For Immediate Release - Women Activists meet on International Women's Day

On International Women's Day, March 8, women activists from across the
country will meet to discuss the triumphs and challenges of being
engaged in direct action in communities and organizations seeking
social transformation.
It is one of the first gatherings of its kind to be convened where
women from diverse backgrounds will gather to speak and share ideas
about their experiences on the frontline of various struggles and how
these interact with their other roles and responsibilities as
caregivers, heads of households and sole breadwinners.
From 10.30 women activists will gather in the conference room at the
Sir Arthur Lewis Institute for Social and Economic Studies (SALISES)
on the University of the West Indies campus.
Leading the discussion will be Working Women for Social Progress
activist Merle Hodge and Community mediator Catherine Ali.
The workshop for women activists is part of an all day programme being
hosted by the Rights Action Group a consciousness raising movement
based in Curepe.
The day of celebration of women's activism will continue with a press
conference at 2 p.m. at the St. Augustine Action Camp at UWI's south
entrance.
Women have been at the forefront of several issues that have been at
the centre of national debate for the past year: from mothers who have
lost children in gun violence, to survivors or violent crime, to last
year's confrontations between anti-smelter protestors and national
protective forces.
The day's events are aimed at giving support and recognition to those
women already involved in actions to continue their work and empower
more women to take positive action for change in their own
communities.
For further information please contact Attillah Springer at rightsactiongroupATgmailDOTcom.

Food before steel, aluminum

Letter to the Editor
Trinidad Guardian
March 6, 2007

How does the Essar Group, one of India’s largest steel and energy corporations, get a certificate of environmental clearance to set up a US$1.76 billion iron and steel complex on former Caroni (1975) Ltd land at Phoenix Park to take over 3,000 acres of former sugarcane land when T&T has such a feeble agricultural sector coupled with a huge food import bill?

China and India, which were 15 years ago self-sufficient in food production with their large populations, now find themselves having to import much of their food since taking up the great industrialisation development path.

Nothing is wrong with development but at the end of the day affordable, nutritious, fresh foods and a healthy physical environment are what will sustain human life, not aluminium, steel, concrete or even money et al.

We need leadership that will think through these aspects of development that take into account the generations to come beyond 2020.

Gregory Sloane-Seale

This Thursday