tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-59563813875373404902012-01-30T22:03:44.718-08:00A Local Response to the Globalization of Food, Taste & Dis-easeChris Rodriguezhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05413455370029488336noreply@blogger.comBlogger231100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5956381387537340490.post-75788248189442152122012-01-26T23:37:00.000-08:002012-01-27T00:02:43.163-08:00

As a Decolonial movement, or as we seek to decolonize the Occupy Wall Street Movement(s) we need a political-ethical stance inspired by two already existing movements:1)    The ethics of the food sovereignty movement rooted in indigenous principles. Because food is what connects us with all of our relations—people, plants, animals, water and the land. It is how we defend and give voice to the

Chris Rodriguezhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05413455370029488336noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5956381387537340490.post-3641859771765478632011-12-08T19:30:00.000-08:002011-12-08T19:41:27.348-08:00

Red quinoa with roasted corn, red bell peppers, leeks, carrots, celery and purple onions.*  My roots of rebellion first manifested in the form of public protest and occupation i.e. the South Central Farm encampment, organizing restaurant and hotel co-workers, May Day of 2006, and Cal Poly Pomona student occupation/ encampment-just to name a few. Most importantly, however, are the lessons I've

Chris Rodriguezhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05413455370029488336noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5956381387537340490.post-57244004876158822342011-10-31T23:38:00.000-07:002011-11-15T18:53:22.403-08:00

by Chris Rodriguez The destructive face of globalization has reached all corners of the planet. While the land, water, air, animals and humanity are in need of a world-wide movement of liberation, most people continue to overindulge and over consume. The United States is of course the leading force behind this mass consumption and destruction. But, as a Mexican writer for the radical blog

Chris Rodriguezhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05413455370029488336noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5956381387537340490.post-78399955004411772702011-05-27T20:58:00.000-07:002011-10-31T23:42:42.241-07:00

A graduate research paperby Chris Rodriguezfor theDepartment of Latin American StudiesCalifornia State University Los Angeles Fall 2010Updated and revised for Decolonial Food For Thought (Spring 2011) This post has been removed because I am editing it for publication!! In between work, preparing dinner, hand scrubbing diapers, doing laundry and grocery shopping, I am squeezing in time to finish

Chris Rodriguezhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05413455370029488336noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5956381387537340490.post-65320758114231705862011-03-17T17:31:00.000-07:002011-05-27T20:52:58.391-07:00

(I decided to share this letter to all you, my relatives, not only to provide a model of a critical statement of purpose but to share with you the strength and determination of this young Xicana who wrote this letter by surrendering to all of her relations which guided her thoughts, prayers and fingers : ) ---University of Washington, Seattle is the next stepping stone, I was accepted.) To

Claudia Serratohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08804240902860548794noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5956381387537340490.post-57824404053569870172011-03-14T00:42:00.000-07:002011-05-27T20:50:36.316-07:00

What is the difference between Indigenous Veganism and Veganism?Primeramente, it is not the same. Indigenous Veganism is centered on the clear understanding that as Indigenous People it is OUR RESPONSIBILITY to nurture and protect the land and our ecological relations. Supporting Confined Animal Feeding Industrial Operations along with their by products DO NOT fulfill this responsibility. Yes, as

Claudia Serratohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08804240902860548794noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5956381387537340490.post-79653933457142873382010-11-15T19:48:00.000-08:002012-01-12T00:03:58.386-08:00

Greetings! Today I was inspired by two wombyn (amigas) to address a present issue many of us experience which is that of releasing unwanted weight. Now this can be weight in pounds, thoughts, responsibilities, energy, etc. The list can go on and on...right? Commonly, most of us associate weight with peso, body fat, extra skin, love handles, large bodies, etc. In one sense weight can be this and

Claudia Serratohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08804240902860548794noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5956381387537340490.post-12292814030336500112010-07-07T23:21:00.000-07:002011-05-27T20:51:08.306-07:00

