Posted by rdom on December 23, 1997 at 09:32:32:
Chiapas School Construction Group Prepares to Leave for Mexico
Monday, Dec. 22, 1997
San Diego, CA
On Dec. 26, 1997, amidst the most serious violence since the beginning of
Mexico's Indian revolt on New Years 1994, the San Diego based "Chiapas
School Construction Teams" begins another school building trip to the
highlands of Chiapas.
"We'll travel from the Zocalo in the center of Mexico City with 80
international and Mexican construction volunteers in two buses,' explained
San Diego teacher Peter Brown. "We hope our presence at this time will
help promote peace while raising funds for the education of indigenous
Mayan children. The food and medicines we plan to carry will relieve some
of these children's suffering."
Chiapas is experiencing a new wave of conflict between government
supporters and the indigenous rebels in the highlands (see San Diego Union,
Dec. 21, Section A, Page 18). This fighting is only a few miles from the
location of the first autonomous, indigenous Junior High School which the
"Chiapas School Construction Teams" began building last summer (see San
Diego Union, Sept. 22, Section A, Page 2). The San Diego based volunteer
group anticipates completing at least one new classroom during their week
long visit over New Years and will continue collecting humanitarian aid for
the thousands of displaced people upon their return.
"A video we recently received shows entire families living under banana
leaves," says Leticia Jimenez who worked in Chiapas last summer. "It's
really cold in the mountains of Chiapas and in many places the displaced
are living on one or two tortillas a day! The kids who will eventually
attend the school at Oventic are suffering terribly. They have had to run
from their homes with nothing; that's why we decided distribute
humanitarian aid!"
San Diego's "Chiapas School Construction Teams" is accepting donations of For additional information: Leticia Jimenez (619) 233-4114 unsubscribe mexicopeace If you would like to recieve weekly messages about the Zapatista subscribe mayan penpals c/o Craftsmen's Hall AFL-CIO (619) 232-2841 FAX (619) 232-2841
yard sale items, tools, medicines, school supplies, and cash for the
indigenous communities of Chiapas, MEXICO. Donations welcome from 9am to
5pm, Monday through Friday at Craftsmen's Hall, 3909 Centre Street , Rm.
210 (off University Avenue, one block west of Park Avenue in Hillcrest).
In addition, school construction bonds for donating to the secondary school
at Oventic are available at many community locations. To make alternate
arrangements for donations call (619)232-2841 FAX(619) 232-0500
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If you do not wish to receive additional information about schools in
Chiapas, please send the following message to mexicopeace@igc.apc.org:
educational movemment, please send the following message to
mexicopeace@igc.apc.org:
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Chiapas School Construction Teams
dba Hotel Smeltzanel
3909 Centre Street
San Diego, CA 92103