MEXICO DECRIMINALIZES DEFAMATION

Imprisonment still on the books in 29 states

By Alexis White, May 11, 2007

“Que nos quiten las demás libertades con tal de que nos dejen la libertad de prensa, pues con ella reconquistaremos en breve todas las demás.”

“Let them take all the other freedoms away, provided they leave freedom of the press, because that will soon enable us to recover all the others.”


In a speech which he opened with this quote from the mid-19th century publication El Monitor Republicano, President Felipe de Jesús Calderón Hinojosa marked his signing of a decree that repealed 15 articles of the Código Penal Federal (federal Penal Code). No longer will slander, libel and defamation (calumnia, injuria e difamación) be criminal offenses punishable by imprisonment.

These historic words, he said, serve as a reminder that freedom of expression is one of Mexico’s historical achievements and that a free press is essential to the consolidation of the democracy it is striving to achieve. He added, however, that freedom of expression does not mean that journalism is synonymous with impunity, since people’s privacy, honor and reputation will and must be guaranteed.

The signing of this decree removes slander, libel and defamation from the Penal Code and places them within the jurisdiction of the Código Civil Federal (federal Civil Code).

Journalists and communicators, who civil court judges determine have acted outside of the law when disseminating information or opinion, now will only be subject to fines and the issuance of public retractions that give equal broadcast time or print space to the offended party. Offended parties also can be awarded damages. The law further states that in no case will negative opinions of literary, artistic, historical, scientific or professional critics be considered as “attacks on the honor” of a person or institution as long as there is “no intention to offend.”

“Decriminalizing slander, libel and defamation is benchmark legislation, and it will stand as a beacon in the history of Mexico’s emergence as a world-class democracy,” said Leonarda Reyes, director of CEPET (El Centro de Periodismo y Ética—The Center for Journalism and Public Ethics). “Now, it is essential that state congresses follow suit and enact the same legislation,” she added, “because these offenses remain criminal acts, punishable by imprisonment, in the vast majority of Mexico’s states, whose laws supersede those of the federal government.”

To date, only Baja California, Jalisco and the Federal District have amended their laws to decriminalize defamation, thus leaving reporters and communicators in 29 states subject to prison terms. One example is that of Lydia Cacho, whom the Washington Post calls “one of Mexico’s most celebrated and imperiled journalists.” She faces up to two years’ imprisonment for an exposé involving a wealthy Mexican businessman.

According to Reporters Sans Frontiers, criminal sentencing for defamation is as follows, with maximum terms shown:

· Guanajuato and Morelos: one year

· Campeche, Chihuahua, Hidalgo, Nayarit, Querétaro, Quintana Roo, San Luis Potosí, Sinaloa, Sonora, Tamaulipas, Tlaxcala, Yucatán and Zacatecas: two years

· Aguascalientes, Coahuila, Colima, Durango, Guerrero (except for a state official in the exercise of his duties), México, Michoacán, Nuevo León and Tabasco: three years

· Baja California Sur, Puebla and Veracruz: four years

· Oaxaca: five years

· Chiapas: nine years in prison and the equivalent of nine times the minimum wage in fines.

Journalism and human rights organizations, including those associated with the United Nations, the Organization of American States and the Council of Europe, to name a few, play a significant role in bringing public awareness to the plight of journalists around the world, who have suffered imprisonment, exorbitant fines, intimidation, violence and death. It is through their efforts, including serving as watchdogs, that governments can become motivated to change.

In President Calderón’s speech, he stated that decriminalization was a demand of all journalists as well as a requirement to consolidate Mexico’s democracy. He also noted that a number of challenges have yet to be met, since one of the greatest threats journalists still face is intimidation and violence.

“I would like to repeat,” President Calderón said, “the fact that I have a personal commitment to the work of the news media. I believe in freedom and responsibility, and

the government I lead is not only committed to respecting the freedom of the press but also to defending the free, safe performance of their profession. That is a priority, and we will spare no effort to bring about the solving of crimes committed against journalists.”

