Venezuela — A 21st Century Revolution
Produced by the Global Women’s Strike
VHS, US$22.50 (includes postage and handling)
Order from <http://www.allwomencount.net.htm>.

REVIEWED BY KATELYN MOUNTFORD

The women of Venezuela are fighting back. Fighting back against the poverty, uncertainty and exploitation they have suffered for centuries.

Venezuela: A 21st Century Revolution, a film made by members of the Global Women’s Strike who went to Venezuela, gives a unique insight into how the revolution is empowering women and women are empowering the revolution.

Nora Castaneda, the president of the Women’s Development Bank, recalls that when the Constituent Assembly was meeting to finalise the proposed Constitution “two groups were on a permanent visit .. holding pickets everyday. The women’s movement and the indigenous movement... and we won.” Their successful demands included a constitutional provision that housework is productive labour which adds value to the economy. Under Article 88, housewives are guaranteed a pension.

The video features interviews with members of the Caracas-based Mano Amiga cleaning co-operative. The women report that they used to work for a private company. After the company withheld pay from workers, the women went on strike. Some of the workers formed a co-operative and got a loan from the Women’s Development Bank. They now have more than 60 members, clean half the area they used to and take home double the pay.

The women are members of the Bolivarian circles in their neighbourhoods. With defiance, they recall going to demand to see the president, Hugo Chavez, the day they heard of the (attempted) coup in April 2002. Some of the cleaners went to Milaflores, and others to Fort Tiuna, where Chavez was being held. They stayed until he was reinstated.

The women say they will not allow any counter-revolution to prevail: “in Venezuela, we have been mother and father to our children...we have been woman and man at the same time. So they won’t crush us. No pro-coup person will come along... and jeer us, thinking we women won’t come out. No. We’ll all come out.”

From Green Left Weekly, December 15, 2004.
Visit the Green Left Weekly home page.

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