AU Alternative Winter Break: Mexico City 2013-2014

When people join together, identifying with a group that shares their ideals, change is possible. This is one of many encouragements I brought back from Mexico, and ever since my mind has whirled in an avalanche of thought and realization. How does the market system that I have always been shaped by affect others? Do we have any other system? Would it work? The current market economy leaves out so much of life, what it calls "externalities," from work at home to the side effects of production such as a poisoned environment. Floating in comfort, I was trained to think about the "well-being of the market" as if it were a living being controlling our lives. No doubt the economy does affect us all, but we affect the economy. What I thank both those from the organizations and the community in Mexico most for, is planting the seed in my mind of alternative thinking. Being raised to think in right and wrong, yes and no, how could I think that there could be multiple ways to reach a positive end?

Ever since I returned from Mexico, my critical self has grown. Every person on earth would learn much by analyzing the choices they make, their reactions to others, and others’ arguments that initially seem foreign. I have a hunch that one of human’s greatest challenges is to be able to step out of itself for some time, reflect, and come back to do better. Pretty transcendental stuff, I know. But I am a believer in us. Our environment shapes us, and if we can better understand these inner-workings, across borders, between communities, and between two individuals, our world will progress to a more healthy state.

After considering the perceived failings of capitalism in Mexico, participants responded to the following prompt by again putting themselves in the shoes of our Mexican compañeros:

Why is the cooperative model a valuable and viable alternative?

It takes away the “bosses,” and the idea that any person has power over another. It also means that profits are shared, so the people that work hard are given fair pay and better working conditions.

The government does not take action for the people suffering, so we the people have to take action instead.

It’s a viable alternative because it focuses on the community and people working together for each other instead of focusing on the individual.

It makes sense because it reaches for equality in voice and value between all.

In the cooperative model, everyone works to help each other while helping themselves in order to benefit everyone involved. Opposed to capitalism, this system prevents the opportunity of exploitation and manipulation to arise.

Because it puts the direction of policies and benefits of success in the workers’ hands as opposed to a select few at the top. More people benefit equally.

It is a model that utilizes the strength of the collective group, where all have equal parts and equal voice; this ensures rights and benefits for all.

Because our social cooperative has strong support, it can inherently sustain itself through member support and outreach.

It allows for workers to obtain rights and a sense of dignity that capitalism doesn’t afford. It helps to increase wages and reduce profits by eliminating exploitation.

While on our trip, participants were prompted to think of the worldviews that we had been learning about, which at times were vastly different from our own. After hearing from compañeros involved in Mexican social movements, we pondered the following question and answered from their point of view:

Why is capitalism bad for Mexico?

It is exploitative and leaves power to few people, leaving many without a say.

It is a system with clear winners and clear losers. Mexico’s population has largely been exploited by capitalism, providing a lot of the work and production that leads to success without actually getting the benefits.

Capitalism doesn’t support the poor, and allows them to be abused, especially in the workplace.

It exploits the people, turning them against each other while destroying previous values.

Because it exploits the cheap labor of already marginalized and impoverished Mexicans, which reinforces the wage gap and keeps the rich few rich, while pushing the poor further into poverty. It does this in the interest of the rich business owners and such and the government does not curb their power.

Capitalism creates the gap between the rich and the poor bigger. It’s all about money, so society only respects those who are wealthy.

Capitalism focuses on money, and once money is involved people get selfish and money-hungry, which creates a lot of problems.

It is a, by nature, exploitative system. There are millions that live in poverty here, and capitalist companies/the system in general creates a system of oppression and exploitation of the poor by the rich. For example, companies will offer very low wages, which the poor will accept because it’s some money instead of none.

If the capitalist system is unbalanced, unregulated or only in favor of the people with money and power, then it will create an endless cycle of poverty for the masses with only a select few who live well on the backs of the poor. The social economic divide will forever increase.

