January 2009

Killer’s Paradise (by Giselle Portenier) - a film and panel discussion on violence against women in Central America with special guest panelists:

Rona Donefer – Horizons of Friendship

Karen Dubinsky – Queen’s University Dept.of History

Catherine Fraser – Queen’s University Dept. of Geography

Friday, Feb.6  6 pm

Policy Studies Bldg. Room 202, Queen’s University

Admission by donation

Presented by the Kingston Central America Solidarity Committee as part of International Development Week at Queen’s

Proceeds to fund a Horizons of Friendship project to help end violence against women in Central America

Since 1999 more than two thousand women have been murdered in Guatemala, with the numbers escalating every year. Yet lawmakers and government officials continue to turn a blind eye. Powerful and uncompromising, Killer’s Paradise, by the acclaimed Swiss-born Canadian film-maker Giselle Portenier, uncovers one of the most emotionally-wrenching hidden human rights abuses taking place, while exposing the impunity allowed by an inept judicial system. 

When 13-year-old Stephanie Lopez was found killed, any evidence was buried with the body. In the three months since Jorge Velasquez’s daughter was murdered, the case file has shuffled from desk to desk with no real progress. After five years of hunting down her sister’s killers, Maria Elena Peralta is no closer to the truth. No one knows who is behind these atrocious acts and nothing is being done to find the culprits. Cases are routinely closed and the murdered women dismissed as nobodies.  

  
But there are traces of hope: a grassroots human rights movement is emerging from the country’s tainted past. Fuelled by frustration, anger, great sadness and loss, women and men are coming together for a common fight in the name of their daughters, wives and sisters. Human rights activist Norma Cruz travels across Guatemala to educate women on their rights and how to protect themselves and others against violence. Jorge finally obtains DNA testing for two suspects in his daughter’s death. Maria Elena travels to Washington, D.C. to garner support for her long-standing fight.
With stunning realism, Killer’s Paradise documents these heartbreaking stories. Victims’ friends and family, police officers and investigators, rapists and gang members – even a serial killer who still roams freely – offer gripping testimonies to the stark reality in Guatemala. Meticulously crafted and beautifully shot, Killer’s Paradise is a bold film that captures the raw emotions of all those affected and the harsh reality of a struggling nation.

 For more information please call   613 353-6650   or   613 549-0727   and go to the following websites:

www3.nfb.ca/webextension/killersparadise

www.queensu.ca/snid/idw.htm

Horizons celebrates 35 Years of Combating Poverty in Mesoamerica

 Horizons of Friendship proudly celebrates 35 years of working with grassroots organizations to combat poverty and injustice in Central America and Mexico.

 With the generous support of thousands of concerned Canadians, Horizons of Friendship has stood by its Mesoamerican neighbours through tumultuous times of political upheavals, repression, natural disasters and crippling poverty.

 Since its inception Horizons of Friendship has made a significant impact in improving the lives of the poor in communities throughout Mesoamerica and raised awareness on social justice issues in Canada. Horizons has provided support to over 100 grassroots organizations that implemented a grand total of 1120 projects. These projects have been initiated by local communities and address priority concerns such as livelihoods, health, education, environmental conservation, the rights of Indigenous people and gender equity. Since 1973 Horizons has raised close to $73 million from individuals, foundations, unions and community groups from across Canada as well as from our own signature cultural events and Thrift Shop. Since 1991 Horizons also receives matching grants from the Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA).

Our partners tell us that this vital support has helped strengthen grassroots organizations to advocate on behalf of the poor and to lead effective, community-focused development initiatives.  Horizons’ partners have brought the needs of small-scale farmers, Indigenous and Afro-descendant Peoples, women and youth to the forefront, and are pressing for improved public policy.

 Self-help projects managed by community members have helped marginalized people fulfill their basic rights of access to nutritious food, clean water, quality education, health services, more equitable gender relations and democratic citizen participation.

The next five years-Maintaining our Commitment to Mesoamerican Neighbours

 Over half of Central America’s 41.5 million inhabitants live in abject poverty due largely to unequal distribution of resources and power. Horizons of Friendship remains committed to working alongside grassroots organizations to eliminate the root causes of poverty and injustice in the region. 

Over the next five years Horizons’ will provide support to our partner through projects in:

• Alternative Socio-Economic and Rural Development;
• Human Rights and Citizen Participation;
• Health, Education and Community Action.

Furthermore, Horizons will support the following priority thematic areas for regional learning initiatives:

• Food Security and Alternative Rural Development;
• Femicide and Violence against Women;
• Migration;
• Rights of Indigenous and Afro-Descendent Peoples;
• HIV/AIDS;
• Intercultural and Bilingual Education;
• Ancestral Medicinal Systems and Citizen Participation in Health Care.

Horizons of Friendship is pleased to announce its sixth annual Founders Award (formally known as the David Stewart Medal and changed to honour Horizon’s three founding members).

The purpose of the award is to recognize those individuals in Canada who demonstrate a commitment to volunteerism and leadership in addressing social inequality and injustice. The award has been given out since 2004 to commemorate the three founders of Horizons of Friendship (the late David Stewart, Christine Stewart and Father Tim Coughlan) who created the organization on the spirit of volunteerism over 30 years ago.

