More about St Imier - The "Whole" Enchilada by Brenda - 1 of Anarkismo Editorial Group (ca)

There anarchist and advocate providing other solutions, other future forms of social
organization, but they will, like us, destroy the political power and individual
ownership: want, like us, that the organization of social functions is made spontaneously
- no delegation of power and without governments, like us, want to fight at all costs and
without respite until complete victory, they are our comrades and brothers. ---- Besides,
for all school exclusivism; us understand more about the way and the means, and on." ---
Errico Malatesta ---- From 8 to 12 August last was held in the Swiss town of St. Imier the
International Anarchist Congress to remember that took place in the same city 140 years
ago in response to the expulsion of Bakunin and James Guillaume Miguel the consummated in
the International Congress of the Hague, 1862.

In this Congress, sponsored by the Jura Federation (among others) who founded an
anti-authoritarian International appealed to the autonomy of the sections thus countering
the communist maneuvers, since the General Council of London, trying to build a
centralized organization.

140 years after a committee of different organizations, groups and anarchists of different
tendencies spaces but all identified with the so-called social anarchism organized or
launched a project to which they responded more than 4000 people from all corners of the
planet with the order to think and discuss anarchist practice in the current context. This
is scheduled numerous activities: conferences, lectures, workshops, film screenings,
creating a privileged meeting place also favored conducting endless meetings and impromptu
meetings between individuals and organizations.
For accommodation were arranged campsites and conditioned spaces in the town, in the rink,
for example, got a huge book fair which had titles in almost every language becoming a
center of exchange of material between publishers and distributors (although some tables,
very few actually were totally neglected). From 10 in the morning until late at night had
all kinds of activities, including concerts, exhibitions or simply sharing a drink at the
Space Noir, the cooperative local anarchist.

Despite the varied program, which unfortunately splicing conferences and round tables, and
that the events were held at venues scattered across the length and width of the winding
streets of St. Imier, we must emphasize the large audience that counted and that inherent
difficulties occurred, such as insufficient space, lack of equipment for simultaneous
translation (French, English, German, Italian, Greek and Portuguese mainly), same that
despite the enthusiastic cooperation of voluntarixs, were not always the most optimal . It
was inevitable that the understanding of some exposures were limited and considerably
reduce the time entries (sometimes just for the exhibition center to the detriment of the
debate). However, at the end it came down to minor details that far from tarnishing the
organizational effort of vegan organizers, highlighting its convening, his immense work,
creativity and valuable infrastructure available.

1. The Media Enchilada.

Also used the event to make some formal meetings of organizations such as the Congress of
the International of Anarchist Federations (identified with the tendency synthesist) and
the meeting of the groups linked to the website Anarkismo (platform). It was evident from
the start that there are significant differences in the European anarchism, a real parade
of acronyms that share the same inability to explain their differences and with the same
ability to make implicit in the program, discussions and even in fine humor involuntary
some stories

Within the program were referred to four conferences that formed the body of the great
discussions: "Anarchism and innovation policy", "Make anarchism today", "New Territories
Anarchism" and "anarchists Alternatives facts" and panel discussions from anarcafeminismo
perspective, although discussions exceeded these issues and included issues such as basic
unionism, libertarian education, direct action, urbanism, anarchism and right, indigenous
resistance and autonomy, as well as lectures on the history of the international anarchist
movement and its protagonists.

In the table of "Innovation policy" discussed how the anarchist movement to articulate the
movements "autonomous" social popular and have appeared in several countries (such as the
Canadian and Chilean student movement). We thought it lacked develop an overall strategy
to participate in the broad anarchist movements. No requirement not talked about losing
sight of the limited purely reformist and some movements, mentioned the case of the
Indignados in Spain ascribing anti-capitalist and anti-systemic in nature, that would be
discussion-though no one addressed, if we evaluate the defense of the welfare state which
assumes, or limits such unions operating in a legal framework established by the State.
Missed, then, recognize that sometimes prevails indulgence, condescension, false tolerance
on the analysis and to add an acronym to the list of supporters reproduce corporate
practices, and critical analysis only, rigorous, can be located at anarchism as a living
force in the social struggles

