Tuesday, June 28, 2011

Bomba en Oakland


Las Bomberas de la Bahia se presentaron el domingo 26 en Kittys, poniendo a todo el publico a bailar y a disfrutar. El grupo, compuesto solo por mujeres, se dedica a tocar bomba y a transmitir esta tradicion oral afro-puertorriquena en el area de la bahia. Ademas de sus presentaciones, el grupo hace talleres de bomba en los cuales se pratica la musica, el baile, la tradicion y la historia. Mas info: http://www.facebook.com/bomberadelabahia

Reynaldo Padilla Teruel

MIHO KIM: Eclipse Rising-Zainichi Koreans in U.S...meeting up in Oakland, California

We caught up with Miho Kim at mama's Vietnamese restaurant in Oakland, California for a great lunch meeting to share her knowledge of the struggle of both Koreans in the United States and the Koreans in Japan.  The Koreans in Japan, who are discriminated systemically but in particular not assisted in re-building after the Tsunami hit Japan recently.  The Koreans are not afforded any rights to any of the aid to rebuild their communities even though other 'foreigners' who are now residents of Japan do receive the aid.  "We cannot rebuild our schools" said one witness to the discrimination suffered by Zainichi Koreans in Japan.

Miho explains the work she and others are doing to support and build the solidarity in the US with the plight of Koreans in Japan.

MIHO:

Aqui en Oakland entrevistamos a la compañera Miho Kim que es una organizadora con el movimiento de solidaridad con el pueblo Coreano que vive en Japon y que viven una existencia colonial con mucha discriminación.  Después del Tsunami que golpeo a Japon recientemente el pueblo Coreano (Zainichi) en Japon no recibió ninguna ayuda del gobierno en la reconstrucción de sus comunidades.  Aquí la compañera Miho explica la situación allí.


Visiting PODER in San Francisco with Teresa Almaguer...

Finally in San Francisco, California...'San Pancho'

We took the BART from Oakland to San Francisco to visit PODER located on 16th and Valencia streets in the MISSION district, we walked from Mission Street to Valencia and went to the Centro del Pueblo where PODER offices are located.  There we were greeted by Teresa Almaguer, organizer with PODER and she introduced us to the other staff working there.

PODER was established in 1991 to fight for environmental justice and against environmental racism.  Antonio Diaz was founder and has been Director of PODER that has organized significant campaigns in the Mission District to expand green spaces that involve grassroots community in the planning and design of those green areas.  PODER has fought to have a voice in community development, housing by fighting City hall and the developers.  PODER has been working on 'Another World is Possible' by developing urban gardens, community parks, youth programs and leadership development as well as cultural development in the painting of murals, promoting music and all kinds of culture.  The PODER work extends to fighting for Climate justice and 'buen vivir' as coined by President Evo Morales of Bolivia.

Teresa also gave us a 'diving tour' of the murals in the Mission District and explained the meaning and who did the murals.  She also explained and pointed out the struggles to get the community parks and showed us the parks now in existence because of their work.

PODER:
Visitamos la organización de Justicia Ambiental en San Francisco, California que va por el nombre de PODER.  PODER fue establecido en 1991 por Antonio Diaz y allí nos dio una gira la compañera Teresa Almaguer que es organizadora allí.  También nos dio la compañera Teresa una gira por carro para ver los murales en los edificios de el Distrito de la Misión.  En sus luchas PODER gano varios parques (áreas verdes) en las cuales involucraron la comunidad en el diseño de los parques.  También organizan huertos caseros y áreas de huertos colectivos en la comunidad y escuelas.




Monday, June 27, 2011

Peoples Movements Assembly Berkeley, California





On Saturday, June 25, 2011 the First Peoples Movements Assembly (PMA) took place in Berkeley, California at the Lutheran Church at University Avenue, with 65 registered participants.  The all day PMA opened with a presentation of the PMA process by Ruben Solis, co-chair of the Peoples Movements Assembly working group, describing the PMA process of organizing PMA BEFORE the US Social Forum II held in Detroit in June 2010, DURING the social forum and now the AFTER-USSF II follow up.  The Southwest Organizing Tour (June 1-30) of the Peoples Movements Assembly is part of the After-USSF II plan.  A Southeast PMA organizing tour is also taking place at this same time.


The PMA-Berkeley is the first step towards organizing the East Bay Social Forum in 2012, and as a first step it was noted by some of the participants that the process needs more inclusion of people of color and grassroots social movements because the audience was not representative of the make up of the East Bay.  




