EMERGENCY APPEAL FROM NAOMI KLEIN
Naomi Klein and Avi Lewis | 02.12.2004 13:53 | Free Spaces | Globalisation | Social Struggles
The Zanon ceramic tile factory, a democratic, worker-run factory in Patagonia, is facing a serious threat of eviction, and the workers have asked us to gather international support for their struggle.
To sign the petition, please click here:
http://www.PetitionOnline.com/zanon/petition.html
To sign the petition, please click here:
![](/img/extlink.gif)
PLEASE FORWARD WIDELY, POST TO LISTS AND DISCUSSIONS, AND LINK TO WEBSITES
(Versión en español abajo)
(La traduzione in italiana si trova giù)
Dear Friends,
We’re writing to ask your help in defending an inspiring and courageous workers’ struggle in Argentina.
The Zanon ceramic tile factory, a democratic, worker-run factory in Patagonia, is facing a serious threat of eviction, and the workers have asked us to gather international support for their struggle.
To sign the petition, please click here:
http://www.PetitionOnline.com/zanon/petition.html
And for more information, read on...
For those of you who have seen our documentary, The Take, the Zanon factory, and Argentina’s wider movement of worker-run companies will be very familiar.
For those of you who haven’t, this new movement of some 15,000 workers in almost 200 democratic workplaces is building hope and a concrete economic alternative in the rubble of Argentina’s disastrous experiment with orthodox neoliberalism in the 1990s.
Recovered companies are run by assembly: one worker, one vote. In most of them, workers have decided that everyone should receive the same salary. They are proving the viability of an economy run on an entirely different value system, and they are growing.
In the past year, Zanon has increased its workforce from 300 to 450: a 50% increase. What multinational corporation or national government could boast of such a dramatic rise in decent-paying employment in the middle of an economic crisis?
And Zanon has cultivated a deep and mutual relationship with the surrounding community. For 20 years, the poor neighbourhood of Nueva España, across the highway from the factory, has been asking the provincial government for a health clinic. Zanon workers took a vote earlier this year, and in 3 months built and opened a brand new community health facility.
But now the provincial government is threatening to send in the Gendarmeria to remove Zanon’s precious machines. This is an illegal order, since this force is Federal, intended to police Argentina’s borders. On a second front, the Federal judge presiding over the bankruptcy of the former owner is refusing to recognize the Zanon workers’ co-operative (called FaSinPat – short for ‘Fabricas Sin Patrones’, Factories Without Bosses.)
The former owner received millions in public subsidies, and still amassed a huge debt and bankruptcy: he has since been removed from his own board of directors for “accounting irregularities”. The workers’ co-operative, on the other hand, is a major success: it is now producing 380,000 square meters of ceramic tiles a month – a level of production higher than when the former owner closed the factory - and the workers do it without the huge public subsidies (300,000 pesos per month) that he used to receive.
The Zanon workers have told us that a massive international petition in support of their struggle could make a key difference with the various levels of courts and governments.
Zanon’s highly successful combination of direct action and direct democracy is a precious example of that other world that is possible, that is growing before our very eyes.
We urge you to sign the petition
http://www.PetitionOnline.com/zanon/petition.html
and do everything you can to encourage others to do the same.
Thank you for your time and support,
Avi Lewis and Naomi Klein
-------------
POR FAVOR REENVIAR AMPLIAMENTE, PONER EN LISTAS Y FOROS, Y AGREGAR COMO LINK EN SITIOS WEB
***PEDIDO URGENTE DE NAOMI KLEIN PARA APOYAR A LOS OBREROS DE ZANON EN PATAGONIA***
Queridos Amigos,
Les escribimos para pedirles su ayuda para defender una valiente e inspiradora lucha en Argentina.
La fábrica de cerámicas Zanón, una fábrica democrática y bajo control de sus trabajadores, en Patagonia, está enfrentando una seria amenaza de desalojo y sus trabajadores nos han pedido juntar apoyo internacional para su lucha.
