A Book for "the Holidays"

Movement for Justice in El Barrio (MJB) is selling copies of The Speed of Dreams, a collection of Zapatista writings from 2001 to 2007, to help spread Zapatismo and to raise funds to continue their transnational struggle. If you buy the book directly from MJB, 50% of the proceeds go towards their fight for justice. You can order copies by sending them an email at movementforjusticeinelbarrio@yahoo.com. MJB also has Zapatista calendars from Spain available at $15 a pop. The one catch is that you'll need to be able to pick the books and calendars up in Manhattan! If you can't make it out here, you can at least order the book from City Lights Press at the link above.

You can also make a donation directly to MJB by going here!

Other than giving money to MJB, another reason why I'm excited about this book, which is the follow-up to Our Word is Our Weapon, is that The Speed of Dreams was edited by Canek Peña-Vargas, a member of Regeneración Childcare NYC! Although we've lost him to his hometown of LA (sniff, sniff), his art will live on with us, it is featured not only on Regeneración shirts and website, but also on our just self-published and beautifully bound collection of reflections from the US Social Forum...So we have plenty to remind us of Canek now, not just this new collection of "indigenous myths and legends, visions of the future of Mexico, searing critiques of the U.S. war in Iraq, and clandestine radio broadcasts from the jungles of Chiapas."

And if you can't pick up a copy of The Speed of Dreams beforehand, you can get one at MJB's Book Launch Event on January 27th (UPDATE: This event has been CANCELLED. The movie will be screened later in the year...) where they will also give a New York City premiere screening of "A Very Big Train Called the Other Campaign.” The film follows preparatory meetings between Zapatista indigenous communities and Mexican civil society and the launching of the national tour that took place as part of the first stage of the national Mexican movement called the Other Campaign. The book launch and movie premiere is at St. Mark's Church on Sunday, January 27th, 2008 at 6p, see you there!