Yorkshire Zapatistas - Food Film and Fiesta
Event date: September 30, 2010 19:00
Published by group:
West Yorkshire Zapatistas
Tagged as: chiapas coffee solidarity yorkshire zapatista
Cafe/Library Space, Top Floor, 1in12 Club, Albion Street, Bradford City Centre, BD1 2LY
This event is for members and guests.
Click on a thumbnail for a slideshow view
A night of music, film and food at the 1in12 Club in solidarity with the Zapatistas, a Mexican indigenous revolutionary group based in Chiapas, in the south of Mexico. The group started in 1994 and now live in an autonomous area of the country not governed by the Mexican government.
There will be delicious food from the cafe, short films about the Zapatista movement in the library, Zapatista coffee for sale and music on the bar floor. A great place to find out more about the Zapatistas, who they are and what they're doing and generally what on earth it's all about if you've not really heard of them before. Then make some new friends or hang out with old ones and have a bit of a dance and maybe some cheap locally made beverages from the bar! You'll be wanting to find out about our upcoming actions in support of the Zapatistas too, so make sure you venture up to the top floor for that.
New people are always welcome to join our collectively run group and join in with whatever skills or areas of interest they have. Have a chat with us!
Links:
Find out more about the group here.
Zapatista stuff on Radio Interference!
Listen to the very first Radio Interference show for a bit on the Zapatistas.
Contact email: Westyorks-chiapas-solidarity@lists.aktivix.org
Additions
Supporting a peaceful Zapatista struggle
Published: September 27, 2010 01:48
by
nika
I think that the Zapatistas used their weapons to fight against the Mexican government for only a short time in 1994, when their resistance took shape as a movement. In 2006 they also made a more specific commitment to non-violence/weapon free movement and the image of a Zapatista with a gun isn't really used now as it's no longer accurate.
It is up to you if you want to support it or not.
I feel it is more important to support a movement which may have used weapons for a short time instead of sitting back, doing nothing and letting the status quo, and the Mexican government, carry on killing people with the weapons they've always used. If I do nothing I am supporting the maiming and killing of people with weapons.
How to support peace
Published: September 27, 2010 22:53
by
Zapahippy
Hi Disarmer,
Thanks for your concern. You are right to question whether zapatista solidarity is actually prolonging conflict or funding arms and guns.
The reality is solidarity with the zapatistas is one of the most transparent ways of supporting people facing extreme deprivation, racism and state-sponsored repression. This is because solidarity groups can bring their support directly to the communities affected and be a partner in the projects that they support.
Examples of this are Kiptik, a Bristol based group that work in water projects and other small scale projects (http://www.kiptik.buz.org/english/home_english.htm) and the Edinburgh Chiapas Solidarity Group who have been twinned with an autonomous municipality in Chiapas since 2004. At the request of the zapatista communities the Edinburgh group have fundraised enough to build a primary health clinic in a remote village (you can see the story here: http://www.edinchiapas.org.uk/node/6). The edinburgh group was able to access the plans for the clinic and able to see exactly where the money they had raised was being spent.
Solidarity volunteers often go to Chiapas to act as Peace Observers in communities that face attack by paramilitary groups, as an international presence can bring down the threat.
I suppose the most important point is that the EZLN, (the Zapatista Army of National Liberation) has committed itself to using the word as their weapon. Spreading the word that people organising themselves can be the greatest solution to people's needs is more powerful than a bazooka, and that is what is so threatening to the power of the state and international capital. As pointed out by Nika, they haven't used their guns since 1994, though they have been continually provoked through evictions, kidnappings and assassinations. I think that is the biggest proof that they are a force for peace.
Come along on Thursday and we can chat more!
Upcoming events feed
armed revolution
If I want to support Zapatista communities, but I don't want to pay for them to buy guns to kill and mutilate other people with, is that possible?