THE BATTLE AGAINST EBOLAWe look at Ireland’s long-standing relationship with Liberia as the battle rages against Ebola.

> HEALTH PAGE �

GENDER BASED VIOLENCE IN INDIA The 2012 Delhi rape gang case brought India’s track record on gender to global headlines.

> GENDER PAGE �

THE LEGANDARY FELA KUTI Finding Fela is a recent documentary looking at how music can be turned into a weapon for social change.

> MUSIC PAGE �

November 2014 | Published By Comhlámh | ISSUE 95 www.comhlamh.org

Solidarity At The Shops.

JAMES REDMONDComhlámh Staff

Negotiations on TTIP have provoked strong opposition across Europe, the US and Canada. Campaigners fear these treaties will give unbridled power to multinational corporations, risking privatisation of public services and a watering down of environmental standards and workers’ rights.

To express this opposition campaigners applied for a European Citizens’ Initiative to force a re-think on the deals but it was rejected by the European Commission back in September.

� e European Citizens’ Initiative (ECI) was set up to give European citizens formal petitioning rights over an o� en unaccountable decision-making process. Citizens who manage to collect one million signatures from 7 or more EU states can force the Commission to hold a public hearing in the European parliament.

“� e rejection of the ECI only con� rms the Commission’s strategy to exclude citizens and parliaments from the TTIP and CETA negotiations. Instead of paying attention to citizens, it is just lobbyists that are being listened to.”

“Now the battle really begins,” said Michael E� er, contact person of the European Citizen Iniative, which currently represents almost 230 organizations from 21 EU countries.

> DIRECT PROVISION PAGE

SHANE O’CONNORDevelopment Educationalist

Wh i le t he s o -called ‘Operation Protective Edge’

was Israel’s 3rd deadly offen-sive on Gaza since 2008, on this occasion, the deliberate targeting of civilians, and particularly children, all brought to the world’s atten-tion through the immediacy of social media, prompted an unprecedented level of revul-sion and outrage amongst citizen populations.

In the words of Archbishop Desmond Tutu; ‘this was arguably the largest active outcry by citizens around a single cause ever in the history of the world.”

� e ongoing Occupation of Palestine involves the construction of extensive settlements colonies on Palestinian land, travel

restrictions, arrests, strangulation of the Palestinian economy and regular military attacks on the civilian population.

All of these acts combine to render the creation of an independent Palestinian state practically impossible, are carried out by Israel without any consequence from the international community despite their illegality.

More signi� cantly, they are e� ectively endorsed by the United States as its enormous � nancial contribution to the state of Israel makes all of this possible.

Since 2005, Palestinian civil society has called for an international campaign of boycott, divestment and sanctions (BDS) against Israel until it complies with international law. � e BDS movement has grown from strength to strength in recent years.

In Ireland, over 215 artists including Sinéad Cusack, Christy Moore, Damien Dempsey, Liam Ó Maonlaí, Sharon Shannon and Robert Ballagh have pledged to a campaign of BDS. Internationally, Danske Bank, Dutch pensions giant PGGM and the state pension funds of Luxembourg and Norway have all made signi� cant divestments from Israeli companies.

In shops and supermarkets, Israeli fruit and vegetables, pharmaceutical products, cosmetics, plastic products, jewellery, etc are readily available through the EU.

� e e� ective economic power of BDS lies in its ability to activate

hundreds of thousands of people in the EU and across the world

to choose not to buy these products

and to boycott Israel as part of their everyday consumer habits.

Tragically, too o� en it

takes a massacre like the recent one in Gaza rather

than the day-to-day reality of the Occupation to bolster the uptake and impact of BDS. In South Africa, global BDS was a key factor in bringing about an end to apartheid.

It will play a similar role in ending the illegal Occupation of Palestine and in so doing help bring an end to one of the most brutal and persistent political injustices of our time.

Why It’s Time To Build � e Boycott, Divestment & Sanctions Movement.

Irish Activists carried out BDS actions in shops like Marks and Spencers in Dublin in July | Photo Credits: Ronan Burthenshaw

FOCUSACTION FOR GLOBAL JUSTICE.

