Wednesday, October 31, 2007

HOUSTON: Petition to Home Depot Regarding Respect For Human Rights and Dignity of Day Workers

Attached is a petition your organization can send to secure a day labor site for Home Depot day laborers at Belway 8 and Bellaire.


Home Depot has just agreed to meet but we need to keep the pressure up to make sure we see the establishment of the first day labor station in Houston.

Si Se Puede.

Sent by: Maria Jimenez
dignidad@hotmail.com

---

Date: November 1, 2007

To: Home Depot

W Sam Houston Pkwy S (Beltway 8 and Bellaire)

Houston TX 77072

Re: Respect for the human rights and dignity of day workers.

Our organization is very concerned with about Home Depot’s decision to prohibit day laborers from standing on the cordon surrounding the property of your parking lot. Since Home Depot took this action, workers have been pushed across the street, to the sides of the Beltway and to sidewalks where employers have little space to pick up workers. In addition, the security guards are often hostile to the employers and workers that congregate at the back of the store. Principally the current situation denies workers a safe space to exercise their right to look for work.

We believe that Home Depot has a responsibility to provide a safe and orderly hiring space for the workers who seek employment from Home Depot customers. Home Depot has purported to be a “neighbor of choice”. Without inclusion and fair treatment of the day workers, Home Depot has failed to fulfill its commitment to be a good corporate citizen.

We urge you to reconsider your actions and open a dialogue with workers to ensure a safe space for workers and employers to meet and to demonstrate that Home Depot’s is willing to meet its obligation to respect the human rights and dignity of all members of the community.

Name Signature Address Phone

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ARTICLE: Free Trade, Migration and Corn Crises

side note for those that might not know: On January 1, 2008 the last provisions of NAFTA (North American Free Trade Agreement) will be fully implemented.

Free Trade, Migration and Corn Crises



Rural Mexico and NAFTA at Fourteen
October 30, 2007

On the eve of the elimination of all tariffs on corn and beans imported into Mexico, a new World Bank study spotlights continued, major structural problems afflicting the country's agricultural sector. According to the report, one-fourth of all residents of the Mexican countryside abandoned their homes in a ten-year period studied. Especially noteworthy was the out migration of 25 percent of youths between 15 and 24 years of age. Increasingly, Mexican rural areas are becoming lands of women and the elderly. The study gives a strong hint of what helps explain the rural exodus: Mexican agricultural workers lost 30 percent of their purchasing power between 1988 and 1996 alone.

According to the World Bank, rural Mexicans make up 24.3 percent of the nation's population, or approximately 24,800,000 people. Although they still constitute nearly one-quarter of Mexico's population, rural Mexicans generate only 3.9 percent of their nation's Gross Domestic Product. The farm GDP of $24.3 billion is just slightly less than the amount of migrant remittances received by Mexican households in 2006. The World Bank's study indicated that migration had a double-edged sword-at least in the short to medium term. While draining the countryside of future farmers, migration provided remittances that allowed poor households to survive. Given slow-downs in the US economy as well as the stricter application of US immigration laws, it's uncertain how long the remittance economy outlined by the World Bank can sustain itself.

The time period studied by the World Bank coincided with the entry of Mexico into the World Trade Organization, the dismantling of government agricultural support programs and the first years of the North American Free Trade Agreement (Nafta). The World Bank report was released a little more than two months before all remaining tariffs on staple corn and beans are eliminated under Nafta’s provisions. Already, the study is fueling renewed debate about free trade's impact on the Mexican countryside. Since 1994, the first year of Nafta, corn imports from the United States have acquired increased importance in the Mexican food and animal feed sectors.

John Nash, an economist for the sustainable development department of the World Bank, predicted a modest or positive impact in Mexico from the pending tear-down of tariff barriers on basic grains. "There could be a positive effect with the opening of the border, especially for corn producers," Nash said.

But Karen Hansen-Kuhn, an analyst for the Washington-based non-governmental organization Action Aid, offered a different assessment of the World Bank study’s implications.

"Nafta has been devastating for the small producers of Mexico," Hansen-Kuhn said. "Several million of them have been displaced from their lands since the agreement began functioning and now that the prices of grains have gone up significantly, the agricultural sector finds itself devastated to such a degree that it is very difficult for farmers to return and produce on their lands."

As the 14th anniversary of Nafta dawns, two prevailing currents of thought influence Mexican farm organizations. One side holds that Mexican producers must find their niche in the global economy and take advantage of new opportunities, but with some government support. For instance, Maria Esther Teran Velasquez, president of the National Confederation of Rural Landowners (CNPR) insists that the agricultural sector requires modernization to effectively compete on the world market.

Speaking at the CNPR's recent assembly, Velasquez called for investing more public funds in the countryside, implementing "clear operating rules" and fully eliminating "discretion in the approval of projects." Vasquez urged the government to extend a modest subsidy program for small producers known as Procampo for at least ten years, and to seek alternative means of support for producers with more than 75 acres who are currently enrolled in the program.

Upholding principles of food sovereignty and agricultural sustainability, another important sector of the rural population is attempting to block the corn and bean tariff eliminations beginning on January 1, 2008. So far, their efforts are not receiving a positive hearing in many government circles. Promoted by the National Council of Campesino Organizations, El Barzon and other groups, a law designed to strictly regulate the importation of beans and corn failed in the Chamber of Deputies last week. The initiative went down to defeat due to opposition from the Institutional Revolutionary Party (PRI) and its rural arm, the National Campesino Confederation, which still retains influence in the countryside.