The revised law was approved by the Cámara de Diputados (Chamber of Deputies) in April of 2006 and passed by the Senado (Senate) this past March. President Calderón signed the bill in a ceremony at Los Pinos that was attended by national and international media executives. The bill became official on April 12, 2007 with its publication in El Diario Oficial de la Federación (the Official Gazette).

Alexis White is a member of the CEPET International Advisory Group, which presents lectures by journalists and other special programs to the San Miguel de Allende community. CEPET is a nonpartisan and nonprofit organization whose mission is to promote independent investigative and public interest journalism that will contribute to a more informed society in Mexico. For further information about CEPET, please contact Leonarda Reyes at leonare@cepet.org, or by phone at 154-8898.

A celebration of international community
By Atención staff

San Miguel has a history of welcoming people from around the world and in fact has residents of more than 30 different nationalities. During the week of May 18 to 27 the city will celebrate its cosmopolitan nature with the 8th Multicultural Festival to Promote World Community. For festival founder Luis Ferro de la Sota, president of the Sociedad Civil en Marcha, the best way to generate a more harmonious society is through cultural creativity. “Despite differences in political and religious ideology we can see that through education and culture there is unity between people, not separateness.”

Next week ambassadors and diplomatic representatives from more than 30 countries will visit San Miguel de Allende for the festival—a celebration of unity, friendship and cooperation between nations. 

The festival showcases cultural, gastronomic and artisanal demonstrations, as well as examples of regional dances, from countries including China, Indonesia, Paraguay, Russia, Argentina, Japan, as well as Mexico.

The festive activities start Friday, May 18 with the traditional inauguration of a colorful parade of flags. Ambassadors and diplomatic representatives will be accompanied by students from local elementary and high schools who will also participate in the parade, which begins at 7:30pm at the Ángela Peralta Theater and concludes in the Jardín.

Highlights

Among this year’s highlights are return performances by the Ryukyukoku Matsuri Daiko Japanese Drums and the Beijing Circus lions. These are exceptional acts which cannot easily be seen in Mexico. Other highlights include classical Indonesian dance, and music and dance from Paraguay and Argentina.

Also, one of the most important women in Mexican media, Lolita Ayala Nieto, news anchorwoman and social activist for street kids and animal protection, will be honored at the inauguration ceremony. 

Another highly anticipated event is the local and international handicraft exhibition, which promises to promote sanmiguelense works at an international level. The handicrafts exhibition includes works by artisans from the 30 invited countries and San Miguel de Allende. 

“We want a future for San Miguel as an important international handicrafts commerce center; we want to foment local development and tourism through events like this,” said Luis Ferro de la Sota.

According to Ferro de la Sota, the festival’s main objective is to show San Miguel de Allende as a model city where the foreign and local communities are united to develop activities in favor of the country. “San Miguel is a clear example of cooperation, friendship and brotherhood, and we want the world to know that. We want the world to know it is possible for different cultures to co-exist regardless of the language we speak or where we come from.”

Maria Auxilio Trujillo, member of the Sociedad en Marcha, explained that one of the tasks of the festival is to present the altruistic spirit of San Miguel de Allende, as well as its atmosphere of friendship and tolerance and to promote tourism in the city. “Even though May is low season, we promote the city internationally with these cultural and artistic activities.”

The organizers have promoted this year’s festival nationally through Televisa and TVAzteca, the main television channels of Mexico. “The distinguished visitors we have had through these last seven years have promoted San Miguel internationally. Evidence of this successful promotion is that only five countries participated in the first festival: The Philippines, Pakistan, India, Dominican Republic and the United States. Now we are waiting for more than 30 guest countries, and that is remarkable.”

Marina D. von Anrep, another member of the Sociedad Civil en Marcha, said that the reason the festival has grown in importance at both regional and worldwide levels is because “through time as hosts and visitors we have become a great family. It is good to know that visitors appreciate the beauty, culture, traditions, art and history of San Miguel, just as we appreciate the beauty and contributions of other lands and cultures. It is good to know that there are still places where people can gather in peace.”

To reserve tickets for special events call the Sociedad Civil en Marcha office at 

152-3104, M-F 10am-2pm.



