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02 February 2005
Dear
sisters and brothers, We
are now planning events in London and other parts of the UK, in
International Women’s Week, beginning Saturday 5 March.
On Monday 14 March, Nora Castañeda,
President of Venezuela’s Women’s Development Bank (Banmujer) and Angélica
Alvarez, Banmujer´s Promoter Co-ordinator in Bolivar State, arrive in
London as part of a European tour – see enclosed leaflet. On
Saturday 5 March, the new Global Women’s Strike exhibition of
grassroots women’s actions in 20 countries will open at the Crossroads
Women’s Centre. At 12
noon - 4pm on the 5th, there will be a fundraiser with food,
music and dance by the All African Women’s Group, a group of
women asylum seekers, spearheading opposition to the government’s
draconian immigration laws and raising money to pay fares, food and
other essentials for hundreds of women every month. On International Women’s Day, Tuesday 8
March,
there will be an open day at the Crossroads Women’s Centre and another
chance to bring friends to see the Strike exhibition.
Local shops, cafes, sports centres etc. are providing free or
discounted services for women “in recognition of women’s work
raising children and caring for and defending everyone in the
community.” Last year
dozens of businesses offered services ranging from a free cup of tea to
a free swim. It’s not too
late to ask your local shops to do the same and to get publicity for it
in the local press. On
Saturday 12 March (venue to be confirmed), Payday, a multi-racial
network of men which organises men’s participation in the Strike,
presents their new film Refusing to Kill -- women and men from
around the world refusing to be torturers, rapists and killers for the
military. Special guests include Rose Gentle, founder of Military
Families Against the War and mother of Gordon Gentle killed in Iraq and
Lance Corporal George Solomou, the first British soldier to publicly
call for other military personnel to refuse to serve.
The premiere showing of a new film on Venezuela is also planned. For
more details check out our website www.globalwomenstrike.net
or call 020 7482 2496. Yours
for investing in caring not killing, Kay Chapman and Chrissie Warren |