The Dengue Issue
Part 1
Dear friends, family and neighbors,
I want to thank you all for your tremendous support, patience and understanding, as well as for giving me the time and space I have needed as we face the dengue situation in our community head on. Again, my deepest gratitude and apologies for not writing you back individually to thank you for your contributions helping to support. It's been go-go-go and I have not been sat at the computer.
I realize some of you may have been waiting for more information before contributing. We are at a third of the way on our fundraiser which happened very quickly and I am so appreciative of your responses and the support you are providing to my very hurried "All hands on deck " help... emergency situation here!
"Life happens while you are busy making other plans."
Although we had been gently working on many of the issues that correlate directly to our current situation for some time, we thought we had more time to just keep plugging away at them as a bit of an ongoing longterm side project. As some of you know, I had other plans this year! (More below on that) But our raging dengue epidemic has given rise to the task at hand. Human lives must and will always be priority. So thank you all so much again for your support and understanding.
At this time to date we are responsible for:
Sounding the Alarm Bells
Taking initiative to do the research and gather all of the information from all parties concerned.
Informing our village authorities of the new laws recently passed in Congress ( it may have been weeks to months before it was brought up in a municipal meeting.)
Providing our village authorities with guidance, strategic positioning, orientation, internal fortification and community development projects, planning, coordination and implementation
On the phone informing Ministries and Department heads while bringing them on board
Creating Strategic work tables with upper level authorities, to put heads together, to review and agree to new concessions, to schedule planned next steps as a joint effort and unified front.
Writing up the official report of findings and observations, to be given to all parties concerned, addressing our dengue situation, highlighting the discrepancy between cultural behaviors and systematic failures.
To include a department by department breakdown of indicators, counteractive measures, as well as a ready to use list of pre identified, critical points and projects we have already established in conversation with our village municipal leaders. With immediate interdepartmental action points that will need to be considered and reviewed by all, transparently.
New Laws
A month ago Congress passed a bill which has been designed specifically for the Protection of the Lake Peten Itza basin. That means us. It had been in the works for 7 years!
To the best of my knowledge, no other lake in Guatemala has its own congressional bill that protects them. Not Lake Atitlan, which many of you are more familiar with, nor Lake Amatitlan near Guatemala City (which has been procaimed dead), nor Lake Izabal, the countries largest, south of us, also located in the state department of Peten.
Nextly, each lake is overseen by a local authoritative body. Ours is called the Authority for the Management and Sustainable Development of the Lake Petén Itzá Basin, otherwhise known as AMPI. Initially formed under the Ministry of Environment, AMPI struggled for many years without sufficient funding and under staffed, they were barely able to carry out their task of keeping an eye on our lake.
Recently fully released from under the Ministry of environment, AMPI has now been made into an independent entity, which also allows them to accept funding from non governmental agencies and other non for profits, while contiuing to work in conjuntion with the Minsitry of Environment and other government branches.
With the additional benefit of the newly approved congressional laws, instating firmer regulations, monitoring and reporting environmental irregularities will be easier for all of us who are in cahoots.
Our Village authorities need to be able to name and blame the changes we need to make on the new governing laws and higher up authorities, as we start to deal out written notices to our non-compliant resistant neighbors who otherwise take being addressed by our village representatives as an attack directed on their person. Our village resident also need a little fair warning. Part of the problem is taking people by surprise. Folks need to be given a little heads up as to whats coming at them down the road. So we are doing that too, spreading the word that changes are coming.
We were responsible for sharing both the news to our village leaders and advising the use the laws to leverage needed changes. With the suggestions being taken up, our village authorities are creating a series of letters that will be able to be handed to any neighbor who is reluctant to comply with the new regulations we are setting in place for our village. The letters will be signed by our municipal judge and come with two warnings with the threat of penalty by law. The letters give the ability for our village municipal leaders to just say " Sorry, we are just doing what we were told, its coming from higher up. They are new regulations. Sorry."