“� e eff ective economic power of

BDS lies in its ability to activate hundreds

of thousands of people in the EU and across the world to choose not to buy these products”

The System Is Not WorkingAsylum seekers are making their voices heard through nationwide protests. SIVE BRESNIHANComhlámh.

In August of this year, 4 asy-lum seekers in a remote men’s only hostel outside of Foynes,

Co. Limerick went on hunger strike. After years of direct provision and no word on their asylum claims (one of them had been in the system for 14 years), they said that they could simply ‘take no more’. The Foynes protest, which also involved locking staff and management out of the building, was quickly diffused by the authorities but asylum seeker-led protests in other centres followed and, in a matter of weeks, altered the course of the direct provision debate.

On September 3rd residents in Lisseywollen, Athlone announced that they were refusing food and, on Saturday, locked sta� out of the centre and marched to town armed with messages for the Reception and Integration Agency (RIA) and service provider ARAMARK. Residents of Montague, Port Laoise did the very same thing the following Monday. When a delegation from RIA arrived to hear their grievances the � rst thing they asked was: ‘If we hadn’t organised our action when would you have come to address our concerns?’

On September 15th the lengthiest of the protests began in the Kinsale Road Accommodation Centre in Cork. � e protest (which took the form of an extended lock out) lasted for 10 days during

which time residents made a point of inviting people in. Journalists circulated through the space, friends came with food and music, and members of the public stopped by. � is allowed for new kinds of interactions, something which the residents felt deeply. ‘What we were doing was real integration’ said one of the residents. ‘Nothing will feel the same again’. Organised as KRAC (Kinsale Road Accommodation Centre), residents suspended their lock out on Wednesday September 24th a� er securing concessions from management. � at Friday they gathered up banners and supporters and marched triumphantly through Cork city, inviting everybody back to the Center a� erwards for a party.

� e message from the protesters has been unequivocal and that is that no amount of reform can � x the system of direct provision. Kinsale Road and Montague along with Birchwood and Atlantic House (who began their protests in October) have been calling for an end to the system, namely: the closure of all direct provision centers, stopping all deportations (a daily torment for many people in the system and a source of unending physical and emotional trauma for individuals and their families), residency for those currently in the system and for asylum seekers in the future to have the right to work and to study.

On its side, the government has

established a working group on direct provision. � e group’s Terms of Reference provide for the most marginal of reform however and there is no seat at the table for

asylum seekers. Protesters appear

undeterred and poised for more action. ‘Let us

all sing one song in one voice and make as much noise as we can to disrupt any e� ort that is

designed to keep or to reform this inhumane

system,’ says KRAC. ‘Let us believe in our own abilities and

capabilities in � ghting together and bury our di� erences to � ght for a common goal. We owe it to our children to get into this battle and say enough is enough’.

END DIRECT PROVISION

KRAC committee members, Cork, le� to right: Lucky Khambule, Hassan Ally, David and � eresa Obi | Photo credit: Paula Geraghty

2 NEWSFOCUS ACTION FOR GLOBAL JUSTICE www.comhlamh.org

FURTHER INFO

“� e message from the protesters has been unequivocal

and that is that no amount of reform

can fi x the system ”

Asylum seekers who had locked out management of the Kinsale Road Accommodation Centre

marched in Cork City to highlight their fight for human dignity. Journalist Paula Geraghty was there and gathered video vox pops with many of the protestors. Here are some of their thoughts.

