History: Summer 2008 Programming

Saturday, July 26

Sponsored by the Madison-Guatemala Network, with co-sponsorship by Just Coffee Cooperative, WORT Radio, Community Action on Latin America (CALA) and Terra Experience

7 p.m. at Escape Java Joint, 916 Williamson St.

Two films about Guatemala and Immigration 'Voice on the Mountain' and 'Documigrante'

The Madison Premiere of the two outstanding documentaries, "The Voice of a Mountain" and "Documigrante", will show the real story and underlying causes behind the increased immigration of Guatemalans and other Central Americans to the Midwest and Madison.

A small donation will be requested to help support children's education in Santa Anita, Guatemala, where "Voice of a Mountain" was filmed, as well as helping Guatemalan families in Postville, Iowa, who were affected by the immigration raids there on May 12. Postville is about two and one-half hours southwest of Madison.

The extreme post-war poverty and renewed violence in Guatemala are sending many more Guatemalans across the border into the U.S. for the survival of their families, according to Mario García, a member of the Madison-Guatemala Network.

"The films help Americans understand how United States cold war policies and now economic free trade policies such as CAFTA are pushing millions of Guatemalans and other Latin Americans from their homes to the United States looking for a way to provide for their families" Garcia said.

Both films explore the realities and reasons for Guatemalan immigration and the role of fair trade to help communities support themselves and continue to survive.

"The Voice of a Mountain," which is 54 minutes in length, is a documentary of the lives of rural Guatemalan coffee farmers who took up arms against their government in a civil war that lasted 36 years.

The film explores Guatemala's dark history from the perspective of those who saw armed revolution as their only hope for change in a nation suppressed by years of poverty, dictatorship and the massive genocide of indigenous people by the Guatemalan government following the CIA coup of a democratically elected government, which led to massive immigration to Mexico and the U.S. in the 1980s.

"Documigrante," a 15-minute short film by former Madisonian Willy Barreno, shows the long journey of immigrants from Guatemala to the U.S.

Fair trade coffee from Santa Anita and other fair trade items from Guatemala will be available at the event.

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More info also check out these articles, website and blogs:

http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/chi-guatemalan11jul11,0,6992920.story

http://voiceofamountain.com

http://documigrante.wordpress.com

http://justcoffee.coop

http://www.terraexperience.com/madison_guatemala_will_be_hosting.htm (for copies of press release, public service announcement, posters & fliers)

Flier (PDF) / Press release (DOC)

co-sponsored by Community Action on Latin America, the Madison-Camaguey Sister City Association, the Peregrine Forum and the Madison-Arcatao Sister City Project.

Hello Madison and Dane County Friends,

Please Join us in welcoming to the Pastors For Peace 19th Friendshipment to Cuba.

For almost 20 years the Pastors for Peace caravan has put their concern for human well being and international friendship in challenge of the U.S. Treasury embargo against Cuba. Pastors for peace is a non-violent ecumenical organization that has collected and delivered aid to impoverished countries in Latin America as well as to the victims of Hurricane Katrina in the U.S.

This year, the tradition of humanitarian aid continues and the caravan will visit Madison on Friday June 20th, hoping to collect educational and medical supplies as well as monetary donations to pay for transportation costs of the material aid. (see list at the bottom).

Two events (suggested donation for either/both events is $5-20) We will

be collecting material aid at each site during the day of each event

Tuesday June 17, at 7pm

Cuban issues Film Night at Dardanelles Restaurant

1850 Monroe St:

Featuring: Mission Against Terror (2005) which tells the story of the Cuban 5 and Who's Afraid of the Little Yellow School Bus (1983) that chronicles the second Pastors for Peace Caravan to Cuba.

Guest speaker Robert Kimbrough will give an update on the latest legal development in the case of the Cuban 5

Friday June 20, at 7pmCaravan Welcome and Dance Party at Just Coffee1129 E Wilson St:
Featuring: Caravan participant Alicia Jrapko talking about her experiences on previous caravans.Another showing of Who's Afraid of the Little Yellow School Bus (1983) that chronicles the second Pastors for Peace Caravan to Cuba. Followed by Salsa and Cuban music.
LIST of MATERIAL AID

The 19th US-Cuba Friendshipment – Will take many kinds of aid to Cuba. But this year we have once again been specifically asked to bring material aid that is relevant for Cuba’s elders. We are also collecting aid to support the development of a Hiphop cultural center in Havana as part of the Hiphop exchange that will be a component of this year’s caravan. Such aid includes DJ equipment, sound equipment and musical instruments.

What TO DONATE- Vehicles: School buses, ambulances, trucks, pick-ups, mobile libraries (bookmobiles) - diesel & stick shift preferred - in good condition and with at least several years of life left in them.- Computers: IBM compatible computers with Pentium II or better processors, and all computer accessories/peripherals. Must be in full working order. All types of printers but especially Epson LX300 and HP laser jet 1200- Educational supplies: All types of educational materials including for writing on and with etc(but pen, pencils, paper etc must be new/unused)- Medical equipment/supplies/medicines: All kinds if equipment in good working order,supplies sterile and supplies/medicines with expiry date Feb 2009 or later- Books: Medical and scientific textbooks and journals in Spanish or English- Alternative transportation/energy equipment: e.g. Bicycles (good condition), solar panels- Sports/arts/cultural equipment: All kinds if in good condition. Musical instruments especially- Bibles: All Bibles must be in Spanish.- Food: Powdered milk, infant formula, dietary supplements - in original factory-sealed containers.- Construction supplies/tools: Tools must be in good condition or new.- Car mechanics tools: Tools must be in good condition or new.- Home supplies: Factory new clothing in bulk quantities.

What not to donate... because it is inappropriate or because Mexican customs won’t let it through- Anything that is not in good working order or is rusty- Medication and medical supplies that have already expired or will reach their expiry date before February 1, 2009- Medication and medical supplies that have been opened- Computers older than Pentium II (about 7 years old) or that are not IBM compatible- Books, in English or Spanish, that are not medical or scientific text books/journals- Any clothing, sheets, towels, etc. that are not enclosed in their original packaging.- Used paper- Canned food

FAIR TRADE UNIVERSITY FUNDRAISER

The Fair Trade University is happening again this year. Six local students are headed to Guatemala to spend time on an ex-guerilla-owned coffee cooperative. They'll learn about Guatemala, about the coffee business from bean to cup, and about the Fair Trade Movement.

One way CALA supports FTU is by being a nonprofit fiscal sponsor and providing scholarship help.

For those of you who are receiving a tax-free "economic stimulus" check from the Government, please consider making a tax-deductible donation to help CALA provide some financial aide to the students making this trip.

Cost is $8 and up, sliding scale, $5 for students.

To learn more about the Fair Trade University, go to
http://www.justcoffee.coop/FTU

Donations by check (with FTU on the memo line ) can be mailed to us at the address below, or check out our Paypal donate page at http://calamadison.org/donate.php

CALA
PO Box 1565
Madison, WI 53701