Para firmar la petición, por favor hagan clic aquí:
http://www.PetitionOnline.com/zanon/petition.html
Y para más información, continúen leyendo...
Para aquellos de ustedes que han visto nuestro documental, La Toma, la fábrica Zanón y en general el movimiento de empresas bajo control obrero en Argentina les será muy familiar.
Para aquellos que no lo han visto, este nuevo movimiento de unos 15.000 trabajadores en casi 200 lugares democráticos de trabajo, está generando esperanza y una alternativa económica, en medio de los escombros del desastroso experimento con neoliberalismo ortodoxo en Argentina en los años noventa.
Las fábricas recuperadas se gestionan por asamblea: un trabajador, un voto. En la mayoría de ellas los trabajadores han decidido que cada uno debe recibir el mismo salario. Ellos han probado la viabilidad de una economía que funciona con un sistema de valores completamente diferente, y están creciendo.
En el pasado año, Zanón incrementó su fuerza de trabajo de 300 a 450 trabajadores: un aumento del 50%. ¿Qué empresa multinacional puede presumir de semejante aumento dramático de puestos de trabajo pagados decentemente en medio de una crisis económica?
Y Zanón ha cultivado una profunda y recíproca relación con la comunidad que la rodea. Por 20 años, el barrio humilde de Nueva España, del otro lado de la ruta de donde se encuentra la fábrica, ha estado solicitando al gobierno provincial la construcción de una clínica de salud. Los obreros de Zanón hicieron una votación a principios de este año, y en 3 meses construyeron y abrieron un centro de salud comunitario totalmente nuevo.
Pero ahora el gobierno provincial está amenazando con enviar a la Gendarmería para quitar de Zanón las valiosísimas maquinarias. Esta es una orden ilegal, ya que esta fuerza federal está pensada para proteger las fronteras argentinas. Por otro lado, el juez federal que entiende en la causa de la quiebra del antiguo dueño se rehúsa a reconocer la cooperativa de los trabajadores de Zanón (llamada FaSinPat – abreviatura de ‘Fábricas Sin Patrones’).
El antiguo dueño recibió millones en subsidios públicos, y aún mantiene una gigantesca deuda y la quiebra: desde entonces él ha sido retirado de su propio directorio por “irregularidades contables”. La cooperativa de los trabajadores, por otro lado, es un éxito total: ahora produce 380.000 metros cuadrados de cerámicas por mes – un nivel de producción mayor que cuando el antiguo dueño cerró la fábrica – y los trabajadores lo hicieron sin los enormes subsidios públicos (300.000 pesos por mes) que éste solía recibir.
Los trabajadores de Zanón nos dijeron que un petitorio internacional masivo en apoyo a su lucha podría ser la diferencia clave para varios niveles judiciales y de gobierno.
La exitosísima combinación de acción directa y democracia directa de Zanón es un ejemplo único de que otro mundo es posible, y que está creciendo ante nuestros ojos.
Les pedimos que por favor firmen el petitorio
http://www.PetitionOnline.com/zanon/petition.html
y que hagan todo lo que puedan para alentar a otros a hacerlo.
Gracias por su tiempo y su apoyo,
Avi Lewis y Naomi Klein
------------
Si prega di diffondere, di postare in liste, discussioni e siti internet.
***Appello di Naomi Klein a sostegno dei lavoratori di Zanon in Patagonia***
Care amiche e cari amici,
Scriviamo per chiedervi aiuto nel difendere una lotta argentina che è una coraggiosa fonte di ispirazione.
La Zanon, fabbrica autogestita dai propri lavoratori che produce piastrelle di ceramica in Patagonia, rischia di essere sgomberata e i lavoratori ci hanno chiesto di raccogliere sostegno a livello interazionale.
Firma la petizione
http://www.PetitionOnline.com/zanon/petition.html
Per maggiori informazioni:
Quanti hanno visto il nostro documentario, The Take, conoscono la Zanon e il movimento argentino di recupero ed autogestione da parte dei lavoratori di fabbriche ed aziende.