Every morning I wake up to a loud noise clattering in the creepy crawler infested walls of my apartment. I never bother to figure out what causes this rude awakening. Instead I call for my spirit to return back to my body from its journey to the real world. I make my way to my cocina where a non-functioning stove sits, taking up space. I open the ice box, pull out half way frozen nopales, the

Chris Rodrigueznoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5956381387537340490.post-44398429456289257522010-05-12T18:13:00.000-07:002012-01-27T21:29:45.414-08:00

As a university student I took up arms against capitalism on my campus (Cal Poly Pomona). My preferred choice of weapon--my word. The battleground: “Pizza with the Presidents”, a quarterly facade designed to make students think our voices are being heard. I fired the first shot aimed at the university administration, “how is it that our campus sits on very fertile land, agricultural space, yet

Chris Rodrigueznoreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5956381387537340490.post-21341866931834619472010-04-19T00:34:00.000-07:002011-05-27T20:55:39.731-07:00

"...The research I am presenting began as a prayer for the healing of all my relations: land, animal, seeds, waters and bodies. As an academic I have been trained to report back findings using a linear non-relational method, which is viewed as the proper way of presenting research which happens to be “inextricably linked to European imperialism and colonial[ity].”[i] Therefore, as a Xicana

Claudia Serratohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08804240902860548794noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5956381387537340490.post-52212757059876090512010-03-28T11:47:00.000-07:002011-05-27T20:59:23.641-07:00

My loyal relationship with Cinnamon Vegetarian Restaurant in Highland Park is rooted in the first encounter I had with their “chicken” tamales prepared by doña Rosa, an elder wombyn from Guatemala responsible for the delicious, smooth and fluffy texture of Cinnamon’s decolonized tamales sin manteca (without pork fat). Doña Rosa comes in to the restaurant every couple of days or so to offer her

Chris Rodrigueznoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5956381387537340490.post-45039058265729929952010-02-18T09:41:00.000-08:002011-05-27T21:00:34.772-07:00

Since the attempted gastronomic conquest by Spanish missionaries during the early 16th century, Indigenous-Mesoamerican gastronomy, over 80% maize-based, has been heavily seasoned with rebel herbs, spices and communities that continue to resist culinary imperialism- the imposition of European patriarchal, gluttonous-heavily carnivorous, salt & sugar Mother Earth destroying diets. Today, the

Claudia Serratohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08804240902860548794noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5956381387537340490.post-14925735908138239222009-10-13T23:58:00.000-07:002009-10-14T00:07:02.137-07:00

Hoy mis gotas de sudor cayeron en su piel morenaLas rasguñas de mi azada acariciaron y curaron sus heridasHoy sembré en ella semillas de liberaciónMañana cosecharan la comida de un nuevo amanecer

Chris Rodrigueznoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5956381387537340490.post-17163994288307087252009-10-08T00:24:00.000-07:002011-05-27T21:01:13.162-07:00

Today I spoke to a dear compañera of mine, Ramona, who recently began a series of after school workshops promoting health to mostly Latina/Xicana mothers at a high school on the East-side. She shared with me that in her first workshop she discussed the direct relationships between the over consumption of fast foods, meats and dairy products to obesity and diabetes (among other colonial diseases)

Chris Rodrigueznoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5956381387537340490.post-3746506220097551822009-09-16T07:35:00.000-07:002011-05-27T21:01:46.559-07:00

Tamales sin manteca500, 200, 100, 25 y 15 años después...sigo siendo libreTamales con papa y chile verdeEl 16 de SeptiembreTamales sin mantecaPorque no soy machista Tamales con nopalesTampoco nacionalista Tamales sin mantecaDescolonizando Aztlan Tamales con champiñones Mi comida es rebeldía! Tamales sin manteca ¡Porque es liberación! Tamales con mole y huauzontle No es nada pobre!Ay mi