In Mexico’s capital, graffiti and wall art are the preferred method of advertisement. Striking examples of this form of communication and expression glared at us during our many forays out into the city, and the numerous anarchist symbols and rebellious pintas we passed were evidence of many Mexican people’s discontent. During our meetings, we often found ourselves surrounded by Zapatista and communist posters whose powerful messages also resounded from the walls. Che Guevara and even Mao Zedong were common idols who are esteemed for their values and ideals – a very different side of history from the stories of totalitarianism and human rights violations that encourage us to dismiss such leaders in the United States. Immersed in such an environment, we were constantly challenged to question neoliberal capitalism and how the model has affected our countries in very different ways.

In the struggle for a more equitable and just world, it is not uncommon to become disillusioned by systematic corruption and impunity. On our Alternative Break to Mexico’s Federal District, our group was confronted with innumerable stories of oppression, abuse, and violence committed by government officials and police. Yet, the theme of our trip was not to compare the vices of the United States and Mexico, but rather to make connections in the global struggle for social justice and dignified lives, and to learn how communities take action in response to injustice. Not only did we live in a vibrant housing cooperative whose members actively participate in a strong social movement, but we met with community organizers, protestors, human rights defenders, indigenous activists, student occupiers, and advocates for the cooperative model. For example, in meeting with the Frente Auténtico de Trabajo (F.A.T., or “Authentic Labor Front”) and La Coperacha, a cooperative media company, we learned about the work that is being done to support successful cooperatives across the country. Cooperatives are seen as a tool for a new economy.

The opportunity to meet with such articulate, dedicated individuals and learn about successful cooperatives was the highlight of my experience. I am passionate about bottom-up, grassroots initiatives for social change, and am also very intrigued by alternative economic models to counter the social and environmental ills produced by neoliberal economic globalization. One of the most outstanding examples of this phenomenon is Wal-Mart. While studying abroad in Costa Rica in 2013, I undertook a social responsibility research project on Wal-Mart and its subsidiaries in the country. During our time in Mexico this winter, I was not surprised to pass numerable Wal-Mart owned stores, such as Wal-Mart, Bodega Aurrera, Superama, and VIPS (learn more about the corporation’s presence here, and more on a scandal that came to light in 2012 here). On a few occasions we even had to shop at said stores, while at the same time seeking to support the local cooperatives we visited. This trip further strengthened my resolve to stand in solidarity with Latin American people and dedicate my career to better transparency and accountability for human rights in the public and private sector.

With only a few more days remaining before our long journey home to the United States, and all of our heavy talks with various organizations now behind us, we found ourselves relaxing on a boat floating through the canals of Xochimilco. On a boat painted with bold colors which represented the vibrant atmosphere of Mexico City, we picnicked on traditional Mexican dishes such as tamales and quesadillas, while enjoying the views of farms and wilderness that we passed by. The two-hour boat ride gave all of us ample time to reflect on the previous two weeks’ experiences, and to allow all of what we have learned to sink in.

One topic that was still on my mind was our meeting with the sex workers union, Brigada Callejera, the day before. It was amazing for me to see how a cooperative group effort could be so successful in supporting the rights and safety of those who are often deemed undignified in the public eye. Throughout our journey in Mexico it has become clear how successful grassroots organizations can be when they are organized properly and are lead by people who care deeply about the cause.  It is clear that the organizations we have met with such as F.A.T. are formed by individuals that truly care about the work they are doing, and have strong desires to make a positive impact in their communities. Meeting and hearing from organizations such as H.I.J.O.S. and the Black Cross, has really inspired me to find ways to participate in grassroots organizations back home in Washington, DC.

Last week, during our first trip into el centro of Mexico City, we visited the Plaza of the Revolution. As soon as we arrived we saw a large group of makeshift tents and tarps. What we stumbled upon was a peaceful occupation of the plaza by the country’s primary school teachers. For more than 6 months the teachers have joined together to protest a new education reform that not only affects the education system, but also, more directly, affects their livelihood. Thousands of teachers from all across the country, rural and urban, are fighting against the reform. We struck up a conversation with some of the teachers and were told that the reform is a teacher reform disguised as an education reform. As this labor reform carries major changes to their work, the National Coordination of Education Workers (CNTE) has been standing with them and leading their legal battle. This is a very strong labor union, but so far no real progress has been achieved in the effort to repeal the reform. The teachers claim that it is simply stripping them of their benefits (like tenure) and further decreasing their democratic involvement in the system; just like how they were not involved in the creation of the reform itself.