The goal of organizing an East Bay Social Forum, and of starting the organizing process in conjunction with the PMA national working group makes possible a local process that is integrated into the national process and seeks to bring together as many of the East Bay area social movements to lay the groundwork for another Bay Area is possible, another US is necessary for another World to be possible and to start the construction of 'Another World is Possible'.

Concilio Tribal Havasupai.



Nuestra visita al pueblo Supai fue una muy interesante. Tan solo compartir con ellos fue algo fascinante. Tuvimos la oportunidad de conocer a muchos miembros de la comunidad, ademas de ser invitados a la reunion del concilio de la tribu. En dicha reunion tuvimos la oportunidad de hablar de nuestro viaje, compartir nuestras experiencias y aprender sobre las luchas que lleva este pueblo.

En el dialogo pude entender que Puerto Rico y Havasupai tienen problemas en comun. Uno de ellos es que todo lo consumido dentro de la reserva es importado de afuera mediante helicoptero. La agricultura ha sido gradualmente abandonada y los alimentos han sido sustituidos por las importaciones, que en su mayoria es comida chatarra. La cuestion de mobilidad tambien viene siendo un problema por la dependencia en el helicoptero, que claro esta, es privado. Los jovenes, en especial, se ven muy limitados ya que no pueden salir de la reserva con facilidad y dentro de esta no tienen muchas actividades que hacer.

Actualmente uno de los mayores problemas en Supai es la mineria de uranio. No tan solo es el aspecto de la explotacion de sus recursos naturales, sino tambien los agentes contaminantes y noscivos para la salud.

El hecho de que el mas del 80% de los productos consumidos en Puerto Rico son importados, el hecho de que solo existe un puerto de intercambio internacional en Puerto Rico y la situacion de la contaminacion en la isla de vieques era imposible que no me sintiera identificado con la problematica social de los Havasupai.

Concluyo con un dato que me insito la curiosidad. Me comentaba un amigo en Arizona que la tribu Cherokee posee un asiento en el congreso de los Estados Unidos, una posicion con voz pero sin voto. Aunque actualmente no la ejercen, la tienen. Si esto les recuerda al comsionado residente de PR, no es casualidad.

Reynaldo Padilla Teruel

Friday, June 24, 2011

A Mural Tour in San Franciso CA.

Cesar Chavez Mural at a Public Chicano School


We went to San Francisco CA. and there we went into a tour to see some of the murals in the city. Teresa Almaguer from the organization PODER take us into this tour of art, knowledge and community solidarity. 

The murals have become more and more a way for public expression in urban areas and also a strong tactic to recuperate "public space". This murals are representations of the chicano traditions, believes and roots. They are representing themselfs in the walls of their community at the same time that they are giving their art back for the enjoyment of everyone.
















Copyright
Reynaldo Padilla Teruel




Museo Urbano, El Paso TX.



The Museo Urbano at El Paso TX is keeping the Chicano traditions and culture alive in the Barrio. More info at: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Museo-Urbano/189095654466232

Reynaldo Padilla Teruel

Una mision, dos misiones, tres misiones... [...] Part Three

Mision San Xavier

Visitamos la Mision San Xavier en Arizona, hoy dia se encuentra muy cerca la reserva Tohono' Odon, varios miembros de la tribu se encontraban en el lugar vendiendo "fried bread". Otra reserva indigena de la zona lo es la Jopi y la Dine o Navajo. 

Tras varios años de lucha contra la iglesia catolica y luego con el gobierno federal estadounidense, se establece la reserva. Al crearse la misma, se le otrorga territorio Navajo a los Jopi. Esta situacion ha creado, por decirlo de alguna manera, una tencion entre ambos pueblos indigenas. Tencion de la que el gobierno y los grandes intereses capitales se benefician economicamente explotando los recursos naturales del area.



Reynaldo Padilla Teruel

Thursday, June 23, 2011

In Oakland we did walking tour with Karlos



The Southwest Organizing Tour of the Peoples Movements Assembly that took off June 1 and ends the 30th in Oakland, California where we were given a walking tour by Karlos S. from the Center for Media Justice.

The highlight of the walking tour was the huge mural painted to represent the importance of Water and the cultural connection of water in peoples lives.  The same or similar murals are being painted in several sites across the world.

The warm welcome given by CMJ and Karlos to the PMA SW organizing tour made us feel very welcomed.

