Archive for April, 2007

Santa Barbara May Day Events

Published
by
Jennifer
on April 30, 2007
in Activism
. 0 Comments

While May Day events are happening around the world tomorrow, allow me a moment to highlight local Santa Barbara, CA events for those in the area:
UC Santa Barbara Rally and March:
Meet at 7am at Pardall tunnel (at entrance to Isla Vista)
March at Noon and rally at Storke Tower

ALLIANCE FOR IMMIGRANT RIGHTS CALENDAR FOR THE WEEK
(PUEBLO & PUEBLO Education Fund are member organizations of AIR)

*TOMORROW, May 1st
5:30 to 8pm- Procession for the Dignity and Hope of the Immigrant by the Alliance for Immigrant Rights (AIR). Join Local SB community members as we recognize and honor the many contributions of immigrant workers.
Meet at Alameda Park at 5:30pm
Procession to Sunken Gardens starts at 6pm
Assemble at Sunken Gardens at 6:30pm
For more info call: (805)882-2484

*Wednesday, May 2nd
6 to 8pm- Parents’ Forum on Family Relationships (in Spanish)
by La Casa de La Raza and UCSB
601 E. Montecito Street
Forum for parents on helping our youth achieve their goals during difficult times. For more info call: (805)965-8581

*Thursday, May 3rd
7 to 9pm: Education and Immigration Forum on AB 540
by UCSB Immigration Task Force & Center for Chican@ Studies
Marjorie Luke Theater
Panel will discuss the state law on immigration and its implications for immigrant access to higher education, as well as the DREAM Act being considered in Congress. For more info call: (805)893-5315

*Friday, May 4th
8pm to Midnight: Zion I and the Grouch (All Ages Event)
by KCSB, UCSB
601 E. Montecito Street
Performance by Hip Hop bay area artists Zion I and the Grouch. Safe space for everyone. Bring your smiles! For more info visit: www.kcsb.org

*Saturday, Cinco de Mayo

9am to 2pm: Citizenship Drive
by IRCA
601 E. Montecito St.
Want to start applying for citizenship? Bring your paperwork and questions.
For more info call: (805)568-0898

2 to 4pm: Gangs in Santa Barbara- Reasons, Rights and Solutions
by American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU)
Faulkner Gallery, Santa Barbara Central Library
40 E. Anapamu St.
Community Forum on how we can build coalition and cohesiveness in our approach to the issues that confront our youth. For more info call:
(805)687-5321.

5 to 9pm: Cinco de Mayo con Orgullo
by Future Leaders of America (FLA)
601 E. Montecito Street
Learn what Cinco de Mayo is really all about and celebrate with pride. For more info send an e-mail to: anaz2007@hotmail.com

*Sunday, May 6th
9am to 5pm: Festival de la Raza
by La Casa de La Raza and Radio Bronco
Come see la “Sonora Dinamita,” “Pasteles Verdes” & “Angeles Negros”

Derechos para los/las inmigrantes

Published
by
Jennifer
on April 26, 2007
in Activism and Mexico
. 4 Comments

After a short synopsis of the history of May Day in class this morning, I was thinking about how I will explain it further in the next lecture and how I might blog about it. Most people are unaware of the history of International Worker’s Day. To understand the complex history of this day, we have to examine it as a commemoration of the Haymarket Riots in 1889 in Chicago, how it was grasped by socialist groups and governments to honor workers around the world, how it was rejected by the U.S. government during the Red Scare (which is why we celebrate labor day in September), how it was reborn in the U.S. as the Great American Boycott to protest against HR4437, and how it is now taking shape as a day to discuss issues concerning immigrants, people of color, and workers.

I could discuss the WALL being built along the border to reduce border crossings (or how it is being built by immigrant labor), but what really inspired me to comment on May Day was brownfemipower’s recent post. The video she highlights is the unnecessary death of Ramiro Gamez Acosta, a Mexican immigrant, at the hands of a border patrol agent. The agent shot Acosta in the chest as he tried to throw a rock at the agent. The video was magically leaked to the internet…

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UW48GC2h_zQ

Besides all of the obvious questions I could ask at this point, I wonder why the Border Patrol is using a deadly weapon. Aren’t there other less lethal instruments to be used, such as a tazer, pepper spray, and rubber bullets? XicanoPwr’s blog about this video explains more about the incident and how it mirrors the recent prosecution of a border patrol agent for the death of Francisco Dominguez-Rivera.

