World Rojava and Catalonia: Linked Through History

ypgrojava.com: Rojava and Catalonia: Linked Through History
(a-infos-en@ainfos.ca)

[They just do not use the word "anarchism" for their own reasons.- I.S - Ed] ]July 19, 
Rojava - Today marks the birthdate for the start of the Rojava revolution, when resistance 
forces and underground groups seized control in Kobane and Derik beginning this historic 
experiment centered around autonomous governance, women's liberation, local economy and 
ecological harmony. ---- Today also marks the beginning of another landmark of this 
century- the 19 July 1936 Catalan revolution. In Barcelona, the CNT organised a confederal 
system, worker's councils were established, and women organised into fighting units. The 
Catalan people started to revive their culture, opening schools and printing books in 
their own language. In the middle of a war against fascist forces, they started an 
ambitious experiment just like is happening in Rojava now.

What makes the Catalan revolution significant, is the vital role that women played in 
their emancipation. The atmosphere of the 1930s marginalised women and many women in the 
revolutionary movement were angry at oppression. In response, women took up arms to defend 
themselves with the philosophy that only a female fighting force could defend women's 
rights and freedoms. They formed an all female militia called the Mujeres Libres or 'Free 
Women', separate from the other organisations. They did not call themselves feminist but 
instead saw women's problems as inseparable from the social problems of the day.

Before the revolution, conditions for women were oppressive. Women were forced into 
arranged marriages without consent, and single women could not leave the house without a 
male. Also, women found it difficult to work with their salaries being half of male 
workers. While middle and upper class women had limited rights, these did not exist for 
working class women.

Now in Rojava we are similarly making a revolution that aims to put women at the 
forefront of leadership with all women organisations playing an important role. A main 
pillar of this revolution is society will only be free, when women also are free. Before 
the revolution here, opportunities for women were few and the atmosphere also sufficating.

The revolution in Catalonia was short lived but the actions of the revolution had a big 
effect on the region that still remains today. Today the work is being continued here, and 
there is a fight to defend this work. The Catalan revolution is the sister of the Rojava 
revolution, and we continue their work.

In our world driven by technology, citizen media, economic crisis, fundamentalism and 
ecological destruction, people are searching for a new vision. The recent success of 
groups like Podemos in Spain, Syriza in Greece, and HDP in Turkey against established 
parties show a new desire among the youth of Europe for change. Rojava is a part of this 
collaboration. It is contributing to the new vision. Rojava is giving these ideals 
strength and development as an example of what is possible on a large scale not usually seen.
http://ypgrojava.com/en/index.php/news/770-rojava-and-catalonia-linked-through-history