Citing Article 31 of the Mexican Constitution that gives the congress power to protect strategic sectors of the Mexican economy, the unsuccessful bill nevertheless set the stage for a future revisiting of the power of Mexican national law over international treaties, an issue Mexico's Supreme Court has been willing to consider in water shortage complaints by Tamaulipas farmers and in other cases.

Anti-Nafta forces, however, are stepping up their mobilizations and organizing protests set for January 1. Across the nation, the "No Corn, No Country" campaign is building support among city dwellers for anti-Nafta rural organizations. The movement sponsored a youth-oriented rock concert in Mexico City which drew thousands to the capital city's Zocalo plaza last weekend. Dubbed "Lets' Save the Countryside to Save Mexico," the event was endorsed by environmental organizations, artists, intellectuals, and actors and actresses.

Concert organizer Lorena Paz, a representative of the Maya Institute, told attendees that while Mexico was one of the nations where corn originated, the country now faces a defining economic, political and
cultural crisis.

"The food of the people is in danger of dying and the campesinos are in danger of extinction," Paz contended. "If we don't take our corn and beans out of Nafta, we will be on our knees before the United States. We will have lost our food sovereignty and we will completely depend on other countries for eating."

In a follow-up event to the concert, small farmers plan a November 8-10
Zocalo fair, where city slickers will get a chance of sampling Mexico's home-grown "agricultural richness."

In the big picture, Mexico confronts environmental and structural disadvantages in the agricultural sector when it comes to competing with its Nafta trading partners, the United States and Canada. According to the World Bank, Mexico has about 71 million arable acres of land. In contrast, the US possesses about 462 million acres of cultivable land, while Canada boasts more than 135 million acres of land suited for agriculture.


Sources: La Jornada, October 28, 2007.
Proceso/Apro, October 24, 2007.
Article by Patricia Davila. Cimacnoticias.com,
October 24, 2007.
Frontenet.com/La Jornada, October 20, 2007.

Frontera NorteSur (FNS): on-line, U.S.-Mexico border news
Center for Latin American and Border Studies
New Mexico State University
Las Cruces, New Mexico

For a free electronic subscription email
fnsnews@nmsu.edu



Courtesy of: Ne74

ARTICLE: Report to be released today on ICE raids' impact on kids

By Harold Reutter
harold.reutter@theindependent.com
Published in: Grand Island Independent

The National Council of La Raza and the Urban Institute are scheduled to release a report today about how Grand Island children and families were impacted by last December's ICE raid on the local Swift plant.

The report will be released during a presentation to the National Press Club in Washington, D.C.

In addition to studying the impact on children and families in Grand Island, the report also looked at the effects on children and families following an Immigration and Customs Enforcement raid on the Swift & Co. plant in Greeley, Colo., and on the Michael Bianco Inc. plant in New Bedford, Mass.

According to the Boston Globe, the Michael Bianco plant is a leather goods operation. It's also a military contractor that makes backpacks and survival vests.

Grand Island Superintendent Steve Joel, although not involved in the creation of the report, has been invited to be one of the panelists when the report is presented to the National Press Club.

The report had two main researchers from the Urban Institute, which describes itself as a nonprofit, nonpartisan policy research and educational organization. It says it "investigates the social, economic and governance problems confronting the nation and evaluates the public and private means to alleviate them."

The Urban Institute was commissioned to complete the report by the National Council of La Raza.

The Independent has received an advance copy of the 99-page report and will post excerpts after the embargo has ended at 10 a.m. today.

Marie Watteau, associate director of the Office of Public Information for the National Council of La Raza, said the report deals with current immigration law, which is an enforcement-only policy of deportation when it comes to illegal immigrants.

Watteau said La Raza may favor what some people have called comprehensive immigration reform, but the report makes no recommendations on changing current immigration law.

Instead, it focuses on the impact on children and families when ICE takes work-site enforcement actions in various communities, Watteau said.

That is reflected in the report's title: "Paying the Price: The Impact of Immigration Raids on America's Children."



SOURCE:
http://www.theindependent.com/stories/10312007/new_ice31.shtml



Courtesy of: Ne74

Tuesday, October 30, 2007

Tribes In Need Of Help From The State Wide Fires in Cali

Thanks,
Pura Fé
Nahuatl (MEH-SHEE-KAH) Mexicatl


Tribal and fire authorities are asking for canned food donations after closures on Highways 76 and 79 have halted deliveries into the Rincon, San Pasqual, Santa Ysabel and La Jolla Indian reservations, fire official Ray St. Charles said.


The fire has burned 43,000 acres and is 45 percent contained, according to CalFire officials. It destroyed about 65 structures on the Rincon reservation, including homes, mobile homes and other facilities, and at least 31 structures on the La Jolla reservation, tribal officials said.


Most of the reservations have been without power for nearly a week, San Diego Gas & Electric Co. officials said.

The California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection reported Saturday that 2,000 homes were still threatened by the Poomacha fire, which started on the La Jolla Indian Reservation near Palomar Mountain early Tuesday morning.

How To Help:

Hello everyone,

If anyone can make ANY contributions including items, clothing or monetary for the fire victims of the San Diego Rez's, please send them to the following address.

Indian Resource Center
4265 Fairmont Ave #140
San Diego, Ca 92105
619-281-5964

The Indian Resource Center, is a 501 C3 non profit organization and is the source in San Diego County, that provides assistance to the Native community, weather it be crisis situations or every day occurrences.

They will be bringing these items and donations, directly to the reservations. This is a direct point of contact for the Native Community.

I just spoke with the Director and they are compiling a detailed items list of things that are needed, they will be sending me that info later on today. I will forward that out, as soon as I get it.

If you are in the San Diego area and can bring items, please bring directly to the Resource Center and the address provided above.