Mind you, we are developing these new regulations within our village independent of our municipal mayor, who may or may not be getting to something similar at some point, who knows when, if ever. In this sense we are way ahead of the game. We are doing this before any other village, on our own gumption and steam. We are encouraging and fortifying our young village governance, to be able to take a stand. Right now. Not later, not tomorrow, not someday, right now.
Dengue
Dengue fever is absolutely horrible. Its sometimes called “ bone-breaker fever”. Its not at all ike a regular fever. It goes through you in three stages. First you just feel a little off, a little woozy. Then you may get the telltale signs, a rash, high fever, and a hurting in your bones for 24 hours that is unsurmountable. A Walk from the sofa to the kitchen a few meters away becomes impossible. Its does not feel like a regular fever that just knocks you out rendering you fairly useless like a sympathetic droop. It's sharp and lucid and feels like you are suffocating, drowning under water unless you are lying down and sleeping. As the fever begins to subside after a couple of days, the rule is hydrate, hydrate hydrate. At this point the woozies remain but are slightly improved, but, thats when real trouble begins- if it's going to.
Dengue attacks your blood count levels. So although you may feel slightly better, it's actually when you are at the highest point of risk. Between day 5ish to 10 ish is when you may start a nose bleed (hemorrhagic dengue), and or be rushed to the hospital primarily for IVs and monitoring blood count levels under intensive care.
The full story
Pablo Sr and Doris’ Pablito did get a fever, but he did not get a nosebleed. Hey kids get fevers, it happens right, normal. At this point we had NOT caught on. Not enough people had gotten much of anything yet, for anyone to really take note. Lots of things go around the community all the time, so a fever and a bit of an under the weather baby wasn't particularly alarming, and the were taking care of him really well. Both are great parents, who are pretty darn informed and in the know. Im often working in cahoots with Pablo getting care to this animal or that because he worked as a vets assistant and provides a little emergency care to animals in the community on a volunteer basis after work. Their older daughter Hilary and cousin Mia are in a bunch of my kids clay workshop photos. I adore their girls, and care for their family greatly.
We had had a few burials after dengue took Vicky last year , but for other medical reasons and accidents. Vicky was some time ago now, a fairly distant time of 8 months or so before Pablito, so again, no major alarms.
Being just under a year old, its hard to know with a toddler, and I think I can speak for many of us tend to just treat things fairly generally unless there are major signs for concern. Kids get sick every day without us needing to make much of it. Chalked up to a common cold, a bit of a thing going around. Ginger, lemon, sleep lots, some echinacea etc. and in a few days to a week, right as rain again.
Much like any small town community, gossip and word of mouth news travels fastest. On my early morning rounds out and about at 7 am, I was informed that Pablito had died. I went home, fed the dogs and went straight back over to their house. Two blocks away. They had gone to bed a little late, given him some regular totally acceptable reliever, and when Doris opened her eyes to him at 4 am he had departed.
Accompanying families, and end of life care is something I was born into, but also trained to do. Being present, holding the space without asking anything of people, anticipating peoples need, etc is a learned skill that was shown to my by example, and in practice through first hand experience. Being with the family at every step, during and after accompanying them in the process, gently applying what I have learned over the years in standing beside people in the hardest of their lives, through mountains and valleys and waves of grief as a steady presence that holds them and aids to soften the blow as best possible.
Meanwhile, unbeknownst to me, at the bottom of the hill Norma had been in the ER with baby Oliver, 8 months old. Three days after Pablito, Oliver joined him. The two of them right next to each other, side by side.
I had cried considderbly during Pablitos passing, and had given it my all having spent day after day afterwards spending time with the family. I was tired, but I had also caught wind from one of the in between deaths, that there is a whole lot of movement that just drops off, sometimes entirely, after a burial and people are left alone to deal with the grief by themselves. I was told by them how much it meant to them that I stayed on with them afterwards and in the days that followed. But as most of you have experienced yourself, death brings a special kind of tired that belongs unto itself. It becomes a time in itself like no other, with no descriptions or explantions needed, as we have all been through it, and know prescisely what I am speaking about.