“Education is supposed to be for the people and, thus, the decision making and changed should come from the people”, said one of the teachers.  The schools remain open across the country while many teachers have been rotating in and out with their compañeros in Mexico City to protest through marches and occupying city space. Many others are also taking up the fight in the home states. The encampment we stumbled upon was actually the second location of the protest in the city. They first coordinated and began their protest last August in the Zócalo (heart of the historic center and one of the largest public squares in the world).  However, they were forcefully removed from the plaza by the federal police to make way for the winter “ice skating” rink. They bandaged their wounds and later reorganized in the Plaza of the Revolution. During our talk with the teachers, one compañero pointed to the monument to the revolution and, in an emotion filled voice, said, “Where is the monument to the teachers? Here it is, this monument.”  This past weekend, the Federal Police moved in under the cloak of darkness and again violently removed the teachers from the Plaza of the Revolution. They claimed that the local business owners had complained and wanted to them gone. 

This week we visited the National Autonomous University of Mexico (UNAM) and learned about, among other things, the student strike in 1999-2000. The strike was in response to a history of severely undemocratic policies, a refusal of student involvement in university matters, and, the final straw, a decision to begin charging a nominal tuition fee. It was a direct and intentional step, in a series of efforts, towards the privatization of this storied public institution. The students organized and took control of all the buildings on the vast campus. Through 10 months of the strike the students coordinated, collaborated, voted and put forth many well-formed attempts to dialogue with the university administrators.  Their attempts at opening a line of discussion were refused and the strike ended with a special military force that attacked the students and jailed almost 1,000 people involved in the protest.

Social protest in Mexico has a tumultuous, and often painful, history. As our contacts in the Centro Prodh (human rights) have documents, with the return of the PRI political party to the presidency in 2012, Mexico City in particular has seen a sharp increase in violent repression of social protest. On our trip we have learned a great deal about social protest in Mexico as a vital means of the Mexican people to create awareness and combat government led injustice. This form of dissidence is one of the few tools that Mexicans are able to utilize in their society, which is dominated by an authoritative, corrupt government system; a system that continues to suppress human rights while promoting their pro human rights efforts to world. A motto from the UNAM student strike was, “We close the school today so that it may be open tomorrow.” Will this need to be the next step for the teachers in their fights against the new education reform?

Here we are in Mexico City immersed in a unique land with unique people. We eat street tacos and cart tamales. We wake up to Spanish music and the people stay up all night crowding the streets. They live largely outside of their cement block shacks that rest haphazardly on top of each other like scattered boxes. The city rolls over hills and halfway up mountains. There are many signs of life packed into the tight spaces between.

Metro hustlers and abused sex workers are now our friends. Political revolutionaries and the smoke of flickering red flames fill our ears, our lungs, and our minds. The people beat at the walls of oppression and inequality like a piñata, hoping it will burst open and justice will rain down like dulces for their children. There is a constant struggle as people claim and conquer the pieces of a dignified life before they are stolen or sold behind their backs.

We are alien to this existence of bucket showers and glass-laden cement soccer lots. Here are people engaged in struggle. We learn from them and slowly adopt their tough spirit little by little, until we love our cold hard sleeping mats and laugh at our shed weakness. Their children seldom cry and their old women stand guard duty. The people here work to survive and value every peso earned. They live surrounded by government threats and amidst the wild nature of desperation.

We hope to take our vetted bodies back home to our soft pillows and working toilettes to show them our broken chains of dependence. Our minds sharpened like machetes ready to cut the thick jungle we face in our journey through life and our perspectives are broadened to embrace humanities many faces.

Over the course of this trip, I've taken on a few roles. For one, the note taker, because I'm constantly scribbling in my notebook during our meetings and I worry I'll run out of notebook space before we leave. Also, the token feminist. While many, if not all, participants could be described as feminists, I seem to be the loudest and am thus labeled as such by the group (to their credit, when I saw a poster saying "alto a la femicidio," I screamed, "my people!" (with my fist in the air). 

