Latin american/latin@ studies group Unrecognized

Mission Statement
The Latin American/Latin@ studies group seeks to promote awareness and education through the discussion and debate of themes and issues particular to Latin@s and Latin America. One goal of the group is to work to update the antiquated image of Latin America as violent and drug-ridden. To do this, we believe, requires an investigation of current regional, cultural, and social movements as well as an examination of the societal and political conditions that create such movements. On a more national level we would like to pay attention to how Latin@s are perceived within this culture and how these perceptions are linked to the USA's current anti-immigrant sentiment and the war of terror. This discussion requires attention to be given to the diversity and cultural differences that exist within the group of people that American society and statistics often clump as 'Hispanics'. It also begs the question of how the antiquated image people hold of Latin America impacts the lives of Latin@s living within this country. We also believe that any discussion of Latin America or Latin@s demands careful attention be paid to indigenous issues and to the social, economic, and racial hierarchies that impact people's positions and access throughout the Americas.

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Fernanda Navarro: Zapatismo, Ethics, and Political Philosophy
THURSDAY, 15 SEPTEMBER 2010, 5:30 p.m. (FPH 108)

In this talk Fernanda Navarro, political activist and philosopher from the University of Morelia, Michoacán, Mexico and founder of the collective Utopia, will discuss the contributions of the Zapatista movement to contemporary political thought. Drawing on her work on Althusser and Deleuze, she will emphasize the centrality of the ethical in the Zapatista project. Dinner provided from Mi Tierra (Amherst)

Attendance: 70 for the lecture, 50 for dinner.

The Other September 11th: Commemorating the Coup in Chile, September 11th, 1973
MONDAY, 13 SEPTEMBER 2010, 7:30 p.m., West Lecture Hall

FILM: Chile, Obstinate Memory

In the early 70s, Patricio Guzmán was a young film graduate who returned to his native Chile and began filming the transformations of the Allende regime, filming right up to and through the coup, and spiriting away his footage. He returns to Chile 23 years later to reencounter the protagonists and show his film to a generation raised under military rule questioning their received version of history.

Introduction to the significance of the Allende government and the CIA-sponsored coup d’etat by Carollee Bengelsdorf.

Remarks following the film by visiting scholar, Fernanda Navarro, participant in Allende’s Popular Unity government.

First Student Group Meeting
THURSDAY, 22 SEPTEMBER 2010, 7-8 p.m. (Merrill Living Room)

Open discussion for anyone interested in helping out with future LALS events, facilitated by Ellen Green. If you are interested in helping with event organizing in any way--contacting speakers, publicity, catering, transportation, tech support, financing, event photography/recording, whatever--please come! We need your help to make all this happen. Lowell Gudmundson (Mt. Holyoke) and Adam Isaacson (Hampshire alumnus, Washington Office on Latin America): Title TBA

FROM GUANTANAMO TO LILYPADS: The US Military Presence in Latin America Today
THURSDAY, 21 OCTOBER 2010, 7:30 pm (FPH 108)

Lowell Gudmundson, professor of Latin American studies and history at Mt. Holyoke, and Adam Isaacson, senior associate in the security policy program at the Washington Office on Latin America, will share their thoughts on the US military's arrival in Costa Rica this summer.

Related Student Groups
In Solidarity With Immigrants

El Colectivo Relampago

Hampshire College Fair Trade Alliance

Amnesty International

International Socialist Organization

RAICES

SOURCE

Faculty
Margaret Cerullo

Carollee Bengelsdorf

Flavio Risech-Ozeguera

Other Friends
School of Social Science

Enfield House

Inventory
2 1/2 packages of paper plates

15 plastic cups

1 1/2 packages plastic forks and spoons

a lot of paper napkins

2 serving spoons

1 DVD (recording of an event)

(all in Ellen's room)