“People have to know that we exist. We are not being put in the limbo. We are coming out of the ghetto. We need more people to come and support, to come visit us” - Christian

“� e past 10 days have been hectic for everybody but the victory is sweet because we achieved part of what we are � ghting for. Now we are here today to say round one is � nished and we are going for round two.’ - Lucky

“Before this protest life here it was di� cult, really di� cult because it was too much controlled and there was no freedom basically. In this 8 / 9 days of strike at least we have experienced a bit of freedom which I’d never experienced since coming to this country as an asylum seeker.” - Ali

“It’s a real business. � ey don’t want to talk about it but it’s a business of human meat. � at’s the reason why we’re demonstrating. It’s not money that matters - it’s dignity and freedom, and respect of human rights. � at’s it.” - Bob

“It is time to wake up. It is right to say no to direct provision. It is right to say no to deportation. It is right to say these children should not be damaged from their youth. It is time to give these children back their lives. Amandla.” - Theresa

FOR MORE FOLLOW @PAULAGERAGHTY

OPINIONS

FOCUSACTION FOR GLOBAL JUSTICE

Focus Magazine is Ireland’s leading magazine on global development issues. Since 1978, Focus has been making links between the situation in Ireland and in the South, with a view to challenging assumptions, and promoting understanding, interest in and action on development issues among a broad public. In particular, it aims to provide alternative views to those expressed in mainstream media.

Editorial Group: Inese Japina, Rory Fogarty, Lindsay Murphy, Sive Bresnihan and Mark Furlong.

To receive copies to distribute please contact info@comhlamh.org

EST.1978

Comhlamh is a signatory to the Dochas Code On Images and Messages. Feedback welcome to info@comhlamh.org

The System Is Not WorkingAsylum seekers are making their voices heard through nationwide protests.

END DIRECT PROVISION

JACINTY FAYLiberia Solidarity Group

Ireland has a longstanding relationship of friendship and solidarity with Liberia which

includes exchanges between mis-sionaries, development and com-munity workers. Irish peace-keeping troops are also remembered for their diligence in enforcing the cease fire and for their resolution in protecting vulnerable communities.

� e Irish government and Irish development organisations have made signi� cant contributions to Liberia’s post-war reconstruction and to vital civil society initiatives. Solidarity and support from Ireland is needed by Liberia now more than any time since the end of the war. Pledges must urgently turn into action.

Liberia emerged from its 14-year civil war in 2003 and last year marked ten years of peace. However Liberians are haunted by the sights they now see on their streets; dead bodies awaiting ambulances and army patrols in combat ready gear.

� e Ebola epidemic has escalated into an international humanitarian crisis. In the region the total number of deaths has reached 4,922 and the number of cases 10,141. � e World Health Organisation (WHO) estimates that there could be 5,000-10,000 new cases every week in Liberia, Sierra Leone and Guinea by December.

Liberia has been particularly hard hit with the highest death toll of 2,705 as of October 25th. People are being turned away from at capacity treatment centres and return home to quarantine themselves. As a result stories of whole families dying are not uncommon. � e country’s health system is no longer functioning e� ectively with the majority of hospitals closed or barely functioning.

Beyond the health situation, the outbreak has prompted multiple crises. Liberia, already extremely food insecure, is cut o� from the outside world on which it relies for 60% of its food. Hunger and malnutrition are rising. Fear and panic has sparked a myriad of security issues. It is incalculable the amount of deaths which have and will occur as an entire nation has little or no access to healthcare or food. People are dying from easily preventable and

treatable diseases like malaria and diarrhoea and women are dying in childbirth. Women and girls, as primary caregivers, are su� ering the worst impacts of the epidemic.

� ere have been many failures in tackling Ebola. Not least the fact that the international community has not invested in research for a cure for this horrendous virus. Why invest in a cure for an African disease when there is no market for pharmaceutical companies? Not least the World Health Organisation (WHO) for downplaying the outbreak and only declaring an international public health emergency in August when there had been almost a thousand deaths. Not least governments and international agencies around the world that have not mobilised support and resources to tackle the epidemic before it became a full blown humanitarian crisis. Not least the media’s irresponsible reporting of the epidemic which has fuelled panic about the spread of Ebola to Europe and North America and perpetuated negative stereotypes about West Africans rather than calling for international assistance to tackle the crisis in West Africa. Superstition, myths and ignorance are blamed for the spread of the virus and not the dysfunctional health system, the limited technical and � nancial capacity within government combined with the pitiful response from the international community.

