IF 160 Sunflower Lane Watsonville, CA 95076 Phone: 831-724-4108
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page last updated 4-16-2014
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Upcoming Fundraising Events and Activities
Saturday, 7 pm, May 17, Latin American Dinner
at Bill Cane's
160 Sunflower Lane
Watsonville, CA 95076
$35.00-50.00 Sliding Scale Please RSVP
831-724-4108 IF office or Susan Mahan cell 831-320-6422
Click to make reservation by email for May 17
at Bill Cane's
160 Sunflower Lane
Watsonville, CA 95076
$35.00-50.00 Sliding Scale Please RSVP
831-724-4108 IF office or Susan Mahan cell 831-320-6422
Click to make reservation by email for May 17
About IF
IF is a nonprofit humanitarian, educational and social change organization located in the Santa Cruz, CA, area. We are a community of friends seeking hopeful alternatives to the violence, greed and destructiveness of our world. more about IF's history and mission
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IF Fiscal Sponsorships
IF offers Fiscal Sponsorships to qualified groups to facilitate their fundraising.
more information about Fiscal Sponsorships New IF Donor-Advised Project
IF recently approved a new donor-advised project with Yonton Ansetik Stisikos Svokolik, an organization of women artisans in Chiapas, Mexico. more about Yonton Ansetik Stisikos Svokolik |
Information on some of IF's supported projects
Supporting Active Nonviolence in Mexico:
On the Frontlines with Pietro Ameglio
IF is raising funds to support the crucial work of Pietro Ameglio, who for decades has promoted active nonviolence in Mexico and across Latin America. An activist, popular educator, university lecturer, and author, Pietro is a co-founder and leader of the Movement for Peace with Justice and Dignity (MPJD) that emerged in 2011 to challenge drug-war violence, increasing militarization, and human rights violations in Mexico. His nonviolence education programs are in constant demand across Mexico, and he has helped organize and lead numerous nonviolent direct action campaigns.
He is a co-founder (1987) and leader of Servicio Paz y Justicia (Peace and Justice Service/SERPAJ) in Mexico. SERPAJ is a Latin American network working in 13 countries to promote human rights, social justice and nonviolent culture and struggle. Your contributions make possible the modest stipend that allows Pietro to dedicate himself to the nonviolence education and organizing work. more information on Pietro
On the Frontlines with Pietro Ameglio
IF is raising funds to support the crucial work of Pietro Ameglio, who for decades has promoted active nonviolence in Mexico and across Latin America. An activist, popular educator, university lecturer, and author, Pietro is a co-founder and leader of the Movement for Peace with Justice and Dignity (MPJD) that emerged in 2011 to challenge drug-war violence, increasing militarization, and human rights violations in Mexico. His nonviolence education programs are in constant demand across Mexico, and he has helped organize and lead numerous nonviolent direct action campaigns.
He is a co-founder (1987) and leader of Servicio Paz y Justicia (Peace and Justice Service/SERPAJ) in Mexico. SERPAJ is a Latin American network working in 13 countries to promote human rights, social justice and nonviolent culture and struggle. Your contributions make possible the modest stipend that allows Pietro to dedicate himself to the nonviolence education and organizing work. more information on Pietro
Report from Pietro Ameglio and the Movement for Peace with Justice and Dignity (April 2014)
IF members have had the opportunity to follow the creation and evolution of the Movement for Peace with Justice and Dignity (MPJD) in Mexico through the eyes of Pietro Ameglio, one of its founding members and leaders. The following interview with Pietro was done in March 2014 on the third anniversary of the founding of the MPJD. This is what active nonviolence looks like from within one of the most violent societies in the world. There are multiple dimensions in which we in the U.S. are linked to that violence: the demand for the drugs that fuels the organized crime cartels; the weapons and ammunition used to do the killing that is supplied to all the armed actors from the U.S.; the imposition of trade policy such as NAFTA that has driven literally millions of campesinos from their land, stealing their hope for the future. So as we marvel at the courage and commitment of nonviolent movement activists in Mexico, we might also consider what we can do to stop fueling the violence.
Note: This interview was originally published in Spanish in Desinformémonos.org, an “autonomous, global communications project.” The English translation was published by the Americas Program, an excellent source of information and analysis on Latin America.
Interview with Pietro Ameglio:
Mexican Peace Activist Says Focus Must Be More on Justice than Peace
Escrito por Adazahira Chavez | 2 / April / 2014
According to Pietro Ameglio, activist and nonviolent resistance promoter, the Movement for Peace with Justice and Dignity (MPJD) can be credited with supporting important processes in Mexico, such as transforming victims of the drug war into historical actors, highlighting their dignity, and mobilizing society. However, he believes it still has unfinished tasks three years after its inception, including the need for civil disobedience in order to achieve progress on the re-appearance of the missing, justice for the dead, and change in the militarized security model of a State that is increasingly criminal and beyond the reach of the law.