Looking through this lens, it has been difficult living in Mexico. Mexico's known for a "machismo culture," similar to the US, and I find the effects of that displayed so much more overtly here. For example, it is impossible for single women to get credits for housing from the government, so many have problems paying for housing. You look at the front of a newspaper, and on the front page there's some story about death or some important event, and then a picture of a woman in a bikini or her underwear (sometimes the picture of the women is bigger than that describing the news page). Women on the news are wearing tight dresses that make them appear more like sex objects than professionals.

Men stare at us on the metro or on the street. They whistle at us as we walk. Some guy thought it was okay to stare are our female trip leader for 10+ minutes while making awkward hip movements, refusing to budge when an elderly woman tried to get past him, only stopping when our male trip leader sat next to her.

Of course, there are movements for change. Matt (our staff advisor) pointed out on the metro a sign calling for employers to not discriminate against females for whether or not they get pregnant, stressing that it is their right to choose if they do or don't. Communities like Los Panchos lobby so single women can get those credits, and ensure that single women can live in their communities if they meet the normal criteria. There are also female and children-only cars so women are not molested on the metro. However, all of these things exist because there is a need for them. There is discrimination against women by the government, employers, and in general, Mexican society. That's what's hard: understanding and seeing that there is need for change.

Disclaimer: I understand that many of the problems exist in the US, and I do take issue with them everywhere I find them.

A few days into our trip, the group was asked to respond to the prompt, "what is community?" They answered:

Community, to me, is any group of people you derive support from. Friends, family, random people you go to Mexico with. Not all communities are positive, in fact they can be detrimental. But they provide hope, no matter who you are.

Community is a safe zone to protect individuals or it also can be a group of mental and physical connection.

Community means for me to be around people where I feel a sense of connections, values, and friendship.

When a group of individuals works together in order to form common bonds and to help one another.

A group of people who I am familiar with, feel safe around, and that love and support each other/are comfortable around each other. Not necessarily defined to a specific space. People and their connections to each other are what are important.

Sharing, communicating, living in accordance with the common good.

Relationships, culture, holidays, celebrations, diversity, families, multi-generational, mutual aid, education, homes, LIFE.

Community means a group of people who are like a family and willing to have each other’s backs no matter what.

Supporting others, looking out for others, in a group and not just for yourself. Working with an established group for common goals and the betterment of all. Sharing your space, time, etc. with others.

Similar resources and preferences working together towards a common goal. In our society, however, we largely ignore each other, unless there is a specific issue that brought us all to that community.

A safe space where you feel secure both physically, ideologically, and emotionally.

During this trip to Mexico City, we have been busy meeting with different groups that fight for social justice, as well as sightseeing and immersing ourselves in the culture of the city. On one particular day, we met with a member of a coffee cooperative who told us his story, which involved a long and difficult process, but ended with a wonderful restaurant and a job with good pay and good benefits. This really inspired me because I was able to see an individual’s dream pan out and become a reality. Not only was it inspirational, but the coffee was delicious as well.

I’ve enjoyed meeting with various groups, but I’ve enjoyed seeing different areas in and around the city as well, like the pyramids of Teotihuacan. Sitting on the top of one of the pyramids and looking around the rest of the ruins was surreal, because I was sitting somewhere that people sat thousands of years ago. The scenery was absolutely beautiful, and it was nice to go from somewhere busy and crowded to a place that was more peaceful and relaxing.

We have been keeping busy, but in my spare time I have begun to realize how much I am learning during this trip. I’ve encountered some views that are different from my own, but I’m beginning to realize that that’s why I’m here, and that I don’t necessarily need to agree with them, as long as I am learning about them and about the people behind the ideas. We have had dozens of group conversations that have introduced views and ideas that I never would have thought about otherwise. I am also learning a lot about Mexican culture, and have loved being in a place where I can practice Spanish (although I am realizing how much practice it takes)!

