Our New Anahuac

Event Flyer: Click To Enlarge

Orale!

The Coalition In Defense Of the Community hosted a well-received event at Iglesisa Hispana Nueva Vida on Telephone Road. 

Tarsha Jackson made an emphatic opening call for black-brown unity and reminded us that in addition to a moral call for unity, our communities have several interests in common.  Both of our communities have been victimized by a strong, strong profit motive surrounding the prison business.  Pacho Arguelles co-opened with her, and did an excellent job in facilitating discussion.

Maria Jimenez shared a great review of the history of immigration reform, reminding the crowd that even though major immigration reform was signed into law during the Reagan administration, it only occured as a result of the people’s efforts. 

The participants were right on point, with some people wondering why they should continue to support Obama, and Democrats in general, if the issue of immigration reform continued to be pushed to the side.  Henry Cooper even warned politicians that if they didn’t watch it, they could expect many more Massachusetts, referring to the loss of a senatorial seat in what was taken for granted as a Democratic stronghold.

After the opening questions, the group broke up into and English and Spanish self-study session, in which the participants identified several friends and enemies with the power to support and oppose immigration reform.  I personally learned a great deal about facilitating just by watching Pancho Arguelles, perhaps the best person that I have seen at facilitating discussion, coyuntura style.

I happily agreed to organize for the next big event: March 21st.  Mark your calendars for a blow out march or rally or something.  More details as the become available.

Mario Salinas, Secretary, LGH

Latino Giving Houston will be giving a $3500 grant this year to a Houston-area non-profit that serves the Latino community. Attached is our RFP. You can find the submission due date and other information within the two attached documents. Organizations that deal with social justice, education, the arts and women’s issues and new, start up non-profits are highly encouraged to apply. If you have any questions you can email LatinoGiving@gmail.com or visit LatinoGivingHouston.org.

You may also meet the current members of LGH, which is solely member-supported, at a mixer we are having tonight at Palmer’s Ice House (I-10E @ Wayside) from 6:30pm to 8:30pm.

LGH hopes to continue growing in the coming years as an independent self sufficient, self-funded resource for the Houston’s Latino Community. We need new members to join in 2010 so next year’s grant(s) can make a larger impact within the community. Our membership fee is fully tax deducible.

Please forward this to anyone whom may be interested in applying for the grant. This being our first year releasing a RFP, we are eager to see the level of need/interest in the Latino-serving non-profit community. Thanks.

Wishing You a Wonderful Weekend,

Mario Salinas
LGH Secretary

LatinoGiving @ gmail.com
LatinoGivingHouston.org

PLEASE FORWARD!!!

Puerto Rico might be set to liberate iteslf from its status as an informal colony of the United States, according to the National Journal Mag. Some Puerto Ricans would rather see the island become the 51st state in the US, but groups like the macheteros have fought, even with force, so that the Puerto Rican may liberate himself/herself from the tyranny of US colonialsim. Puerto Rico libre!

The issue of Puerto Rico’s political status has been simmering for nearly 50 years. Now, at a time when Congress has plenty of other pressing items on its agenda, lawmakers may soon be voting on a measure to allow the residents of the largest U.S. territory to determine their own fate.
Last July, the House Natural Resources Committee approved the Puerto Rico Democracy Act, which would establish at least one plebiscite in the Caribbean territory to survey the populace about what status they want for their island. According to the office of House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer, D-Md., the bill will come up for a floor vote this year. “It remains a priority,” spokeswoman Katie Grant said….
For many years, public sentiment moved gradually toward statehood. In a 1967 referendum, Puerto Ricans voted for ELA over statehood 60 percent to 39 percent. But in a 1993 referendum, the vote was 48 percent for ELA and 46 percent for statehood, according to The Almanac. In a November survey of 787 Puerto Rican voters, pollster Pablo Ramos found that 58 percent favored statehood, results almost identical to a 2008 survey.
The pending legislation is not self-executing: It simply provides for Congress to authorize an official survey in Puerto Rico that would inform the U.S. government about what the territory’s citizens want. Congress could then move forward as it sees fit. If a majority of Puerto Ricans voted to change the territory’s status, a second plebiscite would take place three to six months later that would ask residents whether they would like to become a state, gain independence, or become a sovereign nation with U.S. ties. If a majority voted for the status quo in the first plebiscite, the proposal allows for another plebiscite eight years later.

