The Wirikuta Fest last Saturday is the biggest cultural event I can recall to defend an indigenous or environmental cause in Mexico. 60 thousand people attended this festival that included hugely popular bands such as Café Tacuba, Caifanes and Calle 13. This last band sang “Latinoamérica” which I hugely recommend http://youtu.be/DkFJE8ZdeG8.
However, this festival also included a social movement tent with space for other mining, dam and environmental conflicts to talk about their struggles. It also included spaces for temazcal and indigenous dance.
With the slogan “Wirikuta is not for sale, Wirikuta is to defend” thousands of souls demanded conservation of the sacred area that is menaced by mining projects of Canadian companies.
Learn more at Shout Out Against Mining Injustice!
Jesus Lara Chivarra of the Wixarika (Huichol) tribe who serves as a member of the coordinating board of the Wirikuta Defense Front will be in Vancouver on June 1-2 to speak at our conference, please register for the ‘Shout Out Against Mining Injustice’ at http://canadians.org/shoutout.
News article from La Jornada http://www.jornada.unam.mx/ultimas/2012/05/27/11386726-logra-wirikuta-fest-alzar-la-voz-por-los-indigenas-del-pais
Star power merges with spirituality at Wirikuta Fest by Tracy L. Barnett
http://theesperanzaproject.org/2012/05/star-power-merges-with-spirituality-at-wirikuta-fest/
PRESS RELEASE: Wixárika Regional Council, May 25, 2012
