Date: Thu, 07 Aug 1997 15:21:07 -0500 From: Cybercafe (visitor4@sancristobal.podernet.com.mx) To: mexicopeace@igc.apc.org Subject: OVENTIC SCHOOL -SECOND TEAM! Hotel Smeltzanel Oventic Aguascalientes II Zapatista Territory Municipio San Adres Sakamch’en de los Pobres Chiapas, MEXICO
Dear friends,
Things are really jumping in Oventic Aguascalientes II and construction on the first school in Zapatista territory is proceeding (we’ll explain how in a moment)!
When the second construction team returned from meeting once again with Ramona, we were greeted by a bus of 42 construction volunteers who had traveled from Mexico City to help construct the school! During our first day of work dozens - and eventually hundreds - of indigenous community members began arriving in Oventic Aguascalientes II.
The following day while construction continued on the school, thousands of Zapatista community members wearing a breath-taking rainbow of traditional clothing arrived to greet the Chicano delegation to the "Indigenous-Chicano-Mexicano Encounter for Humanity and Against Neoliberalism" which will continue to Sunday, Aug. 10. Forums and discussions, poetry, music, theatre, dancing and dancing and dancing followed by more dancing is the order of the day here in the highlands of Chiapas...and our volunteers are mixing lots of cement, cooking over very, very smokey fires for the construction crews, and installing electrical lighting in the classrooms.
Now for the exciting news . . .
After Don Durito’s intervention last week which sent us off to the world seeking $5000 to complete the first four classrooms our financial situation took a dramatic turn - and a few twists. To date we have $2300.00 pledged and $1000 has already been turned over to the community to purchase materials including a major donation of $1300 from solidarity groups from Australia. The remaining 10,000 new Pesos will be given to the Zapatista community representatives as soon we can raid the electronic cash machines in town.
Leticia is still sitting at the phone in San Diego (619-233-4114) from 9am to 5pm Pacific Daylight Savings Time waiting for your call. We don’t quite have the reach of National Pubic Radio in our fundraising drive but if you, your family, your friends, your co-workers, your union, your church, your school, your solidarity organization, swimming team, your dentist, your internet server, your auto mechanic, your bridge club, your penpals, your teachers, your students, your coffee clutch, your baker, banker or your candlestick maker would be willing to donate to the school please tell them to call Leticia in San Diego!
Since the marimba music is calling - and since Y can’t think of anything interesting to add - I’m going to take a break and day goodbye for now.
Por y para los ninos,
Peter Brown, Director
Chanobvun ta Chiapas Jkoltavanejetic ta Smeltzanel
ps. You may have heard that the two Zapatistas who represented the EZLN at the meeting in Madrid have announced that they will fly into Mexico City tomorrow morning. From here we aren’t sure if they will be flying on a Zapatista jet, a regularly scheduled flight of AeroMexico, or perhaps on a magic carpet. However we are proud that two of our construction volunteers who have worked since the middle of July will welcome them in the airport of Tuxla Gutierrez (capital of Chiapas).
pps. We are also sad to say that our construction foreman/chief dishwasher Lorenzo had to return to the United States today. It’s hard to imagine working without Lorenzo but he claims that Don Durito ordered him to pay attention to his family and work back in the states.
pps. Finally, we all know that Leticia (who led our advance team and had to return to work) is having a difficult time recovering from the "high" of being a tourist visiting Zapatista territory and adjusting to life in San Diego. So even if you can’t make a donation to the school at this time why don’t you cheer her up by calling 619-233-4114 with a few works of support!
ppps. Finally I wanted to share the speech in Tzotzil (the major language around Oventic Aguascalientes II) that I’m practicing for an event this weekend. Here it is:
Thank you
Kolaval.
Thank you for letting us visit.
Kolavalik ti la votesonkutik li’ ta alumalike.
This school is a seed of hope for the future.
Li chanobyune li’i ja’ i yich’ o meltzanel ti oyuk smalael slekilal ta
tz’akal.
Together we have planted a seed of hope for the future.
Tzobolutik ta jkotoltik imeltzaj li chanbjune li’i, ja’no’ox ti oyuk
smalael slekilal ta tz’akal.
For everyone everything; nothing for ourselves.
Ta skotol antzetik viniketik keremotik tzebetik jchi’iltak ta komon ja’
avu’unik ta akotolik. Li jo’onkutike ja’ no’ox jkoltavanejonkutik ta atojolik.
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Chiapas School Construction Teams
Chanobvun ta Chiapas Jkoltavanejetic ta Smeltzanel
3909 Centre Street #B
San Diego, CA 92102
(619) 232-2841
FAX (619) 232-0500
mexicopeace@igc.apc.org
http://www.igc.org/mexicopeace