Wednesday, June 22, 2011

Struggles in Arizona (Tucson)


Racism in Arizona
The Southwest Organizing Tour of the Peoples Movements Assembly (PMA) visited Tucson, Arizona.  We contacted Isabel Garcia, Civil and Human Rights Lawyer and she told us of the struggle against the ‘ethnic cleansing’.  The visit coincided with the ‘ethnic cleansing’ taking place in public schools in the state.  “Acting on a new state law, Arizona Superintendent of Public Instruction John Huppenthal has condemned the Tucson Unified School District's controversial Mexican-American studies courses and warned the district could lose a portion of its state funding if it does not comply with the law within 60 days.”
It is known that Gov. Jan Brewer signed the law last year. It bans classes in kindergarten to 12th grade that promote the overthrow of the U.S. government, promote resentment toward a race or class of people, is designed primarily for pupils of one ethnic group or advocate ethnic solidarity.  The Tucson district is threatened with $15 million lose, Arizona Department of Education officials said.  On Jan. 1, the day the law went into effect, outgoing state Superintendent of Public   Instruction Tom Horne announced the courses violated the new law and should be axed. Horne had lobbied for three years for the legislation

Tuesday, June 21, 2011

Amistad... ya no mas.



En la ciudad de San Diego CA se encontraba el Parque Internacional de la Amistad o el Friendship Park. Este punto "abierto" que compartian la ciudad de San Diego y Tijuana era uno de encuentros amistosos entre miles de mexicanos y mexicanas divididos por la frontera. Hoy solo es un parque desolado dividido por 3 muros. Un lugar que solia brindar el espacio para encuentros humanos dejo de existir, la politica se impuso y ambos paises se dieron la espalda...


Reynaldo Padilla Teruel




"Este mundo, carente de valores, donde se superagregan valores por eleccion humana, es un mundo subhumano, un mundo de objetos, de cosas... Un mundo sin humanos, un mundo del cual el ser humano se ha eliminado a si mismo deliberadamente y en el que, por ende, el tiene la capacidad de imponer su voluntad."
Louis Dumont



US-Mexico Border Militarization (Berlin Wall?)



On the Border...

The Southwest Organizing Tour of the Peoples Movements Assembly (PMA) visited the US-Mexico border in the California-Baja California state lines last week as part of the tour that took off from San Antonio, Texas at the beginning of June.

The US-Mexico border has been highly militarized beginning in 1924 with the establishment of the armed federal military border police called ‘Border Patrol’. Since 1924 militarization of the US-Mexico border has been the policy of the federal government through several administrations. Today, sadly enough the construction of a border ‘wall of death’ that now extends the 3,000 miles of the border leaving openings in the wall in areas of dangerous and treacherous deserts, mountains or rivers that results in more than 5,000 migrant deaths per year. Militarization of the US-Mexico border is not only the Border Wall of Death but also 25,000 border patrol agents that have plane, horse, jeep, helicopter patrols going day and night. Today militarization includes more that 23 drone aircrafts flying over the border day and night, as well as anchored zeppelins and other aircrafts. Thousands of National Guard are also on duty in various tasks on the US-Mexico borders.

Since the approval of the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) and the penetration of the maquiladora industry in Mexico, there is a growing criminalization of social movements fighting for justice. Hundreds of organizing leaders have been killed, tortured and disappeared. Violence has escalated disproportionately to the tune of 34,000 people assassinated in 2010 in the so-called drug war. It is now a known fact that the United States has been funneling military armament to the Zetas and other organized criminal and the government military under the Plan Merida. The Plan Merida promises money and military equipment for Mexico to wage a war against the drug cartels. Just in CD. Juarez alone more than 500 young women have been assassinated and mutilated without any justice, as the perpetrators have never been brought before justice. CD Juarez has been turned into the deadliest city in the world by the Mexican government, the army and the US interference in Mexico’s affairs. The present US-Mexico border was imposed by a war of the US against Mexico in 1845 and the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo that set the present border. The US took half of the Mexican northern territories.

NO to the Border Wall of Death!
No Border Militarization!
STOP the violence NOW!

Monday, June 20, 2011

Llegamos a California en la Bahia

LA GIRA ORGANIZATIVA DEL SUROESTE DE ESTADOS UNIDOS DE LA ASAMBLEA DE LOS MOVIMIENTOS SOCIALES ESTA EN CAMINO DESDE EL 1 DE JUNIO Y EL 18 DE JUNIO LLEGO A SAN FRANCISCO Y OAKLAND CALIFORNIA.