In the mean time, I know these general items will be on the list.

Donations:
Cleaning supplies - Large Trash Bags.
Non-perishable foods.
Water - drinking.
Towels, wash cloths, blankets and pillows.
Personal toiletries - feminine products, toothpaste and brushes, soap, hand sanitizer, shampoo.
Clothes - women, men, kids.
Animal food.

If you can volunteer to help the Resource Center will all this coordination, please contact Juan at 619-281-5964.

Please keep all the fire victims in San Diego and surrounding areas in your thoughts and prayers. Several of the Reservations were effected by this disaster and both La Jolla and Rincon lost many homes.

Please help how and if you are able, any and all contributions are appreciated!

Thank you,

In peace & solidarity,
Tamra Brennan
Director/Founder
www.NDNnews.com

Please repost!




Courtesy of: Ne74

ARTICLE: Nazis Learned About Zyklon B From US Treatment of Mexicans

How America inspired the Third Reich

The Nazis learned about Zyklon B from the US treatment of Mexicans, writes Paul Spike

A brilliant new book by a Mexican-American historian documents how, in the Twenties and Thirties, the Nazis were inspired by what the United States had been doing to their Mexican neighbours since 1917.

In Ringside at the Revolution: An Underground Cultural History of El Paso and Juarez, David Dorado Romo establishes the US Immigration Department's systematic brutality along the Rio Grande border.

Mexican visitors were forced to strip naked and subjected to 'screening' (for homosexuality, low IQ, physical deformities like 'clubbed fingers') and to 'disinfection' with various toxic fumigants, including gasoline, kerosene, sulfuric acid,

http://img61.imageshack.us/img61/9206/55007521kb0.jpg

DDT and, after 1929, Zyklon-B (hydrocyanic acid) - the same gas used in the Holocaust's death camps.

The ostensible reason for the US fumigation was the fear of a typhus epidemic. Yet in 1916, the year before such 'baths' were enforced, only two cases of typhus had occurred in the poorest El Paso slum.

"This is a huge black hole in history," Romo told me. "Unfortunately, I only have oral histories and other anecdotal evidence about the harmful effects of the noxious chemicals used to disinfect and delouse the Mexican border crossers - including deaths, birth defects, cancer, etc. It may well go into the tens of thousands. It's incredible that absolutely no one, after all these years, has ever attempted to document this."

What Romo does have is shocking proof of the influence of US immigration techniques on Nazi

http://img153.imageshack.us/img153/7590/83532865gm2.jpg

thinking. Romo quotes Hitler writing in 1924, "The American union itself... has established scientific criteria for immigration... making an immigrant's ability to set foot on American soil dependent on specific racial requirements on the one hand as well as a certain level of physical health of the individual himself."

In 1938, three years before the first death camps of the Final Solution, Nazi chemist Dr Gerhard Peters published a full account, in German science journal Anzeiger fur Sahahlinskund, of the El Paso 'disinfection' plant. He included two photos and diagrams of the machinery which sprayed Zyklon B on railroad cars. (Peters went on to acquire Zyklon B's German patent.)

It should be noted that while the Americans sprayed their victims with toxic chemicals, they restricted use of Zyklon B to freight and clothes. As the Nazis understood, spraying it

http://img218.imageshack.us/img218/4959/81720224gn7.jpg
Romo’s book comes at a time when
Mexican immigration is at the top of
the list of US political issues

directly on a human caused almost immediate death. We can only guess what effect it had on the thousands of Mexican men, women and children who, after a 'bath' in DDT or gasoline, were sent away in clothes drenched with Zyklon B.

Romo's book comes at a time when Mexican immigration is at the top of the list of US political issues. There are 12m illegals in the United States by official count, and certainly twice that unofficially. Among the solutions is the right wing's vociferous call to build a 'Berlin wall' 2,000 miles long across the entire Rio Grande border.

Unsurprisingly, Mexican Americans hate this idea. Their memories - the emerging truth of Mexican-American history - and their votes seem certain to undermine it.


Article Above Reposted:
http://www.thefirstpost.co.uk/index.php?storyID=7083

----------------------------------------------------------{----------(@

http://img206.imageshack.us/img206/4306/77284266me2.jpg
Ringside Seat to a Revolution:
An Underground Cultural History
of El Paso and Juarez: 1893-1923

by David Dorado Romo published by
Cinco Puntos Press

@)----------}----------------------------------------------------------

The Bath Riots: Indignity Along the Mexican Border
http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=5176177

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The Bath Riots

MY INTEREST IN the El Paso-Juárez Bath Riots didn't start with something I read in any history book. Most historians have forgotten about this obscure incident that took place on the border in 1917. I first heard of the U.S. government's policy that provoked these riots while I was still in high school. One evening, during a family dinner, my great-aunt Adela Dorado shared her memories with us about her experiences as a young woman during the Mexican Revolution. She recalled that American authorities regularly forced her and all other working-class Mexicans to take a bath and be sprayed with pesticides at the Santa Fe Bridge whenever they needed to cross into the United States. My great-aunt, who worked as a maid in El Paso during the revolution, told us she felt humiliated for being treated as a "dirty Mexican." She related how on one occasion the U.S. customs officials put her clothes and shoes through a large secadora (dryer) and her shoes melted.

Many years later, as part of my research for this book at the National Archives in the Washington, D.C. area, I came upon some photographs taken in 1917 in El Paso. The pictures, which were part of the U.S. Public Health records, showed large steam dryers used to disinfect the clothes of border crossers at the Santa Fe Bridge. Here it was.

