The International Center For Cultural and Language Studies (CICE) with the support of the Cultural Center of the State University of Morelos (CCU) Mexico
Presents:
FIRST INTERNATIONAL FORUM!!
"Los hijos del maíz: Corn Production in the New Millennium, Implications for Mexico"
January 6th,7th and 8th, 2000 in Cuernavaca, Morelos
Providing training and education and creating conditions to assure a better life for rural people in all its forms are among Mexico's greatest challenges. Combating nutritional deficiencies among its poorest people remains a monumental responsibility for the year 2000. In light of globalization in the new millennium, several sectors are being left behind, among them indigenous peoples and rural communities whose only means of sustenance stems from their yearly-cultivated crop. Corn represents around 15% of the income for 3 million rural families and is also Mexico's staple food. Corn is often their only meal and they prefer to keep it for their own year- round consumption rather than sell it. The cost of production tends to be higher than the market price. On the other hand, the Mexican Government has favored the industrialization of this product, thereby helping the owner of MINSA (Multinational Corporation of Mexico) become one of the richest men in the country to the detriment of the impoverished producers of corn and tortillas. What will be the nutritional cost for the most impoverished people for whom tortillas continue to be an important part of their basic meal? How will future generations be affected? What are the real economic costs and the cultural implications for Mexico losing its staple food? Indigenous populations are not only being threatened with the prospect of continuing to live in extreme poverty and environmental degradation, to live without autonomy and sovereignty, but also to have their health severely affected by changing a diet healthfully maintained for thousands of years.
LEARN AND DISCUSS THESE ISSUES AT THIS EXCITING CONFERENCE!
TOPICS TO INCLUDE:
· CORN PRODUCTION IN MEXICO: CRISIS IN THE COUNTRY FIELDS How Mexico became an importer country of corn and beans.
· NAFTA AND ITS IMPACT ON THE AGRICULTURAL SECTOR: THE PATH TO CASHCROPS
· CORN IN THE ANCESTRAL MEXICAN DIET AND THE INDUSTRY OF CORN TODAY
· ANTHROPOLOGICAL REVIEW OF THE SYSTEM OF THE EJIDO AND THE TECHNOLOGICAL ADVANCEMENTS OF THE ANCESTRAL CIVILIZATION: THE USE OF THE AZTEC CALENDAR IN THE PRODUCTION OF CORN
· CORN IN THE MEXICAN STRUGGLES/ ENDURING CULTURAL COLONIALIZATION FOR FIVE CENTURIES
· THE DEITY OF CORN AND AZTEC VISION OF THE ORIGINS OF THE UNIVERSE/THE LEGENDS OF CORN [ Nahuatl philosophy ]
· CORN IN THE ANCESTRAL MEDICINE: ITS ROLE IN HEALING METHODS AND DIAGNOSIS
· THE PRODUCTION OF CASH CROPS AND ITS ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTSPEAKERS
Our speakers are informative and exciting. They are well known in Mexico and have given presentations nationally and internationally.
David Barkin, Professor of Economy at the Universidad Autonoma Metropolitana in Mexico City. Author of several published articles and books on issues of agriculture and sustainable development in rural Mexico.
Manuel Arrieta. Doctor of Medicine, specialized on Anthropological Medicine, Nutrition and Holistic Medicine, advisor of Instituto Mexicano de Medicinas Tradicionales "Tlahuilli" A.C.
Ron Mader. Author of Mexico Adventures in Nature and Website Planeta.com
Dora Diaz. Community worker, a curandera and cultural promoter from Mexican Instituto of Traditional Medicine "Tlahuilli". She coordinates the Fiesta Nacional de la Planta Medicinal, this events gathers around 1000 people from all over Mexico
Oliva Ramirez Lobato: Sociologist, from Secretary of Health in Morelos. Community organizer and health promoter.
Rocío Rueda Hurtado. Historian. Author of "Antecedentes Históricos de la Tenencia de la Tierra en Morelos" Historical processes of land ownership in Morelos
Ronal B. Nigh, Anthropologist from Asociación DANA AC focus on organic an alternative agriculture in Chiapas.
