Bolivia's Morales Calls for New Era of 'Peace and Unity' to Break Greed of Capitalism

[Keith Millea]

"It is the end of the Macha and the beginning of the Pacha" ::mexican:

Published on Friday, December 21, 2012 by Common Dreams

Bolivia's Morales Calls for New Era of 'Peace and Unity' to Break Greed of Capitalism


The 'end of the world' it is not, says president of Bolivia, but rather an opportunity to dispose of 'capitalism's greed' and unite in happiness and unselfishness

- Jon Queally, staff writer

Bolivian President Evo Morales is marking today's winter solstice and the much-discussed calendar date by celebrating a hopeful vision for a "new era of peace and love" in the world, one in which the spirit of community and respect for Mother Earth will win out over the greed induced by global capitalism.



Bolivian president Evo Morales says December 21 marks 'end of an anthropocentric life and the beginning of a bio-centric life. It is the end of hatred and the beginning of love, the end of lies and beginning of truth'. (Photograph: Martin Alipaz/EPA)

In an open invitation to celebrate the day, Morales explained that "the Mayan calendar's 21 of December is the end of the non-time and the beginning of time. It is the end of the Macha and the beginning of the Pacha, the end of selfishness and the beginning of brotherhood, it is the end of individualism and the beginning of collectivism."

And continued, "The scientists know very well that this marks the end of an anthropocentric life and the beginning of a bio-centric life. It is the end of hatred and the beginning of love, the end of lies and beginning of truth. It is the end of sadness and the beginning of happiness, it is the end of division and the beginning of unity, and this is a theme to be developed. That is why we invite all of you, those of you who bet on mankind, we invite those who want to share their experiences for the benefit of mankind."

Morales, a champion of indigenous rights and himself a descendent of the Andean Aymara people, helped supplant the idea that the 2012 winter solstice marked the "end of times" or an "apocalypse" by clarifying that the lunar happening was simply an opportunity for spiritual renewal. Though auspicious for the Mayan people, most of the loud rhetoric clamoring about the "end of the world" is a Western invention, pushed by those who know little of the traditions or spirit of the indigenous people and their deeper history.

As The Guardian reports:

Morales will mark the day by boarding one of the largest reed ships built in modern times and join thousands of people for celebrations on the Island of the Sun on Lake Titicaca.

"According to the Mayan calendar, the 21 of December is the end of the non-time and the beginning of time," he told the UN in September. "It is the end of hatred and the beginning of love, the end of lies and beginning of truth."

The Bolivian government has hailed the solstice as the start of an age in which community and collectivity will prevail over capitalism and individuality. Those themes have long been present in Morales's discourse, especially in the idea of vivir bien, or living well. He has stressed the importance of a harmonious balance between human life and the planet, though some people question its application in Bolivia, where the economy depends heavily on mining, oil and gas industries.

A fuller excerpt from Morales' speech announcing the celebration for the solstice is provided by the Indian Country Media Network, in which he said:

"I wish to take this opportunity to announce an invitation to an international meeting on the 21 of December this year. A meeting closing the age of non-time and receiving the new age of balance and harmony for Mother Earth. It would take so long to tell you about the knowledge of our indigenous brothers in Mexico, in Guatemala, in Bolivia, in Ecuador, but basically we are issuing this invitation to hold a virtual debate, and also in person, on the following topics:

Number 1: Global crisis of capitalism

Number 2: Mold of civilization, world government, capitalism, socialism, community,
 culture of life

Number 3: Climate crisis, relationship of the human being with nature

Number 4: Common energy, energy of change

Number 5: Awareness of Mother Earth

Number 6: Recovery of ancestral uses and customs, natural cosmic
calendar

Number 7: Living well as a solution to the global crisis, because we affirm once again that one can only live better by preserving natural 
resources. This is a profound debate that I would like to have with the world.