At the same time, residents of the island Vieques are seeking justice for the abuses committed by the US military on the Puerto Rican island.

01/24/2010 SOUTHWEST WORKERS’ UNION FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Report on the Hunger Strike at the Port Isabel Detention Center (Bayview, TX) which began the Day of the National March Against Arpaio. Ruben Tapia reports via Radio Pacifica KPFK 90.7FM. The time stamp for the interview is 17:30- 28:10.01/24/2010 Judy Colon, wife of one of the Hunger Strikers, speaks about the conditions and retaliation against Hungers Strikers by quarantining them with a man who has tuberculosis. She also calls for action for solidarity calls to Janet Napolitano to consider the demands of the hunger strikers and to avoid violent action by ICE to break the strike. Judy Colon has sent a letter to Michael Watkins at Port Isabel Detention Center (Bayview, TX), to her husband’s deportation officer, and has written to President Obama on more than one occasion. Her young daughter has also written and sent a letter to President Obama. They have not recieved a response. Call to Action: Call 866-587-3023 (English) to demand that Janet Napolitano carry out the demands of the hunger strikers and to avoid violent action by ICE to break the strike. Que Viva la Justicia y la Dignidad, For More Information: -Anayanse Garza Southwest Workers’ Union RGV 415 W. Mahl St. Edinburg, TX 78539

______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ 01/24/2010 SOUTHWEST WORKERS’ UNION PARA DIVULGACIÓN INMEDIATA

Reportaje sobre la Huelga de Hambre en el Centro de Detencion de Puerto Isabel (Bayview, TX) la cual inicio el Dia de la Marcha Nacional contra Arpaio. Ruben Tapia reporta de Radio Pacifica KPFK 90.7FM. El tiempo en el documento de la entrevista es 17:30- 28:10. Judy Colón, esposa de uno de los huelguistas de hambre, habla sobre las condiciones y las represalias contra los huelguistas de hambre. Fueron aislados por ICE, puestos en cuarentena con un hombre que tiene tuberculosis. También hace un llamado a la acción con llamadas de solidaridad a Janet Napolitano, exigiéndole a Napolitano que tome en cuenta las demandas de los huelguistas y evitar acciones violentas por el ICE para romper la huelga. Judy Colón ha enviado carta a Michael Watkins en el Centro de Detención de Puerto Isabel (Bayview, TX), al oficial de deportación que se encarga del case de su marido, y le ha escrito al Presidente Obama en más de una ocasión. Su pequeña hija también ha escrito y enviado una carta al Presidente Obama. Ellos no han recibido una respuesta. Llamado de Acción: Hable al 866-974-8813 (Español) para exigir que Janet Napolitano le ponga atención a las demandas de los huelguistas y evitar acciones violentas por ICE para romper la huelga en el Centro de Detencion en Puerto Isabel, TX. Que Viva la Justicia y la Dignidad, Para Mas Información: -Anayanse Garza Southwest Workers’ Union RGV 415 W. Mahl St. Edinburg, TX 78539

We, social critics, have long noted the Hispano-trash that is transmitted by mega corporations over cable, broadcast and radio. The main topics at Univision seems to be breasts and celebrities, and its served up by people looking whiter than the journalists at CNN.

They have become much slicker at masking their racism. The other day, I heard one of them condemning a lady’s hair do for looking too much “al estilo Benito Juarez.” Translation for the mentally conquered—look anything but Indian.

I think TV Azteca did a good job of trying to be decent when they first came on, but most of their decency has long passed. I don’t think Hispano-trash television can get much worse, but it might just get more brainwashy after all. Fíjate lo que dice Ernesto Aguilar on his latest post about Telemundo being swallowed by Comcast.

NBC Universal owns 27 broadcast television stations, many of them Telemundo affiliates. Since Comcast already provides cable and internet service in Houston, this would mean that one company will control content online, on cable and over the airwaves. This is unprecedented.