Ameglio complains that in Mexico, despite MPJD protests and dialogue with the authorities, violence has increased as the government merely pretends to present solutions. He acknowledges that the movement has lacked an effective way to make common cause with indigenous peoples. He recognizes that there are other important actors in civil society and that it is not up to the MPJD to lead them. Instead, the MPJD should join up with these movements.
The execution of seven youths in Temixco, Morelos, on March 28, 2011, triggered the emergence of the MPJD, headed by poet Javier Sicilia, the father of one of the victims. Sicilia, the intellectual with his ever-present hat and khaki vest, led a march on foot from Cuernavaca, Morelos, to Mexico City, under the slogan “We’ve had it up to here!” (“¡Estamos hasta la madre!”) Later he led three huge caravans–one to northern Mexico, one to southern Mexico and another across the United States. On the caravans, relatives of victims gave voice to the horrors of the “drug war” being waged by then-President Felipe Calderon. The caravans also met with politicians, engaged in dialogues with public officials and carried out dozens of other activities. continue interview with Pietro Ameglio on Mexico Nonviolence Movement
IF members have had the opportunity to follow the creation and evolution of the Movement for Peace with Justice and Dignity (MPJD) in Mexico through the eyes of Pietro Ameglio, one of its founding members and leaders. The following interview with Pietro was done in March 2014 on the third anniversary of the founding of the MPJD. This is what active nonviolence looks like from within one of the most violent societies in the world. There are multiple dimensions in which we in the U.S. are linked to that violence: the demand for the drugs that fuels the organized crime cartels; the weapons and ammunition used to do the killing that is supplied to all the armed actors from the U.S.; the imposition of trade policy such as NAFTA that has driven literally millions of campesinos from their land, stealing their hope for the future. So as we marvel at the courage and commitment of nonviolent movement activists in Mexico, we might also consider what we can do to stop fueling the violence.
Note: This interview was originally published in Spanish in Desinformémonos.org, an “autonomous, global communications project.” The English translation was published by the Americas Program, an excellent source of information and analysis on Latin America.
Interview with Pietro Ameglio:
Mexican Peace Activist Says Focus Must Be More on Justice than Peace
Escrito por Adazahira Chavez | 2 / April / 2014
According to Pietro Ameglio, activist and nonviolent resistance promoter, the Movement for Peace with Justice and Dignity (MPJD) can be credited with supporting important processes in Mexico, such as transforming victims of the drug war into historical actors, highlighting their dignity, and mobilizing society. However, he believes it still has unfinished tasks three years after its inception, including the need for civil disobedience in order to achieve progress on the re-appearance of the missing, justice for the dead, and change in the militarized security model of a State that is increasingly criminal and beyond the reach of the law.
Ameglio complains that in Mexico, despite MPJD protests and dialogue with the authorities, violence has increased as the government merely pretends to present solutions. He acknowledges that the movement has lacked an effective way to make common cause with indigenous peoples. He recognizes that there are other important actors in civil society and that it is not up to the MPJD to lead them. Instead, the MPJD should join up with these movements.
The execution of seven youths in Temixco, Morelos, on March 28, 2011, triggered the emergence of the MPJD, headed by poet Javier Sicilia, the father of one of the victims. Sicilia, the intellectual with his ever-present hat and khaki vest, led a march on foot from Cuernavaca, Morelos, to Mexico City, under the slogan “We’ve had it up to here!” (“¡Estamos hasta la madre!”) Later he led three huge caravans–one to northern Mexico, one to southern Mexico and another across the United States. On the caravans, relatives of victims gave voice to the horrors of the “drug war” being waged by then-President Felipe Calderon. The caravans also met with politicians, engaged in dialogues with public officials and carried out dozens of other activities. continue interview with Pietro Ameglio on Mexico Nonviolence Movement
Update on Sergio Castro/Yok Chij
(January 2014)
For over 45 years Sergio Castro (Yok Chij) has been working within the indigenous Mayan communities of San Cristóbal de las Casas in Chiapas, one of the poorest states of Mexico. Sergio spends most of his time providing medical and wound care to burn victims, and this work is the subject of an inspiring documentary film, El Andalon.
(See Trailer http://veremosproductions.com/el-andalon-2/)
We recently received an annual update on Don Sergio's project activities in 2013 from Mary Murrel, Yok Chij's finance person in Mexico. http://sergiocastrosc.blogspot.mx
During 2013 Sergio Castro treated an average of 24 patients a week needing wound care. He works six days a week so he typically has 132 patient visits each week. Some of the patients come to his clinic in San Cristobal for treatment in the evenings when Sr. Sergio has returned from his patients living in villages outside of town.
