Laxmi Haynes & Melinda Wiggins:
Overview of Delegation

Because of our work with Latino immigrants in the US, SAF teamed up with DC-based organization STITCH to plan a delegation to Guatemala for young people to see for themselves what impact migration has on sending communities, and to gain a full perspective on the root causes of immigration. The November 18-26th, 2006 delegation included Spanish/Mayan instruction with an in-depth look at the effects of corporate-led globalization on agricultural workers and unionists and what role US consumers play in this. What we found there confirms what we've heard from activists and farmworkers in the US; migration is a necessity not a choice. We learned about the governmental, economic and social systems that are in place in Guatemala that sustain the widespread and desperate poverty there, even by those who have jobs and work hard. We learned about Guatemala's violent past, and history of exploitation of its indigenous peoples. But most importantly, we were able to witness the country's rich culture, beauty and resources and meet Guatemalan campesinos that are resisting globalization. STITCH www.stitchonline.org

Sanjuana Garcia: Language School

"The trip to Guatemala was a great experience. One of those experiences was being able to learn a little bit about a different language, Qak'chi kel. There were two teachers and three students, which was good because the teachers were able to give us more attention, and we, as the students were able to learn what they taught us. Our teachers taught us a little about the Mayan history, the Mayan count system, the Mayan calendar and its meaning, and the meaning of our birth. It is an experience I will never forget." Universal Spanish School www.housespring.com

Lupe Huitron: The Struggle for Land

The struggle for land by the indigenous people in Guatemala has lasted for many years. We had an opportunity to meet Alfredo Che coordinator of the National Coordination of Campesino Organizations (CNOC). Alfredo has lived through many of the hardships faced by the indigenous community of his country. The issue of land re-distribution is not one that is caused due to the lack of available land rather the imbalance of power between the rich (mestizos) and the poor (the indigenous community). According to Alfredo, 34% of the population owns land and 66% does not. When unused-productive land is occupied by an indigenous community they are forced off by the military and the lands are once again left abandoned. With the passing of the Central America Free Trade Agreement (CAFTA), many of the Peace Accords established to allow the indigenous community to participate in decisions that directly affect them, were violated. As a result many of their lands have been invaded for the profit of foreign companies seeking to exploit the natural riches found in Guatemala. Campesinos are not able to compete with large international companies and thus lose their plots of land and/or migrate "North". CNOC is committed to rural development, educating and passing on the traditions of the Mayan peoples to the young, food security, increasing minimum wage for all workers, and educating the public in Guatemala and abroad about the struggles of the indigenous community." Coordinadora Nacional De Organizaciones Campesinas www.cnoc.org.gt

Amy Gellatly: Migration

"Riding in our private minibus from one exciting destination to another, I sometimes took a break from my sightseeing to read the book I had brought along, Enrique's Journey. This story follows one of the thousands of children who attempt to travel from Central America to the US each year to reunite with parents who migrated years ago. When I looked up from my reading I could see real life examples of some of the scenarios that Enrique encountered. Driving through Guatemala City on a school day, teenage boys came up to our windows during a red light to try to sell us flowers, lighters, and pencils. This was the future that Enrique's mom was trying to avoid for him when she sent back money to keep him in school. I saw overcrowded buildings clinging to the sides of steep hills and wondered what I would do if I were a mother in this city and could not afford to feed my children. Most importantly, I got the chance to learn about not only the daily realities of migration, but the deeper structural causes forcing so many people to have to make these hard decisions. Carlos Lopez at the Centro de Atencion al Migrante described the common scenario of a family who used to survive growing corn, but can no longer make ends meet due to dumping of subsidized US-grown corn onto Guatemalan markets. Neoliberal reforms like the recent Central American Free Trade Agreement, have caused the displacement of 200 million people worldwide. For many Latin Americans, this displacement often leads to the American Nightmare: no option but to migrate north."

Mary Lohman: Banana Plantation

"Toward the end of our week in Guatemala we had the privilege of visiting Del Monte Fresh's banana plantation and meeting with leaders of SITRABI, the union of Del Monte Fresh banana workers who guided us on a tour of the 10,000 acre plantation. The banana workers live within the fences of the property in ramshackle housing; the housing for company officials was also within the compound, but it was new, large, and fenced in. We drove past a sign warning of the dangers of pesticides. It simply suggested avoiding contact when the aerial sprayings occurred, which is hard to do when one is working in the fields and lives nearby. The banana processing occurs rapidly. Bunches of bananas come in hanging from metal bars, and young men quickly cut individual bunches and throw them into water mixed with a chemical that preserves the quality of the fruit. Then women pick out the damaged fruit to sell on the local market. Our guide explained that only the most pristine fruit is acceptable for export to the US (interestingly, Del Monte sells exclusively to Wal-Mart). After the best fruit is picked out, it is weighed and packaged. Then women quickly pack bunches of bananas into boxes (45 boxes per hour) and then stamp them with a seal. The seal identifies the packer, so if a vendor in the U.S. is unsatisfied with the way the bananas were packed, that worker can be identified. After touring the processing plant, we went to the fields that were monitored by armed guards. We learned the banana plants die every year, and a new one sprouts up next to it. The farmworkers use machetes to cut the large clusters of bananas, which can weigh up to 200 lbs, and haul them away on their backs."

