AUT: Trinational Exchange at FAT's Educational Center

[Robin Alexander <ueintl@xxxxxxxxxxx>]

Greetings!

        For the past few years the FAT has hosted a tri-national course at
its educational center in Temamatla.  Although I have never been able to
attend, those who have have given it rave reviews.

Robin


PROJECT:  A THIRD WORLD CONSCIOUSNESS
IN A GLOBAL SOCIETY.


Dear colleagues and friends:

	Once again we invite you to participate in our Trinational Course that
takes place once a year during the summer months. This time 1999 summer.

	Among the different tasks of our Educational Center, we consider this a
course of primary importance. It offers us the opportunity to think together
about the situation in which the less protected social classes of our three
countries first united as a geographic region and now, through NAFTA , as an
economic region.

	We have already experienced the richness of thinking and  living together
the commitment that generates the joint work of  people from three countries
united by the same goal and concern: How to obtain a Third World
conciousness in a global society.
We thank our former participants,  for their contributions during and after
former courses, which have being a valuable help in all our activities for
the third world, and for this summer event  preparation.

Pointing the third millennium, we meet a world dominated by a global
technoeconomical determinism, in which the human beings become more and more
small parts of more and more big groups.  This tendency outlines the new
relationship that is developing among individuals, communities and countries
in the productive, social political and cultural spheres.

	In this scenario, 1er and 3er. world are colonized by economical and
political doctrines  that have taken us all, to bigger poverty,
unemployment, and ecological deterioration in many cases irreversible. The
first world suffers this situation, and have the tendency to fall back on
itself.   The third world has the same sufferings, but in a deeper and
keenly way.  Its position already full of lack is much worst, and at the
same time many of those interested in its fate, have retired to solve their
own problems.

	The Report on Human Development of the United Nations has data that speaks
for itself:	 =20
	- 89 countries worsened economically in the last 10 years.  =20
	- 19 countries have revenues per capita worse that ten years ago. =20
	- 100 million people in countries of the OECD live below the line of
poverty, 30 millions are
 unemployed and 5 millions without home. =20
	- Of 69 countries that grew during the last decade, only 26 had employment
growth. =20
	- The women and the youths, suffer the worst conditions in employment terms
and income. =20
 =20
	Daniel Bell notices that an immanent logic doesn't exist in technology,
neither an "imperative" that should be obeyed. The decisive question is the
social organization in which is used the technology and its social system of
support.  Therefore they are the human beings who should discern their
linking laws and restriction to readjust the world.=20
 =20
  	We don't believe in determinism, neither in the dominant ideology that
tells us that man and society don't have more freedom for election that the
one of to be adapted or to die.  They tell  us there is no other way to
solve the problems but to be adapted to the new circunstances. It is the
adaptation ideology  victory.  Men and women have no more freedom for
election, for orientation, there is not other choise: to be adapted or to=
 die.

	Facing this situation, we call you to a joint reflexion and commitment.  It
is certain,  the problems of both worlds have not a one side solution, but
they must be solved in a global world solidarity with a  Third World
consciousness,  departing from the more needy  of both worlds.

	We don't propose to reject globalization, or  technologie.  They can help
powerfully  for the XXI century man and  women liberation.  What we need is
to shake colonization comming from the domminant spheres.   Colonization
penetrates because there are not social actors that think and act opposing
social movements that can humanize the new millennium that approaches. It is
necessary to oppose conscience, reflection, proposal, from the majorities of
the 1er. and 3er. world, together, forming a plural and solidary front,
without allowing that they face us as guilty enemies of the wrongs of our
neighbors. =20
 =20
	This is our course goal: To make us concious of this new reality which has
been born in such a different and equal way  in the third and first world.
To acquire a better knowledge of the three countries through study, living
together, and sharing experiences.   To think, create and propose new ways
of conjoint action. To look for local projects in the richness of plurality
and for a social  justice globalization in the universality of civil,
politic, ecologic, and social rights.  For it, we summon to this reflection
and combined commitment. We are sure that the problems of the two worlds
will only be solved in the solidarity of a global world. =20
=20
Themes of this course will focous on:=20
New issues and problems:
	National State weakness before Trade supremacy.
	Labor and Work.
		- Unemployement in our three countries.
		 - Womens work.
	Demographic problem.
		- Basic needs satisfaction for everybody.
		- Growing emigration from the 3th. world countries to the first.
	Ecologie, biotechnologie and rational exploitation of earth ressources.
		- Enviroment and soil deterioration by overexplotation in developed=
 countries=20
		   and subexplotation in the third world countries.