But I also unexpectedly uncovered other information at the National Archives that took my great-aunt's personal recollections beyond family lore or microhistory. These records point to the connection between the U.S. Customs disinfection facilities in El Paso-Juárez in the 20s and the Desinfektionskammern (disinfection chambers) in Nazi Germany. The documents show that beginning in the 1920s, U.S. officials at the Santa Fe Bridge deloused and sprayed the clothes of Mexicans crossing into the U.S. with Zyklon B. The fumigation was carried out in an area of the building that American officials called, ominously enough, "the gas chambers." I discovered an article written in a German scientific journal written in 1938, which specifically praised the El Paso method of fumigating Mexican immigrants with Zyklon B. At the start of WWII, the Nazis adopted Zyklon B as a fumigation agent at German border crossings and concentration camps. Later, when the Final Solution was put into effect, the Germans found more sinister uses for this extremely lethal pesticide. They used Zyklon B pellets in their own gas chambers not just to kill lice but to exterminate millions of human beings. But that's another story.

Our story, instead, begins with the account of the 1917 Bath Riots at the Santa Fe Bridge. It is the story of a traumatic separation, an event that perhaps best epitomizes the year that the border between El Paso and Juárez, in the memories of many of its citizens, shut down for good.

Revolt of the Mexican Amazons at the Santa Fe Bridge

"The soldiers were powerless."
--The El Paso Herald

THE EL PASO TIMES described the leader of the Bath Riots as "an auburn-haired Amazon." She sparked an uprising against a policy that would change the course of the history in El Paso and Juárez for decades. Some even consider her a fronteriza Rosa Parks, yet her name has been mostly forgotten. The "Amazon" was Carmelita Torres, a 17-year old Juárez maid who crossed the Santa Fe International Bridge into El Paso every morning to clean American homes. At 7:30 a.m. on January 28, 1917, when Carmelita was asked by the customs officials at the bridge to get off the trolley, take a bath and be disinfected with gasoline, she refused. Instead, Carmelita got off the electric streetcar and convinced 30 other female passengers to get off with her and demonstrate their opposition to this humiliating process. By 8:30 a.m. more than 200 Mexican women had joined her and blocked all traffic into El Paso. By noon, the press estimated their number as "several thousand."

The demonstrators marched as a group toward the disinfection camp to call out those who were submitting themselves to the humiliation of the delousing process. When immigration and public health service officers tried to disperse the crowd, the protesters hurled bottles, rocks and insults at the Americans. A customs inspector was hit in the head. Fort Bliss commander General Bell ordered his soldiers to the scene, but the women jeered at them and continued their street battle. The "Amazons," the newspapers reported, struck Sergeant J.M. Peck in the face with a rock and cut his cheek.

The protesters laid down on the tracks in front of the trolley cars to prevent them from moving. When the street cars were immobilized, the women wrenched the motor controllers from the hands of the motormen. One of the motormen tried to run back to the American side of the bridge. Three or four female rioters clung to him while he tried to escape. They pummeled him with all their might and gave him a black eye. Another motorman preferred to hide from the Mexican women by running into a Chinese restaurant on Avenida Juárez.

Carrancista General Francisco Murguía showed up with his death troops to quell the female riot. Murguía's cavalry, known as "el esquadrón de la muerte," was rather intimidating. They wore insignia bearing a skull and crossbones and were known for taking no prisoners. The cavalrymen drew their sabers and pointed them at the crowd. But the women were not frightened. They jeered, hooted and attacked the soldiers. "The soldiers were powerless," the El Paso Herald reported.


The Bath Riots, Revolt of the Mexican Amazons at the Santa Fe Bridge Reposted:
http://boards.brownpride.com/showthread.php/bath-riots-32894.html?s=4
28f883ac0b37e800d27d76db2d544af&p=500152

@)----------}----------------------------------------------------------

Zyklon B on the US Border

Alexander Cockburn

Article Posted in The Nation (July 9, 2007 issue)

http://www.thenation.com/doc/20070709/cockburn


Courtesy of: Ne74

AUSTIN: Native American Heritage Powwow -- NOV 3

2007 16th Annual Native American Heritage Powwow

Saturday November 3 rd

10:00 am - 9:00 pm

Toney Burger Center

3200 Jones Rd.

290 West between Brodie Ln and Westgate Blvd.

info: 512-371-0628



Courtesy of:
Cynthia Regan
high_flyin_bird4444@yahoo.com

MCALLEN: IME Regional Meeting -- NOV 7

AVISO

Fecha: 10-26-2007

Junta: Del Comite Consutlivio Regional Del Instituto

Delos Mexicanos En El Exterior Del

Department De Relacciones Exteriores de los

Estados Unidos Mexicanos

Dia: El Miercoles, 7 de Noviembre, 2007

Hora: Alas 6:00 PM dela Tarde

Donde: 1205 Galveston Street “Centro de Migracion del Sur

McAllen , Texas Tejas = Oficinas de Benigno Pena”

Se les pide por favor que atiendan esta importante junta para que sigan Apoyando y controbullendo al esfuerzo de mejorar la calidad de vida para los Mexicanos en el exterior y en Mexico

Esperamos su participacion, Gracias por dar de tu tiempo COMO “LIDER” DE SU Comunidad

El Licienciado Benigno Pena, dara una breve explicacion dela situacion del Migrante y Claudia Trujillo del Consulado dara su presntacion junta con la Consejera Alicia Limon Tambien dara una presentacion Celerino Castillo de su libro Powder Burn

Comité Consultivo Regional

Terser Junta, Miercoles, 7 de Noviembre, 2007

Agenda

1. Arturo Ramirez llama la junta en orden

2. Presentar a todos los invitados y participantes “roll call”

3. Benigno Pena nos recibe y nos presenta la SALA Nueva de Entrenamiento Del Centro De Migraccion del Sur Tejas

4. Reporte dela Consejera Tetular Alicia Limon delos acontesimientos dela reunion del Comite Consultivo del IME en Mexico el mes de Noviembre, 2007.