8th Multicultural Festival to Promote World Community in San Miguel de Allende, May 18 to 27

Friday, May 18

2pm, Youth Exchange
Youth exchange reception with students from national and international sister cities, sponsored by San Miguel Youth Committee

6pm, Opening ceremony 
Reception for Governor of Guanajuato and visiting dignitaries

6:15pm, Flag salute
Flag salute by the University of León’s band and presentation of flags of each guest nation, carried by students of local schools. 

7:15pm, Exhibit opening, theater lobby
Exhibit the Four Seasons of Japan by Taiji Harada, sponsored by the Japan-Mexico Cultural Foundation. Doll exhibit from Thailand

Teatro Angela Peralta, cnr Mesones & Hernández Macías

7:30pm, Parade of flags 
Official walk of distinguished guests with their national flags from Teatro Angela Peralta to Jardín

8pm, Mexican Dance 
Casa de Cultura’s ballet folklórico youth groups in the Jardín

8:30pm, Gala concert 
Symphony orchestra of San Luis Potosí and homage to journalist and altruist Lolita Ayala, Teatro Angela Peralta, cnr Mesones & Hernández Macías



Saturday, May 19

10am Photographic exhibit
Photographic exhibit from the Algerian Embassy at University of León central patio 

11am, Cultural exhibit
Cultural expositions from the embassies of Belgium, Israel, Argentina, Indonesia, Palestine and Cyprus. Museo Allende, cnr Cuna de Allende & Umurán

1pm, Artisanal exhibit
Inauguration of the 8th International Artisanal exhibit, Plaza Real del Conde

7pm, Chinese Spectacular
Chinese Embassy presentation including the “lions” from the Circus of Peking, a ritual ceremony and a traditional Chinese dragon. There will also be a martial arts demonstration using traditional weapons. Teatro Angela Peralta, cnr Mesones & Hernández Macías

8pm, Mexican dance 
The Salamanca Danza Folklórica, Jardín 



Sunday, May 20

7pm, Indonesian dance
Indonesian Embassy presents the Tari Bali traditional dance group, Teatro Angela Peralta, cnr Mesones & Hernández Macías

8pm, Mexican dance
Danza Artística Allende performs in the Jardín 



Monday, May 21

7pm, Music & dance from Paraguay
The Embassy of Paraguay presents Harp and Dance from my Country, Teatro Angela Peralta, cnr Mesones & Hernández Macías

8pm, Mexican dance
Dance group Mazatl performs in the Jardín



Tuesday, May 22

7pm, Russian ballet
The Russian Embassy presents classical ballet, Teatro Angela Peralta, cnr Mesones & Hernández Macías

8pm, Mexican music
State band of Guanajuato performs in the Jardín



Wednesday, May 23

7pm, Music, song and tango from Argentina
The Embassy of Argentina presents an ensemble of tango music, song and dance, Teatro Angela Peralta, cnr Mesones & Hernández Macías

8:30pm, Mexican music
Strings serenade by La Trova in the Jardín



Thursday, May 24

7pm, Classical recital
Classical guitar recital by Argentinian Victor Pellegrini, Teatro Angela Peralta, cnr Mesones & Hernández Macías

7:30pm, Mexican music
Trio Two Generations performs in the Jardín

8:30pm, Martial Arts demonstration
Tae Kwon Do, Haidong Guido (Korean sword) and Brazilian martial arts demonstration, Jardín



Friday, May 25

6pm, Conference
Conference with Algerian ambassador Sr. Merzak Belhimeur, University of León,San Miguel campus, Plaza Cívica

7pm, Mexican music
Latinamerican music performed by Mayahuel, Jardín

7:30pm, Russian spectacular
Popular Russian music by mezzo soprano Marina Litkova & theater, Teatro Angela Peralta, cnr Mesones & Hernández Macías

8:30pm, Mexican music
Dance group Folklórico Magisterial Quetzal performs in the Jardín



Saturday, May 26

2pm, International gastronomy
International foods at Plaza Real del Conde

6pm, Japanese ballet
Embassy of Japan presents the modern ballet group Ginrei-Kai, Teatro Angela Peralta, cnr Mesones & Hernández Macías

7pm, Japanese drum extravaganza
Drum group Ryukyukoku Matsuri Daiko performs, Teatro Angela Peralta, cnr Mesones & Hernández Macías