The Comcast-NBC Universal/Telemundo merger also reflects a reduction of choices in Spanish-language media. Houston’s Latino community is not served well when megacorporations control access to consumers and potentially strong-arming other Spanish-language channels out of the market.

Message To so-called Latino Youth: An Audio Recording

Can be downloaded here or heard @ my online speech page

Download here or listen to the file by clicking below.

Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.

Late last year, I posted about The United Farmworker’s Union (UFW) and their campaign against Giumarra, the largest table grape company in the world.  Being that the UFW was home to Cesar Chavez, whom certain conservatives are literally trying to write out of the history books, I thought this update would be important.  Please consider signing the petition using the links below.

News From the United Farm Workers

SIGN THE PETITION: Giumarra Vineyards sued by EEOC for Sexual Harassment &
Retaliation

Go to: http://action.ufw.org/eeoc

We need your help. The U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission has just
filed suit against Giumarra Vineyards for allegedly violating federal law by
sexually harassing a teenage female farm worker and retaliating against farm
workers who came to her aid.

You most probably remember Giumarra, and their Nature’s Partner label, from the
e-mails we sent you last summer. We told you about their outrageous behavior and
despicable actions against workers–many of whom are organizing for a union
contract. Giumarra Vineyards, the world’s largest table grape company, harvests
approximately 1 out of every 10 bunches of grapes picked in the US. Because the
company is so huge, their behavior helps set the industry standard.

The EEOC case is consistent with the company’s behavior, as Giumarra has a long
history of intimidating workers and violating their rights. According to the
EEOC’s suit (EEOC v. Giumarra Vineyards Corporation, et al, Case No.
1:09-cv-02255), the young woman “was subjected to sexual advances, sexually
inappropriate touching and abusive and offensive sexual comments about the male
sex organ by a male co-worker.” The EEOC further alleged that after witnessing
the sexual harassment, farm workers came to the aid of the teenage victim and
complained to Giumarra Vineyards.

The result? One day after reporting the incident, the victim and people who
helped her were fired. The EEOC suit states they “were summarily discharged in
retaliation for their opposition to the sexual harassment.” (More details in the
EEOC’s press release.)

What happened to this vulnerable young girl and the others who simply came to
her defense was reprehensible and illegal.

We have begun an online petition. A delegation of women leaders will hand it in
to Giumarra/Nature’s Partner and attempt to meet with this company in
mid-February. Please sign the petition today–and send it to as many friends as
possible. Give Giumarra a strong message that you will not tolerate this
behavior.

Go to: http://action.ufw.org/eeoc

——————————————————————

Can you do one more thing?

To really drive the message home to Giumarra/Nature’s Partner, we want to ask
you to take one more step.

Can you please take 1 minute and post a comment directly on Nature’s Partner’s
website by going to http://action.ufw.org/np?

It’s easy to do. Just go to http://action.ufw.org/np and post a message like the
below example. (If you can put it into your own words that would be even
better.):

I am astonished and dismayed at Giumarra’s disregard of the law. This is not
medieval times.  In the 21st century workers have the right to speak up to
protect themselves and others.  Giumarra is not above the law. It is astonishing
that the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission was forced to file suit
against Giumarra Vineyards for violating federal law by sexually harassing a
teenage female farm worker and retaliating against farm workers who came to her
aid.

As the world’s largest table grape company, your behavior helps set the industry
standard. You should be ashamed of the example you are setting both in this case
with the sexual harassment and retaliation and with your dismal history of
worker protection. This behavior reflects negatively on your company and your
Nature’s Partner label.

It’s time for your company to realize that you are not above the law. Stop the
sexual harassment and retaliation for field workers who speak up or support the
UFW. Your consumers are watching.

This extra step can do a lot to make sure Giumarra and it’s Nature’s Partner
label are aware that their customers are watching them.

Thank you!
—-

United Farm Workers,  P.O. Box 62, Keene, CA 93531

Special thanks to Mazatzin, Assessor of the Ancient Culture of Anauak (an overly humble title in my opinion), for this guest post.

He asked me to include his contact information:
(323)830-7479
zemazatzin @ hotmail.com
www.aztekayolokalli.com

Happy New Year to all, in this European colonial calendar count. It is a new year because we are measuring it from exactly 365.25 days before…so it is definitely a new year cycle.

