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Chile Earthquake Fundraising Event

 

In the wake of the disastrous earthquake in Chile, Mind Out For Music, the group behind the "El Sueno Existe" [Victor Jara] festivals in  Machynlleth are organising a fundraising Chilean  supper followed by a film on Wednesday 17th March at Y Plas, Machynlleth.

Tony Corden, one of the directors of the group was last year in the coastal town of Lota,  one of the worst hit by the earthquake.

  Whilst in Lota, he and a friend, Malcolm Boorer from Llanelli made a short film focussing on a Cultural Centre in Lota. He has just suceeded in re-establishing contact with Darlin Troncoso who is a Director of the Centre.

 Tony says; "There have been many disasters recently and I, like many others feel a bit "compassion fatigued" at times. However reading my friend's account of the degree of devastation and desperation in the town , we feel compelled to do what we can to help."

Darlin describes a desperate shortage of basic supplies and medicines in the town.
Aid has only just reached the town due to severe damage to roads. The cultural Centre itself has been badly damaged and many people's homes have been completely destroyed.

 Our fundraising event and associated activities will target specifically the town of Lota and contributers to the fund will be informed of exactly what those funds are being used for.
 The supper will take place from 6.30pm in the Plas Restaurant, Machynlleth and we are very grateful to Aled and Helena for supplying this. It will be followed by a showing of the dramatic  Chilean film , "Subterra" which was made in Lota and reflects the coal mining past of the town.
To book, contact Tony: 01654 702166.  Price £10-15.

 

   

The Mine in Lota

  

The Cultural Centre in Lota

  

Note 'Subterra' in the background


Youtube Video

 

 

 

 

A Message from Tony Corden in Chile, 15/11/2008

SALUDOS TO MACHYNLLETH FROM THE 10TH ANNUAL VICTOR JARA FESTIVAL  HERE IN CHILLAN, CHILE. THIS CITY IS THE BIRTHPLACE OF VICTOR AND IT IS WONDERFUL THAT ESTRELLA AND EDUARDO AND ALL THE OTHERS HAVE BREATHED SO MUCH LIFE AND JOY INTO THIS FESTICAL OVER THE PAST 10 YEARS. 


  Myself and  the film maker Malcolm Boorer are here as representatives of the ¨El Sueno Existe¨ Victor Jara festival that takes place in the town of Machynlleth, Mid Wales and we hope to strengthen links between the two festivals aswell as the festival that takes place in Managua, Nicaragua.
 Chillan is basking in mid morning sunshine and the Plaza Central is bustling with activity with the final preparations for the festival.
   Myself and Malcolm have just returned from a visit to the family of Angelita Huenuman , the subject of one of Victor´s most beautiful songs . We also visited a Cultural Centre in the nearby town of Lota , an ex coal mining town struggling with considerable deprivation but with a tangible spirit of community and solidarity.
  We   are also awaiting the arrival of 2 people from Canal 3, the community tv station based in Poblacion La Victoria in Santiago who will also be filming the festival.
   The Venezuelan ambassador will be present and the band topping the bill is the legendary Sol Y  Lluvia , a band who have tirelessly campaigned for social justice in Chile since the dark days of the dictatorship.
     Something that it is sometimes difficult to convey  is just how alive and contemporary the spirit of Victor Jara , Salvador Allende , Pablo Neruda and  Popular Unity is here in chile in 2008.
    the grassroots movements here inspired by that time have nothing to do with looking back as such and everything to do with the endeavour to bring the essence of that time into the presnt.
 Victor´s songs are every bit as inspiring and urgent as they ever were, in many ways more so.
  Despite the monumental efforts by savage capitalism to erase the the dream , it is continuing to flower and engage people with a living and tangible hope for a truly better world.
     the tremendous urgency of support fot the goverment of Evo Morales  right now in Bolivia is on everyone´s mind .
 The similarities of the sitation in Bolivia with pre coup Chile are chilling and it is of monumental importance for progressive movements all over Latin America and the world that history unfolds there in a different way to what happened here in Chile.
 