Pledges have been committed but their delivery remains slow. And as past crisis tell us pledges and action are two very di� erent things when it comes to emergency aid. For instance, a� er the earthquake in Haiti, only 35% of pledged funds have actually been disbursed. $294 million has been earmarked in emergency aid for Liberia. However, according to current estimations, $473 million is required.

Immediate action on these commitments and improved coordination between the

actors involved in the Ebola response is urgently required. More medical

sta� and resources are needed immediately. Flights must be allowed into and out of Ebola a� ected countries to ensure that people are able to travel and supplies are

delivered. Security measures must respect human rights

and humanitarian concerns. � is is crucial to avoid a repeat of

the unfortunate death of a teenager who sustained gunshots wounds in recent riots in Monrovia’s West Point community.

KRAC committee members, Cork, le� to right: Lucky Khambule, Hassan Ally, David and � eresa Obi | Photo credit: Paula Geraghty

NEWS 3WORLD HEALTH www.comhlamh.org

Fighting Ebola in Liberia

Teams distribute Ebola advise posters to communities. | Photo credit: UNICEF Liberia

As the Ebola threat mounts we looks at Ireland’s longstanding relationship with Liberia.

Ireland has a commitment to Liberia and Sierra Leone through their partnership with both coun-

tries under Ireland’s overseas develop-ment programme.

� e Irish Government must continue to support response e� orts to Ebola through funding medical charities and sending medical personnel. It is also vital that Irish Aid directly supports Liberian civil society organisations’ community support programmes.

Liberia has a vibrant civil society and local organisations and groups are leading community education activities. � ese groups have built trust with local communities over many years of community development activities and are best placed to carry out community education and awareness activities. � e Liberian CSO Taskforce on Ebola has been established so groups can work together and coordinate their Ebola response. � ey are now on the forefront of the vital work of equipping communities to protect themselves and supporting national e� orts to slow down and reverse the spread of the virus. Many groups are conducting these activities on a voluntary basis and urgently need funding to scale up their e� orts.

Friends of the Earth - Liberia (Sustainable Development Institute), Foundation for

Community Initiatives, Save My Future Foundation and Social Entrepreneurs for Sustainable Development are jointly launching a Community Awareness and Support Team (CAST). � e CAST initiative is an emergency response e� ort that aims to deliver Ebola awareness materials, hygiene and sanitation supplies to 2,500 households (or 25,000 people) by October 31st. Other organisations such as the Development Education Network Liberia (DEN-L) and the Association of Self-Help Development Initiatives (ASHDI) both based in Bong County have established Ebola Awareness Teams. � ese teams are supporting communities, training teams of community educators and using mediums such as radio and theatre to deliver ebola awareness messages.

RESOURCES

“Superstition, myths and ignorance

are blamed for the spread of the virus and not the

dysfunctional health system”

4 GENDERFOCUS ACTION FOR GLOBAL JUSTICE www.comhlamh.org

MARK FURLONGComhlámh Member

A c c o r d i n g t o R e u t e r s Foundation, India is the fourth worst country in the world for women. How can a rapidly devel-oping, middle income country with a stable government be a worse place for women than Somalia?

I feel what makes India the 4th worst country in the world has nothing to do with the economy or income, but to the Mindset that is inherently “Patriarchal” in nature. Patriarchy and the norms associated with that add to the vulnerability of women in India. From the beginning they are socialized that they are inferior and subordinated to men which in long run leads to “ideological subordination.”

�is further leads to other types of subordination like Economic and Political”. Women never take part in decision making within the family and are confined only to the “Domestic / Private sphere”. And this process of thinking is developed over a period of time through the process of Gender socialization. Similarly, Men too internalize their role and try to dominate, making women’s place worse in our society.

The Nirbhaya \ Delhi Rape Case brought the issue of sexual violence to centre stage in India. Did it highlight an increasing problem or just focus the nation’s attention?

�e Nirbhaya case in our country is just another case which got a lot of media attention because of the strategic location i.e., Delhi. No doubt the issue of sexual violence is a social problem and increasing day by day as the TOI report says,” one Rape occurs in every 30 minutes in India”.

Are all women in society

equally vulnerable to gender based violence and who are the perpetrators of this violence?