La GIRA termina aqui en el area de la Bahia el 30 de junio, 2011. En esta GIRA hemos visitado El Paso, Tejas, Albuquerque, Nuevo Mexico, Flagstaff, Tucson y Phoenix Arizona, y estuvimos en el fondo de gran canon con el Tribu Havasupai. Estuvimos en San Diego California y Los Angeles, y ahora llegamos a la Bahia de San Francisco.

Ayer estuvimos en una fiesta organizada por Miho K. y muchas otras gentes en apoyo y solidaridad con el Pueblo Coreano que vive en Japon y que sufre mucha discriminacion en ese pais. Como sufrieron el impacto del Tsunami, ahora el gobierno de Japon no quiere dar ayuda de reconstruccion a los residentes coreanos. Se firmo una bandera que se enviara a Corea.

rubensolisgarcia

Got to CALIFAS...Bay area...la Bahia



California:

The Southwest Organizing Tour of the Peoples Movements Assembly (PMA) of the United States Social Forum (USSF II) held in Detroit, just arrived in California via San Diego where we visited the border and saw the border militarization and border wall of death that separates the United States and Mexico physically.

The three-day stay in San Diego ended Saturday when we drove to Oakland getting here late on the 18th. In Oakland, Karlos Schmeider Gauna is hosting us and he is with the Center Media Justice (CMJ).

On Sunday 19th we attended a BBQ party organized by Miho of the Data Center. The BBQ brought together a very eclectic crowd who vowed to support and be in solidarity with the tsunami victims in Japan. Two banners were signed by the BBQ party guests to demonstrate our support and solidarity.

We did a couple of interviews at the BBQ party one with a young woman with the solidarity project with Japan and the other with a compañera working at the National Radio project. Check out both interviews linked below.





Friday, June 17, 2011

The Meaning of Community: Southwest Organizing Tour PMA



Recently the concept of community has gained a new definition, the idea of community has gotten a broader sense. If it used to be defined as a group of people that lived in the same territorial space under the same social conditions; during the past two weeks I have learned that it could have a broader definition.  A new broader sense of community can be reshaped to include people that share similar struggles even if they do not live in the same country or participate in the same culture. 

In our recent exchange with people of the Southwest part of the United States, on this Peoples Movements Assembly tour, we have found a new sense of community one that goes beyond any State, Country or Ocean. On this trip we have had the opportunity to learn and work with people that are developing solutions to the problems they face as a community and in so, we have learned that the struggles can be fought together as a World Wide Community. Every group of people we have met on this tour; from Albuquerque New Mexico to Flagstaff Arizona, from Havasupai Reservation to Carefree Arizona all the way down to San Diego California, have opened their houses and community projects to us in the effort of telling us their struggles and their day to day work. 

Their hospitality and brotherhood by itself has opened up the range of what we call community. Now community is more than just a group of people that live in the same territorial range or experiencing the same social problems, community to us is the unified body of all the people fighting similar struggles. 

Who are these people that now share our community? They are those we have met through the Southwest on this Peoples Movements Assembly Tour. 

To our new community, thank you for your hospitality and for making our community one that goes beyond our countries.


Nicole S. Soto Rodríguez

Llegamos a San Diego, California..We arrived in San Diego, CA

San Diego, California

llegamos ayer jueves, 16 de Junio, a San Diego, California o mas bien estamos hospedados por Jose Bravo de Just Transition Alliance (Alianza de Transición Justa) en Chula Vista que queda conjunto a la frontera con Tijuana, Baja California.

Jose Bravo que esta entrevistado en el link que indica abajo, es un luchador de la justicia ambiental y contra el racismo ambiental que impacta desproporcionadamente a la clase trabajador y gente latina, afro-decendiente, asiatica e indigena.

We arrived in San Diego, California this thursday, June 16 and arrived at the house of Jose Bravo of the Just Transition alliance, that fights for environmental justice and against environmental racism.  Environmental racism is the intentional citing of polluting and contaminating industry in poor, working class and people of color communities.

check out Jose Bravo's interview below:  favor de chequear la entrevista con Jose Bravo que se encuentra adjunta.

Wednesday, June 15, 2011

Grand Canyon









Copyright 2011
Reynaldo Padilla Teruel

Dianna Uqualla from the Supai Tribe.

