Carlos Marentes: the Crisis of the System

(Director of Sin Fronteras Border Agricultural Workers Project)

w/ Musical Performance by Mamacoatl

A Benefit for the Zapatista Autonomous Communities

Saturday, November 21, 2009, 7- 9:30 PM

Humanist Hall, 390 27th Street, Oakland 94612

$5-20 Sliding Scale

Special Dinner Reception w/Carlos at 5:30pm ($30)

*all proceeds go to the Zapatista communities

Dear Friends and Supporters,

 We are pleased to announce our annual community celebration and fundraiser for autonomous Zapatista communities. It will take place on Saturday, November 21, 2009 from 5:30 to 9:30 PM at the Humanist Hall, 390 27th Street, Oakland 94612.

 We understand that the economic recession has affected our friends and supporters differently. Some folks are without jobs while others have been only slightly affected. It has affected us adversely too! We survive because we are all volunteers (unpaid). We have designed a program this year that will, hopefully, enable all economic levels to participate.

 Our celebration begins at 5:30 with a welcome dinner and reception for Carlos Marentes, our keynote speaker. The dinner and reception are followed by a 7:00 PM musical performance by Mamacoatl and then, at 7:30 PM, Carlos will give his talk: The Crisis of the System. Admission to the dinner and reception is $30.00. This includes the musical performance and keynote presentation after dinner. Admission to only the musical performance and keynote presentation is $5 - $20 (Sliding Scale) so that everyone can afford to attend. We have also allowed at least an hour for discussion following the talk and hope to make the event participatory. The dinner and reception are the fundraising part of the event.

 We are asking all of you on our e-mail lists to consider how important the struggle in Chiapas is to you; how important it is to all of us that the Zapatista communities are showing us how to construct self-sustaining communities as an alternative to the neoliberal model; and how important it is to our planet that the Zapatistas and members of the Other Campaign are resisting destruction of the environment by mining companies, oil companies, chemical manufacturers, genetically modified seeds, dams, mass tourism and one-crop production. We hope you will conclude that the Zapatista movement is important enough to support with your purchase of a ticket to our November 21 celebration. All profits from the event will be used to support Zapatista communities.

 If you are unable to attend, please consider sending us a contribution to support the Zapatista communities. Chiapas and Mexico are going through a difficult time. We really needs your support on this one. Bring a friend or several friends!

 For your convenience, you may pay online through PayPal. Just go to our website at:

                                                                        http://www.chiapas-support.org

 Then, send a message to cezmat@igc.org telling us what your PayPal contribution is for: how many people for the dinner, reception and program or a contribution. You cannot pay for the 7-9:30 Program (music and speaker only) through PayPal. You may pay at the door on November 21.  Let's give Carlos a big Bay Area welcome and Support the Zapatistas. Make your reservations now! For more information: (510) 654-9587 or e-mail: cezmat@igc.org