The Incredible Trans Atlantic Journey of the 'Zapalancha'

"According to a Mayan legend, Ixchel stretched herself over the planet as a rainbow in order to teach the world a lesson about plurality and inclusion and to remind us that the earth is many colors, not just one, and that all people, without ceasing to be what they are, together illuminate the wonder and marvel of life. She, Ixchel, the rainbow woman, embraces all colors and makes them part of her."

The Zapatistas, whom are almost entirely of Mayan decent, are in the middle of such a journey. They set sail on a boat named La Montana (The Mountain) leaving from Isla Mujeres in what is now Mexico and sailed across the Atlantic Ocean, the same journey carried out by Spanish colonists 500 years ago in 1521.

This is the boat La Montana (The Mountain) which is currently home to seven Zapatista members on a voyage visiting European countries in commemoration of the 500 years since Spain invaded what is now Mexico. Their goal is to connect with European citizens and plant seeds of mutual rebellion.

"For Sylvia Marcos, a Mexican researcher and lecturer who focuses on indigenous movements, the main goal of the trip is to promote cooperation and solidarity. 'The Zapatistas are building connections with other places where people are also fighting to defend their land, to defend nature. Where people are fighting against extractivism and mega-projects, fighting for the survival of the planet".

“We are going to tell the people of Spain two simple things: one, they didn’t conquer us, we are still here resisting, in rebellion. Second, they don’t have to ask that we forgive them for anything, we weren’t conquered'. Why only 7, then? Well, I could talk about the 7 cardinal directions (forward, backward, to one side, to the other side, the center, up and down), of the first 7 gods who gave birth to the world, and so on. But the truth is that far from symbols and allegories, the number of people is due to the fact that the majority still does not have their passports and are still battling to get them."

"That we make the pains of the earth our own: violence against women; persecution and contempt of those who are different in their affective, emotional, and sexual identity; annihilation of childhood; genocide against the native peoples; racism; militarism; exploitation; dispossession; the destruction of nature. The understanding that a system is responsible for these pains. The executioner is an exploitative, patriarchal, pyramidal, racist, thievish and criminal system: capitalism."

"The knowledge that it is not possible to reform this system, to educate it, to attenuate it, to soften it, to domesticate it, to humanize it. The commitment to fight, everywhere and at all times – each and everyone on their own terrain – against this system until we destroy it completely. The survival of humanity depends on the destruction of capitalism. We do not surrender, we do not sell out, and we do not give up. The certainty that the fight for humanity is global. Just as the ongoing destruction does not recognize borders, nationalities, flags, languages, cultures, races; so the fight for humanity is everywhere, all the time."

Upon their arrival at the port of Vigo in Spain, Marijose a transgender woman and member of the crew of seven Zapatistas who sailed across the Atlantic 500 years after the invasion of the Spaniards, was asked to make the first statement:

“In the name of the Zapatista women, children, men, elderly, and of course, others, I declare that from now on this place, currently referred to as “Europe” by those who live here, be called: SLUMIL K´AJXEMK´OP, which means “Rebellious Land” or “Land which does not give in nor give up.” And that is how it will be known by its own people and by others for as long as there is at least someone here who does not surrender, sell out, or give up."

enlace Zapatista & Al Jazeera

Sienna Trapp BowieAugust 10, 2021Comment