SECULAR HUMANISM IN MEXICO

Patricia Lopez Zaragoza is President of the recently formed Mexican Ethical Rationalist Association. She describes how the organisation was set up, what its aims are, and the situation in Mexico which it has to meet. The article, from the new magazine Razonamientos, has.been translated by Ed Doerr, President of the American Humanist Association.

IN 1990 I was invited by the International Humanist and Ethical Union to participate in a discussion group at the International Humanist Congress held in Brussels, Belgium, and to visit various humanist organizations in the Netherlands to exchange ideas and to learn of their activities. I returned to Mexico motivated and committed to spreading nontheistic secular humanist views in the Spanish speaking world.

Consequently, the Asociaci6n Etica Racionalista (Mexican Ethical Rationalist Association -- MERA) was established in July of 1991, based on secular humanist principles and whose goals are the following:

1. To popularize the principles of secular humanism as a rational and ethical system so that those who identify with those principles can join together in a humanist movement that allows one to live by scientific-philosophical knowledge and to have another opinion for understanding the reality around us and to act accordingly.

2. To establish information systems that can offer scientific data and therefore humanist viewpoints on relevant topics, such as forums that promote the free exchange of ideas and encouragement of personal and group activity of an academic, political and cultural nature conducive to the strengthening of secular humanism.

3. To create humanist projects that lead to the improvement of conditions for men and women, not only in this country and the Spanish speaking world but also in the rest of humankind and in cooperation with the other nations of the world.

These actions will be implemented gradually; we have just begun the spreading of secular humanist thought. In May of 1992 we had a press conference to introduce MERA to the media. Present were not only important journalists but also press representatives of such groups as Amnesty International, feminist publications, and cultural radio stations. Since then we have taken advantage of free space in newspapers and magazines and radio and television programs to put forth critical views on religion, ideology, pseudoscience, and other themes. Further, as of 1994 we have had monthly meetings in the Press Club of Mexico dealing with: human rights, secular education, science and technology, ethics, ecology, etc. We have observed that, for many people, exposure to information and critical opinion about 'unquestionable truths' has had a strong impact, which leads us to think that some of the public is beginning to doubt and to seek scientific information to resolve problems and anxieties. We have now launched the magazine Razonamientos (Reasonings) as another medium for popularizing humanism, but above all as a means for communication and dialogue with more people on a national and international level. We are also planning an International Humanist Congress in Mexico City for November of 1996.

Why is it so important to promote secular humanism in Mexico? This country, like almost all in Latin America and most of those in the developing world, faces a serious problem: the plundering

of their natural and economic resources for the purpose of paying extended debt caused by 'neoliberal' economic policy and the irresponsibility of successive governments. The country's sovereignty has been seriously undermined by political and financial pressures from the centres of economic power, at the command of the International Monetary Fund.

This situation supports the constant diminution of living standards, that have now reached inhuman levels for most of our population besides the consequent deterioration of their sense of identity and social crises. Mexico is not only going through a severe economic crisis but also political and social crises. The most obvious example of this is in the state of Chiapas, in the southwest of the country, with outbreaks of revolt that can worsen if there is no solution to the historic problems of misery, injustice, repression, and absence of democracy that afflict the natives of the region. The MERA has spoken out about the peace they demand and for the respect for the human rights of all who are involved in this conflict.

Respect for human rights, essential for the functioning and legitimacy of a sociopolitical system, has unfortunately suffered a tremendous repression, for even though there appears to be an electoral democracy in this country, it leaves a great deal to be desired; meanwhile, respect for other political and civil rights continues to decline as a result of the neoliberal political and economic strategies legalized by those who run the country. Let me illustrate this with some examples:

In this country conservative groups that retain power have promoted and gained changes favourable to themselves, as in the case of the change in Article 130 of the Mexican Constitution, that denies legal status to the churches; now the churches, especially the Catholic Church, can involve themselves more effectively in the civil and political life of citizens. The majority of business men and high level politicians are religious and many of them are influenced by ultraright extremist sects such as Opus Dei. Their children are educated in sectarian private schools and in this way future leaders of the nation acquire attitudes contrary to the principle of church-state separation. On the other hand, there is a serious deterioration of the public education system, required by the Constitution to be religiously neutral (laic), which is increasingly subjected to budget cuts that lower quality. This, joined by alienating and manipulative means of mass communication, with honourable exceptions, inhibit the development in students and others of creativity and of critical and scientific thinking. This in turn promotes magical thinking among a large percentage of the population, just as it favours the growth of not only destructive religious sects but also very well financed commercial, educational, and political sects. We have also seen the proliferation of a great many charlatan medical practices and so-called self-help or anonymous groups that use very questionable therapeutic methods based on supernatural notions, on mind control techniques and pseudoscientific theories that destroy the integrity, freedom, and mental and physical health of individuals.

With regard to the right of health care, above all for people of limited resources, we can observe that the quality of public health and welfare services has declined alarmingly, not only because of budget cuts and bureaucratic deterioration but also because of the influence of reactionary individuals and organizations, such as the notorious group Provida (Prolife), that have stood in the way of birth control and AIDS prevention programs.

At the same time, whenever a commentator or journalist tries to make public critical information, especially of the political sort, he is frequently coerced into silence, despite the fact that freedom is supposedly protected legally.

Damage to the ecology and the environment is increasing. In the cities we have enormous problems with contamination and poor health, with the government acting only when conditions become catastrophic.

Many sectors -- workers, indigenous people (Indians), children, etc. - have their rights trampled, but the situation is particularly bad for women, as this is a male dominated society.

In spite of this gloomy panorama, similar to that of other countries, we see a daily increase in the number of people fighting and struggling to change the situation, whether as individuals or through various organizations. But the effectiveness of these efforts is attenuated by lack of coordination and lack of a more scientific philosophy, which could well be that of a humanism based on respect for human rights, the use of reason and science for understanding reality, for solving human problems, and for the cultivation of a secular humanist ethic as a critical and rational guide.

Thus the Mexican Ethical Rationalist Association is put forth as a viable, dynamic group for the international spreading of Irberoamerican humanist thought, of scientific method as the solution for an infinity of problems, and as a forum for critical discussion of different humanist topics. To this end it is vitally important that we have broad public support from individuals and organizations for the growth and development of secular humanism.