1st Cultural encounter for Humanity and against
neoliberalism
Chiapas, Mexico August 1997
El Big Frente Zapatista invites you to participate in the First
Cultural Gathering for Humanity and Against Neoliberalismo. This
Encuentro will be taken place in Chiapas, Mexico, between August
5-10. I have attached a brief explanation on who El Big Frente
Zapatista is, and also a planned schedule for the Encuentro. If you
or anyone you know are interested in participating in the Encuentro
Cultural, please e-mail us ASAP, so we may send you an application,
at:
E-mail -- waterseye@earthlink.net
Also, if you know of someone interested and they do not have an
e-mail account, our fax number and phone number are:
Fax -- 213/ 256-7577
Tel.-- 213/ 550-1365
If you want more information, regarding the Encuentro, please
e-mail or fax us ASAP.
Just in case you are not able to retrieve the files, please let
us know, and we may be able to fax them over instead.
IMPORTANT NOTE: The deadline for the applications will be
due very soon, so don't hesitate to get a hold of us.
Todo Para Todos Y Nada Para Nosotros,
El Big Frente Zapatista .............
EL BIG FRENTE ZAPATISTA
* Who is the Big Frente Zapatista?
The Big Frente Zapatista is a collective of artists, students,
youth, workers, and cultural promoters from various communities and
organizations. We work with all those who have been excluded and
marginalized by neoliberalism and who have been inspired by the
Zapatista movement. We are members of civil society, uniting in the
efforts of Zapatismo, not only to support the EZLN in Mexico, but
also to actively participate in our own transformation "desde nuestra
propia trinchera". The B.F.Z. is dedicated to promote the work of the
E.Z.L.N., F.Z.L.N., and any other organization working towards the
creation of just societies for all humanity. In order to engage in
this process we have organized the following Cultural Encuentro for
Humanity and against neoliberalism.
--------------------------
Primer Encuentro Cultural Para La Humanidad Y Contra El
Neoliberalismo
______________________________________
GOALS/OBJECTIVES
Through dialogue and collective cultural and artistic
creation, to:
* Begin the process of building a strategic alliance between the
Chicana/o community in the US and the Zapatista Indigenous community
in Mexico
* Develop a process for self-reflection that will deepen our
understanding of our history and our present situation, in order to
facilitate the development of democratic and inclusive forms of
organizing within our communities
*Develop a deeper understanding of the Zapatista model of
organizing for building a just society towards the goals of true
democracy and autonomy.
PROGRAM
** August 1, 1997
** 1) - Tentative - CONCERT IN El D.F. - "Todos Somos Zapatista"
Several Chicana/o and Mexicana/o artists will be performing for
the purpose of attracting the attention of the media as well as civil
society to the Chicana/o Indigena Encuentro Cultural and the
Zapatista struggle against neoliberalism and for humanity.
** August 4, 1997
** 2) - SAN CRISTOBAL WELCOMING - This is an effort to help establish
a broader support base for Zapatismo and to develop stronger
relationship wtih the Zapatista community in the City of San
Cristobal de las Casas.
** August 5, 1997
** 3) - BIENVENIDOS A OVENTIC An opening ceremony/welcoming event,
as a chance to settle in and hear Zapatista representatives address
all participants (indigenous community members, and Chicana/o
community members) from the main stage.
** August 6, 1997
** 4) - NOS ENCONTRAMOS - A day dedicated to presenting the realities
of our respective lives as communities and establish a better
understanding of/for eachother and ourselves.
** August 7, 1997
** 5) - LA MUJER - Artistic expression and dialogue focused on the
implementation of the EZLN Revolutionary Laws for all Women in order
to ensure the full participation of women in all aspects of community
reconstruction and redefinition. This day is also focusing on the
role of men in the implementation of these laws.
** August 8, 1997
** 6) - ART & CULTURE AS A TOOL OF RESISTANCE AND RECONSTRUCTION
- A day to focus on the use of different artistic media for the
purpose of political action, education and reconstruction; together
we will learn from each other and create strategies through art.
** August 9, 1997
** 7) - AUTONOMY - A day to examine the concrete areas of political,
economic, cultural, and educational autonomy as a necessary
foundation for rebuilding and redefining community.
** August 10, 1997
** 8) - CLOSING CEREMONY - A day of self-reflection. This is not a
day of good-byes, but a day of welcoming the birth of a new organized
effort towards the reconstruction of our communities through the
process of autonomy in the US. This is also a day for the creation
of the first Chicana/o Artist Declaration for Humanity and against
neoliberalism
** August 11, 1997
** 9) - FUNDRAISING CONCERT IN SAN CRISTOBAL - A closing ceremony in
the Plaza de Toros to begin the process of a united front between
Mexican artists and Chicana/o artists from the US. "Rompiendo el
Cerco".