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.