Speaking Tours - Spring 2010
SPEAKING TOURS:
Contact MSN@MexicoSolidarity.org to schedule an event in your city.
Tentative Spring Speaking Tour 2010 schedule
January 4-26, 2010 (Northeast): "Mexican social movements in 2010." Dr. Thomas Hansen, founder and director of the Mexico Solidarity Network, will speak on the prospects for Mexican social movements in 2010. The year 2010 has both historical and mythical significance as Mexico celebrates the centennial of its Revolution and the bicentennial of its Independence. Almost everyone in Mexico expects "something" to happen in 2010, though nobody is certain what that might be. Social conditions are certainly ripe for dramatic change as the deteriorating economy and rampant political malfeasance have spurred spontaneous, unorganized and sometimes violent community responses to injustice. Understanding Mexico today means understanding what's going on at the community level, not in the halls of elite power. Dr. Hansen has spent the past thirty years working in Latin America, with the last 15 spent in Mexico. Over the years he has established close solidarity relationships with some of Mexico's most important and vibrant social movements, including: Zapatistas in Chiapas, the Panchos’ popular housing movement in Mexico City, and the CNUC campesino and sex workers movement in Tlaxcala. Join Dr. Hansen for a contemporary conversation on Mexico’s grassroots responses to the ravages of both capitalism and corruption.
Friday 1/15, 6pm at American University (Batelle Atrium)
Tuesday 1/19 at Yale University
Wednesday 1/20, 7pm at NYU (Room 905 at 60 Washington Square South)
Friday 1/22, 3pm at Clark University (Razzo Hall, Traina Center for the Arts)
February 14-27, 2010 (West coast): "Human rights in Chiapas, featuring Victor Hugo Lopez of the Fray Bartolome Human Rights Center." Victor Hugo Lopez will speak about how the human rights situation in Mexican state of Chiapas has deteriorated rapidly in recent months, including an attack on a fellow lawyer from the Fray Bartolome Center in September. As popular organizations wage peaceful struggles against paramilitary violence, tourism projects that will displace campesinos, and illegal land takeovers, Victor Hugo Lopez and his colleagues at the Fray Bartolome Center are one of the few reliable sources on human rights abuses. Under attack from paramilitary groups, local PRI affiliates, the army, and state and federal governments, the Fray Bartolome Center produces daily reports on human rights, defends cases in court and supports indigenous communities under attack. During his talk, Victor Hugo Lopez will discuss the current human rights situation in Chiapas and Mexico, as well as the prospects for political changes in 2010.
Monday 2/15, 6p at Cal State-San Marcos
Tuesday 2/16, 9:30a at San Diego City College
Tuesday 2/16, 6p in Los Angeles with Frente Idigena de Organizaciones Binacionales
Wedesday 2/17, 12noon at Pitzer College
Wednesday 2/17, 7p at Cal State-Fullerton
Thursday 2/18, 12:15p at University of San Francisco
Friday 2/19, 7:30p at La Pena Cultural Center with the Chiapas Support Committee
Monday 2/22, 6p at Humboldt State University (BSS Room 162)
Tuesday 2/23, 5p at University of Oregon (LLC Room 125)
Wednesday 2/24, 10a at Portland CC-Rock Creek (Bldg 3, Room 225)
Wednesday 2/24, 12:30p at Portland CC-Sylvania (CC Building, Cedar Room)
Thursday 2/24, 7pm Pacific University (University Center, PULSE Room)
Friday 2/25, 12pm Seattle University (Wyckoff Auditorium)
Friday 2/25, Antioch University (TBA)
Feb 8 - 14, 2010 (Arizona & New Mexico)
March 1 - 8, 2010 (NY & Pennsylvania)
April 5 - 11, 2010 (Georgia & the Carolinas)
"Ciudad Juarez - Women, maquiladoras, narco-trafficking, and neoliberal dynamics along the border." Veronica Leyva, a native of Ciudad Juarez, will talk about the definitive neoliberal city - Ciudad Juarez. Her discussion will focus on the impact of neoliberalism, especially maquiladoras and narco-trafficking, with a special focus on gender. She will also discuss the impact of 8,000 federal troops who have occupied the city since March, 2009. Veronica is a full time staff person for the Mexico Solidarity Network in Juarez and organizes study abroad programs and special educational programs.
March 12 - 19, 2010 (Tennessee & the Carolinas): "The Honduran Coup d'etat" with Carlos Euceda