4. Prequntas y respuestas ala consejera

5. Reporte de Benigno Pena en lo de Enrque Morones, en lo de Zero

Toleranse Law for Immigrants y otras temas

5. Se sede la palabra al Consul de Mexico, Luis Lopez Moreno o a Ms. Claudia Trujillo surepresentate para su reporte tocante actividades que se llevaron o se proponen llevaracabo por via del Consulado de Mexico en McAllen, Texas

6. Presentaccion de Celerino Castillo del Libro Powder Burn

6. Descutir asunots y temas que se llevaran acabo por miembros del Comite Consultivosus calaboradores tocante las areas de trabajo que efectan el pueblo Mexicanoestranjero y su pais de origin en las areas son: Regional y en el

A. Economia

B. Educacion

C. Asuntos Fronterisos

D. Politica

E. Migracion “Reporte de Benigno Pena

F. Asunots Culturales

G. Medio de Comunicasion

H. Salud

I. Justicia y Discriminacion

J. Otors temas que los miembros queran considerar

7. Discutir cuales de los temas tienen priodidad basado en importancia

para el Pueblo Mexicano en el Estranjero

8. Quien Cordinara la Llamada dela siguente RE-UNION DEL Comite ConsultivoQuien Escribira los Minutos y Agenda Y Aviso para el comite y la destribuyara alos miembros???? Regional Del IME Y

9. Otros asuntos que el comité quiera traer a la reunión para

consideración

10. Establecer el calendario para las futures reuniones de trabajo para el comité

11. Cerrar la reunión_________________

Hora

____________________________________ ___/___/______

Firma del Presidente (a) Fecha

____________________________________ ___/___/_______

Firma del Secretario (a) Fecha

LIST OF MEMBERS

on

THE COMITE CONSUTLIVE REGIONAL DEL IME

NAME ADDRESS E-MAIL PHONE#

1. Dr. Fernando Castillo Progreso ISD fcastillo@progreso-isd.net 565-3002

2. Ernesto Gonzalez Pres. ILP Printing Ernesto@ilpflexo.com 496-9054

3. Aida Salinas Flores District Court 398 Aida398@aol.com 318-2470

4. Guadalupe Gonzalez Activist ggsemm@yahoo.com 262-6653

5. Jose Leal Merchants Credit jal@merchants-credit.com 259-8100

6. Fernando Gomez McAllen Teacher fergmz@yahoo.com 650-5460

7. Victor H. Castillo News TV 4 vcastillo@kgbt4.com

8. Dr. Noe Ramirez UTPA Prof. noe-ramirez@sbcglobal.net 244-1095

9. Juanita Valdez Cox Union juanitsvc@lupenet.org

10. Josephina Rios Media jrios@capellanes.net 787-8889

11. Benigno Pena Immigration benignopena@aol.com 425-6987

12. Lucy Ramirez Health lramirez.nuestraclinica@tachc.org 787-8915

13. Marcelino Medina Health medinarph@hotmail.com 460-1909

14. Alicia Limon Mortgage Limon.Alicia@sbcglobal.net 992-9026

15. Rafael V. Garcia City of Pharr 1213 W. Cherokee Pharr 702-9792

16. Daniel Garduno Consul McAllen DGarduno@sre.gob.mx 686-0244

17. Arturo Ramirez CEO, Inc. CEOLRGV@VTXB.Com 783-7730

18. Jose Garza El Periodico USA Jose@Hispanicprint.com

Consejros del Instituto De Los Mexicanos En El Exterior La Ofecina de

Relacciones Exrteriores del Gobierno Mexicano

1. Marcelino Medina Consejero Tetular

2. Alicia Limon Consejera Tetular

3. Blanca Juarez Consejera Suplente

4. Rafael Vidal Consejero Suplente

“RRECORDATORIO”

BREVE EXPLICASION

DEL IME

EL IME (Instituto Delos Mexicanos En El Exterior) fue establesido durante la Administraccion del President Vicente Fox para atender las necesidades delos Mexicanos En El Exterior por via de Consejeros que dieran sus consejos al Gobierno Mexicano de que hacer para mejorar la vida para el Pueblo Mexicano en El Exterior por via delos miembros del Cabinete del President Mexicano, Especialmente el Secretario de Relacciones Exteriores

El Comite Consultivo Regional sera un cuerpo regional del Valle para dar sus consejeos y recomendacciones de que se puede llevar acabo para mejorar la calidad de vida para los Mexicanos en el Exterior residents del valle en sur Tejas.

Este Sera su MISSION si desella participar y controbullir a este esfuerzo

Despense mi Hispanol Gramatico

Arturo Ramirez, Ex-Consejero del IME

Executive Director

The Center For Economic Opportunities, Inc.

5617 East Trento Road

Edinburg, Texas 78539

E-Mail Address: CEOLRGV@VTXB.com

Tel: (956)783-7730




Courtesy of:
Joe Nobody
pollutiondistillation@yahoo.com

ARTICLE: Border Patrol Agent Accused of Rape

Border Patrol agent accused of rape

By JEREMY ROEBUCK/The Monitor

October 30, 2007 - 12:09AM

PHARR — Authorities are investigating claims that a U.S. Border Patrol agent raped a Las Milpas woman after detaining her on immigration charges last week.

