3rd Anniversary of the Other Campaign

UPDATE Oct 30 '08: find additional information on the itinerary of the First Global Festival of Dignified Rage and how to participate here.

Three years ago today, the first plenary session of the Other Campaign was held in the zapatista Caracol of La Garrucha in Chiapas, Mexico. Following six weekends of gatherings -approximately 106 hours of listening- the Other Campaign was launched to transform Mexico "from Below and to the Left." Amongst the initial adherents were 55 political organizations of the left, 103 indigenous organizations and Mexican Indian peoples, 162 social organizations and movements, 453 non-governmental or collective groups and organizations, and 1624 people who came as individuals or representing their family, neighborhood, or community...

Perhaps this is the new normal for zapagringo - a post a month? Two communiques from the EZLN have just been released... there will be much more to say about these in the coming months... here are links to their English versions:

#1: EZLN Communique on Political Prisoners
#2: EZLN Announces "First Global Festival of Dignified Rage"

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'07-'08 Year in Review

Much love to all who have been a part of this space over the past two years!

As mentioned in the previous post, I'm taking a break from the writing here to put more focus on building up some of the other zapatista-inspired work in NYC and beyond... be in touch, stay in touch, and let's continue building this other way of doing politics -and this struggle- for another world that we know is possible and necessary.

Just like last year's round-up, here's a run down of Zapagringo's second season (July '07 to July '08). This blog is directly inspired by the zapatistas' Sixth Declaration of the Lacandon Jungle (or simply "the Sexta"), which they released just over three years ago. Much has grown and changed since then...

Our posts are broken down into "Zezta Internazional" (the international movement inspired by the Sexta), "Intersections" (things that resonate with the Sexta), "Other Campaign" (the transnational, Mexican movement inspired by the Sexta) and "Oaxaca" (where I began my journalism work for Narco News in the first days of '06):

* Zezta Internazional - the most common theme this year and last year, the primary focus of Zapagringo has been to help galvanize the international movement inspired by the Sexta - dubbed the "Zezta Internazional," although often also referred to as the "Intergalactic." Here you'll find information on affiliated organizations and events in NYC and throughout the USA 1,2,3,4,5,6,7 as well as some theoretical/educational work 1,2,3,4,5,6,7; of course there is coverage of the international encuentros that have taken place over the past year 1,2,3,4,5,6,7; posts regarding international responses to repression against the zapatistas and the Other Campaign 1,2,3,4,5,6; and some deeper explorations of that thing called "solidarity" 1,2.

* Intersections - Sometimes this "other" box can be the most interesting of all. Here we've got analyses of what capitalism is up to today 1,2,3,4; notes from gatherings that (in some way) fall a bit beyond the realm of the Sexta 1,2,3,4; assorted pieces from cultural workers 1,2,3,4; contemplations on fighting repression 1,2,3,4 and building solidarity 1,2,3; and -of course- some updates on Slingshot Hip Hop 1,2.

* Other Campaign - In September of '07 the zapatistas announced the suspension of their pending work in central and southern Mexico, which was originally intended to complete the second phase of their participation in building the Other Campaign. The cancellation was due to increasing threats against their communities in Chiapas. As a result, much of the Mexico-focused coverage over the past year has centered on the organizing against this repression 1,2,3,4,5; Meanwhile, I've continued reporting on the "Other Campaign on the Other Side" with Movement for Justice in El Barrio 1,2,3,4 and other groups 1,2,3; The international encuentros hosted by the zapatistas are also heavily attended by Mexican Other Campaign adherents so some of those posts are linked here as well 1,2,3; Here you will also find some posts related to zapatista spokesperson Subcomandante Insurgente Marcos 1,2 and some solidarity pieces 1,2.

* Oaxaca - Reconnecting face-to-face in Oaxaca this summer with some of the people I worked with there at the beginning of '06 was energizing and fruitful. My reportage on Oaxaca following the founding of Zapagringo was mostly centered on the work we were doing from here in NYC in solidarity with the struggle. This year I posted just one piece, "Brad Will in Context," a transcript of the speech I delivered at a memorial service for the murdered Indymedia journalist. Continued coverage of the struggle in Oaxaca can be found at El Enemigo Común and The Narco News Bulletin.

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2nd Birthday and PAUSE

Slingshot Hip Hop screening in San Cristobal de las Casas, Chiapas (Mexico, Earth)

The zapagringo blog's 2nd birthday finds us back in zapatista territory. It's been 2.5 years since I was last in Mexico, covering the Other Campaign in Oaxaca for The Narco News Bulletin. Today I am back with my partner who works with the Palestine Education Project and we are screening Slingshot Hip Hop here in San Cristobal de Las Casas, Chiapas. This is one small step in a longer process of finding effective vehicles for networking struggles in the Levant with struggles here on Turtle Island (remember that we need our own Calendars and Geographies)...

Here in San Cris, it's exciting to see how some of the zapatista, Other Campaign, and Zezta Internazional infrastructure has grown and developed since the release of the Sixth Declaration of the Lacandon Jungle a little over 3 years ago...

CIDECI (Centro Indígena de Capacitación Integral) has become an impressive zapatista-inspired university that is free for indigenous peoples.

Just a few blocks off of the zocalo (city center) is TierrAdentro - a large and beautiful café where the zapatista cooperatives sell their goods, all kinds of literature can be found, and La Vía Campesina and CAPISE have offices in their as well. As Carwil James points out in our interview with him in September of last year, creating venues for the zapatistas to sell their products with dignity is essential solidarity work. The National and International Caravan of Observation and Solidarity with the Zapatista Communities of Chiapas, which CAPISE helped to inspire and organize, is getting ready to begin on July 28th with around 300 registered participants.

Here at zapagringo I'll be taking a pause in terms of blogging to put more energy into my work with Regeneración Childcare NYC as we continue organizing, amongst other things, the Children's Program for the Critical Resistance 10 conference coming up at the end of September. I'm also deepening my work in the Men's Collaborative of Generation Five - seeking transformative justice responses to child sexual abuse while specifically challenging male supremacy. I see both of these pieces of work as part of that call to "Be a zapatista wherever you are." The Another Politics is Possible study group and participation on the board of directors of the Brecht Forum will support the networking across struggles necessary to sustain and build our movements.

I'm also just looking at ways to be "sustainable" in this work... realizing that I'm down to my last few hundred dollars -period- and that I want to start taking better care of my health. Looking for more secure paid work and possibly even going back to school - who knows? I know there must be ways to do this that move the work forward...

Just like the 1st Birthday, I'll have a summary of this second year of zapagringo up in about a month. And I'll still post from time to time but no longer at the one post a week pace I've been maintaining for the past two years.

It's been such a gift to be able to connect with so many people from so many different places through this space. Please stay in touch or get in touch - and if you would like an update every once in awhile on what zapatista-related stuff has come my way then let me know and I'll send it along as it comes. Much love to all who have committed to transforming the world, our communities and ourselves...

Vivan Los Comunidades Zapatistas en Resistencia!
Viva La Otra Campaña!
Viva La Zezta Internazional!
All Zapagringos in the Struggle!

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National Solidarity Statement

The zapatistas are not alone!

END THE WAR AGAINST THE ZAPATISTA COMMUNITIES

We, the organizations, collectives, movements, networks, communities, peoples, families and individuals who are adherents or sympathizers of the Sixth Declaration of the Lacandón Jungle, women, men, children and elders of the entire country declare:

1. For almost a year, the harrasment, provocations, repression, militarization and aggressions against the indigenous zapatista communities have been worsening. The military incursion of this past June 4th is only the most visible sign of a strategy that seeks to attack the social base of the Zapatista Army of National Liberation (EZLN) and the heart of indigenous autonomy: the land and territory. We condemn and reject these actions and demand that they stop immediately.

2. This new offensive is articulated once again by paramilitary groups and by the State Government of Chiapas, as well as by the Federal Government. It is a political-military strategy that seeks to back zapatismo into a corner. Complicit in this strategy is the silence of the mass media and everyone who remains silent before the repression through which our zapatista sisters and brothers are living. We will not be silent. We demand an immediate halt to this offensive against the zapatista project, which represents an alternative for the peoples of the world.

3. Dignified autonomy is constructed in the councils of good government and the autonomous zapatista municipalities in rebellion, which we recognize as one of the most important alternatives for humanity. We join the process of defense of zapatista autonomy, that exists today under increasing risk with this new violent offensive.

4. We demand that the Federal and State government halt already the violent actions against the zapatista communities. To all the zapatista support bases, autonomous municipalities and councils of good government, as well as the EZLN itself, today we return to say YOU ARE NOT ALONE. We are with those of you who make up the Other Campaign, and from the entire country we send a message of support and solidarity.

