Cafe Para La Vida Digna

Cafe Para La Vida Digna is an offically recognized cooperative and project of the Autonomous Municipality in Rebellion, Ricardo Flores Magon of Chiapas, Mexico. The Café Para la Vida Digna coffee project is dedicated to supporting the process of achieving sustainability for the autonomous education and medical initiatives of the Zapatista Autonomous Municipality, Ricardo Flores Magon located in Chiapas, Mexico.

Background and Commitments Made

In 2005 we came together in Chiapas and made agreements on how this project would define its principles, processes and commitments. Below are our Palabras.

This is a partnership between the Cooperative Lekil kux lejal within RFM, Municipality Ricardo Flores Magon and Project Cafe Para La Vida Digna

• An all Volunteer work force would be established to sell the coffee and promote the work
• We will sell the coffee on time and for agreed upon price and to good businesses and people
• We will send 100 percent of the proceeds back to RFM. Proceeds is defined as all the money left over after paying for the coffee itself, transportation, roasting, the bags and labels, etc. Volunteers are creating the accounts, taking the orders, making the deliveries, shipping the coffee, etc at no cost.
• The Municipality will use the proceeds for education, medical & other self deemed municipality projects
• Only Zapatista Coffee would be supplied to the project
• No Chemicals, herbicides, pesticides will be used (Note: these have never has been on these lands)
• Fair Trade prices paid to growers. We realize that we are dealing with a new kind of Trade where more than just a fair trade price is being paid to the producers. In this project all of the communities that belong to the Municipality Ricardo Flores Magon will get there schools and clinics funded. In fact we are wondering if this should be called Z Trade or AE Trade - Zapatista Trade or Autonomous Economy Trade. We will be meeting to talk about this concept.
• Only high altitude coffee will be supplied that is above 1200 feet

Education and Medicine

Indigenous education and health care in Chiapas need improvement and sustainability. The Autonomous Zapatista Medical Clinic and School lack sufficient operational support. The Café Para la Vida Digna project was designed to create sustainable development using the community’s own forms of production. 100% of the proceeds of coffee sales are returned to support the community’s clinic and school. The main medical clinic was recently built with resources from European supporters, & is the largest clinic in the area. The library, classrooms and dormitories of the training center for education promoters were designed and built in a joint effort by the people of the municipality and supporters from Greece and other countries

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How you can get involved

• Form a Brigada. A brigada is group of volunteers who are committed to working as part of Café Para la Vida Digna by organizing events, presentations and selling coffee. A brigade also spends time educating themselves about Zapatista and local struggles. It’s a fun way to work together.
• Talk to your local co-op, coffee shop, or restaurant about carrying Café Para la Vida Digna.
• Volunteer your time at local events, set up information tables, hand out flyers and sell coffee to your friends.
• Donate. Visit our website for more information on tax making a deductible contribution.

The Certified Organic and Fair Trade Reality

There are many costs associated with becoming certified Fair Trade and Certified Organic. These cost are barriers for farmers who are organic and are engaging in fair trade agreements. The Autonomous Zapatista Municipality, Ricardo Flores Magon of Chiapas, Mexico gives their word that their coffee is produced without the use of pesticides or herbicides, that 100% of this coffee has been produced by Zapatista producers, that the producers have been paid a better than fair trade price, and that all proceeds go to support the autonomous education project, "La Educacion Verdadera," and the autonomous medical project.

Chiapas Local Natural Resources

Chiapas is Mexico’s richest state for natural resources with 37 protected natural areas, more than any other state in Mexico. One of the largest of these areas is the Montes Azules Biosphere Reserve in the Lacandon Jungle.

Chiapas, Mexico

In contrast, Chiapas is also one of Mexico’s most impoverished states. Its people are subjected to a constant bombardment of low-intensity warfare. With the creation of the Montes Azules biosphere, the Mexican government gained monopoly control over the jungle’s natural resources. In order to exploit these resources, the government accused the indigenous people of environmental damage, forcing many people to abandon their communities. These forced relocations have resulted in the torture and deaths of many innocent people.

How you can get involved

• Form a Brigada. A brigada is group of volunteers who are committed to working as part of Café Para la Vida Digna by organizing events, presentations and selling coffee. A brigade also spends time educating themselves about Zapatista and local struggles. It’s a fun way to work together.
• Talk to your local co-op, coffee shop, or restaurant about carrying Café Para la Vida Digna.
  Volunteer your time at local events, set up information tables, hand out flyers and sell coffee to your friends.
• Donate. Visit our website for more information on tax making a deductible contribution.

Buy Zapatista Coffee On-Line (Click coffee cup)

Contact Us

National and Minnesota Responsable is Jerry Lopez and he can be reaced at 612-388-0552

California Responsable is Chris Silvas at 626-862-7276

Arizona Responsable contacts are Balti Garcia at 520-604-0995 & Rebekha Lizalde at 323-304-8707