Zapatistas. Unit 7 Notes

Transcription

1 Zapatistas Unit 7 Notes

2 Picture Analysis What exactly do you see in the photograph? How are the people dressed? What are they doing? Imagine that you are in the picture. What would you hear? What would you smell? Prediction: What happened right before this image? Prediction: What happened right after this image?

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10 Chiapas- the place The land of Chiapas is among Mexico s richest. More than half of Mexico s hydroelectric power comes from Chiapas. Natural gas and oil are found there, and much coffee is grown. Yet, the resources go north to fuel other Mexican states. huge division between rich & poor in the state

11 Chiapas- the people Those hardest hit by poverty in Chiapas are the people of Mayan descent. Many of them do not speak Spanish. Most of them are small-scale farmers. They have less access to education and healthcare than most other Mexicans. When Mexico s leaders run for election or make public policies, they tend to ignore the needs and voices of the indigenous.ignored by leaders

12 Who are the Zapatistas? a group of Mexicans who support improved rights & living conditions for Mexico s indigenous people The Zapatista Army was founded November 17, 1983 Where does the name Zapatista come from?...

13 Emiliano Zapata poor sharecropper of Mayan descent hero in the Mexican revolution of Fought for justice for the indigenous people of Mexico In the late twentieth century; the Zapatistas were known for harassment and sabotage against the government.

14 The Zapatista movement began in the Mexican state of Chiapas.

15 What s the Big Deal? Chiapas has the worst rates of poverty in Mexico: three-fourths of its people are malnourished, half live in dwellings with dirt floors 19% of the population has no income 39% earn less than minimum wage ($3/day) Chiapas is a huge contributor to the global economy (water, oil, etc.), but is getting little in return. huge division between rich & poor in the state

16 Zapatistas Concerns Zapatistas want to eliminate the division between the social classes in Chiapas (wealthy vs. poor) They argued that the indigenous people of Mexico needed more help to improve healthcare, housing education, & jobs. They have tried to peacefully negotiate with Mexico s government, but the agreements have not solved the peoples problems.

17 Subcomandante Marcos "The natural wealth that leaves these lands doesn't travel over just these three roads (leading to Chiapas). Chiapas is bled through thousands of veins: through oil ducts and gas ducts, over electric wires, by railroad cars, through bank accounts, by trucks and vans, by ships and planes...and what tribute does this land continue to pay to various empires? Oil, electric energy, cattle, money, bananas, honey, corn, cocoa, tobacco, sugar, soy...and Chiapan blood flows out through a thousand and one fangs sunk into the neck of southeastern Mexico."

18 What is Guerrilla Warfare? sudden, unexpected acts carried about by groups that fight using hit and run tactics Many terrorist groups employ guerrilla warfare.

19 NAFTA & the Zapatistas Jan 1 st 1994 North American Free Trade Agreement came into effect & allowed free trade between US, Canada, & Mexico This was an agreement to allow free trade between Canada, Mexico, and the United States. Some people in Mexico did not like this plan. They thought that NAFTA would allow cheap farm goods to come into Mexico from the United States. The farmers in Mexico would not be able to compete with the cheaper food.

20 NAFTA & the Zapatistas On the day NAFTA took effect, the Zapatistas took over 7 towns in state of Chiapas. The Mexican army was sent to remove the Zapatistas. fighting lasted for several weeks, & a ceasefire eventually ended the fighting Zapatistas did not go away

21 Armed Takeover in Chiapas 01/01/94

22 Zapatistas Today Agreements between the Zapatistas and the government have not solved the problems the people have with the government. The Zapatistas have control of some small parts of southern Mexico. The Zapatistas argue that the indigenous people of Mexico need more help to improve health care, housing, education, and jobs.