It was an honor for us to interview with Dianna Uqualla from the Havasupai Tribe located at the bottom of the Grand Canyon on the southern rim.  She is a traditional elder and leader of the tribe and has served on the Tribal government council.  She is fighting to save her village and people from the encroachment of uranium mining.

Fue un honor de poder entrevistar a Dianna Uqualla del Tribu Havasupai que se encuentra en el fondo del gran canon en el estado de Arizona.  Este tribu vive en el fondo del gran canon desde la edad del hielo, decenas de miles de anhos.  Ella es una lider tradicional indigena que tambien fue parte del consejo de gobierno del tribu.


Monday, June 13, 2011

The Havasupai Tribe "Guardians of the Grand Canyon"

The Southwest organizing tour of the peoples' Movements Assembly (part of the US Social Forum II), organized by Southwest Workers Union from San Antonio, Texas visited Havasupai Tribe at the bottom of the Grand Canyon on the South rim.  Supai village has been at the present site since getting removed from the North rim due to Roosevelt making it a National Park and have been 'Guardians of the Grand Canyon" since before the ice age.  The Supai village lives off the waters of the creek that is the lifeline of the Havasupai.  Yet the creek and the purity of the water is threatened by uranium mining.  The uranium trailings contaminate the water.

We visited Carletta Tilousi, council member for the tribe, and Edmund Tilousi, vice chairman of the tribal council.  The educated us about the issues and challenges facing the people who have lived at the canyon for tens of thousands of years, because of development, tourism, the national park and mining.  The tribal government is in charge of health,solid waste, water, housing, education, community economic development and works with q 12 millions dollar budget.

Ruben Solis Garcia, Reynaldo Padilla Teruel, & Nicole Soto Rodriguez presented at the Community meeting between the tribal government and the community residents.  Solis connected the uranium issue facing the Havasupai Tribe and the uranium mining in South Texas and the contamination of drinking water.

The SW PMA tour team hiked 8 miles down thw grand canyon to reach the supai village, but we joined Carletta Tilousi in the helicopter on the way out of the Grand Canyon.  We said goodbye to Supai Village but we all said "we will be back."


Saturday, June 11, 2011

Justice struggles in Native American Country

Flagstaff, Arizona

On our third stop on route of the Peoples Movement Assembly (PMA) southwest organizing tour that started June 1, 2011. Was in Flagstaff, Arizona where we visited Black Mesa Water Coalition and Indigenous Environmental Network (IEN) energy campaign office.  In Flagstaff we met with Jihan Gearson from IEN-energy campaign, and Wahela Jones of the Black Mesa Coalition.

It was really a surprise stop but we managed to do an interview with Wahela and Jihan, and they quickly organized a BBQ at the house of Wahela and Billy Parish of Solar Mosaic.  The BBQ was joined with about a dozen people of more and it turned out to be a really fun night.

It was such a wonderful and warm experience of ‘brotherhood’ and ‘sisterhood’; family.  It was so good that the collective there invited us back Sunday to do a presentation workshop on the PMA process.  The workshop will be held Sunday 4-6 PM.

The big issue facing both organizations is DIRTY Coal.  It is used t power all of Los Angeles, California, Las Vegas, Nevada, and provides water for Phoenix and Tucson as well as 3 millions gallons a day used by Peabody Coal at Black Mountain.  The energy issues impact the Navajo nation and the Hopi nation. 

We had a great time and stayed over at Wahela and Billy’s house to sleep for the night before heading to the bottom of the Grand Canyon to visit the Havasupai Tribe.

Wednesday, June 8, 2011

Art, Religion and Nature at the Petroglyph National Monument

Photo: Sony Weakie


Today we went to see the Petroglyph National Monument here in Nuevo Mexico and we meet there with Sony Weakie, a long time Native Rights Fighter and member of the Hopi tribe. He was sharing with us his experience at the frontline struggle to preserve the petroglyphs. With the rapid and unplanned "development" of the city of Albuquerque, the government built a number of roads very close to these sacred place and they even wanted to wreck the pace off to build some more.



This place have been a sacred sight of pilgrimage for numerous tribes of the zone for more than 2000 years. Even tribes from central Mexico recognize this place for the holy and can identify themself with the religious meanings of the petroglyphs. That makes his sacred place a point of convergence for religious experience between the native people of all the southwest area.

The petroglyph sight is a nature temple for the native tribes.




