Human Rights Crisis Grips Mexico
The human rights
situation in Mexico
continues to deteriorate with horrific
consequences for the poor and indigenous.
In fact, police
attacks, military intrusions, sexual
assaults, prison hunger strikes, kidnappings,
and beatings have become almost too numerous
to include in our brief newsletters. A
variety of organizations provide excellent
monitoring and reporting of human right
issues. For example,
The
International Civil
Commission for the Observation of Human
Rights
(pictured above during their sixth
visit to Mexico at the end of May 2008)
provides information in English, Dutch,
Italian, Catalan, and Spanish. On
YouTube.
you can see the presentation of their report
in Spanish.
Si
Paz
maintains a
well written blog (and publishes occasional
detailed
reports) in both English and Spanish.
Finally we urge English
speakers to see to U.S.
Congressman Ted
Poe's frank and powerful denunciation of the
police rapes at Atenco.
Chiapas "Peace Observers" Needed
You can help protect human rights in
Chiapas by joining a "Civilian Observation
Brigade" and
spending seven or more days of rustic living
in a rural "hot spot" of Chiapas. "Peace
Observers" must be at least 18 years old,
speak Spanish fluently, and participate in a
training sponsored by
FrayBa
Brigade Requierments
(El Centro de
los Derechos Humanos Fray Bartolomé de Las
Casas) or
CAPICE Brigade Requierments
(Centro de Análisis
Político e Investigaciones Sociales y
Económicos). Your
only expenses will be for
transportation and the food you cook.
Schools for Chiapas urges our
supporters to consider contacting FrayBA or
CAPISE and serving as a "Peace Observer" this
summer in Chiapas, Mexico.
"Brigadista Civil de Observación" están
necesitados ~ AHORA!
Te puede proteger los derechos
humanos en
Chiapas como un "Brigadista Civil de
Observación" y tomar
siete días o mas viviendo rústicamente en uno
de los comunidades en peligro.
Brigadistas Civiles tiene que tener 18 anos,
habla fluente el Español y participar en un
taller patroneado por FrayBA (El Centro de
los Derechos Humanos Fray Bartolomé de Las
Casas Requisitos
del Brigada FrayBa)" o CAPISE (Centro de
Análisis Político
e Investigaciones Sociales y Económicos Requisitos
del Brigada CAPISE).
Sus solo gastos será del transporte y la
comida que cocine durante su tiempo viviendo
cerca de una comunidad indígena. Sirviendo
como "Observador de Paz" en una manera
importante de apoyar la comunidades indígenas
en Chiapas. Escuelas Para Chiapas se urjan
nuestros bases de apoyo de contactar a FrayBA
o CAPISE.
Elementary school sports centers strengthen autonomy and peace
On May 12 and 13, 2008 ~ with balloons and
banquets; basketball and theatre; songs and
poetry ~ the Tzotzil communities of San
Antonio Saclum
and Paraje Xuxchen in the highlands of Chiapas,
Mexico celebrated an enormous advance in
their struggle for indigenous autonomy. The
inauguration of these two Primary School
Community and Sport
Centers,
funded by the Larson Legacy, were an occasion
of great joy for children and adults alike.
Despite having had an ugly
military/police intrusion cancel a previous
sports center
inauguration in March 2008, the dedications
of the new basketball courts proceeded
without a hitch in mid-May. In fact, almost
half of the teams who played in the two
basketball tournaments were non-Zapatista ~
perhaps opening new pathways to peace and
understanding.
Bienvenidos al communidad de San
Antonio Saclum y el Paraje Xuxchen en el
municipio autónomo rebele Zapatista Magdalena
de la Paz, Chiapas, Mexico!
Celebraciones para las inauguraciones de
cuatro nuevos centros de deportes en el
municipio autónomo rebele Zapatista Magdalena
de la Paz construido por bases de apoyo del
EZLN con donaciones de la familia Larson.
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Here the basketball hoops in San
Antonio Saclum are
being sealed ~
Schools for
Chiapas participants were offered the first
throw on both days, but twice failed to make
the point and break the seal.
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Woman announcer and Tzotzil authorities
participate in the
celebrations at Paraje Xuxchen.
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Mayan girls watching women's basketball
and perhaps seeing that a new and better
world is possible for them.
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The women's section of the basketball
tournaments was fast paced and exciting in
Paraje Xuxchen.
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Traditional prayers and blessings in the
Tzotzil language were offered throughout the
day in San
Antonio Saclum.