5. It is the hour of mobilization and organization in defense and support of the EZLN. Before the drums of war it is necessary to organize now the civil and peaceful response from all the corners of the country.

THE ZAPATISTAS ARE NOT ALONE!
THE FEDERAL ARMY OUT OF CHIAPAS!
LONG LIVE THE INDIGENOUS PEOPLES IN RESISTANCE
LONG LIVE ZAPATISTA AUTONOMY
LONG LIVE THE ZAPATISTA ARMY OF NATIONAL LIBERATION

210 Collectives, organizations, communities, networks, movements, and 250 families and individuals from 27 states of the country: AGUASCALIENTES, BAJA CALIFORNIA, BAJA CALIFORNIA SUR, COAHUILA, COLIMA, CHIAPAS, CHIHUAHUA, DISTRITO FEDERAL, DURANGO, ESTADO DE MEXICO, GUANAJUATO, GUERRERO, HIDALGO, JALISCO, MICHOACAN, MORELOS, NUEVO LEON, OAXACA, PUEBLA, QUERETARO, SAN LUIS POTOSI, SINALOA, SONORA, TAMAULIPAS, TLAXCALA, VERACRUZ, YUCATAN, Germany, Argentina, the Spanish State, Basque Country, the United States of America, Sweden and Uruguay.

Adherentes individuales de La Otra Campaña en Ensenada- Baja California,
A la trinchera-DF,
Alianza Zapatista Magonista,
A.N.A.A.T.E- Yucatán,
Asamblea Nacional de Braceros,
Augasquentes de Galicia: centro cultural zapatista,
Biblioteca Popular Viviendo la utopía- Nuevo léon,
Bibaani – Oaxaca,
Bios Iguana-Colima
Brigadas Emiliano Zapata - edomex
Brújula Roja-DF,
Bloque de Fuerzas Proletarias- edomex,
Bloque Popular Revolucionario- Morelos,
Borrokan,
Caracol de Maíz,
Casa del Estudiante Vladimir Ilich Lenin- Michoacán
Casa de la Cultura Independiente Benito Juárez-DF,
Célula metropolitana Julio Chávez López-DF,
Centro de análisis Político e investigaciones sociales y económicas (CAPISE)- Chiapas,
Centro de apoyo comunitario trabajando unidos (CACTUS)-Oaxaca,
Centro de estudios para el desarrollo rural- Puebla,
Centro de Derechos Humanos Fray Bartolomé de Las Casas-Chiapas,
Centro de Reflexión Social y Comunicación Alternativa – Guanajuato
Centro Independiente de Noticias- DF,
CIOAC Roja – Guerrero,
Colectiva Feminista Binacional de Tijuana- Baja California,
Colectivo Acertijo-Tlaxcala,
Colectivo Arje- Querétaro,
Colectivo autónomo Magonista (CAMA)- DF
Colectivo cuadernos de la resistencia- Jalisco,
Colectivo Contra la Represión y la Impunidad del sistema social (CCRISIS)-Guerrero,
Colectivo contra la Tortura y la Impunidad (CCTI)-DF,
Colectivo Cosme Damián- Baja California,
Colectivo Cortamortaja- Jalapa
Colectivo ChicagOtra- Chicago,
Colectivo de abogados zapatistas-DF,
Colectivo de Apoyo a los zapatistas Gotemburgo-Suecia,
Colectivo de Akatingo- Puebla,
Colectivo de Cultura Alternativa "Lo de menos"-Colima,
Colectivo de Estudiantes- Aguascalientes,
Colectivo de Estudios de Derecho Crítico (RADAR),
Colectivo de Exmoradores- Proyecto Lenin- Michocán,
Colectivos de La Otra campaña en Colima,
Colectivo de trabajo sexual del CNUC "mujeres por su dignidad"-Tlaxcala,
Colectivo Dignidad rebelde por Huauchinango- Puebla
Colectivo de la revista el vicionudo comixxx-Puebla,
Colectivo de Solidaridad de Barcelona con la rebelión zapatista,
Colectivo en rebeldía Suljaa'- Guerrero,
Colectivo Espiral 7- Puebla,
Colectivo feminista Cihuatlahtolli- Veracruz,
Colectivo Guiee Tiqui- Oaxaca,
Colectivo Hagamos el Cambio-Colima,
Colectivo Héroes de Ocosingo-San Luis Potosí,
Colectivo Kahuin- DF
Colectivo La Semilla –Jalisco,
Colectivo la tripulación del Viejo Antonio- Morelos,
Colectivo Los Angeles,
Colectivo Machetemagazine,
Colectivo mentes autónomas,
Colectivo Mezcala- Jalisco
Colectivo Mujeres por un Mundo Nuevo-Colima
Colectivo Nuevo Huachichil- San Luis Potosí,
Colectivo Nachicocom deSotuta- Yucatán
Colectivo Nixticul - Jalisco
Colectivo Ollín Mexica- DF,
Colectivo Poder Autónomo-Argentina,
Colectivo Radio Digna- Baja California,
Colectivo Radio Totopo-Juchitá n-Oaxaca,
Colectivo 'Red Latina sin fronteras'-Suecia
Colectivo Resistencia Autónoma -Baja California,
Colectivo Rincón Rupestre- Yucatán,
Colectivo Roberto Iriarte,
Colectivo Sacco y Vanzetti - Jalisco
Colectivo Salamandra- Puebla,
Colectivo Sexto Sol-Oaxaca,
Colectivos Unidos de Zumpango-edomex. ,
Colectivo Tlacuaches mojaos- Veracruz
Colectivo Tod@s somos pres@s- Oaxaca
Colectivo Un granito de café-DF;
Colectivo Votán Zapata Coyoacán-DF;
Colectivo Ya basta- Baja California
Colectivo Zapatista de Oaxaca;
Colectivo Zapatista Neza- Edomex,
Colectivo Zapateando- Guanajuato
Colectivo Zihuatlán-Guerrero,
Comisión de Apoyo a la unidad y reconciliació n comunitaria (CORECO)- Chiapas,
Comisión de Derechos Humanos y laborales del Valle de Tehuacan-Puebla,
Comité Cabañas-DF,
Comité de base Ricardo Flores Magón-DF,
Comité de Familiares y Amigos de Secuestrados, desaparecidos y asesinados en Guerrero,
Comité Estudiantil Metropolitano- DF,
Comité Eureka – Guerrero,
Comité Verdad, Justicia y Libertad Jacobo y Gloria-DF,
Comité por la defensa de los derechos indígenas (CODEDI)-Oaxaca,
Comité Promotor de la Otra Campaña Mazatl- Sinaloa;
Comunidad de San Pedro Yosotatu-Oaxaca,
Consejo autónomo regional de la Zona Costa de Chiapas,
Consejo Ciudadano Unihidalguense (Unión Hidalgo)-Oaxaca,
Consejo de ancianas y ancianos de Ranchu Gubiña-Oaxaca,
Consejo de Ejidos y Comunidades opositoras a la presa La Parota (CECOP)-Guerrero,
Consejo de Lucha Pame de Rayón, Tamasopo y Alaquines- San Luis Potosí;
Consejo Indígena Popular de Oaxaca-Ricardo Flores Magón (CIPO-RFM),
Consejo Nacional Urbano y Campesino (CNUC)-Tlaxcala,
Consejo Regional de pueblos indígenas nahuas y nuntaj+yi del Sur de Veracruz,
Cooperativa de Medios Libertas Anticorp,
Cooperativa de TrabajoAutogestivo"Regeneración"-DF,
Cooperativa Huachichil de Coahuila,
Cooperativa Materu k´urhinta-Michoacá n,
Cooperativa de trabajo hormiga/666ismocrit ico-DF,
Coordinadora anticapitalista Ché Guevara- DF,
Coordinadora de la sociedad civil de la región de Orizaba- Veracruz,
Coordinadora Estatal de Trabajadores de la Educación en Guerrero (CETEG),
Coordinadora del Movimiento Amplio Popular-San Luis Potosí,
Coordinadora Maxei- Querétaro,
Coordinadora Regional de Autoridades comunitarias (CRAC)-Guerrero (Comité Ejecutivo de la Policía comunitaria, casas de justicia y seguridad comunitaria de San Luis Acatlán, Espino Blanco, Zitlaltepec, Comité Ejecutivo de la figura jurídica).
Coordinadora valle de Chalco-Edomex,
Cuna del Viento- La venta-Oaxaca,
Defensa y Promoción de los Derechos Humanos Emiliano Zapata-Tamaulipas,
Despertar Proletario,
Diáspora Vasca,
Editorial Lucia Zenteno- Oaxaca
Escuela de Cultura Popular Mártires del 68-DF,
Espacio social y cultural La Karakola-DF,
Fanzine Asfixia,
Fanzine Germinal,
Fanzine prisión demolición,
Fanzine por los de adentro,
Föreningen 'Cruz del Sur'-Suecia,
Föreningen 'Resistencia Vencerá'- Suecia,
Föreningen Syd i fokus- Suecia,
Frente Cívico Tonalteco- Chiapas
Frente del Pueblo,
Frente de Pueblos en Defensa de la Tierra- San Salvador Atenco,
Frente Popular Francisco Villa Independiente- UNOPII- DF,
Frente Único Estatal de Representantes Sindicales Autónomos (FUERZA)-Guerrero,
Galería Autónoma CU,
Gruppe B.A.S.T.A- Alemania,
Grupo colectivo independiente Binni Cubi-Unión Hidalgo-Oaxaca,
Grupo de madres de desaparecidos políticos de Chihuahua,
Grupo ETC México,
Grupo Salud y Conciencia-DF,
Grupo Solidario La venta-Oaxaca,
Gubiña XXI AC- Oaxaca,
jóvenes en resistencia alternativa- DF
Jóvenes Lagartos-Coahuila,
Jóvenes por el socialismo- Nuevo León,
Juventud Comunista de México,
Juventudes revolucionarias Libertarias- Tlaxcala,
Juventud zapatista con la comandanta Ramona-Guanajuato
Kolectivo El rebelde- Yucatán
komal Collective (esténcil)- Estado de México
Laboratorio de Fotografía-DF,
La furia de las calles-DF,
La neta amorfa- San Luis Potosí
La otra en Coyoacán- DF
La otra juventud Turula- Chiapas
La otra León- Guanajuato
La otra sur-poniente- DF,
La Rabiosa Radio-Puebla
La sexta Querétaro,
'Latina' Latinoamerikanska Kooperationsfö reningen- Suecia
La Voladora Radio (Amecameca),
Maderas del Pueblo del Sureste- Chiapas,
Movimiento de Artesanos Indígenas Zapatistas (MAIZ)
Movimiento de Cultura Popular- Yucatán,
Movimiento de Lucha Popular (MLP),
Movimiento de Unificación y Lucha Triqui (MULT)- Oaxaca,
Mujeres de Rincón de Chautla, Mpio. de Chilapa-Guerrero,
Mujeres y la Sexta DF-edomex,
Municipio Autónomo de San Juan Copala-Oaxaca,
Noticias de la rebelión-DF,
Okupa TV-DF,
Organización Campesina Emiliano Zapata- OCEZ-UNOPI-I- Chiapas,
Organizaciones Indias Por los Derechos Humanos de Oaxaca-OIDHO,
Organización Zapatista "Educación para la liberación de nuestros pueblos"-DF,
Pallasos en Rebeldía de Galicia y Catalunya,
Partido de los Pobres,
Radio Ñomndaa la palabra del agua-Guerrero
Radio Okupa-DF,
Radio Zapatista-Californi a,
Raza Press and Media Association- California,
Red caracol,
Red de colectivos de la otra campaña en el Istmo de Tehuantepec- Oaxaca,
Red de radios y TV comunitarias indígenas del sureste mexicano,
Red de Salud para las comunidades indígenas en resistencia en Chiapas-DF,
Red de solidaridad con Chiapas de Vicente López-Argentina,
Red de solidaridad con Chiapas- Mendoza-Argentina,
Red Mexicana de Acción Frente al Libre Comercio (RMALC),
Red Nacional contra la represión y por la solidaridad,
Red Unidos Por los Derechos Humanos – Veracruz,
Resistencias Enlazando Dignidad Movimiento y Corazón Zapatista (REDMYC)-DF
Regeneración Radio-DF,
Revista Ce-acatl- DF,
Revista Palabras Pendientes DF,
Rojos y Anarquistas Skinheads RASH- Guadalajara,
Sublevarte Colectivo-DF,
Taller autónomo Guadalupe Posada-DF,
Taller de Desarrollo Comunitario (TADECO)- Guerrero
Taller Integral Arquitect@z- DF
Taller Ricardo Flores Magón- DF
Unión Campesina Obrera y Popular de Izquierda Independiente (UCOPI-UNOPI- I)-Guanajuato,
Unión de Comuneros Náhuatl de Atzacoaloya y sus 15 anexos
Unión de Defensa de la raza maya- Yucatán
Unión de Vecinos y Damnificados 19 de septiembre (Uvyd-19)- DF,
Unión Popular Apìzaquense Democrática e Independiente- Tlaxcala,
Unidad Obrera y Socialista (UNIOS)-DF,
Universidad de la Tierra en Oaxaca,
Vänskapföreningen Sverige-Uruguay- Suecia
video Club Utopía- DF
Voces oaxaqueñas construyendo autonomía y libertad (V.O.C.A.L.)