Per quanti non avessero visto il nostro film, questo nuovo movimento, che comprende circa 15.000 lavoratori in quasi 200 aziende democratiche, sta costruendo speranza e reale alternativa economica dalle macerie di quello che è stato in Argentina il disastroso laboratorio di ortodossia neoliberalista negli anni ’90.
Le fabbriche recuperate sono gestite internamente in assemblee: un lavoratore, un voto. Quasi tutte le assemblee hanno stabilito che tutti prendono lo stesso stipendio.
Questi lavoratori stanno mostrando che è possibile gestire l’economia secondo un sistema di valori completamente differente e stanno crescendo.
L’anno scorso, la Zanon ha aumentato la sua forza lavoro da 300 a 450: un aumento del 50%. Che cosa possono permettersi di dire le multinazionali di un tale aumento di impiego pagato dignitosamente nel pieno della crisi economica?
La Zanon, inoltre, ha costruito una relazione di reciprocità con la comunità circostante. Per 20 anni Nueva España - così si chiama il quartiere, estremamente povero, della Zanon – ha chiesto alle istituzioni locali di aprire un centro di assistenza sanitaria. I lavoratori della Zanon, all’inizio di quest’anno, hanno votato e in tre mesi hanno costruito e reso operativo un nuovo ed efficiente centro servizi sanitari, cosa che le istituzioni non hanno mai fatto.
Tuttavia oggi le istituzioni locali minacciano di mandare la Gendarmeria a sequestrare i preziosi macchinari della Zanon. Questa decisione è illegale poichè la Gendarmeria è di fatto esercito federale il cui compito è il controllo dei confini argentini. Inoltre il giudice federale incaricato di decidere circa la bancarotta del precedente proprietario della Zanon si rifiuta di riconoscere la cooperativa dei lavoratori della Zanon (la cooperativa si chiama FaSinPat che sta per ‘Fabricas Sin Patrones’, fabbrica senza padroni).
Il precedente titolare ha ricevuto milioni di pesos sotto forma di sussidi pubblici e nonostante ciò ha chiuso le produzioni nel debito e in bancarotta, e per questo è stato espulso dall’ordine dei ‘direttori’ per “irregolarità fiscali”. La cooperativa dei lavoratori, invece, è proprio un successo: produce oggi 380.000 metri quadrati di piastrelle di ceramica al mese – un livello di produzione questo maggiore di quanto si produceva prima della chiusura della fabbrica – e i lavoratori ce la stanno facendo senza le sovvenzioni statali (pari a 300.000 pesos al mese) che il precedente prorpietario riceveva.
I lavoratori della Zanon ci riferiscono che un forte appello internazionale in sostegno della loro lotta potrebbe essere la chiave di volta nelle corti dei tribunali e nel rapporti con le istituzioni.
L’incredibile esperienza della Zanon, che mette insieme azione diretta e democrazia diretta, è un esempio prezioso: un altro mondo è possibile e sta nascendo proprio sotto i nostri occhi.
Invitiamo tutte e tutti a firmare la petizione
http://www.PetitionOnline.com/zanon/petition.html
e a fare tutto il possibile affinchè molti la firmino.
Grazie per il sostegno,
Avi Lewis and Naomi Klein
(Versión en español abajo)
(La traduzione in italiana si trova giù)
Dear Friends,
We’re writing to ask your help in defending an inspiring and courageous workers’ struggle in Argentina.
The Zanon ceramic tile factory, a democratic, worker-run factory in Patagonia, is facing a serious threat of eviction, and the workers have asked us to gather international support for their struggle.
To sign the petition, please click here:
![](/img/extlink.gif)
And for more information, read on...
For those of you who have seen our documentary, The Take, the Zanon factory, and Argentina’s wider movement of worker-run companies will be very familiar.
