Chiapas

As the week is progressing we are letting Mexico speak to us. The frst few meeting were in english which was nice to give us the base that we needed. But as Rob and Todd have explained now we have begun our meetings in spanish (which they graciously translate) in order to let us hear the voices of the people living this situation.

In a brief pause to gather my thoughts before our next meeting, it is difficult to summarize my thoughts over the past two days. I am amazed at the energy of our guides, Todd and Rob, and the energy of the leaders of the various organizations we have had the opportunity to meet. The horizon is dark ... Lea, the SiPaz representative, told us on our second evening in Chiapas and I feel those words echo through many of the discussions we have held.

Migration, stratification, poverty, militarization ... these are the themes of Chiapas´ indigenous population.

I´ve been filming in Chiapas for the last 2 days, but have been thinking about what to film and being really self-conscious about what I´m filming.

Today in the town square a boy no older than four walked up to my knee holding out bracelets and saying ¨comprarlo, comprarlo.¨ I got it on film and it’s really indicative of what we’ve seen here--the indigenous underclass in poverty which forces us to rethink our definitions of childhood.

After morning of finalizing the introduction process we left our hotel to take our first daytime views of San Cristobal. This city is constantly bustling with people in the streets, vendors, and cars in narrow streets. The brightly colored buildings set off the array of colors that the indigenous women are weaving into all of their products arranged in small shop windows and set out on the sidewalk. Cafes and restaurants are all over and small town parks and centers fall every few blocks where children are playing and people just sit on benches to enjoy the day.

I only have a few minutes and I wanted to drop in an update on today, so here is something I´m gonig to throw at you....

We talked with CIEPAC this morning and the most interesting topic was the Security, Prosperity, Partnership (SPP) of North America. This is like a deepening of NAFTA. On April 21 and 22 the executive leaders of the US, Canada and Mexico will meet and sign regulations that will effect each country.

Hello everyone! Just a quick note to say that we are here in San Cristobal de las Casas. We will update soon with more details about what we´ve been seeing, hearing, and learning. For now, let me just say that this is a beautiful city and we have met some very interesting and inspiring people.

More to come!

Angela

Hello everyone and congratulations! You're in Mexico, while I'm stuck here in Ohio!

I would like to know more about specific reasons why you are interested in focusing on human rights, and even more specifically, human rights outside of America. Do you believe we Americans are doing enough for the outside world, or are we more worried about helping ourselves? One might just ask, "How is anything I am willing to do for someone else, especially another country/culture, going to affect my life?"

We're leaving tomorrow! For anyone interested, this is what we'll be doing on our trip...

Friday, March 14th
Welcome to Mexico!
Arrive in Tuxtla Gutierrez
Travel to San Cristóbal
Check into Posada Isabel
DINNER
Introductions and Schedule Review

Saturday, March 15th
8:00 am BREAKFAST at Posada Isabel
9:00 am Witness for Peace History & Covenant
9:30 am How to Avoid the Runs and Guns (and still have Fun)
10:00 am Who’s in Charge Here Anyway?
10:30 am Expectations & Realities (and brainstorm primer?)
11:15 am Privilege?

Charity should be abolished and replaced by justice.
-Norman Bethune

Ivan Illich, in an address to the Conference on InterAmerican Student Projects (CIASP) in 1968, told the philanthropic students the following: “Today, the existence of organizations like yours is offensive to Mexico […] to hell with good intentions […] you will not help anyone but your good intentions.” The message to the college students was that if “they have any sense of responsibility” then they should stay home.

This will be my second trip to Chiapas, Mexico. My first trip to the southern-most state in Mexico was during a trip while I was studying abroad in Guadalajara, the one of the most industrialized cities in all of Mexico. While visiting the state I quickly became aware of the stark economic, cultural, and ecological differences between the north and the south. While northern landscapes are dry and arid, the south has a wide display of vegetation and animal life that is non-existant in the north.