New Irish Zapatista solidarity network forming

national | anti-capitalism | news report

Tuesday June 07, 2005 15:10

by Zapatista Ireland

Zap.Ire at hotmail dot com

A few individuals from both the north and south of Ireland inspired by the ideas of the Zapatistas have linked up with a view to establishing a solidarity network. We invite individuals and/or groups to get in touch and share their ideas as it takes collective effort to organise.

Inspired by the revolutionary activities of Emiliano Zapata (1879-1919) the EZLN, an unheard of grass roots organisation seized control of key areas in Chiapas in Southern Mexico in 1994 demanding social reform against foreign neoliberal business interests, the erosion of land rights and civil liberties. After a brief battle with Mexican State troops a ceasefire was declared and negotiations began and are still ongoing. Since the uprising the Zapatistas have consolidated their positions and begun the process of establishing self-autonomous zones despite the presence and perennial interference of some 70,000 state troops.

The philosophical figurehead of the movement is Commandante Marcos, a masked, pipe-smoking visionary with an articulate vision of alternative culture. Zapatista ideas have spread far and wide via the international conferences that originally began in Chiapas in 1996 but it is via the Internet that these ideas have travelled across the world and a massive networking system has arisen.

It has been seen time and again that the social struggles in other parts of the world are one and the same. The mass anti-globalisation and anti-war protests are part of the same struggle as are the indigenous farming struggles and local battles against rampaging capitalism. Herein lies the seed of this mass international movement.

A few individuals from both the north and south of Ireland inspired by these ideas have linked up with a view to establishing a solidarity network. We are aware that other such groups are already in existence but we have made no plans. Rather we invite individuals and/or groups to get in touch and share their ideas as it takes collective effort to organise. What will come of it remains to be seen.

Contact: Zap.Ire@hotmail.com

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Comments (6 of 6)

Zapatista Red Alert

by wingnut

Wed Jun 22, 2005 10:24

zap.ire at hotmail dot com

June 20th - The EZLN, Zapatista Army of National Liberation, has called a red alert. In recent months word has gone out to insurgents and inurgentas and the movement has restructured itself internally. An extensive consultation process is now taking place within the organisation and details of the results will be released to the international community. Whether this is a preparation for defence (the Zapatista communities were attcked in 1995 by Mexican State troops) or preparation for attack remains to be seen. Contact the e-mail for further information.

Zapatista Soccer

by redjade

Sun Jun 12, 2005 16:33

Zapatista Soccer
A hilarious exchange of letters between Subcommandante Marcos and Massimo Moratti, President of the FC Milan football club, arranging a friendly match between the pros and the Zapatistas. Includes the trademark wit of Marcos, a hefty dose of political and social commentary, and some unusual football strategy courtesy of Durito.

Subcommandante Marcos & Massimo Moratti | ZNet
http://www.zmag.org/content/sh owarticle.cfm?SectionID=59&ItemID=7984

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above found at
http://www.lipmagazine.org/mediapicks/archives/2005/06/060705_edition.html

Organise

by properpuppy

Wed Jun 08, 2005 11:55

Here is a web site with some background info for those interested. A meeting will eventually be organised in the hopefully not too distant future. Contact the email address for any further developments/information. Only collective organisation and decision-making will make this work.

Basta!

by :-)

Tue Jun 07, 2005 19:50

sin é.

Meetings and Info...

by Pol

Tue Jun 07, 2005 18:37

I agree with another comment here as regards a meeting or something similar being set up to propose a concrete ethos for such a grass-roots network. Certainly, I for one would be interested in finding out more about the Zapatistas and their sympathisers.

more info please

by soundmigration

Tue Jun 07, 2005 16:52

sounds like a good initative

was wondering if you folks are meeting up anyware, and what sort of solidarity work you'd like to get involved in
thanks

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New Irish Zapatista solidarity network forming

Comments (6 of 6)