Events Since The 2007 Festival

Bolivian Event in Machynlleth

Saturday 6th September 2008

The Cambrian Mountains resonated to the sounds and sights of the Bolivian Andes last Saturday, 6th september with the visit to Machynlleth of dance troupe;”Tradition Andina” and music ensemble ”Expresion Bolivia.”

The event was organized by local group”El Sueno Existe” and offered a heady mix of marvellous music and dance with articulate accounts from Bolivians of the current situation in their country..

        Bolivia has a musical tradition that goes back over 5000 years. During their colourful dance festivals,  cultural values are re-affirmed and group solidarity is strengthened..

 Amancay Colque from Bolivia spoke about the hopes and aspirations of the country following the election of the first ever indigenous president, Evo Morales and the profound difficulties engendered by the actions of anti-democratic forces. Bolivia is Latin America’s poorest country despite being rich in natural resources. The government of Evo Morales is endeavouring to address the huge disparities of wealth in the country and recently won a sweeping victory in a recall referendum.

The festival was a resounding success with dance workshops, debate and songs from local Welsh language singer John Duckett.

   The event also sets the scene for next summer’s third “El Sueno Existe” festival inspired by Victor Jara of Chile. Next year’s festival will focus on the resurgence of indigenous movements across Latin America and will explore this issue in the context of the Welsh experience.

For more information visitwww.elsuenoexiste.com or contact Tony 01654 702 166

Click Here for Photos of the event

Use this link if you have a slow connection

Click Here for a Flash Slideshow of the Event

Use this link if you have a broadband connection

On Sat 12th Jan 2008; El Sueno Existe Presented:

"Nicaragua, New Time; New Hope"    With Paul Baker Hernandez; activist and musician living in Nicaragua.
        

ZERO HUNGER: NICARAGUA TAKES ON GLOBAL WARMING

 Click Here for a youtube video of this event

   Zero Hunger is the flagship programme of the new Sandinista government. Rooted in ecology and women's rights, it is profoundly revolutionary, challenging savage capitalism's dependence on cheap resources, exploited labour and planetary destruction. Because it is so revolutionary, confronting our catastrophic oil-based economy, demanding the fundamental re-distribution of resources and promoting intelligent sustainable lifestyles, it is under savage attack by both local and international 'elites'.

Originally from England and Scotland, Paul Baker Hernández works closely with Zero Hunger, promoting it both inside and outside Nicaragua.Long-time activist, analyst, author and musician, Paul specializes in the beautifully passionate songs of Chile's murdered singer/songwriter Victor Jara, and regularly sings with Carlos Mejia Godoy, Salvador Cardenal and others. He interweaves their powerful music throughout his presentations. Now international coordinator of Echoes of Silence, 'artists with dirt under their fingernails', he is also co-founder of the fair trade cooperative Cafe Sandino and the Victor Jara Workers' Movement.

Paul Baker Hernandez in Machynlleth

We were honoured to host the author and musician Paul Baker Hernandez who came to Machynlleth in October 2005. Formerly a monk in Scotland ; Paul has worked with Salvadoran refugees in Los Angeles, participated on the Peace March through Central America in 1985-6 and worked with the Victor Jara Foundation in Chile.He currently lives in Nicaragua and is involved in various campaigns through his "Echoes Of Silence " organisation.

He has made a wonderful cd of Victor Jara's songs :"Hasta El Aroma De Una Flor"wherein he glides from Spanish to English in order to make the lyrics more accessible .Paul facilitated a discussion and debate on issues related to globalisation , discussed the current situation in Nicaragua and stated his view that the wars of the future are likely to be fought over water .in the evening we were treated to a lovely concert of songs , some original , some by Victor played on his green guitar,made from scraps found on a Trappist garbage dump.Joan Jara wrote; "Paul- I found many parallels between you and Victor . I can really imagine you two passing the guitar from one to the other...I wish that history could have allowed you to meet. You would have been friends."

Links to Other Sites:

Mind Out For Music, umbrella organisation of El Sueno Existe.

Video:

Click HERE to watch a 25 minute film about Chavez and the revolution in Venezuela