Familia Morales Alcocer; Familia Ortega Elorza; Familia Pérez Bustillo; Familia Sánchez Piña (Ricardo Antonio Sánchez Piña, Héctor Ricardo Sánchez, Ma. Esther Piña Soria); La Rueka (Felipe I. Echenique, Carmen García Bermejo; León Felipe Echenique Romero); Abel Miranda, Adriana del Moral Espinosa, África Hernández, Agustina Soto Luna, Aidé Arévalo Picazo, Alejandrino González, Alejandro de la Torre, Alejandro Eguia-lis, Alejandro Reyes, Alfonso Vargas Muñoz, Alfredo Duarte Corte, Alma Idalia Kullick Lackner, Alma Eréndira Sandoval Carrillo, Alfonso Reyes, Alfredo Sabido, Amaranta Ramírez Terrazo, Ambrosio Coctecon, Ana Paola Mendoza García, Ana Patricia Peña Valenzuela, Andrea Patricia Gallegos Alanís, Andrea Sánchez Martínez, Andrés Nájera Hdez., Angel de Jesús Lopez, Angel Fermín García Lara, Angélica Trujillo Hernández, Anselmo A., Antonio Pastro García, Arafat Angulo Perkings, Ari David Salinas Castro, Arelhy Valenzuela Rascón Carlos Cervantes, Arturo Cuevas Manzanares, Arturo Landeros, Aurelio Banda, Azalia Hernández Rodríguez, B lanca Gpe. Durán Fernández, Braulio Candia Perez, Brisceida Aguayo Rivera, Brunilda Pinto, Bruno Firpo, Carla Zamora, Carlos Alegre, Carlos Cacay, Carlos Miguel Luna Zavala, Carlos Omar Hernández Pérez, Carolina Levario Gim, César Silva Montes, Claudio Tejada,Corina Caraza Machorro, Cristina del Carmen Hernández, Daniel Campos Chávez, Daniel Gonzalo Morales Ramírez, David Barrios Rodríguez; David Hernández, David Madrid, David Pérez, David Telic Mtz, Demetrio Romero Juárez, Deyanira Cortés Martínez, Diana Fimbres Delgado, Diana María Rodríguez Vértiz, Diego Canales, Dolores Marisa Martínez Moscoso, Doroteo Arellano Palacios, Dulce María Trejo, Egardo Josefat Badial Velásquez, Edna Estevez Zamudio, Efraín Flores Iglesias, Elia Alicia Crotte Franco; Elizabeth Manjares Cunas, Enrique Espinosa Mancilla, Enrique Vargas, Esmeralda Ochoa Vega, Esther Gallardo, Ezequiel Esteves, F abian Ofendis Aloy, Facundo Raúl Quinteros, Faustino Mendez, Felipe de Jesús Toussaint Loera, Felipe Martínez López, Felipe Reyes Guadalupe, Fernando Escobar Tabera, Fernando Hernández, Fernando Medina "Ictus", Francisco Tomás Reséndiz, G abriel García Martínez, Gaudencio Mejia, Genaro Vázquez, Gerardo León, Germán Cabañas, Geovanni Duran Can, Gustavo Esteva, Guillermo Cassani, Guillermo Villaseñor García, Gustavo García Rojas, Hermelando Salazar, Hilaria Viveros, Hugo Daniel Padilla, Ignacio Salgado, Iker Sagastibeltza Galárraga, Irantzu Sagarminaga, Irma Melchor, Isauro Canxoc, Ismael Bandolero Durán, Ismael Castio, Ismael Ortega, Ismene Figueroa López, Israel Espinosa, Itzel rivera Melgarejo, Ivan R. Leon, Iván Prado, Ivonne del Valle W, Jacinto Robles Pérez, Jagoba Epalza Uriarte, Javier Alejandro Castro, Javier Andrade, Javier Gallardo, Javier Hernández Alpizar, Javier Miranda, Jessica Rivera, Jesús Banda, Jesús Saavedra, Joel Tejeda, Jordi Anguera Aguas, Jorge Alastra, Jorge Arriaga, Jorge García Hernández, Jorge Juárez, Jorge Medina, Jorge Melo Bahena, Jorge Vargas, José Alberto Benítez Oliva, José Armando Sánchez, José Antonio Wong Soto, Josefat Badial Velásquez, José Castañeda, José Luis Ávila, José Luis C H., José Rafael Murúa Manríquez, José Raúl Linares Pérez; José Santos Cervantes, José Teodoro Hernández, Joshua Arale Gómez Jacinto, Josué Vergara; Juan Anzaldo Meneses, Juan Carlos Dávalos Alcántar, Juan Carlos Masón, Juan Javier Reta Némiga, Juan Luis Segura Cortés, Juan Manuel Guti Jime, Juan Manuel Pascual Alarcón Sánchez, Juan M. Moreno, Juan Pablo Narváez del Toro, Juan Pablo Nava Gómez, Juan Sera Real, Julio César Tejeda, Justino Galeana Portillo, Karla Barrios Rodríguez, Kátsica Betsabé Mayoral Landa, Laura Mateo González, Leo Osorio Marza, León Chávez Texeiro; Lilia Erika Lemus Flores, Liliana Galaviz López, Liliana García Sánchez, Luis Blanco Téllez, Luis Carlos Velásquez, Luis Muñoz Vásquez, Luz del Carmen Flores Villalva, Manuel Martínez Morales, Marcelino Guzmán Bomel, Marcelo Santos, Margarita Rosas, Margarita Villanueva, Maria Antonia Mora Brito, Ma. De Jesús Cisneros, María del Carmen Banda, María de la Cruz Jaimes García, Maria del Rocío Juárez Nogueira, Marco Antonio Salazar, María Maraña, Marlen Castro Pérez Maria, Noaly Kullick, María Valdés Valdés, Mario Sánchez, Marifé García López, Marisol Valenzuela Lara, Marlene Hernández López, Marta Piña, Martín González, Mauricio Ocampo Campos, Mayra Ledesma Arronte, Michel Inzunza Beltrán, Miguel Angel Wong Soto, Miguel Jiménez Soto, Miriam Lunar, Mirna Valdés Viveros, MoJairo Guarneros Sosa, Mónica Hernández, Monika Mena, Montserrat Balcorta Sobrino, Monsserrat Sánchez Moreno, Nada Jabalí, Nicolás López Cruz, Nicte-Há Dzib Soto, Oliverio Castillo Canche, Omar Juárez Vazquez, Oralba Castillo Nájera, Pablo Maldonado, Pablo Medrano, Palemon Suastegui, Patricia Parga, Patricia de Oteyza, Paulina Fernández, Petra Toscazo, Piere López, Porfirio Lapa Muñoz, Prisicila Valenzuela Moreno, Quirino Santiago, Rafael Chávez Rivera; Rafael Encarnación Faustino, Rafael Rubén Borbon Sequeiros, Rafael Sevilla Zapata, Ramón Vera Herrera, Raúl Zibechi, Raymundo Flores Delgadillo, René Torres Bejarano; Ricardo Avila Anzures, Ricardo Netzahuatl, Ricardo Ramírez, Rita Schwarzbeck Morales, Roberto Mellado, Rocío Landi, Rocío Vivar Soriano, Rodolfo Chan, Rogelio Hernández, Rogelio Hernández Sánchez, Rogelio Marcial Vázquez, Romeo López Camacho, Rosa María Moreno Ramírez, Rosalba Campos Chávez, Rosalía López Paniagua, Rubén Darío Silva Morales, Saltiel Rodríguez, Samantha Barrón González, Sandra Sánchez Palacios, Santiago Bernabé Socorro, Sara Trejo Ocaña, Sebastián Gómez Pétersen, Sylvia Zamudio Vega, Sonia Vázquez, Susana Etchegoyen, Susana Esmeralda Cervantes Reyes, Tadeo Leyva López, Tito Fernando Piñeda Verdugo, Tonatiuh Ramírez Rocha, Uriel Alonso Santos, Verónica Munier, Vicente Torres Lucena, Víctor Ariel Bárcenas Delgado, Víctor García Olmedo, Víctor Hernández Zamudio, Victor Manuel González, Wendy Pantoja, Xarlo Etxezaharreta, Xavier Pin Vázquez, Ximena Alvarez Heduán.

