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Culture of peace, present in 'Goodbye to guns. Contraband at the borders'
an article by Periodismo de Paz: Ciudadanía Express
Oaxaca, Mexico. - To promote a culture of peace, as well as to reflect about the relation between human beings and military resources: these are the perspectives that stand out in the exhibition Goodbye to guns. Contraband at the borders that can be seen beginning November 30 2011 at the Museum of Memory and Tolerance.
click on photo to enlarge
The expo includes 30 photographs and three videos, by eight photo journalists that work in print media and news agencies like Notimex. It includes, in addition, five sculptures by Philippine Eduardo Olbés, pieces that altogether with the images and the facilities, create an incisive view of the impact of this activity between the United States and Mexico.
The exposition is the result of a collaboration between Conaculta, Alianza Cívica and the museum. It explores the reality of the illegal arms business between the United States and Mexico.
Sergio Aguayo is the coordinator and initiator of this expo, with the help for the texts by the journalists Denise Dresser and Magda Coss. Aguayo explains that Goodbye to Guns forms part of a movement that seeks to create a new consciousness among the population, the authorities and the mass media in order to make a change in Mexican society.
"It is simply an artistic proposal, as simple as that, nor have we tried to create anything else. It is not a protest movement. Those of us who participated in this project consider that culture is the best way to change things in our society. We seek peace in a general sense, without regard to ideology or politics. We know that if we lose this perspective, then people will lose confidence in those of us who participate in this process that, I am sure, is of interest to all Mexicans."
Aguayo explained further to the invited journalists that public figures like the actor Diego Luna are associated with the project so that it can become a forum of encounter and discussion on the theme. He added that the conserve the open profile of the exhibition, the way Luna and other artists will participate is up to each of them, as their own initiative. For this reason he could not give any further details concerning their activities in the coming months.
The exhibition Goodbye to Guns. Contraband at the borders, will continue until April 2012, and then tour different cities of the country, as much in the north as in the south, and in localities where it will be adapt to the circumstances where it appears.
“This is the opening phase of a movement that we expect to grow over time, although we do not know precisely the form it will take. What is of interest to us is that we make a real contribution to the problem”.
(Click here for a Spanish version of this article)
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DISCUSSION
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Do you think handguns should be banned?, Why or why not?
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Under pressure from the gun lobby, especially the National Rifle Association, on April 18, the Senate of the United States failed to pass a law designed to control the sale of guns such as those used in the Newtown massacre. Here are excerpts from the account on Democracy Now.
Senate Kills Gun Reform with Defeat of Every Key Measure
The Senate has sparked widespread outrage after defeating every major gun reform measure on the table. One by one, proposals unveiled since December’s Newtown shooting massacre failed to reach the 60-vote threshold in a Wednesday vote: a ban on assault weapons and high-capacity magazines, a bipartisan compromise on expanding background checks in gun purchases, and new penalties for illegal gun trafficking.
Obama Decries "Shameful Day" After Senate Defeat of Gun Control
At the White House, President Obama stood with a group of gun violence victims and their families to denounce the senators — including some Democrats — who defeated the proposals.
President Obama: "The gun lobby and its allies willfully lied about the bill. A minority in the United States Senate decided it wasn’t worth it. They blocked commonsense gun reforms, even while these families looked on from the Senate gallery."
Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid is expected to pull the overall gun-control bill from the Senate floor later today.
Calling the vote a "shameful day" on Capitol Hill, President Obama vowed to redouble his efforts for gun reform.
President Obama: "This was a pretty shameful day for Washington. But this effort is not over. I want to make it clear to the American people we can still bring about meaningful changes that reduce gun violence, so long as the American people don’t give up on it. . ...more.
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