I feel that women across all sections of society are vulnerable, although the degree may vary. Also, low caste women may be less likely to speak out against sexual violence and access the justice system because of the caste based stigma they already face. Also, the perpetrators are not necessarily always men. When it comes to violence against women, I feel “woman is

also the biggest enemy of woman”. In the case of “classic patriarchy”, it

is actually a power dynamics between the mother-in-law and the daughter-in-law. �is hierarchy between the two again creates a situation which paves the way for

making the women (inferior in status) more vulnerable. It

is equally the responsibility of the mother to train her son rather

than only training her daughter to be well mannered.

Can you explain a bit more

about the relationship between the mother and her daughter-in-law. Why is it problematic?

When a women gives birth to a son, she gains enhanced social status and identity within the eyes of society and her family. Also, the son is responsible for looking a�er

the mother in her old age. Women in Indian society are dependent on men to protect them from birth until death. With the responsibility moving in turn from father to brother to husband and then to son. When the daughter-in-law comes into the family she becomes a threat to the mother’s control over her son, who is the mother’s main protector in old age and a source of her social status. �is is the source of the conf lict between mother and daughter-in-law.

Going back to the first ques-

tion, if we accept that cases of equal brutality to the Nirbhaya case happen frequently in India. Why did this case led to popular protest, massive news coverage and legislative change, why did it move the country so much?

In present time, media is playing a pivotal role in everyone’s life. Media is aiding us to be more sensitive and encouraging us to think rationally on many issues. Earlier even though these kinds of brutal acts were happening, it

was not getting reported and as a sociologist, I feel the reason behind this was the entire notion of “Stigma” attached with the notion of rape. Girls were trained to be submissive, docile and subordinated to boys. �eir life cycles were surrounded by men as protectors. But things are changing now, with modern education, logical and critical thinking, girls are questioning the age old notion of patriarchy. �ey are coming out of their shell and �ghting for their rights. Probably all these things together has led all of us to do a lot of introspection and make us realize that change won’t come from outside but deep within.

Do you see the state, media’s

and society’s reaction to the Nirbhaya as encouraging?

Definitely it is a strong message to all countrymen that we are heading towards change. And the best part of this is that everybody is realizing that “-I am the change”. �e seed of attitudinal change was planted with Nirbhaya’s sacri�ce.

Nirbhaya’s Sacrifice.�e 2012 Delhi gang rape case brought India’s track record on gender to global headlines. Amrita Sastry is an Assistant Professor, at Delhi University and gave us this in depth interview on gender based violence in India.

“I feel that women across all sections

of society are vulnerable, although

the degree may vary.”

Protestors taking part in Valentine’s Day 2013 actions in Delhi. Photo Credit: Anoo Bhuyan

5GENDER www.comhlamh.org

Protestors taking part in Valentine’s Day 2013 actions in Delhi. Photo Credit: Anoo Bhuyan

We are looking for advertisers.Focus has a print run of 6,000. Copies are sent to Comhlámh members past and present, as well as to a� iliate organisations,and distributed through our various activist networks.With a three month shelf-life, advertising in Focus is excellent value for money.

Email us at info@comhlamh.org

for full rates

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6 FOCUS ACTION FOR GLOBAL JUSTICE

Blood FruitRemembering �e Dunnes Stores Strike In Film.RORY FOGARTHYComhlámh Member

Blood Fruit superbly revisits the Dunnes strike of 1984-1987 and how 11 Dublin shop-work-

ers became international figureheads for the anti-apartheid movement, forcing a change in Irish law to ban apartheid produced goods.

Consisting of an impressive selection of archive footage from Ireland and South Africa, as well as narrative interviews with all the strikers, their unions representatives, bishop Desmond Tutu, a gormless Ruairí Quinn and an utterly obstinate Ben Dunne, Blood Fruit is able to recount the events of those 33 months in great detail. In 1984 a number of Dunnes Stores sta� followed a trade union directive not to han-dle South African goods led to their suspension from employment. Initially knowing very little about apartheid or human rights activism, the strikers were soon joined by Nimrod Sejake. A former South African labour activist and mem-ber of the ANC, who had for a time shared a prison cell with Nelson Mandela, Nimrod became the group’s direct link to oppressed South Africa and acted as the catalyst causing

the strike to last for nearly three years.�ey faced opposition from many arenas.