If you wish to add yourself to this declaration send your name and school, state or country, or the complete name of your organization to lista_jra[at]yahoo.com.mx

NOTE 1: The majority of those who signed this text are adherents to the Sixth Declaration of the Lacandón Jungle, nevertheless there are also some collectives, organizations and people here who are not.

NOTE 2: This is only a small part of who makes up the Other Campaign

Read More!

Intergalactic Class #4 w/ Liner Notes

The questions we have about elections...

Gustavo Esteva's recent piece (a call to action to defend the zapatistas) in La Jornada has been translated into English... and without further ado, here is info on the concluding Intergalactic class:

CLASS #4 of
ENTER THE INTERGALACTIC:
ZAPATISMO IN THE US & THE WORLD

INTRO: Layout agenda for class and focus on US context

ELECTIONS and ORGANIZING FOR RADICAL CHANGE:
Since elections (especially presidential elections) are what the mainstream media and, relatedly, many of the folks around us are buzzing about these days, it seemed necessary to start here for our discussion of applying what we've learned in the first 3 sessions of the class to our context in the USA. The things we covered leading up to this last class are a) some history of zapatistas and global struggles, b) some world systems analysis of our current conditions, c) the zapatistas' current transnational -other campaign- and global -zezta internazional- activities and the actors involved, and d) some readings from pro-obama movement and anti-obama craze perspectives as well as some ideas for what zapatismo is looking like right now in USA. With that frame, we moved into...

Activity #1: Elections

I put up five signs around the room. Each sign said one of the following:
- "Voting for Obama"
- "Voting for a 3rd Party"
- "Voting and organizing for Obama"
- "Building an alternative that directly responds to the electoral process"
- "Not Voting"

I asked people to go and stand by the sign that most represented what they would actually be doing in the next five months related to the elections. Not what they think should be done but what they are actually going to do. After having a conversation to clarify what each of the positions means to the group -and people agreed that the options provided were sufficient-, people took their places.

Over half the group stood under the "Voting for Obama" sign and the remaining people were scattered on or between the signs for "Not Voting" and "Building an alternative that directly responds to the electoral process."

Standing in our different places, I facilitated a conversation between the participants around why this is what they were actually doing and how that relates to what we've learned in the class.

We then came back together as a whole group and discussed what we think was going to happen if Obama becomes our next president (figuring that we already had an idea of what a John McCain presidency would look like). What will happen on the day he is elected? What will happen on his first day in office? What will happen after he's been in office for 2 years? Amongst other things, this was an opportunity to talk about the different approaches and impacts of recent elections in Latin America.

Activity #2: Organizing for Radical Change

Again, I put up five signs around the room. Each sign said one of the following:
- joining or building a revolutionary organization
- building alternatives to the capitalist system
- not doing sh*t
- defending the gains of past struggles
- pressuring governments or corporations to improve conditions

Similar to the prior activity, I asked people the question, "What political work are you actually going to be doing in the next 5 months not related to the elections?" Again we clarified what each category meant and I encouraged folks to choose the sign that best represented what they will be doing (and letting them know they'll get a chance to clarify in discussion).

There were people grouped under every option. This led to another facilitated discussion around what we are doing and why. Questions such as "What do we think will make the kinds of changes we want to see?," "What are the stories that inform these thoughts?," and "What gives our work coherency and direction?" were put out to guide the conversation.

CLOSURE:

I concluded the session (and the class!) with some thoughts - I can't remember all of them but they were genius(!) and might have included some summary of observations made about:

-THE NATION-STATE: It is a "machine of machines" and we should not imagine that it is either sovereign or just one thing; We can have a nuanced approach to dealing with state power; We should contextualize state power alongside other forms of "power over" such as multinational political-economic organizations and transnational corporations; What are the differences and similarities between a movement having control of the Bolivian government and a movement in control of hundreds of thousands of acres in Chiapas?

-CHARISMATIC LEADERS: Yes, Barack Obama and Subcomandante Marcos are both charismatic leaders... what are the similarities and differences? What are the strengths and weaknesses of charismatic leaders in movements for radical democracy and people power?

