Helping the Zapatistas

[D_Bokk]

I like the EZLN and am quite interested in how I would go about helping them in their cause. All I've found was this link from their website:
http://www.ezln.org/archivo/fzln/help.html

I was wondering if there was anything more or a website that has upcoming pro-Zapatista protests. Thanks.

[Clarksist]

I would say definately send money. Other than that, I believe educating people about them would be best.

Mostly, I've found its an indigenous peoples of mexico sort of thing.

[D_Bokk]

In the "Sixth Declaration of the Lacandona Jungle," they mentioned uniting "workers, farmers, students, teachers, and employees... the workers of the city and the countryside."

So I think it's a nationial movement at this point.

[Spirit of '94]

Mostly, I've found its an indigenous peoples of mexico sort of thing.

GAH!!!! WHAT?!?!? NO! NO! NO! While technically, most Zapitistas are indigenous Mexicans from Chiapas, the Zapitista MOVEMENT is part of a larger struggle taking place all over the world.

The direct impact of the Zapatista movement (it's ultimate victory or defeat) has the potential to be the single most important Leftist movement (after Chavez, now) of the new century. Even Chavez doesn't unite the worldwide left like the Zapatista's did.

There are a lot of things you can do to help the Zapatistas, the most important of which, of course, is sending money. The Zapatistas went to war because they were not only being denied their rights as Mexicans and Human Beings, but because they have been denied the RESOURCES to change this. They HAVEN'T built a ton of infrastructure, simply because, when you're surrounded by thousands of troops supported by a modern military infrastructure, it's not a good idea to run around using your own guerilla army to build roads. Some progress has been made in Zapatista communities (and I don't mean to make it sound like that progress is insignificant, because it IS significant) in regards to infrastructure, but for the most part, the Zapatistas are still being treated the same as they were pre-1994.

My other advice would be good ole' fashion activism. The pro-Zapatista movement, never all that strong in a grassroots sense, is very weak in the U.S. There isn't a ton of activity going on. A perfect opportunity for you to start a movement! :P

Get friends together, draft letters to your politicians, print fliers and pass them out near at your school and around town, encourage donations. If you get enough interest, plan a protest outside a government office, demanding that they raise awareness of what's happening in Chiapas and demanding an end to American support of repression. Show up, be loud. Let the local news know.

Young people are the ones who seem most interested in the EZLN, mainly because of the power of Marcos' writings. I bet you could get a pretty solid group together if you organize for a little while, at least enough to hold a protest or some kind event to raise funds for the Zapatistas.

If you have any kind peace groups or human rights groups in your area, talk to them. They may have resources that you can use to get the word out about our comrades' struggle.

PM me if you have any questions, or I can be of any kind of help. I'm in the NW United States, but have experience doing some of these kinds of things.

Most importantly, carry the love, dignity and rebel voice of the EZLN in your heart, and spread the message. I know it sounds corny, and I'm not usually so "romantic" about my politics, but the Zapatista movment embodies us all at some level. Their fight is our fight, our fight is their own. Once you start thinking of the struggle as "national Mexican kind of thing", we start losing. Solidarity in mind, heart and body.

[Big Boss]

Money to the movement and awareness to everybody else. That movement is an enormous one and one which I proudly defend by creating awareness. Everything that you wnated to know is pretty much explained in the last post so I think that's it.