PRESS RELEASE

Contact: Task Force on the Americas
Dale Sorensen ּ 415/924-3227 ּ mitf@igc.org

Film Memorializes Salvadoran Priest

Commemorating the thirtieth anniversary of the assassination of Archbishop Romero in 1980 in El Salvador, the Task Force on the Americas will screen the film “Romero.” Starring Raul Julia, this now classic film, depicting the life of the martyred priest, will be shown on Friday, March 26 at 7:30 PM at the First United Methodist Church, 9 Ross Valley Drive (at Fourth Street), San Rafael.

Romero is transformed from an apolitical, complacent priest to a committed leader of the Salvadoran people. His vocal stand against the military junta’s indiscriminate murder of civilians that the government accuses of being FMLN sympathizers ultimately leads to his assassination in 1980.
The FMLN, originally a leftist guerilla revolutionary group, achieved political recognition in 1992. Last year, for the first time, an FMLN candidate, Mauricio Funes, was elected president. Salvador Cordon, Coordinator of the FMLN – Northern California, will discuss the current situation in El Salvador.

A $5-10 donation is requested. No one will be turned away for lack of funds. For more information: 415/924-3227, mitf@igc.org, or www.mitfamericas.org.

Download the flyer here.

Neo-liberal regimes throughout Latin America, driven by resurgent mass social movements with Indigenous organizations in key roles, have been discredited and toppled. In the decade beginning 1996, Ecuador had ten presidents in as many years, demonstrating the power of mass movements.

President Rafael Correa was first elected in 2006 with strong Indigenous support, and then re-elected in 2009 in an unprecedented first round victory on a platform of 21st century socialism. Under his leadership, Ecuador joined the explicitly socialist ALBA (Latin American Bolivarian Alliance) with Venezuela, Cuba, Bolivia, and others challenging US leadership in the hemisphere. Yet, Ecuador remains reliant on extractive industries and on large agribusiness as instruments of national development, producing inevitable strains with the popular movement, especially with Indigenous organizations.

A $5-10 donation is requested. No one will be turned away for lack of funds. The venue is wheelchair accessible.

For more information call 415/924-3227 or go to www.mitfamericas.org.

As a Coalition in Solidarity with Latin America we condemn the U.S. bases in Colombia, U.S. political intervention in Latin America as well as the process of militarization in Haiti. That is why we support the March 20th demonstration against the wars and we say:

Money for Healthcare, Jobs and Education! Not for Wars!

We decided to produce educational information about the cost of war for the people living in the U.S. and to show them how this is connected with all the economic problems they are facing today in their lives. Below you can see how the government is spending your taxes money and you can make the judgment yourself:

Download English flier here.

Download Spanish flier here.

Fault Lines’ Avi Lewis reports on polarization and power in the Americas  October 28, 2009

Honduras 100 Days of Resistance- Part 2

Fault Lines’ Avi Lewis reports on polarization and power in the Americas  October 29, 09

• Get the people of Port-au-Prince clean water, food, and medical treatment now.
• Allow President Aristide to return to Haiti from forced exile in South Africa
• Respect Haiti. Do not criminalize people who need water, food and medical help.
• End the foreign military occupation of Haiti.

Join Haiti Action Committee and Congresswoman Barbara Lee to stand with the people of Haiti in this tragic hour.

Three million people are homeless, untold thousands are dead.  With their own hands, Haitians are heroically digging out friends and relatives from the rubble left by the devastating earthquake, showing once again their resilience, determination and courage in the face of disaster.

Days after the earthquake, the United Nations admits it has fed only 8000 people.  With thousands of U.S. troops headed to Haiti, it is clear that the U.S. and UN are more concerned with “securing” Haiti than with feeding and housing people. Millions of dollars worth of food and medicine sits on the tarmac at the airport in Port-au-Prince while the poorest communities remain without aid.

In a scene reminiscent of Hurricane Katrina, 10,000 people have sought refuge in the Aristide Foundation, near the airport in Port-au-Prince.  Over fifty doctors are there, yet no medical supplies or food has arrived.

This is a time to aid grassroots organizations that have always been there for the people.  This is a time to return President Aristide to Haiti.

We remember the words of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., who said, “Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere.”

Contribute to Haiti relief through the Haiti Emergency Relief Fund at www.haitiaction.net.

For more information, see www.haitisolidarity.net