http://www.abahlali.org/"A slow revolution from below fought day by day across the country."
- S'bu Zikode, President of the Shack Dwellers Movement
Please join us for a very special evening of discussion and film about
Abahlali baseMjondolo (the Shack Dwellers Movement) of South Africa.
Two of their leaders, Mazwi Nzimande and Reverend Mavuso, will be in
the United States building networks of solidarity with those engaged
in similar struggles in this country. There will be a screening of
DEAR MANDELA (15 min, 2009), a documentary work-in-progress about the
Shack Dwellers Movement, directed by Dara Kell & Christopher Nizza.
DATE: Sunday, 16th August, 2009
TIME: 7pm (screening starts at 7:30pm)
LOCATION:
Bluestockings. 172 Allen St. New York, NY 10002. Ph: 212.777.6028
DIRECTIONS: Bluestockings is located in the Lower East Side of Manhattan
at 172
Allen Street between Stanton and Rivington - 1 block south of Houston
and 1st Avenue.
By train: F train to 2nd Ave, exit at 1st Ave, and walk one block south.
By car: If you take the Houston exit off of the FDR, then turn left
onto Essex (a.k.a. Avenue A), then right on Rivington, and finally
right on Allen, you will be very, very close.
Abahlali baseMjondolo is the largest social movement of the poor in
post-apartheid South Africa. The movement's key demand is for 'Land &
Housing in the City' but it has also successfully politicized and
fought for an end to forced removals and for access to education and
the provision of water, electricity, sanitation, health care and
refuse removal as well as bottom up popular democracy. Amongst other
victories the Abahlali have democratized the governance of many
settlements, stopped evictions in a number of settlements, won access
to schools and forced numerous government officials to 'come down to
the people'. For more information, visit www.abahlali.org
DEAR MANDELA is scheduled for release in June 2010. The South African
government has promised to 'eradicate the slums' in time for the
Soccer World Cup next year. Across the country, they are evicting
families from their shacks, often at gunpoint. DEAR MANDELA follows
three of the youngest leaders of the Shack Dwellers Movement - Zama,
Mnikelo and Mazwi - from the chaos on the streets to the highest court
in the land as they put Nelson Mandela's promise of 'a better life for
all' to the test. DEAR MANDELA is a cautionary tale as cities around
the world embark on similar slum clearance programs, and serves as an
urgent reminder of the right of all human beings to a decent life. For
more information, visit http://sleepinggiantfilms.wordpress.com/
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