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CASA hosts delegations on social justice issues in Oaxaca and Chiapas.

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We share lessons we learn from the resistance movements in Mexico with our home communities. We publish news and analysis in our newsletter, host workshops, short-term solidarity delegations, and speaking events. Find out how to join us.

drawing by flickr.com/benignpxl

From the Editor

Peace House Comings and Goings

In these recent weeks, Peace House volunteers have been able to get out of San Cristóbal for a bit, traveling with La Otra Campaña and visiting the Zapatista caracol at Oventic. As usual, we’ve invited them to share their experiences with us in this month’s newsletter. Joy writes about her time visiting a particularly strong and rebellious community in Oaxaca while following La Otra, and Krista shares her thoughts on searching for common ground and understanding as an international in the struggle for revolution in Chiapas.

Keeping Perspective

By: Lilia López The cold is on its way out of San Cristóbal, but not without dragging its feet a bit. This is my first winter in the mountains of Chiapas so it’s taking some getting used to. Despite being born and raised in sunny California, I learned a little about the art of snow shoveling during my four of Chicago winters while I was in college. Nevertheless, what I’ve found I miss most here is that comforting, (and often times suffocating) blast of warm air that hits your face as you step into your local coffee shop, restaurant, or most any other establishment in the U.S.

The Other Campaign Begins

By: Lilia Lopez January has simply been an extraordinary month. January 1st, 2006 marked the beginning of the Zapatista’s La Otra Campaña, a national tour aimed at uniting Mexico’s leftist groups and discussing alternatives to the current electoral system.

Online Workshops

CASA presents some of our collective's Workshop materials and resources online to support activists interested in Chiapas and Oaxaca.

November/December 2005 Newsletter

From the Editor- Lilia López

December is here and the holiday season is in full swing in San Cristóbal. The town Christmas tree towers in front of the Cathedral, religious processions are a weekly occurrence and not a night goes by without the crack of fireworks and rockets exploding in capacious Chiapas sky. But despite all the holiday bustle, the Zapatistas are never far from our thoughts. They have announced a number of new initiatives in recent weeks including a major decision involving the Zapatista National Liberation Front (FZLN). As a result, we’ve dedicated a special section of this month’s newsletter to EZLN news.

Feb 2005, From the Editor

Article written by Melissa Mundt

Greetings from the Peace House! This month it felt like Chiapas abruptly awoke from a wintry daze. The weather warmed to sunny spring temperatures and buds and blossomed graced all the tree branches. At the Peace House we welcomed four new volunteers and a new board member to San Cristobal.  They are working hard going through orientation and having great discussions as the Chiapas they've read about comes to life all around them. In this newsletter Simon and Susan reflect on their arrival and adjustment in Chiapas. 

Jan 2005, From the Editor

Article written by Melissa Mundt

Happy New Year! This month the Zapatistas celebrated their 11th anniversary and here at the Peace House we geared up for 2005. We will be welcoming many new volunteers, board members and friends in the coming months, working on new projects and with new organizations.

Dec 2004, From the Editor

Article written by Kara Hartzler

Here's wishing the happiest of holiday seasons to you and yours from the mountains of southeastern Mexico! While some in our volunteer community have gone north to visit family and raise money for the CPHP, others have remained here to get a taste of the holidays in Mexico, which can include everything from attending a commemoration service for the forty-five victims of the Acteal massacre to heading for everyone's favorite Christmas destination--the beach!

Nov 2004, From the Editor

Article written by Melissa Mundt

Does anyone know how to pick a yummy turkey when it’s still alive and pecking about in the dirt of a market stall?  And then what do you do with it?  Is there a way to make a pumpkin pie made from real pumpkin has that good old fashioned flavor like it came out of a can?  Do only people in North America eat cranberries?  These are the dilemmas that we face celebrating Thanksgiving in Mexico.  And though we’re being conscious and critical of the  holiday’s legacy of colonialism, and probably won’t end up eating turkey at all (the majority of us are vegetarians) we are still looking forward to the feast, gathering together our San Cristobal extended community and giving thanks. 

Oct 2004 From the Editor

Article written by Melissa Mundt

Though all across the U.S.
people are carving pumpkins, selecting monster masks and raking leaves,
here in San Cristobal October is evidenced only by the occasional black
and orange decorations on store fronts, the cooling weather, and the
omnipresent marigolds growing on roadsides, in fields, and soon to be
coloring the cemeteries and home altars for the Day of the Dead. At the
Peace House we'll most certainly be eating extra candy on Halloween and
a few Chiapans will go trick or treating (taking on this tempting
American tradition).