Amid this I was told about Oliver, but I also know Norma has a big and spectacularly supportive family. Their family were the first to welcome me here, and I love them all dearly. So although I was in attendance once again on day one of Olivers passing. I did not go the full extent with Norma in offering her extra company. I knew she was in good hands.
I was not going to ask either family directly about the cause of death in the moment. It would be quite some time before I did so. I said to Gary on the phone that it was an unspeakable question. That it would be the most devstating question in the world to ask because it most likely could have actually been prevented- were we anywhere else but here.
Between not recognizing and recognizing too late, plus a terrible medical system to boot , is just the worst of the worst thing in the world to have to come to terms with. Its better not to know, and just leave it rest, as they do by simply saying “it was their time, and God has them now”.
But I said to him “I suspect, and am pretty nearly 100% sure they both were dengue based on the symtoms they both had.
However, after Pablo and Oliver by mid May , I started catching drift of other cases after case popping up right through in June into July. All with similar symtoms one after the other. Rosa 14 in intensive care for over a month! And we all started learning from eachothers experience, to react faster, what medications to take, which not to, what to look out for.
I started to ask more and more questions and to move faster on it. Still not flat out running like I have been the past few weeks. Then, middle to the end of July I got it, and went down for the count. By day 14 I was feeling almost nearly back to strength and working hard at it to make a full recovery.
As I stepped out my front gate again, end of July into August, making my usual rounds about, stopping in on neighbours between personal and work mode, I started adding up the numbers, realized I had gotten mine on the upswing of a rising monster, that we were at the top peak point of it as it was hitting our whole entire village 1,712 in population, and still going strong.
At this point now Im really on it, gathering information, asking more and more questions, and making 'official rounds'. Going down or rather up a list of people and chains of command, speaking about it to each, gaining their consent, and saying “ do you realize we are in a Red Alert Zone, and how is it that nobody knows. We need to act STAT, and who do I need to talk to next? Someone needed to look into this? I didnt see anyone else looking into it but also wanted to know if that was true. Is anyone else looking into this? It was simply -One question that lead to the next.
We have a small window of time to act. Although you become immune to the strain of dengue you got, there are three other strains, which, if you get any of them after having the one you got, is going to leave you even worse off than the first strain you had originally.
I have had to be a quick- study the past month about how each of the different department systems are working, and aren't.
Chains of Command
Having worked my way up the chain of command to the top, Im on the phone with the numero uno- The Ministry of Health and Social Services Coordinator of the District of the Vectors Program ie dengue and malaria, offers the official numbers:
23 Cases
23 Treated
1712 Habitants
533 fumigated ( months ago not that I love the stuff btw) gasoline and who knows what right out of the 20’s
1 case of Malaria
Completing 100% of the supervised schematics
Our registered numbers are basically what I suspected.
So I say “ But you do know those arent our actual numbers?”
He repeats the above. I say “Yes I get it, but as a person… are you aware that those numbers dont actually reflect whats going on here?”
His voice shifts to a softer tone of compassion, and he says, “Yes, he is aware”. In this manner we continue to speak a bit longer about it, both being mutually aware of the enormous deficit in the systems.
The current system not only limits him from taking greater action, as our OFFICAL numers are so low, he simply wont get government authorization, nor the manpower, nor the funds he might need to do more than the normal. His hands are essentially tied.
Do I go up one more, two more? Do I go to the mayor? We were presented with the opportunity to put a note right into the hands of president who will be up here next week attending a major meeting being held by a consortium of polically influential Cooperatives. Do we do it? Do I go to the new Governor? The press?
How would each scenario potentially play out? Would the mother of Pablito be able to handle camera crews showing up at her house? No, and she does not want to talkabout Pablitos death, ever, if possible. So thats a no. Is there any point at all at going anywhere else with it ? Or do we just hunker down, get everyone who has a hand in this to sit down at the same table, to look at the changes we are all going to need to make, together as a united front.