Martha Leticia Zárate López. Agroecología, Asociación DANA AC in Mexico City
Tomás Villanueva. Agronomist and campesino (landworker) specialized on alternative agriculture in the State of México.
We will also have speakers from other states who will present us specific examples on successful projects on alternative agriculture.
Also, Testimonies from Asociación de Productores de Maíz (Corn Producers Association)
Groups of support: Sociedad Cooperativa yankuiktonalli, Sociedad Cooperativa tortilladora "el tlaxcalli" Asociación DANA AC México y Chiapas
Where?
Centro Internacional Para la Cultura y Enseñanza de la Lengua AC (CICE) and Centro Cultural Universitario, only a few blocks from downtown in Cuernavaca
Plutarco Elias Calles No. 13
Colonia Club de Golf
Cuernavaca, Morelos, MEXICO
How do I register?
You can contact one of the following representatives or do on-site registration one day before the event.
MEXICO
Estela Roman
Tel. 011 52-7- 312-44-68
Fax 52-7- 312-71-77
Email: cice@cuer.laneta.apc.org
Mailing address:
Apdo. Postal 1-666
Cuernavaca, Morelos, Mexico
Cost
$150 USD, before Dec.19th, it includes: Opening Aztec ceremony, Welcoming Cocktail reception, conferences and fiesta mexicana at the end of the program (live music, folk music and dance, theater and tasty Mexican food). On site registration: $175.00 US. Your fee will also cover a portion of scholarships for indigenous people, peasants and community workers to attend the conference
How to get to CICE
Our Center is in a beautiful locale surrounded by exotic plants and a peaceful environment. Once you arrive at Mexico City International Airport, you can take the convenient shuttle bus that takes you directly from the airport to the station "Casino de la Selva" in Cuernavaca. This shuttle leaves every hour from 8:00 a.m. to 10:30 pm. If you need help, the Information booth at the airport will assit you. If you confirm your arrival with us, a CICE representative will be waiting for you at the "Casino de la Selva" station.
If you are coming by car from Mexico City follow Avenida Insurgentes south of the city and take MEX 95D, its toll-road counterpart., When you are entering Cuernavaca, take Cuernavaca Centro to the Emiliano Zapata Circle and avenue. This road takes you to Alvaro Obregón Avenue. We are only one block before you enter "Morelos" main avenue (Avenida Morelos). From Central de Autobuses del Sur "Tasqueña" in Mexico City, buses "Pullman de Morelos" leave every 15 minutes from 6:00 til 10:PM after that, every half an hour til midnight. We recommend to take the bus with destination to Terminal Centro, we are only a few blocks from the Centro Station. If you confirm your arrival we can have one of our representatives wait for you at the station.
If you are in Cuernavaca, you can find us right next to Notaría 6, behind Hispano Mexicana, which is located at Avenida Morelos, we are very close to Colonia Las Palmas
Where to stay,
Cuernavaca has beautiful, comfortable and inexpensive hotels, we suggest a few of them near CICE, a few minutes walk or three to five minutes by car. We will provide transportation from these hotels to the conferences only in the morning.
CICE will provide limited room and board service during the event for 15.00 US DLLs a day (youth hostel accommodations: single bed in quadruple shared-room and sharing bathrooms, space is limited) We can also place you in a shared room at a nice hotel for $25 USD at night (breakfast included), we can also assist you upon request.
HOTELS
ILEBAL: Chula Vista 7, Centro, Cuernavaca, Morelos
Double room $450.00 ($50 US DLLs) per night
Additional person $90.00 ($10 USD)
For reservations call 01152 7 318 2755, 318 2749
E-mail: ilebal@mail.giga.com
English Spoken
POSADA QUINTA LAS FLORES: Calle jalisco No. 210 Col. Las Palmas
Double room $370.00 ($40 USD) per night
For reservations call 01152 7 314 1244 Fax 312 57 69
CADIZ: Alvaro Obregón No. 329
Double room $400.00 ($43 USD) per night
For reservations call/fax 01152 7 3189204
PAPAGAYO: Motolinía No.13, only a few blocks from CICE
Single room $255 ($26 USD) breakfast included
Double room $395 ($40 USD) breakfast included
Triple room $550.00 (60 USD) breakfast included