Counter-power and self-defense in Latin America

Children form a line during a march of Indigenous Guards in Colombia.

Against the backdrop of state and gang violence, some of the continent’s most affected communities have taken radical measures to defend themselves and build new social counter-powers from below.

by Raúl Zibechi, ROAR Magazine, January 29, 2018

In much of Latin America, the state does not protect its citizens. This is particularly true for the popular sectors, indigenous peoples, people of color and mestizos, who are exposed to the onslaught of drugs trafficking, criminal gangs, the private security guards of multinational corporations and, paradoxically, from state security forces such as the police and the army.

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Battle for the mother land: indigenous people of Colombia fighting for their lands

Members of the Indigenous Guard in Colombia displaying their batons, symbols of membership in the group.

The 50-year civil war is over but, in the Cauca Valley, indigenous communities are on frontline of fight against drug gangs, riot police and deforestation

by Jonathan Watts, The Guardian, October 2017

A green-and-red flag flies over a cluster of bamboo and tarpaulin tents on the frontline of an increasingly deadly struggle for land and the environment in Colombia’s Cauca Valley.

It is the banner for what indigenous activists are calling the “liberation of Mother Earth”, a movement to reclaim ancestral land from sugar plantations, farms and tourist resorts that has gained momentum in the vacuum left by last year’s peace accord between the government and the paramilitaries who once dominated the region – ending, in turn, the world’s longest-running civil war.

Video: Ipperwash Crisis in Five Minutes

<p><a href=”https://vimeo.com/232681190″>Ipperwash Crisis in Five Minutes</a> from <a href=”https://vimeo.com/submediatv”>sub.Media</a&gt; on <a href=”https://vimeo.com”>Vimeo</a&gt;.</p>

The Oka Crisis in 5 minutes

 

The Oka Crisis was supposed to be a wake-up call. Little has changed in 27 years

A picture taken during the Oka Crisis on July 11, 1990. (Tom Hanson/The Canadian Press)

By Steve Bonspiel, for CBC News, July 11, 2017

“Just go in there and exterminate them like the rats they are.”

“What are we waiting for? Let’s get rid of them.”

“Put them all in the Big O and blow it up.”

I heard these words from random non-Natives as a 14-year-old boy, 27 years ago to the day. I feel a mixture of pride, anger, sadness and resolve when I think of that fateful summer, and what went on for those 78 days in Kanesatake: the Oka Crisis.

Nova Scotia Coffee House Puts Up One Hell Of A Canada 150 Sign

By Zi-Ann Lum, HuffPost Canada, June 13, 2017

It’s all about perspective.

A coffeehouse in Grand Pre, N.S. flipped its sign earlier this week to nudge people to think deeper around the context of Canada’s 150 birthday.

To do that, the folks at Just Us! Coffee placed “MI KMAKI 13000” under the words “CANADA 150” on their signboard.

Chilean Police Shooting results in the deaths of two Mapuche Land Defenders

The Governor of Malleco Province, Guillermo Pirce and General Christian Franzani visiting the scene on June 11th, 2017

by Women’s Coordinating Committee for a Free Wallmapu, June 11, 2017
*News in development*
Two Mapuche land defenders were killed last night at the hands of Chilean police after an alleged action on the large landed estate of El Encino in the Township of Los Sauces, nearby the city of Angol in southern Chile, on the evening Saturday June 10th.

Fundraising Appeal for the Secwepemc’ulecw Assembly

All settler comrades, friends and allies,
Elders and women from the Secwepemc nation are hosting a nation-wide
Secwepemc’ulecw Assembly on the land in June. The goals of the Assembly
are to discuss and take action under Secwepemc law against colonial
corporate development impacting Secwepemc’ulecw without Collective
Consent.

Video: Sutikalh Home Of The Winter Spirit

Posted to Youtube Published on Feb 9, 2017 by Kelly Patrick Moore

“Here’s a short video we did to support those living on the land, those protecting the water, air and animals for all of us. If not for these protectors like Hubie and his family, you’d be passing a Nancy Greene mega ski resort on the Duffy Lake Rd. Luckily, now all you see on that route is pristine mountains and beautiful lakes, thanks to these individuals. Please share to help raise social and environmental awareness as well connect to those who are dedicating their lives as land defenders. Please support in any way you can.”

Chile: Mapuche resistance carry out Incendiary Attack Against Real Estate Company

One of several pieces of heavy machinery burned in an arson attack carried out by Weichan Auka Mapu (Mapuche Resistance Group).

translated by Earth First! Journal, January 12, 2017

During Sunday’s dawn, a new incendiary attack was registered in the Padre Las Casas commune of La Araucanía.

An unknown number of people arrived there, and burned a cistern truck, four backhoes, one roller, and one motor grader which had been used for work by the real estate company Del Sur…