Community Consortium
Having just achieved the unification of a community work group consortium including more proactive neighbors, church leaders, our association ADICA Peten, ADAC and village representative authorities so we could sit down and start together to start working on the issues in a methodical way, starting with the garbage project as the easiest, quickest, and least expensive to carry out. But to also brainstorom, put our heads together to develop ideas, create proposals and begin to hack away at some of the villages most pressing issues together.
As such this was to be the “first time ever in the history of the village ” to have this kind of work grouping. In this way the majority of the community being represented by virtue and extension of those present in our meetings. While the folks here are neither organized nor unified, I saw this first step as a must, and was very proud of everyone, and myself, considering it one of my highest achievements to the day.
The two governmental components that every village, town etc must have are the Auxiliary Village Mayor, and a Community Development Council. We have had neither for some time, which is why I had to put the garbage proposal, amongst other village projects that I and many others would love to see brought to life, on hold for quite a while now.
I came up with the idea for the format from listening and observation, or “evidence research-based analysis", should you may. I received 100% in agreement.
The reason being:
As like in any small community, conflicts, power struggles, gossip and word of mouth rule the day. Anyone in the village applying their position of authority finds resistance. Neighbors feel like it is aimed at them personally, that they are under attack and become immediately defensive. This makes it very hard for our village authorites to apply any pressure, or make any progress, as they risk being hated, and getting their heads chopped off by all of their neighbors around them. In the end our village authorities end up not wanting to rock the boat, or stick thier necks out.
A group can offer stronger backing and protection to take action. It shifts the blame and weight off of just one person.
Guatemala has a long history of lynchings of journalists, activists, environmental protectors, indigenous leaders who have too many opinions, and or are exposing truths that challenge the status quo. Nobel Peace Prize winner Rigoberta Menchu, dear friends Sonja who was part of the inner legal team that put together the war crimes case against Rios Montt for mass genocide, Lucia Escobar, journalist who spoke out- all in asylum in Mexico. Marlon Garcia (on our team), a forenzic photographer (magnapainter, Academic Researcher, Museum curator, Writer) found asylum hiding out amid the ex Guerillas across the lake here within the community they created called Nuevo Horizontes which has become uber famous. His photographs were used in genocide cases. I have absolutley no interest in ending up in their situation. I am quite happy where I am standing in the background, and hope to work in such a way that it will never need to be an issue for me.
Outsiders have been lynched in our community. Its a community that will come together to protect its own if it feels under threat. In many ways its refusal to let people in offers a unique opportunity as well. It may remain a bit of a bubble of its own amongst everything going on outside in the world. It may instate its own micro systems that may be a little more outside of the box. It could almost be a gated community. Ive joked about it recently to some of the neighbors, but actually… who knows… we shall see, it could actually happen;)
We are very lucky to live where we live
I have been putting the bug in peoples ears now for some time… reminding them how lucky we are to live here, the kids run around barefoot between neighbors houses, we dont have the droughts like the ones happening down south, our animals can roam around freely. It's quite exceptional as far as villages go, at this point in time- anywhere in the world. Its rather exceptional.
Is it hard? Is it brutal? Do people struggle? Yes. Are there systems in place? Vaguely. Do any of the systems work here? Not really.
But as I have said more times than I can count, our disadvantages are also our advantages. Being so ‘undeveloped’ it is still entirely possible to put in place different low cost and radily available systems that actually work better for everybody given the culture and way of life in our village, as well as for the earth, and as a community with a very beautiful lake at our feet.
I have put in a lot of forethought and have consciously flown under the radar here for a great deal of time in order to be seen and accepted as just another neighbor. It is a great honor to be able to be working in a more official capacity and be supportive having truly earned people's trust. I do not take it lightly.
What we do is as important as HOW we do it.
Since founding ADAC I have continually said Guatemala must be fortified internally, starting with community and all stakeholders who are working at ground level.