Cal-Pulli Sound Systemnoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5956381387537340490.post-81511084586284328472009-04-16T00:28:00.000-07:002011-05-27T21:03:08.859-07:00

indigenista xicanistadecolonizing food wayshealing the wombyn nationspreading semillas day by day patriarchal oppressionsraping la madre tierra, my body, aztlanfemicide, genocidecolonial disease: cardiovascular, cancer, obesity and diabetes infiltrating, penetratingplant, animal, land & shetaking for the makingcolonial commodoties violating givers of lifemarketing mothers

Claudia Serratonoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5956381387537340490.post-49177462856827405322009-04-13T19:48:00.000-07:002011-05-27T21:03:49.315-07:00

To my brothers claiming and seeking a “decolonized mind:" So far Decolonial Food for Thought has explained how colonial diseases like diabetes, heart disease, cancer and obesity are connected to meat and processed-based food diets. But I feel that it is crucial to share how plant-based foods challenge patriarchy and machismo. As a man who is activily seeking ways to de-program myself from

Chris Rodrigueznoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5956381387537340490.post-7901296422317491602009-02-25T16:44:00.001-08:002009-07-11T20:56:19.879-07:00

La cocina, a place of oppression or liberation? This is an interesting question because few will argue, particularly modern day feminists, that the kitchen place is feminized, therefore, oppressive. However, I challenge this notion.In the kitchen, I do not feel oppressed but liberated, for I reclaim the kitchen place as my kitchen space. Let me elaborate...socially, it has been determined that

Claudia Serratonoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5956381387537340490.post-43249351208126821912009-02-25T15:47:00.000-08:002009-03-11T15:18:46.164-07:00

This proyecto in rebellion exposes an intricate trenza of colonization by honoring food as a carrier of palabra. Nuestra plant-based foods embody social messages of resistance against the occupation of our bodies, our Aztlan, by patriarchal, imperialist U.S. food traditions and diseases.Rooted in indigenismo, food as palabra has its own story of conquest and struggle. Yet, it speaks of liberacion

Claudia Serratonoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5956381387537340490.post-43084936899531656312008-12-10T23:29:00.000-08:002009-04-24T17:58:49.240-07:00

November 13, 2008...Cal Pulli Sound System, is an alternative space created by Zapatista inspired student activists. This online radio show promotes dialogue on issues faced by our communities in struggle against neoliberalism and understands that hip hop and reggae are music genres born out of resistance and are an essential part of revolutionary counter culture. In the spirit of our ancestors,

Decolonial Food For Thought: meXicatl y Xefnoreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5956381387537340490.post-41518124197700436842008-11-27T09:57:00.000-08:002012-01-27T21:28:07.920-08:00

by Claudia Serrato Today, it is evident that fatal health diseases, decaying ecosystems, and cruel animal farming are results of the European colonizers' appetite. Food practices of indigenous societies living in the Americas prior to colonization contributed to the continual balance of nature. They understood, as it is today, that all life forms, big and small, were interconnected--a familia,

Claudia Serratonoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5956381387537340490.post-74783700301029242422008-11-22T21:49:00.000-08:002008-11-28T20:30:25.517-08:00

by Chris Xef RodriguezThe Thanksgiving dinner is a symbolic feast that represents 516 years of culinary imperialism and internal colonization. The mass produced turkey stuffed with its own exploited inner body parts and smothered with its very essence mounted with butter-gravy. The turkey-huexolotl-el guajolote- was a culinary delight before the arrival of the colonizers. However it was a

Regeneración Pomonanoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5956381387537340490.post-86369532887362191822008-11-22T21:29:00.001-08:002009-04-24T17:59:34.203-07:00

Written by Claudia Serrato y Chris Rodriguez~~ce~~Colonization has occurred in various levels as we are very well aware of. It has conquered our lands, minds, and bodies. But is there anything that we can do to liberate all these at once? Gloria Anzaldua said that we need a new Chicana/o nationalism that will "liberate the brown and female body as it decolonizes the brown and female earth" and I

Claudia Serratonoreply@blogger.com4