Delegation to Chiapas, Mexico
March 13-21, 2004
Delegation to Chiapas, Mexico
Sponsored by Mexico Solidarity Network and Chiapas Peace House Project
Information: 773-834-4216
The Mexico Solidarity Network and the Chiapas Peace House Project invite
you to join a delegation to Chiapas from March 13-21, 2004. The
delegation will arrive during a time of celebration, but also a time
full of difficult challenges. On January 1, the Zapatista movement will
celebrate ten years of resistance to corporate-centered globalization,
and the movement continues to grow. The establishment of regional
autonomous governments - Juntas de Buen Gobierno - last Summer marked an
important new phase in the development of Zapatismo. At the same time,
paramilitary groups and the army continue to threaten the Zapatista
movement at every turn. The need for international presence to document
their activities is more pressing than ever.
The delegation will:
-- Provide an international presence in communities that are under
threat by paramilitary groups, putting the paramilitaries on notice that
the communities can count on international support.
-- Meet with activists and organizers to discuss 10 years of resistance
to neoliberalism in Chiapas and around the world.
-- Develop strategies to deepen solidarity work in the United States,
and organizing against the Free Trade Area of the Americas, the Central
America Free Trade Agreement (CAFTA), and Plan Pueblo Panama, a
corporate development scheme promoted by the Fox administration.
Delegates will meet with sister organizations in Chiapas to discuss
medium and long term strategies for international solidarity work.
Scholarships are available, with strong preference for youth of color
under the age of 30. You can apply for a scholarship on-line by
completing both the scholarship and delegation application at
www.mexicosolidarity.org.
Schedule:
March 13: Travel to San Cristobal de las Casas, Chiapas. Evening
orientation and reflection.
March 14: Meetings with members of human rights organizations,
environmental groups, economic and political analysts. Background
orientation on the current situation in Chiapas.
March 15-19: Travel to threatened autonomous Zapatista communities.
March 20: Further meetings with members of human rights organizations.
Debriefing/reflection.
March 21: Depart for home.
The cost of the delegation is $450, covering ground transportation
within Chiapas, meals in the communities, hotels, translation,
background materials, and program. Delegates are responsible for their
own travel arrangements to Chiapas. Most delegates will fly to Mexico
City, then either catch a public bus (about $160 round trip to San
Cristobal) or a connecting flight to Tuxtla Gutierrez (about $275 round
trip). Those who fly to Tuxtla will be provided ground transportation to
San Cristobal. It is also possible to fly into Cancun and take a public
bus to San Cristobal (about 20 hours), which could potentially be less
expensive given spring break discounts.
To reserve a space on the delegation, please complete the application
and return it with a $100 deposit to Mexico Solidarity Network, 4834 N.
Springfield, Chicago, IL 60625.
For more information contact the Mexico Solidarity Network at
msn@mexicosolidarity.org or the Chiapas Peace House at
info@uupeacehouse.org.
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From the UUSC (Unitarian Universalist Service Commitee):
UUSC Human Rights Defenders alert: Sign petition to support human
rights victims in Burma
Urge president to support justice for victims of human rights abuses
EarthRights International has extended the deadline until Dec. 31 to sign
on to their petition to defend the Alien Tort Claims Act, a critical tool
in defending human rights in Burma and around the world. The petition with
all the gathered signatures will be sent to President Bush in early
January.
>Action
If you have not yet signed the petition, UUSC urges you to take action now
and urge your friends to do so. You can sign on to the EarthRights petition
by visiting: http://www.notortureforprofit.org/petition
>What is the ATCA?
The Alien Tort Claims Act (ATCA), a federal law dating back more than 200
years, is a crucial tool for giving victims of human rights violations a
chance to have their day in court. ATCA is essential for holding
corporations accountable and combating profoundly abusive and responsible
behavior by U.S. corporations operating overseas.The center of the controversy is whether ATCA can be used to hold multinational orporations liable for business partners' human rights abuses. A case in point is in Burma, where two multinational corporations -
Unocal based in California and Total based in France - are building a
natural gas pipeline. In order to make way for the project, the Burmese
military displaced whole villages, forced residents to work against their
will, and allegedly raped or murdered some who refused.
In 1996, EarthRights International and the Center for Constitutional Rights
filed a suit, Doe v. Unocal, in federal court on behalf of 11 rural
villagers for Unocal's direct complicity in abuses committed by the Burmese
military. The Bush administration has joined business groups in opposing
the suit, as well as about two dozen similar suits across the country.
ATCA is under attack by multinational corporations, the U.S. business lobby and the Department of Justice which are seeking to repeal or weaken this act so corporations cannot be sued. This would roll back years of justice for victims of human rights abuse.
UUSC is joining with its colleague agency, EarthRights International, to ask for your help to defend this act as a critical tool in defending human rights around the world.
For many years UUSC has supported the pro-democracy movement in Burma and
has worked with partner organizations on the Thai-Burma border to protect
human rights. We also have advocated for policy changes in the United
States that can make a difference. And as limited stockholders we have
pressed certain major U.S. corporations to stop propping up the junta
through business ventures.
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