Help us fund the Zapatista tour of Ireland

In an amazing opportunity grassroots groups and activist around Ireland are preparing to welcome a delegation from the Zapatistas to Ireland this October. They are visiting Ireland as part of a historic solidarity and movement building voyage to Europe:

 

''It is time for our hearts to dance again, and for their sounds and rhythm to not be those of mourning and resignation. Thus, various Zapatista delegations, men, women, and others, the color of our earth, will go out into the world, walking or setting sail to remote lands, oceans, and skies, not to seek out difference, superiority, or offense, much less pity or apology, but to find what makes us equal.'

 

While they are in Ireland over a period of roughly 18 days they will visit communities and groups in the north, west, south and east. We have a loose plan at the moment where using community centres and art spaces and social spaces encuentros will be held which will be based around 'listening and speaking' as the Zapatistas have asked, and around hospitality, art, music and food.

 

These events will be used to connect our movements here which are engaged in resistance and struggle in Ireland with each other and will give us the opportunity to remember and relearn what is possible using the example and living presence of the Zapatista Delegation. We will be celebrating the resistance, persistence and revolutionary imagination of the Zapatista movement and hopefully taking inspiration from them to build our own movements stronger better and deeper.

 

Among those already participating are feminist groups, environmental and anti-extractivist movements, sustainable radical farming groups, ethnic minorities, disabled people, LGBTQ+ groups and migrants involved in struggles for justice and life. We are and will be reaching out to as many groups and campaigns as possible to include them in these plans on their own terms and only limited by the time and spaces available. Because this trip is being organised at very short notice we need to get funds in place quickly and so we are doing this Go Fund Me and we are really grateful for any support we get and we are totally accepting of the fact that not everyone has funds to donate and so no pressure of any description!

If you want to get involved you can get in touch with us at @zapsgoheirinn on twitter [email redacted] and and follow our facebook https://www.facebook.com/F%C3%A1ilte-go-h%C3%89irinn-Zapatistas-2021-101658158954082 

 

We are fundraising to pay for the transport, food and support and accommodation for the delegation themselves on their trip around Ireland and for the cost of running the various events and meetings and celebrations that will take place. We want also to ensure that no one is prevented from participating in this great adventure by lack of funds or childcare or accessible transport and so we will raise as much as possible for the visit.

 

If by any chance there is a surplus of funds at the end of the journey we will donate these funds to the delegation for their tour around the rest of the planet.