[mgj-discuss] March Delegation to Chiapas

[Rami Elamine]

Mary Ann Tenuto <cezmat at igc.org> wrote:To: anticapitalists at yahoogroups.com
From: Mary Ann Tenuto 
Date: Sat, 8 Jan 2005 13:10:22 -0800
Subject: [LeftTurn] March Delegation to Chiapas

Join us for a Delegation to Chiapas!

International Women’s Day Chiapas Delegation, March 3-12, 2005

The Chiapas Support Committee of Oakland, California announces our 
Sixth Annual March Delegation to Chiapas Mexico. We hope you will 
join us for this indepth exploration of an alternative to corporate 
globalization.

The Zapatistas are constructing another world, characterized by 
regional selfgovernment, collective economic projects, autonomous 
education and health care. This delegation takes place one and onehalf 
years after the Zapatistas renamed their 5 cultural centers Caracoles 
(spiral shells) and created 5 autonomous regional governing bodies, 
called Good Government Committees, or Juntas.

The indigenous peoples of Chiapas confront a design by multilateral 
organizations such as the World Bank to reconquer indigenous territory 
for transnational corporations. The Zapatistas say they will not permit 
the Plan Puebla Panama (PPP) within their territory. The PPP threatens 
the people of Chiapas with eviction from their land in order to exploit 
the natural resources and construct hydroelectric dams, upscale tourist 
facilities and assembly plants (maquiladoras). Learn about the 
Zapatista s recent repositioning of these communities.

Delegates will receive briefings from Mexican non-profits working in 
indigenous communities. We will also visit an EZLN Caracol (formerly 
an Aguascalientes) and its Good Government Committee (Junta) to learn 
about autonomous governance. We will visit Polhó, an autonomous 
(selfgoverning) refugee camp, and take a trip into the Canyons of the 
Lacandon Jungle to visit our sister municipality (county) of San 
Manuel, located in a beautiful river valley east of the city of 
Ocosingo. We will celebrate International Women's Day with San Manuel.

This delegation provides an opportunity to visit and interact with 
civilian Zapatista communities constructing autonomy. It also provides 
the opportunity to purchase items from cooperative stores. While in 
San Cristobal, there will also be time for shopping and some 
entertainment. So, we invite you to join us to share an amazing 
experience. You can read about our previous delegations on our website 


Getting there, cost, etc.

Delegates will arrive in Tuxtla Gutierrez by plane and then travel by 
bus or taxi to the colonial city of San Cristobal de las Casas. We 
will assemble at a posada (lodge) in San Cristobal de las Casas on 
March 3. Several days later, the delegation travels into the canyons 
of the Lacandon Jungle to spend four nights in indigenous communities. 
Conditions there are like rough camping and require both a sleeping bag 
and an air mattress (a hammock may be substituted for an air mattress).

Cost of the delegation is US $450.00. This does NOT include air fare 
or bus transportation to San Cristobal de las Casas, Chiapas. It DOES 
include most food, lodging and ground transportation to the 
communities. It ALSO includes a donation for each community we visit, 
delegation expenses and educational materials. We provide each 
delegation with an experienced group leader and expert translator. 
Delegation dates are March 3 to March 12, 2005. We will prepare a 
daytoday itinerary in January and will send it to all those who express 
interest in the delegation when it is ready.

Why go to Chiapas?

1. The presence of international delegations in Chiapas provides a 
measure of security for the area in which we travel (the Canyons of 
Ocosingo). It also sends a message to the Mexican Army and the 
paramilitary groups that there are international people concerned 
enough to travel there.

2. Zapatista communities are democratic. Their practice of democracy 
provides foodforthought to progressives searching for alternatives.

3. Your tuition includes a contribution to each community we visit and, 
therefore, contributes to the construction of the material conditions 
for resistance and autonomy.

4. This is an educational experience and will provide the opportunity 
to share what you learn with people at home after we return so that 
people know the truth.

Who is the Chiapas Support Committee?

The Chiapas Support Committee is a grass roots nonprofit organization 
founded in 1998. All of us are volunteers. We support indigenous and 
campesino organizations, autonomous communities and nongovernmental 
organizations in Chiapas. We certify human rights observers, organize 
delegations, fund autonomous projects and report back to people in the 
Bay Area about the situation in Chiapas. We have a sister relationship 
with the autonomous municipality of San Manuel, Chiapas.

How to apply

This delegation is open to all women and men 18 years of age or older. 
To apply, complete the application below and email to: cezmat at igc.org 
OR send by first class mail to P.O. Box 3421, Oakland, CA 94609. 
We would like to receive all applications by February 1, 2005. A 
deposit of $100 is required with your application to reserve a space 
for you on the delegation. Balance is due February 21, 2005. For 
those who want more information, just email your questions to: 
cezmat at igc.org or call (510) 654-9587.

*******************************************

CSC DELEGATION APPLICATION


NAME (please print) __________________________________________

ADDRESS ______________________________________________________

CITY, STATE, ZIP ____________________________________________

HOME PHONE ________________________________

WORK PHONE ________________________________

E-MAIL ________________________________

PASSPORT NUMBER _________________________

EXPIRATION DATE _________________________

COUNTRY __________________________________

DATE of BIRTH ______________________________

1 - Please rate your Spanish language ability (check one)

None___ Poor___ Fair (Intermediate)____ Good____ Fluent____

2 - Please provide names and phone numbers for two references:

_________________________________________________________________

_________________________________________________________________

3 - Have you been to Chiapas before? (yes or no) ____________

Why do you want to go to Chiapas? ____________________________

______________________________________________________________

If you are interested in the Chiapas Support Committee delegation to 
Chiapas in March 2005, please fill out the above application form. We 
will send you more information as plans develop. In order to confirm 
this application and reserve a space, a deposit of $100 is required. 
Applications and checks may be mailed to:

CHIAPAS SUPPORT COMMITTEE
P.O. Box 3421
Oakland, CA 94609

or send by email to: cezmat at igc.org
Tel: (510) 654-9587 for more information


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