Poetry Is A Weapon Loaded With The Future

"What to do in the face of this devastating and overwhelming global reality?

With organization, desire for life, scientific bases and looking to the past to imagine the future, the Zapatistas take new steps in their organizational process, one that continues to be a reference for the world. They invite us to think the unthinkable: a world without capitalism."

Poetry Is A Weapon Loaded With The Future

Mexico's environmental balance sheet in 2024:

"The year 2024 represented the corroboration that in Mexico environmental issues were not a priority for the government of Andrés Manuel López Obrador."

Words, it turns out, did not result in action. And while the new administration looks more promising on paper, the budgets for 2025 do not herald a change.

Pilgrimage in Chenalho Demanding Justice for Murder of Padre Marcelo Pérez

“The new government's campaign promises of security are very strong in the news and on social media, but not in our reality,” parishioners claim.

Abusive Intergovernmental Panel Ruling on Corn and TMEC (USMCA)

The profusion of studies, data and evidence, of technical and scientific aspects that are indispensable to understand the effects of GM corn on human health and the environment is surprising. Equally surprising is the number of references to all kinds of publications, pages, journals, which show the level of detail that is included and considered in the dossier.”

But the United States will disqualify as unscientific everything that does not suit it. It's like Humpty Dumpty says to Alice in Through the Looking Glass, it doesn't matter what is said, what matters is to know who's in charge.

Mexican Countryside, Swimming With Sharks

Staring down the barrel of the New Trump Imperialism, Mexico's dependency on the U.S. for basic foodstuffs comes into sharp focus. With little support for national agricultural production, the fate of the Mexican countryside and campesino livelihoods becomes increasingly precarious. This does not bode well for Mexico as a whole. Sin Maiz, No Hay País

Discovery of 13 Graves with 17 Bodies in Chiapas Highlights Violence of Recent Years in State

Following years of denial by the AMLO administration of the reality of the situation of violence in Chiapas, there finally appears to be some admission by the state authorities that, “There was abandonment by the authorities in charge of security and justice. There was even denial of the problem, they always said that nothing was happening, that everything was fine. And today what we found, those graves, with the bodies, shows that the problem did exist and that the people are not wrong. The people said ‘we are insecure, we are afraid’. And they were not wrong.”

Despite this, nobody in Chiapas is holding their breath expecting that the situation will change for the better anytime soon.

The “Cartel Civil War” Places Mexico as Fourth Country with Most Extreme Conflict Level in the World

“The first thing is to recognize that we are in a country with zones of extreme conflict, where civilians are particularly threatened, and recognize that it is not new, that we have been in this reality for at least 15 years, that there is no point in hiding it, on the contrary, let us face the context, understanding the Mexican particularity. We must understand the flows of arms and drugs in which Mexico is immersed because it has the largest drug and arms market in the northern world. Let us recognize that it is transnational, that not everything is attributable to the Mexican political reality.”

Food Sovereignty

Regardless of what is being claimed, there is no food sovereignty in Mexico. According to Via Campesina, food sovereignty is the right of people to produce their food, in their territory, in a way that reinforces their cultural values and the environment. It should ensure that peasants, family farmers and rural women have the resources they need to produce food, …

‘’How Many Times Have They Declared Us Dead?’’, EZLN Asks on Declaring the Relevance of the Movement

Analysis by Ángeles Mariscal of the event in CIDECI organized by the Zapatistas to mark the 31st anniversary of their armed uprising.

Peaceful Political Struggle with Resistance and Rebellion Is Possible: EZLN

“We discovered two weapons in the peaceful struggle, which are resistance and rebellion. We can achieve what we are going to continue from now on and we can say now that we have seen it, if peaceful political struggle is possible with resistance and rebellion, organization is needed for those two weapons” said Insurgent Sub-commander Insurgente Moisés.

EZLN Celebrates 31 Years of Struggle and Resistance in Chiapas

Following three days of talks at CIDECI on the current direction of the Zapatista movement, they celebrated the 31st anniversary of the uprising with theater, music and dance at Oventic.

EZLN: Struggle for Life and Autonomous Construction

The decision of the Zapatista Army of National Liberation (EZLN) to organize last December 28 and 29 the International Meeting of Rebellions and Resistance, in the Cideci-Unitierra of San Cristóbal de las Casas, to conclude in the caracol of Oventik from December 30 to January 2, 2025, was a very wise one. This, notwithstanding the context of violence in Chiapas …

Corn and Trump: Marked Cards

More on corn and the threats to the Mexican Countryside.
Corn and Trump: Luis Hernández Navarro looks at the recent findings of the T-MEC panel in light of the current geopolitical position of the U.S.

Collapse of Food Self-Sufficiency in Corn.
Ana de Ita shares insight on the domestic policies within Mexico that contribute to the collapse of self-sufficiency in the nation's primary food.

The Crimes of Capitalism: Ecocide and Extermination

Excerpt from Raúl Romero's presentation at the first session of the International Encounters of Resistances and Rebellions.