El Maestro

On march 12, 2010, when the Sun first appears on the horizon the new year on the Ancient Mexika Chronological System will begin, and it will travel in 20 day cycles, 18 of them, giving us 360 days, then a small period of 5 1/4 days will complete the Solar year. The ancient ones used the last 5 and 1/4 days in a special way, setting them aside to dedicate for Reflection, Balance and Adjustment in reviewing the previous year and planning the new one.

They developed this system by learning to respect everything and everybody that surrounded them, and learning by patient obeservation and careful study that they were at once a great duality as an individual and as Cosmos. They not only developed the most precise system ever invented to measure and record time and space but they also incorporated that knowledge into their lives and their daily living obeying this law of duality, not in a superstitious way but in a scientific sense.

In essence what our most ancient ancestors found was that time was the most common denominator and that each individual living being had a right to as much of it as he could adequately use and enjoy, particularly if it represented use and enjoyment for the whole. They treated every day (actually every piece of time) with respect, knowing that every day presented an attitude, a priviledge and a warning.

This kind of thinking probably sounds a little too strange or Utopia…like…too good to be true…but there is proof and evidence, traces, and more importantly it is still practiced today, and can be taught and relearned. But it is very important to know that this type of thinking and life ways are not “indian” ways…these are human life ways that existed here, and probably all over the earth, long before anybody decided to call all the original peoples of this western hemisphere “indians”. This is simply a human story and their relationship with nature at the rhythm of the Cosmos.

None of this story is found in history.

Today on the first day of school at CCSF in the History of Mexico class the first lecture stated the fact that is supposed to lay without rebuttal or challenge “…everybody thought that the maya were very peaceful people, but now we know they were bloody too, because we can read the maya glyphs..and everyone knows that the Azteks based their society on warefare and sacrifice”, etc…etc… casting thousands of years and lives dedicated to finding that balance and taking their responsibility serious into the black hole of his-story.

On this day, 11 Jaguar, Matlaktli ze Ozelotl, my son looked at me and we smiled, fortunately on the way to the class we were discussing the day and all the possibilities it presented for us…so, like a Jaguar we used those qualities of being audacious and did not let anything bother us, then we used those tenacious qualities of the Jaguar to make our move, and we stayed after the class and waited patiently to meet the teacher and begin our new relationship with him as an ally in this mission to regain that equilibrium.

In our personal experience with original peoples from Onondaga in “canada” to Machu Picchu in “peru” we have found that the thread of time and the respect thereof runs throughout uniting one people, one culture, one continent with a multitude of customs and traditions. All original peoples life ways were based on the most simple yet profound acknowledgement and respect of the elements that give life, and their personal relationship with nature. Very interesting also was the fact that the original names of the peoples all refer to humans… people.

In conclusion, I submit this thought; a great big part of our lack of identity and progress as a people (hue-mans) comes from continuing to use and demanding that other original peoples use the term “indian” to define ourselves and our millenial life stories. When this happens we have no inheritance to offer our children, in short denying them their birth right.

The big problem with americans is that they don’t behave like humans.

Que Viva La Revolucion

Animal In Man: Tio Taco Mozo Scum Watch Out. We’re watching you. The feeling of community betrayal is an emotion with which you have not yet been forced to reckon.

The Chinese Revolution —— they wanted land. They threw the British out, along with the Uncle Tom Chinese. Yeah, they did. They set a good example. When I was in prison, I read an article —— don’t be shocked when I say I was in prison. You’re still in prison. That’s what America means: prison. When I was in prison, I read an article in Life magazine showing a little Chinese girl, nine years old; her father was on his hands and knees and she was pulling the trigger ’cause he was an Uncle Tom Chinaman, When they had the revolution over there, they took a whole generation of Uncle Toms —— just wiped them out. And within ten years that little girl become [sic] a full—grown woman. No more Toms in China. And today it’s one of the toughest, roughest, most feared countries on this earth —— by the white man. ’Cause there are no Uncle Toms over there.
-Malcolm X 1963 on using history to learn how to get our problems straight.