Caracoles: New Paths of Resistance

Since 1994, the Zapatista indigenous peoples have formed 30 rebel Autonomous Municipalities that today encompass more than half of Chiapas. To address the problems of self-government and build a more direct bridge to the world, they announced the birth of Los Caracoles, which will replace the regional, cultural, and political centers known as Aguascalientes. On August 8, 9, and 10, 2003, an open invitation was extended to Zapatista lands to celebrate this birth. "They say that with the caracol, the collective was summoned so that words could be passed from one to another and agreement could be born... that the caracol was an aid so that the ear could hear even the most distant word."