For those of you who haven’t, this new movement of some 15,000 workers in almost 200 democratic workplaces is building hope and a concrete economic alternative in the rubble of Argentina’s disastrous experiment with orthodox neoliberalism in the 1990s.
Recovered companies are run by assembly: one worker, one vote. In most of them, workers have decided that everyone should receive the same salary. They are proving the viability of an economy run on an entirely different value system, and they are growing.
In the past year, Zanon has increased its workforce from 300 to 450: a 50% increase. What multinational corporation or national government could boast of such a dramatic rise in decent-paying employment in the middle of an economic crisis?
And Zanon has cultivated a deep and mutual relationship with the surrounding community. For 20 years, the poor neighbourhood of Nueva España, across the highway from the factory, has been asking the provincial government for a health clinic. Zanon workers took a vote earlier this year, and in 3 months built and opened a brand new community health facility.
But now the provincial government is threatening to send in the Gendarmeria to remove Zanon’s precious machines. This is an illegal order, since this force is Federal, intended to police Argentina’s borders. On a second front, the Federal judge presiding over the bankruptcy of the former owner is refusing to recognize the Zanon workers’ co-operative (called FaSinPat – short for ‘Fabricas Sin Patrones’, Factories Without Bosses.)
The former owner received millions in public subsidies, and still amassed a huge debt and bankruptcy: he has since been removed from his own board of directors for “accounting irregularities”. The workers’ co-operative, on the other hand, is a major success: it is now producing 380,000 square meters of ceramic tiles a month – a level of production higher than when the former owner closed the factory - and the workers do it without the huge public subsidies (300,000 pesos per month) that he used to receive.
The Zanon workers have told us that a massive international petition in support of their struggle could make a key difference with the various levels of courts and governments.
Zanon’s highly successful combination of direct action and direct democracy is a precious example of that other world that is possible, that is growing before our very eyes.
We urge you to sign the petition
![](/img/extlink.gif)
and do everything you can to encourage others to do the same.
Thank you for your time and support,
Avi Lewis and Naomi Klein
-------------
POR FAVOR REENVIAR AMPLIAMENTE, PONER EN LISTAS Y FOROS, Y AGREGAR COMO LINK EN SITIOS WEB
***PEDIDO URGENTE DE NAOMI KLEIN PARA APOYAR A LOS OBREROS DE ZANON EN PATAGONIA***
Queridos Amigos,
Les escribimos para pedirles su ayuda para defender una valiente e inspiradora lucha en Argentina.
La fábrica de cerámicas Zanón, una fábrica democrática y bajo control de sus trabajadores, en Patagonia, está enfrentando una seria amenaza de desalojo y sus trabajadores nos han pedido juntar apoyo internacional para su lucha.
Para firmar la petición, por favor hagan clic aquí:
![](/img/extlink.gif)
Y para más información, continúen leyendo...
Para aquellos de ustedes que han visto nuestro documental, La Toma, la fábrica Zanón y en general el movimiento de empresas bajo control obrero en Argentina les será muy familiar.
Para aquellos que no lo han visto, este nuevo movimiento de unos 15.000 trabajadores en casi 200 lugares democráticos de trabajo, está generando esperanza y una alternativa económica, en medio de los escombros del desastroso experimento con neoliberalismo ortodoxo en Argentina en los años noventa.
Las fábricas recuperadas se gestionan por asamblea: un trabajador, un voto. En la mayoría de ellas los trabajadores han decidido que cada uno debe recibir el mismo salario. Ellos han probado la viabilidad de una economía que funciona con un sistema de valores completamente diferente, y están creciendo.
En el pasado año, Zanón incrementó su fuerza de trabajo de 300 a 450 trabajadores: un aumento del 50%. ¿Qué empresa multinacional puede presumir de semejante aumento dramático de puestos de trabajo pagados decentemente en medio de una crisis económica?