Four days left until we leave! I have so very much enjoyed our time here, so that first sentence in incredibly misleading… But let me explain:

For the first couple of days, I was incredibly homesick and very dissatisfied with my living conditions. Pouring water down the toilet to flush? Contaminated water? Showering in a bucket? AND NO LUGGAGE? Ey dios! I realized I had a lot of growing to do and desperately had a lesson to learn in humility. I was so disappointed in myself for being so unhappy with my surroundings. All I saw was poverty, destruction, and corruption all around me, rather than the cultural richness, youthful innocence, and beautiful architecture that permeates the metropolitan area. Also, I kept comparing this society to my own. Overtime, I noticed more similarities than differences between our countries. I think I latched onto the differences because they were so extreme. But, really, we are quite the same. I have seen myself grow and become more humble, open-minded, and accepting. I praise God for this growth and I am so thankful for this experience.

Moving on, this community is so impressive. They are doing the best they can with what they have and they are doing a great job. Los Panchos and the other human rights and social movement activists who we have met represent solidarity, community, faith, and, most importantly, resilience. The struggle certainly continues, but the progress is beautiful.

It's been an interesting time here in Mexico so far. From losing our luggage for for two days, and wearing the same clothing for two days, to being the narrator in a particularly viscious game, Mafia. A lot has happened here in a week that has seemed so short and yet packed with activities. Yet for me this is especially significant as I'm seeing another country and another culture for the first time. While most others on the trip have visited other countries for pleasure, education or service, this is my first time venturing out of the USA.

No doubt this trip has taught me a lot. I've met with people representing groups and ideologies that I've never considered. Still, though, I've not really changed my ideological views. Some days it feels as though I'm the conservative in a group of liberals, even though most people would never identify me as such. So far I acknowledge the struggle the people of Mexico are facing, and believe the FPFVI are truly helping those who the corruption is hurting. But I believe in the end that what we need, even in the United States, is reform and regulation. As for the Zapatistas, who we watched a movie on, I cannot say that I support them as I have a deep reservation about their tactics. Like anything in my life, though, I would give them a chance to see more before I truly judge. Everyone gets two.

But on the other hand, I've met some great people, and in the end that's what matters to me most.

Our third day of the Alternative Break in Mexico began with hearing fireworks and drinking blueberry juice. There were some stories behind our New Year’s celebration but I would rather keep that as our secret memory.

 As soon as our group gathered in the community center, we left for downtown. We got off the metro and walked towards the Mexican National Palace. Many shopping malls and chain restaurants from the U.S. were located for blocks after blocks. The architectural layouts seemed hugely similar to the European style. According to one of our student leaders Zach, those buildings were constructed in the 1500’s and influenced by Europe. Nearby the palace, our group also went to the Cathedral and local markets. The place was vivid and filled with interesting goods.  

After sightseeing the surroundings, we walked toward the Monument of Revolution.  The plaza in front of the monument is dominated by many tents that belong to the teachers union who are currently protesting against Mexico’s new education reforms. Due to the new policy, the government control the educational curriculum and the teachers’ working environment. We stayed there about an hour and listened to the teachers explaining the history of their struggle and the purpose of the protest.

I have seen two opposite sides of Mexico today; one is the groups of happy people enjoying their holidays with their family, and the other is the people who are fighting against the dominant institutions of power, in order to achieve a better world for their family and themselves. I could not stop questioning the causes and solutions of all the problems I have seen here in Mexico. I also compare the world I have seen before that is portrayed by the Media and the world that I am faced with during this Alternative Break experience. So far, I am undecided about how we can develop a better society, but I know that there are no immediate answers and are more complex than they seem to be. However, I look forward to finding the most realistic and practical solutions to our society’s problems. I am thankful to have this opportunity to look at different perspectives to gain greater insight into social justice issues.

 Acapatzingo is an oasis of colorful houses, Bob Marley music, talk of anarchism and solidarity, and a general air of safety among the bustling city of Mexico City. These past few days have painted a picture in my mind of what Che Guevara and Fidel Castro fought for decades ago throughout Latin America. In the United States, mainstream culture and education teach us that rebellious behavior is something to condemn rather than to support. ¨Communism¨ is a dirty word that we either never mention or that we only bring up with very careful wording while prepared to debate and defend instantly.