8pm, Mexican dance
Ballet Folklórico from the Tecnológico de Celaya performs traditional and contemporary dances, Jardín,



Sunday, May 27

12:30pm, Acknowledgement ceremony
Formal recognition of festival participants, Plaza Real del Conde

7pm, Israel music
Israeli Embassy presents a recital by Abraham Rechthad and his Shtetl Klezmer, Teatro Angela Peralta, cnr Mesones & Hernández Macías

8pm, Mexican music
Mexican music performed by Las Voces de Corralejo in the Jardín

10pm, Official closure
Closing ceremony, Jardín









Scholastic achievement celebrated
By Jean Yeager

Petra Vazquez Arredondo received the Fidel Cruz Cano Award as “Alumnus of the Year” at the graduation ceremonies for the San Miguel School of English.

Students in the graduating Level Six class at the SMSE included, from left, Jose Luis Zamora Jaime, Claudia Martiza Mora Bustamente, Juan German Gomez Cordova, Manuel Velazco Bustamente, Rogelio Cruz Rojas, and in front, Fidela Ines Palma Ramirez.

At graduation ceremonies on April 26, the students of the San Miguel School of English received awards for their achievements in learning English as a second language.

The school is the largest in the city teaching English as a second language only, and the sole school dedicated to teaching Spanish speaking adults.

This year Petra Vazquez Arredondo received the “Alumnus of the Year” award, which carries a 1000 peso cash prize, for her accomplishment using English in her daily life. In receiving the award, Petra, who graduated from the school five years ago and is employed at Hervi Decoraciones on the Salida a Celaya, credited her English skills for getting her the job. When Petra applied, she had her letters of recommendation and diploma with her, but her employer told her, “Never mind the papers. If you can speak English well, that’s good enough for me.”

Scholastic achievement was recognized at the ceremony, with 19 students receiving scholarships for tuition and books for next year. The top student was Gerardo Zarate Munoz, who averaged 99 percent. He was followed closely by Gloria Godinez Munoz, who averaged 98.89 percent. Perfect attendance scholarships were also awarded with free tuition for next year.

The Level Six class, which has completed its studies at the school, wrote a radio skit in which they shared their reasons for learning English and their feelings about finishing the six years of study.

The San Miguel School of English is staffed entirely by volunteers who teach some 200 adults on Monday, Wednesday and Thursday evenings each week from late August through April. Over the years, the school has helped thousands of Mexican students acquire English skills and improve their job skills and lives.

Anyone interested in learning more about the program or in joining the faculty can contact the school’s vice-president, Jean Yeager, at 152-0916.





Basta basura!
By Judy McKay

Ever look up at the soaring spires of San Miguel’s churches and convents, and then past the winding cobblestoned streets to the blue haze of the mountains that surround us?

Of course you have. Then, you look down at the street ahead of you or over at that vacant lot and our everyday, up-close world rears its untidy head—discarded plastic soda bottles, cardboard six-pack holders, plastic shopping bags, bottle tops, beer cans. In the city center, the uniformed street sweepers and the still new trash containers bolted on telephone poles are doing a commendable job of helping keep the mess at bay. Outside of those central four square blocks, in the colonias, it is a different story. And that’s why on Saturday, April 28 a group of neighbors in La Lejona II launched a Volunteer Trash Pick Up Day. The neighbors, members of their local Vecinos Vigilantes (Neighborhood Watch) chapter of La Lejona II, gathered at 8:30 am in front of ALMA, the home for the elderly which is located at the far end of calle Trueno.

Armed with large plastic bags, rubber gloves and even some pointed “pick-up sticks,” the volunteers patrolled Trueno and the vacant lots on either side of the street, gathering up the usual assortment of litter that had been dropped in the street or dumped in the vacant lots. Two hours later, with their work finished, they had stuffed enough plastic trash bags to create a small mountain of debris, hopefully to never see the light of day again.

In the photo, Vecinos Vigilantes President Silvia Mendoza, rounded up the hard- working volunteers in front of the trash bag mountain. Notices were also handed out informing householders in the area that the Vecinos volunteers had done the clean up and hoped for everyone’s support in keeping the streets and vacant lots free of trash. 