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Celebrations mark completion of four
elementary school sports centers, funded by
the Larson Legacy, in the
Rebellious Autonomous Zapatista Municipality
of Magdalena de la Paz!
Click here to support children's programs in Chiapas!
Meet the Zapatistas and make a difference this summer
In the current situation, it is more
important than ever that visitors come to
Chiapas. Most Schools for Chiapas trips
involve rustic
living in breathtakingly beautiful locations
with interesting and involved people from
many countries. Some trips include a
service component (construction, cleaning,
and painting) and all of our travel programs
only visit areas which are safe.
Occasionally trips are based in comfortable
city hotels with day trips to the autonomous,
indigenous communities. No
special language skills are required as full
translations are always provided collectively.
Click on any trip
below for more information or
click
here to begin an application.
Trip
#71: A Cultural and Educational
Introduction to Chiapas, Mexico
Sunday, June 15 until Saturday, June 21, 2008
Trip #72: Zapatista Women's Coops, Fair
Trade, and Commercialization
Sunday, June 22 until Saturday, June 28, 2008
Trip #73: Chiapas Schools Construction Team @
The Paul Mann School Reconstruction
Sunday, July 20 until Saturday, July 26, 2008
Trip #74: Health and Education Professionals'
Trip
Sunday, August 3, 2008 until Saturday, August
9, 2008
Trip #75: Indigenous Autonomy and the Zapatistas
Sunday, August 10 until Saturday, August 16,
2008
Trip #76: Zapatista Reforestation, Fruit, and
Medicinal Tree Nurseries
Sunday, August 17 until Saturday, Aug. 23,
2008
Click here to read frequently asked questions about Chiapas travel.
Tzotzil Collective Sends Weavings
These Tzotzil women from the autonomous,
municipality of Madelena de la Paz recently
sent Schools for Chiapas supporters many
beautiful weaving which will soon be
available at our online store.
Click
to see the Chiapas
products now available!
El Mercado de los Otros es un esfuerzo
humilde para usar el Internet, como medio
para abrir y enlazar nuevos mercados en
Canadá y EEUU junto con los colectivos y
cooperativas Zapatistas en Chiapas. También
con este mercado alternativo buscamos maneras
y modos de ganar fondos económicos para el
apoyo a proyectos educativos en
alfabetización, salud, agro-ecología, y
comercialización. Sentimos mucho que este
mercado solamente sea posible ahora en Canadá
Y EEUU. Esperamos que comprendan esta
situación que se ve limitada por nuestros
recursos y por los gastos de envíos.
Esperamos que en un futuro y con el apoyo de
nuevos enlaces sea posible llegar hacia
ustedes, en otros lugares de nuestro planeta
Tierra. Gracias por su atención y apoyo.
Haz
clic para ver los productos que ya tenemos
listos.
Loans and donations urgently needed to increase inventory
pedrocafe@schoolsforchiapas.org
Escuelas para Chiapas / Schools for Chiapas
is a project of
Grass Roots Events, Inc. a
Federal tax-exempt,
501(c)3 California corporation
with a U.S.
mailing
address located at 1631 Dale
Street, San
Diego, CA
92102.
Join
us...you'll be in good company!
Our cultural
and
educational work has been
supported for more
than
20
years by thousands of
individual donors including
many people of conscience
who are members of the
National Education
Association. In addition,
dozens
of artists, organizations, and
foundations have
supported our efforts including
Activist San
Diego,
Agapa Foundation, Amado
Avendano, The Big
Kitchen, Big
Noise Films, Roy Brown,
California Arts Council,
British Columbia Teachers'
Association - Canada,
Catholic Worker - San Diego,
Committee for World
Democracy, CNTE - Oaxaca
(National
Coordination of
Education Workers - Mexico),
Rosario Ibarra de
Piedra, Global Fund for
Children, John Hancox, Jose
de Molino, Larson
Legacy, Paul Mann Memorial Fund, Ofelia
Medina, Ernie
McCray,
La Milpa Organica, Jose de
Molino, Holly Near,
Ocean Beach Peoples' Food
Coop, Oceansong
Wilderness Center, Gabino
Palamares,
Peace
and Justice Caucus of the
NEA, Resist, San Diego
Foundation for Change, San
Francisco Mime Troupe,
Pete Seeger, Redwoods Foundation, Solidago
Foundation, Sweet Honey in
Rock, Tides Foundation, Umbrella Films,
WESPAC Foundation, World
Beat Center.
We invite the full participation
and honest
support
of people-of-conscience
everywhere!
Join
us...you'll be in good company!
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