Hola Gente!

Please join us in this Holistic workshop incorporating ancient practices for our well-being. Learn about the commonality between Mexica, Yogic, and Taoist practices and tools to calm our minds and take care of our bodies.


When: Saturday March 5, 2011

Time: Relaxation practices 10:00am - 12:00pm

Herbal Respiratory Health 2:00pm-4:00pm

Where: The Root Yoga Studio 501 Texas Ave.

Register now before it fills up!

Send your names to rubi.orozco@cal.berkely.edu

Sponsored by Tlahuilcalli Yolohtli with support from the Tides Foundation, Honor the Earth Fund

Kalpulli Tlalteca, Fiscal Sponsor

Hope to see you there!

Con Paz,

Jacqueline Barragan

FIRST SENATE REPORT & ADVISORY GROUP MEETINGS

Dear friends and fellow activists:

Senator Rodriguez will sponsor the first meeting of his advisory groups on Saturday March 5th at the YISD Administration Bldg beginning at 10 a.m. Please mark your calendars and make every effort to attend. If you need additional information please respond to this e-mail and we will send you a copy of the agenda. Those of you who had signed up previously will be receiving an invitation by mail. Looking forward to seeing all of our friends.

Carmen Rodriguez
 
Submitted by Irma Camacho

MEChA Movie Night

Film screenings highlighting revolution, anti-imperialism and most of all, people power!

THE FOURTH WORLD WAR - From the front-lines of conflicts in Mexico, Argentina, South Africa, Palestine, Korea, and the North; from Seattle to Genova, and the War on Terror in New York, Afghanistan, and Iraq, The Fourth World War is the story of men and women around the world who resist being annihilated in this war.

While our airwaves are crowded with talk of a new world war, narrated by generals and filmed from the noses of bombs, the human story of this global conflict remains untold. The Fourth World War brings together the images and voices of the war on the ground. It is a story of a war without end and of those who resist.

The product of over two years of filming on the inside of movements on five continents, The Fourth World War is a film that would have been unimaginable at any other moment in history. Directed by the makers of This Is What Democracy Looks Like and Zapatista, produced through a global network of independent media and activist groups, it is a truly global film from our global movement.

Saturday February 26, 2011

The next general meeting of the Movimiento del Pueblo Fronterizo is this

Saturday February 26

10:00 a.m.

Mercado Mayapan

2101 Myrtle

Folllowed by the Forum on Gender Violence.

Speakers will address the various forms in which we endorse gender oppression while we are working towards achieving social justice. We will collectively reflect on how we will foster a safe environment for women, lgbt, and men.

Riverside High School Cesar Chavez Car Show

PUERTO RICO: STRIKERS OFFENSIVE BEGINS TO PENETRATE OBSCURE PLACES

Photographer: Omar Rodríguez Ortíz
Huffington Post

By Jesus Davila, NCM News (Submitted by Guillermo Glen)

SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico, February 13th 2011(NCM) The orgy of violence unleashed by the national police in an effort to contain the student uprising had the unexpected result of opening a breach in the wall of internal support for Governor Luis Fortuno so wide that it has allowed begun the flow of complaints and information about criminal plans and the squandering of treasures property of the University of Puerto Rico.

At the same time the University strike continues unabated and this weekend a human wave surrounded the UPR, blocked traffic with a sit in on one of the main thoroughfares and later entered the main University campus where the students once again took over the Tower -to the cheers of the crowd- and even danced defiantly less than a meter of the besieged police.

In this way the tone of the crisis rises at a time when various social protests are taking shape and when the president of the Puerto Rican Bar Association, Osvaldo Toledo, chose civil disobedience in response to an order from the United States District Court and is being held in a federal jail. The protest by attorneys in a case in which their Headquarters can be seized, joins and is fueled by the University crisis.

Photographer: Omar Rodríguez Ortíz
Huffington Post

Last Saturday 72 social civic and political entities- including all the opposition parties- joined the gigantic march.

"Last night at the UPR you charlatan hit my Lola, last night at the UPR you charlatan come hit her now" parents and student sympathisers sang at a police alignment that observed from a prudent distance, referring to last Wednesdays violent incidents. So choking was the scandalous conduct of riot police against the students, that it provoked a crisis within the pro government operatives to the point that some of the police involved were removed and the president of the UPR, Jose Ramon de la Torre, had to resign after demanding the withdrawal of the Police from the eleven campuses in the system.

At the same time the first report arrived of a student being fired from their job in a tourism business as retaliation for their participation in the strike.