When I first came to this community and saw the radical leftist propaganda lining the walls, met coordinators and representatives with piercings, dyed hair, and wearing spikes, my inner-capitalist-mainstream-conformist-self immediately challenged the new perceptions that infiltrated my mind. I thought, well, anarchism sounds nice, communism sounds idealistic, but they could never work. Human beings at the end of the day just don’t respond in the equal form that these systems strive for. I mentally refuted every stance I heard until I finally let down my walls of defiance. But then something in me changed. This is not my country, I thought. I have not struggled the way the general population of Mexico has. I do not have to battle daily against a corrupt government that wears the face of democracy but only has personal interest in mind.

The US government is far from perfect, but at least I feel like I have the opportunity to work and to make a decent living. In Mexico, that luxury is only reserved for a small group of elites. Our country’s history varies so much from that of our Southern neighbor that it takes a conscious effort to take my biases and preconceived notions of prosperity and equality out of my view towards this FPFVI community and their goals. But once I stop comparing their complaints and efforts with how they would manifest in the United States, I see where these people are coming from. I identify with their struggle and I can see how much stronger they are than I could ever be, building their homes independently and from the ground up. 

Hola. This is Mexico. This is the place that we – or at least some percentage of the US population – know is our geographic neighbor. But what do we really know about a place that we have never been to? I certainly do not know much.

In the first twenty four hours after driving through the gates of the community, so many questions have been raised. What am I doing here? What do the locals think of my group and I? Why can I not throw toilet paper in the toilet?

More importantly: How can I impact global inequality? How can we change the world?

Today I tried to stare capitalism straight in the eye. I do not think I succeeded, but I think I got a closer look. We had the opportunity to listen and question activists from an organization that would scare many United Statesians…yes, you included Dad. We discussed the capitalist system that runs much of the world. While the activists discussed laws rolling into effect that allow a person to be sent to prison before they even commit a crime, in the back of my mind I could not stop asking myself: is it possible to make the world fair? This is the real question each human being faces. Me, you...even your grandma. Over a billion individuals are living in severe poverty. People are suffering, and what are others with the means to help doing each moment that passes? Does the global community not have responsibility to act for the sake of global human well-being?

Not too often are individuals able to confront what society always tells us… what we always assume is the best way of living…but here, this is the opportunity we are given. And it is only the beginning.

After months of hard work in planning, organizing, and coordinating, I will travel back to Mexico City on a two-week social justice based trip with my co-leader Caitlin Duffy, staff advisor Matt Sacco, and nine students from American University to live in a thriving housing cooperative of the Frente Popular Francisco Villa Independiente (FPFVI), also known as “Los Panchos.” This trip will be a welcome return to a community that I visited on a four-month study abroad program with the Mexico Solidarity Network and first learned of strong autonomous communities that are a testament to the dignified lives people can lead when they organize for social change.

In our pre-trip orientation sessions, Caitlin and I have stressed the power of social movements and what citizens can accomplish through collective action. Many of us in the middle-class grow up with the belief that we hold the tools and knowledge to effectively help people that are less fortunate then we are. The expectation is that our volunteer work and charity will help lift them out of their misery and achieve prosperity. This commonly held belief does not evade the field of international development, where programs often fail to effectively serve the actual needs of communities. Instead, the goal of the alternative break trip is to show how progress and victories are not made when western actors and institutions establish development programs with some obscure and often unattainable goal, but through efforts that are homegrown and driven primarily by the community.

A core principle of our Alternative Break trip is that effective international partnerships are established on the basis of solidarity, not charity. Our trip is not about helping, but about learning. Many of us hope that our vote is enough to achieve change, yet often become discouraged by the dysfunction of our political system in the United States. Our community partners, Los Panchos, don’t entrust their politicians with anything, and choose instead to illegally occupy land and organize marches and protests to demand the housing credits necessary for the construction of their communities.

I hope that participants in the Mexico City Alternative Break trip will realize the interconnectedness of social justice issues and that our city, Washington DC, faces its own crisis in affordable housing. Through our collaboration with the Norwood Cooperative here in Washington DC, we hope connect housing justice struggles in both capital cities and form partnerships that recognize the importance of solidarity. Above all, my hope is that as a group, we critically analyze the roots causes of social inequality that affect our own communities and empower ourselves by becoming active (or more active) citizens fighting for a more just and equitable world.