But.../ and
There has been an evident need to bring our issue up to the next level
So, what I have been piecing together these past months, and weeks moving at full speed 5 am to 7 pm is: Step by step, person by person- how high up every single authority, government worker, and or branch department has brought the issue- to their next up. Following the chains of command, not stepping over anyone in the process, circling back if needed, and asking each questions I need to have answered, tailoring my inquiries depending on their positions, posts, and responsibilities.
Gathering information on their respective roles, who they report to, what actions they have taken, what procedures they are following, who they have spoken to, who was present in that meeting, was the situation presented or talked about, cross checking between departments and authorities in such a way that no one feels that they have not done their job to their fullest. My questions are however revealing certain failures and needs for adjustments, in attitudes, in work ethic, and ultimately in our systems. I have now spoken to everyone who has a hand in the matter as well all carry responsibilty towards the two babies and Vicky who we have buried as well as to the hundreds and hundreds and hundreds of people who have fallen to the grips of this terrible illness.
The results of conversations with upper level authorities are already having some immediate results. Today the house to house visits began. The Ministry of Health and Social Assistance Department Coordinator of Vectors, Wilfredo, told me he was going to move dates forwards to get here as quickly as possible. He has mobilized his team of 8 who are assigned to go house to house and ask every single family "Has anyone in your household recently shown the following signs..." and they do. I spoke with his crew this morning before they set out on their rounds, and I will follow up to find out what their results are, our actual numbers. Im saying hundreds and hundreds and hundreds, but they will be gathering the true count.
So thank you all so much for holding the space for me as we take up the reins to coordinate this initiative that is beyond the usual, for any party here. It's been a big job and it's only part way there. We have been on the phone with all of the Ministries and Department heads facilitating conversations between and on behalf of our community and our municipal village leaders. One by one, person by person. All agree that we all need to find new ways of working more closely together, all have been informed and are up to date about the reality of the situation. All agree that it calls for all of us to take action, to restructure approaches, create new modalities and to make needed changes in our current, faulty, systems. Now. Not later. Now. Everyone agrees it has to happen now.
Reminding everyone along the way that we have new laws that were passed for us in Congress, that we can use, while also gently introducing the fact to neighbors to make the transition softer by letting them know new laws are coming, laws that were made for us, here, not Antigua, not Jutiapa, not Quetzaltenango, here. Us.
The other morning I was on a personal call to consult a past governor of Peten, to walk him through everyone I have talked to and all the information I have obtained thus far, to be able to follow his suggestions and gain his insight on what to do or who to contact next.
Per his suggestion it was back around with more questions to the Ministry of Health and Social Assistance Department Coordinator of Vectors to ask him how informed his next in the chain of command is. And our Municipal Mayor? What does he know? The information remains the same. Our official numbers are 23, so thats as far as it is going to go no matter who knows how much or not. The fact is only 23 out of hundreds and hundreds and hundreds of people ( including me) did not get tested or treated to show what actually is happening here. It is much what I suspected, but needed to confirm.
The saying is, if you want better answers, you have to ask better questions.
One of the primary reasons I founded ADAC because of the lack of coordination and communication that exists in Guatemala, between everyone, at every level, and ADAC has served to bridge the gaps, to facilitate connections and to bring people together within the neutral space we provide for them to be able to work more closely together on projects and issues.
Neighbors dont talk to one another, but also government branches, associations, foundations, you name it, dont. Each are off on their own, doing thier own thing. Each contributing their piece, but as the efforts are rarely coordinated, each attempt made fails over and over,while none on their own can ever resolve the whole issue, its like trying to keep a whole field of gophers down in their holes by going after them one by one. While knocking one back in, another 20 are still popping their heads up. So although so and so says oh yes, we did such and such about it, no single anybody can ever entirely resolve the issue while other aspects of the problems simultaneously remain unaddressed.