In fact, professors, administrative employees and the cleaners and maintenance Union closed down the campus on Thursday and Friday in order to prevent further violent confrontations, leaving an atmosphere of uncertainty in the face of the fear that the coming week will bring a "blood bath". In this instance, however, it's not only about the typical rumors in cases such as this.

The Puerto Rican Association of University Professors reported having information about a meeting on Monday at the highest governmental levels in which it was evaluated that "everything was working out fine" in the UPR crisis and that the only thing missing was a death to be blamed on the students. After this was made public NCM News obtained specific information about the participants in this alleged meeting and their links to Santa Catalina Palace, the government headquarters.

The fact is that on Tuesday anti riot units known as "shock troops"went too far against the female students in the vicinity of the school of social sciences, following which a crowd forced them to retreat and then roamed throughout the streets and buildings on campus. The next day the police began video taping students who painted slogans in the traditional "street of consciousness"in a blatant violation of the law which which categorizes the crime of "carpeteo" (filing), which is the creation of a police file of citizens conducting legal activities.

A group of students surrounded the police and attempted to physically prevent the continuation of the illegal practice and a few minutes later the shoving, beatings stone and even paint throwing began. Riot police, arrest units and a squad of mounted police went into action with indiscriminate beatings to all who came in proximity and arresting indiscriminately those they caught, leading the courts to find no merit to the detentions.

The mob dispersed and reappeared on the other side of the campus in a march that quickly grew to over a thousand demonstrators which resumed marching through the campus. When they arrived in front of the General Studies building two police attempted to confront the crowd which forced them out of the way having one of their hats fly through the air.

Photographer: Omar Rodríguez Ortíz
Huffington Post

Once again the police arrived, but when they tried to brake through with their motorbikes the students opened the way only to surround them and pull them of their vehicles. The mounted units fared no better as the students threw stones aimed at the riders who had to retreat. As the riot police arrived the crowd of student vanished only to reappear minutes later surrounding the University Tower where since mid morning the Brotherhood of unaffiliated Non Educational Staff maintained control of the rectory demanding the immediate withdrawal of the Police.

The day came to an end with two community marches in support of the University and a report that attorneys for the Confederation of University Professors had began preparing criminal complaints against the police for the torture of students.

But the most surprising event occurred when a student member of the Board of Trustees, Rene Vargas made a formal request for copies of the inventory of the wealth of properties without heirs -which by law the UPR has been given over the last 80 years- and was told that these properties are sold as soon as they are received. This raises the dual problem of where is the accounting that guarantees all benefits are being received and the bigger question is how could the Governmental Development Bank accept these properties which no longer exist as part of collateral for a one hundred million dollar line of credit.

NCM-CHI-SJ-NY-13-02-11-05

Further info at Huffington Post

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/limari-colon/is-puerto-rico-the-next-e_b_822142.html

City Planning Meeting at Bowie High School Cafeteria

On Wednesday February 9th Oscar Lozano of Movimiento Del Pueblo Fronterizo sent out an urgent call requesting that members attend a city planning meeting at Bowie high School for February 10th.

"We are asking all adherents and supporters of the MDPF to attend a City of El Paso Planning department sponsored meeting tomorrow Thursday at 5:30 p.m. at the Bowie high School Cafeteria.


The City will be asking the public's input as to the future of Segundo barrio, Chamizal Neighborhood, and other Central El Paso communities."


“We, as the MDPF should be present to ensure that future plans for these areas should:

1. include plans for economic development and job creation programs, in particular the funding of La Mujer Obrera's Museo Mayachen Project.

2. guarantee that a process of gentrification does not result from any City-initiated plans that will result in the dislocation of the present inhabitants of these areas.

3. that the City's planning process, including this meeting, include guarantees that the people's voice will actually be taken into account and not merely used to legitimize previously arrived at decisions.”

Oscar lozano reported the following

“At least 10 of us from the MDPF were there at the Bowie cafeteria, I myself got in at the tail end of the meeting. There were very few community people present, a lot of City bureaucrats and hired consultants, also some La Fe employees. The City Planning dept went through the motions of eliciting input from those present as to what they would like to see in the neighborhoods of central El Paso, including Segundo Barrio and the Chamizal Neighborhood. Guillermo and people from La Mujer Obrera lobbied so that the Museo Mayachen economic development project be considered. The planners listened to various other suggestions from other participants, not all of these suggestions would be beneficial to our Barrios. The planners will take these opinions and incorporate them into a Master Plan for the city, how much of our input will be really taken into account remains to be seen. It is up to us to keep their feet to the fire. Guillermo Lorena, Pete, or Carlos might be able to offer a different perspective.”