Preparations for International Zapatista Encounter

On December 28th and 29th, San Cristóbal de Las Casas will host the first session of the International Encounters of Resistance and Rebellion organized by the Zapatista Army of National Liberation (EZLN). On the 30th and 31st, the Zapatista festival and the celebration of the end-of-year dance will take place at the Zapatista Caracol in Oventik. Signed from the mountains …

Militarization To Control The Peoples

''The geography of state violence is exactly the same as colonial violence for five centuries, something that is repeated throughout Latin America, from Guatemala and Mexico to Argentina and Chile. It is evident that this systemic war is directed against indigenous peoples, blacks and peasants. Before it was to steal gold and silver from them, now it consists of clearing territories to turn life into merchandise.''

Displacements and Attacks Reach EZLN Support Bases in Pantelhó

The support bases of the Zapatista Army of National Liberation (EZLN) lost a school, their homes and the offices of the autonomous government of Caracol VIII Jacinto Canek, located in the community of San José Buenavista Tercero, in the municipality of Pantelhó; after the Indigenous Civil Army, the armed wing of the group they call “Los Herrera”, burned their properties and provoked the forced displacement of the inhabitants of the village.

United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (TMEC) Sides with U.S. in GM Corn Dispute Without Evidence That It Is Not Harmful to Health

A trade ruling by a TMEC panel sides with the U.S. against a ban on GM corn decreed by President López Obrador in 2023. The decision took into account none of the evidence of environmental or health impacts presented by civil society organizations or the Mexican government.

Acteal is the House of the Memory of Simon Pedro, and here will live forever the dignified and true word of Padre Marcelo, together with our Martyrs of Acteal.

Communiqué from Las Abejas de Acteal on the 27th Anniversary of the Massacre.

Acteal will always be the heart of the non-violent struggle, Acteal, is the House of the Memory of Simon Pedro, here will live forever the dignified and true word of Padre Marcelo,

Acteal is the House of the Memory of Simon Pedro, and here will live forever the dignified and true word of Padre Marcelo, together with our Martyrs of Acteal.

Increased Borders and Heightened Criminalization of Migration: the Political Production of Violence Towards Immigrant Populations

"First. Migrants are not a threat, nor are they an “invasion.” They are not a “problem.” In fact, migration (and migrant workers) is a timely process that serves the U.S. government and society economically and occupationally."

Arrest of 92 Police Officers Highlights Infiltration of Organized Crime in Chiapas

Following years of AMLO's denial of the seriousness of the cartel war in Chiapas, the recent arrest of 92 police officers is just the tip of the iceberg of the gravity of the situation. Meanwhile, the war continues unabated and nobody in Chiapas is expecting any major changes anytime soon.

Las Abejas Announce Commemoration of Acteal Massacre and Father Marcelo in Chiapas

Las Abejas de Acteal announced a day to commemorate the 27th anniversary of the Acteal Massacre and 32 years of their journey as an organization, as well as to demand justice for the murder of Father Marcelo Perez, who was killed last October 20 in Chiapas.

Inter-American Court of Human Rights Condemns Mexican State for Disappearance of EZLN Support Base Antonio González Méndez

Frayba statement on historic IACHR ruling in the case of the forced disappearance of EZLN support base Antonio González Méndez. It was the state!

Narco-blockades Carried out in Eight Municipalities of Chiapas

Governor orders arrests, evictions and withdrawal of transport concessions for those who participate in these actions. In protest against raids on places where drugs are allegedly distributed and the detention of 30 people, members of organized crime groups forced truck drivers and residents to cross trailers to prevent security forces from entering at least eight municipalities in Chiapas bordering Comitán, …

The Virgin of Guadalupe Between Counter-conquest, Migration and Feminism

As we have seen Guadalupe has made us make a pilgrimage through many themes, although she was conceived in religion, she was always a symbol that belonged more to the people. Her power lies in the fact that Guadalupe-Tonantzin has been claimed for very constant social causes: women, migrants and the conquered who reconquered Spain. She has taught us that “symbols are neither created nor destroyed, only transformed.”

Chiapas Today

Raúl Romero shares a brief history of militarization in Mexico and the evolution of its current expressions in paramilitary groups and organized crime in Chiapas.

Eduardo Ramírez's government begins in Chiapas with the deployment of armored patrols and the "Pakal Immediate Reaction Forces"

Eduardo Ramírez Águilar takes the oath of office as governor of Chiapas amidst the unveiling a new armored anti-crime task force and public outrage over his appointment for Attorney General.

Pantelho, Chiapas, Three Years Under Armed Attack (See Frayba Urgent Action)

This week Frayba made another urgent call to stop the violence by organized crime that is displacing communities in the Highlands of Chiapas. Please sign!

Ángeles Mariscal provides a brief recap of a three-year siege that terrorizes the communities.

NGO Rebellion against Appointment of New Chiapas Attorney General

“His administration was characterized by the excessive use of public force, repression of human rights defenders, arbitrary detentions and torture, events that remain unpunished. It is also added that he did not take the necessary measures to prevent violence against women, resulting in an increase in femicides, despite the Gender Violence Alert in Chiapas.”