Young Herson, championing trash pick up on his families property
Reduction and Mitigation of Diseases
And so while many may say the Dengue problem belongs to the Vectors Progam folks, we know that parts of the issue very well belong to the environmental departments, the trash pick up guys, the local schools, Water and Sanitation, the Health Department, you name it.
Each are holding vital information and have an important role to play, but without fully understanding or appreciating what each is doing or how they can help eachother. And that most have to go through official channels, means a lot just drops off the map, takes a while to make its way through the system.
So many organizations be it in the non for profit world or the government are limited to the confines of their own structures, which is why it is hyper necessary to bring groupings of people together. While one may not be able to carry out a certain aspect of the task at hand, another may be able to. Thus identifying who is able to do what is vital information that we all need to know and understand.
The whole process has been monumentally disappointing, and at points the information I was being told on the phone and come across has been nearly unbearable for any soul to carry. I have crumbled at some points, but I must add that for the most part I have found good will and little human err except not being able to see or move past limitation.
What I have found is systematic, and everyone, absolutely everyone has failed to take an extra step beyond. But more than that, knowing what we know now, what are the measures and changes we all need to make?
A cultural Issue
I need to be upfront. Poverty , not just one home, one family, but many, for years, creates a kind of culture too. A culture of not being used to things being hard, a culture of defensiveness, a culture of not being able to see beyond your own gate, past the needs of your own family. It is only when you alleviate some of the needs, when you dont have to worry about how your next meal is coming, or how you will pay the next bill, only then can people begin to think about other things. I have found that although some of the traits of it are aknowledged intellectually in conversations I have with people, when push comes to shove I have yet to actually hear someone here say “is there anything I can do to help? ” Its just not within their scope of reality, even though everyone is very warm, and lovely, and giving.
So it becomes a baseline that must be understood. That as a given, no matter how much understanding a person might demonstrate, one must not ever expect it to be fully embodied or you are up for some crushing disappointment in that department, which is not actually fair to put on them. One must always take into consideration the mindset that comes along with huge adversities and the conditions in which others are living. An Outlast ( an outdoor survivalist competition for a million dollars ) participant on Netflix said " Growing up in estern Kentucky we were poor, it was hard around home, we just didn't know it because everyone was poor. We have done this type of stuff for survival"
Coming from the culture I come from, coming from the way I was raised, in the community I grew up in, with the education I received... just accepting "Its Gods will" or "Don't worry about it, its just the way it is here", I may just have to respectfully beg to differ sometimes. That its actually not acceptable. Not today, not in this day and age, not when we can do more, not when we can do better. And not just them, me, everybody. We can all stand to do more, to do a better job of it all.
The issues are bigger than any one of us.
Its not about is a single person anymore
these are things that effect everyone
around the world too
So, yes...
respectfully
it isn't just about me or you
this is about everybody
And we know there are so many already functioning and working examples to follow ... and the world wide web offers so much great information... and documentation... and what to do... and how to do it... and what you will need to do it...
Potential Solutions
For example: If everybody here wants to stay home and not use the current medical system, what about the home visit Preventative Health Care model Costa Rica is using?
If there is a major lapse in Medical Data being entered into the system, what about trying a micro version similar to the US. If my daughter from NY ends up in the ER in Ohio, she is registered in the system, and her medical history shows up -at any hospital in the US. I found a willing IT programming person who is on board to work with the Health Department folks if they want to try it.
If the grey water septic holes with no tops that were dug for families are not working ( they reek) how about stepped natural water filtration boxes with plants, sand, activated carbon, and stones that quite efficiently clean water enough for certain domestic plantings? We have the plants and all of the materials…Do we really need a massive and very expensive water treatment plant and miles and miles of tubing to get everyone hooked up when most people are doing their washing-up in an outdoor sink in the garden?
How about ducks, they do a great job keeping water free of mosquitoes...