Reynaldo Padilla Teruel

Memorable visit to Albuquerque New Mexico



It was indeed a memorable experience to be back in Albuquerque, New Mexico this June 5-9, 2011 on the Peoples Movements Assembly Southwest Organizing Tour.  Reynaldo Padilla Teruel, Nicole Soto Rodriguez and Ruben Solis Garcia, have bee visiting social movements in the Southwest PMA organizing tour.  The PMA SW tour is being organized by Southwest Workers Union.  We visited the SouthWest Organizing Project (SWOP).  This 30 year old community organization was founded by Jeanne Gauna and Richard Moore.  We also visited and worked on the SWOP community gardens, under the program they have established called 'Feed the Hood'.  The community gardens are coordinated by Joaquin Lujan, a veteran organizer for 40 years plus, Rodrigo Rodriguez and Travis Travieso.  We participated in a day long community garden work planting a half acre garden at the home of Tomas Garduno. 

In visiting SWOP we want to dedicate this tour to the living memory of Jeanne Gauna who lost the battle with cancer after winning so many battles in the movement arena.  Jeanne Gauna was a tireless fighter for the grassroots community and working people till the very end.  She worked to establish and develop SWOP for over 30 years or more, first in the Chican@ movement and then fighting for environmental and economic justice.  She worked to develop a new generation of organizers and community leaders that continue to work at SWOP today six years after her passing.  She will always be remembered for her words "We are winning" and in chorus We say 'Jeanne Gauna' Presente!

Sembrando en Tierras Escasas de Agua



En Albuquerque Nuevo México se siembra, y se siembra en comunidad. En esta gira por el 'SouthWest' hemos hecho contacto con la tierra. Labramos y sembramos en tierras hermanas, y de antemano cosechamos comunidad. Mientras prestábamos nuestras manos y ganas, experimentamos el esfuerzo y hermandad que acá en Albuquerque se vive.

Entre hacer surcos, poner semillas y bendecir la tierra para la siembra, el sentido de esa tierra se hizo más real. En estas tierras escasas de agua se sostiene la importancia de la siembra, especialmente la siembra de alimentos. Aún con todas las desventajas que experimentan en este lado del mundo -donde el agua es mucho más valiosa- se siembra con la certeza de cosechar y hacer de esa cosecha una para todos.

Lo que experimentamos allí no solo redefine mi relación con la tierra, también da paso a un nuevo amor por ella. Sembrando en tierras de otros he descubierto un amor por sembrar en mi tierra.



Nicole S. Soto Rodríguez

Monday, June 6, 2011

llegamos a ALBUQUERQUE NUEVO MEXICO



La Gira del Suroeste (EEUU) de La Asamblea de los Movimientos Sociales, que empezo en San Antonio, Tejas a principios de Junio y paro por El Paso, Tejas ahora llego a Albuquerque, Nuevo Mexico el Domingo, 5 de Junio, 2011.

La Gira del Suroeste (EEUU) de La Asamblea de los Movimientos Sociales, organizada por Southwest Workers Union (SWU), llego directamente a casa de Eric Schmieder en Los Duranes. Luego visitamos el jardin de 'Feed the Hood' jardines (huertos) comunitarios organizados por SouthWest organizing Project.  Visitamos con Rodrigo, Joaquin, Travis, Rey G. y Gail y George, y la hija.  Se estaba trabajando un huerto casero en casa de Tomas con casi medio acre de tierra ya cultivada y lista para sembrar el martes entrante.

El enfoque de este trabajo de huertos caseros 'feed the hood'  es de soberanía y justicia alimentaria.  Es la salud y es la justicia ambiental.  Es el rescate de la semilla original, y es la relación con la tierra.  Es el buen vivir como dice el Presidente Evo Morales.

Visitamos la sede de SWOP (SouthWest Organizing Project) y saludamos a Monica Cordova, Marisol, Michael, Louis, Roberto y Tomasita.  Entrevistamos a Emma Sandoval del proyecto juvenil.

rubensolisgarcia

Una mision, dos misiones, tres misiones... [...] Part Two

Foto: Ciudad Juarez, Mexico
Vista desde El Paso TX


Comenzamos el Peoples Movement Assembly en la ciudad de El Paso TX. La misma esta catalogada como una de las mas seguras y pacificas de la nacion estadounidense, pero hasta que punto es esto cierto? En la cuidad de El Paso se encuentran los puentes internacionales (Mexico, EUA) mas transitados del pais, tanto es asi que como parte del reporte noticiario radial, hay un segmento sobre las condiciones del trafico, tanto peatonal como automovilistico, del puente.

