WELCOME TO THE YOUTH NETWORK!

To: The participants in the International Youth Network for Humanity and Against Neoliberalism

From: A group of mexican youth who want to see a Network finally function...

I.WElCOME MESSAGE, SHORT INTRODUCTION AND OTHER THINGS...

WELCOME TO THE YOUTH NETWORK!

As the majority of you must already know, the idea for the Youth Network arose out of the first American Continental Encounter for Humanity and Against Neoliberalism, which took place in Zapatista territory, dignified corner of America, during the first week of April this year. For various reasons--and above all because of the political situation which affected all of us in Mexico throughout these months--the project never got off the ground.

Nevertheless, the need to create a Network arose again during the International Encounter, which took place at the end of July with the participation of five thousand people from all five continents. The following, then, is our proposal, from a group of youth from Mexico, to get the Network going.

"Just suppose that it is not true that there is no possible alternative. Just suppose that impunity and aggression are not the only future. Just suppose that it is possible that the rickety border which separates war from peace will not get even thinner. Just suppose that some crazies and romantics think that another world and another life are possible. Just suppose the worst, that is to say, that these crazies think that there are other crazies that think like them. Just suppose the inadmissable, that is to say, that these and those crazies want to meet each other. Just suppose that they suppose that out of this meeting of craziness some reason might release itself..."
(Subcomandante Insurgente Marcos, March, 1996)

Some weeks ago, in a far away corner of the American Continent, something happened...

Under the blind eyes of Neoliberalism, something started to grow, something that sooner or later had to be born.

Coming from different nations from the five continents, thousands of people responded to the call of the Zapatista Army of National Liberation (EZLN) to attend the Intergalactic Encounter for Humanity and Against Neoliberalism.

Just as during the Continental Encounters, the need for all of us to communicate became evident; in light of this, a group of youth from various countries met and the proposal to create this Youth Network once again came to life.

From the furthest southern borders of our hurting but dignified America to the north of Europe, neoliberalism continues to set in, using repression as its principal instrument to extend and defend its territory, and eliminating everything which does not serve its purposes or which stands up to it with resistence. And in order to assure its continued existence it prepares new generations for their integration into the neoliberal machine.

One of the strategies which Neoliberalism uses to support itself has been, without a doubt, public opinion. Using newspapers and magazines, and especially radio and television, those who govern the the world transmit essays, articles, studies, proposals, etc., all directed towards the creation of an image of legitimacy for their actions.

Nevertheless, a new movement is growing from its roots in every corner of the world, wherever there is hope, wherever there exists a struggle to create a world where many worlds fit. ("un mundo donde quepan muchos mundos")

In order to combat what neoliberalism imposes on humanity, it is absolutely necessary to create alternative systems of communication, in order to listen to each other, talk to each other and in this way learn about the particular situations which affect every corner of the world. To you, who live in a corner of our Land, we invite you to participate and share your words with the youth of your country, your continent, and your world.

II. OBJECTIVES:

In its first stage we hope that this Network can serve as a space for dialogue between all of us, a space where we can learn from one another and through which we can support each other in our popular resistence to the neoliberal measures which manifest themselves from the coldest corners of North America to South Africa.

In particular we want this network to be a means by which we can learn about the problems which we confront as youth living under the structures of neoliberal domination and a resource which facilitates the exchange of information, ideas, conceptions, denunciations, initiatives to resist neoliberalism, etc.. That is to say, the purpose of this Network is to get a better understanding of the daily situations of each one of us and from there begin to construct a more dignified, democratic and free world.

III. STRUCTURE AND "COMMUNICATION KNOTS" TO CONFRONT THE INEQUALITY OF THE INTERNET:

Our proposal is to achieve genuine communication between everyone, that is to say, that no one is left without expressing themself or listening to others. We think that this is possible at two levels: through Internet, for those who have access to this means of communication; and through more traditional means of communication (normal mail, for example) for those who don't have access to electronic mail.

Since very few of us have the possibility of gaining access to the Internet we have to commit ourselves to distributing all of the information which comes out of this exchange of ideas and experiences to our sisters and brothers who do not have access to the Internet.

And beyond this informal commitment to distributing the information we would like to propose a more formal system by which we can combat the inequality of communication dominated by the Internet. As was discussed at the Intercontinental Encounter, the proposal is to set up "communication knots" through which information can be passed between those with internet access and those without. The idea is that a few people in each country would make themselves responsible as "knots" to receive and send out information to those people in their country who do not have internet access.

This is not a proposal to "centralize" the information. To the contrary, everyone should feel with complete freedom to communicate with whomever, whenever and in whatever way they like. The only intention of this proposal is to confront the inequality of electronic information.

Whoever would like to be a "knot", please communicate with us in Mexico through e-mail or normal mail , so that we can compile a list of the knots in each country and distribute it to everyone.

IV. HOW TO USE THIS LIST:

If you have electronic mail and would like to participate in the Network please send the word "subscribe" to: jovenes-request@condor.sccs.swarthmore.edu and you will be automatically signed up on the list and receive all messages sent to the central address. If you do not have electronic mail and would like to participate please send your name and address to us in Mexico, and we will try to find you a communication "knot". To send a message to all of the people signed up to the list send it to jovenes@condor.sccs.swarthmore.edu

If for any reason you do not want to continue participating in the Youth Network, send a message to: "jovenes-request@condor.sccs.swarthmore.edu" with the word: "unsubscribe" in the text of the message.

We eagerly await contributions from everyone!

V. AND SPEAKING OF CONTRIBUTIONS FROM EVERYONE...

And now that we have spoken of contributions from everyone, it seems important that each one of us that forms a part of the Network should begin by offering up some of those oh so nice and forgotten companions (words) through a brief presentation about who we are, where we are, and what we do in our different countries in distinct areas: academic, political, civic, artistic, cultural, etc.. There is no need for us to present political or literary autobiografies that bring us to tears nor complete works about our lives (although, of course, if this mode of expression is prefered this would also be pleasantly received).

We believe that this is fundamental for our Network because it will allow us to get to know each other more as who we are: concrete youth, with concrete histories and a common ideal: the struggle against neoliberalism and for a new world; and not as who neoliberalism wants to make us into: a depersonalized, dehumanized and disorganized mass of people without any purposes other than to consume and be consumed.

At the same time it would be great to hear the ideas that each one of us has concerning this Network, our Network. We want to get to know your proposals concerning organization, functioning and plans for action; indeed, since the Network in fact arose out of the Intercontinental Encounter, it will not have the possibility of continuing if we do not include the ideas and initiatives of everyone, we underline this last word.

So we invite you all to send this information to our network through electronic mail or normal mail.

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Well, friends, that's all. We hope to hear your responses and you reactions soon to this verrrry brief greeting from some of us in Mexico. May you always keep your heart on the left. Que viva la esperanza!

_______________ See you soon,

Some "chavos" from Mexico