PHM-Exch> 1st Latin American PHM Assembly

[Claudio Schuftan]

1st Latin American PHM Assembly
Towards a fulfilling life and harmony between humanity and Mother Earth!
Some perspectives and experiences

Vivian T. Camacho H.

During the week from 7 to 12 October 2013 in Cuenca, Ecuador, we again had
the opportunity to come together and share solidarity and hope, and what it
means to be part of our People’s Health Movement in Abya Yala*. From
different parts of the continent, the Andes, the valleys, the highlands and
the Amazon, hundreds of hearts dedicated to defend the right to health were
reunited.

Each day there were several intense moments and despite the fatigue of so
many hours of presence and participation, we were always aware of every
reunion and contribution that was made during the plenaries. Sad and raging
emotions while witnessing the testimonies of the fight and resistance
throughout Latin America were mixed with serenades of joy for our reunion
and the confidence in new generations of grassroots activists to share the
power of the Latino unity towards global unity in the fight for a worthy
life for all.

The highest intensities that moved deeply our thoughts and feelings, which
for we are grateful and happy beyond words, took place during the opening
ceremony, in which, around a big chakana (ancestral andean cross), the 4
elements of life were celebrated: Water, Earth, Air and Fire. Each
direction of the square cross was attended by guardians of ancestral
traditions in their region: in the north: the Cañari and Saraguro
grandmothers from Ecuador, guardians of the water; in the south: the
guardians of the wind from Argentina and Uruguay; in the east, from the
sacred land of the Mayas, the portal of Grandfather Fire was guarded by our
Aikii Mayas together with our Central American brothers; in the west, from
the Quechua town from Qollasuyo, Bolivia, together with El Salvador, Brazil
and Colombia, Earth was protected. Within the immense circle formed by
interlaced hands, containing the heart of heaven and the heart of the
earth, each participant expressed, with all their heart, the gratitude for
all life on this sacred Pachamama. They asked for guidance, strength and
support in all our fights for the protection of water, earth and land. In
front of the sacred fire they asked for the social injustices to stop and
for respect and dignity for our people. As happiness motivates us to
continue doing what is necessary, we danced, celebrating our woven lives in
the circle that held us together.

There were several moments in which each and every one of us got deeply
motivated to take action, to be solidary and open, only through the words
of the speakers.

The first night of the Assembly, Hany Serag, from Egypt, shortly told us
about everything that is taking place in the global People’s Health
Movement, and sent us strength and support from the

global secretary. And with great enthusiasm we got to know new faces who
are extending the strong solidary network of our movement. Large groups
represented Argentina and amazing examples of self-management of healthcare
were given by Laicrimpo, Red Jarilla and the University of Rosario, but
also the presence of a large group of courageous colleagues of the Allende
group from El Salvador was a delight. With hope we saw the participation of
young Colombians, we were thrilled by the large number of Mayan brothers
and sisters from Guatemala, the smiles from Brazil and our youngest
activist Tomé (1,5 year old) were present, and though few but all very
important small delegations from all over Abya Yala attended the assembly:
Peru, Bolivia, Uruguay, Mexico, Dominican Republic, Cuba.

We emphasize that the distance was overcome by those unable to be
physically present through the digital connection with the facebook page
that was specifically opened for this first Latin American PHM Assembly. In
that way, nearly 200 extra people participated with big interest and
contributed actively.

The participation and attendance with each workshop, each plenary session,
every forum, every panel and book presentation was big. And there was the
opportunity to share local situations to reinforce the global fight against
the hegemonic capitalist economic model that is preying on life. But there
were also moments of tension and discussion that supported the debate
necessary to continue walking in the most consistent way as possible from
each of our locations.

During a special session within the ReAct-combined event “Restoring the
Health of the Ecosystems to restrain the Bacterial Resistance”, the whole
auditorium hang on the lips of Satya Sivaranan, from India. He showed his
profound respect to the life of bacteria as being sisters and mothers of
all life on this planet, making us reflect about the human microbioma and
about the metaphors of war between science and Western medicine,
demystifying medicine, as it is currently taught, as a big corporate
business.

A lot of presentations dealt with the protection of Mother Earth against
the megaprojects and gave examples of protests against killer corporations
such as Monsanto. They strongly stated the need to turn to a profound
transformation of a civilization of devastating extractivism to an urgent
harmony between humanity and Mother Earth, which is the conclusion that
brings us all together.

The organized reunions of this assembly were largely participated. In which
we clarified the terms and positions to join the movement from the own
local actions, without having to change who we are and what we do, more to
the contrary, having the strength to continue our own battles but knowing
that we are part of a solidarity network that supports and strengthens us.
In this respect, we constituted our group of coordinators in 4 regions:
Central America and the Caribean, Brazil, the Andes-region and Mercosur.

A very special night was the Official Ceremony and Tribute to people who,
by their life, show us the road we have to follow. Their many years of
learning and great battles, directly or indirectly helped us by forming
what is now the movement in Latin America. Their examples of courage and
kindness were recognized: our María Hamlin Zuñiga in Nicaragua (our
collective mother), our Julio Monsalvo in Argentina (who continues to share
alegremia** and hope), our David Werner from the United States (who we all
thank for his writings in ‘Where There Is No Doctor’), our Arturo Quizhpe
in Ecuador, also for the combined event with ReAct (Antimicrobial
Resistance) and Dr. Otto Cars, who founded the network ReAct.

During the most emotional moments, the plenary sessions, and while we were
dancing and singing in the streets, we were accompanied by ‘Cubanos en la
Red’, from Cuba. With their music and lyrics, they support our vision of
health by solidary supporting other networks and

movements who are protecting life, such as MAELA and ASECSA, working
towards another world that is possible.

The last day there was a ceremony in Kimsakocha, a sacred place with 3
lakes. It was raining during the whole ritual and thereby we, wet and
semi-frozen, thanked Yaku-Mama (Mother of the Water) for her blessings, and
asked that the water all over the world should be respected and that it is
a respected human right for everyone, that no one should suffer from thirst
or die of hunger. Our wishes were expressed most sincerely by every one of
us, from the hope and strength transmitted to us by our ancestors.

The last night, we said goodbye with a big party and with a high level of
‘alegremia”. Laughing, we shared our solidary love for life that unites us
despite the big distances, knowing that we are brothers and sisters of this
Pachamama, comrades who are building every day towards the Other Possible
Health, and this Other World we are already making possible with our hands.
Confident that perhaps the road is long and it will have many tests and
rough times, but knowing deeply that if I do not see the results of my
fight, surely my children and grandchildren will see them and will be
grateful for the road that we are creating by keeping on fighting for the
protection of health and life.

* Abya Yala is the ancient name of the Kuna tribe in Latin America. **
Alegremia: joy + -emia (blood concentration) = level of joy in the blood.
Which is socially constructed, based on hope, water, food, air, shelter,
education, art and love. It implies a profound social transformation
towards a more dignified, more open and more united world.
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