace them from their homes and slowly but surely, cut them off from their traditions and their cultures.

Music:Acoustic music after the film showings. With performances from the following talented artists:
Joseph Aquilina (Melodic, Emotive and Universal are three words used together in describing his music having been compared with the likes of Jeff Buckley and Nick Drake. See: www.aquilina.co.uk

Amy Bullman (Amys songs have a classical feel, with lyrics to make your hairs stand on end, all wrapped up in her soft sultry vocal. See: www.myspace.com/amybullman

Nick Long (boy from the sea with his guitar and some towels)

Julia Biel ('Blessed with an expressive, beautiful voice' suggested by Time Out, Julia has been compared to Billie Holiday, and describes her sound as 'alternative acoustic soul'). See: www.myspace.com/juliabiel

A beautiful night not to be missed!

1st April: Trade Injustice Globalisation, debt, unfair trade rules and Structural Adjustment Policies enforced by the World Bank (WB), International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the World Trade Organisation (WTO) perpetuate the legacy of colonialism and communities all over the world are standing up to fight against them.

Films:
Trading Injustice: Tomato Farmers in Ghana (16mins) (David Marks/African Initiatives) The struggle of farmers in Ghana against EU and global trading polices.

The Globalisation Tapes (71mins) (PERBBUNI: Independent Plantation Workers Union of North Sumatra) Using their own forbidden history as a case study, the Indonesian filmmakers trace the development of contemporary globalisation from its roots in colonialism to the present. Through chilling first-hand accounts, hilarious improvised interventions, collective debate and archival collage, The Globalisation Tapes exposes the devastating role of militarism and repression in building the "global economy", and explores the relationships between trade, third-world debt, and international institutions like the IMF and the World Trade Organization. The film is a densely lyrical and incisive account of how these institutions shape and enforce the corporate world order (and its 'systems of chaos').

Down Down WTO (10mins)(War on Want) Short film on the World Trade Organisation and footage of Global protests in opposition to it.

A New Leaf (25mins) Tracing the journey of tea ‘from bush to cup’; this film examines a radical grassroots trading initiative developing in the Gudalur valley of Tamil Nadu, Southern India. The movement challenges the basic assumptions that lie behind global trade, by directly linking community groups across the world, from indigenous adivasi tea growers in the Nilgiri hills to a council estate in Luton. Narrated by the activists themselves, it shows how an economic solution developed in the 'south' is changing the live of thousands of people in a newly 'glocalized'' world.

Speakers: David marks(African Initaitves) on Trading Injustice
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Event contact information:

For more details on this Solidarity Not Charity event contact Mel on 07951 714 065 or email [email protected]

Please note that the venue closes at 11pm every evening and as the venue is a bar the event is for over 18s only.

Illusions of Disempowerment is supported by the Radical Activst Network and the India Resource Center