Electoral Delegation to Honduras: November 19-27, 2013 ~ @SOAWatch #humanrights

Join one of SOA Watch's upcoming election delegations to Honduras and El Salvador! Electoral Delegation to Honduras: November 19-27, 2013 On November 24, elections will take place in Honduras, four years after an SOA graduate led military coup ousted democratically elected President Manuel Zelaya and unleashed intense repression and violence nationwide. The national resistance movement formed in response to the coup has created a new political party, LIBRE, that is running candidates for President, Congress, and Mayor's offices throughout the country. SOA Watch is inviting a small group to witness and report on the November presidential election in Honduras. Across Honduras, there is hope that these elections may bring relief to four years of spiraling repression and violence, the imposition of extreme right-wing policies, land theft, an erosion of sovereignty, "shock doctrine" neoliberal policies, and an imploding economy. LIBRE presidential candidate Xiomara Castro de Zelaya, wife of the deposed president Manuel Zelaya, is leading the polls, but LIBRE candidates and activists face repression, death threats, and understandably fear massive fraud. The military currently patrols many parts of the country and human rights violations are rampant. The delegation will be led by Brigitte Gynther who has been in Honduras for the past year as a human rights observer and coordinator of the SOA Watch's Stories of Honduras project. Delegation fee of $950 includes lodging, all meals, and transportation within Honduras. It does not include airfare to and from Honduras. Read more about the delegation here. For more information contact Brigitte Gynther: brigitte@soaw.org El Salvador Electoral Delegation: January 27-February 4, 2014 El Salvador continues to struggle with the violent legacy of its civil war, a history that is unfortunately rife with the involvement of SOA graduates. Salvadorans have also continued to fight against continued impunity and for a change in the unequal social and economic structures that have caused so much suffering. A recent victory was won in US courts as SOA graduate Inocente Orlando Montano was sentenced for immigration fraud after lying about his military past and probable involvement in the murder of the 6 Jesuit priests from Spain and two Salvadorans in 1989 - the event that we commemorate every November at the Vigil. We must celebrate this victory against impunity, but we need to continue to monitor his case and assure the US extradites him to Spain after he is released from US prison. In coordination with the Center for International Solidarity (CIS) participants in this delegation will observe the Feb 2nd presidential election. CIS has organized electoral observers in El Salvador in every election since the 1992 Peace Accords. The delegation seeks to contribute to free and fair elections; generate a safe environment to stimulate democratic participation; observe and inform about the implementation of election reforms; and deepen understanding of the social and economic structures that govern the country, as well as the limits of electoral politics. The CIS Mission produces a final report which is presented to the Supreme Election Tribunal as well as other important actors, as a tool to study the electoral processes and to continue to implement electoral reforms. The presence of international observers contributes to transparency, deters fraud, and builds voter confidence, especially in rural areas where the divisions and wounds of the war are still very present. Participants will also learn about the Salvadoran national reality in an international context, and engage with different groups that continue to fight for change in El Salvador. The ways to exercise solidarity have changed and are complex, but they are just as necessary as they were in the 1980s. Delegation fee of $950 includes lodging, all meals, and transportation within El Salvador. It does not include air fare to and from San Salvador. For more information contact Lisa Sullivan: LSullivan@soaw.org The US has a long history of intervention and military aid in both Honduras and El Salvador. In Honduras, US funded militarization is taking place across the country, especially where people are standing up for their right to land from privatization and corporate exploitation. For instance, the Honduran military has been part of violent evictions of 1,600 families in the Sula Valley of Honduras so that the land can't be used for subsistence and sustainability but for a multi-national corporation to profit from sugar plantations. Magdalena Morales, the Regional Secretary for the National Center of Rural Workers, and 51 other campesinos (small farmers) are being criminalized for standing up for the right to land. They also face death threats and as Magdalena explains, "when we leave home we don't know if we will return alive or not." While social movement leaders such as Magdalena are threatened and prosecuted for struggling for justice, the military, police, and private assassins are let off the hook for violent repression. This week, a San Pedro Sula court dismissed charges against the current Director of the Preventative Police for his role in the violent repression of demonstrators following the SOA-graduate coup in 2009. The impunity generates continued violence and repression, such as when two young fathers who had gone fishing one Saturday morning were shot at by a Navy Officer or the murder of 3 Indigenous Tolupan community members this past Sunday. The Tolupan community of Locomapa had been carrying out a peaceful roadblock against illegal mining in their territory when armed men connected to the mine shot and killed them. Read more about recent events in Honduras on the Stories of Honduras Page. MORE RECENT NEWS FROM THE STRUGGLES FOR LAND AND LIBERTY IN HONDURAS: Honduran Naval Officer Shoots Unarmed Men Fishing on Lake. Impunity for Police Abuse of Anti-Coup Demonstators. The Murder of Tomas Garcia by Honduran Military The Struggle for Land in Agua Blanca Sur Stories from Honduras Project Mining: Three members of Tolupan indigenous group murdered in Yoro Don't Bomb Syria! As the machinery for a U.S.-led military intervention in Syria works hard to gather pace, we can hear the drums of war in the White House, in Congress, in the Pentagon, in the media, in the think tanks,in the offices of the war-profiteers... but we, the people, are not silent. Fifty years after the historic March on Washington, we continue the dream - of a world based on justice, solidarity, mutual aid, dialogue, peace.The struggle did not end in '63, and the spirit remains alive. International and national outrage is growing in the face of new war, our solidarity is slowing the imperialists... let's not stop now! As Syrians wait to see if they will join the long list of nations the US war-machine has bombed over the years, we say that no longer will we tolerate more racist, imperialist wars. We reject the notion that bombing Syrians will make them safer. There are no "military solutions," and the infusion of more violence, weapons and U.S. military training only causes more death and suffering. Mobilize your community and take a stand against militarism and empire. Work to create a culture of justice and peace! The movement to close the SOA is a community, and all ideas are welcome. We appreciate any feedback you might have -- positive or negative. Click here to contact SOA Watch with any questions or concerns. SOA Watch, PO Box 4566, Washington, DC 20017 To make a donation to support the movement, please visit SOAW.org/donate. To make a tax deductible donation, please visit SOAW.org/educationalfund.