If you are in Santa Barbara, CA, I encourage you to attend the series of events sponsored by various organizations during the first week of May:

Dia de los Niños sponsored by Paz Sin Fronteras
Sunday, April 29th from 12-4pm
Sunken Gardens, 1100 Anacapa St (across from the SB central library)
During these times in which the US government is engaged in a war with Iraq abroad, while waging a war on immigrants and youth of color at home, we feel it is important for our community to take a stand against these injustices.
During this Dia de los Niños event on Sunday, we are going to celebrate our children who are our future, while promoting immigrant rights and a violence-free Santa Barbara. We will have speakers, cultural performances, theater and art.
COMMUNITY ALTAR AGAINST VIOLENCE: Please bring photos and other items to honor those we have lost to violence in our community, crossing the US-Mexico border or in the war in Iraq. For more information visit: sbcoalicion.blogspot.com

“Procession for the Dignity & Hope of the Immigrant”
May 1st, 2007 (May Day)
6pm rally at Alameda Park, march to the Sunken Gardens
While the Santa Barbara immigrant community greatly contributes to the local economy through diligent labor and sacrifice, this labor can end in abuse by their employers and other perpetrators of fraud and abuse. The need to preventing the occurrence of this type of targeted behavior, the community feels a need to create and manage a mechanism for reporting it if and when it does occur, and educate the community at large could be served by a community labor resource center. The vigil and assembly is intended to commemorate the lives that have been lost crossing international borders and to call upon City Council to begin dialogue for the creation of a much needed “Labor Resource Center.”

The following events are at La Casa de la Raza 601 E. Montecito St. I will post the times ASAP.
May 2nd: Strengthening Families Forum for Parents
May 4: Hip Hop Concert presented by KCSB
May 5: Citizenship Drive in collaboration with IRCA
May 6: Festival de la Raza

Blunders

Published
by
Jennifer
on April 25, 2007
in War
. 0 Comments

Well, this falls under the category of things we are not talking enough about. The US military covered up the truth of Tillman’s death, which was the result of enemy fire. Although the truth is coming out now, no one has been arrested or cited for the cover-up. Tillman’s family and former Army private Jessica Lynch spoke at a House committee on military misinformation. Five weeks after Pat Tillman’s family was told that he fought off enemy gunfire, they are now told there was a procedural mistake–he was killed by friendly fire. USA Today states:

Early versions of Lynch’s capture and rescue, quoting unnamed U.S. officials, said Iraqi soldiers shot and stabbed Lynch, who fought back until she shot off her last round of ammunition and was captured. That made her seem like “little girl Rambo,” Lynch said Tuesday.

In truth, she said, she was hurt too badly to fight. The narrative that described Tillman’s actions, for which he was awarded the Silver Star, “was utter fiction,” Kevin Tillman said.

To top it all off, during a press conference, Bush revealed the location of 24 Baghdad military bases. Below is a video from MSNBC about the Tillman coverup and Bush’s press conference. At about 5:20 in the video the discussion moves to Bush’s big blunder. I love the part when the founder of Iraq and Afghanistan Veteran’s of America calls Bush’s mistake a “Geraldo moment”.

Hometown Baghdad

Published
by
Jennifer
on April 21, 2007
in War
. 0 Comments

I am officially addicted to the amazing videos at Hometown Baghdad. These videos show the daily real life of a small group of Iraqis. I am drawn to the scenes that we don’t witness on U.S. television…young people eating, dating, going to college, and the voices of Iraqis describing how explosions impede the romance of a date and security of their homes. I thank the Women of Color Blog for highlighting a video and drawing me to this site. Here are a couple of my favorites so far:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=StXZx3AQdN0

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QqdDtKdDKp0

Urgent Human Rights Campaign

Published
by
Jennifer
on April 20, 2007
in APPO and Oaxaca, Mexico
. 0 Comments

As of April 17, the World Organization against Torture (OMCT) places the arbitrary and violent April 13 arrest of APPO councilman David Venegas Reyes at the top of their Urgent Campaign list. This is very upsetting for Oaxacan activists and citizens because this highlights the continuing oppression by police and state agents. After November 25, Federal and State Police detained 350 people who the police claimed to be associated with the Popular Assembly for the People in Oaxaca. (APPO). When I was in Oaxaca, I attended an event where victims of the police spoke of the abuses they suffered while in prison. It was one of the most heartbreaking events I have witnessed.

