Post Marxist Conflict

Before delving deeper into "netwar" and "infowar" I need a moment to think about conflict after the Cold War and how neoliberalism has destabilized the power of nation-states to react to new revolutions.

Current insurgencies –Hamas, FARC, Movimento ser Terra, al Qaeda,Zapatistas– are sited not to be founded in the "class struggles" of Marxist revolutions in the 70's and 80's demanding new state power structures to equalize capital dispersement, but in issues such as cultural autonomy and a shift towards more active forms of democracy. They are less about people's right to cash and more about people's rights to self-govern and maintain tradition. Globally, these ideals are expressed differently –armed conflict, terror, protest– but the message is the same "We want control over our lives and cultures!"

Why are nations scrambling to quell uprisings when the obvious military power is one-sided? While neoliberalism open markets, it forces nation-states into direct competition with each other restricting the amount of participation in national decisions can be delegated to the masses through democratic means. This disempowerment of people's demands at the national level and the homogenation of culture has led to the rise in local insurgencies that promise people power and a voice. Because of the disagrigated nature of these insurgencies (netwar), nation-states must engage these movements with radically new methods, while maintaining the visage of peace and control to stay competitive in the global economy.

Comment your thoughts.

Freelance Journalist

Some of you already know that I started writing for an online newspaper www.suite101.com. I am writing articles about information war, the Zapatistas, travel, and, of course, food. A couple of you have asked for links to my recent articles (thanks Chris and Courtney for the interest). I have included a little widget in the sidebar to my articles. The text is really tiny and hard to read, but it should update automatically.

Right now, I have written recipes mostly to hit my three month quota in a week so I can take more time with some of the more serious work. If you've enjoyed the blog, you may be interested in the articles where I go more indepth into some of the topics presented here.

Coming down the pike are articles on Zapatistas 2.0, and on TIDE (Terrorist Identity Datamart Environment).

Thanks everyone for the love and support!

Zapatista Conference

It's impressive to see the file of Zapatista Comandantes walk in. They are wearing a spectrum of clothing, from various traditional outfits to military fatigues. The only thing that connects them all is the iconic mask. They are everyone, they are no one.

The conference consists not only of speakers from a range of organizations in Mexico, but from around the world. We have teleconferences with leaders in Honduras and Brazil and the Zapatistas announce their new global campaign to combat indigenous land encroachment around the world.

Actions are vague, but the conversation has begun. Not only here, but anywhere people feel that they've lost control over their lives.

Examine your life. How much control do over your life do you really have? Do you own the land/business where you work? Where you live? If not you, then who and why do you tolerate this lack of control?

Join the conversation, or start one yourself. Eduaction is our weapon and our voices our ammo. Switch your safety off.

The Zapatistas are Coming

This Sunday, 15 of the Zapatista sub-commandantes are coming out of the forest and coming to Tierradentro to make an announcement about the next phase of their "Other Campaign". Tierradentro happens to be the organization for which I work for. Work came to me yesterday that I needed to figure out a way to webcast the live event with three days to do it.

Cameras, cables, lights are going up all over as documentary makers, teleconferences with Honduras and Brazil, reporters, and we try to put together a media event on a budget in days.

A national newspaper La Journal leaked the story yesterday. Police and military vehicles have been driving past often. It's difficult to know what will come to pass Sunday, if anything at all, but rest assured I'll be in the center of it and you'll know everything as soon as I do.

Back to work.

Santa's Boots

The cracked hands show decades of use creating pottery. Clay doves, jaguars, pots, pitchers intermingle with the farm animals- one hen has roosted inside of an over-turned pot ready to fiercly protect the eggs inside.

The over shows years of disuse. To fire the pots a huge bonfire is created around the works of local friends, family, and neighbors.

I lose count of the generations of women here after four. There is a timelessness in all of their manners from the youngest around seven to the eldest, somewhere in her 80's. I'm here with a local researcher, Maria Elena, not to conduct interviews, but just to visit and pick up some pottery.

Maria Elena stopped in Teopisca on the way.

"This place specializes in sausages, tamales, and tostadas. We'd better pick some up."

We sit in a circle eating tamales. Sweet and tender like when someone puts fresh corn in cornbread. We sit for a long while sharing tamales, laguage, and stories.

"The govenor bought everyone red socks and shoes. They looks like Santa Claus' boots!" the oldest women tells us.