Pete Duarte commented that in his perspective it was an out of town consultant firm and doubted that input would be considered by the city. As Oscar Lozano said, it is up to us to pressure the city to take us into account.

posted by Ramon Arroyos

Victory! University of Texas-El Paso Reinstates Cesar Chavez Day!

by Gabriela Garcia • February 09, 2011

• In Texas, a state where elementary and middle school students can no longer learn about civil and workers rights leader Cesar Chavez in official textbooks, there is some positive news amidst that maddening reality. Namely, that social justice leaders and university student groups are refusing to let awareness of Chavez's legacy fall by the wayside. If states want to ban ethnic studies, Chavez's close ally Dolores Huerta told AlterNet earlier this year, we'll just have to start “freedom schools” to pass the knowledge on.


• And when University of Texas-El Paso decided to abruptly ban Cesar Chavez Day as an official holiday, Students for Cesar Chavez, a coalition formed by students at the university, called for an immediate reinstatement of the day of remembrance. More than 7,000 people, including 134 Change.org members, signed a petition launched on the students' behalf by Chavez's United Farm Workers. The outrage also pushed a major donor to withdraw his support from the university, while student leaders and community activists rallied on the ground. The pressure worked.

• KFOX TV reports that the UTEP faculty senate held a vote and decided to reinstate March 31 as Cesar Chavez Day. It will rejoin other officially observed days such as Martin Luther King Jr. Day and Presidents' Day.

• "The students' determination and refusal to give up ― and the response from thousands of farm worker supporters ― are the best evidence that Cesar's legacy is alive and thriving nearly 18 years after his passing," UFW president Arturo S. Rodriguez wrote in a statement. As Chavez would say, sí se puede.

• Photo Credit: Troy Holden

• Gabriela Garcia is a freelance writer who has written for Latina, the Miami New Times, National Geographic Traveler blog, and Matador Network blogs, amongst other publications.

Story from change.org

Cesar Chavez Celebration

Students get Cesar Chavez Holiday Restored

Arturo Rodriguez UFWA

Congratulations to the students at the University of Texas at El Paso on convincing the Faculty Senate to reverse its decision last month to cancel the Cesar Chavez Day holiday on a campus where 76 percent of students are Latino. More than 7,000 Americans from across the country overwhelmingly responded by endorsing the appeal from students. Removal of the Chavez holiday for four years was "an act with deep consequences," noted Adrian Rivera, a bilingual education student and coordinator of Students for Cesar Chavez. UTEP students organized both on campus and outside the university. The UFW distributed their appeal throughout the nation. The students' determination and refusal to give up--and the response from thousands of farm worker supporters--are the best evidence that Cesar's legacy is alive and thriving nearly 18 years after his passing. We all congratulate the students at UTEP as well as our friends who lent them their support. Si Se Puede!

Arturo S. Rodriguez, President
United Farm Workers of America

Rally in support of restoring the Cesar Chavez Holiday at UTEP

Carlos Marentes Director of Trabajadores Agrícolas Fronterizos

   On January 28^th several organizations gathered to protest the decision of UTEP to remove Cesar Chavez Day as an official holiday. Speakers were Father Arturo Banuelos, Pete Duarte, Madelin Santivalles of MEChA,  Carlos Marentes Director of Border Agricultural Workers Center, Eustolia Olivas of the board of Directors,Rodolfo Diaz, Antonio Flores, Max Munoz of the Mexican American Bar Association, Selfa Chew, Adrian Stello Rivera, Yolanda Leyva of the History Department, CAUSA and Miners Without Borders. The speakers demanded the reinstatement of the Cesar Chavez Holiday and Pete T. Duarte a founder of La Fe Clinic, and former CEO of Thomason General Hospital returned the Gold Nugget Award he received for his support of UTEP. The Following statement was made by Mr. Duarte. Pete and supporters met with Dr. Natalicio who promised to reinstate the holiday but has yet to officially do so.
    Statement by Pete T. Duarte presented at UTEP on January 27, 2011 for Cesar Chavez protest.  "