In 2013 he treated approximately 1,248 patients. The health care system in Chiapas (and Mexico in general) does not provide free wound care services. Today there is only one burn center in all of Mexico and it is located in Mexico City. As a result patients with serious burns or ulcers have nowhere to turn for help. Sergio Castro has filled this void by caring for patients for free, often seeing them every day for a month or more to change their bandages and give them encouragement.
In early 2013 Sr. Castro also completed a clean water system for storing water in the village of Cruz Quemada. And in the second half of 2013 he began work on a much larger water system which will service over 100 families in the community of Tzajal Chij. The first stage required work for improving the well, a large storage facility and pipes to distribute the water. By early December the well improvements were completed. Additional tanks and a larger network of pipes are planned for 2014.
Sergio’s work with water systems is critical for improving the health of all the inhabitants in village and is especially important for very young children. Tzajal Chij has 175 families and given that the families are large, it is fair to estimate the number of people benefiting from the well improvement is over 1,000.
(January 2014)
For over 45 years Sergio Castro (Yok Chij) has been working within the indigenous Mayan communities of San Cristóbal de las Casas in Chiapas, one of the poorest states of Mexico. Sergio spends most of his time providing medical and wound care to burn victims, and this work is the subject of an inspiring documentary film, El Andalon.
(See Trailer http://veremosproductions.com/el-andalon-2/)
We recently received an annual update on Don Sergio's project activities in 2013 from Mary Murrel, Yok Chij's finance person in Mexico. http://sergiocastrosc.blogspot.mx
During 2013 Sergio Castro treated an average of 24 patients a week needing wound care. He works six days a week so he typically has 132 patient visits each week. Some of the patients come to his clinic in San Cristobal for treatment in the evenings when Sr. Sergio has returned from his patients living in villages outside of town.
In 2013 he treated approximately 1,248 patients. The health care system in Chiapas (and Mexico in general) does not provide free wound care services. Today there is only one burn center in all of Mexico and it is located in Mexico City. As a result patients with serious burns or ulcers have nowhere to turn for help. Sergio Castro has filled this void by caring for patients for free, often seeing them every day for a month or more to change their bandages and give them encouragement.
In early 2013 Sr. Castro also completed a clean water system for storing water in the village of Cruz Quemada. And in the second half of 2013 he began work on a much larger water system which will service over 100 families in the community of Tzajal Chij. The first stage required work for improving the well, a large storage facility and pipes to distribute the water. By early December the well improvements were completed. Additional tanks and a larger network of pipes are planned for 2014.
Sergio’s work with water systems is critical for improving the health of all the inhabitants in village and is especially important for very young children. Tzajal Chij has 175 families and given that the families are large, it is fair to estimate the number of people benefiting from the well improvement is over 1,000.
Sergio at the school in Cruz Quemada
Sergio also improved the entrance for the toilets at the local school in Cruz Quemada and helped to complete two classrooms that were partially completed but were not being used because they needed flooring and windows.
In Mexico the government will provide a teacher for public school classes only when an adequate school room has been built by the community. So the completion of the classrooms in Cruz Quemada (originally he worked on the 5th grade classroom but he decided to complete the kindergarten classroom as well) made it possible for approximately 60 children to attend school.
Mary emphasized the importance of the funds that Sergio has received through IF for some of Sergio's clients who are most in need. The funds provided through IF during 2013 were used to pay the costs of rent, utilities and maintenance of Sergio’s clinic and museum; medical supplies; and transportation costs to visit patients in the local villages who are unable to come to the clinic. read more about Don Sergio's work in Chiapas, Mexico
(New York Time article August 2013)
Sergio and his work in Chiapas was the focus of a New York Times article on August 14. The online article also includes a short video and slide show. To access the article click on this link "In Mexico, a Healer Who Asks Nothing in Return".
In Mexico the government will provide a teacher for public school classes only when an adequate school room has been built by the community. So the completion of the classrooms in Cruz Quemada (originally he worked on the 5th grade classroom but he decided to complete the kindergarten classroom as well) made it possible for approximately 60 children to attend school.
Mary emphasized the importance of the funds that Sergio has received through IF for some of Sergio's clients who are most in need. The funds provided through IF during 2013 were used to pay the costs of rent, utilities and maintenance of Sergio’s clinic and museum; medical supplies; and transportation costs to visit patients in the local villages who are unable to come to the clinic. read more about Don Sergio's work in Chiapas, Mexico
(New York Time article August 2013)
Sergio and his work in Chiapas was the focus of a New York Times article on August 14. The online article also includes a short video and slide show. To access the article click on this link "In Mexico, a Healer Who Asks Nothing in Return".
