Zapata Rides Again

Strange as it may seem , the early 20th century revolutionary Emiliano Zapata , at times portrayed as a laughable Mexican bandit , is playing a part in the current struggle between Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama . Both contestants have declared they will overhaul the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) which involves the US, Canada and Mexico. Both Democrats supported NAFTA in the past . President Bill Clinton trumpeted the benefits of NAFTA when he signed up . NAFTA enabled the setting up of giant factories in Mexico where goods were made by the poorly paid workforce, many of them women who were attacked at night as they stumbled home in the gloom after a long shift. Kind companies allowed people to make homes from discarded cardboard boxes near the factories . Profits from Mexico enabled multi-national companies to close down factories in the USA and move operations south of the border , tearing the guts out of some communities and causing growing unrest and anger . General Motors told auto workers that if they asked for a wage increase operations would be moved to Mexico . The growing concern about the impact of NAFTA on parts of America and Mexico has been voiced in the primaries battle and will be an issue in the presidential election . If NAFTA is such an economic boon for Mexico , why do so many Mexicans risk death sneaking across the border into America ? In addition many Mexicans, alarmed at the way land is being expropriated by ruthless organisations and individuals , have invoked the name of Zapata to fight back. They call themselves Zapatistas and there are many hundreds of thousands of them . Some New Zealanders have been helping out these groups . Currently, funds are being raised in Australia by a Wellington, NZ, Zapatista support group, proceeds going to the La Garrucha Health Project. Surprisingly, tickets are being sold in a raffle , the first prize being a first edition copy of an erotic illustrated novel , written and autographed by El Subcomandante Marcos. The illustrations are by leading Mexico artist Antonio Ramirez. A booklet illustrated by children in an autonomous community which runs a school, health clinic , library and pharmacy is also being distributed in Australia. The school is named after Zapata and the text tells how he fought for the right of indigenous people to their life, land and liberty.

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