�e eleven, ten of whom were women, were condemned by senior members of the church, shunned by their former colleagues and har-assed by members of An Garda Siochana and the Special Branch. One of the women (Vonnie Monroe) lost her house whilst living on £21 strike pay. �ey did receive some moral and �nancial support from the public, including Comhlamh’s former co-ordinator and anti-apartheid campaigner Marius Schoon However it was not until the group received praise from Bishop Desmond Tutu that their campaign gained broad support and publicity. �ey were able to raise public funds to travel to South Africa at Tutu’s behest, and soon a�erwards they were invited to address UN Special Committee against Apartheid. It was this increased pressure and the group’s perseverance that eventually forced the hand of a reluctant Irish government to change the law on imported goods.

At a special screening of the documentary at the IFI this September, the 11 strikers took to the stage to a standing ovation. Liz Deasy, speaking on behalf of the strikers, summed up the message behind the �lm; “If you think you can make a di�erence, you can”.

DOCUMENTARY REVIEW MEGA MINING IN PERU

LYNDA SULLIVANPeru

I am a volunteer for the Plataforma Interinstitucional Celendina (PIC), which is a

grassroots coalition in the province of Celendin, in the northern high-lands of Peru who are struggling with the threat of mega mining destruction. Here she tells us about here work.

I arrived in Celendin by a long road which started with three women from Guatemala who came to Ireland to tell how their community had been ripped apart – environmentally and socially, by a mega mining project called the Marlin mine.

A�er this experience the urge to travel to Guatemala to see the situation for myself grew. Due to �nancial reasons and various setbacks I wasn t able to make the trip across the Atlantic until three years later.

While travelling through countries such as Argentina, Chile and Bolivia I heard of other struggles against mega mining and I visited various camps. When I arrived in Peru I became aware of the struggle of the people of Cajamarca against the big-gest gold mine in the world.

Cajamarca has seen twenty years of exploita-tion by Yanacocha (made up of US-based Newmont, Peruvian Buenaventura and the World Bank), which has pro-duced a whole host of environmental damage, distortion of the social fabric and severe health problems, and now they want to move into the neighbouring province of Celendin with the Conga project.

So I decided to go to Celendin where just four months previously four protesters were shot and killed by the state security forces. A�er an initial reservation by the commu-nity due to my unannounced and unsanc-tioned visit I was deemed trustworthy and

wholeheartedly accepted by the locals. I was invited that very same weekend

to join them as they marked a year of organized resistance of the three would-be-a�ected provinces, and a year since the police opened �re on the crowd of protesters severely injuring 19 – paralyzing one, tak-ing another s sight and a chunk of another s leg.

I arrived in November 2012, two years later and I m still here. �e local resist-ance movement had successfully mastered the use of social media to spread the word, as the mass media is far from impartial. However the vast majority of this was through Spanish and so failed to reach the likes of the United States public where the main company has its base.

So part of my role has been to bear wit-ness to the state repression, the criminaliza-tion of the protest, the mining company s attempts to corrupt or harass the local population into submission, and to get the word out.

What is equally important is to connect with activist groups and organisations

who are �ghting their own environmental struggle – such as the anti-fracking

campaigners in Ireland. �rough these con-

nections we can learn from each other, we can express our mutual soli-

darity and show that the struggle against aggressive capitalism is worldwide.

Similarly, I believe one of the e�ects of accompanying the people of Celendin is that they feel strengthened in their struggle – they see that they are not alone, that the eyes of the world are upon the perpetrators of the human rights abuses, and their hearts with those who �ght for environmental and social justice.

“By learning their language you can

earn their trust and respect”

6 FOCUS ACTION FOR GLOBAL JUSTICE

A water source under threat of contaminsation from mining. | Photo Credit Lynda Sullivan.