The alleged victim, 38, told police the agent ordered her into his patrol vehicle, drove her to an isolated area and forced her to have sex with him during the early morning hours of Oct. 23.

Both federal and Pharr police investigators have been unable to locate the agent since the allegations were made against him immediately after the incident last week, according to sources close to the case.

On Monday, local Border Patrol spokesman Oscar Saldaña confirmed his agency was looking into the claims but refused to identify the agent involved. Pharr police also wouldn’t identify the man, described as being in his 40s, because no charges had been filed against him.

Saldaña further declined to say whether the man had reported for work since last week, and no timeline on when an investigation might be complete was available.

“This is just an accusation,” Saldaña said. “We are cooperating fully with the investigating authorities.”

But, the woman told police that the agent stopped her and a friend as they left a Las Milpas bar after 3 a.m.

After determining that that they were both illegally in the U.S., he allegedly took one of them to his patrol vehicle and told the other to park her car nearby. He ordered the other woman not to move until he came back with her friend, according to investigators.

The sexual assault victim reported that the agent then drove her to the 500 block of Las Milpas Road, forced himself on her and then returned her to the friend.

A rape kit performed on the woman hours later came back positive for signs of sexual abuse, authorities said.

After a preliminary investigation, Pharr police handed the case over to the FBI, which handles most investigations into federal agents. But a local bureau spokesman could not confirm his organization’s involvement as of late Monday.

These latest allegations are not the first time an illegal immigrant has lodged sexual assault claims against an on-duty Border Patrol agent.

In April, a jury convicted former agent Scott Anthony Sullivan of violating a 27-year-old woman’s civil rights by pulling her over at the Falfurrias checkpoint in 2003, confiscating her birth certificate and then raping her several times at a nearby hotel. He is set to be sentenced on Thursday.

Border Patrol officials cooperated with the Mexican authorities on that case after evidence seemed to substantiate the woman’s claims, consular spokeswoman Miriam Medel said.

“They were very helpful in that investigation,” she said. “They assumed responsibility then.

“If this (case) turns out to be true, we’re hopeful they will help us again.”




Courtesy of:
Joe Nobody
pollutiondistillation@yahoo.com
and
Greg Rodriguez
leftovergreg@yahoo.com

Legal Observers needed for SOA Vigil -- NOV 16-18

LEGAL OBSERVERS NEEDED for the
Vigil and Nonviolent Direct Action to
Close the School of the Americas (SOA/ WHINSEC)
November 16-18, 2007
Columbus, GA

Legal Observers will be needed throughout the weekend for a variety of
activities. Please visit www.soaw.org <http://www.soaw.org/> for more
information about this event.

If you would like to legal observe for this event please contact Steckley
Lee at slee@filsinc.org or 352-375-2494 ext 1013 (days) 352-514-2955
(nights)

All Legal Observers must attend a Legal Observer Training and Orientation.

Trainings will be held on Friday November 16, 2007 at the Days Inn in
Columbus, GA. The first training will be from 8 - 9pm and the second
training will be from 9 - 10 pm. A training on Saturday will be arranged
if needed.

If you have attended a NLG Legal Observer training in another city, please
contact Steckley for orientation information.

National Lawyers Guild (NLG) Legal Observers are neutral observers of
government and police conduct at protests and actions. Legal Observers do
not participate in the protests or actions but act as neutral observers to
help protect the rights of activists and concerned citizens during protests
and actions. You do not need to have a legal background to be a Legal
Observer. All Legal Observers will be supervised and working on behalf of
an Attorney.

www.nlg.org



Courtesy of:
Bill Fulcher
fulcherbil@aol.com

HOUSTON: March To Stop The War -- NOV 17

Saturday, November 17, 1:00 PM

HOUSTON MARCH:
STOP THE WAR ON IRAQ! BRING ALL THE TROOPS HOME NOW!

Join a march to raise our voices and demand: Stop the war on Iraq! Bring all the troops home now! Hands off Iran! End the occupation of Afghanistan and Palestine! Stop the war on immigrants, people of color, and workers! Defend the civil liberties and civil rights of all! March gathers at 1 PM at Ervan Chew Park (4507 Dunlavy). At 1:30 pm, there will be a march to Bell Park (4800 Montrose), where there will be a rally in with speakers, musicians, and spoken word artists.
Sponsored by the International Socialist Organization, the Irish Unity Committee, the Latin American Organization for Immigrant Rights, Mexicanos en Accion, and the Progressive Workers Organizing Committee.

For more info or to endorse: (832) 692-2306


Courtesy of:
Austin ISO
austinsocialist@hotmail.com

NATIONAL: Action to Close the School of the Americas -- NOV 16-18

Please forward this Call to Action far and wide
= http://www.SOAW.org =

VIGIL AND NONVIOLENT DIRECT ACTION TO CLOSE THE SCHOOL OF THE AMERICAS AND TO CHANGE OPPRESSIVE U.S. FOREIGN POLICY

NOVEMBER 16-18, 2007

On the weekend of November 16-18, thousands will gather at the gates of
Fort Benning, Georgia. The weekend will include a massive rally,
nonviolent direct action, trainings, workshops, benefit concerts, puppet
shows, teach-ins, film screenings and more

The School of the Americas (renamed the Western Hemisphere Institute for
Security Cooperation SOA/WHINSEC) is not an aberration of U.S. foreign
policy but a clear illustration of it. The racist system of violence and
domination that is being promoted by institutions like the SOA/WHINSEC,
employs military solutions as the one-size-fits-all "solution" for social
problems throughout the world.

