Festival of Resistance and Rebellion Against Capitalism Opens and Pope says 'Souls For All'

It's good news Friday again. Not only has the deluge stopped and my neighbors floods begun to subside. Not only has the sun re-appeared here at the hideout but the Good News that unexpectedly broke out in this morning's Inbox warmed my heart to boot.

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Francis consoles boy crying over dead pup

‘Paradise is open to all of God’s creatures’ - Pope Francis

First email i opened: Pope says dogs can go to heaven: ‘Paradise is open to all of God’s creatures’ Pope Francis, making one of the only actual spiritual actions by a religious leader, said, Trying to console a distraught little boy whose dog had died, Francis told him in a recent public appearance on St. Peter's Square that "paradise is open to all of God's creatures."

Later, citing biblical passages that assert that animals not only go to heaven, but get along with one another when they get there, Francis was quoted by the Italian news media as saying: "One day, we will see our animals again in the eternity of Christ. Paradise is open to all of God's creatures."

A different article says, "His words of consolation recently to a boy distraught over the death of his dog renew debate on whether animals have souls, suffer and go to heaven." The issue of who gets a soul and who doesn't has confounded Catholic and other Christians ever since they dreamed up this definition of what is undefinable. Words are tricky business once again. Where using a generality allows the listener to project his own definition onto what's being described, dividing it into specifics - dogs OK, what about slugs, pit bulls...?

The solution IMO is Souls For All...never could imagine wanting to go to a place that doesn't let in dogs or any of the critters i've loved over the years. Thanks Pope Francis, very good Poping.

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Zapatistas First World Festival of Resistance and Rebellion Against Capitalism

Hard as it was to open another one as it was bound to be downhill from there, it was this: 'First World Festival of Resistance and Rebellion Against Capitalism - General Program'. The festival runs from tomorrow's opening ceremonies [Dec. 20th] to Jan. 3rd. Daily events include communal meals, cultural events and festivals, discussions and on most days group work sharing projects. For more detailed information about how to participate please email: comparticioncultural@gmail.com

From the first posts published on The Mud Report almost exactly 5 years ago, to the one latest last summer that focused on Sub-Commandante Marcos farewell statement and the tremendously positive and hopeful force his, and the Zapatistas, have given all of us who can only dream of living another way, The Zapatista Way.

One of the most moving pieces i ever read was 'In Chiapas, A Revolution That Won't Go Away'. For me, the best sub-section of it is titled 'Diego, The Boy Who Is Free'. To quote: "Diego is part of the first generation of Zapatista children whose births are registered by one of the organization’s own civil judges. In the eyes of his father, he is one of the first fully independent human beings. He was born in Zapatista territory, attends a Zapatista school, lives on unregistered land, and his body is free of pesticides and genetically modified organisms. Adding to his autonomy is the fact that nothing about him -- not his name, weight, eye color, or birth date -- is officially registered with the Mexican government. His family does not receive a peso of government aid, nor does it pay a peso worth of taxes. Not even the name of Diego’s town appears on any official map."

If, like me, going to Chiapas to help work and bask in in their revolutionary warmth is nearly impossible, you can for a few minutes feel the wonder of it in the video below.