Al sur de la muralla se encuentra la Ciudad Juarez, una de las cuidades mas peligrosas y violentas del hemisferio. Como sera posible que la supuesta ciudad mas segura tenga frontera con la mas peligrosa? Mas aun, como sera posible que con un transito de docenas de miles de personas al dia, no pase "nada malo" en El Paso? Esto parece tener ningun sentido, pero si se toma en consideracion algunos factores, tal absurdo se comprendera mejor.

La cuestion fronteriza, mas que una cuestion geopolitica, encierra cuestiones culturales e idiosincraticas de mucho mas peso. La ilusion de seguridad y confianza es muy importante para el imperialismo estadounidense y para perpetuar su reproduccion. Esta ilusion, representada fisicamente por el muro, deja todos los problemas, los asesinatos y los secuestros al sur de la misma, mientras obvia la exesiva militarizacion y todo el despliegue de poder e intimidacion que ocurre en el norte. Mientras exista el muro, tambien existira la erronea idea de que todos los peligros se encuentran al otro lado del mismo.

Reynaldo Padilla Teruel

Entrevista a Rodrigo Rodriguez of SWOP


Rodrigo Rodriguez of SouthWest Orginizing Project talking about some of their current projects.


Sunday, June 5, 2011

Entrevista a Juaquin Lujan, "Feed the Hood" Garden SWOP



After our arrival to Albuquerque, New Mexico we went to see the "feed the hood" garden program of the SouthWest Organizing Project. We did some shorts interviews to the people involved and here's one of them. We are going back on tuesday to plant some seeds with them and to learn more about this beautiful project.



Reynaldo Padilla Teruel




Entrevista a Eric Murillos, El Paso TX



Eric Murillos talks about the violece in Ciudad Juarez and El Paso border as part of the Peoples Movements Assembly Organizing Tour 2011.



Saturday, June 4, 2011

Las Cicatrices del Camino



La zona del suroeste de EUA es muy interesante geograficamente. La misma, mas de un millon de anios atras estuvo sumergida bajo agua, que luego se convirtio en hielo. Estas capas de hielo, segun hicieron su retirada al final de la ultima Era Glaciar, cicatrizaron la topografia y el paisaje. Los inmensos llanos y las montanas que vemos hoy dia, son el residuo de toda esa actividad geologica. No solo las cicatrices visibles de esta area son las del terreno.

Los nativos del area  como por ejemplo los Coahuiltecos, Comanches, Apaches, Tiguas, entre otras, tambien llevan sus cicatrices y las podemos percibir. Estas naciones fueron sistematicamente aplastadas por dos procesos coloniales casi consecutivos, primero con Espana y luego con EUA. Conocieron mejor que nadie la hipocresia de la politica estadounidence con los cientos de "tratados" que nunca se cumplieron y atestiguando todo esto siempre estuvo el silencioso desierto.

Hoy dia continuamos viendo las cicatrices de esta alucinante zona. En el presente no solo son los gobiernos y los nativos, tambien lo son los migrantes, los que han muerto en el camino, los trabajadores explotados, las familias divididas, las mujeres y nin@s maltratados o abusados, los narcos, los federales y todo el amalgama que hace de esta zona una de las mas violentas del mundo.

Si todo este tiempo el desierto ha sido testigo mudo de este caos,
la Gente ya no mas!!!


Reynaldo Padilla Teruel

                            

llegamos a EL PASO TEJAS

Ayer, 3 de Junio, 2011 saliendo de San Antonio, Tejas se inicio la Gira del Suroeste de Las Asambleas de los Movimientos Sociales, como parte del proceso organizativo del Foro Social de Estados Unidos II (FSEUII) que se llevo acabo en Detroit en Junio 2010.  Esta Gira del Suroeste es parte del plan de seguimiento después del FSEUII, para implementar las resoluciones de ACCION adoptadas en la Asamblea Nacional de los Movimientos Sociales que se llevo acabo el ultimo dia de FSEUII.