Fort Benning, Georgia, one of the biggest military bases in the world has
become a focal point of the people power resistance to this system. In
recent months, caravans from Veterans For Peace, Iraq Veterans Against the
War and the Journey for Humanity and Accountability by Chindy Sheehan and
Anne Wright took a stand for justice at the gates of Fort Benning.
In November, social movement leaders from Argentina, Chile, Guatemala,
Colombia, the United States and other countries will converge on Fort
Benning to speak out against empire and call for justice and peace. Join
us!

SCHEDULE OF EVENTS:
THURSDAY, November 15: Benefit Concert in Atlanta, Georgia; trainings and
workshops in Columbus, Georgia
FRIDAY, November 16: Teach-Ins, workshops, films screenings and a benefit
concert in Columbus, Georgia
SATURDAY, November 17: Massive rally with music, speakers and a puppet
show at the gates of Fort Benning, Georgia, Teach-Ins, workshops, and
films screenings at the Columbus Convention Center and in hotel meeting
rooms in the evening; benefit concert at night.
SUNDAY, November 18: Veterans march to the gates, commemoration of the
victims of SOA/WHINSEC violence at the gates of Fort Benning, nonviolent
direct action

Click here for a map with the event locations:
http://maps.google.com/maps/ms?ie=UTF8&hl=en&msa=0&msid=114820301477324057117.0000011372f4e22f0be82&z=13&om=1

HOTELS: See a list of hotel and other accommodations in and around
Columbus, Georgia: http://www.soaw.org/article.php?id=1001
If you are looking for housing, contact Alyson Hayes at the Columbus
Visitors Bureau to see which hotels have vacancies. Reach the Visitors
Bureau at 1-800-999-1613.

MEDIA OUTREACH:Taking a little time to carry out a handful of
media-related tasks before you head to Georgia can profoundly impact the
number of peoplein your area who know about the SOA/WHINSEC issue and the
number ofpeople who get involved in the work to close it down. Read about
how you can work with your local media:
http://www.soaw.org/article.php?id=266
and/or contact us in the SOA Watch office at 202-234-3440 or
media(at)soaw.org for more information and resources.

TRAVEL: See information on travelling to Columbus, whether by plane, car,
bus, train or something more creative:
http://www.soaw.org/article.php?id=1000

ACCESSIBILITY & INTERPRETATION: ASL and English<>Spanish interpretation
services will be available during the vigil weekend. Find out more about
interpretation services, large print and Braille programs and wheelchair
accessibility: http://www.soaw.org/article.php?id=1167

PEACEMAKERS NEEDED: SOA Watch is looking for Peacemaker Volunteers to work
at the vigil this year. Read more about how you can participate, and how
to contact Peacemaker coordinators:
http://www.soaw.org/article.php?id=1359

LOCAL GROUPS: Do you know others in your area that are working to close
down the School of the Americas? Connect with others now before heading to
Georgia. Click here for a listing of SOA Watch local groups:
http://www.soaw.org/groups.php
If your group is not listed, please add your contact information:
http://www.soaw.org/groupadd.php

Don't see a group for your area? Consider starting one! For more
information, contact us at info@soaw.org or at 202-234-3440 or contact
your regional representative for more information about those in your
region working to close the SOA/ WHINSEC:
http://www.soaw.org/article.php?id=839

NOVEMBER ORGANIZING PACKET: The November Organizing Packet is a great
resource for you and your community as you spread the word about the SOA/
WHINSEC and as you make plans to attend the November 16-18 Vigil to Close
the SOA at Fort Benning, Georgia. In it, you'll find information about
what to expect at Ft. Benning, logistical information to assist your trip
planning, media, legislative, fundraising and outreach tips and resources,
and flyers you can reproduce and use in your community.
DOWNLOAD: http://www.soaw.org/article.php?id=1572



Courtesy of:
Erik Toren
ectoren@sbcglobal.net

HUTTO: Williamson County does not terminate Hutto contract

The Williamson County Commissioners Court today amended the T. Don Hutto contract, and did not terminate its end of the contract. The new contract will involve a $250,000 legal defense fund in case of lawsuit. CCA will also pay the county $5,000 a month to hire a monitor for the facility.

The public comment section was limited to 10 today, with 9 speaking against Hutto including Scott Medlock from Texas Civil Rights, Rev. Mary Ferris, a Presbyterian missionary from Williamson County, Taylor residents Jose Orta and Neal Kopit, Georgetown residents Mary Ellen Kirsch, Sherry Dana, and Jane Van Pragg, Jay Johnson-Castro, and Dr. Asma Salam from Dallas. The testimony from Hutto opponents today was very good and on point. The lone voice in favor of the facility was the CCA Warden.

Nevertheless, it took the commissioners just a few minutes to vote to continue the contract, and no commissioners gave any rationale for their decision. Clearly a decision had been made before the meeting. It's disappointing, but was expected. I think that it's now time to re-evaluate our strategy and see if we can put more pressure on political figures (Doggett, perhaps?) and religious communities to come out against Hutto both here in Texas and across the country.

- bob

--

Bob Libal

(512) 971-0487

Grassroots Leadership

Austin, Texas




Courtesy of:
Luissana Santibanez
lsantibanez@mail.utexas.edu

MORE DAMN TOY RECALLS……A Mother's Take...

MORE DAMN TOY RECALLS……

OK, me, Hollie….is requesting that we all stop purchasing lead filled toys made in China.

We all know that there are issues between the United States and China (and every other country in the world, thanks to Bush). Clearly they are trying to kills us, by what? Killing our children first and foremost. This will prevent us from having a great military force to fight against them later….you know after we lose half the damn military to the billion dollar a month “War on Terror” in Iraq.

