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
Comments (6 of 6)
Jump To Comment: 1 2 3 4 5 6sounds 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
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.
sin é.
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.
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
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.
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