While there is a strong and genuine interest in the movements and struggles of Latin
American independence, it seems that is still based on Western cultural assumptions that
prevent its complex depth understanding these resistances. Like their ancestors of the
sixteenth century, European anarchists have failed to overcome ideological paradigms as
those named America a "New World". With the same naive arrogance of conquerors, decided to
appoint a board "New Territories" of anarchism; adjudging the authority to determine what
is, or is supposed to be not only America but also the liberation struggles that occur
therein . A serious conceptual error, but sadly common, we have seen take shape in the
guise of charitable solidarity and carry out end to end of the imaginary: either
idealizing these struggles (neo-Zapatistas, Mapuche protesters, MST, pachamamismo, etc. )
and Latin America as placing space realization of long-sought Utopia or libertarian
underestimating the strong potential of this resistance, it being anchored in a strong
cultural tradition of its own, rather than anarchist, they are unworthy of attention.
In Latin American periphery of the capitalist system in structural crisis manifested in
open warfare against the population cruelly executed by the State, with a working class
under corporate control, you configure a quite different European anarchism. To mention a
hint: if in Europe the dismantling of the welfare state, indeed an achievement of social
struggles, make the defense of these privileges are claimed for the European anarchism, in
America, where the project was introduced to European civilization means ( except in the
north), and was achieved by violent expropriation and dispossession of any possibility of
being made by despotic states, anarchism has a communal life, autonomy and the assemblies
of the people, as a benchmark of struggle and organization.
Thus, these slips Eurocentric explain the great misunderstanding about local processes and
limited international collaboration to move so incongruous and decontextualized
ideological differences that match a specific context (Europe) to Latin American, causing
unnecessary and artificial divisions in local struggles solidarity and subordinating the
prism of one or another European organization, impoverishing their chances to be assigned
the task of "teaching" their ideas and practices, never knowing that other reality. Surely
we must learn that beyond the written word or the bank account, solidarity means sharing
our experiences, allowing and respecting the development of our struggles.

2. Incompleteness ...

The objectives of the meeting of St. Imier were extremely ambitious, facing them feelings
of dissatisfaction are inevitable, however, will have to overcome the disappointment and
appreciate that he had the ability to ask big questions: How can that anarchism is a real
force for social change?, How can the idea be extended and that the anarchist movement is
a movement of new features and vigorous presence in society?

To nosotrxs St. Imier was proof that there are multiple places, organizations, groups and
individuals working, everyone from their perspective, in order to resolve these dilemmas
in practice. It is true that the meeting was not intended to become the forum for
resolving differences (which are historical and deep within the anarchist movement), but
it certainly was an opportunity to move forward in the direction of building a more
cohesive movement, starting from knowledge of the other, the approach to concrete
struggles, the understanding of realities that sometimes seem distant by distance but are
surprisingly close. Hopefully this exercise has served to strengthen existing
partnerships, and has facilitated the birth of others, based on real affinities rather
than initials.

The questions go on the air and as was seen in St. Imier from anarchism there is no single
answer, but many, as many as there are realities and contexts, all rich and valuable.
Hopefully these events serve to reflect on the act anarchist and we can understand that
beyond belonging to this or that trend, this or that organization, although some practices
that separate us, while resulting from strategies and do not enter in direct contradiction
with the basic principles-what someone has aptly called the core of anarchist thought and
action share a common history and a same approach.

Although somewhat viejxs, we like to have fun. From Mexico, attending the meeting of St
Imier anarcotropical trend.

Brenda
Jaime
Katia

1] The Enchilada is a versatile Mexican dish made from corn tortillas, stuffed with a
variety of ingredients and covered with chili sauces equally diverse. When au gratin with
cheese are called Swiss Enchiladas. The term "whole enchilada" was a term coined during
the Fox administration (2000-2006) by the then Foreign Minister Jorge G. Castaneda, who in
a fit of creativity amazing used it to refer to the ambitious-and frustrated-immigration
agreement with the United States; sadly popularized has joined the popular language
repertoire when you want something immeasurably unlikely to get it.

Bron : a-infos-en@ainfos.ca