Number 8: Food sovereignty of course, security with food sovereignty

Number 9: Integration, brotherhood, community economy, complementarity, right to communication, community learning for life, the new holistic human, the end of patriarchy, awakening of self knowledge, and of course health which is so important.

"And I would like to say that according to the Mayan calendar the 21 of December is the end of the non-time and the beginning of time. It is the end of the Macha and the beginning of the Pacha, the end of selfishness and the beginning of brotherhood, it is the end of individualism and the beginning of collectivism 21 of December this year. The scientists know very well that this marks the end of an anthropocentric life and the beginning of a bio-centric life. It is the end of hatred and the beginning of love, the end of lies and beginning of truth. It is the end of sadness and the beginning of happiness, it is the end of division and the beginning of unity, and this is a theme to be developed. That is why we invite all of you, those of you who bet on mankind, we invite those who want to share their experiences for the benefit of mankind."

And Shankar Chautari, also from The Guardian, reports back from a recent trip to the Mayan regions of Central and South America that there is little or no sense that the day marks the end of anything in a physical sense.

Throughout our trip, we encountered many ordinary Mayans from every walk of life to check out their reaction to the supposedly doomsday prediction. Most of the Mayans we spoke to were largely baffled by the question; others flatly denied that there was any reason that the world would come to an end. Told that a lot of conventional wisdom behind the doomsday scenario in the rest of the world supposedly derived from ancient Mayan texts, they politely replied that they were not aware of any such prediction or text.

In every place we visited, whether in a large city like Merida or a smaller town like Celestun or Uayamon, we found the local people going about their business in perfect calmness without any concern for any impending apocalypse.

Perhaps that was because no such apocalypse is foretold. David Stuart, a noted Mayan and Meso-American specialist at the University of Texas at Austin, observed in his book The Order Of Days: The Maya World and the Truth About 2012, that "no Maya text ancient, colonial or modern ever predicted the end of time or the end of the world."

http://www.commondreams.org/headline/2012/12/21

[Magda Hassan]

Yes Keith, this is very much what the Mayans believe a time of transition from one era to another. It is sad to think there are some people who were terrified of the day thinking it was The End Of The World.

I was also intrigued to note also that at the same time as if in synchrony the First Nations of the north are gathering together under 'Idle No More' and the Zapatistas are once again on the move marching in their thousands in silence.

First Nations Idle No More protests continue across Canada

Global News and The Canadian Press Saturday, December 22, 2012 10:41 AM

• Interactive map: 'Idle No More' rallies across Canada
  
• In depth: A closer look at Idle No More and Bill C-45
  
• Idle No More: First Nations activist movement grows across Canada
  

OTTAWA - As hundreds gathered for Idle No More protests across Canada, one of the Saskatoon women who launched the movement recalled its beginnings.

Sheelah McLean says and others met in the city to discuss how they might affect change, deciding to hold a number of -- in her words -- "teach-ins."

She says the movement has ignited long-standing issues among women and First Nations people across the country and now, even across the globe.

McLean says it's time for Canadians to look at their history of racism and sexism, and address the inequality that exists in society now as a result of that history.

Hundreds of First Nations protesters waved flags, chanted slogans and shook a collective fist at the federal government Friday as they gathered on Parliament Hill to put Canada on notice they would be "idle no more."

More than 1,000 protesters, a group stretching several city blocks, marched through the streets of the capital after meeting with Theresa Spence, the chief of northern Ontario's troubled Attawapiskat First Nation, who is on a hunger strike.

"We are tired of having the boot put to our head," Algonquin Chief Gilbert Whiteduck told the gathering beneath the Peace Tower under a steady barrage of snow.

"We want the government of Canada to come to the table in a spirit of unconditional openness and transparency."

Other rallies were held in various cities across the country. Demonstrations in support of Spence's cause also took place in the United States.