“When I arrived in Peru I became aware of the struggle of the people of Cajamarca against the biggest

gold mine in the world.”

MEGA MINING IN PERU

JOHN O’SHEAColombia.

Beneath the picturesque landscape of the Rubiales fields, located southwards, down a dirt road from the town of Puerto Gaitan

– Colombia, lies an abundance of oil under the crimson soil of a region torn apart by corruption, violence, and environmental degradation.

On the 23rd July last , the Colombian Trade Union Sindical Obrera del la Industrial del Petroleo (USO), returned to the Rubiales �elds a�er a lengthy hiatus, sadly during which time the demise of civil society was witnessed in the area.

�e Union had been forced out in the wake of anti union violence, including most recently the death of former union member Milton Rivas. Other community leaders were also targeted during a period which saw large scale con�ict between government forces, right wing paramilitaries, FARC and narco tra�ckers.

�e United Nations Development Program (UNDP) stated, in its report on violence against trade unionists and union workers from 1984 to 2011, that more than 2,800 trade union-ists were murdered in this time period in Colombia, 216 went missing, 83 were tortured, and 163 kidnapped. It also esti-mated that 94.4% of these murders have gone unpunished; as of August 2011 only 223 judgments had been recorded in cases involving murdered trade unionists.

Due to past human right’s violations, judicial attacks, and illegal roadblocks, political guarantees were sought prior to the return of the USO to the region. �e convoy which le� Bogota in the early hours of the morning in armored plated SUV’s, were driven by armed bodyguards from the National Protection Unit (UNP.) Among the convoy were USO representatives, community leaders, professional sociologists, lawyers, and international observers from Ireland and the United States.

�e decision to return to Puerta Gaitan is supported by the Lawyer Collective Jose Alvear Restrepo, Solidarity Centre of Coljusticia, the Committee for Political prisoners, the USO, American and Canadian Unions, plus other International organizations such as Paso International , Justice for Colombia UK, and the Irish Congress of Trade Unions (ICTU).

During a most regrettable period of Colombian history, many of the civilian population in this region were dispersed and terrorized by right wing paramilitaries, who acted with impunity.

�e USO denounced developments whereby the Colombian military in concert with Paci�c Rubiales private security forces, previously acted to curtail labour related activities and in doing so infringe one of the fundamental human rights – the right to

freedom of association.A healthy civil society requires the protection of opinions

and freedom to express them. Without the ability to assemble it would be di�cult to form e�ective associations and participate fully in the democratic process. �is process requires protec-tion against arbitrary interference by the State.

�us, freedom of expression, assembly and freedom of association are vital to pursue common objectives collectively. �ese rights are interdependent, interrelated and indivisible, and form the cornerstone of any legitimate democracy.

An ideal perhaps, whose values have long since been absent from the �elds of Rubiales. Colombia is obliged under inter-national treaties, inter alia ; ILO Treaties, the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, and the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, to posi-tively uphold it’s citizens rights to freedom of association.

Here in Puerto Gaitan, against the backdrop of a wealthy region, where private oil giant Paci�c Rubiales Energy has made �nancial gains, year in and year out. We �nd community leaders who strive to improve the lives of their fellow man, and preserve the concept of human dignity for all – these receive death threats, are forcefully displaced and many frequently murdered.

To highlight the seriousness of events during this period, one man in attendance at an outreach event organised by USO, spoke of �nding 400 decapitated bodies in a �eld near his farm some �ve years previously. Sadly, in the weeks following the return of USO to Puerta Gaitan, attacks have continued against USO representatives.

Most recently an attack has been reported against Mr. John Alexander Rodriguez, Presidente de la Sus Directiva Centro on the night of the 11th August 2014. �is attack highlights the existence of a continuous threat to human rights defenders in Colombia, whereby ultimately the Colombian Government, must be held responsible to uphold its obligation’s under inter-national law.

7ENVIROMENT www.comhlamh.org

A water source under threat of contaminsation from mining. | Photo Credit Lynda Sullivan.

Under the Blood Red Earth of Rubiales

“When I arrived in Peru I became aware of the struggle of the people of Cajamarca against the biggest

gold mine in the world.”

