Mexico city for a week and Zapatistas for a night...

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Hola todos y todas!

So this time I thought i would mix things up a bit and let the photos do most of the talking(a.k.a. i am too lazy to write an entire journal entry).

Dont be alarmed by the ski-masked indigenous people we're posing with, if you dont know too much about the Zapatistas, read more here
they were very friendly and patient in answering all of our questions.

We leave for Oaxaca on Friday and after we come back in april, we'll start our independent study projects! i'm thinking of doing my field study with a microcredit organization here in San cristobal, and focus on how these programs function within indigenous communities. we'll see though, maybe i'll fall in love with Oaxaca...

well, enjoy the photos!

Adios,
maggie

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Photos

The Virgen of Guadelupe Church
there are 4 conveyor-belt walkways so that you can get your dose of Guadelupe at high speed

Host family in barrio Santo Domingo, Mexico City
(except for the lady with the blue hair, mojdeh, she was our coordinator in Mexico city)

Maria Fernanda, daughter of my 21 yr old host sister Gabi in San Cristobal
so cute!! but careful, she bites

Women of the Junta
The Junta de Buen Gobierno is the zapatistas' governing system. the delegates come from different towns of the Caracol (kind of the capital of several towns in a region) and they serve on the Junta for 9 days. the Junta is basically the administrative unit of the government, authorizing projects and visitors.

The Comission for Political Explanation
the Comisión de Explicación Política is exactly what it sounds like.. they explain what the Zapatistas represent and struggle for to anyone who comes to visit them. they are also delegates on a rotating basis like the Junta.

Us and the Zapatistas
The zapatistas do not accept any aid from the government and do not vote. they declare themselves an autonomous community although the government refuses to make that into law. they sustain themselves through donations from solidarity organizations and local ngos. they have their own schools and clinics. they work against the neoliberal model (for example, NAFTA) and try to unite with other social movements nationally through something they call "The Other Camppaign" in which they tour the country and organize community meetings to discuss issues and form a plan of action.

Comments

[Mom]

Your Smiling Face
Hi Maggie, It's good to see you in the photos and know that you are well and learning lots about politics at the grassroots level. One person can make difference. Love, Mom

[Dad]

Pictures are great
I like the pictures. Besides you write long explanations for them, so it ends up as photo journalism. Keep them coming. Love, Dad