Columbus - Ya Basta!

While Latin American and Spanish heads of state celebrated the “discovery” of the Americas on October 12th, hundreds of other groups across the world organised protests to highlight the reality of the conquest: over 500 years of profit, plunder and oppression. Indigenous groups like the Zapatista communities in Chiapas, Mexico, are resisting the latest form of colonialism.

Multi-national corporations who are more concerned with the appearance of political stability and financial profit than the livelihoods of the Chiapaneco people are the new Columbuses, perpetuating the colonial drive for cheap labour, extraction of resources, promotion of Western products and collaboration with local elites.

Action 1

To mark Columbus day, Latin American ballroom dancers took to the forecourt of auditors KPMG in Bristol. As the dancers ruffled their pink feathers and ran through their steps ‘The Easton Cowboys’, who recently returned from playing football with the Zapatistas, kicked a ball about. When activists were asked by the police to explain what their next move was the dancers responded with an in-depth account of what dance steps would be following.

A banner proclaiming “Our resistance will be as transnational as capital” was hung from the roof of KPMG. Meanwhile staff inside were treated to an office occupation. Activists succeeded in entering the building undetected. One group headed for the roof, while a second group leafleted workers before being ejected from the building by police. Workers were reluctant to discuss the companies dealings with Nestle, Aerospace and Zeneca. After three hours activists, footballers and dancers left.

The group then blockaded the newly established Nestle cafe in the Broadmead shopping centre. A banner was placed in front of the cafe and coffees were paid for with monopoly money. Leaflets, monopoly money and dodgy share certificates were given out to the customers. Two activists managed to scale the outside of the Broadmead centre with a banner and could be heard by all who entered the shopping Mall explaining why they were there. Police finally moved people after half an hour threatening arrests for obstruction.

Action 2

Activists in Newcastle visited their local Nestle factory. While some blockaded the entrance with a banner reading “Solidarity Is Strength”, others walked through the gates towards the offices. One perturbed security guard tried to catch up with them, and was especially irate when three women entered the sweet factory, “breaking health and safety regulations” and “putting themselves at risk”. After giving leaflets entitled “Nestle and Columbus: Partners in Crime” to workers and slipping others into the company’s newsletters. They demanded to speak to the factory manager. In response to his comment that they had no right to “just wander onto the site and do whatever we liked”, they reminded him that this is exactly what Nestle is doing in Chiapas and hundreds of other countries around the world. The cars on site were also leafleted, including a police car.

Action 3

At 6.30 in the morning, a visit was paid to the financial director of Nestle UK in York to have a chat about the situation in Chiapas. Unfortunately, his wife answered the door and insisted this was no longer his address. The group left and headed to the main factory in the UK, a mile or so from the house. Some activists had already entered the factory. A fire alarm was set off, and leaflets explaining the situation in Chiapas and also encouraging sabotage action were given to workers inside the complex. A banner was held with Nestle: Out of Chiapas written on it. Police arrived and warned the group not to visit the house of the financial director again or the group would be arrested. Some of the group decided to make a run for it into the complex and got into the main office building and padlocked the main entrance with Nestle’s own padlock, causing some tailback and hopefully delay of work, although it wasn’t long before they opened it again. The group decided to leave at about 9.30.

Also...

A 60-strong demonstration chanted slogans at the US Embassy in London, in protest at its state-sponsored terror in Latin America.

The Zapatistas have called for a continental gathering in Belem, Brazil, this December. The host organisers welcome all European groups to take part in the Encuentro.

Details from: http://www.ezln. org/