Enjoy the popcorn

In a recent interview on Open Source with Chris Lyden, Tammy Duckworth, Director of the Illinios Department of Veteran Affairs sited recent issues in the capacity of VA hospitals. One of the problems she sited was the reemergence of war Veterans from as far back as World War II admitting themselves for PTSD because of images on the evening news bringing back old memories.

War is in the livingroom of America, and we're sittin' back with a bowl of popcorn.

A recent photo shows an Iraqi briefing room board displaying "America is not at war. The Marine Corps is at war. America is at the mall."

The WYSIWYG representation of mass media is not revealing the full complexities of what's going on to the soldiers on the ground.

The US Department of Defense just declassified its "Informations Operation Roadmap" a couple weeks ago. The first assumption: "The ability to rapidly disseminate information to diverse audiences in order to directly influence their decision-making ability is an increasingly powerful means of deterring aggression" (p. 7).

As violence escalates in Iraq, Americans sit idol. Whose aggression is being deterred? How is the other side using the same techniques to keep the flames fanned? How can these techniques be used to encourage the end of combat and violence?

It's important to examine the first sited case of modern-day information warfare to begin to unravel some of these questions: Chiapas, Mexico.

Antonio's Garden

The issues here cannot be separated from land reformation and ownership. Here's an example of one man's maintenance of his property currently held under the "ejido" system.

We visited a local indigenous man who successfully operates an organic "truck farm" that sells produce throughout the area.

Antonio made the decision to go organic because (in his order of importance):
1)Chemical fertilizers "burn" the land and after experimenting with different techniques found natural fertilizers to be better for the longevity of his land
2)Natural fertilizers are a little more affordable
3)Organic means are better for plants over time
4)"Also, organic means don't kill customers"

Strong value in first hand knowledge and experimentation for proof of best results.

"Maestro compensinos"- (loosely) the teaching and learning farmers.

Antonio is part of a larger network of farmers who share information on local market prices and successful growing techniques.

The organization also rents trucks, has "plant doctors" as members for specialized help, and provides scholarships for members to send children to school to become specialized in areas of need.

"Whatever it is, we'll learn it."

Historically, farming is a necessary and revered skill. Each man is expected to have his own "milpa" or cornfield to provide for his family. Ancient Maya pyramids were built with a farmer's home as the peak some theorize as an homage to the workers of the land.

In a Maya creation story, man was created out of corn dough and to this day corn is still a symbolic staple crop.

Phoenix Out of the Ashes

I'm not going to let you people into my head too much, but you get this one chance. The past week has been tough. Culture shock they call it. A traveller's need to requestion everything they are doing and what their lot in life is. It sucks, but it happens.

The solution? Surround yourself with good folks and push through. Quitter talk is not an option. Delve into the issues and delve deep.

So what is it really that I am doing here? Informational warfare research. I can sugar coat it no longer. People are dying. A revolution is being waged. I've placed myself in the center to ask "Why?" and "How?". The New York Times called the Zapatistas the "first post modern revolution" because of their use of new information communication technologies (ICTs).

What have I found? Due time friends...

Lucha libre and River Snails

Sporting the stars and stripes, this man embodies everything ugly about Americans. He throws tortillas into faces in the audience and tells them to screw their mothers. We become fast friends.

Most times, one tries hard to maintain respect and compassion for new cultures while traveling. Spitting tortillas, waving the US flags, and shouting "Who wants an Uncle Sam suplex?" is probably not one of these times.

It's lucha libre. A ridiculous demonstration of stereotypes and rude behavior. Men donning the craziest clothes and then pretending to fight all throughout the arena. Ealier a pink mini-skirt clad troll of a man kissed me on one of his skipping laps around the ring.

After the match, I invite everyone back to my place for river snails -a traditional food in Chiapas- and the mascot of the Zapatistas. During the week I gathered recipes for snails here and abroad. I think I'm ready except for one little details: I still haven't figured out how to get the meat out the shells. Hammers, knives, nails, machetes were all recommended, but even with this aresenal the process was slow and tedious. Fine if you have a dozen, but I've got closer to 1500.

By the end of the night, we have our own lucha libre match with the snails finally pulling out a few mouthfulls of meat.

Tasty? Sure.
Worth repeatedly hammering yourself in the hand for? Not even close.