Y Zanón ha cultivado una profunda y recíproca relación con la comunidad que la rodea. Por 20 años, el barrio humilde de Nueva España, del otro lado de la ruta de donde se encuentra la fábrica, ha estado solicitando al gobierno provincial la construcción de una clínica de salud. Los obreros de Zanón hicieron una votación a principios de este año, y en 3 meses construyeron y abrieron un centro de salud comunitario totalmente nuevo.
Pero ahora el gobierno provincial está amenazando con enviar a la Gendarmería para quitar de Zanón las valiosísimas maquinarias. Esta es una orden ilegal, ya que esta fuerza federal está pensada para proteger las fronteras argentinas. Por otro lado, el juez federal que entiende en la causa de la quiebra del antiguo dueño se rehúsa a reconocer la cooperativa de los trabajadores de Zanón (llamada FaSinPat – abreviatura de ‘Fábricas Sin Patrones’).
El antiguo dueño recibió millones en subsidios públicos, y aún mantiene una gigantesca deuda y la quiebra: desde entonces él ha sido retirado de su propio directorio por “irregularidades contables”. La cooperativa de los trabajadores, por otro lado, es un éxito total: ahora produce 380.000 metros cuadrados de cerámicas por mes – un nivel de producción mayor que cuando el antiguo dueño cerró la fábrica – y los trabajadores lo hicieron sin los enormes subsidios públicos (300.000 pesos por mes) que éste solía recibir.
Los trabajadores de Zanón nos dijeron que un petitorio internacional masivo en apoyo a su lucha podría ser la diferencia clave para varios niveles judiciales y de gobierno.
La exitosísima combinación de acción directa y democracia directa de Zanón es un ejemplo único de que otro mundo es posible, y que está creciendo ante nuestros ojos.
Les pedimos que por favor firmen el petitorio
![](/img/extlink.gif)
y que hagan todo lo que puedan para alentar a otros a hacerlo.
Gracias por su tiempo y su apoyo,
Avi Lewis y Naomi Klein
------------
Si prega di diffondere, di postare in liste, discussioni e siti internet.
***Appello di Naomi Klein a sostegno dei lavoratori di Zanon in Patagonia***
Care amiche e cari amici,
Scriviamo per chiedervi aiuto nel difendere una lotta argentina che è una coraggiosa fonte di ispirazione.
La Zanon, fabbrica autogestita dai propri lavoratori che produce piastrelle di ceramica in Patagonia, rischia di essere sgomberata e i lavoratori ci hanno chiesto di raccogliere sostegno a livello interazionale.
Firma la petizione
![](/img/extlink.gif)
Per maggiori informazioni:
Quanti hanno visto il nostro documentario, The Take, conoscono la Zanon e il movimento argentino di recupero ed autogestione da parte dei lavoratori di fabbriche ed aziende.
Per quanti non avessero visto il nostro film, questo nuovo movimento, che comprende circa 15.000 lavoratori in quasi 200 aziende democratiche, sta costruendo speranza e reale alternativa economica dalle macerie di quello che è stato in Argentina il disastroso laboratorio di ortodossia neoliberalista negli anni ’90.
Le fabbriche recuperate sono gestite internamente in assemblee: un lavoratore, un voto. Quasi tutte le assemblee hanno stabilito che tutti prendono lo stesso stipendio.
Questi lavoratori stanno mostrando che è possibile gestire l’economia secondo un sistema di valori completamente differente e stanno crescendo.
L’anno scorso, la Zanon ha aumentato la sua forza lavoro da 300 a 450: un aumento del 50%. Che cosa possono permettersi di dire le multinazionali di un tale aumento di impiego pagato dignitosamente nel pieno della crisi economica?
La Zanon, inoltre, ha costruito una relazione di reciprocità con la comunità circostante. Per 20 anni Nueva España - così si chiama il quartiere, estremamente povero, della Zanon – ha chiesto alle istituzioni locali di aprire un centro di assistenza sanitaria. I lavoratori della Zanon, all’inizio di quest’anno, hanno votato e in tre mesi hanno costruito e reso operativo un nuovo ed efficiente centro servizi sanitari, cosa che le istituzioni non hanno mai fatto.
