Ya Basta!

A declaration of war against the powers of injustice and poverty from 'Ya Basta' in the build-up to the G8 Summit in Genoa

26th May 2001

To the Global Civil society

To the Italian Defence Committee - Chief of Staff

To the Italian Government - The Prime Minister - The President of the Republic of Italy

US Army Chief of Staff - American Embassy in Rome CIA Office - SISDE headquarters

We learn from the Italian media that in a meeting held in Rome on May 24, the Italian and the US government have decided to declare war to the multitude of brothers and sisters that will gather in Genoa against the G8 meeting scheduled for July.

Your choice to deploy your armies and special forces against humanity, takes you closer to your allies in the global south where everyday they kill, starve, and persecute those who don't accept the neoliberal exploitation.

All over the planet your soldiers use guns against the ideas and the dreams about a different world, a world that would include other worlds.

In your Genoa meeting too, you want to impose a world that is exclusive, a world where the only ideology is that of money, profit, market, goods and bodies. Your world is an empire, you are the emperors and billions of people are simply your subjects.

From the outskirts of this empire, from the several worlds that resist and grow dreaming of a better life for all, today, we, rebel subjects, formally declare war on you.

This is a choice that *you* made because we do prefer peace and this decision will mean defying your arrogance and your power, but we have to do it.

It is our duty to try to stop you in order to end injustice.

It is our duty to give voice to our brothers and sisters of the world who are suffering because of you.

It is our duty not to surrender to the fear of your armies and to raise our heads.

It is our duty because we declare wars only when we are obliged to do so.

But if we have to choose between fighting your occupying troops and passive acceptance, we have no doubts. We will fight.

We formally announce we are going on the war-path too. We will be in Genoa and our army of dreamers, poor, children, indios of the world, women, men, gay, lesbians, artists, workers, old and young people, whites, blacks, yellows and reds will disobey your impositions.

Our army was formed to be disbanded but only after your defeat. Today we say 'YA BASTA!'.

From the outskirts of the empire.

White Overalls for humanity against neoliberalism 26 May 2001 - Genoa - Italy - Planet Earth