SSP Research, Policy & Media Unit Press Release: 14/03/05

President of Venezuela's Women's Development Bank speaks at Scottish Parliament

This meeting is organised by Rosie Kane MSP and Global Women's Strike. GWS demands 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 goal that society Invest in Caring Not Killing, take Strike action on/around 8 March, International Women's Day.

Scottish Parliament: 1.30-2.30pm, Tuesday 15 March (Room T22, Holyrood).

Speakers:
* Nora Castańeda, President of the Women's Development Bank (Banmujer) in Venezuela. A renowned economist committed to grassroots women, she was appointed by President Chavez to head the Women's Bank in response to women's demands.
* Angélica Alvarez, originally from Chile, fled to Venezuela after the 1973 military coup against President Allende. As Banmujer's promoter-co-ordinator, she provides crucial support and direction to the Red Popular de Usuarias – the users' autonomous organisation.

Motion to Scottish Parliament:

US plot to assassinate President Chavez and visit to Scotland of Women's Development Bank

This Parliament notes that Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez has accused the US government of plotting to assassinate him for refusing to privatise and hand over to US corporations the oil and water that belong to the Venezuelan people; condemns any attempt to overthrow popular elected governments whilst preaching democracy; and welcomes to Scotland as part of their European tour Venezuela's Women's Development Bank, which aims to "eliminate poverty by giving power to the poor, creating a caring economy, an economy at the service of human beings, rather than human beings at the service of the economy". ROSIE KANE MSP

WHY VENEZUELA? The Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela is the world's 5th largest oil exporter, yet the majority of people, mainly people of colour, live in poverty. They elected President Hugo Chávez to get the oil revenue back to tackle poverty, and passed a revolutionary constitution which includes Article 88, which recognizes that housewives create added value and must be compensated with social security. In 2002 they defeated a US-backed coup and then an oil sabotage. In 2004, elections ratified Chavez in power and won 20 out of 22 states. Literacy, education, healthcare, housing, land rights and food security have leapt forward. The users of Banmujer, housewives and mothers who form co-operatives and associations, have been key in every initiative. Defying US attempts to intervene and discredit this "participatory democracy" based on grassroots self-activity, the Bolivarian revolution is a beacon of hope for people everywhere who demand an end to the twin terrors of poverty and war.