Horizons of Friendship invites the general public to nominate a person who they feel meets the award criteria and whose volunteer accomplishments and leadership deserve to be celebrated. We encourage people from across Canada to nominate those outstanding diverse citizens for the Founders Award who, no matter their age or background, are setting a positive example for others by bringing about meaningful contributions through their volunteer activities.

The winner will receive a one-of-a-kind Founders Award commemorative bronze medal, specially crafted by renowned Northumberland artist Frances Gage, and a certificate of recognition. The recipient will also be recognized at a ceremony during the Horizons of Friendship Annual General Meeting. In addition, a financial donation will be made to a development project in Central America or Mexico chosen from the active group of Horizons of Friendship southern partners.

Nomination forms can be picked up at Horizons of Friendship, located in Cobourg at 50 Covert Street (Second Floor) or can be printed off and mailed directly to the office.

founders-award-form

Horizons of Friendship

P.O. Box 402, Cobourg, Ontario K9A 4L1

 This year’s nomination deadline is Friday May 8^th.

Past winners of the award include: Jim McCallum (2007); a Peterborough (Ontario) resident and founder of Friends of Honduran Children (an organization that provides education and scholarships to children and helps single mothers with housing, healthcare and employment opportunities), Raul Gatica (2006); a Mexican political refugee living in Vancouver who is a champion for Indigenous rights, Kathy Anderson (2005); a human rights activist from Nova Scotia and co-founder of Breaking the Silence Network (a group committed to solidarity work and dedicated to promoting human rights advocacy between peoples in Canada and Guatemala), and Sheila Turnbull (2004); a long-time volunteer of Bridge Street Church in Belleville, Ontario who was instrumental in establishing a volunteer food cooperative to help low-income families.

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For more information, please contact:

Rachael Currie

Community Outreach Coordinator

Horizons of Friendship

  (905) 372-5483   ext. 24

rcurrie@horizons.ca

International Women’s Day Film Festival 2010

 Three award-winning films. One day. March 6th

In Celebration of International Women’s Day, you are invited to Cobourg’s annual International Women’s Day Film Festival.

Entre Nos – 1:00 pm  (refreshments served after this film and before the next)

Brick Lane – 4:00 pm

Bread and Tulips – 8:00pm

Each year around the world, International Women’s Day (IWD) is celebrated on March 8. Hundreds of events occur not just on this day but throughout March to mark the economic, political and social achievements of women.  It is an occasion for looking back on past struggles and accomplishments, and more importantly, for looking ahead to the untapped potential and opportunities that await future generations of women.

This event will take place Saturday March 6^th at the Cobourg Public Library (200 Ontario Street) with the first film starting at 1:00pm.  Refreshments and popcorn will be served at all films, and light snacks will be provided by Northumberland Heights Restaurant and Retreat Centre after the first film is shown. 

This is a free and accessible community event, and ALL are welcome!  Donations will be accepted to help defray costs.

You can read about all three films below, and click on the link to view the video trailers.   Come for one, or all three films! (please feel free to bring a pillow to make sitting for the films as comfortable as possible).

Entre Nos by Directors Gloria La Morte & Paola Mendoza, United States

Winner Best Film at the Traverse City Film Festival 2009(Michael Moore’s Film Festival)-Rated PG-13

Click here to view the film trailer

 Mariana’s children, Gabriel 10, and Andrea  6, have grown up in Colombia without their father. He immigrated to the United States in order to make a better life for his family. Finally after many years of separation the family is reunited in New York City. Antonio announces he has found work in Miami and will be moving there…alone. He will send for the family when he is settled. Days go by, Mariana does not hear from him, and finds out that Antonio is not coming back. The rent is due, there is no food and Mariana has fifty dollars to her name. With no one to turn to, she must find a way, in a strange city where she barely speaks the language, to provide for her family, financially and emotionally.

Brick Lane by Director Sarah Gavron, United Kingdom

Official selection at Toronto International Film Festival, nominee and winner of 6 major British film awards-Rated PG-13

Click here to view the film trailer

Nazneen, from rural Bangladesh, leaves behind her home and beloved sister at 17 and moves to Brick Lane in London to an arranged marriage with a man who is twice her age and she does not love. She receives letters from her sister about her carefree life and lives vicariously through those letters. After living with her husband in a small flat for 18 years and having had two daughters, Nazneen’s world is turned upside-down when she meets a young, good-looking clothing worker. The movie is set during the 9/11 period when racial tensions in Brick Lane were heightened.

Bread & Tulips by Director Silvio Soldini, Italy

Official Selection at Cannes Film Festival and Toronto International Film Festival, winner of 19 international film festival awards-Rated PG-13

Click here to view the film trailer

An Italian housewife finds herself left behind during a family vacation. Instead of waiting for her controlling businessman husband and self-absorbed children to realize she is missing, she hitchhikes her way home, only to impulsively detour to Venice. She finds work in a restaurant, the maitre d’ gives her a place to live and friendship and she soon finds herself enjoying her new life. Meanwhile, her husband sends out a bumbling plumber as a private detective to find her.