-POLITICS: In their pamphlet Feliz Año Cabrones, El Kilombo Intergaláctico make this observation on what the zapatistas have taught us about politics:

Perhaps one of the most important things the Zapatistas have taught us is that holding a position or having an opinion is not doing politics. Part of what has been considered the EZLN’s talent for innovation and infinite ability to surprise us is their drive to constantly abolish themselves and become something else. They never build a fort around what they have won or established, but instead open it up, expose it to the eyes and opinions of the world around them, and allow it to transform once again through that contact and connection to a diverse reality. They never stay the same, never allow their practices to become static, and in that sense, never allow power to accumulate or isolate or sit in one place. That movement, that constant transformation, is a commitment to politics—politics as movement that constantly reopens the decision-making power of the community and the possibility for acting on one’s own collective life. They have taught the left that that dogmatism of idea and practice, the insistence on an ideology or model that transcends history and the decision of those in the present, always accompanied by a refusal to move, re-analyze, change, adapt, transform, is, in fact, a conservatism.

-PRACTICE: The folks from El Kilombo also lay out a four-step process for changing the world today in the Introduction essay to their self-published book "Beyond Resistance: Everything." The steps are:

1. Encounter
2. Assemble
3. Create
4. Rebel
   

Many of us jump to steps 3 and 4 without recognizing the importance of steps 1 and 2. The ENCOUNTER is the practice of opening up oneself, and a groups experience, to come in contact with other people and other collective experiences. It is through this process that we form the social fabric necessary for collective action. To ASSEMBLE is to build those mechanisms through which a group can discuss, make decisions, and take collective action... which leads us to steps 3 and 4!

I concluded by flipping the well known June Jordan quote "We are the ones we have been waiting for" and posing the question to the group, "Are we going to become the ones we've been waiting for?"

HANDOUTS

#1 - Information & Knowledge (this was links to how people could continue getting zap info)

EZLN Intergalactic Commission (Spanish)

EZLN Sixth Commission (Spanish)

The Narco News Bulletin (7 Languages)

EZLN Communiques (English/Spanish)

Chiapas Indymedia (English/Spanish)

De Tod@s Para Tod@s (English/Spanish)

Zapagringo (RJ’s Blog)
zapatista-inspired rebellion on Turtle Island and throughout the galaxy…

Radio Insurgente | la voz de los sin voz, voz del EZLN (Spanish)

Regeneración Radio (Spanish)

Palabra EZLN (Spanish)

Mujeres y La Sexta (Spanish)

La Otra para Nin@s (Spanish)

#2 - List of Adherents (Who is involved in this Zezta Internazional?)

Some Sixth Declaration Adherents in the USA

Coalition of Immokalee Workers
-Immokalee, Florida-

El Kilombo Intergaláctico
-Durham, North Carolina-

La Otra Chicago
-Chicago, Illinois-

L.A. Otra Campaña
-Los Angeles, California-

Movement for Justice in El Barrio
-East Harlem, New York City-
movementforjusticeinelbarrio[at]yahoo.com
movimientoporjusticiadelbarrio[at]yahoo.com

South Central Farmers
-Los Angeles, California-

Some International Adherents and Affiliated Struggles

La Via Campesina (English/Spanish/French)

MST – Brazil’s Landless Workers Movement of Brazil
mstbrazil.org (English)

Indigenous Encuentro of the Americas
encuentroindigena.org (Spanish)
leftturn.org/?q=node/922 (Vicam Declaration in English)

Womyn’s Encuentro
zapagringo.com/2008/02/womyns-encuentro-reportback.html (links to 3 reportbacks in English)

Europa Zapatista (many languages)

International Campaign in Defense of El Barrio
leftturn.org/?q=node/1061 (English)

#3 - Statement in Solidarity with the Zapatistas

#4 - Class evaluation
1. How did you hear about this class?
2. Did the class meet your expectations?
3. If you answered no to question 2, in what ways did it not meet your expectations?
4. What did you learn?
5. How will what you learned in this class help you/us?
6. If you could teach this class in the future, what would you leave the same? What would you change? What would you add or delete?

Mix CD - And here, finally, are the liner notes!

1) Mano Negra/Viva Zapata

Mano Negra is a seminal band that blended a variety of sounds into something they called patchanka. Manu Chao headed up the outfit until they disbanded after a legendary tour hopping trains through Colombia. La Mano Negra was also the name of an alleged anarchist organization said to have been born in the mountains of Southern Spain in late 1800's.

This song "Viva Zapata" opens Mano Negra's final studio album, "Casa Babylon," released in 1994 (the same year as the Zapatista uprising). Manu Chao has been a supporter of the zapatistas ever since... in classic intergalactic fashion, this song features lyrics in french, spanish, and english... and i'm pretty sure the English voice is that of Jello Biafra of Dead Kennedys fame!

2) King Mafrundi/Hasta Siempre

Label mates of Mano Negra, King Mafrundi lent this cover of Carlos Puebla's 1965 classic to a fundraiser album for the zapatistas called "Detras de Nosotros, Estamos Ustedes" ("Behind Us, We Are You"). A lot of King Mafrundi's other work is sung in Wolof, a West African language.

Aside from it being on a zapatista benefit album, I also thought it fitting to include here a song dedicated to that figure that inspired so many in the last great wave of uprisings throughout the planet... And just as the zapatistas' Sixth Declaration says that "sometimes the people take up a name in order to say they are taking up a flag", some people simply say "'68" when referring to that great global circulation of struggles that Che helped to ignite. Here are the lyrics, in their original Spanish as well as a score of other languages including English.

3) Manu Chao/Luna Y Sol

The first of two songs here from Manu Chao. Back to back, "Luna Y Sol" and "Por El Suelo" are bridged by the voice of neo-zapatista spokesperson Subcomandante Marcos reading the words of Emiliano Zapata from his "Zapatista Manifesto in Náhuatl." These words also formed the introduction to the neo-zapatistas' Fourth Declaration of the Lacandon Jungle, which was released in January of 1996. Here is an English translation of that manifesto and declaration.

The zapatistas' Fourth Declaration announced the formation of the Zapatista Front of National Liberation, or FZLN, which was a national, civilian formation which lasted from 1996 until 2005 when it was dissolved to become part of the Other Campaign. It was the FZLN that was at the 1998 founding of the Peoples' Global Action network. With the release of their Sixth Declaration in the summer of 2005, the zapatistas proposed the launch of a new process of global organization and coordination that has since then been dubbed the Zezta Internazional.

Here are the lyrics to "Luna Y Sol" in Spanish and English.

4) Manu Chao/Por el suelo

Here are the lyrics to "Por el suelo" in Spanish and English and it speaks for itself. Although born in France, Manu Chao is of Galician and Basque heritage (regions within the Spanish State). His parents fled to Paris during the fascist regime of Franco. Manu is a friend to people struggling for freedom world-wide and there are many, many stories...

I can remember seeing images of Manu Chao performing in the middle of street-fighting People's Global Action protests in Brazil. I also remember when some friends of mine hung out with him after a concert here in Brooklyn, NY. He and his band mates treated them with respect and humility. Manu Chao has offered his support to Sista II Sista and Movement for Justice in El Barrio, two groups here in New York City.

5) Rage Against the Machine/War Within a Breath

Here in the USA, the biggest music group to carry the zapatista flag has gotta be Rage Against the Machine. Even at their Coachella reunion earlier this year, the black flag with the red star was hanging behind them. This song brings the rage, of course, of the January 1st, 1994 uprising.

6) Flor del Fango/Himno Zapatista

This is the official anthem of the zapatistas, performed by a band based -surprisingly- in Switzerland. Here are the lyrics in Spanish and English.

7) Lila Downs/Smog

While reporting on the Other Campaign from Oaxaca City in the first days of 2006, I couldn't help but notice the public buses with huge advertisements for an upcoming Lila Downs concert. She is another artist that has consistently supported struggles in Oaxaca, Chiapas and elsewhere. I have been told that this song is a response to the 1997 massacre of 45 members (mostly women and children) of the indigenous Catholic pacifist organization "Las Abejas" at Acteal. Referred to as the Acteal Massacre, they were murdered by paramilitaries who targeted them because of their support for the zapatistas. The massacre became a rallying point in mobilizations to defend the zapatistas.

8) Quetzal/Todos Somos Ramona

This song flips the 1995 rallying cry of "Todos Somos Marcos" ("We Are All Marcos"), which was used during the mobilizations to stop the Mexican governments invasion of zapatista territories after simulating an "unmasking" of Subcomandante Marcos on national television. Here we get a song lifting up the name of Comandanta Ramona, one of the most well know zapatistas who led the struggle for the Zapatista Revolutionary Law for Women (which was passed in 1993) as well as the charge on San Cristobal de Las Casas on January 1st, 1994. She was also the first zapatista leader to appear publicly outside of Chiapas, traveling to the founding meeting of the National Indigenous Congress in Mexico City in October of 1996 (check out this video to see the reception she got as well as footage of her from many other occasions). After a decade-long struggle against kidney cancer, she passed away on January 6, 2006.

