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Humane Borders News >> New On The Site >> Fifth Anniversary Events

 

Humane Borders Is Five Years Old

Volunteers for Humane Borders have accomplished extraordinary things in the past five years. We want to celebrate giving more than 65,000 gallons of life-saving water and give gratitude to the thousands of volunteers and supporters who have made this ministry possible.

Welcome Out Of Town Guests

If you live somewhere other than Tucson, we encourage you to join us for a few days, participate in any of the daily water trips , volunteer meetings, the Vigil at El Tiradito, the Saturday Celebration event on the 11th, and First Christian Church 's Humane Borders Day on Sunday, June 12. We have prepared a list for lodging and restaurants that could be emailed or mailed to you at your request. Contact us for more information.

Monday June 6
Tuesday June 7
Wednesday June 8
Thursday June 9
Friday June 10
Saturday June 11
Sunday June 12
 
Two Featured Speakers

We are greatly blessed to have two very distinguished and knowledgeable speakers scheduled for our dinner program. Ernesto Portillo, Jr ., of the Arizona Daily Star, writes opinion columns for the newspaper. Ernesto has his thumb on the pulse of border issues and will bring a timely message. Father Dan Groody , author of "Border of Death, Valley of Life" and faculty member at Notre Dame University's Center for Latino Spirituality and Culture, will also talk with us about the border.

Planned Exhibits

A bulletin board in the east stair well will display a collection of snapshots showing volunteers, migrants, water stations and another adorned with quotes, sometimes referred to as hate mail , from email messages received through our website from people with anti-immigrant sentiment. There are some classic ones like, "You people are ignorand." In the second floor hallway you will see stunning photos taken by Michael Hyatt . This series was incorporated into the Humane Borders traveling exhibit that has been displayed in Charlotte NC, Baltimore MD, Bethesda MD, Chicago IL, and Lutheran gatherings in Minnesota and Wisconsin. Along the same corridor will me more Humane Borders photos.

In room 109, there will be a continuous showing of DVD's containing videos that were produced by many different crews for news and by independent film makers for documentaries. Some DVD's will be available for a donation. Also in this room will be large format maps showing locations of migrant deaths.

In room 111, there will be headlines covering the walls. On a table you will find notebooks containing over 1200 published articles. About 90% of these articles feature or mention Humane Borders or our volunteers. The remaining 10% are articles that have significant stories concerning borders issues, like migrant deaths, lateral repatriation, etc. This collection includes articles written and published in foreign countries including Russia, Korea, Sweden, Germany, Italy, Mexico, China, and more.

In room 110, there will be " Remnants of the Desert Passage ." Many items that have been left in the desert by migrants passing through will include things such as backpacks, clothing, pictures, ID cards, baby bottle nipples, Spanish Bible and hymn book, and much more.

In room 108, you will find the Humane Borders logo items that you may take home for a donation. These include jackets ($25), T-shirts ($15), caps ($10), nalgene water bottles ($10), mugs ($6), greeting cards ($3), bumper stickers ($3). Also available will be a set of all Humane Borders newsletters ($5) which have been published to date. This is a great place to do
Christmas Shopping!

The silent auction will be located in the chapel. Please arrive early to select your favorite items to bid on. There will be restaurant gift certificates, theater tickets, a microwave oven, crocheted scarves, gift certificate from Antigone Books, signed copies of books, and much more. If you have something you would like to donate for the silent auction, please contact our office 628-7753.

Please stop by room 114 at the flag signing table. These flags will be flown over water stations this season and will carry your sentiments of encouragement and prayers for migrants.

Group Photograph

We are very eager to assemble volunteers and supporters on the front sidewalk of First Christian Church at 6:15 pm for a group photo. The water trucks will be in position there also. Anyone who has participated in a water station trip, trash clean up trip or supported Humane Borders with a donation, volunteer time, or in-kind gift is encouraged to stand together for this historic photo. A copy of the photo can be ordered at that time.

Music

Music for the program will include two ballads performed by Eric Holland , a bilingual singer and composer from Phoenix, who promises these songs will put smiles on listeners' faces. Eric's newly released CD titled "Without Borders" resounds the rich legacy of la frontera in this collection of soul- searching, self-penned themes that explore the trials of immigrants in the Southwest. He explores the plight of migrant workers, race relations, and other contemporary issues. His earnest vocals and piercing lyrics are framed by spare, acoustic arrangements that feature guitar, violin, cello and accordion, keeping the focus on the provocative poetry. Eric has generously donated CD's to Humane Borders to help raise funds.

Terri Croteau will perform a song about the border that she presented in a Sunday morning worship service at First Christian Church . She gives many performances in the church as well as other venues, and will delight you with her crystal clear voice.

Videos

Videos shown between 5:00 pm and 7:00 pm will include " Dying to Live" (33 min.). This was a collaborative project with Groody River Films; Missionaries of St Charles, Scalabrinians; and Notre Dame, Department of Theology, Center for Latino Spirituality and Culture, Institute for Latino Studies. You will recognize the appearances from local individuals, Rev. Robin Hoover , Sue Goodman, and Rev. John Fife . Powerful images tell the story of the plight of migrants and border politics, plus the gripping account by John Lantigua relating his experience of crossing the border with migrants and walking three days to reach Tucson. You will see dramatic images photographed by Don Bartletti of the LA Times. Please plan your evening to see this extraordinary video.

Also showing will be an 11 minute video produced by BBC International News that was aired in London in December 2004. Humane Borders volunteers spent a day with the TV crew and escorted them to the El Tortugo check point 21 miles south of Sasabe with a visit to a water station. This story covers the trek of migrants from the check point all the way to Phoenix where they look for work.

"Death on a Friendly Border" (26 min.), by documentary film maker Rachel Antell , will be in the line up of videos. Rachel's work is a sensitive and dramatic look at the border and tells the story of Yolanda Gonzales Garcia who crossed the border with her infant to be reunited with her husband who had previously traveled north to work. Yolanda became separated from the group she was walking with and perished in the desert. Compassionate men who were also part of the group went back to look for her and were able to save the infant, Elisima, was returned to her grandmother in Mexico.

During the recent film festival in Tucson, independent film maker, Mark Russell , invited Humane Borders volunteers to the Arizona premiere of his 2005 film, America 101 . The film is about brothers, Angel and Carlos Espinoza, who face economic hardship and leave their small town in Sonora, Mexico, to go north. Their comedic escapades soon teach them that money comes quickly and disappears twice as fast. Angel and Carlos find that returning home may not be as easy as they planned. Beneath the comic overtones of American 101 lies a fundamental cautionary tale about the hardships of crossing the border illegally and those who take advantage of migrants on both sides of the border.

As of printing time for this newsletter, we are optimistic that America 101 will be shown locally on the weekend of the 5th Anniversary. Details later. It's a must see! You may want to contact Mark to schedule it in your area. russell@fobiafilms.com

For more information, please contact us.