Jimena Paz, a member of the Honduran National Popular Resistance Front, was part of the SOA Watch South-North Encuentro that took place from June 22-26, 2010 in Venezuela. The Encuentro brought together organizers from 19 countries to strategize together and to build a cross-continental movement against militarization. Stay tuned for a report back from the Encuentro.
The first in a series of poems written during the 08/09 assault on Gaza.
The Attack on the Gaza Freedom Flotilla and How It Changed the Course of the Israeli/Palestine Conflict
Moustafa Bayoumi, Editor
“We have been attacked while in international waters. That means the Israelis have behaved like pirates … The moment they start to steer this ship towards Israel, we have also been kidnapped. The whole action is illegal.” – Henning Mankell, aboard the Gaza Freedom Flotilla
SOA Watch
24 June 2010
In what Father Roy Bourgeois, founder of SOA Watch, defined as “a historic moment” that we have dreamed of for many years, 50 representatives from 19 countries of the Americas are right now gathered in Sanare, Lara, Venezuela, to join efforts in resisting militarization and promoting a culture of peace. Watch this short video message from Maya Rodriguez and Father Roy Bourgeois recorded yesterday in Venezuela.
The Encuentro started on Tuesday, June 22. In a moving opening ritual, the group shared life stories, pictures of people that inspired them in the struggle, and a bit of soil that each of them brought from their countries.
The soil, as a symbol of life and fertility, is closely related to the flag of this Encuentro: corn growing out of a military helmet. Each day of the Encuentro is connected to the process of building this symbol. On Wednesday, we “prepared the helmet,” sharing the analyses that each representative had prepared.
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