Tuttavia oggi le istituzioni locali minacciano di mandare la Gendarmeria a sequestrare i preziosi macchinari della Zanon. Questa decisione è illegale poichè la Gendarmeria è di fatto esercito federale il cui compito è il controllo dei confini argentini. Inoltre il giudice federale incaricato di decidere circa la bancarotta del precedente proprietario della Zanon si rifiuta di riconoscere la cooperativa dei lavoratori della Zanon (la cooperativa si chiama FaSinPat che sta per ‘Fabricas Sin Patrones’, fabbrica senza padroni).
Il precedente titolare ha ricevuto milioni di pesos sotto forma di sussidi pubblici e nonostante ciò ha chiuso le produzioni nel debito e in bancarotta, e per questo è stato espulso dall’ordine dei ‘direttori’ per “irregolarità fiscali”. La cooperativa dei lavoratori, invece, è proprio un successo: produce oggi 380.000 metri quadrati di piastrelle di ceramica al mese – un livello di produzione questo maggiore di quanto si produceva prima della chiusura della fabbrica – e i lavoratori ce la stanno facendo senza le sovvenzioni statali (pari a 300.000 pesos al mese) che il precedente prorpietario riceveva.
I lavoratori della Zanon ci riferiscono che un forte appello internazionale in sostegno della loro lotta potrebbe essere la chiave di volta nelle corti dei tribunali e nel rapporti con le istituzioni.
L’incredibile esperienza della Zanon, che mette insieme azione diretta e democrazia diretta, è un esempio prezioso: un altro mondo è possibile e sta nascendo proprio sotto i nostri occhi.
Invitiamo tutte e tutti a firmare la petizione
![](/img/extlink.gif)
e a fare tutto il possibile affinchè molti la firmino.
Grazie per il sostegno,
Avi Lewis and Naomi Klein
Naomi Klein and Avi Lewis
Comments
Hide the following 3 comments
All USA Activists PArt of CIA Cult ??
02.12.2004 20:03
It is limiting to think about the USA or national politics. It is better to not believe that the USA exists anymore. The USA is an empire of corporate, trade and, military alliances. This is what we fight and what should be addressed. We are engaged in a world war – what Chavez and many anti-globalization / Zapatista activists call the Fourth World War – 4WW. Six hundred million capitalists against the rest of the world's 6000 million – 6 billion.
– United-Students
Relevance & Economic Terrorism:
Fiascos of Free Trade and Activism
By United-Students (Arizona Affiliate)
What in the world are activists trying to do?
Why do they fight trade agreements that they cannot stop, that are already done deals, and that distract activists from what they should be doing??? Like trying to explain their goals, strategies and tactics... oh and some kind of time frame.
When I talk to people and explain what is going on, they express the feeling that either these USA activists work for the CIA/FBI or else they just like to feel good, pretend to be cool or feel compelled to do something – even if it is negative!
Read the workshop outline produced by Ecosolidarity Andes (
if you want to know what is going on in South America and why fighting trade is so meaningless –
What’s the goal ?
The following presentation was our contribution to the workshop by Ecosolidarity Andes. (A Synopsis of the workshop is found at the end)
“For this we joined Mercosur, in order to liberate us of the North,”
proclaimed Hugo Chavez, Presidente de Venezuela
The Andean Trade Negotiations: Fiascos of Activism:
Relevance – Activism: WHO; WHAT; WHERE HOW??? Alternatives...
By Acula Ramer, United-Students
The USA movements for change, for Fair Trade or against hyper corporate capitalism (War, Sustainability...) have to come together soon to oppose the USA Empire. In order to understand why this needs to happen – and how it can be accomplished -- one must better understand the world.
It is limiting to think about the USA or national politics. It is better to not believe that the USA exists anymore. The USA is an empire of corporate, trade and, military alliances. This is what we fight and what should be addressed. We are engaged in a world war – what Chavez and many anti-globalization / Zapatista activists call the Fourth World War – 4WW. Six hundred million capitalists against the rest of the world's 6000 million – 6 billion.