Quetzal is a prominent chicano band from East L.A. that actively engages in struggles for social justice. "Todos Somos Ramona" was released on their first album from 1998.

9) Olmeca/Labios Del 6xto Sol

Following in the footsteps of Rage Against the Machine and Quetzal, Olmeca is yet another artist from the Los Angeles music scene to carry the zapatista flag. Although not as well known as the album single "Batalla" (peep the video here to see the fantastic music video), "Labios Del 6xto Sol" starts off Olmeca's first solo album with zapatista music and voice...

Olmeca also kicks off a line of artists here (Rebel Diaz, Spiritchild, and Ashanti Alston) who are or have been affiliated with Estación Libre, a US-based people of color network in solidarity with the zapatistas.

10) Rebel Diaz/Otr@ Guerriller@

There's a lot to say about Rebel Diaz and I'm not sure where to start. Maybe you can just listen to this song and check out their website. Heroes in Chicago and the Bronx, Rebel Diaz are truly engaged artists. Two members, G1 and Rodstarz, were arrested while doing a little impromptu Copwatch in the Bronx on the day Intergalactic Class #3 was being held... Elliott Liu has written up an analysis of the wave of repression hitting radical activists of color who are directly addressing the police violence in their communities.

11) Spiritchild/track #6 from Zapatistas EP

Spiritchild is another tireless artist and organizer living in the Bronx. Again, I don't even know where to start... check him out!

12) Fermin Muguruza/Brigadistak

Most people in the states don't know who Fermin Muguruza is, but he's huge in Europe, Latin America and elsewhere. I first picked up a tape of his in 2002 in Mexico City at the "Rincon Zapatista", a store ran by supporters of the zapatistas - the office of the FZLN was upstairs. "Brigadistak" was the title track to what a found to be a great album. Performed almost entirely in Euskara, the language of the Basque people, one can still somehow get an idea of what the music is about. The pictures above each track on the cassette tape packaging helped too... this song opens with a zapatista call for internationals to continue coming to stay with them in their communities.

A close friend of Manu Chao, Fermin Muguruza has been persecuted in Spain for his active support of the Basque struggle for independence. There has been massive support for the zapatista struggle from "Euskal Herria" (or "Basque Country")... in late 2002, Subcomandante Marcos engaged in an unfortunate initiative and exchange with the Basque struggle and related actors that I will detail in a later post...

I met Fermin Muguruza earlier this year when I came home to find him sitting in my living room! He had come in to town to visit his friends Mahmoud, Suhell and Tamer of DAM, a featured group in Slingshot Hip Hop - the film about Palestinian Hip Hop that our housemate Jackie Reem Salloum made and that we all worked on (check out the new trailer). Needless to say, we had some good talks about the zaps and the Other Campaign...

13) Ashanti Alston/track #2 from Zapatistas EP

There's not a lot I can say about Ashanti that I haven't already said... check out these two posts 1,2... and listen here to what he has to say! This track comes from the Zapatistas EP, a project of Movement in Motion and Estación Libre that includes the Spiritchild song featured on this mix, as well as music from Rodstarz of Rebel Diaz, an interview with Karl Jagbandhansingh, and a bunch of other folks I can't remember right now...

14) Mayor Anamaria Y P18/La Lucha Sigue

Just as this mix opens with a frenetic track from Mano Negra evoking the spirit of Emiliano Zapata, I figured it would be appropriate to end with this track featuring zapatista Major Ana Maria's opening address to the 1996 Intercontinental Encuentro for Humanity and Against Neoliberalism (the first Intergalactic!). Even more appropriate because the song is arranged by "P18," a collaboration between former members of Mano Negra, a Parisian DJ, and a family of musicians from Cuba...

Read More!

Intergalactic Class #3

The Dymaxion Map of the Earth

Below is a description of the class we held two weeks ago - with a focus on the global organizing and theorizing that has come out of the zapatistas' Sixth Declaration of the Lacandon Jungle. Keeping this in mind, La Jornada just published a piece by Gustavo Esteva that rings the alarm bell for Mexico to mobilize NOW in defense of the zapatistas or face the devastating nation-wide consequences of an armed conflict in Chiapas... here's the article in Spanish.

CLASS #3 of
ENTER THE INTERGALACTIC:
ZAPATISMO IN THE US & THE WORLD

INTRO: Layout agenda for class and focus on global context of struggle for today

ICEBREAKER: Who said this quote?

The Quote:
"If human beings should be discovered on Mars or Venus, we would then discuss the matter of uniting with them and forming a united front."

Class puts out possible answers or ask questions that might help them figure it out.

Answer: Mao Tse-tung (surprise!) - from his speech at the first session of the preparatory meeting for the Eighth National Congress of the Chinese Communist Party in 1956, "Strengthen Party Unity and Carry Forward Party Traditions.

Explanation of Activity: The zapatistas are often held up as a completely new way of doing politics and used as a counter-point to other left traditions. While the zapatistas are, indeed, innovating and building an other way of doing politics, they draw from and honor their past. Although they do not share some of Mao's ideas -such as the notion that "Political power grows out of the barrel of a gun"- one of the traditions they do come out of is one that draws on the ideas of Che Guevara and Mao Tse-tung. I also chose this quote in particular to demonstrate how even some of the zapatistas seemingly more "far out" ideas are not, in fact, "new." (Thanks to Kolya for finding and sending along this quote!) It's with this in mind that we would go on to explore the homework assignment...

GROUP SUMMARY AND DISCUSSION OF THE READING

The homework for this class was Kolya Abramsky's "The Bamako Appeal and The Zapatista 6th Declaration: Between Creating New Worlds and Reorganizing the Existing One." Because it was a lengthy piece, I figured it would be good for us to summarize and discuss the contents of the reading as a big group.

With the chalkboard divided up into three columns (zapatistas/sixth declaration, world social forum/bamako appeal, other) we attempted to list out as a group some of the main observations made in the reading regarding the proposals for global coordination coming out of the zapatistas' Sixth Declaration of the Lacandon Jungle as well as the Bamako Appeal coming from some people involved with the World Social Forum process. The "other" column was left for those observations made that refer to neither or both proposals, such as what may be missing from both or information on what is going on in the world that would impact any such proposal.

This resulted in a pretty lively discussion of, amongst other things, forms of power and how those forms of power are constituted today (such as power over vs power to, or the power of different nation-states today in relation to a century or even 50 years ago).

SMALL GROUP EXPLORATIONS AND PRESENTATIONS: Who is the Intergalactic?

With a smaller group of participants (16) than our first two sessions (30 each), we were able to divide the class into four groups of 4. Each group was given a document from some kind of participant in this global network coming out of the zapatistas' Sixth Declaration (usually referred to as the "Zezta Internazional" -or "Sixth International"- although the "Intergalactic" also still gets thrown around a bit).

The four groups/documents (one for each group) used were:

* La Via Campesina: "What is La Via Campesina" and "Our Members"
- Representing as many as 150 million people worldwide, La Via Campesina (The Peasant Way) is arguably the world's largest independent social movement organization. Since the zapatistas released their Sixth Declaration of the Lacandon Jungle in June of 2005, La Via Campesina has been very active in different initiatives and gatherings coming out of its international proposals. In March of 2007, La Via Campesina's Global Campaign for Agrarian Reform enthusiastically joined the World Campaign for the Defense of Autonomous Indigenous and Peasant Land and Territory in Chiapas, Mexico and the World. In July of 2007, La Via Campesina sent an extensive delegation to participate in the zapatistas' 2nd Encounter of the Zapatista Peoples with the Peoples of the World - delegates from Brazil, Korea, India, the USA, Madagascar, Indonesia, Bolivia, Basque Country, the Dominican Republic, Honduras, Ecuador, Thailand, Canada, Guatemala, and -of course- Mexico were scheduled to attend. Unfortunately, the one delegate from Africa (Tsirisoa Rakotonimaro, Leader of the Peasant Confederation of Madagascar) was turned away by the Mexican authorities and, thus, unable to attend the Encuentro. The 3rd Encounter of the Zapatista Peoples with the Peoples of the World -aka "The Womyn's Encuentro"- held from December 28, 2007 to January 1st, 2008 was also attended by an extensive delegation of women from La Via Campesina groups around the world.

* The Encuentro of the Indigenous Peoples of América: "The Vicam Declaration"
- In October of 2007, approximately 547 First Nations delegates met at the first Encounter of the Indigenous Peoples of América, held in Sonora, Mexico. The encuentro was convoked by Mexico's National Indigenous Congress (CNI), the EZLN, and the Kumiai nation. Indigenous peoples from all over the Americas, including lands occupied by the governments of the USA, Canada, Mexico, Guatemala, Nicaragua, the Caribbean, Ecuador, and Paraguay participated in the Encuentro. The Vicam Declaration is the document that came out of this gathering.

