FROM THE WORLD TO THE BASQUE COUNTRY
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2008/VI/30
boga!
herrien mundurantz euskal herria internazionalista*Kaixo lagunak!
We are presenting the new Askapena newsletter!, "Boga!". Every 15 days Boga! will alternate information about daily work and internationalist struggle in Euskal Herria, with other giving a more historic perspective, always in an internationalist key. As we did in the 'Step by Step', we will try to develop just a theme for each newsletter. Let us hope that is your pleasure.
Internationalist Conference 2008
"boikotak piztuz, elkartasuna eraiki!"
Since the first 'Internazionalista Eguna' [Internationalist Day] 20 years ago, we have always chosen a slogan, an idea, a people or a fight to be the protagonist of this day.
So, the motto for the Internationalist Day of 2008 has been 'lighting boycotts we build solidarity' due to the work that Askapena, along with other organizations of Euskal Herria, are doing to spread the boycott campaigns against Israel and Coca Cola, ' Israeli Boikot ' and ' Euskal Herriak Cocacolari EZ '.
Why?The boycott campaign to Israel responds to the call made by over 170 organizations of the Palestinian society, which emulates the boycott campaign carried out, especially in the 80's, against the racist South Africa and its Apartheid policy.
After 60 years of the imposition of the Israeli State, oppression, occupation and apartheid towards Palestinian people grow every day; however, beyond some precise international disqualifications, Israel maintains absolutely normal political, economic, academic, sportive relations at the international level.
On the other hand, for more than two decades, the SINALTRAINAL union in Colombia has been fighting various transnationals which, in complicity with the Colombian state and with paramilitar groups, harass, force to flee and kill trade unionists in Colombia. The workers of SINALTRAINAL decided to confront and denounce these transnationals, especially Coca Cola. The World Social Forum 2002 declared July 22 a World Day Against Coca Cola.
For Askapena, this Boycott campaign symbolizes the struggle for justice and peace in Colombia, the internationalist solidarity to help to open the door for a New Colombia and a way to say no to transnationals and the 'gendarmes' states imperialism (not to mention, of course, that Coca Cola has also stolen lands and waters to communities in India, Chiapas and other peoples of the world, besides that Coca Cola unionists have also been murdered in Guatemala).
What is the work done during the Conference? Apart from lectures, political festivals, mobilizations and various meetings to spread the campaigns has been done. We would like to emphasize the commitments taken by various organizations regarding both boycott campaigns.
Regarding the initiative 'Israeli Boikot' , it is noteworthy that commitments at the institutional level have been taken to approve motions in the municipalities declaring Israel 'non grato' and declaring not to have any economic, political, institutional or cultural relation with Israel. There are already 6 municipalities in Sakana (Navarra) who had approved this motion, and during the Conference several municipalities throughout the Basque Country committed themselves to be work on similar motions.
In addition, different musicians, sportsmen and sportswomen, bertsolaris, teachers and artists presented the manifesto 'Elkartasunez' answering the 'PACBI' initiative (www.pacbi.org) for a cultural and academic boycott on Israel.
As for the student and youth sector, they have also taken steps to spread the Boycott campaign and fight against any type of Israeli-Zionist expression, and made commitments to close the doors to Israel in areas such as academic and youth. This whole campaign is reflected in www.israeliboikot.org.
From this same sector commitments have been made to get Coca Cola out of schools, universities and youth occupied centres (Gaztetxe), and the same did over 50 bars, premises, etc. in Euskal Herria and dozens of commissions of "txosnas" (popular bars at popular festivals parties) that have decided to say 'No' to Coca Bola. (It is available at www.cocacolariez.org).
We are confident of taking steps in the right direction: in addition to jointly respond to the needs arising from brotherly peoples in the anti-imperialist fight, the boycott campaigns are an excellent tool to transmit internationalism to all sectors, fields and organizations of popular Basque movements. So, this will enable the most committed with internationalist solidarity to more effectively help Palestine, Colombia, Mexico, Wallmapu, Lebanon, Venezuela, Cuba ...
"Euskal Herriaren Lagunak"Friends of Euskal Herria" is the other side of the coin, the solidarity of return. In Basque language 'solidarity' states ' elkartasuna ', which translated literally means ' quality / feeling from and to both'. That means that solidarity can not be understood 'unilaterally'.
More than 20 friends of the Basque Country participated in the "Internazionalista Eguna" and in the Conference. They gave talks, they had meetings with various movements and social and political organizations, and also met among themselves to share and assess the work done, and to plan the next months.
Undoubtedly, solidarity towards Euskal Herria is in good health now. Increasingly friends of Euskal Herria understand the keys of the conflict this people are living : the non-recognition of a nation and their rights, and the continuing repression of any initiative that attempts to build national key socialist.
Friends coming from Castilla, Països Catalans, Portugal, Paris, Netherlands, Eire, Italy, Germany, Canada and the Canary Islands were together in the village of Elorrio. During the talks they showed to us pictures of the Second Week of Solidarity during which more than 2,000 people in 25 different cities mobilized, and they also reaffirmed their commitment to continue working solidarity with the Basque Country, over manipulations and attempts of criminalize this solidarity movement .
We would also like to emphasize that during the Conference the major of the X municipality of Rome (with some 200,000 inhabitants) sent a letter of solidarity to the mayors and councillors from the Basque pro-independence left who were dispossessed of their legitimate charges, and denouncing that it is not possible to solve the conflict by the repression. He also expressed his solidarity with the mayors of Mendexa, Aulestia and Hernani, whom he met when they went to Italy.
You can read more news on the International Conference on:
http://www.askapena.org/jardunaldiak08
In Euskal Herria people are increasingly aware that our people have really good friends. Your solidarity and your tenderness thrill us and gives us encouragement to go ahead.
JoTaKe irabazi arte! Until the victory!
Hamaika herri, borroka bakarra!, Many peoples, just one fight!
Hamaika herri, borroka bakarra!
· Download the PDF
· Photos of the "Internazionalista Eguna"
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Deialdiak
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Movement against the Globalization
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