The OMCT is requesting the global community to write letters requesting the guaranteed security and safety of Reyes. The official request is below:

Favor escribir a las autoridades de México para urgirlas a:
1. tomar de manera muy urgente las medidas necesarias para localizar el paradero del Sr. David Venegas Reyes;
2. tomar de manera muy urgente las medidas necesarias para garantizar la seguridad y la integridad física y psicológica del Sr. David Venegas Reyes, incluyendo una atención médica urgente, adecuada y gratuita que él requiera, así como para garantizar la seguridad e integridad del Sr. Isaac Torres Carmona y demás testigos de los hechos arriba denunciados;
3. ordenar la libertad inmediata del Sr. David Venegas Reyes en caso de encontrarse detenido en ausencia de cargos legales válidos o, en el caso de que estos cargos existan, llevarlo ante un tribunal competente, independiente, justo e imparcial y garantizarle sus derechos procesales en todo momento;
4. llevar a cabo una investigación independiente, exhaustiva e imparcial en torno a las circunstancias de todos los hechos arriba denunciados, con el fin de identificar a los responsables, llevarlos ante un tribunal competente, independiente, justo e imparcial y aplicarles las sanciones penales y/o administrativas previstas por la ley;
5. garantizar el respeto de los derechos humanos y las libertades fundamentales en todo el país, de conformidad con las normas internacionales de derechos humanos, en particular con la Convención Contra la Tortura.

OMCT demands the immediate release of Reyes, an independent investigation into the illegal arrest, and the guaranteed respect of human rights and fundamental freedom en Mexico. They also ask that the authorities to conform to the international norms of human rights, in particular with the Convention Against Torture. The OMCT provides the following addresses to send letters:

Misión Permanente de México ante las Naciones Unidas en Ginebra, 16, Avenue du Budé. 1202, Ginebra, Case postale 433. Fax: +41-22-748-0708. E-mail: mission.mexico@ties.itu.int

Sr. Presidente Felipe Calderón Hinojosa, Residencia Oficial de “Los Pinos”, Co. San Miguel Chapultepec, México D.F., C.P. 11850 México, Fax: +52-555-522-9413, E-mail: radio@appresidencia.gob.mx; webadmon@appresidencia.gob.mx

Sr. Eduardo Medina-Mora Icaza, Procuraduría General de la República, Reforma Norte esquina Violeta 75. Colonia Guerrero, CP. 06300, México D.F., TEL: +52-555-346-2003, E-mail: ofproc@pgr.gob.mx, Fax: +52-555-346-0906

Dr. José Luis Soberanes Fernández, Presidente de la CNDH, Email:correo@cndh.org.mx Tel: 52-555-631-0040, +52-555-681-8125, Fax: +52-555-681-8490, Toll Free: 01-800- 0086; Email: correo@fmdh.cndh.org.mx

Sr. Francisco Javier Ramírez Acuña, Secretario de Gobernación, Bucareli 99, 1er. piso, Col. Juárez, Delegación Cuauhtemoc, México D.F., C.P.06600, México, Fax: +52-555-093-3414 / + 52-555-093-3415 E-mail: santiagocreel@compuserve.com; ghuerta@segob.gob.mx

Maestro Ricardo Sepúlveda Iguiniz, Director de la Oficina para la Promoción y la Defensa de los Derechos Humanos, Reforma 99, PISO 21, PH, Colonia Tabacalera, C.P. 06030, México Fax: + 52-555-128-0234 TEL: +52-555-128-0223 and 24, Email:rsepulveda@segob.gob.mx

Comisión Mexicana de Defensa y Promoción de los Derechos Humanos A.C. (CMDPDH), Tehuantepec 155, Col. Roma Sur, México DF, CP 5584 2731, México, E-mail: cmdpdh@laneta.apc.org

Governor of Oaxaca: Gobernador de Oaxaca, Lic. José Murat Casab, Palacio de Gobierno, Bustamante s/n, 68000 Oaxaca, Oaxaca México, Fax: + 52-951-516-3737

Appalling

Published
by
Jennifer
on April 19, 2007
in Gender and War
. 0 Comments

The Supreme Court has done it; they have set women back 35 years and placed our lives in danger. By upholding the ban on so-called “partial birth” abortions, women’s lives are in danger because they may not be able to seek abortion if their life depends upon it, and their doctors face criminal charges if s/he tries to save her life. This is the extreme scenario, but it is reality and it will happen…it could even happen to me or someone I know. This scares me. It scares me that this law could mean the chipping away at other laws that protect a women’s right to choose.

