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Examining U.S. Colonialism
and the Re-development of Vieques:
A Volunteer Delegation or 3-credit University
Level Course combining history and politics,
culture and music, tropical ecology, and
community service work.
Puerto Rico is a fascinating place politically, culturally,
and ecologically. A U.S. colony since 1898, the island
provides students and volunteers with a case-study of
the cultural and economic effects of U.S. colonialism
and military occupation.
Unlike many programs that offer a passive, touristy
experience, our itinerary gives participants the ability to
live, work, and learn in rural communities, learning first-
hand about the Puerto Rican struggle for self-
determination, cultural autonomy, and environmental
and economic sustainability.
The cultural identity of Puerto Rico is constantly
evolving and is the product of Latino, Indigenous,
African and American pop cultures. The island is a land
of contrasts: farms and textile factories, horses and hot
rods, colonial villas and fast food, salsa and hip-hop,
black, white, and brown. This program is extremely
multidisciplinary, incorporating, history, politics,
ecology, agriculture, natural history, and the
interconnection between all of these topics.
In an attempt to better understand the social,
economic, and cultural effects of U.S. colonialism, the
largest part of the trip will be spent on the island of
Vieques, just off the coast of the main island. Until
2003, Vieques was, not only a tropical paradise, but a
U.S. Navy bombing range and weapons-testing site.
The Navy abandoned Vieques after sustained popular
protest and civilian occupation of the bombing range
effectively stopped military operations. This was the
first time in world history that a non-violent, solidarity
based political movement succeeded in ousting a U.S.
military operation. On Vieques, we will learn from the
activists, students, old ladies, and fishermen
responsible for the movement’s success, as well as
scientists currently working to quantify the effects of
military-toxins on public health.
Other activities and topics include:
Learning Goals:
Suggested Readings
Sample Itinerary
Day 1- Arrive in San Juan late; go to hotel in Viejo San
Juan
2- am: walking tour of Viejo San Juan including El Morro
and the Cultural Heritage Museum; lunch; pm:
organizational meeting and introductory talk on the
history of Puerto Rico and current events. pm: Santaria
drumming and dance seminar
3- am: drive to Guanica; visit the Guanica Dry Forest
and beach; lunch; pm: travel to Adjuntas and Casa
Pueblo
4- am: Casa Pueblo educational program and
community roundtable; talk with Don Antonio Cruz, one
of the early founders and participants in the modern
Puerto Rican independence movement
5- am: travel to Ponce, visit the National Museum of
Music and have lunch. pm: historical tour of Ponce
6- Visit the world Famous Caves of Camuy and Taino
ceremonial site.
7- travel to Fajardo; ferry to Vieques
8- am- free time; pm: roundtable with leaders of the anti-
Navy movement; dinner
9- Vieques work project; pm: night trip to the Vieques’
world-famous Bioluminescent Bay
10- Vieques work project; pm: beach time
11- am- return to the main island and drive to El
Yunque National Park; lunch. pm- hike and/or swim in
waterfall; return to San Juan.
12- Last day. Free time in the morning to shop, relax,
or go to the beach
Climate
Puerto Rico is hot and sticky (90F high/75 low).
Torrential downpours can, and do, occur at almost any
time of the year.
Communications
Pay phones will be accessible for most of the trip but
students should not plan on having access to phones
on a daily basis. The best idea is to plan on calling
family and friends at the beginning and end of the trip
in San Juan. Internet access will not be available during
the trip.
Notes:
TOP
and the Re-development of Vieques:
A Volunteer Delegation or 3-credit University
Level Course combining history and politics,
culture and music, tropical ecology, and
community service work.
Puerto Rico is a fascinating place politically, culturally,
and ecologically. A U.S. colony since 1898, the island
provides students and volunteers with a case-study of
the cultural and economic effects of U.S. colonialism
and military occupation.
Unlike many programs that offer a passive, touristy
experience, our itinerary gives participants the ability to
live, work, and learn in rural communities, learning first-
hand about the Puerto Rican struggle for self-
determination, cultural autonomy, and environmental
and economic sustainability.
The cultural identity of Puerto Rico is constantly
evolving and is the product of Latino, Indigenous,
African and American pop cultures. The island is a land
of contrasts: farms and textile factories, horses and hot
rods, colonial villas and fast food, salsa and hip-hop,
black, white, and brown. This program is extremely
multidisciplinary, incorporating, history, politics,
ecology, agriculture, natural history, and the
interconnection between all of these topics.
In an attempt to better understand the social,
economic, and cultural effects of U.S. colonialism, the
largest part of the trip will be spent on the island of
Vieques, just off the coast of the main island. Until
2003, Vieques was, not only a tropical paradise, but a
U.S. Navy bombing range and weapons-testing site.
The Navy abandoned Vieques after sustained popular
protest and civilian occupation of the bombing range
effectively stopped military operations. This was the
first time in world history that a non-violent, solidarity
based political movement succeeded in ousting a U.S.
military operation. On Vieques, we will learn from the
activists, students, old ladies, and fishermen
responsible for the movement’s success, as well as
scientists currently working to quantify the effects of
military-toxins on public health.