Maybe we dont have exactly the materials, or tools, or money, but we have alternatives sitting under our feet and in our back yards. We just need to take a closer look at how we can replicate examples given what we already have in our own backyards and surroundings. Nature itself offers up solution after solution if we stop for a minute to observe it. We are the idiots ruining the planet. Destabilizing the very ground we walk and depend on. We are the ones causing the devastation being wreaked. We are responsible for Nepal, we are responsible for Vicky, and Pablito, and Oliver.
So lets continue to do more about it.
Not single person knows everything, but most of us will know something about one thing or another, so we MUST all work together to address the issues with all our might and to the utmost best of our ability. You, me, everyone. We must set aside our differences. It's all just distractions and noise.
Know quietness. Yes. Most of us aknowledge the importance of stillness and peace, but be active...dont ignore...dont criticize...dont shame...dont point fingers, we are all to blame.
So -Join causes, join action groups, join neighbors.
Next Steps
Finish writing up the formal detailed report of my findings to be handed to all department heads and authorites, containing all of the information that I have complied based on the personal conversations I have had with everyone in the community as well as with each and every one of them. Everyone is already up to date and on board. The report additionally includes observations that impact and concern all departments and department leaders. The report provides a step by step breakdown for each of the departments' and their corresponding issue areas. It will be a working draft for us to review in our meeting, make any needed changes.
Hand in hand with the report comes the finalized written Garbage Plan, specifically designed for communities like ours. We will all need sign this and deliver to the municipality for immediate implementation and authorization.
Along with Proposed solutions based off of other models and examples that can be seen working for people around the world as well as in other countries.
Step One
Set the date for our Meeting between the upper level Ministry department heads and our village authorities Authorities in which we will begin to establish the details of a new contigency plan. Each department will have its own list of to- dos. Our village authorities for example are already aware they will need a series of general letters signed by the Municipal Judge to hand to non compliant neighbors.
Step Two:
Set the date for a second meeting to include and integrate the village municipal workers, the School Directors, Community nurses, as well as the Village Consortium Group members.
Step Three
Present the new ready to use garbage systems as well as additional future public planned projects -to the community as a whole as the first of a list of projects on the table
Supporting Local Governance
Our village is split up with two governed areas, down bottom and up top. I just ran into our Auxiliary Mayor with the two bottom of the hill representatives. Everyone here knows the issues inside out and forth to back, living with them daily, but not everyone has ideas on how to resolve them with solutions that get to the root, and coincide with the way of life we seek to conserve.
Again, a life where kids can run around barefoot, where cultivated lands extend out into the hills up to the rainforest providing sustenance. Where the tranquility few others in Guatemala experience, is treasured. Isolated in a sense from the crazyiness of the outside world, it is of the greatest interest that we protect and fortify our community internally, by taking the initiative right NOW, to define future development, in their own terms. Although I have been saying this for some time, I believe they are ready. I believe they have the right leaders, and I know they can use the new laws to be able to carry it out to the fullest.
A big part of our work is speaking openly about, and calling out the issues, for what they are, which right away emboldens folks to speak to me in confidence. Being that I am now a permenently installed, recognized, trusted friend and neighbor ( who happens to have a lot of oppinions and ideas on the matters). But after all, I am in the same boat as everyone else here. We all pretty much see the same things with our eyes, every day. Dedicating my days to provide fullest assistance possible to our village leaders, to aid them to create their own plan, internally, is extremely important at this precise moment in time.
Again, as our villages authorities essentially work on a volunteer basis, doing a job that should be a full time paid position over seeing all aspects and goings on, they barely scratch the surface on any given day, as neighbors continue to dump more work on them and blame them for everything that is wrong.
I however, do and have made myself available to work full time for and on behalf of the community. I have a very good job as the Founder and acting Director of a little non for profit called ADAC backed by Unesco, and act as well as a head representative of our Campesinos Association of 50 families, both of which allows me to focus full time on the most pressing tasks as they come up.
We are here to work for the people, to get to it, to move things forward, to facilitate processes on their behalf. While they are out in the fields making ends meet for their families, I am on the phone, making calls, writing documents on one of the only computers in the village- Right from my home office, smack in the middle of it all.