Since its inception two years ago, the Vecinos Vigilantes de la La Lejona 2da seccion has been proactive in creating a public park and playground in the neighborhood and is now working to install benches and trash receptacles. They held a Tree Planting Day a year ago, with over 100 people showing up to help in that effort. They constantly help police by alerting them to suspicious strangers in the area. They also work with the Department of Ecology on a number of environmental issues, in addition to Trash Pick Up Days.

Los Vecinos is planning a potluck picnic for neighbors and their friends at the new park on Saturday, June 2. Everyone is welcome. For more information about the picnic or the group’s activities or membership, contact Silvia Mendoza 152-8224 or Judy McKay at 120-0920.









Science Camp San Miguel: Much more than science: What the kids think!

Interviews with three former Science Campers
Text and Photographs by Deborah Whitehouse

Fernanda’s favorite camp demonstration: A substance that was both a solid and a liquid at the same time.

Rita and Fernanda recreate a Science Camp demonstration: A substance that is a solid and a liquid at the same time.

12 year old Luis Antonio Perales Campos, full time scholarship recipient for Science Camp San Miguel last year.

Antonio Perales (center), last year's full scholarship recipient, shares the world he discovered at Science Camp last year.

Imagine a school science project that challenges you to develop criteria about what makes the best kind of bubble gum? Is it the long lasting flavor? The biggest bubble? Or the loudest pop? Rita DeBrito and former camper Fernanda Bruillo Acosta revisit the experiment designated for this year's students.

Antonio Perales (far right) last year's scholarship recipient to Science Camp San Miguel with his family.

Kids’ Camp
Science Camp San Miguel
July 9-Aug 3
sciencecampsanmiguel.com
415-185-2142


This summer Science Camp San Miguel begins its second season as a learning experience which is about much more than science. A group of 8- to12-year-old kids from all over the US and Mexico, whose lives might not otherwise intersect, is given both educational and social opportunities to learn from and embrace each other’s likenesses and differences. Recently, I joined camp co-founders Rita DeBrito and Alicia Rivero Wilson to talk with three campers and discover what kind of impressions camp had made on them a year later.

It was a hot April afternoon when Alicia Rivero and I visited the home of last year’s full scholarship recipient Luis Antonio Perales Campos in San Miguel. Since the death of his parents, Antonio has been living with his grandmother, Señora Dominga Rodriguez Taipa, and his aunt, Señora Odilia Campos Rodriguez. Señora Dominga told us Antonio had come home from camp every day last year talking about all he had discovered and that he wants to return again this year. It seems that science is now his best subject in school, too.

“At camp we could learn about things without being in school!” exclaimed Antonio. “It was different from school. There was more English. I learned more English. It was like a school for foreigners, too. It was like we were always on break and we could talk with other kids. They don’t let you talk in school and we could talk in camp!”

“My favorite thing was the microscope. When I first cut the skin off a (dead) snake and looked at it under the microscope, I saw little balls and shapes that can’t be seen (with the naked eye),” he said. “I know now that I can find them in the streets, on my dirty hands, and in water.”

When asked what it was like being with American kids? Antonio said, “It was easy to get along with other kids because everything was taught in both Spanish and English. Everyone knew a little of one or the other. Together we could help each other.”

“Social and cultural differences disappear when the work is important,” says Alicia’s partner and co-founder Rita DeBrito. “Instead we find willingness on the part of the students to step beyond language boundaries and reach out to something new. If they have a common goal or shared activity they need to communicate. The words follow the need.”

San Miguel residents Rita DeBrito and Alicia Rivero Wilson are both highly progressive bilingual educators who transported their unique method of teaching from the US to San Miguel a few years ago. According to Alicia, “The primary social aspect of camp is that children transcend their language differences within the common cause that camp provides.” The program is founded on inquiry-based learning and provides an environment where children can practice observation scientifically. The curriculum develops as campers make observations and ask questions about what they observe. They learn to create hypotheses based on these questions and formulate experimental models, testing and retesting their results until they can form conclusions. This summer campers will not only be encouraged to think for themselves, but will select their own study. The students lead the way; their individual needs and interests determine their direction.

