The conference: Latin America 2011 brings together academics, experts and activists who will analyse in detail the political and social developments making Latin America the most dynamic of continents.Mirta Rodriguez Perez, Irma Sehwerert Mileham and Magali Llort Ruiz, mothers of the Miami Five will, together with trade unionist Tony Woodley, assess the continued struggle for their sons' freedom and the international campaign. (The Miami Five have been in prison in the United States for 13 years for defending Cuba against international terrorist attacks.)
World renowned Argentinian political theorist, Dr Ernesto Laclau (University of Essex) will address issues of progress in ‘Contours of the New Latin America' together with sociologist Dr Robin Blackburn.
Venezuelan trade union leaders Eglé Sánchez and Nelson Sanz will address the issue Defending the Majority, Not Punishing the Poorest together with CWU general secretary Billy Hayes; while Braulio Alvarez, Venezuelan Member of Parliament, will look at the challenges in the countdown to the 2012 election in his country.Journalist Victoria Brittain will bring her experience of writing with Moazzam Begg to look at Guantanamo Bay and the US Militarisation of Latin America.
Documentary filmmaker and writer Michael Chanan will present the world premiere of his up-to-the-minute report on the student protest movement in Chile filmed in November, and incorporating footage shot by documentary students at the University of Santiago de Chile.
The conference LatinAmerica2011 – Adelante! Making a better world possible is on Saturday 3 December 2011, 9.30am-5pm at Congress House, Great Russell Street, London WC1B 3LS. Tickets £10 waged £6 unwaged Tel: 0208 800 0155
For a full line up of speakers and seminars www.latinamericaconference.org.uk
It is organised by Cuba Solidarity Campaign, Venezuela Solidarity Campaign, Nicaragua Solidarity Campaign, SERTUC and a coalition of solidarity organisations and Trade Unions.
The Miami Five are five Cubans imprisoned in US jails since 1998 for trying to stop terrorist attacks against Cuba. The United Nations, Amnesty International and numerous legal, religious and human rights organisations have questioned the fairness of their trial and long sentences, and condemned the US government's persistent refusal to grant visas to allow two of their wives to visit.
Latin America is a region that compared with Europe and the US is surging ahead: in 2010 the economy grew by 5.9% and it is expected to grow by 4.7% in 2011; in the first half of 2011 Foreign Direct Investment has risen by 54%. While Europe and the United States sink into structural crisis and long term austerity, in much of Latin America, wages are being increased, welfare and health provision expanded, free education extended, pensions raised, cheap housing made available to the poor, and millions of new, real jobs are being generated.
Cuba 50 