Thursday January 29, 2004, 7 pm
  St Boniface Church auditorium, 133 Golden Gate Ave. 
(btwn. Jones & Leavenworth, near Civic Center BART), San Francisco
Childcare * Wheelchair accessible * Translation * Video clips * Donation: $5-$25
No one turned away. Proceeds to benefit women in Venezuela engaged in self-help.

This event is part of US tour coordinated by the Bolivarian Circle of the Global Women’s Strike with the support of the Venezuelan Embassy

Nora Castañeda, an economist committed to grassroots women, was appointed by Venezuelan President Hugo Chávez to head the Women’s Development Bank when he agreed to women’s demand for a bank as a way of funding reforms to benefit the poorest families & communities. 

Of African and Indigenous descent and the daughter of a low-income single mother, Ms. Castañeda is a remarkable woman in a remarkable time.

Venezuela is the world’s 5^th largest oil exporter, yet 80% of its people, mainly people of color, live in poverty. In 1988 they elected President Chávez to get the oil revenue back so they could tackle poverty and corruption.  In 1999 they passed one of the most advanced constitutions in the world.  In 2002 they defeated a coup carried out by the racist Venezuelan elite with the support of the US administration. Literacy, healthcare, housing, land rights . . . have all leapt forward.

Selma James, GWS international coordinator, and Nina López of the GWS Bolivarian Circle/UK will accompany Ms. Castañeda, providing introductory remarks and translation.

The Global Women’s Strike demands that society Invests in Caring Not Killing – a change in economic priorities and the return of military budgets to the community, beginning with women the first carers. Women in over 60 countries, and men who support our goals, take Strike action every March 8 (International Women’s Day).

Sponsors: Vanguard Foundation; KPFA; Dolores Huerta; Hon. Tom Ammiano; Danny Glover; Ed Asner; Hari Dillon; Gus Newport; St. Boniface Church; Venezuela Solidarity Group; Presente!/Marin; Sister Bernie Galvin - Congregation of  Divine Providence; SF Organizing Project; Tri-Valley CAREs; Int’l Action Center; College of Marin Students for Social Responsibility; American Friends Service Committee; Rainbow Grocery Cooperative.

Endorsers: Chiapas Support Group; Food First; Global Exchange; National Lawyers Guild; Marin Peace & Justice Coalition; Public Citizen California; Coalition on Homelessness; La Raza Centro Legal & SF Day Labor Program