Zapatista Network Call

To the compañer@s in every corner of the so-called US and Canada,

To all the peoples of the continent named America,

To the struggling Peoples of the Global South and the world,

To all the adherents of the Sixth Declaration, the Other Campaign, and the
International Campaign,

To the national and international alternative press

We, the Zapatista Network, are reaching out as a newly emerging “network of
networks” to invite companer@s in the so-called U.S. and Canada to “walk
together” as Zapatista grassroots and community-based groups who support the
Zapatistas and are inspired by Zapatismo. Our intent has been to create
spaces of
encounter so that diverse groups can share ideas, resources and projects
as part
of a larger process to strengthen each collectives’ work, solidarity
efforts, and
rebellion. We also aim to promote and support the formation of new Zapatista
inspired collectives. By saying “network of networks” we propose one of many
overlapping webs of resistance taking place all over the world.

Since January 1, 1994 when the EZLN declared ¡Ya Basta! Mexican and
International
Civil Society have responded in solidarity creating a broad base of
support. The
Zapatistas’ commitment to encounter and dialogue has made it possible to
collectively imagine “a world where many worlds fit.” Some communities
working in
solidarity with the Zapatistas have responded with aid, while others used
direct
action to help halt the military and state repression, drawing attention
to the
low intensity war directed against the Zapatistas. The response to the
Zapatista
rebellion has been unique not only in its diversity but its intensity.
Solidarity
efforts have served to keep people informed, provide material support, and
protest the cruel excesses of military and state repression. More
importantly,
communities around the world and in the US have pursued their own resistance
locally, attempting to imagine and realize a different way of doing politics.

In August 2004 the Committee of Indigenous Solidarity-DC-Zapatistas sent
out a
call to form a zapatista network in the U.S. and Canada that was initially
referred to as red “Plan Morelia-Polo Norte” (in response to and in
solidarity
with the Plan La Realidad-Tijuana in Mexico). This call was made in order to
construct one avenue of many for zapatista inspired groups in this region of
America to dialogue and construct networks of support. Of the Zapatista
related
collectives and groups who responded to this initial call, we began talking
together about encuentro, Zapatismo, Zapatista solidarity and how to reach
out to
others so that we all know that we are not alone.

Regarding the Zapatistas as offering profound new political strategies and
alternatives whose relevance goes well beyond Chiapas, there have been two
encuentros inspired by this effort to form a bi-national network and in
response
to the Zapatistas’ proposals in the Sixth Declaration of the Lacandon
Jungle. One
was in August 2005 in Oakland, California and the other in November 2005
in Los
Angeles, California. Both were amazing successes and have lead to a stronger
networking among the numerous Zapatista groups and individuals in
California. As
these encuentros have strengthened networks and community in California,
we would
like to see this spread in other parts of the U.S. and Canada alongside
Mexico
and the whole of the Americas.

Additionally, through sustained dialogue, the grassroots organizations and
collectives involved thus far have come to eight “points of agreement”
(preliminary and subject to change by the collective voice). These are: A
commitment to horizontal, egalitarian, fully inclusive and transparent
structures
and processes in all aspects of our activities and interactions; reciprocal
respect for the autonomy and independence of all member organizations;
support
for the Zapatistas’ “Other Campaign” in solidarity with the efforts of our
Mexican Compañer@s to unify the struggle, and in recognition of the need to
pursue a similar project north of the Rio Grande, throughout the U.S. and
Canada;
a commitment to carry out our solidarity support work for the autonomous
Zapatista communities of Chiapas in full accordance with the protocols
established by the Good Government Juntas and the autonomous rebel Zapatista
municipalities (MAREZ); a commitment to advance Zapatismo as political
thought
and as a method for resistance in our local struggles; solidarity in
principle
with all global struggles being waged by the people of the world for
humanity and
against neoliberalism; support and respect for the choices of the autonomous
Zapatista communities to struggle in defense of their lives, humanity and
environment and against neoliberalism in any way they deem necessary; a
commitment to participate to the best of our abilities in the operational
processes and development of the Zapatista Network (“Zapared”).

As the “Other Campaign” advances, we see it as urgent that this network is
available to support such initiatives. Consequently, we are publicly
announcing
the existence of this emergent network which we are calling the Zapatista
Network
and are reaching out to Companer@s in the U.S and Canada in the hope to
encourage
more connections and strengthen webs of resistance.

We invite you to join us, as we begin this dialogue to create a “world
where many
worlds fit.” As a medium to facilitate an ongoing encounter, there is an
interactive website with a private blog for collectives and an open forum
available for individuals. There will also be a resource archive. For more
information about the network, visit our web site.
If you’re interested in participating, feel free to contact the Zapatista
Network
at zaparedinfo@list.riseup.net, or contact any of our member organizations
directly.
Acción Zapatista de Humboldt (Arcata, CA) Manolo Callahan, mc92@humboldt.edu

Acción Zapatista of Santa Barbara (Santa Barbara, CA) Jordan Camp,
jcamp@umail.ucsb.edu

Chiapas Support Committee (Oakland, CA) Mary Ann Tenuto-Sánchez,
cezmat@igc.org

Committee of Indigenous Solidarity-DC Zapatistas (Washington, DC) Adrián
Boutureira, cis-dcz@riseup.net

El Machete (Austin, TX) Simón, elpinchesimon@yahoo.com

Estación Libre (Los Angeles, CA) Pablo Gonzales, aztlan71@yahoo.com

Protesta y Apoyo Zapatista (Santa Barbara, CA) Jordan Camp,
jcamp@umail.ucsb.edu

Zapatista Solidarity Coalition (Sacramento, CA) zapa@zsc.org

Colectivo Caracolero Chicagotra (Chicago, Il) Dora T. y Kora M.,
chicagotra@gmail.com

Rebel Imports (Maryland) Kristin Bricker, krisbricker@gmail.com