If anyone has any suggestions, please comment!

The White Whale of Mexican Cuisine: Mole

I'm tied of emails asking if I've learned to make molé sauce. I did some research and found that molé has about 20 ingredients only half of which I recognize the name of. On top of that, every family has their own recipe (think of the religion of BBQ sauce in the South). "Screw that!" said I until a cooking class presented itself.

Here's the skinny-

Chicken:
1 kilo (couple lbs.) quartered chicken
couple cloves of garlic
couple halves tomatoes
couple sticks of dried oregano
half an onion

1) In a pot, cover ingredients with water and simmer for 1/2 an hour. DON'T DRAIN!


Mole:
5 seedless dried ancho chili halves
2 sliced medium tomatoes
a few slices of onion
10 halved tomatillos
1 sliced ripe plantain
3 pan dulce- little sweet loaves of bread (substitute 5 dried tortillas or maybe donuts as a substitute)
3 oz. sweet chocolate
pinch of pepper
pinch of dried oregano
3 tbls. sesame seeds

1) Lightly fry anchos, bread, plantains
2) Remove to a bowl and cover w/ cooking liquid from chicken. Break up ingredients a bit and let soak.
3) Toast sesame seeds, then add the remaining ingredients (including chocolate) and fry until soft

4) Put all the ingredients into a blender and whiz until smooth. You will probably have to do this in batches. Add cooking liquid from chicken as needed.
5) Simmer sauce in pot w/ remaining chicken broth.
6) Stirring add salt and sugar to taste.
7) Add cooked chicken and simmer for 10 minutes.

This is only one recipe. There are thousands out there: black, red, green, white varieties are all over the country. This is a pretty good starter though as all the ingredients are available at any grocery store. Try it, play with it, enjoy it! Just don't buy molé in a jar any more. You have no excuses now.

Women's weaving co-op

The women of varying ages from teens to twight gather in a circle huddled around the laptop practicing how to negotiate prices of their woven goods in English.

After the lesson we discuss why they want to learn English.

"Most of the tourists here speak English. At the meeting we decided you can sell more if you can speak English."

"The meeting" is a group of several different women's groups that come together to discuss business practices and techniques. 20 years ago the weavings all looked similar. Today flowers, glittery thread, and more designs are incorporated into the clothes, in part, through this collaborative process of business planning.

"We are saving this year for computers and an on-line shop", explains an ancient woman sitting on the dirt floor.

The women's organization has developed processes of self-evaluation and progress. The women weigh options, share experiences, and decide how to move forward to get better prices and produce more desirable products. Before the tourism boom, weaving was solely for clothing local families.

The women have learned to take control over their products and create systems to secure better prices and wider audiences.

At the Market

The sales woman walks away with my sandals after handing me a slip of paper that reads "74 MIGE NE 28". I don't get it.

I'm in the grocery store picking up the essentials: beans, rice, chilis, michelada mix, and hot dogs. At the cash register I hand the cashier my slip of paper I'm directed to another line to wait in. I don't really want the sandals that bad.

I comb the market loading up on herbs, spices, and vegatables, hagling my way all along with the shrunken women. Week's grocery bill: $20 (Later I find out I was splurging at that!)

After the hours of shopping, I am ready for a cold beer. Restaurant Bar Los Amigos. Two mariachi bands travel from table to table playing specifically for paying customers, but in general for everyone. No menu can be found as the waiter come up for my order.

"One beer please."
"and to eat?"
"The snacks are fine for now."
"You have to order something to eat..." he lists a series of items that I don't understand.
"Carne asada?"
"Bueno"

He returns promptly with two cold Negra Modelas. I glace across the table at an empty seat.

"One is enough"

The waiter shakes his head and points to a sign on the wall. "2X1". I had just assumed that everyone was just thirsty...

Plates quickly filled my humble table: spiced peanuts with limes, a basket of chips, carne asada, and a salad. I see the other food options taken to other tables: whole fried fish, ceviche, mini-grills heating dips and soups, along with others.

I sit for a while enjoying the atmosphere, food, and beers. Rugrats is on the television, but noone else is watching. The longer I sit, the more food arrives. Guacamole with more chips and salchicha (a condiment made of chopped hot dogs, mayo, and chilis.

Finally, I decide it's time to move on. The bill? 35 pesos- about $3. A sum that has found its way onto my weekly grocery budget.