At the same time, Bush claims to be the bearer of human rights in other countries, including Iraq, as we devastate their country. Sunsara Taylor explains the big picture,

In the post-Sadam central power vacuum, Sharia law is flourishing, forcing women under the hijab, fostering “honor killings” and filling the morgues with growing numbers of women’s bodies bearing signs of rape, sexual mutilation and torture. A dark curtain is being curtain being pulled over the schools that once served girls and dreams of equality are being snuffed out.

Here at home, George Bush’s claim to support the liberation of women is more shameless hypocrisy. Speaking sanctimoniously about the “value” of fetal tissue, Bush has overseen the most aggressive and cruel assault on women’s fundamental rights and the fostering of an openly patriarchal culture.

carnage in Iraq Because of this, I am told by friends to rally around the Democratic presidential campaign in hope that they will set things straight. But how can I believe this when they fail to stop funding the war in Iraq? Are we even outraged at what is happening? I was honestly surprised to hear about the Supreme Court’s decision on the news, considering the devotion of air time given to the massacre at Virginia Tech. If I criticize the time spent on this story am I heartless? Why can’t I inquire into the latest news in Iraq (where they just experienced the worst bombing since the war began—200 dead)? Why do I have to search through cnn.com to find articles on Iraq and the abortion decision?

1200 Eyes

Published
by
Jennifer
on April 19, 2007
in General
. 0 Comments

I am amazed and grateful that this site has continued to see an increase in visitors despite my time away. You may have wondered what happened to me during this past month. Well, I came back from Oaxaca at the end of March and jumped right into teaching a class of 600 students with nine teaching assistants. While I am definitely having fun with the experience, I had difficulty with devoting time on any project that wasn’t vital to my life or career. But this blog is important. I am grateful for the community that I have met because of it and the outlet it provided me during my time in Oaxaca (particularly from October to December of last year). I will return to Oaxaca for about four more months in August to complete my dissertation research. So, I write this informal note to say that I have missed you and I will do my best to write more.

The Wrath of the Corn Gods

Published
by
Jennifer
on April 17, 2007
in Maí­z (Corn) and Mexico
. 0 Comments

Corn prices continue rise and news stories related to this problem are increasingly common. Last week I saw an ABC News story blaming the rise of corn prices on the increasing demand of ethanol as an alternative fuel source. The ABC story led us to the plight of dairy farmers who must pay more to feed their cattle. Increased demand for corn means farmers devote more space to growing it and less to other grains. A rise of corn means a rise in the basic products that rely upon.

An article on April 15 by ABC News claims that scientists are engineering an alternative ethanol that does not rely on corn:

Scientists at DuPont Co., for instance, have been tinkering with the DNA of an agave-loving bug in a bid to make ethanol from corn waste rather than the kernel itself. Working with $19 million of its own money and the same amount from a Department of Energy grant, the chemical company hopes to have a pilot plant in operation by 2010.

The idea is to genetically engineer microscopic bugs such as bacteria and fungus to spit out enzymes that will break down just about every imaginable crop into ethanol. This would theoretically fulfill President Bush’s initiative to support flexible-fuel vehicles, which are capable of using gasoline and ethanol blends, and to cut gas consumption by 20 percent in 10 years.

While it is wonderful that we are taking more interest in the sustainable future of our world, a number of issues are ignored. First, this debate does not look into our own trade agreements that led us to this point. Mexicans are reliant on the importation of U.S. corn because their domestic policies no longer support their domestic corn growers. Second, with ethanol production we neglected to look to our future and the potential side effects of this technology. What are the side effects of this new technology that involves microscopic bugs? And finally, who are U.S. scientists and policies attempting to benefit? Is it possible for the U.S. to develop a truly global sustainable policy?

[What I am also neglecting in this blog is an analysis of how the world food economy can not be sustained as long as we continue to use our grains to feed the meat industry and subsequently the fast food industry. But that is a discussion for another day.]