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BoogaJuice · Joined: 10 Jun 2006 Posts: 21

How are you doing with these teacher strikes?

ls650 · Joined: 10 May 2003 Posts: 3484 Location: British Columbia

I don't believe there are any regulars here who live in the city of Oaxaca, where the protests are. Perhaps someone out there will comment and prove I'm wrong.

Out here on the coast, if I didn't follow the news I wouldn't even know there was a protest on. I've seen a group of 20 people or so gather once in the zocalo, and I see the occasional poster or flyer regarding the protests in Oaxaca City.

MELEE · Posted: Sat Sep 02, 2006 4:34 pm Post subject:

I was in Oaxaca City yesterday. Sad actually. Also none of my nephews and nieces are in private schools, so none are in school. The parents had a city wide meeting yesterday (here, not in Oaxaca City) and will open schools on Monday and turn up with their children, who will each write a letter to their teacher telling them how much they miss them and asking them to come to class the next day. These letters will then be delivered to the teachers' homes. Shocked

It will be interesting to see if any turn up on Tuesday...

In 2000 there was a sizeable earthquake in Oaxaca and many buildings in the historic center were damaged. Over the last five years nearly all had been repaired/restored and the city was looking better than ever, really beautiful. Yesterday most of the center was graffitted. Crying or Very sad

Many of the streets are still blocked by stollen buses that have had their tires removed and been burned. The streets and buildings are scorched and lots of windows are broken. Many of the businesses in the center remain closed or close as sundown. There is loads of trash on the streets. The teachers' camps are spread out all over the center, rather than just concentrated in the park. Most of the women are sitting there emboirering and the men playing cards. And they are still getting their pay!!!

By the way, this is not about teachers anymore, its PRI oposition (mostly PRD and PT).

BoogaJuice · Joined: 10 Jun 2006 Posts: 21

That is so sweet that the children are going to write to their teachers. I bet it will make it hard for a lot of teachers to not return to school.

It's unfortunate about all the vandalism going on. It's good to know that you are safe tho. I read an article in the Toronto Star the other day saying that the tourists in that area looked scared. I am hoping to get a job in Oaxaca, and since these protests have started my family has been quite concerned with me.

Thanks for the update!
Leslie

cwc · Joined: 16 Nov 2005 Posts: 372

MELEE · Posted: Mon Sep 11, 2006 4:35 pm Post subject:

Here's an article on the Oaxaca situation

http://www.commondreams.org/views06/0910-23.htm

From outside the captial, I think the writers opinion of the support of the APPO is overestimated. Most people around me just want to get on with their lives. The APPO suport in the Mixteca seems to be largley Trique, a group who have never been concered, and Marxist, who are in the minority here.

ls650 · Joined: 10 May 2003 Posts: 3484 Location: British Columbia