Thanks and Looking Forward

Now that the team has returned from Juarez, MPT is reviewing their Exploratory Team Report and taking the next steps in our exploratory team process-- both in Committee and in our Core Community.

We want to thank everyone involved in this work, especially our team members Liz, Renee, Berta, and Jose, and our invaluable friend in Juarez, Julie.

We also want to thank all of you who have been following our team on this Blog, and please keep checking in with MPT here and our our home site, www.MichiganPeaceTeam.org.

Sincerely,

Nicole Rohrkemper
International Team Deployment Coordinator
Michigan Peace Team

November 19, 2009

Our exploratory team was tasked with investigating possibilities for a future MPT team in Juárez, Mexico and submitting our findings in writing to the MPT Juárez Committee. This committee will use our report to make recommendations to MPT’s Core Community regarding any future work in Juárez.

Now we have completed our exploratory work. It has been a great privilege for us to be with the people of Juárez these past weeks and to work in the name of Michigan Peace Team.

Please know that we are grateful beyond words for your support, good energy, and prayer during our stay in Juárez.

Your MPT Juárez Exploratory Team to Juárez,
Berta Betanzos
José López
Renee Richie
Liz Walters

November 18, 2009

During the morning we met with members of the Center for Human Rights in Juárez. This is the group that invited MPT to send an exploratory team to Juárez. At this meeting our team reported the highlights of our findings and expressed our gratitude to the Center members for their excellent work. Center members then shared final messages with us.

Here is a summary of the responses from Center members after our team report:

· The children … they are our heart …we needed more time so that you could see how the children play, how they learn, how they live AND how we love them. I want you to see that the children of Juárez are the light of our hearts.

· We start with the children. They are our future AND our present.

· Thank you for your presence. You have motivated me and helped me to learn how to be part of a team. To solve our problems we have to be serious about teamwork. Peace is for everyone. Seeing how MPT works gives me hope. We can do much more here.

· Thank you -- what you have done. You have been with people who have been in fear and terror. The proposals that you have shared are very positive. Also you help us to see how to unite together with other organizations. Our people are paralyzed with fear. The organizations are also paralyzed. The situation has been very difficult -- you have helped us to lift our spirits. We need so much. We are dealing with those who have much power and no respect for life.

· You have experience with groups of people. This has been good. You have explored our roots and the history of our people. The presence and accompaniment --- I feel that it is very powerful for the people. I like that you have opened up to see how people live, and how they you want to be with you.

· We have much work to do here to resolve our problems. As you return to the United States I hope you will share how things need to change there too: Some of the problems we face in Juarez are rooted in the United States. For example…The maquiladoras exploit our people and harm our family structure. Also the drug trade flows to the United States and weapons flow from the United States to Juárez.

· Now very young youth collect $100 for killing a person—it’s awful to say but this has become a business. Hit men are 14 or 16 years old. This is what I fear in the Barrios – Juárez children are being used for this terrible business. After killing they sit down and wait for the soldiers. They know they will not get jail time

· You help us to see the importance of listening. We need to listen to one another.

· Our people of Km 27 very happy that you have come. We are very disposed to receive MPT.

· The people of the First of May say they noticed us. They see we want peace and have many needs. You are very welcome --We hope that you can return!

· I would say to you thank you for you solidarity—You see clearly that not only is Juárez filled with violence; but it is also filled with hope.

· I was quite concerned about Juárez and the country---Until Julia said that peace was possible -- the obstacles are great. Authoritarianism is strong and things will get worse. I want to be hopeful and work hard for Juárez.

· It would be wonderful to have you in the whole city. It would be a great support. Thanks to Julia and all of you for coming.

Following this meeting we were invited to a celebration sponsored by a group of senior citizens in Juárez.
With them we enjoyed a delicious meal and we danced together. Wisely the seniors told us, singing and dancing is part of our work!

Finally we had an important meeting with two Adrian Dominican sisters (Donna and Maureen) who have dedicated their lives in service of the people of Juárez. Their love wisdom and insights touched us deeply.

November 17, 2009

Once again, we experienced another oasis in Juárez. We visited the Centro de Asesoria y Promocion Juvenil and spoke with its founder and two youths who have benefit from the programs at this youth center. Centro de Asesoría y Promoción Juvenil (CASA – Youth Assessment and Promotion Center) in Ciudad Juárez – aims to prevent youth violence and marginalization. Its vision is to improve the quality of life of young girls and boys and youth is the community through the creation of spaces and programs that contribute to their social and civic formation and promotion. For more on this center, see its Spanish web site at
http://www.casapj.org/index.php

This center involves young people from poor neighborhoods in productive and constructive alternatives. They work from the premise that gangs are excellent vehicles for poor youngsters to socialize. The center redirects and refocus such activities as graffiti painting and hip hop/rap into a form of artistic expression for young gang members. The center coordinated the summit of several neighborhood gangs (Ratas 13, Los Tristes. Bajos 21, Novenos, and others) and in one day of collaboration among the different gangs painted a mural along the wall of a day care center affiliated with the center. Each gang used its colors and tried to express their own voice.



