France, Alternative Libertair #222 - Spain: Tierra y libertad! (fr)

For several months of daily farm land occupied Somonte (Andalusia) at the initiative of 
SOC-SAT [ 1 ] in the context of land speculation. Despite the repression, the daily 
maintain their occupation and diversify their activities. Remains to be seen if these 
struggles occupation will converge with the rest of the social movement. ---- Since March 
4, farm laborers, the majority of members in SAT, occupy a property of 400 hectares which 
would be sold by the Socialist government in Andalusia as part of a campaign of 
speculation. Most of the land is owned by Andalusian a minority of landowners who took the 
opportunity to touch fat European subsidies. In contrast, the daily is difficult for the 
majority of laborers (jornaleros) in a context of fierce austerity where 33% of the 
population is unemployed Andalusian.

These landless survive on government subsidies that fall - about 400 euros per month - 
while the majority of the land is left fallow or is intended to pseudo ecological projects 
such as biofuels or solar panels. The autonomy of the occupants and occupants is ensured 
by the establishment of a self-managed firm. Collective life reflects a true solidarity 
that opposes individualism generalized. Horizontal operation is provided by a general 
meeting daily.

Land use and self-
Many support local, national or international tributary on site. Ultimately, the 
occupation of 400 acres could feed thousands of people. The authorities responded with a 
smear campaign in the media and by the prosecution which resulted in the eviction of the 
camp on April 26. Despite police pressure day, and resumed the occupation lasts. SAT 
revives today with its tradition of struggles occupations. Following a struggle to 
Marinaleda in 1985, had obtained jornaleros the creation of a cooperative on occupied land 
in exchange for compensation to the owner by the region. SAT claims the implementation of 
a genuine agrarian reform and the right to food self-sufficiency. Here, theory and 
experience of struggles build the foundation for other agriculture. SAT merely repeats an 
old demand of the Andalusian people. As Lola says, spokesman SAT: " Private property is 
theft. The earth is like water or air, it can not belong to anyone . "

Direct action unionism
After Somonte, SAT held in late July in Las military property Turquillas. Here, only 20 
hectares in 1200 are used. The State encounters difficulties in organizing the repression 
due to the drastic reduction of positions. However, the final expulsion took place on 
August 10. The great march early September helped popularize the SAT struggles occupation. 
Several thousand people crossed the Andalusian countryside to Seville. The food collected 
during requisitions in supermarkets was then distributed to poor families. Degradation of 
the social context partly explains the evolution of forms of struggle since 2011. However, 
the revolution is still far and convergence with the rest of the social movement remains. 
Thus, the SAT is now calling for the formation of a broad front anti-austerity. Occupy the 
land remains a role model and effective in these times of austerity. Reclaim the land to 
reclaim his life, the revolutionaries of 1936 expressed it thus: " The earth is at the 
tiller . "

Ecology Commission AL

[ 1 ] The SOC-SAT: Field Workers Union Workers Union-Andalusian merged in 2007. Founded in 
1977, fighting since the end of Franco against the feudal structure of Andalusia.