* Mexico's National Forum Against Repression: "Organizational Proposal of the Zapatista Army of National Liberation for the National Instancia Against Repression"
- Recognizing the heightened forms of control being imposed on the poor of Mexico, and the connections between these forms and those being developed in the USA and forced upon the people of Iraq, the National Forum Against Repression was initiated in Mexico in June of 2007. This is just one instance of a network with concrete tasks that has surged from the Other Campaign. A product of necessity, the Forum has already yielded results - some of which have been documented at Kristen Bricker's blog "My Word is My Weapon." Although it is a "national" formation in name, it has connected with and mobilized international individuals, groups, and networks.

* Europa Zapatista: "European Caravan to Chiapas in Solidarity with Zapatista Autonomy and the Other Campaign"
- In what could be seen as the European corollary to Mexico's National Forum Against Repression, people from throughout at least 14 countries in Europe have been organizing themselves since at least February of 2008 to act in defense of the Other Campaign and the zapatistas. The European Caravan to Chiapas is one such action that this network has initiated.

After each of the four groups gets a chance to study their respective document, they put together a presentation for the whole group on what they've just learned. They also take a set of colored stars -a different color for each group- and use them to mark the places on the Dymaxion map where the struggle their presenting is taking place. The groups presenting on La Via Campesina and Europa Zapatista gave more theatrical presentations whereas the groups presenting on the Encuentro of the Indigenous Peoples of América and Mexico's National Forum Against Repression created visual aids on chart paper for their reportbacks.

HOMEWORK: 3 Short Pieces on Obama & "Be a zapatista Wherever You Are"

The first two readings are from Al Giordano's pro-Obama blog "The Field." He was predicting Obama's rise back in September of last year. He is also the founder of "The Narco News Bulletin" - and has been enthusiastically reporting on the zapatistas for years... so here are a couple posts on Obama from a zapatista inspired journalist.

#1 "No More Drama"

#2 "The Narrative is Not a Story of Technology"

The third is a left critique of Obama's voting record from Ralph Nader's
VP candidate, Matt Gonzalez:

#3 "The Obama Craze"

And lastly, something completely different - in classic professor fashion,
I assigned my own writing!

#4 "Be a zapatista Wherever You Are"

BONUS: Zapaturismo

In honor of our global look at zapatismo and for comedy relief, we explored one way that internationals engage with the zapatistas through Lonely Planet's "Zapatista Revolution" travel video...

We closed the night with a visit to the storied Julius' Bar... thanks to Scout for the find and the history lesson!

Read More!

International Solidarity Statement

With many Europeans getting well organized into a caravan, here comes a statement initiated out of Los Angeles with signatories from throughout the USA and Australia, as well as Spain. If you would like to add yourself to the statement, you can do so in the comments section of this post.

Today's the fourth (and final?) session of the "Enter the Intergalactic" class I've been facilitating at the Brecht Forum here in NYC. Amongst other things, attendees will be receiving a mix CD of zapatista and zapatista-inspired music as a parting gift! I've already posted the agendas for sessions 1 and 2, those for sessions 3 and 4 will come in the weeks ahead...

International Statement in Solidarity with the Zapatistas

To the people of Mexico:
To the EZLN:
To the Other Campaign:
To the International Community:
To the media:

As members of diverse collectives and organizations in different corners of the World, we wish to express our outrage and complete repudiation of the renewed military invasion of Zapatista communities on June 4th 2008.

Numerous reports from the International Civil Commission of Human Rights Observation (CCIODH), the Centre for Political Analysis and Socio-Economic Investigations (CAPISE) and Fray Bartolomé de las Casas Human Rights Center have raised concerns regarding the continued and increasing hostility from the Mexican Government towards the Zapatistas. In these investigations it is clear that this dirty war relies upon a system that involves paramilitary organizations, institutions such as the Agrarian Reform Secretary (SRA) and both Federal (PAN) and State (PRD) Governments, as well as the military occupation surrounding Zapatista territory since 1994.

The Mexican Army’s decision to invade La Garrucha, Rancho Alegre (known as Chapuyil), Hermenegildo Galeana and San Alejandro represents more than the violation of the Dialogue, Conciliation and Peace in Chiapas Law (1995), the Mexican Constitution (Article 29), the American Human Rights Declaration (Articles 21 and 29b) and the International Civil and Political Rights Convention (Articles 14 and 27). It also represents a change in the strategy against the Zapatistas. In view of this, we are extremely concerned for the physical and physiological integrity of our indigenous Zapatista brothers and sisters. The Mexican Government is attacking the right of indigenous peoples to freely organize by attempting to use the outrageous accusation that the Zapatistas cultivate marijuana. As the Mexican State looks for mechanisms to legitimize open warfare, it is clear that its real objective is the destruction of the Zapatista National Liberation Army (EZLN).

We are certain that the Zapatista demands are made peacefully, that these demands are being organized in conjunction with other indigenous peoples, cities and states across the Mexican Republic following the release of the Sixth Declaration of the Lacandon Jungle, which calls for peaceful civic organization called the Other Campaign. The continued aggression towards Zapatista communities and especially this recent invasion by the Mexican Army demonstrate that that the Mexican Government is unwilling and incapable of resolving popular demands and is reliant on repressive tactics to attempt to extinguish those voices that demand the most basic of rights.

We demand that the Mexican Government, represented by the President Felipe Calderón Hinojosa, immediately withdraw the National Armed Forces strategically deployed in the conflict zone in Chiapas.

We demand that the Chiapas State Government, represented by Juan Sabines Guerrero, stop all acts of aggression and threats by State Police to Zapatista communities.

If the Mexican Government continues to attack Zapatista communities we, the undersigned, will do everything we can to act in solidarity with the Zapatistas and in rejection of the violent and repressive Mexican State.

Partial list of endorsers

Collectives and individuals from La Otra Los Angeles
(Mujeres de Maiz, Danza Mexica Mictlanxiucoatl, Olmeca, ARMA, Los Poets del Norte, Teocintli, Rodrigo Estrada Garcia, East Side Café, detodos-paratodos.blogspot.com, Don Newton, Oscar Navarro) - USA

El Kilombo – Durham, North Carolina, USA

Rare Purpose Collective – Florida, USA

El Colectivo Zapatista de Valencia “El Caragol” – Valencia, Spain

CGT-Comisión Chiapas - Spain

Mutiny Collective – Sydney, Australia

Electronic Disturbance Theater – San Diego, USA

XISPA CON TITA COLECTIVO Chicana Radio Network

Collectives and Individuals from La Otra San Diego
(California Coalition Against Poverty, Colectivo Zapatista San Diego, Colectivo Zapatista Tzajalek 32, San Diego Indymedia, dj lotu5 y otr@s) - USA

Local to Global Justice - Tempe, USA

Mexico-Australia Solidarity Network (MASN) - Sydney, Brisbane, and Melbourne, Australia

Latin American Solidarity Network (LASNET) – Australia

Solidarity Without Borders - New York City, USA

zapagringo.com - New York City, USA

Nottinghamshire Zapatista Solidarity Campaign - UK

Accion Zapatista de Humboldt - USA

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Intergalactic Class #2 w/ Q&A

lead by obeying = class outside!

Below is the agenda we used for session #2 - just as session #1 had the 4WW/zapatista timeline, make sure to check out this week's Q & A section attached here below the agenda!

In other news, La Jornada's Luis Hernández Navarro brings us an excellent piece this week on how once again the "War on Drugs" is being wielded against the dry and drug-free zapatista communities. And speaking of the bogus "War on Drugs," word on the street in Mexico is that we can still beat Plan Mexico! Thanks to Kristen Bricker for translating the former piece and reposting the latter - check out her excellent blog, My Word is My Weapon.

CLASS #2 of
ENTER THE INTERGALACTIC:
ZAPATISMO IN THE US & THE WORLD

INTRO:

A) What we've done so far - see previous post

B) Explain that we will not be going through why capitalism is bad in this class. For those that want to brush up on this, check out the Brecht Forum's 3-Day Intensive Introduction to Marxism - from July 11th through 13th, this year's intensive will be focusing on the global food crisis.

C) Give a layout for the rest of the classes: session #3 will focus heavily on global context and zapatista proposal in light of this and session #4 is where we get down to how we in the class might each best be involved in the "intergalactic."

D) Explain agenda for today

TWO BIG GROUPS - Responses to the zapatistas' Sixth Declaration of the Lacandon Jungle

Class is broken up into two groups of 13 to 15 people that sit in a circle. A facilitator for each group informs them that we are going to each give a two minute response to one of the three questions posed for our homework reading of the Sixth Declaration. Again, the questions are:

a) Why do you think the zapatistas wrote this declaration the way they did?
b) What do the zapatistas think is wrong with the world? What do you think of their assessment?
c) How do the zapatistas propose to change the world? What do you think of their proposal?