Move to Amend is going back to school #edujustice

MOVE TO AMEND IS GOING BACK TO SCHOOL These days, Americans are suffering through an onslaught of corporate advertising for clothing, supplies, and gadgetry for students heading back to school. Besides these expenses, parents are budgeting for increasing school fees no longer covered by their tax dollars. For those with college age students, many budgets are being stretched too thin to help cover rising tuition rates, textbooks, and housing. This month, Move to Amend Reports has been focusing on “Back to School,” and the American education system on our weekly internet radio program, Move to Amend Reports. Tonight (August 29) Biola Jeje from New York Students Rising, will be our guest. Click here to tune in at 5pm Pacific / 8pm Eastern. This is a call-in show: dial (646) 652-2345 and press 1 to participate. On August 23, we spoke with Roshan Bliss, a student organizer, inclusiveness and anti-oppression trainer, and group process specialist with a passion for empowering young people to defend their futures and democratize their campuses. On August 14, Ceresta Smith from Save Our Schools discussed discuss equity in education. On August 8, Professor Robert Kallen discussed the economics of public education and solutions to control rising tuition rates. On August 1, Patrick St. John spoke to corporate involvement in education and student empowerment. The corporate takeover of our public schools is happening: In leadership, curriculum and testing, and the assault on teachers and their unions. We could resolve the issues in public education if we were more concerned about the quality of an education rather than ensuring profitability for corporate America. Money is not speech, and corporations are not people. But every child is a very important person, who deserves the best education we can deliver. Ask the teachers and educators you know to sign the Motion to Amend petition and share it with their colleagues. Tune into Move to Amend Reports tonight for more of our continuing series on “Back to School.” Sincerely, Ashley Sanders, Daniel Lee, David Cobb, Egberto Willies, George Friday, Jerome Scott, Kaitlin Sopoci-Belknap, Laura Bonham, Maria Agosto, Nancy Price, Pamela Brown, Richard Monje Move to Amend National Leadership Team

