The Anti-War Coalition in partnership with the Rosa Luxemburg Foundation invites you to a seminar titled ' The Relevance of Rosa Luxemburg in an Era of Endless Wars'. The seminar will be held from May 20th to the 22nd at the Workers' Library, Newtown, Johannesburg. Invited guests are expected from the following countries: Democratic Republic of Congo, Zimbabwe, Mauritius, United States and Germany.
The seminar will provide a dual focus: 1.) on Luxemburg's writings on war and imperialism and 2.) on linking the global anti-war movement with social movements and anti-war groups in Africa. The latter will involve an appreciation of the conflicts in the Great Lakes region of Central Africa; the genocide in Rwanda; civil wars in a number of countries and conflicts in Southern Africa. The role of arm merchants, mercernaries, the complicity of oil and mining companies, multilateral organisations and local elites will be highlighted. Special attention will be paid to US military bases on the continent and the abuse of women and children.

Please confirm your attendance asap as we are forced to limit numbers for reasons of space and catering. Please write to the addresses at the end of this message. A detailed programme will be sent to confirmed participants in two weeks time. Guests invited to the seminar include:

1. Paul Le Blanc assistant professor of history at Carlow College in Pittsburgh, US. Le Blanc is editor of the book 'Rosa Luxemburg-reflections and writings' and is active in the United for Peace and Justice anti-war coalition in the US.

2. Thomas Deve from MWENGO in Zimbabwe. Deve is the editor of the African Social Forum's newsletter and has written a paper titled: 'War and Imperialism in contemporary Africa. Lessons from the Congo and Angola'.

3. Specialists on Luxemburg from Germany:O.Luban (Rosa Luxemburg Foundation) and Evelin Wittich. Mrs Wittich will talk to the theme 'Rosa in our times'.

4. Victor Nzuzi Mbembe from the DRC. Mbembe is the co-ordinator of GRAPR an organisation of rural workers and peasants.

5. Lindsey Collen from Mauritius. A member of Lalit and the Womens' Liberation Movement she is very active in the struggle against the US military base at Deigo Garcia. Collen's book 'The rape of Sita' won the Commonwealth Writers Prize for the Africa Region. She has published four other novels.

To book your place or for further info. please contact Mondli Hlatshwayo (Anti-War Coalition-JHB): 0826713370 [email protected] or Esther (Rosa Luxemburg Foundation) (011) 339 3130 [email protected]