The sharing happens "popcorn-style," with people electing to go when they feel ready. The facilitator makes sure everyone goes be the end of the go-around.

FOUR MEDIUM GROUPS - Gathering questions
(in the future I think I might just keep the two big groups above together and gather questions this way so as to save time...)

We split each of our two big groups in half so that we now have four groups of 6 to 8 people. In these medium-size groups, people brainstorm the questions they have regarding both of the homework readings as well as any other questions they may have. People in the groups try to respond to questions that have been raised that they feel they can answer. From those questions that remain unanswered, some questions are selected that the group wants to prioritize.

WHOLE GROUP - Question & Answer

We bring everyone back together and a representative from each of the four previous groups shares the questions they've prioritized for getting answered. The class facilitator (me in this case) collects all of the questions on a chalkboard. When everyone is ready and feels content that some key questions have been raised, I give an animated lecture attempting to respond to as many of the questions raised as possible. CHECK OUT THE Q & A SECTION BELOW!

CLOSING (my friends Ily and Radhika came up with this!)

We ask everyone to wander around until the facilitators shout out a number. Whatever the number is, that's the number of people that need to get into a group. For example, if we shout out "3," than groups of 3 should form. When the groups are formed, the facilitators ask a question - each person has a chance to respond to the question with other people in their group. When everyone has responded we do it again. We did several rounds of this activity and here were a couple of the questions:
- What was one thing you learned today that surprised you?
- What is one way you are planning to share something you've learned today with someone else? With your mother, for example.

Finally, we end by forming a big circle and hold hands. One person in the circle begins to roll towards a person next to them and the whole group rolls up into the shape of a spiral (or caracol) and then we roll back out!

We ended with a bonus viewing of last year's opening video for the Allied Media Conference and a video recap of that year's conference, followed by a plug for folks to get on the bus and go this year.

Afterwards we meandered a bit before settling on some food and drink at the Belgian Beer Bar :-)

Homework: Read Kolya Abramsky's "The Bamako Appeal and The Zapatista 6th Declaration: Between Creating New Worlds and Reorganizing the Existing One" - and don't sweat it if it leaves you feeling a little confused :-)

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MY RESPONSES TO QUESTIONS RAISED IN THE FOUR MEDIUM-SIZED GROUPS...
(I'm in no way a representative of the Zapatista Army of National Liberation [EZLN] or any part of the zapatistas - this is just my attempt to convey or connect folks to information that might be helpful to them in understanding the zapatista movement)

Q: How have health, education, etc. improved compared to government programs?
A: Check out Part II (“A Society to Create”) of El Kilombo Intergaláctico’s “ Feliz Año Cabrones: On the Continued Centrality of the Zapatista Movement after 14 years.”

Q: How are the words and actions of Subcomandante Marcos held accountable to the desires of the EZLN and the zapatista communities? What is the zapatistas’ process of self-reflection, of assessing their challenges and the distance between their visions and their reality?
A: The short answer to the first part of this question is that Subcomandante Marcos gets his charge and is accountable to the Indigenous Clandestine Revolutionary Committee (CCRI). The CCRI is an elected group of individuals representing the zapatista communities. These representatives command the military structure and are, in turn, controlled by their communal assemblies. For more info, you may be interested in checking out this piece "The Origins of the Zapatista National Liberation Army" as it offers a peek behind how the EZLN became a bit of a different kind of political-military organization. I think I can only answer the second part of this question by referring to the structure of the communities. This stuff gets hashed out in community assemblies where stories are told, problems discussed, decisions taken, etc. – these assemblies can last for days if they need to.

Q: What does unity or coalition mean to the zapatistas? How does it work with people coming from different places?
A: One interesting response to this comes from Al Giordano’s response to John Ross’ question, “Is the Other Campaign really a collective endeavor?,” which is part of the piece “John Ross’ Twenty Questions for Big Al, the Other Campaign, and the Zapatista Army of National Liberation”

Q: What do the zapatistas want from me?
A: I recently wrote a piece called “Zapatismo and Solidarity,” might be a good place to start.

Q: What is the pace of what we’re doing?
A: What is the speed of dreams?

Q: What is the history of the drama between the zapatistas and the PRD (“center-left” party in Mexico)?
A: Short version – PRD and zapatistas worked “side by side” after the zapatistas’ 1994 uprising but by 2001 the PRD had collaborated with the other political parties in passing what the zapatistas refer to as racist and neoliberal changes to the Mexican Constitution restricting indigenous rights. This is instead of the set of agreements on indigenous rights and culture (San Andres Accords and COCOPA) to which the Mexican government and the zapatistas had signed many years earlier. In 2004, the PRD government of the Zinacantán municipality in Chiapas cut off water to zapatistas living there. While neighboring zapatistas traveled to bring their compañeros water, they were shot at by PRD members… eventually we get to the 2006 elections with the PRD’s Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador (AMLO) favored to win the presidency. AMLO’s campaign team was chock full of people from the former ruling party (PRI) and this was one of many things that the zapatistas pointed out before and during the election cycle. They didn’t tell people not to vote but rather talked about what the candidates were really about and encouraged them to join with the zapatistas in building another movement (the Other Campaign). Today the PRD controlled government of Chiapas is enthusiastically helping to build what may be the largest counter-insurgency effort yet against the zapatistas.

Q: How genuine is the simplicity of the Sixth Declaration of the Lacandon Jungle? Is content lost in this simplicity?
A: Don’t really know where to go with this one…

Q: Why do the zapatistas talk about defending the “Patria” (Homeland)?
A: The Other Campaign is a movement to liberate Mexico “from below and to the left.” That being said, the zapatistas are very clear that they are talking about a Mexico where many worlds fit – including, for example, all the different indigenous peoples and their respective forms of organization. So, whereas Mexican national identity and culture provides a set of stories, identifications, etc. that is powerful and useful to engage with in building a movement against the imposed monoculture of global capitalism, the Other Campaign is not set out to reinforce the sort of narrow nationalism we are used to in the USA. In fact, the Other Campaign is itself transnational. Think of it as queering nationalism… also check out Ashanti Alston’s “Beyond Nationalism But Not Without It.”

Q: What is up with 2010 and 2012? How important are these dates to the Zapatistas? Where is the spirituality of the zapatistas and what kind is it?
A: 2010 is the 100 year anniversary of the Mexican Revolution and the 200 year anniversary of Mexican Independence. Thus it becomes a powerful reminder and proof to the Mexican people that their destiny can be in their own hands if they seize it. The zapatistas are asking people what they are planning to do in 2010 – it’s pretty clear that they would like to see a national uprising in which people directly seize the means of production. It’s less clear what importance 2012 has within the zapatista movement although the mayan calendar does seem to play an important role in when certain actions are taken and/or how actions are communicated. Although the EZLN itself is secular, many zapatistas identify as Catholic or Protestant Christians. There also seems to be a whole lot of other stuff going on too.

Q: How are documents written?
A: I'm inclined to say that whoever signed it, wrote it. The stuff Subcomandante Marcos is writing or saying is driven by the mandate he’s being given by the Indigenous Clandestine Revolutionary Committee (CCRI) – he is recallable by this body as well. The Sixth Declaration of the Lacandon Jungle was written by the CCRI and adhered to by over 98% of the zapatista community-members.

Q: How did LGBTQ struggles become so connected to the zapatista struggle?
A: Check out a post I wrote a little over a year back called “Zapatismo and Queer Struggles.”

Q: What are the national structures of solidarity between the Other Campaign, the EPR (Ejercito Popular Revolucionaria), the Oaxacan struggle, etc?
A: The Other Campaign is, itself, a national structure of solidarity. Many within the Oaxacan struggle, for example, are also a part of the Other Campaign. Relatedly, there is the National Forum Against Repression – check out the EZLN’s organizational proposal for this ongoing initiative. The EZLN and EPR have had a strained relationship for a long time now but recently there was some verbal support from the EZLN of EPR demands for the freedom of two of their political prisoners. The Other Campaign and the Popular Assembly of the Peoples of Oaxaca (APPO), which also includes Oaxacan-based adherents to the Other Campaign, have coordinated actions together.

Q: How do we fight for autonomy in a globalized world?
A: Get a copy of El Kilombo Intergaláctico’s book “Beyond Resistance: Everything” and check out the Introduction called “Zapatismo: A Brief Manual on How to Change the World Today.”

Q: What options do we have within the USA for alternative lifestyles?
A: I think the book I mentioned in the previous question, “Beyond Resistance: Everything” by El Kilombo Intergaláctico really best gets at this question.

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