Fair Food Nation brings summer heat to Wendy's ~ @ciw

Fair Food Nation brings summer heat to Wendy’s! Carmen Esquivel, CIW: “For us, one cent more is another spoonful of food in the pot to be able to feed our families.” Fox 4 TV Wendy’s Week of Action takes off with high energy actions across the country!… Consumers and farmworkers across the country officially launched the Wendy’s Week of Action with three phenomenal protests on Saturday, August 3rd, with representation from all corners of the Fair Food Nation. Now, as you enjoy the upbeat photos, don’t forget that you can still participate! Check out the Wendy’s page for the full list of actions. For now, here are highlights from the first day… The Presbyterian Church (USA) kicked off the weekend in Louisville, KY with a spirited picket of over 50 people. With their headquarters just around the corner from the headquarters of Yum! Brands, Taco Bell’s parent company, the PC(USA) is certainly no stranger to calling for Fair Food in Louisville. [...] [...] Next up, the young un’s… Along with our long-standing allies from the Presbyterian community, students certainly weren’t to be left out of the fun! After four days of presentations, workshops, trainings, and late night discussions, dozens of students from the National Student Power Convergence joined with local students from the University of Wisconsin Madison on a mile-long march to the local Wendy’s on August 3rd. Honks and cheers of support followed the students down the street, both from cars and, upon arrival, even Wendy’s customers... Don't to miss the beautiful photos (including those of Immokalee's irresistable children) at the CIW website!

Webinar Fri Aug 9th 11 AM EST - World Indigenous Peoples Day

Celebrate World Indigenous Peoples Day!
We're Dedicating it to FPIC! 

 

Friday, August 9, is the United Nations' International Day of the World's Indigenous People, first proclaimed by the General Assembly in December 1994, to be celebrated every year during the first International Decade of the World's Indigenous People (1995 - 2004).

In 2004, the Assembly proclaimed a Second International Decade, from 2005 - 2014, with the theme of "A Decade for Action and Dignity." The focus of this year's International Day is "Indigenous peoples building alliances: Honouring treaties, agreements and other constructive arrangements."

Visit the International Day of the World's Indigenous Peoples' website and read  the Secretary-General's message for this day. 

Celebratory Events

To celebrate the day, the United Nations will be holding a special event at their New York City headquarters on Friday, August 9 starting at 3pm EST, which will be broadcast live.       

Get Involved 

Cultural Survival, First Peoples Worldwide, and the #Proud2BIndigenous coalition is dedicating this week to FPIC - Free, Prior and Informed Consent, which stipulates that corporations, governments, and NGOS must include Indigenous Peoples in the planning and implementation of all development projects on traditional land, and obtain their consent before beginning a project, including respecting their right to say no to such projects.  

****Participate in our collaborative FPIC Map!   If you are an Indigenous community facing an FPIC issue, or a corporation, government or NGO engaged in an FPIC situation with Indigenous Peoples, please email agnes@cs.org with your location, name of your community and a short description of your FPIC issue.

Visit the Cultural Survival Bazaar 

On Thursday, August 8 through Saturday, August 10, the Mashantucket Pequot Museum is hosting the Cultural Survival Bazaar in Mashantucket, CT as part of their 15th Anniversary Celebration. Join us for Indigenous art, music, and food from around the world.  Performances by Yarina (Music of Ecuador), Kawika Alfiche and Halau o Keikialiʼi (Hawaiian music), and Leonard Four Hawks (Native American Storytelling). Learn more here.  

Join us Friday, August 9! 

On Friday, August 9  at 11:00AM EST we will be hosting a webinar, along with First Peoples Worldwide and the International Indian Treaty Council, entitled "Engaging FPIC:  Understanding, Interpretation, and Self-Determination." Please join us for this online panel discussion followed by a question and answer segment. You can follow the discussion on Twitter using the hashtags #FPIC and #P2BI. Register online here.

For more information on Free, Prior and Informed Consent and to download free radio spots on FPIC, see our materials here.

Cultural Survival is a global leader in the fight to protect Indigenous lands, languages, and cultures around the world. In partnership with Indigenous Peoples, we advocate for Indigenous communities whose rights, cultures, and dignity are under threat. For more information go to www.cs.org