Call to Action for Venezuela and all of Pachamerica - Oct 12th

What is Pachamerica ?
Does it mean Latin America ?

Pachamerica is the non-colonial word for latin america, which is about as accurate a term as 'red indian' or something like that. also, it applies to the whole continent, apparently.

To all Bolivarian supporters...
The term "pacha" is a term for the earth, as in "pachamama" means mother earth. The concept of pachamerica articulates a desire of the movement to dissolve the borders imposed on the americas and to create a coherent and concrete unification of the region in terms of bolivarian principles. The "pach" also conveys the universality of their ideals.

Pachamerica: The rebellious continent between Alaska and Patagonia.

From our indigenous, black, white and mestiza roots emerges a particular way of struggle. "Pacha" is the Quechua word for "land" or "earth"… and, as we all know, "America" is the colonial name imposed by the conquerors to our continent. With the Pachamerica, we are revindicating the indigenous vision of "Pachamama", Mother Earth, and in that way we assume our struggle as connected to that of all peoples around the world. Pachamerica is the name we give to the rebellious continent between Alaska and Patagonia, imagining ourselves as peoples that transcend a supposed "Latin America" or "North America", since these concepts impose a colonial vision that ignores our indigenous history and tries to separate us from our brothers and sisters north, south, east and west of our lands. In that sense, more than being "Latin Americans" or "North Americans", we are "Pachamericans", because our continent is diverse, multiethnic and infinite... but fights united.

Besides, the "Pachamerican" vision tries to break with that ridiculous Latinamerican chauvinism that sees us isolated from the world, and, on the other side, with the pathetic paternalism that many times leads activists in industrialized countries to express the need of "solidarity with those poor little indians who don't even know what they're doing". We recognize that as a result of the capitalist globalization, that dialogue between the people from the global North and the global South is, more and more so, what we would call in criollo "a dialogue of jodid@s a jodid@s" (a dialogue between "fucked" and "fucked"). In that sense, Pachamerica includes in its rebellious vision of a continent the peoples of the United States and Canada (with their struggles: indigenous, black, feminist, environmentalist, gay, etc) and the peoples south of the Río Bravo all the way to Tierra del Fuego. However, it is also important to mention that even though "Pachamérica" refers directly to our continent, this "Pachamamista" vision doesn´t limit itself to our geographic boundaries, but links efforts with the struggles of all peoples that resist in this beautiful Earth that gave birth to us all.

Being "Pachamerican" is knowing yourself as daughter and son of Pachamama, and therefore siblings to all human beings and other animals, to the environment, and to a commitment to eternal solidarity.

For a free Pachamama... and her smiling sons and daughters...
a united struggle! always!

To participate and coordinate actions for the October 12th Global Day of Action, subscribe to the following list:
 http://lists.riseup.net/www/info/o-12pachamerica

e-mail:  pachamerica@calleymedia.org,  o-12pachamerica@lists.riseup.net
Homepage:  http://lists.riseup.net/www/info/o-12pachamerica

October 12th (Tuesday ESF Week) Pachamerican Day of Action!

This year's European Social Forum in London starts early, with a host of actions taking place on Tuesday October 12th, as part of the Global Day of Action in support of the people's struggles across Pachamerica (the non-colonial term for Latin America - "Pachamama" being the indigenous word for "Mother Earth").

In particular we shall be supporting Venezuela's "Bolivarian Revolution", named after Simon Bolivar, who liberated the people from colonial rule. For five years since President Hugo Chávez was democratically elected, Venezuelans have been the target of a co-ordinated attack, both overt and hidden, by the US government and the local elite, who don't want the country's huge oil wealth spent on its people.

October 12th used to be known as "Columbus Day", celebrating when the Conquistadors first "discovered" America. In reality this is nothing to celebrate as it unleashed a wave of terror across the continent which has enslaved the people for over 500 years. All over the world activists will reclaim this day for the indigenous inhabitants and strip it of its Imperialist pretensions.

In London several groups have come together to show solidarity with the progressive movements across this rebellious continent. Hands Off Venezuela and sambistas Rhythms of Resistance, along with Zapatismos and others, will unite to highlight how the people are fighting back and liberating themselves from neo-imperial corporate-colonial rule.

From 11pm there will be a demonstration outside the Mexican Embassy (8 Halkin St, SW1X) in solidarity with the Zapatistas (and there'll be plenty of their organic coffee to drink as well).

Then from 2pm-4pm there's a rally outside the US Embassy (Grosvenor Sq, W1) to tell the Washington warmongers to keep their hands off Venezuela!

From 5pm-6pm there will be lectures and discussions about Venezuela at Middlesex University (Tottenham Campus, White Hart Lane, N17). This is part of a day-school on wider regional issues, involving many other solidarity groups and institutions.

And then at 7pm there's a debate at the NUJ headquarters (308 Gray's Inn Rd, Kings Cross, WC1) about the media and Venezuela. This issue is especially crucial because there is a worldwide campaign to demonise the Bolivarian Movement and many journalists and editors here (even in the so-called "progressive" press) just repeat the lies and smears from the White House about Venezuela and never report the positive advances made there, for example in health, education, housing, redistribution of wealth, new rights for women and indigenous people...

more info:  solidarityweek@yahoo.com or www.handsoffvenezuela.org

 http://www.indymedia.org.uk/en/2004/10/298992.html

about chavez's executive condemning the action in caracas in which a colombus statue was taken down?

the bolivarian revolution is going to fix the statue and put it back... taking down statues is not revolutionary, it seems.