Meet us by the Coyotl + Macehualli lending library in El Sereno for an evening of story and discussion on resistance and resilience. This gathering is free and in lieu of ticketing we are accepting donations in support of a local El Sereno vendor.

Mesoamérica Resiste is the Beehive Collective’s most recently completed narrative poster, the third and final installment in their trilogy on globalization in the Americas, and an epic project that took nine years to complete! The intricate, double-sided image documents resistance to the top-down development plans and mega-infrastructure projects that literally pave the way for resource extraction and free trade.

In 2004 an initial group of Bees traveled from Mexico to Panama over 5 months to meet with people on the frontlines of resistance to a regional development plan then known as Plan Puebla Panama (PPP). The announcement of the PPP in 2001 had sparked powerful cross-border organizing against its industrial scale mega-projects, like super-highways, dams, and power grids. In the following years our ongoing, intensive grassroots research took a variety of forms, from large international gatherings to local round tables, from interviews to informal conversations.

The stories in the graphic come from current struggles, but are also rooted in the legacies of over 500 years of colonialism in the Americas. A banner across the top reads, “Every time history repeats itself, the price goes up” – reminding us that we are in an era of extreme loss of cultural and ecological diversity and rapid climate change. Through the lens of Mesoamerica, the graphic tells the big picture story of what’s at stake across the globe with the neoliberal model of “development,” and what we’ve already lost.

This project also reflects efforts to go beyond illustrating just the bad news, to also sharing stories of collective action and inspiration. The inside of the poster tells stories of grassroots organizing and community resilience, especially highlighting organizing led by Indigenous peoples. A multitude of characters symbolize strategies and tactics for building and defending autonomy. There are over 400 species of insects, plants, and animals depicted that are native to somewhere between Mexico and Colombia, giving a glimpse into the incredible biodiversity of the region.

While focusing on stories from Mexico and Central America, this workshop and discussion will weave a much larger narrative about ways people are fighting back against a global economy based on colonialism, land grabs, and exploitation to build alternative economies all over the globe.