Read it on Global News: Global BC | First Nations Idle No More protests continue across Canada

[ATTACH=CONFIG]4206[/ATTACH][ATTACH=CONFIG]4208[/ATTACH] [ATTACH=CONFIG]4209[/ATTACH]

Breaking News: By Votan LRI Writer-Today, 12-21-12, the Indigenous movement called EZLN ( Zapatista National Liberation Army) marched by the hundreds from the highlands of chiapas into cities to draw attention to i
Indigenous issues which have been ignored or quelled by the Mexican government.
Today they raise awareness addressing the 15th anniversary of the acteal massacre. The abuse of Native peoples in the cities and abroad!
The march is said to culminate in an area where the privileged have placed an ice skating ring that has costed the city thousands, while Indigenous communities lack basic necessities!

[ATTACH=CONFIG]4207[/ATTACH] [ATTACH=CONFIG]4210[/ATTACH]

[Keith Millea]

Published on Monday, December 24, 2012 by Common Dreams

Canada's 'Idle No More' Movement Spreads Like Wildfire


Chief Theresa Spence on 14th day of hunger strike

- Craig Brown, staff writer


The 'Idle No More' movement, a campaign of grassroots First Nations protests, has spread like wildfire over the past week in response to bills passed by the conservative Canadian government.



First Nations protesters march towards Parliament Hill during a demonstration as part of the spreading 'Idle No More' movement in Ottawa, Canada, December 21, 2012. REUTERS/Chris Wattie Anger to the recently passed C-45, the Harper government omnibus budget bill, has fueled the growing movement.

Bil C-45 includes changes to the Canadian Indian Act regarding how reserve lands are managed, making them easier to develop and be taken away from the First Nation people.
The bill also removes thousands of lakes and streams from the list of federally protected bodies of water. "This is unacceptable. They have made a unilateral decision remove the protection of waterways... Shell Canada has proposed to mine out 21km of the Muskeg River, a river of cultural and biological significance. This ultimately gives the tar sands industry a green light to destroy vital waterways still used by our people," stated Eriel Deranger, Communication Coordinator for the Athabasca Chipewyan First Nation.

Atiwapiskat First Nation Chief Theresa Spence has been on a hunger strike since December 11th, resolved to starve herself to death unless Prime Minister Stephen Harper meets to discuss treaty rights, and Canada's relationship with its Indigenous peoples. She is currently living in a teepee on Victoria Island, in Ottawa, just a kilometer away from the Parliament buildings. So far, Harper has rejected calls to meet with Spence.



Attawapiskat Chief Theresa Spence, center, sits between supporters Danny Matatawabin, left, and Angela Bercier in a teepee on Victoria Island in Ottawa during her hunger strike. (Photo; Julie Oliver, Ottawa Citizen)



http://www.commondreams.org/headline/2012/12/24-1

[Magda Hassan]

On Christmas Eve, a flash mob quickly grew at Limeridge Mall as the Native people of Canada and concerned citizens came together to voice their outrage at the Harper Government and raise awareness to the increasing attacks and violations on our human rights and this great country.
Idle No More calls on all people to join in a revolution which honors and fulfills Indigenous sovereignty which protects the land and water. Colonization continues through attacks to Indigenous rights and damage to the land and water. We must repair these violations, live the spirit and intent of the treaty relationship, work towards justice in action, and protect Mother Earth.

On December 10th, Indigenous people and allies stood in solidarity across Canada to assert Indigenous sovereignty and begin the work towards sustainable, renewable development. All people will be affected by the continued damage to the land and water and we welcome Indigenous and non-Indigenous allies to join in creating healthy sustainable communities. We encourage youth to become engaged in this movement as you are the leaders of our future. There have always been individuals and groups who have been working towards these goals -- Idle No More seeks to create solidarity and further support these goals. We recognize that there may be backlash, and encourage people to stay strong and united in spirit.

[Keith Millea]

Magda;

I think this "Idle No More" movement needs it's own dedicated thread.This is not going away soon.Can you move the INM posts to another location?