Other activities and topics include:
- The Puerto Rican independence movement
- Santaria religion and Afro-Puerto Rican
drumming and spirituality
- Salsa music and dance
- Participation in a community service project
- Viejo San Juan. The oldest part of Puerto Rico’s
capital has a village atmosphere in an urban
setting. Here students can explore one of the first
Spanish forts in the New World, visit a multitude
of art and culture museums, giggle at the hordes
of cruise-ship tourists, and see world class Latin
music.
- Guanica Dry Forest. This is one of the world’s
few dry tropical forests and an ecological
anomaly. This is, coincidentally, the same area
that U.S. Marines first set foot on during the 1898
invasion of Puerto Rico. We will have a workshop
on the birdlife and ecology of the dry forest with
a park ranger.
- El Yunque. This mountainous, unlogged tract of
rainforest is the only tropical rain forest managed
by the U.S. Park Service. We will have several
tropical ecology workshops with park staff
members. Students can hike, swim in waterfalls,
study the flora and fauna, and visit/volunteer at
an experimental planned community and
agricultural center just outside park boundaries.
- Casa Pueblo. This community organization that
started in the 1980’s to protest a proposed
copper strip mine near the mountain town of
Adjuntas. The group was successful, and today
the area is a locally-managed forest preserve.
We will stay in the reserve and meet with
community members. Topics will include
community organizing, the economics of the
copper industry, and the story of Casa Pueblo.
Learning Goals:
- To become familiar with the diverse natural and
human ecology of Puerto Rico
- To learn about environmental and conservation
issues facing Puerto Rico
- To become familiar with Puerto Rico’s history and
contemporary popular culture
- To understand the economic, social, and military
dynamic between Puerto Rico and the United
States
- To understand the environmental consequences
of military operations
- To use Puerto Rico as a case-study through
which to view global socio-political and economic
issues
Suggested Readings
- The Puerto Ricans: A Documentary History,
edited by K. and O. Wagenheim, Markus Weiner
Publishers, 1999.
- The Disenchanted Island, by Ronald Fernandez,
Greenwood , 1996.
- Islands of Resistance, by Mario Murillo, Seven
Stories Press, 2001.
- The Line of the Sun, by Judith Ortiz Cofer,
University of Georgia Press, 1991.
Sample Itinerary
Day 1- Arrive in San Juan late; go to hotel in Viejo San
Juan
2- am: walking tour of Viejo San Juan including El Morro
and the Cultural Heritage Museum; lunch; pm:
organizational meeting and introductory talk on the
history of Puerto Rico and current events. pm: Santaria
drumming and dance seminar
3- am: drive to Guanica; visit the Guanica Dry Forest
and beach; lunch; pm: travel to Adjuntas and Casa
Pueblo
4- am: Casa Pueblo educational program and
community roundtable; talk with Don Antonio Cruz, one
of the early founders and participants in the modern
Puerto Rican independence movement
5- am: travel to Ponce, visit the National Museum of
Music and have lunch. pm: historical tour of Ponce
6- Visit the world Famous Caves of Camuy and Taino
ceremonial site.
7- travel to Fajardo; ferry to Vieques
8- am- free time; pm: roundtable with leaders of the anti-
Navy movement; dinner
9- Vieques work project; pm: night trip to the Vieques’
world-famous Bioluminescent Bay
10- Vieques work project; pm: beach time
11- am- return to the main island and drive to El
Yunque National Park; lunch. pm- hike and/or swim in
waterfall; return to San Juan.
12- Last day. Free time in the morning to shop, relax,
or go to the beach
Climate
Puerto Rico is hot and sticky (90F high/75 low).
Torrential downpours can, and do, occur at almost any
time of the year.
Communications
Pay phones will be accessible for most of the trip but
students should not plan on having access to phones
on a daily basis. The best idea is to plan on calling
family and friends at the beginning and end of the trip
in San Juan. Internet access will not be available during
the trip.
Notes:
- Peter Shear is the project organizer and bi-
lingual Volunteer Delegation guide/Course
Instructor. He is a part-time Political Geography
instructor at the University of Vermont, Director
of Inter-American CASA and Coordinator of
Intichakiñan--a community based tourism project
based in Ecuador.
- A healthy attitude and willingness to work in
solidarity with a poor community are the only
requirements to participate. Although a working
knowledge of Spanish certainly enhances your
experience, it is not required. Your bilingual
guide will be available to translate talks,
instructions, and conversations.
- Besides the experiential education that comes
from volunteer work, participants will learn about
the culture, history, ecology, and politics of
Puerto Rico, as well as community and state rolls
in international geo-politics and the global
economy.
- Nothing ever happens on time in Puerto Rico.
Accept it and enjoy your trip!
TOP
Inter-American Center for the Arts, Sustainability,and Action
Centro Interamericano para las Artes, el Sustento, y la Acción
Centro Interamericano para las Artes, el Sustento, y la Acción