A few days later Rita and I visited the home of 11-year-old Fernanda Bruillo Acosta who showed us her ant farm. Having learned to create her own experiments in camp, she turned the farm upside down to see if the ants would continue to tunnel in the same direction. Her curiosity didn’t stop there. In the kitchen, she recreated her favorite camp demonstration for us—a substance that was both a solid and a liquid at the same time. “It’s both beautiful and strange,” she observed. “And it changes every time you touch it.” “Science Camp was an exceptional experience,” her mother Carmen added. “My daughter now has a method of questioning that enables her to look at all of life.”

Last year, Science Camp began with bird adaptation exercises that paired children who had no second language experience. First, the class observed that various birds have different beaks. Ducks and sparrows, for instance, differ in what they can eat based on the kind of beak (tool) each has. Next, a spoon, tweezers, a straw, and chopsticks were laid out on a table and each pair of children was called upon to decide which tool was most efficient to pick up grains of rice, corn, and beans. The beauty of this exercise, according to Rita, was that language became secondary to the activity. Each pair of students had an “Aha!” moment they could share with one another. The sharing was co-operative, and the competition was all in good fun. 

A few days later I spoke with 10-year-old Peter Sills from his home in Brooklyn. In response to my question, “Why was Science Camp special?” he replied, “The teachers don’t direct you. They let you do your own thing. They let you guide yourself and figure things out for yourself. I liked that camp was ‘hands on.’ You could see and feel everything.”

Peter’s favorite animal was the tarantula, which they cared for and observed after researching what kinds of food tarantulas eat. “It was fun watching a real animal that wasn’t in a book,” he said. “You could watch what it was doing even though it could harm you. It was a little smaller than a cell phone that doesn’t flip open.”

I asked what was it like working with Spanish speaking kids. “At first it was hard,” he replied. “I only know about 10 or 12 words in Spanish. We had to learn to work together. Many partners spoke different languages. If you had a partner you could do it smoothly. The Mexican kids were really nice, not hostile because I was from another place.”

What did Peter like best about San Miguel? “The great food. The houses were different. But what I liked best was the library,” he said. “It was cool. Fancy. They had good books. The whole experience of Mexico and camp was amazing and cool…tasting new foods, going places and seeing new things. I want to go back this year.”

It seems that students were not the only ones with observations about camp last summer. Peter’s mother, Laurie, was greatly enthused by the energy and the nature of inquiry that kept the kids going at camp. “The dynamic energy of Rita and Alicia going back and forth in Spanish and English while still maintaining order within an exciting open learning environment was amazing,” she said.



Science Camp San Miguel will be held July 9-August 3. Visit their website at www.sciencecampsanmiguel.com  for more information or call (415) 185-2142. From the US call (678) 935-0666.


Science Camp needs resources

Fundraising to create partial and full scholarships for Science Camp San Miguel is ongoing this year to support students who otherwise would not have the opportunity to attend. Rita stresses that these scholarships are not hand-outs; they are earned by demonstrating an eagerness to learn. What is gained is a unique educational experience. The camp’s goal is to have 50 percent of its students partially or fully funded this year. US$150 covers one student for one week. Sponsored events include a concert at El Topo Viejo that will contribute proceeds for new scholarships, and a science fair for kids at Biblioteca Pública in early June that will bring more awareness of camp to the general public and provide additional opportunities to contribute.

The ambition of Science Camp San Miguel is to raise US$4,800 this year to cover materials and school supplies, lunches, snacks, trips and support staff for this summer’s season. They also need digital cameras, ink cartridges, photo paper, printers, laptop computers, benches, tables, and 10-gallon fish tanks. Volunteers with expert knowledge such as birders, naturalists, astronomers, microbiologists and others are invited to share their knowledge with students as guest teachers.

Science Camp has placed a wish list for books on www.amazon.com that enables a giver to order pre-selected books online and deliver them to the camp or put them in the camp’s mailbox at La Conexion #413A. If you’d like to donate a book you’ll find their wish list at www.amazon.com. Simply go to “find gifts” and enter sciencecampsma@gmail.com.