Cheer up, it is our great fortune that what we face is a global war – a war without borders, fronts or rears ... a war of everything against everything. Because such a battle is possible to mobilize within and to win. Whereas, politics and activism are completely dead in the USA – and this is a permanent condition – a truth...
We can discuss this at another time – ad nauseum if you insist – but we feel that it is a waste of time to examine in detail just how big the victories of W. Bush have been – or will be. – The USA has been moving to the right for almost 30 years -- surely since Reagan's victory in 1980 politics has been dead in the USA – and all education has failed since then.
(For a look at the fascist John Kerry see:
(Or for a peek at the psychosis known as the USA consider:
TUSCALOOSA, Ala. -- On that long-ago day of Alabama's great shame, Gov. George C. Wallace (D) stood in a schoolhouse door and declared that his state's constitution forbade black students to enroll at the University of Alabama.
He was correct...
If Wallace could be brought back to life today to reprise his 1963 moment of infamy outside Foster Auditorium, he would still be correct. Alabama voters made sure of that Nov. 2, refusing to approve a constitutional amendment to erase segregation-era wording requiring separate schools for "white and colored children" and to eliminate references to the poll taxes once imposed to disenfranchise blacks.”
A United-Students Thesis:
Our thesis is that only through extending our conceptions of politics – which is another word for Power – extending it beyond the imaginary borders of nations can we create a better world.
There is nothing political that any USA people can do. To work with a political party or vote in anything that the Democrats believe in is not positive. Go back to square one and build a base through aiding Andean children – or be creative and send us your ideas.
Nowhere could this perspective (the hopelessness of US politics) be more true than in the realm of free trade talks. The only USA politician in modern history to be consistently anti- NAFTA or trade was H. Ross Perot.
No one in the anti-globalization movement can produce a study on alternatives that is viable, reasoned and contains instructions on how to achieve it. This would have been important 25 years ago (UNCTAD was working on it) and such advice would still have been useful even 10 years ago. Now these protests have lost their purpose (whatever that was) and they are meaningless. In the US protests actually create a negative backlash that confirms in the average persons mind that these loud, dread head kids are trouble makers – which they are since they have no plan, strategy or goals that they can express (or that anyone in the US could relate to).
Goals: What is the Goal of activists at the ACTA or in opposing USA free trade agreements?
1.) Education – US people, radicals – How?; Where is the evidence or theory that education can work in the US – Seems to most of us that the election of W Bush puts the lie to that (or shows that lies have more power than truth).
2.)Stop AFTA - FTAA – WTO – How? What good would that accomplish? Maybe if the goal was to end corporate capitalism then the honesty might create some educational value – around the world if not in the US.
3.) Support people in the South (false psychology?) How? Seems these small efforts would only give them false hope and false solidarity. Better to just send them some of the money we waste traveling around on the protest road shows.
What strategy will the anti-free trade protesters use? Now and later... We maintain that if any of these groups are honest, then they will quickly admit that they have no meaningful goals and that their strategies of education or mobilization cannot overcome the strong right wing drift of US political culture. To apply outdated techniques of organizing or resisting against such a force is to make yourself and your power meaningless and impotent. FACT: There is nothing people in the USA can do to stop USA imperialism from within the USA. – unless you are considering armed struggle, secession (moving masses of people to Vermont or Oregon?) or being able to mobilize millions of protesters who want to be beaten and imprisoned.
… Or so our/your logic and frankness would suggest. But we have a new idea – a thesis – that could re-invigorate and make powerful the movement for change in North America. We posit that everyone should cease working politically at any level in the USA – that they should refrain from all currently known forms of activism in the USA ( ecological, social or cultural) and instead put all of their energy, skills and finances into groups in South America – specifically groups in the Andes and in Venezuela.
Yes, the only activity of any real value to changing the world – to defeating capitalism and militarism – is to form a fundraising group.