La Gira del Suroeste de los Movimientos Sociales  la llevan acabo, Southwest Workers Unión, con dos organizadores: Rubén Solís Y Reynaldo Padilla.  La meta de la Gira es organizar ASAMBLEAS en las numerosas ciudades en cual hará parada la Gira del Suroeste.  La primer ciudad que arribamos fue El Paso que queda unas 8 horas de San Antonio.  Llegamos ayer 3 de Junio a El Paso y nos recibió el compañero Eric Murillo, estudiante Universitario y organizador comunitario y laboral.  En El Paso nos enteramos que va a llevarse acabo una movilización contra la violencia y militarización de la frontera en CD Juárez, Chihuahua y en El Paso ciudades gemelas en la frontera de Estados Unidos y México el 10 y 11 de Junio próximo.  Apoyamos la movilización por la paz y por que no haya ni una sola mas victima de los horrendos asesinatos (mas de 3,600) en CD Juárez, que la han convertido Narcos, Soldados y Federales en una de las ciudades mas peligrosas del continente.  El pueblo Mexicano “Esta hasta la Madre” y ya dijo basta a la impunidad, violencia indiscriminada y opresión.  Cientos de miles gentes de CD Juárez han pedido exilio en El Paso, tal como Cipriana Jurado Herrera que fue amenazada de muerte y se encuentra en Estados Unidos con sus dos hijos.

La Gira del Suroeste de las Asambleas de los Movimientos Sociales sigue de El Paso en rumbo a Albuquerque, Nuevo México en los próximos días.  Mas sobre la estancia y visita a El Paso, Tejas viene hoy tarde.



Thursday, June 2, 2011

PMA guidelines

Invitation to Convene Peoples Movement Assembly Anchor Groups in January 2011 to Set & Implement the National Social Movement Agenda
Recognizing the lack of movement infrastructure and the effects of historical forces that divide us, the Peoples Movement Assembly (PMA) Coordination Team commits to consolidating the resolutions produced before, during, and after the US Social Forum 2010, in order to integrate our movement struggles towards mass action for liberation.
Building from the commitment of movement forces gathered at the US Social Forum 2010 to dismantle neoliberalism and build a new world, the PMA Working Group agrees to evaluate and evolve the assembly process in order to deepen the potential for community governance.
Based on the affirmations and general declaration of the National Peoples Movement Assembly in Detroit on June 26, 2010, the PMA Working Group calls for the coordinators and anchor groups to convene in Fall 2010 in order implement the action plan to move the agenda forward.
For more information about the Peoples Movement Assembly and to get involved in the process, contact:
Stephanie Guilloud at Project South, Atlanta GA stephanie@projectsouth.org / 404.622.0602
Ruben Solis at Southwest Workers Union, San Antonio TX grulla@swunion.org / 210.299.2666
www.pma2010.org

Wednesday, June 1, 2011

San Antonio, Kick off of PMA tour

foto: "El Alamo"
by: Reynaldo Padilla Teruel

Peoples Movement Assembly Southwest Organizing Tour
June 3-July 4, 2011
San Antonio-
The Peoples Movement Assembly Southwest Organizing Tour, led by Southwest Workers Union a 23-year-old social movement organization, starts on June 3rd and goes until July4th, of this year.  The kick off of the PMA tour is from San Antonio because historically it sits a the crossroads between the south and south-west regions and the regions north and south, making it a strategic geo-political center since the time of the European arrival of the Spanish and then later the invasion or take over or land grab by the United States.  The Spanish established 6 missions in San Antonio, or six military bases and held the region in colonial status for 300 years.  The United States has 8 military bases in and around San Antonio making it a geo-political strategic center for global south domination by the United States, and the very same domination of the Southwest united States, previously the Northwest part of Mexico and before that Indigenous land held I collective trust.
Photo: Che Lopez
organizer Southwest Workers Union
Reynaldo Padilla Teruel

San Antonio, originally known as Yanoguano, inhabited by Coahuilteco people, it came under Spanish occupation and colonial control in the beginning of 1520’s until 1821.  In 1821, Mexico became independent and included Texas.  In 1836 Anglo Saxon protestant settlers and slave owners rebelled against Mexico for prohibiting slavery and for controlling trade.  Texas became an independent slave republic in 1836 after the battle of the Alamo and San Jacinto.  The United States annexed Texas in 1845 to have more slave state votes in Congress.  The US invaded Mexico in 1845 provoking an unjust war of expansion signing the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo in 1848 taking the northern half of the Mexican nation, making the northwest of Mexico the Southwest of the United States.  Mexican@s and Chican@s in the US have been an ‘internal colony’ since 1848.