CIPO (Popular Indigenous Council of Oaxaca) Bike Caravan Talk

On November 8, 2010, the CIPO-VAN collective launched the CIPO-caravan, an epic bike ride from Vancouver, Canada, to Oaxaca, Mexico. The purpose of the CIPO-caravan is to raise awareness and build community around the projects and struggles of the Consejo Indigena Popular de Oaxaca-Ricardo Flores Magon (CIPO-RFM) and migrant agriculture workers in Canada.

During their SF bike tour stop, CIPO-VAN collective members Gil and Jocely...n will talk about CIPO-RFM, the situation of migrant workers in Canada (most of whom come from Mexico), cross-border solidarity, support for Pablo Alavez, a CIPO-RFM member currently in jail for defending the forest in his community of San Isidro Aloapam, and more.

CIPO-VAN is a Vancouver-based activist organization committed to the creation of community and transnational networks. Its primary focus is the dissemination of information and perspectives on autonomous community organizations and the strengthening of public awareness and civil society through public events and alternative media. Particular attention is paid to aboriginal cultural rights, sustainable community living, and resolutions to cultural and economic discrimination. Members include students, professionals, Canadians, Mexican and internationals of different cultures. CIPO-VAN is guided and inspired by many aspects of indigenous Mexican culture including food, fiesta and communal participation.

For more on CIPO-RFM, see http://www.nodo50.org/cipo

For more on CIPO caravan, see http://www.cipovan.org/cipo-caravan/