I am often heard saying to a member of the community “I am here to work for you, you are my boss. I will always consult with you first. I will not act or do anything here without your permission and approval”. Sometimes its a no, and an explanation of why follows. With change happening in real time we have to continually ajust, adapt, re assess, react and respond in real time. This is how we work at ADAC. It is built into the very principals and the foundation of everything that we do, with promise to stand by our word unwaveringly. It is slower, yes, but it empowers people to be the leaders of the changes they need.
THE BASIS FOR OUR GARBAGE PROPOSAL
I need to know the garbage proposal design and system I designed for our community is going to work, so I have been walking it through with four families for two weeks, while all this is going on.
We dont pay for our garbage pick up system and will never be able to. As it stands the municipality provides us with this free service.
One: We do have a trash pick up truck once a week, that has shown some improvement. When I first got here it mostly went by empty. Today it is loaded to the top as it leaves. But as more people are using it, its filling up faster and the truck has reduced its route, no longer going by on many roads with houses who used to send theirs out too.
Two: some people ( mostly, not fully, no separating catagorically happening at this point) know how to manage their trash at home, ie use a bucket, or bag in the kitchen then store it out of the way in a bigger bag where piggies and dogs reach till trash day, once a week. A few of us buy actual trash bags.
Three: Many dont use any of the above, throw it out in the backyard or just burn it. With never having set up a home system for it, its door to door “Trash 101” to see what each family needs or may have kicking around the backyard as potential usable bins, potential storage area, potential bags etc.
ANDDD then checking back to see if they are actually using it, doing it, or if they need a little more encouragement, some more bags, a little more quick digging in their trash "this yes, this no" etc. Getting kids involved and saying “hey kids- You know about this, you guys learn this at school…why not here… eh? Help your mama”, and rounds of approval and “Wooo hoo! Champion!!!” when they do bring out their trash.
Four: We dont generate collectable compost generally, only a few homes do and thats resolvable, just give it to your neighbors who have animals. All household compost goes to the chickens, dogs, cats and piggies. Leaf piles are burned.
We are presenting two options to the municipality to chose from. An individual house to house design and/ or a one stop community dumpster type bin, with 15 placed around the community with easy access for neighbors in every vecinity .
Bins will be made with recycled political voter promo signs.
Trash begins at home, with the mothers. Our presentation to the community has also been strategically planned. It includes presenting the new system, orientation for all, including our residents, the garbage men, and our village municipal workers. We will have all Ministries and Department heads present to create an ominous and serious presence;) No buts about it. Burning and dumping will not be permitted and any family doing so will get one of the letters signed by the Municipal Judge per our new regulations.
A work by internationally reknown artist Angel Poyon, one of our featured participants in our first edition of Festival De Arte Social 2027 Lake Peten Itza, Peten
Lastly, a few quick points.
Additional Support father down the road
We have been approached by two new organizations who are interested in supporting our longterm work, nothing fast, like we need right now in asking for your help. One is an Italian Foundation AMKA, the other a new small but mighty local Association that has just formed called Proitza. The founder was another governor of Peten for a time during a previous government. (Not the one I called on the phone). Anyhow we are exploring new working relationships with them both. I'll tell you more soon.
The Exhibition
We have moved the date for our Global premier of our annual contemporary Social Arts Festival Exhibition "Shared Inheritance" that was set to start in October forward to February in order to accommodate our work given the current pressing circumstances.
We are extremely privalgedged to be able to offer our assistance, lend our know how, and share alternate vantage points that may be useful and hope you may continue to support our efforts as we move through one day at a time facing the situation head on in real time, right here, on the ground.
Thank you so much for helping us to continue to do so. Each one of your contributions allows us to.
I know this is a lot, but it is.
Yours Truly
Emily
For anyone having troubles with using our Campaign in the Paypal system, our webpage support us page accepts all cards without needing to have a Paypal account.
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