Alicia Marquez: Permaculture

The Meso-American Institute of Permaculture (IMAP) began in 2000. Their ethics include: Take care of people, Take care of the earth, and Equal distribution of resources including time, wealth, and energy. They hold workshops for the community about permaculture, run a Seed Bank and a Community Garden.
"My stay in Guatemala culminated when we went to a permaculture site, where the people tried to use every resource they had available for their own use without the need to buy from other persons. They prioritized what they really need vs. what they don´t really need. Because we live in a materialistic world where we only think of consumerism, seeing a place like that made me reflect and awaken from the monster that is consuming us. The fact that we visited this place encourages me to make effective as well as positive changes in my life. Now at my home I have a compost, where I can collect the skins of fruits an vegetables to then give back to the earth. I also realized that permaculture is not only a way of living but it is also a way of thinking and acting. It is a way of doing only positive things, doing good for others even when this is not asked or expected, and most of all things in giving back more each time for the development of the community, of individuals, and families that surround us." Instituto Mesoamericano de Permacultura www.permacultura.org/guatemala.html

Laxmi Haynes & Melinda Wiggins: Overview of Delegation

Because of our work with Latino immigrants in the US, SAF teamed up with DC-based organization STITCH to plan a delegation to Guatemala for young people to see for themselves what impact migration has on sending communities, and to gain a full perspective on the root causes of immigration. The November 18-26th, 2006 delegation included Spanish/Mayan instruction with an in-depth look at the effects of corporate-led globalization on agricultural workers and unionists and what role US consumers play in this. What we found there confirms what we've heard from activists and farmworkers in the US; migration is a necessity not a choice. We learned about the governmental, economic and social systems that are in place in Guatemala that sustain the widespread and desperate poverty there, even by those who have jobs and work hard. We learned about Guatemala's violent past, and history of exploitation of its indigenous peoples. But most importantly, we were able to witness the country's rich culture, beauty and resources and meet Guatemalan campesinos that are resisting globalization. STITCH www.stitchonline.org

John Walker Somerville: Coffee Cooperative

"After hours on the bus, driving through and around three volcanoes, we made our final turn towards San Lucas Toliman. As the bus climbed through the hills, heading into the mountains, the vegetation began to change from the tall lumber trees, to small bushes. These turned out to be rows upon rows of coffee plants. The region around Lake Atitlan is known for having the best coffee in Guatemala, and we were on our way to meet with a coffee cooperative near San Lucas. We sat down underneath an awning with Elvis Santiago Morales, one of the organizers of Comite Campesino del Altiplano (CCDA). He told of the problems the coffee industry had in the region prior to the implementation of CCDA. International coffee businesses were the main buyers of the local coffee beans, known for being the best in Guatemala. On average these companies would pay 60-80 quetzals for 100 pounds of coffee beans, which is about the equivalent of 10 dollars. The CCDA started buying coffee from the farmers at 200 quetzals for each 100 pounds of coffee, a full 15 dollars more per 100 pounds of coffee. They converted local growers to organic production to help raise the price of the coffee, began processing the beans themselves and began selling Justicia coffee directly to Canadian buyers. The profits from the program are reinvested into the community for rural development. After the meeting we headed to the CCDA processing and drying center on the other side of San Lucas Toliman. We pulled the bus over at a grove of coffee trees and walked up the hill with our CCDA guide. The processing plant was mostly in the open on top of the hillside except for some machines to remove the soft part of the coffee bean. The process included the washing, separating and then drying of the beans. Water was the key element in the process to allow the coffee beans to flow easily from one cement trough to the next. However we soon found out that water had to be brought up from other areas. The drying process meant that the separated coffee beans were moved out onto large cement platforms and allowed to sit out in the sun for several days to dry. The hill area was beautiful, as it over looked San Lucas and Lake Atitlan; however it did not seem like the most ideal place to put the drying area. Elvis Santiago Morales told us that it was ideal because it was located between the town and the major coffee producing area. However it was not until he told us about the Mayan spiritual site on the same hill that it became clear why CCDA had chosen the location. Placing the processing plant at the Mayan spiritual site connected CCDA and its organic growing process to the cultural and spiritual vein of the community. The site is a natural rock circle on the hill over looking the lake and surrounding hills, including a large volcano. It is a spot that could be said to contain the four elements of the earth."