Chiapas

“Bech, bech, tolouk! Bech, bech, tolouk!”

Jose Adolfo, his two friends, and a very shy little girl smiled as they stood ready with their knees bent; waiting to run the minute I stepped into my role as nabalum – the jaguar. The routine was familiar; I had already drenched my shirt that morning chasing them around the community church, up the bank, and around a boulder in a lengthy game of tag. Playtime, it seemed, never ended in Tzajalchen. I took a deep breath, knowing my muscles would be crying later, raised my claws and ran once more in vicious circles.

We finally have the rooms figured out.
On Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday the events will be in Harrison Rm. 12.
Thursday you can find us in Laws Rm. 9.

Remember, all the events begin at 7:00 pm.

Hope to see you all there! We have a lot to share!

Announcing the dates for Globalization Gone Wild 2008: Trade, Migration, and Community in Southern Mexico.

Monday, April 14 -"Mexico 101: "A context for Neoliberalism, NAFTA, and structural adjustment."
Tuesday, April 15 - "The truth about NAFTA: A look at free trade and migration from the fields of Chiapas."
Wednesday, April 16 - "The Bees, the Snails, and the Guns: How the Zapatistas and other autonomous communities are challenging the neoliberal model."
Thursday, April 17 - "Roots and Suits: The influence of policy and community action on the environment."

This is just something I was thinking and felt I should post.

We were sitting outside of the school building one night in the community of Tzajalchen. It was Robert, Rob, Juilo, Ben and I. We were all [at least me] thinking about what we were learning and how much our friends and families have different opinions on the topics of NAFTA and immigration that contradict everything that is real in Tzajalchen- opinions that no one wants to question or change.

Here's how you can buy fair trade, organic, delicious coffee from the very same people we stayed with in Tzajalchen:

http://www.javaforjustice.com/single-origin/medium-roast/mexican-maya-vi...

http://www.alternativegrounds.com/show.php?ID=20

http://www.cafecampesino.com/category_s/2.htm

Those are three websites that sell coffee from Mayavinic, the coffee collective our hosts formed. Every time you buy coffee from Mayavinic, you are helping a community stay afloat. And it's great coffee ... I mean it. :)

The past few days, we have been outside San Cristobal in a community called Tzajalchen. This community is made up of indigenous Tzotzil people who live off the land for income and for subsistence. From this community was formed the social organization, Las Abejas (the bees), which I spoke about in my last post. We were warmly welcomed and told several times to consider the village our home and see ourselves as community members during our stay. From the little they have to give, they gave generously with love and humility.

We came back from Tzajalchen yesterday. Even though I don't speak Spanish or Tzotzil, I spoke with the men, women and children there.

Hi everyone!
Today is the day we make plans of how to share our information when we return to Oxford. Please comment on any specific concepts you would like to learn more about. We would especially love any input on the best way to reach Miami students and Oxford community members, and we are open to speaking requests from classes and organizations.

So far we are thinking that we want to emphasize the following issues...
Causes of migration
NAFTA renegotiations
US policies affecting Mexico (SPP, Plan Merida)
Mexican policies hurting the poor (PPP)

I'm sure that you are exhausted from your trip outside of San Cristobal. And I know that you are preparing for your return to the US later today. If you have a chance to write even a few brief impressions from your visit to another part of Chiapas, I'd be grateful. I'm very curious. And thankful for the efforts you have already made to help us learn from you.

I look forward to hearing yr stories and experiences when you return. Be joyful, and keep those open minds active.

Vi que não há Natureza
Que Natureza não existe,
Que há montes, vales, planícies,
Que há árvores, flores, ervas,
Que há rios e pedras,
Mas que não há um todo a que isso pertença,
Que um conjunto real e verdadeiro
Ä uma doença das nossas ideias.
A Natureza é partes sem um todo.
Isto é talvezo tal mistério de que falam.