THE MIRACLES OF PACHAMAMA
A weekend in the sign of the Andean culture, and the key role that the coca leaf plays in it
17 & 18 June 2011
T Klooster – Ploegstraat 25 & 27 – Antwerp
In honour of Mario Gutierrez, Bolivian musician, who passed away in Antwerp in 1994 and is buried here.
Programme
Friday 17 june
Exposition of artwork by Fabiola Alvarez Arias (Ecuador), Rocio Forero B. and Jorge Paniura (Peru)
19.00 Southamerican Dinner
21.00 ‘Laberinto Verde’ (Abel Kavanagh, Amaru Durand Mitre, 2011, 82’)
A documentary about the coca issue in Bolivia and Peru. The coca leaf, a gift from Pachamama – Mother Earth, is in the centre of important geopolitical changes in South America.
Afterwards: debate with Abel Kavanagh.
Saturday 18 June
Inauguration of the event: Chaska Eugenia Carlos Rios, representative of the Association of Mountain peoples of the World (Peru)
14.00 ART WITH TEXTILES, Andean fashion show
15.00 Debate: Can the coca leaf save the world?
With Roberto Calzadilla (Embassy of Bolivia, The Hague, Netherlands), Sophie van Haasen (University for the Common Good, Belgium), Chass Vermeulen Windsant (independent researcher, Netherlands), Joep Oomen (Encod, Belgium)
Moderator: Walter Lotens (journalist, Belgium)
The coca leaf, “gift of Pachamama – Mother Earth”, symbol of Andean Culture, whose traditional consumption dates back to more than 5.000 years ago, has become the target of the war against production and trafficking of cocaine. During more than 30 years, this war has generated violent confrontations, environmental destruction and corruption among authorities. Recently, the Bolivian government, under the leadership of ‘cocalero’ president Evo Morales, has started a campaign to request the international rehabilitation of the coca leaf and its traditional uses. It is time for a sincere answer from Europe.
During the event, the establishment was announced of an association of “Friends of the Coca Leaf“. In this association, Andean people who reside in Europe and Europeans who love the coca leaf in its natural state can join forces. The goal will be to establish a fair trade system to commercialise (organically grown) coca leaves and their traditional derivates in Europe. The initiative will be presented as a contribution to the fight against cocaine: the goal is to create a legal alternative for coca growers, and at the same time show European citizens the way that coca leaf should be consumed.
17.00 Music by Pueblo de Colores, Perú
18.00 Sartañani dance group, Bolivia
Typical Andean plates, drinks, exposition of paintings, information stands
Organisation: Encod, Koevoet, Latinamerican Federation.
With the support of the city of Antwerp.
Contact: Joep Oomen, tel. +32 495 122 644
Photos: © Derrick Bergman / G0NZ0 Media