One of the youngsters sharing his experiences at
the center with us is a
former gang member who now attends the university by means of a scholarship from the center. He explained how the center provides training for serigraphy and the young people have started a micro industry silk screening different products and selling them. He also told us about the different concerts the center organizes where young people are able to express and verbalize their sentiments through hip hop, rap and other forms of music. The have uploaded to U-tube videos of their performances. Click or copy URL below to sample of one of them.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wt8HiGhszxk&feature=player_embedded#

The center is in the midst of a girls soccer competition. Young women from different neighborhoods form soccer team and compete against each other. The matches are well attended and provides a gathering place where gangs and people from all the surrounding neighborhoods can intermingle in a social and pacific way. They even have a team made up entirely of Tarahumara young women.

Additionally the center provides educational opportunities for young people whose parents cannot afford the uniforms or textbook required by the public education system. The center is in process of expansion into a building donated by its former user Kolping International.

November 15, 2009

Misa, 11:30 am, Sta Elena

Following the Mass 55 people, both young and old, stayed to share their stories of the recent situation in Juárez. Violence - fear - paralyzed - need to pray - were what we heard.

Pancho challenged them to be active, keep hope even if they might be killed for their dreams.
Two youths spoke of personal experiences of violence. Several women also shared experiences with tears in their eyes. One 12-year old youth shared how he was affected by what happened when he was detained by the military. A university professor repeated what Lorenzo said about individual leadership needed, and urged them to hold on to their dreams. A different youth said laws are lenient for minors. Courts give limited sentences and they return to society even more violent than before. Another youth told us that two young hit men from two different gangs were at a social event. They were asked, “How can you be social with an opposing gang member? One replied in an indifferent manner, “It’s not a problem. Here I can socialize and the other is my job. The same person added that young people fail to recognize killing causes extreme grief, that impacts the family permanently, suddenly there is no income just loss of a loved one. One mother noted that Forbes Magazine lists Mexicans Joaquín "El Chapo" Guzmán (leader of the Sinaloa drug cartel) and Carlos Slim among the richest people in the world. Her concern is that young people look to them as models. Pancho said that youth need to be respected and encouraged to get an education where they will learn good moral values.

And so we have come to realize the situation here is very complex, yet leaders are being called forth to lead organizations to change the violent atmosphere. We were especially challenged by one man to pray for our enemies, the drug lords, the corrupt government, the military and the police. We left feeling that in spite of all the difficulties, suffering, the people have maintained hope.

November 14, 2009

Saturday was a day to rest. We did have the opportunity to visit Granjas Unidas a colonia high up in the hills of small animal breeders. There we experienced the dances of a group of Matachines. Usually one group sponsors another by providing the new group with the dance costumes. This ceremony included the blessing of the new garments and banners. Matachines are group of dancers who perform religious themed dances usually at several Roman Catholic celebrations.

November 16, 2009

Land ownership was the topic of this day’s meeting with the lawyer who represents people who have been living on the land and working to obtain legal title to their property for the past thirty years or more. The president of the ejido and a person who brought a group of peasants to the ejido forty years ago were present. The lawyer gave a brief history of the manner in which Mexican department of Agrarian Reform distributed land. Government land that was not being used was given to peasants who had little or no income with the requirement that the land must be used for farming and or raising animals. Large parcels of land called ejidos were often located in the outskirts of municipalities and the peasants had to petition the department of Agrarian Reform to legalize their status as landowners. In recent years, some Juárez peasants learned that their ejido remained at the petition status and not yet legalized. In addition, due to government corruption, wealthy people were allowed to purchase ejido land already occupied by peasants. In some cases, homes were torn down, fences were erected, and farm animals were taken by the wealthy. Some peasants were made to pay for the same property more than once or pay dues to occupy their land.

In 1994, a former president of México, enacted a law to end Agrarian Reform to allow wealthy individuals to use their money to develop unused lands. It was stated that there is a large multinational plan to develop an economic corridor from New México to Panama. In one case, a in wealthy individual got the title to land ownership in 48 hours contrasted to the 30 years peasants have struggled to obtain a legal title to their land.

The people living in the ejidos lack running water, paved streets and other services because the municipality requires land titles to deliver these services. The presenters stated that large amounts of money have been spent to construct roads and provide water along the future economic corridor where there are no people living.

The lawyer stated that these people must have hope, perseverance, a vision. He added that the ejido has leaders, yet needs organizers, more involved residents of the ejido, and funds to complete the legal process. This presenter affirmed that the presence of women religious and some clergy gives the people hope because they work so that people know their rights.