The Worst Yet To Come for Migrants in January

“Trump is racist, he wants to impose his project and the Mexican government with President Claudia Sheinbaum is negotiating with him on the issue of migrants. The Migration agents and the National Guard continue with the policy of detaining migrants and the worst is yet to come with the arrival of the new president, who will continue with his plan to militarize the southern border of the United States.”

Together We Face the Storm

To our compañerxs who seek out communication and solidarity with diverse communities and ways of being in a world fraught with division.

To all who defend life against destruction wrought by capitalism and its myriad systems of domination.

As the seasons remind us that yet another year is coming to a close, now is a time to reflect and fortify ourselves. While we might say that 2024 is one for the books (of insanity), it is just one more iteration in a system that cares not for trees, rivers, other-than human creatures or peoples. Whatever we may be feeling in this moment —despair, rage, a desire to flee, or a deep resolve to organize like never before — we are not alone.

PROGRAM OF THE FIRST SESSION OF THE INTERNATIONAL ENCOUNTERS OF RESISTANCES AND REBELLIONS

The Zapatistas announce the program for the First Session of International Encounters of Resistances and Rebellions.

International Encounters of Rebellion and Resistance 2024-2025

The Zapatistas invite us to end the year with a series of events in Chiapas, Mexico.

On the Subject: The Storm and the Day After. Part Eleven: Otroas in the Day After?

Recognizing the power of the otroas in the day after.

On the Subject: The Storm and the Day After - Part Ten: HEALTH ACCORDING TO DOÑA JUANITA.

On health and healing, the struggle of tomorrow, and Palestine.
The Tercios Compas present their second video on First Aid.

On the Subject: The Storm and the Day After. Part Nine: First Aid for the Day After the Storm.

From the Tercios Compas and El Capitan...on First Aid

On the Subject: The Storm and the Day After. Part Eight: Another Day After.

Another day after...the Captain continues.

On the Subject: The Storm and the Day After. Part Seven: Until We Meet Again.

In a corner of the mountain, Old Antonio rolls his cigarette in front of a tentative campfire. Only the dawn listens to his words: “The oldest of our ancestors tell that in the beginning, there was darkness, fog, silence, everything motionless. There were already the earliest gods, the ones who gave birth to the world. But it was not until …

Mexico Has Had a "Failed Strategy" for 20 Years of Militarization: Amnesty International

''The report recounts hard data that demonstrates the “failed strategy” implemented intensively from 2007 to 2024, a period in which “at least 101,933 people have disappeared and 452,254 have been murdered, including 49,100 women, 140 journalists and 221 defenders of territory, land and the environment.”''

41st Anniversary of Foundation of Zapatista Army of National Liberation

November 17th marked the 41st anniversary of the foundation of the EZLN, an organization that continues to evolve and inspire today

Migrant Caravans Speed up in Mexico as Donald Trump Set To Become President

''So far this year, the irregular entry of people into Mexico has doubled, compared to the same period last year. More than 925,000 migrants crossed the borders from January to August, according to official figures. Of the total, more than 108,000 were children and adolescents. Humanitarian organizations are preparing for the number of migrants to continue to increase in the coming months.''

‘On the Mountain’, Preview of Diego Enrique Osorno’s Book

''The port of departure for this book is covered in shadows, among which I try to look at the way in which the national political class took advantage of a supposed war against drugs, driven by the neoliberal logic that was established from the Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) with the United States and Canada, to obtain power by enveloping in death a country bloodier than any Latin American dictatorship of the last century.''

MSF Warns of a “Drastic” Increase in Migrant Caravans on Mexico’s Southern Border

`“The violence to which young people, boys, girls, women and men of all ages are exposed as they pass through Mexico, including kidnappings, extortion or sexual violence, forces them to travel in caravans as a protection mechanism,” denounced Ricardo Santiago, MSF project coordinator in southern Mexico. Santiago asserted that “the caravans are becoming more and more multitudinous,” because if in September they numbered in the hundreds, now the count is in the thousands.`

The Family of Lucio Cabañas, 50 Years after the Assassination of the Guerrilla Leader: “There Was a Clear Order to Exterminate Us”

In June of this year, an independent commission that had been charged by AMLO to investigate the so-called ‘’Dirty War’’ between 1965 and 1990 released a report that documented the atrocities committed by the Mexican government and armed forces. The same commission accused the military and other government bodies of obstructing their investigations.
The ‘’Dirty War’’ was the response of the PRI single-party government of the time to brutally repress all challenges by students, campesinos and indigenous peoples to the regime. One of the many emblematic cases was that of Lucio Cabañas. Less known is the persecution of his entire family, simply for having a surname in common with the legendary guerrilla leader.

Migrants Fear Being Trapped in Chiapas Following Trump’s Victory

''Mexico's southern border was consolidated in October as the most unsafe area in the country, as almost 92% of its inhabitants perceive insecurity amidst the violence of organized crime, according to the National Survey of Urban Public Security (ENSU) of the National Institute of Statistics and Geography (INEGI).''

Schools for Chiapas is an international solidarity organization supporting autonomy in communities in resistance in Chiapas, Mexico. Our work depends on support from people of conscience everywhere.

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