USA people give almost 2 billion a year to environmental and social change groups, in the last year people gave the democratic party over 1 billion in dollars or assistance. – Imagine if just 10 percent of this money went to actually building resistance in South America – 300 million dollars !!!
Why cannot people in the USA do anything political to help people in the Andes?
Besides the fact that the USA has a very non-participative system of quasi-democratic republicanism, the following factors are important:
1. Large countries make lousy democracies; 2. The US Democratic party has been a willingly corrupt partner to the Republicans and corporate America; 3. (Probably the most important) Activists and educators in the US have misled the public and presented a dumbed-down version of what is wrong with the world/country and what needs to be done/sacrificed/endured. These factors have confused the electorate and left them ripe for the propaganda of the right. Awareness has declined and the lack of focus and solutions from the left and activists has turned off many people to involvement. This decline has affected environmental, social justice, anti-war and globalization campaigns and activists training. The debate on these issues and the need to change strategies and speak clearly have been suppressed or lacking. Many have warned that creating many single issue campaigns alienates the public and youth who want simple answers.
As we mentioned: The only way to aid the south is to send $ to a few small or medium sized civil society groups in a few key places – Why? Aren't there more and bigger groups? – No!
Well there are, but instead of sending your pay pal dollars to Venezuela’s government or an indigenous or campesino coalition in Bolivia, Peru or Ecuador, we feel that is better (attracts more donations, expands options, and limits US counter-propaganda) to target medium sized young groups involved in a variety of radical projects. As we get bigger (more money) we hope to fund more groups in more regions and activities.
You might think that we are being extreme to say that there is nothing you can do in the USA to aid the Andean Region (or anywhere) through politics or education. Think about it… If people get together in cities across the USA and focus on something that produces effects and signs of progress – like raising millions for important groups in the Andes, then they will both create a positive and growing movement in the USA and build up Andean groups too.
This success would encourage more people to get involved and in the process they would learn about struggle, about the real issues facing those who want change and about the struggle in Latin America. The movement in both regions will grow and people will see what money and cooperation can do.
Videos, articles for publication and visits back and forth can build stronger ties and spread the word and inspire even more organizing, more donations and more tangible results.
Instead of growing frustrated with the defeats that are inevitable in the USA – the failure to change anything – and even the reality that protest here – and lobbying can actually backfire and encourage the right wing or the ignorant voters to fight change more – activists can feel good and have victories. These People to People – or Pueblo a People campaigns can be proud and positive and real.
Move beyond political stalemate and make a real difference – Forget politics as you knew it – Do the politics of building global/hemispheric resistance. Forget politics, lobbying – forget all environmental, social justice and organizing in the USA – it will never work – never change anything soon – and it causes more problems than it solves.
Our group United-Students has decided to separate our activities. United Students will continue to speak out and tour the country trying to convince people to stop wasting their time on every kind of activism and politics. Andes Circle will focus its efforts on fundraising and indentifying groups that can make the best use of funding.
Summary Questions:
1. How are US politics relevant to the world’s problems or the threats of Empire?
2. How long do we have to achieve results or decide which strategies are effective?
3. What goals and strategies are meaningful and effective?
4. What weapons (forces) are available (people, ideas, hardware)?
5. What historical or theoretical examples support your conclusions (answers) ?
S. Deranos
Some heavy reading...
02.12.2004 21:24
However, I don't quite understand, having supported the challenge against Chavez - who we all believe to be the good guy - how we come to be petitioning him to stop the eviction of tile factory workers.
Which bit of background am I missing here?
mini mouse
e-mail:
mini_mouse@riseup.net
Chavez is Venbezuela-Zanaon is Argentina-Klein i sCanuk?
03.12.2004 00:07
The first comment was posted to hit on Kein who is a big muth chick - like to tell whole Latin American countries what to do - she knocke d Chazez at the last Brazilian social forum...
read - think read - DO SOMETHING
Help - I'm the only non-aleien on planet?