Reflection on alternatives and ways of solution.=20
	Globalization and social justice.
		- Human development, economic development, growing with justice.
	Moral values.  On the basic principle that "every human being is the goal
(because of
		 its' infinite dignity)  and not a means for our purposes"=20
	Economy against democracy?
		- Experiences in the three countries.
		- Civil society and struggle for democracy in Mexico.
	Education and/or reeducation for this new world.
		- Adults education.
		- Women education.
	Search for new ways of action, local, national, global.
		- National State and International Institutions.
		- Non gubermental organizations. New methods and tasks.

	Methods will be different, depending on the assignments and on the group
itself. We will have lectures for some topics, library research to prepare
lectures, and to know more about the themes each one desires to study, group
techniques for a better understanding of one another, as well group dynamics
for study and common reflection.  Included will be visits to working places,
impoverished areas, and agroecological projects.  At the same time we will
be codifing our work ir order to have a material to take with us.

	This is a ten day program with arrival on Monday morning , July  27, 1999.
Departure is on  Thursday August 5th at noon. We ask that those interested
participate in the full ten days, to make a group living experience
possible,  and to participate in all lectures, visits and work.

	This is an adult program, so the minimum age for participation is 22 years
old. The official languages are English, French and Spanish. Its is not
necessary to know the other languages, just to have a disposition towards
understanding and communication. We will have basic spanish lessons.

	Our Educational Center is located in Temamatla, Estado de M=E9xico. It is a
rural village near M=E9xico City, with all the advantages of the country=
 with
the proximity of a great city. It is comfortable but not luxurious.
Acommodation is in rooms for one or two people. There is also a large room
for a group of 6 to 8. The center has a garden, a small swimming pool,
volleyball, ping pong and other facilities. For better studying there is a
conference room, a library and work areas.=20

	Costs.  Each participant will pay his/her own trip to M=E9xico City. We=
 will
meet you at the airport or station. The cost per participant is US$ 30 per
day. For ten days the cost is US$300 per person plus US$100 for registration
costs. The cost for the entire course is US$400.  This includes:  three
meals a day, coffee or tea, bedroom, bathroom, study rooms, library, garden,
pool,  teachers, translators, documents,  study material, and field work
transportation.

	The course is limited to 22 people, in order to create a parternership
atmosphere, and to foster solidarity  among the members of the group.  We
ask you to give us your answer as soon as possible, as registration is
limited. If you are not interested but you know people who could be, please
give them this invitation to our course.

	Find included an application form to be filled in by those interested in
participating in our course. It is important to know who we are and with
whom we will be, what are our expectations, our experiences (work, personal,
affiliations),  our fears or our uncertainties.

	This is the project's basic information. Once we know of your interest in
participating, we will send you more details about programs, lodging,
excursions etc.  If you have any questions concerning our course, you may
direct them by letter or fax to: =20

	Centro de Educaci=F3n e investigaci=F3n para adultos RORAC.
	Baja California No. 26 ( antes 8 )
	Temamatla Edo. de M=E9xico.
	M=E9xico. 56650.
	Telephone numbers:   011 52 (598) 8 55 97      		=09
        Fax number: 011 52(598) 8 57 98
			     011 52 (598) 8 56 28 at night.
	Email:<rorac@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
We look forward to receiving your registration. =20

MA.ANTONIETA ISLAS.




      					APPLICATION FORM.


Name:


Age (  )  Sex  (  )


Level of education completed:


Do you belong to a social organization?
Could you tell us something about it?



Why are you interested in this course?



What are your expectations for this course, for the people with whom you
will share this experience?



What would you like to share with us about yourself, as an introduction of
yourself?



Do you have any uncertainties or fears facing this new experience?



Is there something else you would like to express?






							Thanks a lot.
							We are waiting for you fraternally.




















Robin Alexander
UE Director of International Labor Affairs
One Gateway Center, Suite 1400
420 Fort Duquesne Blvd.
PGH., PA. 15222-1416

412-471-8919
412-471-8999 FAX
HTTP://www.igc.apc.org/unitedelect/ (See alert section every two weeks for
labor and related news from Mexico).


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