Pete Duarte returns Nugget Award



 My name is Pete T. Duarte and I am a retired health care administrator, a University of Texas at El Paso (UTEP) graduate with a Master’s Degree in Sociology, a concerned citizen and a proud El Pasoan. Today we are gathered here to protest the decision by the Faculty Senate of the UTEP to eliminate the observance of the Cesar Chavez Holiday on March 31, 2011. This University is located in the City of El Paso where the Mexican American-Chicano-Hispanic population is over eighty percent. The action taken by the Faculty Senate is not only a slap in the face to the students, faculty and staff on campus but it is an act of cultural/racial genocide against the majority population of our area. Cesar Chavez was not only an internationally known leader who was sought out by religious, civic, political and labor leaders for his counsel on labor/minority/social justice issues during his most active years from the 1960’s until his death in 1993. He was recognized as a leader of the most neglected socioeconomic segment of American workers ---the agricultural workers of America be they Mexican American, Filipinos, African American,” poor whites”, women or undocumented immigrants. What made him an extraordinary human being was his character since he never sought personal fame, wealth or recognition, only social justice and equality for all of us. His struggle inspired thousands of us to stand up for justice, humanity, peace, equality, freedom and nonviolent social action. I was moved to observe leaders from all of the religious denominations. International politicians, national celebrities, athletes and thousands of students throughout the nation join him in his marches, demonstrations, picket lines, and month long fasts that reaffirmed his commitment to nonviolence . For me there will never be a more inspirational heroic figure then Cesar Chavez.   



Dr. Natalicio promised to provide a solution

 

I was the eighth and last child of Eduardo S. and (Maria) Jesus Duarte who were migrant farm workers in the Central Valley of California. Every year, until I was thirteen years of age, we would leave Southern California and travel up through the agricultural farm lands of Central California ,picking cotton, potatoes, grapes, fruits, tomatoes, citrus and walnuts from early spring to early fall. Often the sky and the heavens were our roof, other times we slept and lived in barns, or farm labor shacks and even in automobiles. We were always well received but always encouraged to leave as soon as the crops were picked. Often we worked as the skies were filled with pesticides as the farmers tried to protect their crops from infestations and I learned then that the crops were more valuable than the workers’ health. If we were allowed to enroll in school, the children of farmworkers were always separated from the year round students and we were told forcefully that we would have to sit and behave or be expelled. Seldom were we taught anything except contempt and denigration of who we were as a people. I learned the bitter lessons of discrimination, inequality and racial profiling at an early age.



Despite my parents socioeconomic status I was able to rise above their social standing. I was one of three high school graduates in our family; I went on and became the first college graduate of our extended family. After graduation I joined the Peace Corps and married a fellow Corps member, Joy Hudson. I came to El Paso in 1968 as a health care community organizer during the War On Poverty where I was able to unite with outstanding community leaders and establish the Father Rahm Social Service and Referral Organization, which in the early seventies became Centro de Salud Familiar La Fe, Inc. Later I was selected by parents, students and faculty to head Project Upward Bound at UTEP .and in the early nineties I became the CEO of Thomason General Hospital, now called University Medical Center. During my tenure the hospital was twice named among America’s Top 100 Hospitals. In 2004 I resigned after serving at the hospital for fourteen years as its Chief Servant, or CEO.



I prefer the title Chief Servant to CEO because my role models and heroes were all Servants---Martin Luther King, Gandhi, Mother Teresa, Nelson Mandela, our first Chicana County Judge for El Paso County, my parents and Cesar Chavez. All of them were visionary and they all acted on hope, a value that guides all of us as we seek a better understanding of the forces that shape and determine our lives. Their lives were demonstrations of the highest moral character and the goodness that defines humanity. Cesar Chavez epitomized these virtues as he fought a lifelong battle to improve the lives of the destitute marginal population in the USA and he never once sought the limelight for his efforts. As all seekers of social justice he did what he had to do because it was the right thing to do.



I believe that the world is a better place, and I am a better person, for having men like Cesar Chavez as national icons. It is difficult for people to improve if they have no role models but themselves to copy after. Cesar Chavez was and remains my role model. His vision, his hopes, for a better future for all people is a laudable goal and one that I choose to follow.

I believe that the action taken by the University to cancel the Cesar Chavez Holiday is wrong and I regret this action because it is a significant step backwards for a University ostensibly trying to reach tier 1 status. It appears that this University is getting on the Arizona bandwagon of erasing us, the Hispanic population, from history. For too long we have passively accepted whatever fate might be bestowed upon us. Now I say, “YA BASTA!” It is time for El Paso and its majority population to speak out against this injustice. I for one will no longer support the university financially and I ask that my friends to the same thing. I am also returning the Gold Nugget Award that I received in 2004 as a clear show of my disgust at this action!!!"

Pete T. Duarte