They will try to kill us by any means necessary…poisoning our dogs and cats…they know damn well Americans care more about animals than people (just look at the whole Michael Vick issue).

Please be real with your children and explain why they cannot have their favorite batman toy or their favorite doll. All of the toy companies are manufacturing in China. Reid and I have for months stop purchasing toys made in China. Reid is eight years old, if he can do it so can you. Feel free to call Reid and let him explain it to your child…it may come across better from another kid.

Seriously, please stop purchasing lead filled toys from China. If we stop buying, start complaining Mattel and the other manufacturers will have to make a change. It is not just about the toys, but the life long damage to our children from lead exposure. Stores are not pulling recalled toys from the shelves, they are just placing disclaimers by the price tags and directing you to the manufacturing company. Basically no one is doing a damn thing, but allowing the Chinese to kill our children.

Take a stand help stop Americana’s companies from manufacturing products in foreign countries, and having customer service centers in India…..bring our business and jobs back to our people in the United States….hell just look at extreme home makeover….our people are living like third world countries in some places…no running water, trailers with tires on the roof to keep the trailer steady. All the while Yall’s dumb ass president is spending billions of dollars to steal oil from Iraq.

Please feel free to contact me with any questions….pass this along…everyone needs to know…..no more toys or anything else made in China…..

With Love Hollie…


Courtesy of:
Hollie
holreid20@sbcglobal.net

HOUSTON: Video from March to End Executions

From: Houston ABC
Date: Oct 30, 2007 5:56 AM


Thanks to everyone who came out to the march to end executions! The event was really well organized by a bunch of groups, below the movies is a report from the Texas Death Penalty Abolition Movement.

They say Death Row
We say Hell No!







Hello!

The organizing committee for the 8th Annual March to Stop Executions thanks everyone who came out yesterday. We feel like we accomplished our goals, educated and motivated activists and energized a new generation for this struggle.

There was a diverse cross section of the Houston community attending the march, which was one of our main goals. For too long the death penalty has been seen as an issue led by a group of very well-intentioned white folks who sometimes have not a clue of the daily realities for the very, very poor, and the African American and Latino communities who are under occupation by the Houston police.

Yesterday shattered that idea because the leaders of this march were from those communities.

This would not have been possible without the months and days and hours and hours of hard work by Ester King, Deloyd Parker, Sherri Clausell, Lee Greenwood, Regina Guidry, Vermila Freenman, Njeri Shakur, Elisha Enard, our young sister, Courtney, and many more.

So many people were involved in making the event a success that I can't mention names. From the web site, to the flyers, to the banners, to the phone calls, to the leafleting, to the emails, to attending and speaking at meetings, to trying to pin down legislators, preachers and community leaders, to generous donations, to organizing transportation from around the state--many people shared the load and did the work. !Muchisimas gracias!

Hope to see you at the Nov. 6 meeting of the Abolition Movement where we will be having a film and discussion on THE EXECUTION TAPES: GEORGIA'S SECRET AUDIO RECORDINGS OF TWO EXECUTIONS, a film from the July 17, 2007 program of Democracy Now. We will also be planning a fundraiser for Brother Clarence Brandley, making plans for our annual card signing and holdiay treats pot luck on Dec. 4 and our literature / tee shirt table for the first day of KWANZAA on Dec. 26.

Please sign on the the judicial complaint agianst Judge Sharon "Killer" who told the attorneys for Michael Richard "We close at 5:00." Go to
http://www.texasmoratorium.org/ if you have not. You have until Nov. 6 to sign on. Do it now. If you are in the Austin area join the demonstration at Judge "Killer's" home next week.
The Houston Chronicle has a story on yesterday's march/rally, with one picture, in the City/State section of today's paper. Double their numbers and add a few more, cuz we had way more than 200 people!!! It's also at
http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/metropolitan/5251419.html Ariel with the UH Sankofa Organization is lookin' serious in the photo.

Five additional photos are also there -- look for the hard-to-find link under
"Resources" on that page (next to the camera icon). Great one of Clarence
Brandley's sisters, Margaret and Alice!

You can also see photos at:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/jvan/sets/72157602750652224/

I'm sure our friends at Houston Indy Media will have something up before too long.
Go to : http://houston.indymedia.org/

The struggle continues!



Courtesy of: The Alarm Zine

HOUSTON: SEIU Convention for the Future -- NOV 10





























Hello all,

As many of you know, last year the 5,300 Janitors in Houston won an historic victory following a month long strike. This year, the janitors are continuing to organize thousands more workers in Houston; these workers include food service and janitorial workers at George R. Brown Convention Center, Reliant Center, Minutemaid Park, University of Houston, Houston Community College System, and many other worksites around the city. The workers at these sites make just above minimum wage plus nothing- no healthcare, no vacation, no respect.

In order to win this fight for a contract and a better life for themselves and their families, the Service Workers will need the help of community leaders and activists- they need to know that you support them in their struggle. SEIU Houston Justice for Janitors Campaign invites you to our Convention for the Future- the public kickoff to this organizing campaign:


WHAT:
SEIU Convention for the Future

WHEN:
Saturday, November 10, 2007

TIME:
2:00pm

PLACE:
Jones Plaza in Downtown Houston (Texas & Louisiana)


The workers cannot with this fight without you. Please come to this very important event. For any questions, please contact me at (832) 277-3903 or at the numbers listed below.

SI SE PUEDE!

Mike Espinoza
Political & Community Outreach Coordinator
Houston Justice for Janitors Campaign
Service Employees International Union
www.houstonjanitors.org
Office: (713) 296-1614
Fax: (713) 514-0008
Cell: (832) 331-0870
m_espinoza13@hotmail.com