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(Note:
While this is not an MSN delegation, we support the CSC and this
important endeavor. Please contact CSC directly if you wish to
participate. Contact info. is listed below...)
The Chiapas Support Committee Invites
You to Join Us
A
Día de la Raza Delegation to Chiapas
October
5-12, 2003
In Mexico,
the Zapatistas are front page news again!
This special delegation takes place as the Zapatistas retake
the political initiative in Mexico on indigenous autonomy. The
Zapatistas laid the 5 regional Aguascalientes to rest so as
to be reborn Caracoles (conch shells). They created 5 autonomous
regional coordinating bodies, called Good Government Committees,
in the Caracoles. Be among the first to explore this new stage
in
Zapatista resistance and autonomy.
The new Zapatista
initiative confronts the design by multilateral
organizations such as the World Bank to re-conquer indigenous
territory for the transnational corporations. The Zapatista initiative
prohibits the Plan Puebla-Panama (PPP) in their territory. The
PPP threatens the people of Chiapas with eviction in order to
steal their natural resources and to construct hydroelectric dams
and assembly plants (maquiladoras).
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
to learn what the changes mean. We will also visit Polhó,
an
autonomous (self-governing) refugee camp, and take a trip to our
sister municipality of San Manuel, located in a beautiful river
valley
east of the city of Ocosingo. We will be taking them copies of
the video we made with them on our last delegation.
There are
always a few surprise visits and experiences on each
delegation, so be prepared for a truly interesting exploration
of Zapatismo.
We will spend the anniversary of Che Guevara's death (October
8) in
an indigenous community and Día de la Raza (October 12)
in San
Cristobal de las Casas.
This delegation
provides an opportunity to visit and interact with
civilian Zapatista communities constructing autonomy. Delegates
can shop for clothing, CDs, coffee or videos in the community
coops.
While in San Cristobal, there will also be time for shopping and
entertainment. So, we invite you to join us for an amazing learning
experience. You can read about our previous
delegations on our website <www.chiapas-support.org>
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.
Delegates
will assemble at a posada (lodge) in San Cristobal de las Casas
on
October 5. Several days later, the delegation travels into the
canyons
of the Lacandon Jungle to spend two or three nights with one or
more
indigenous communities. Conditions there are like rough camping
and require both a sleeping bag and an air mattress (or hammock).
Cost of the
delegation is US $450.00. This does NOT include air fare
or bus transportation to San Cristobal, Chiapas. It DOES include
most food,
lodging and ground transportation within Chiapas. It ALSO includes
a
donation for each community we visit, delegation expenses and
educational
materials. Delegation dates are October 5 to October 12, 2003.
We will decide the day-to-day itinerary as soon as we receive
word
from the communities and will send it to all those who are interested
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 Cañadas
of Ocosingo). It
sends a message to the Mexican Army and the paramilitary groups
that
there are international people concerned about enough to travel
there in
an emergency.
2. Your tuition
includes a contribution to each community we visit and,
therefore, contributes to the construction of the material conditions
for
resistance and autonomy.
3. There will
be one or more delegation Report Backs to the Bay Area
after we return. Delegates will have the opportunity to share
their experience
in those report backs. This is important so that people know the
truth.
Who is the
Chiapas Support Committee?
The Chiapas
Support Committee is a grass roots nonprofit organization.
All of us are volunteers. We support indigenous and campesino
organizations,
autonomous communities and non-governmental 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:
[email protected]
OR send by first class mail to P.O. Box 3421,
Oakland, CA 94609. We would like to receive all applications by
September
15, 2003. A deposit of $100 is required with your application
to reserve a
space for you on the delegation. Balance is due September 27,
2003.
For those who want more information, just email your questions
to:
[email protected] or call
(510) 654-9587.
*******************************************
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 October 2003, 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: [email protected]
Tel: (510) 654-9587 for more information
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