Subject: Forum and movie on Colombia Date: Fri, 21 Mar 2003 From: CSNFriends: We are pleased to invite you to the forum on Colombia and ask you to please send this information to your list serve. We are grateful for your support and hope that you can attend the forum and/or the Wisconsin premiere showing of "Plan Colombia-Cashing In On the Drug War Failure". Information for both follows. Sister Marge THE COLOMBIA SUPPORT NETWORK IS PROUD TO INVITE YOU TO A FORUM ON COLOMBIA ENTITLED "COLOMBIA : THE LONG ROAD TO PEACE : CHALLENGES AND PROSPECTS" April 3, 2003 1:00- 5:00 p.m. University of WI-Madison Social Science Building Room #8417 1180 Observatory Dr. Madison, WI Featured speakers: Ana Teresa Bernal REDEPAZ Adam B. Isaacson Center for International Policy Daniel Kovalik United Steel Workers of America Thursday, April 3, 2003 ROOM # 8417 SOCIAL SCIENCES 1180 Observatory Drive University of Wisconsin Schedule of Events: 1:00 p.m.- Opening Presentations 2:15- Break 2:30- Workshops a. Ana Teresa Bernal b. Adam Isaacson c. Daniel Kovalik 3:45 p.m. - Break 4:00 p.m.- Workshops Part II UW-Madison and Colombia Support Network- Network going into action 5:15 p.m.- Qıs and Aıs- Room ANA TERESA BERNAl Director and founder of REDEPAZ, a national Colombian grassroots organization that supports peasant communities, which wants to survive amidst the desperate Colombian conflict. She will discuss the current situation in Colombia in terms of the internal conflict and the deepening of the civil war; the dangers that threaten the rule of law; and the consequences of the militarization of civilian life. She will also address the situation of Colombiaıs Most Vulnerable Populations: Refugees, Children, Women, and Peasants. She will analyze proposals from civil society to resist the war and present REDEPAZıs vision of the international context of the war. ADAM B. ISAACSON -Associate of Center for International Policy. Mr. Isaacson is Coordinator of the Demilitarization Program. His focus will be on U.S. involvement in Colombia since September 11; the risks and dangers of U.S. involvement in Colombia; what the U.S. should be doing instead; and what you and I can do. Mr. Isaacson's presentation will provide an overview of Colombia's conflict, its origins, and the nature of the armed groups. He will discuss the recent development of the drug trade and the United States' efforts to combat it throughout the 1990s, including aerial herbicide fumigation. Mr. Isacson will then explain the origins and contents of Washington's 2000 "Plan Colombia" aid package, including the interests behind the legislation, and the recent move toward a "counter-terror" mission in the post-September 11 context. This will be followed by a discussion of this policy's lack of results in the areas of drug interdiction, human rights, peace and greater security, and the future risks of "mission creep" and an escalated conflict.Finally, Mr. Isaacson will discuss the outlines of an alternative policy toward Colombia. DANIEL KOVALIK - ³U.S. Corporations & Complicity In Human Rights Abuses in Colombia². Mr.Kovalik, USWA Assistant Counsel and co-chief counsel for Plaintiffs in cases brought against Coca-Cola and Drummond Company to remedy human rights abuses committed in Colombia, will speak about the role of these and other companies in human rights abuses in Colombia. He will discuss these issues in light ofthe disturbing fact that Colombia, while the most dangerous country in the world for trade unionists, is also the third largest recipient of U.S. military aid in the world. Registration (Please Print) Registration is not necessary but is greatly appreciated. Forum on Colombia NAME_____________________ ADDRESS___________________ CITY_____________STATE_____ ZIP__________PHONE_________ THERE IS NO COST FOR THIS EVENT. REGISTRATIONS AND DONATIONS FOR THE WORK OF CSN CAN BE SENT TO: COLOMBIA SUPPORT NETWORK P.O. BOX 1505 MADISON, WI 53701 (COLOMBIA SUPPORT NETWORK IS A 501 C- 3 ORGANIZATION AND ALL CONTRIBUTIONS ARE TAX DEDUCTIBLE.) This Forum is Co- sponsored by: -The Havens Center -Latin American and Iberian Studies Program -South Central Federation of Labor, AFL-CIO -Milwaukee Pledge of Resistance -Madison Arcatao Sister City Project -Wisconsin Coordinating Council on Nicaragua -Wisconsin Network for Peace and Justice -Womenıs International League for Peace and Freedom We also invite you to the Wisconsin premiere showing of the film: "Plan Colombia: Cashing-in on the Drug-War Failure" This film is brought by the same team that produced the internationally acclaimed "Hidden Wars of Desert Storm- Gerard Ungermann and Audrey Brohy. This film is just as straightforward in showing the reality of the Colombia situation. The film will be shown at the Barrymore Theatre on Thursday, April 3 at 7:30 p.m. The Barrymore is located at 2090 Atwood Avenue, phone #: (608) 241-2345. Admission is $8.00 Colombia Support Network P.O. Box 1505 Madison, WI 53701-1505 phone: (608) 257-8753 fax: (608) 255-6621 e-mail: csn@igc.org http://www.colombiasupport.net