A look at the demise of civil society, the enviorment and human rights in an oil rich region of Colombia.

8MUSIC

Music Is A Weapon.NIAMH KELLYComhlámh Member

Finding Fela is recent documen-tary that has brought the leg-acy of Fela Anikulapo Kuti a

Nigerian musical activist back into the limelight. Taking the name ‘Anikulapo’ which means ‘a man with death in his pouch’ Fela believed he could not be harmed and so had the courage to speak out about political corruption in 1970’s Africa.

Music enthusiasts may be familiar with the name Fela Kuti as the pioneer of the Afrobeat musical genre, yet his story is less commonly known. His story is presented to us under the direction of Alex Gibney which combines video archives of the late musician, along with interviews from family and friends to tell this story.

Fela believed that to be given the gi� of music meant it was the musician’s duty to use it for the good of the people. Inspired by the Black Panthers and Malcolm X while in America, he found his calling for Africa and started to write protest songs.

� e circumstances in Nigeria saddened him as he believed that people were turning their backs on their roots. He returned to Africa with the will to encourage a sense of African cultural identity and tradition. Africans needed to know how to � ght for their rights and Fela Kuti’s calling was to tell them how.

� rough the formation of a political party in 1983 Movement of the People and using

Pidgin English his music and beliefs were communicable to the working classes. Trans� xed on shaping Nigeria and shaping it for the common working man his songs told people the truth, so that they could take hold of their country once again and remove the corruptors. Fela sang “we’ve got to � ght for freedom”, words that still hold true, musicians continue to sing songs of protest, poverty and pillaging.

� ese songs are an attempt to educate us about the plight of the people and to stand up for their rights. � is education can only reach us when we truly choose to listen. � e timelessness of music gives it an immortality that news stories cannot achieve.

The messages that Fela brought to the people will forever be held within the beats and continue to speak to musicians and lovers of music, just as messages from Bob Marley can still be heard the world over. In contrast to Bob Marley, Fela’s music never reached such acclaim, with songs lasting over 20 minutes and seemingly being without much structure there was not much appeal for them in the mainstream.

� e banning of his music on airways in Nigeria also made people reluctant to sing out and recognize his musical ingenuity. Followers of Fela state that his music was ahead of his time and that in some way the world was not ready for him, but now forty years on he continues

to be acknowledged and perhaps only now is he receiving such acclaim.

Suf fering beat ings and imprisonment o� en without

o� ence, he proclaimed that beatings only made him stronger and even a� er the death of his mother at the hands of the police, he never

faltered in his fight for his people.

Music is an education and too o� en political unrest can silence the

music, which silences the people that need us to hear them.

� e global community has a right to hear the people and importantly a responsibility to listen. Let the words of Fela ring out around the world and let us all continue “to � ght for freedom”.

A New Documentary Celebrates � e Life of � e Legandary Fela Kuti.

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RACISM IN WATERFORD

The European Network Against Racism in Ireland has condemned recent violence and racist indimationan against Roma people in Waterford.

ENAR welcomed the assurances and actions of the Gardai in Waterford in making the safety of Roma famlies a priority. Concerns remain about the use of social media to organise violence and hate speech.

More at: enarireland.org

CONFERENCE ON VOLUNTEERING

UCDVO is delighted to launch its inaugural conference on the topic of international volunteering in higher education which will take place on Saturday 29th of November T h e c o n fe r e n c e aims to examine the links between international volunteering, development education, experiential learning and global citizenship.

Read more at facebook.com/ucdvo

NATIONAL DEMONSTRATION

A National Demonstration will take place in Dublin on Universal Children’s Day.

Gathering at the Dáil for 1pm on Thursday 20th November, asylum seekers, refugees and supporters will call for an end to the system of Direct Provision.

Read more at irishrefugeecouncil.ie

LOCAL & GLOBALA screenshot from the recent documentary Finding Fela by Alex Gibney.

“ ese songs are an a� empt to educate us about the plight of the people and to build the people up to stand for their

rights. ”